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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Patterns of pharyngeal manifestations of chronic indulgence in “Qat” consumption

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Abstract

The aim of this work is to report a series of cases of qat chewers with a pattern of pharyngeal complications and to illustrate the end result of damage to the mucosal lining of the oro- and hypo-pharynx. The commonest presentation is the end result of the acute inflammatory phase. The cases included in the study show variable degrees of narrowing of the pharynx as seen by videoendoscope for the nasopharynx, oropharynx and larynx.

Results

The observations of the study are collected from 25 cases with varying presentations extending from feeling of nasal obstruction to variable degrees of dysphagia. The end result of the scarring is illustrated by figures and a table showing the relative incidence of the site of maximum narrowing.

Conclusion

Qat chewing has a strong correlation with a pattern of pharyngeal complications which need to be further investigated in a wide sample case-control study.

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Keratinization and Cornification are not equivalent processes but keratinization in fish and amphibians evolved into cornification in terrestrial vertebrates

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Abstract

The present account offers a generalized view of the evolution of process of terminal differentiation in keratinocytes of the epidermis in anamniotes, indicated as keratinization, into a further differentiating process of cornification in the skin and appendages of terrestrial vertebrates. Keratinization indicates the prevalent accumulation of intermediate filaments of keratins (IFKs) and is present in most fish and amphibian epidermis and inner epithelia of all vertebrates. During land adaptation terrestrial vertebrates evolved a process of cornification and keratinocytes became dead corneocytes by the addition of numerous others proteins to the IFKs framework, represented by keratin associated proteins (KAPs) and corneous proteins (CPs). Most of genes coding for these types of proteins are localized in chromosomal loci different and un-related from those of IFKs, and CPs originated from a gene cluster indicated as Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC). During the evolution of reptiles and birds the epidermis and corneous derivatives such as scales, claws, beaks, and feathers, mainly accumulate a type of CPs that overcome IFKs and containing a 34 amino acid beta-sheet core indicated as corneous beta-proteins (CBPs), formerly known as beta-keratins. Mammals did not evolve a beta-sheet core in their CPs and KAPs but instead produced numerous cysteine-rich IFKs in their epidermis and specialized KAPs in hairs, claws, nails, hooves and horns.

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Exercise-based dysphagia rehabilitation for adults with oesophageal cancer: a systematic review

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BMC Cancer. 2022 Jan 10;22(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s12885-021-09155-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is prevalent in oesophageal cancer with significant clinical and psychosocial complications. The purpose of this study was i) to examine the impact of exercise-based dysphagia rehabilitation on clinical and quality of life outcomes in this population and ii) to identify key rehabilitation components that may inform future research in this area.

METHODS: Randomised control trials (RCT), non-RCTs, cohort studies and case series were included. 10 databases (CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, OpenGrey, PROSPERO, RIAN and SpeechBITE), 3 clinical trial registries, and relevant conference abstracts were searched in November 2020. Two independent authors assessed articles for eligibility before completing data extraction, quality assessment using ROBINS-I and Downs and Black Checklist, followed by descriptive data analysis. The primary outcomes included oral intake, respiratory status and quality of life. All comparable outcomes were combined and discussed throughout the manuscript as primary and secondary outcomes.

RESULTS: Three single centre non-randomised control studies involving 311 participants were included. A meta-analysis could not be completed due to study heterogeneity. SLT-led post-operative dysphagia intervention led to significantly earlier start to oral intake and reduced length of post-operative hospital stay. No studies found a reduction in aspiration pneumonia rates, and no studies included patient reported or quality of life outcomes. Of the reported secondary outcomes, swallow prehabilitation resulted in significantly improved swallow efficiency following oesophageal surgery compared to the control group, and rehabilitation following surgery resulted in significantly reduced vallecular and pyriform sinus residue. The three studies were found to have 'serious' to 'critical' risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review highlights a low-volume of low-quality evidence to support exercise-based dysphagia rehabilitation in adults undergoing surgery for oesophageal cancer. As dysphagia is a common symptom impacting quality of life throughout survivorship, findings will guide future research to determine if swallowing rehabilitation should be included in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes. This review is limited by the inclusion of non- randomised control trials and the reliance on Japanese interpretation which may have resulted in bias. The reviewed studies were all of weak design with limited data reported.

PMID:35012495 | DOI:10.1186/s12885-021-09155-y

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Clinicopathological Profile of Thyroid Carcinoma in Young Patients: An Indonesian Single-Center Study

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Introduction. Thyroid cancer is the third most common cancer that occurs in children and adolescents. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid malignancy. Although the mortality rate of thyroid malignancy in children is usually low, the disease recurrence is higher in children with more severe clinical presentation than in adults. This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics and outcome of pediatric and adolescent patients with thyroid malignancy in Indonesia. Methods. The retrospective study included all patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma aged
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Frontal Sinus Fractures

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2021 Dec 15. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–.

ABSTRACT

Skull fractures are common injuries observed in the setting of both blunt and penetrating trauma. The frontal sinuses are located within the frontal bone, superior and medial to the orbits. The frontal sinuses begin developing around 5 to 6 years of age and become fully developed between the ages of 12 and 20. Sensation is provided by both the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves, which are branches of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V1). The blood supply to the frontal sinuses comes from the supraorbital and supratrochlear arteries. The frontal sinuses consist of bony anterior and posterior tables (walls) and they drain inferiorly, medially, and posteriorly via the frontal recess into either the middle meatus or ethmoid infundibulum, depending on the attachment of the uncinate process of the ethmoid bone. If the un cinate process attaches to the lamina papyracea, the frontal sinus drains into the middle meatus via the semilunar hiatus. If the uncinate process attaches to the skull base or the middle turbinate, the frontal sinus drains into the ethmoid infundibulum before emptying into the middle meatus. The anterior border of the frontal recess is the posterior wall of the agger nasi air cell, while the posterior wall is formed by the ethmoid bulla. The medial wall of the frontal recess is the middle turbinate, and the lateral wall is the orbit. While the volume of the frontal sinus is extremely variable, the average size is approximately 10 mL; the sinus itself may be entirely absent in 0.8-7.4% of patients, unilaterally, and may be bilaterally absent in up to 5% of patients.

Frontal cranial bones have a greater thickness than the more lateral temporal bones (6.15 cm in males, 7.13 cm in females compared to 4.33 cm and 4.41 cm, respectively). As a result, these fractures require a more forceful mechanism of injury than other facial bone fractures, occur less frequently than other forms of skull trauma, and often present with concurrent injuries. These other injuries include naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures, orbital injuries, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, intracranial hemorrhage, and cervical spine fractures, among others. The potential for other potentially devastating injuries to occur along with frontal sinus fractures makes a thorough evaluation of these patients imperative. Additionally, appropriate classification and indications for surgical repair of frontal sinus fractures remain controversial, resulting in a variety of management strategies.

PMID:32491451 | Bookshelf:NBK557519

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Frequency-specific prediction model of hearing outcomes in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-07246-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The hearing outcome of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is hard to predict. We herein constructed a multiple regression model for hearing outcomes in each frequency separately in an attempt to achieve practical prediction in ISSNHL.

METHODS: We enrolled 235 consecutive in-patients with ISSNHL who were treated in our department from 2015 to 2020 (average hearing level at 250-4000 Hz ≥ 40 dB; time from onset to treatment ≤ 14 days; 126 males/109 females; age range 17-87 years (average 61.0 years)). All patients received systemic prednisolone administration combined with intratympanic dexamethasone injection. The pure-tone hearing threshold of 125-8000 Hz was measured at every octave before (HLpre) and after (HLpost) treatment. A multiple regression model was constructed for HLpost (dependent variable) using five explanatory variables (age, days from onset to treatment, presence of vertigo, HLpre, and hearing level of the contralateral ear).

RESULTS: The multiple correlation coefficient increased as the frequency increased. Strong correlations were seen in high frequencies, with multiple correlation coefficients of 0.784/0.830 for 4000/8000 Hz. The width of the 70% prediction interval was narrower for 4000/8000 Hz (± 18.2/16.3 dB) than for low to mid-frequencies. Among the five explanatory variables, HLpre showed the largest partial correlation coefficient for any frequency. The partial correlation coefficient for HLpre increased as the frequency increased, which may partially explain the high multiple correlation coefficients for high frequencies.

CONCLUSION: The present model would be of practical use for predicting hearing outcomes in high frequencies in patients with ISSNHL.

PMID:35015092 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-07246-x

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Cerebral Spinal Fluid Leak Disorders

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2021 Nov 15. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–.

ABSTRACT

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) acts as a nourishing and protective layer surrounding the central nervous system. This protective cushion circulates within the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space around the brain and the spinal cord, which helps to provide the buoyancy to counteract various shear and stress encountered during the movement of the skull and vertebral column.

In various disorders that present with CSF leak, the loss of this protective nutrient-rich layer can injure the function of the brain and the spinal cord. Such conditions might be associated with fractures in the skull base, congenital bony defects, or might be associated with raised intracranial pressure (ICP). It also predisposes the brain and spinal cord to the external environment increasing the risk of meningitis, ventriculitis, and arachnoiditis.

The traditional concept of CSF formation, distribution, and absorption was previously based on the bulk flow model. However, this model seems inadequate to explain the pathophysiological mechanisms of various CSF flow-related disorders based on recent literature. The currently accepted CSF flow system comprises pulsatile CSF flow, lymphatic system, capillary exchange, and the traditional ventricular-cisternal system. According to the current understanding, the production of CSF is from multiple sources, primarily from the choroid plexus of the lateral and fourth ventricles. Apart from this, interstitial space, ependyma, and dural sleeves of the spinal nerve roots also contribute to the total CSF turnover.

Similarly, CSF is absorbed in multiple sites, with dural venous sinuses being the major drainage site via arachnoid granulations followed by choroid plexus and glymphatic system.

PMID:35015396 | Bookshelf:NBK576371

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Prevention and treatment of CSF leaks in congenital complex spinal lipomas

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Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2022 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s00701-021-05095-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Congenital complex spinal lipomas (CSL) are challenging lesions to treat. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are feared complications due to the risk of infection, and subsequent scarring that may promote retethering. Much has been written in the literature on the surgical technique of CSL resection with less emphasis placed on the prevention and management of CSF leak.

METHOD: The authors describe the nuances in the prevention and management of CSF leaks in the context of CSL, including the operative approach, resection, closure and recommended postoperative care.

CONCLUSION: CSF leaks are complications that can be minimized with deliberate steps and meticulous surgical technique.

PMID:35015155 | DOI:10.1007/s00701-021-05095-5

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