Investigation of Deficits in Auditory Emotional Content Recognition by Adult Cochlear Implant Users through the Study of Electroencephalographic Gamma and Alpha Asymmetry and Alexithymia Assessment.

Background/objectives: Given the importance of emotion recognition for communication purposes, and the impairment for such skill in CI users despite impressive language performances, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neural correlates of emotion recognition skills, apart from language, in adult unilateral CI (UCI) users during a music in noise (happy/sad) recognition task. Furthermore, asymmetry was investigated through electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythm, given the traditional concept of hemispheric lateralization for emotional processing, and the intrinsic asymmetry due to the clinical UCI condition.

Methods: Twenty adult UCI users and eight normal hearing (NH) controls were recruited.

Validation and reliability of the Italian version of the Self-reported Mini Olfactory Questionnaire (Self-MOQ).

Objective: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) represents a frequent complaint in general population and especially in patients with chronic sinonasal diseases. The aim of this study was the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Self-reported Mini Olfactory Questionnaire (Self-MOQ) into Italian.

Methods: One hundred fifty patients affected by chronic sinonasal diseases and reporting hyposmia were enrolled.

Binaural hearing in monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss fitted with unilateral Bonebridge.

Objective: To determine the benefits of binaural hearing rehabilitation in patients with monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss treated with a unilateral bone conduction implant (BCI).

Methods: This monocentric study includes 7 patients with monaural conductive or mixed hearing loss who underwent surgical implantation of a unilateral BCI (Bonebridge, Med-El). An ITA Matrix test was performed by each patient included in the study - without and with the BCI and in three different settings - to determine the summation effect, squelch effect and head shadow effect.

Clinical Efficacy and Metabolomics Modifications Induced by Polyphenol Compound Supplementation in the Treatment of Residual Dizziness following Semont Maneuver in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) of the Posterior Semicircular Canal (PSC): Preliminary Results.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) represents the most frequent cause of peripheral vertigo. In most cases, it is successfully treated using the canalith repositioning procedure, but it is often followed by continuous lightheadedness in the absence of vertigo or nystagmus (residual dizziness, RD). Our aim is to describe the clinical effectiveness and the urine metabolomics profile of treating these patients with polyphenol compound supplementation.

Introducing endoscopic assistance on routinary basis for vestibular schwannomas resection: A single centre acceptance analysis.

Objective: The use of endoscopic assistance in retrosigmoid approach for tumors of the cerebellopontine angle brought undoubted technological advantages in skull base surgery. Nonetheless, the use of the endoscope is not as widespread as it could be. The aim of the study is to analyze the impressions of neurosurgeons and otologists with different experience in vestibular schwannoma surgery, experiencing the introduction of the endoscope in surgical daily practice.

Music in noise recognition: An EEG study of listening effort in cochlear implant users and normal hearing controls.

Despite the plethora of studies investigating listening effort and the amount of research concerning music perception by cochlear implant (CI) users, the investigation of the influence of background noise on music processing has never been performed. Given the typical speech in noise recognition task for the listening effort assessment, the aim of the present study was to investigate the listening effort during an emotional categorization task on musical pieces with different levels of background noise. The listening effort was investigated, in addition to participants' ratings and performances, using EEG features known to be involved in such phenomenon, that is alpha activity in parietal areas and in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), that includes the Broca's area.

Italian version of the Brief Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (Brief-IT-QOD).

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Italian version of the Brief Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (Brief-IT-QOD).

Methods: The study consisted of six phases: item generation, reliability analysis (112 dysosmic patients for internal consistency analysis and 61 for test-retest reliability analysis), normative data generation (303 normosmic subjects), validity analysis (comparison of Brief-IT-QOD scores of healthy and dysosmic subjects and scores correlation with psychophysical olfactory testing TDI and SNOT-22 scores), responsiveness analysis (10 dysosmic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients before and after biologic therapy), and cut-off value determination (ROC curve analysis of Brief-IT-QOD sensitivity and specificity).

Results: All subjects completed the Brief-IT-QOD.

Binaural Hearing Using the ADHEAR Bone Conduction System in the Monaurally Occluded Ear.

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate binaural cues in the rehabilitation of unilateral occluded ears with a bone conduction hearing aid.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 40 adult volunteers with normal hearing. Unilateral pseudo-conductive hearing loss was induced by inserting an earplug into the external auditory canal (EAC) and silicone material in the concha for ear impression.

Prognostic factors influencing postoperative air-bone gap in stapes surgery.

Objective: Otosclerosis is an osteodystrophic disease of the otic capsule, determining conductive or mixed hearing loss, which can be successfully treated with stapedotomy. The aim of the present multicentric retrospective study was to identify prognostic factors related to better auditory outcomes in stapes surgery.

Methods: 581 patients affected by otosclerosis were submitted to stapedotomy under local anaesthesia in two different hospitals.

Metabolomics in Otorhinolaryngology.

Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat-ENT) focuses on inflammatory, immunological, infectious, and neoplastic disorders of the head and neck and on their medical and surgical therapy. The fields of interest of this discipline are the ear, the nose and its paranasal sinuses, the oral cavity, the pharynx, the larynx, and the neck. Besides surgery, there are many other diagnostic aspects of ENT such as audiology and Vestibology, laryngology, phoniatrics, and rhinology.

Post-Operative Infections in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery: Risk Factors for Different Infection Sites.

Background: Post-operative infections in head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery represent a major problem and are associated with an important increase in mortality, morbidity, and burden on the healthcare system. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate post-operative infections in HNC surgery and to analyze risk factors, with a specific focus on different sites of infection.

Methods: Clinical data about 488 HNC patients who underwent surgery were recorded.

Prevention of Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: The Role of Combined Supplementation with Vitamin D and Antioxidants.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) usually has a favorable course, although it is possible to observe BPPV with a high recurrence rate. Previous studies suggested that vitamin D deficiency might affect BPPV recurrences, and oxidative stress might play a complementary role in BPPV pathogenesis. This multicentric trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplementation with a compound of alpha-lipoic acid, Carnosine, and Zinc (LICA® (Difass International, Coriano (RN), Italy)), vitamins of group B and vitamin D in preventing BPPV recurrences.

Control of Disabling Vertigo in Ménière's Disease Following Cochlear Implantation without Labyrinthectomy.

Background: The placement of a cochlear implant (CI) can restore auditory function in the case of profound cochlear deafness, which may be due to Ménière's disease (MD) or be associated with symptoms related to endolymphatic hydrops. The usual treatment of disabling vertigo in MD is based on vestibular deafferentation by labyrinth ablation. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of the CI in the control of disabling vestibular manifestations in the case of MD unresponsive to medical treatments.

Cochlear Implant Results in Older Adults with Post-Lingual Deafness: The Role of "Top-Down" Neurocognitive Mechanisms.

To date, no clear specific cognitive predictors of speech perception outcome in older adult cochlear implant (CI) users have yet emerged. The aim of this prospective study was to increase knowledge on cognitive and clinical predictors of the audiological outcome in adult cochlear implant users. A total of 21 patients with post-lingual deafness, who were candidates for cochlear implantation, were recruited at the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, University of Torino (Italy) and subjected to a pre-operatory neuropsychological assessment (T0) and an audiological examination after 12 months of implantation (T12).

Contralateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops: Clinical features and long term outcome.

Background: Contralateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops (CDEH) is a clinical entity characterized by fluctuating low frequency hearing loss and/or vertigo, mimicking Ménière's disease (MD), that manifests after the appearance of severe non-hydropic hearing loss (NHHL) at the other ear.

Objectives: to describe the clinical features and the course of 57 patients affected by CDEH.

Method: this is a retrospective study; 57 patients affected by CDEH, out of 1065 patients seen in the same period and affected by MD, were subjected to otoscopy, PTA threshold evaluation, impedance testing, ABR, research of positioning nystagmus, vestibular function evaluated by means of bithermal caloric test under video-oculographic, and MRI with gadolinium.

Cochlear Implant Outcomes in Prelingually Deafened Adults with and without Sound Deprivation: Are There Differences in Quality of Life?

BACKGROUND Indications for cochlear implantation (CI) are constantly being updated, and with them, the audiometric results achieved by patients. Patient satisfaction should always be considered, even in patients with lower audiological results. The aim of the present study was to compare quality of life (QoL), self-perceived hearing benefit, and audiometric results between prelingually and postlingually deafened patients, with and without sound deprivation, after CI.

Evaluation of Italian Simplified Matrix Test for Speech-Recognition Measurements in Noise.

This study aimed at the evaluation of a simplified Italian matrix test (SiIMax) for speech-recognition measurements in noise for adults and children. Speech-recognition measurements with adults and children were conducted to examine the training effect and to establish reference speech-recognition thresholds of 50% (SRT50) and 80% (SRT80) correct responses. Test-list equivalency was evaluated only with adults.

What factors influence treatment decision making in acoustic neuroma? Our experience on 103 cases.

Acoustic Neuromas (AN) are benign tumors of the vestibulocochlear nerve with symptomatology that includes unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, facial and/or trigeminal neuropathy. There are different treatment options of AN: watchful waiting, microsurgical resection, stereotactic radiation and the choice depends by many variables such age, health and hearing of patients as size, location and growing status of tumor. The objective of this retrospective study is to better understand the differences in demographic, hearing status, symptoms, tumor characteristics in patients affected by AN presenting at our clinic and analyze the factors that influence the therapeutic choice.

[COVID-19 emergency management activities promoted by an university hospital in Northern Italy].

Background. In December 2019, a Coronavirus 2019 epidemic (COVID-19) was reported, caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which occurred in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Perceived risk of contracting diseases has led many Governments and Healthcare Organizations to implement a variety of control and protection measures for the population, in particular for health professionals who have made contact with positive Covid-19 patients.

Extracellular Vesicles Released by Tumor Endothelial Cells Spread Immunosuppressive and Transforming Signals Through Various Recipient Cells.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a high recurrence and metastatic rate with an unknown mechanism of cancer spread. Tumor inflammation is the most critical processes of cancer onset, growth, and metastasis. We hypothesize that the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by tumor endothelial cells (TECs) induce reprogramming of immune cells as well as stromal cells to create an immunosuppressive microenvironment that favor tumor spread.

Microdrill stapedotomy for otosclerosis with small and large preoperative air-bone gap: a retrospective comparison of results.

In otosclerosis mixed hearing loss is the most frequent symptom and arises when the focus involves the stapes footplate. Surgeons usually prefer to wait a minimum air-bone gap of 25 - 35 dB before surgery. To evaluate the outcome of microdrill stapedotomy for otosclerosis in patients with a preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) <25 dB versus patients with a preoperative gap ≥ 25 dB.

Corrigendum: Clinical Features of Headache in Patients With Diagnosis of Definite Vestibular Migraine: The VM-Phenotypes Projects.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.