Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the Treatment of Persistent COVID-Related Olfactory Dysfunction.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplementation in the treatment of COVID-related olfactory dysfunction (OD).

Methods: Patients with laboratory-confirmed or clinically-suspected COVID-19 infection and new-onset OD from August 2020 to November 2021 were prospectively recruited. Patients with quantitative OD, defined as a brief smell identification test (BSIT) score of 9 or less, were eligible for study inclusion.

Ergonomic Analysis of Otologic Surgery: Comparison of Endoscope and Microscope.

Objective: The comparative postural health of surgeons performing endoscopic and microscopic otologic surgeries has been a topic of active debate, with many nascent or anecdotal reports suggesting the latter encourages suboptimal ergonomics. Using inertial body sensors to measure joint angles, this study sought to objectively evaluate and compare the ergonomics of surgeons during endoscopic and microscopic otologic surgeries.

Study Design: Prospective pilot trial.

Defining the Learning Curve for Endoscopic Ear Skills Using a Modular Trainer: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Objective: Quantify the learning curve for endoscopic ear skills acquisition in otolaryngology residents using a simulator. The secondary objective was to determine if demographic factors or previous endoscopic experience influenced skill development.

Study Design: Prospective, multicenter study.

Association between tumor mutations and meningioma recurrence in Grade I/II disease.

Background: Meningiomas are common intracranial tumors with variable prognoses not entirely captured by commonly used classification schemes. We sought to determine the relationship between meningioma mutations and oncologic outcomes using a targeted next-generation sequencing panel.

Materials And Methods: We identified 184 grade I and II meningiomas with both >90 days of post-surgical follow-up and linked targeted next-generation sequencing.

Otolaryngology Patient Satisfaction with In-Office Appointments and Virtual Visits Due to COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced otolaryngologists to seek new methods of providing patient care in a remote setting. The effect of this paradigm shift on patient satisfaction, however, remains unelucidated. This study compares patient satisfaction with telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic to that with in-office visits during the same period in 2019.

Does "Just in Time" teaching of ergonomic principles improve posture of trainees during otologic microscopic surgery?

Purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent among otolaryngologists and otologists with symptoms starting during residency. Prior data suggested that high-risk joint angles were often adopted at procedure onset, suggesting a detrimental "natural" operating position. Despite its importance, dedicated ergonomic teaching is not systematically introduced into residency training.

Utility of liquid biopsy in diagnosing isolated cerebral phaeohyphomycosis: illustrative case.

Background: Cladophialophora bantiana is a dematiaceous, saprophytic fungus and a rare but reported cause of intracranial abscesses due to its strong neurotropism. Although it predominantly affects immunocompetent individuals with environmental exposure, more recently, its significance as a highly lethal opportunistic infection in transplant recipients has been recognized. Successful treatment requires timely but often challenging diagnosis, followed by complete surgical excision.

Sharing in-office otoendoscopy recordings may improve patient satisfaction: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: Evaluate the impact of sharing otoendoscopy exams on patient satisfaction in the outpatient clinical setting.

Methods: Randomized, prospective cohort study. Consecutive adults presenting to otology clinic at one tertiary referral center were randomized into two groups: standard microscopy (SM) and video otoendoscopy (VO).

Perivascular spaces as a marker of psychological trauma in depression: A 7-Tesla MRI study.

Introduction: Emerging evidence in depression suggests that blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and elevated inflammatory cytokines in states of persistent stress or trauma may contribute to the development of symptoms. Signal-to-noise ratio afforded by ultra-high field MRI may aid in the detection of maladaptations of the glymphatic system related to BBB integrity that may not be visualized at lower field strengths.

Methods: We investigated the link between glymphatic neuroanatomy via perivascular spaces (PVS) and trauma experience in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and in healthy controls using 7-Tesla MRI and a semi-automated segmentation algorithm.

Seeking an optimal dose of preoperative corticosteroids in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Preoperative corticosteroids have been shown to improve surgical visibility and intraoperative blood loss for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). However, there is no consensus on the optimal dosing regimen.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted to compare low, medium, and high dose corticosteroids prior to ESS.

Association of mutations in DNA polymerase epsilon with increased CD8+ cell infiltration and prolonged progression-free survival in patients with meningiomas.

Objective: Prior studies have demonstrated a relationship between underlying tumor genetics and lymphocyte infiltration in meningiomas. In this study, the authors aimed to further characterize the relationship between meningioma genomics, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and oncological outcomes of meningiomas. Understanding specific characteristics of the inflammatory infiltration could have implications for treatment and prognostication.

A Review of Noninfectious Diseases Masquerading as Acute Mastoiditis.

Objective: Acute mastoiditis is commonly attributed to infection. Rarely do clinicians encounter cases that do not respond to traditional antibiotics or surgical management. The goal of this study was to systematically review the literature to characterize diseases masquerading as acute infectious mastoiditis.

Clinical Features of Parosmia Associated With COVID-19 Infection.

Objective: To characterize the clinical features, risk factors, symptom time-course, and quality of life implications for parosmia among coronavirus disease (COVID)-related olfactory dysfunction patients.

Methods: Individuals with olfactory dysfunction associated with laboratory-confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19 infection were recruited from otolaryngology and primary care practices over a period from August 2020 to March 2021. Participants completed olfactory dysfunction and quality of life surveys.

The Expanding Role of Geometric Morphometrics in Craniofacial Surgery.

Introduction: Geometric morphometrics (GM) is an advanced landmark-based quantitative method used to study biological shape and form. Historically, GM has been limited to non-biomedical fields such as comparative biology; however, this technique confers advantages over traditional cephalometric methods, warranting a review of current applications of GM to human craniofacial disorders.

Methods: The RISmed package was used to extract metadata associated with PubMed publications referencing GM analysis techniques in craniofacial and reconstructive surgery.

Ergonomic Analysis of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Using Novel Inertial Sensors.

Objectives/hypothesis: Suboptimal ergonomics during endoscopic sinus surgery can lead to considerable physical discomfort and fatigue for the surgeon. The purpose of this pilot study is to objectively evaluate the ergonomic positions of trainee and attending surgeons while performing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Study Design: Pilot prospective trial.

Letter to the editor: Study Summary - Randomized Control Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the Treatment of COVID-19 Related Olfactory Dysfunction.

Objectives: To evaluate a therapeutic role for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction associated with COVID-19 infection TRIAL DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial PARTICIPANTS: Eligible patients are adults with self-reported new-onset olfactory dysfunction of any duration associated with laboratory-confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19 patients. Exclusion criteria include patients with pre-existing olfactory dysfunction, history of chronic rhinosinusitis or history of sinus surgery, current use of nasal steroid sprays or omega-3 supplementation, fish allergy, or inability to provide informed consent for any reason. The trial is conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: The intervention group will receive 2000 mg daily of omega-3 supplementation in the form of two "Fish Oil, Ultra Omega-3" capsules (product of Pharmavite®) daily.

Gender Trends in Authorship of Original Otolaryngology Publications: A Fifteen-Year Perspective.

Objective: To examine trends in female author representation within original otolaryngology research between 2000 and 2015.

Methods: Original research articles published in 11 otolaryngology journals were analyzed for 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2015. The genders of the first and last authors for each article were recorded.

Neuroanatomical Determinants of Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia: Application of 7T Ultra-High-Field Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Seven-Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated value for evaluating a variety of intracranial diseases. However, its utility in trigeminal neuralgia has received limited attention. The authors of the present study applied ultra-high field multimodal MRI to two representative patients with secondary trigeminal neuralgia due to epidermoid tumors to illustrate the possible clinical and surgical advantages of 7T compared with standard clinical strength imaging.

Measuring degeneration of the lateral geniculate nuclei from pituitary adenoma compression detected by 7T ultra-high field MRI: a method for predicting vision recovery following surgical decompression of the optic chiasm.

Objective: Predicting vision recovery following surgical decompression of the optic chiasm in pituitary adenoma patients remains a clinical challenge, as there is significant variability in postoperative visual function that remains unreliably explained by current prognostic factors. Available literature inadequately characterizes alterations in adenoma patients involving the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). This study examined the association of LGN degeneration with chiasmatic compression as well as with the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), pattern standard deviation (PSD), mean deviation (MD), and postoperative vision recovery.

Quantitative assessment of secondary white matter injury in the visual pathway by pituitary adenomas: a multimodal study at 7-Tesla MRI.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate microstructural damage caused by pituitary macroadenomas by performing probabilistic tractography of the optic tracts and radiations using 7-T diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI). These imaging findings were correlated with neuro-ophthalmological results to assess the utility of ultra-high-field MRI for objective evaluation of damage to the anterior and posterior visual pathways.

Methods: Probabilistic tractography employing 7-T DWI was used to reconstruct the optic tracts and radiations in 18 patients with adenomas and in 16 healthy volunteers.

Discharge Destination as a Predictor of Postoperative Outcomes and Readmission Following Posterior Lumbar Fusion.

Background: Posterior lumbar fusions are performed to treat various spinal deformities, degenerative diseases, fractures, infections, and tumors. The possibility of episode-based bundled payments for spine surgery necessitates analysis of the factors predicting readmissions and postoperative complications.

Methods: Patients undergoing posterior lumbar fusion in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were queried via Current Procedural Terminology codes 22630, 22633, and 22612.

Mice Develop Efficient Strategies for Foraging and Navigation Using Complex Natural Stimuli.

The ability to shift between multiple decision-making strategies during natural behavior allows animals to strike a balance between flexibility and efficiency. We investigated odor-guided navigation by mice to understand how decision-making strategies are balanced during a complex natural behavior. Mice navigated to odor sources in an open arena using naturally fluctuating airborne odor cues as their positions were recorded precisely in real time.