Hearing outcomes and patient satisfaction after stapes surgery: local general anaesthesia.

Objective: Otosclerosis is a frequent ear disorder causing a stapedo-ovalar ankylosis and conductive hearing loss. Stapedoplasty, performed under both general (GA) and local anaesthesia (LA), is the most advisable surgical solution. Auditory recovery relies on the patient's conditions and on the intervention itself.

Otoendoscopy in the era of narrow-band imaging: a pictorial review.

Purpose: Otoendoscopy represents the initial non-invasive diagnostic cornerstone for external and middle ear disorders. Recently, new techniques of enhanced imaging such as narrow-band imaging (NBI) have been introduced but their role as a potential aid in otological practice remains unproven. In this pictorial review, we want to present the potential application of this endoscopic method, highlight its limitations, and give some hints regarding its future implementation.

Current outcomes of myringoplasty in a European referral children's hospital.

Objectives: Myringoplasty is a frequently performed procedure in children, with a heterogeneous failure rate. Our study aimed to evaluate the outcome of myringoplasty in a pediatric hospital and to identify which are risk factors for reperforation or poor hearing improvement after surgery.

Methods: Preoperative and intraoperative variables between pediatric patients who had undergone myringoplasty with an intact tympanic membrane at follow-up and the cases with reperforation were compared.

Polymer composition analysis of plastic debris ingested by loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in Southern Tyrrhenian Sea through ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

The ingestion of anthropogenic plastic debris by marine wildlife is widespread in the Mediterranean Sea. The endangered status (in the IUCN Red List) of Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1758) is a consequence of its vulnerability. In this study, macro-/meso-plastics (5-170 mm) collected from faeces of twelve loggerhead turtles rescued (live) in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) were analyzed by size, weight, shape, color and polymer type through Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).

Recurrence of ischemic stroke on direct oral anticoagulant therapy in a patient with marantic endocarditis related to lung cancer.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE) are frequent complications in cancer patients. For curative treatment of VTE in a neoplastic context, recent randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses suggest that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) can be an alternative to conventional treatment by low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs). On the other hand, the role of DOACs in the treatment of cancer-related ATE remains unclear.

The Role of Elective Neck Treatment in the Management of Sinonasal Carcinomas: A Systematic Review of the Literature and a Meta-Analysis.

The impact of elective neck treatment (ENT), whether by irradiation or dissection, on the prognosis of patients with cN0 sinonasal carcinomas (SNCs) remains an understudied issue. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature were performed according to PRISMA guidelines in order to assess regional nodal relapse rate after ENT compared to observation in cN0 SNCs patients. Twenty-six articles for a total of 1178 clinically N0 patients were analyzed.

Behaviour and vocalizations of two sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) entangled in illegal driftnets in the Mediterranean Sea.

Illegal driftnetting causes each year several entanglements and deaths of sperm whales in different Mediterranean areas, primarily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. In summer 2020, during the June-July fishing season, two sperm whales were found entangled in illegal driftnets in the Aeolian Archipelago waters, Southern Italy. These two rare events were an exceptional chance to collect behavioural and acoustics data about entangled sperm whales.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of head and neck cancer survivors.

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors are particularly vulnerable to the deleterious consequences of lockdown and social distancing. The psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this group are still unknown, and we want to explore how their quality of life (QoL) has changed in this unique situation.

Materials And Methods: An online survey, composed of pandemic-specific items, plus the EORTC QLQ-C30, was administered to a cohort of HNC survivors.

Early glottic cancer recurrence: A critical review on its current management.

Introduction: Recurrent early glottic cancer (rEGC) poses several issues in terms of timely diagnosis, correct re-staging, and treatment. We want to critically review the latest evidence about rEGC considering its epidemiology, biology, diagnostic challenges, and treatment strategies.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature using PubMed from 1990 to October 31, 2020 was performed.

The prognostic role of IL-10 in non-severe COVID-19 with chemosensory dysfunction.

Objectives: Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction (OD/GD) are now recognized as typical symptoms of COVID-19 infection. However, their pathogenesis remains unclear and no clear prognostic factors have been identified. We have analyzed a cohort of mild/moderate hospitalized patients to identify possible clinical or immunological predictors of recovery from OD/GD.

A New Solution for Routine Endoscopic Aerosol-Generating Procedures (AGPs) in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: There is urgent need to find a swift and cheap way to safely perform routine endoscopic procedures during the otolaryngological and anesthesiological practice. We want to share our experience of a novel device, inspired by the pediatric head box experience.

Materials And Methods: Five otolaryngologists and four anesthesiologists were asked to visualize the glottic plane by using the device.

The clinical consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown: A report from an Italian referral ENT department.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical effects of health care reorganization because of COVID-19, in a non-red zone Italian referral department of Otorhinolaryngology.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the statistics of admissions to the Emergency Department (ED) of the Careggi University Hospital, Florence, from January 1, 2020, to May 17, 2020. Data regarding elective and urgent head and neck disorders were reviewed and the most challenging cases were discussed.

An Integrated Care Strategy for the Follow-up of Patients With COVID-19-Associated Chemosensory Dysfunction.

The proportion of patients with residual olfactory and gustatory dysfunction after COVID-19 is increasing, and practical health care strategies need to be developed to manage this novel situation in otolaryngology services worldwide. Starting from our experience in a large Italian hospital, we estimated that >1500 people will complain of some form of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in the future months in our region. We want to share our logistical and clinical integrated pathway that is aimed to screen and refer each patient to the most appropriate level of care in order to optimize resources and avoid overwhelming the available clinics.

The Umbrella Technique for the Closure of Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistula.

The diagnosis and management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea remains an important challenge in the field of rhinology. In this study, the authors want to propose a technique for transnasal endoscopic closure of CSF fistulas, tested for the first time on 2 adult fresh cadaveric specimens. The authors think that the use of a device similar to the umbrella device, used to close cardiac atrial defects, may also be valid for the closure of defects at the level of the anterior skull base.

A critical evaluation of computed tomography-derived depth of invasion in the preoperative assessment of oral cancer staging.

Background: Depth of invasion (DOI) has been introduced into the latest TNM classification of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Despite its primarily pathological definition (pDOI), a preoperative evaluation of a radiological DOI (rDOI) would be useful but a standard and practical definition is lacking. The primary aim of this study is to measure the rDOI by computed tomography (CT) and compare it to the pDOI in a cohort of OSCC patients.