Utility of Extended High-Frequency Audiograms in Clinical Practice.

Objectives: Extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry elicits pure-tone thresholds at frequencies above 8 kHz, which are not included in routine clinical testing. This study explores the utility of EHF audiometry in patients with various audiologic symptoms despite normal-hearing thresholds at ≤8 kHz.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients receiving conventional (250-8 kHz) and EHF (9-20 kHz) audiometry at a tertiary otological referral center between April 2021 and August 2022.

Association between polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and thyroid hormones: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis investigating the association between polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure and serum thyroid hormone levels among adults. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria for analysis following systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Of these, 7 studies measured exposure by the total sum of PCB congeners (∑PCB), 1 study measured individual PCB congener levels, and 3 studies measured both ∑PCB levels and PCB congener levels.

Applications of Telemedicine in Speech-Language Pathology: Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with speech-language therapy televisits and to identify factors influencing the level of satisfaction.

Methods: Participants were recruited from an academic tertiary voice and swallowing center who had completed ≥1 telehealth session of speech-language therapy with a speech-language pathologist between March, 2020 and April, 2021. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS), a validated 7-item survey.

Immediate Improvement in Subjective Visual Vertical and Disequilibrium Predicts Resolution of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Following Single Canalith Repositioning Maneuver.

Objective: To evaluate whether immediate post-canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM) vestibular changes are predictive of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) resolution.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Research Brief: Assessing Readiness for Barbershop-Based HIV Prevention Programs Among Rural African American Barbershop Patrons.

African American men are at a greater risk for contracting HIV infection, and geography may play an important role in the spread of the virus. This study aimed to quantitatively assess the readiness of rural African American men to participate in a barbershop-based HIV prevention program. A paper-and-pencil survey was administered to rural African American male barbershop attendees to assess their readiness for barbershop-based HIV prevention programs.

The role of heavy metals in thyroid cancer: A meta-analysis.

Introduction: Metal ions are known to accumulate in the thyroid and some play an important role in the function and homeostatic mechanisms of the thyroid gland. Certain metal ions are known endocrine disruptors while others are classified to be carcinogenic. Although higher thyroid cancer incidence rates have been reported in regions with high metal levels in soil and drinking water, including volcanic regions, the effect of heavy metals on the thyroid is still poorly understood.

Progressive and Degenerative Peripheral Vestibular Disorders.

Initial diagnosis of peripheral vestibulopathy requires a detailed history, physical examination, and, in some cases, audiovestibular testing, radiographic imaging, or serology. Differentiation of a peripheral vestibulopathy as progressive or degenerative is often nuanced and influenced by a characterization of a patient's symptoms or natural history over time. A diverse group of vestibular pathology may fit into this category, including Ménière's disease, autoimmune conditions, congenital pathologies, ototoxic medications, radiation therapy, and perilymphatic fistula.

A Narrative Review of Pharmacologic Treatments for COVID-19: Safety Considerations and Ototoxicity.

Objective/hypothesis: The purpose of this review is to summarize evidence-based data regarding the ototoxic effects of potential COVID-19 therapeutics to treat patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Medications under investigation as novel therapeutics to treat COVID-19 were identified using the search term coronavirus therapeutics, COVID therapeutics, and SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics on ClinicalTrials.gov and the PubMed Database.

The Impact of Socioeconomic Status on the Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19; a Retrospective Cohort Study.

There have been limited data assessing the influence of disadvantaged socioeconomic status (SES) on the incidence and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients within the diverse communities of the United States. Here, we aim to investigate the association between poverty level, as an indicator of SES, and COVID-19 related clinical outcomes including hospitalization and all-cause mortality. This retrospective cohort study included 3528 patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 seen at a large New York City health system between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2020.

Outcomes of Patients With Hypothyroidism and COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality and worse outcomes have been reported for various morbidities. The impact of pre-existing hypothyroidism on COVID-19 outcomes remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify a possible association between hypothyroidism and outcomes related to COVID-19 including hospitalization, need for mechanical ventilation, and all-cause mortality.

Risk factors and outcomes of COVID-19 in New York City; a retrospective cohort study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic and information on risk factors for worse prognosis is needed to accurately identify patients at risk and potentially provide insight into therapeutic options. In this retrospective cohort study, including 3703 patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, we identified risk factors associated with all-cause mortality, need for hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. Male gender was independently associated with increased risk of hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [OR ]: 1.

A Stromal Niche Defined by Expression of the Transcription Factor WT1 Mediates Programming and Homeostasis of Cavity-Resident Macrophages.

Tissue-resident macrophages require specific milieus for the maintenance of defining gene-expression programs. Expression of the transcription factor GATA6 is required for the homeostasis, function and localization of peritoneal cavity-resident macrophages. Gata6 expression is maintained in a non-cell autonomous manner and is elicited by the vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid.

Does Living Outside of a Major City Impact on the Timeliness of Chlamydia Treatment? A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: Timely treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infection reduces complications and onward transmission. We assessed client, process, and clinic factors associated with treatment delays at sexual health clinics in New South Wales, Australia.

Methods: A retrospective review of 450 consecutive clients with positive chlamydia results (not treated at the time of the consultation) was undertaken at 6 clinics (1 urban, 3 regional, and 2 remote) from October 2013.

Interprofessional learning in primary care: an exploration of the service user experience leads to a new model for co-learning.

Background: Research about service user involvement in research and education focuses on the purpose, the methods, the barriers and the impact of their involvement. Few studies report on the experience of the service users who get involved. This paper reports an exploration of the experience of service users who participated in an interprofessional educational initiative in primary care - the Learning to Improve the Management of Back Pain in the Community (LIMBIC) project.

Thoracic outlet syndrome in high-performance athletes.

Objective: Repetitive upper extremity use in high-performance athletes is associated with the development of neurogenic and vascular thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Surgical therapy in appropriately selected patients can provide relief of symptoms and protection from future disability. We sought to determine the incidence and timing of competitive athletes to return to their prior high-performance level after TOS treatment and surgery.

Integrative health care: implications for nursing practice and education.

The significance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to contemporary health care is reflected in the relatively recent integrative health care (IHC) movement. Having emerged in response to the public's sustained use of CAM, IHC reflects the evolving needs and expectations of modern-day service users, making it consistent with today's culture of patient-responsive health care. IHC therefore carries important implications for nursing practice but, to fulfil their responsibilities with regard to these implications, nurses need a fundamental knowledge of CAM concepts as well as an understanding of the ways in which CAM and conventional health care might affect one another.

Widespread acquisition of antimicrobial resistance among Campylobacter isolates from UK retail poultry and evidence for clonal expansion of resistant lineages.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is increasing among clinical Campylobacter cases and is common among isolates from other sources, specifically retail poultry - a major source of human infection. In this study the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from a UK-wide survey of Campylobacter in retail poultry in 2001 and 2004-5 was investigated. The occurrence of phenotypes resistant to tetracycline, quinolones (ciprofloxacin and naladixic acid), erythromycin, chloramphenicol and aminoglycosides was quantified.

Trichomonas vaginalis prevalence increases with remoteness in rural and remote New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Trichomonas has been reported to be rare in Australia's major cities while remaining very common in some extremely remote Aboriginal communities. This study examined the Trichomonas prevalence and relationship to remoteness among patients attending sexual health clinics in rural and remote areas of New South Wales, Australia.

Methods: During the period 2009 to June 2010, all women attending sexual health clinics in the Western and Far Western Local Health Districts of New South Wales who agreed to sexually transmitted infection testing were offered Trichomonas testing using an in-house polymerase chain reaction test.

Patient expectations of 'effectiveness' in health care: an example from medical herbalism.

Aims And Objectives: The study explored people's experiences of medical herbalism, with the aim of enhancing understanding about the use of herbalism in the context of contemporary UK health care.

Background: The popularity and use of complementary and alternative medicine in westernised societies is now well documented, and medical herbalism, in particular, is enjoying a particularly strong revival of interest. Despite this, the reasons for its sustained popularity remain unclear.

Listeria monocytogenes infection in the over-60s in England between 2005 and 2008: a retrospective case-control study utilizing market research panel data.

A retrospective case-control study of listeriosis in patients in England aged over 60 years is described. The incidence of listeriosis in patients aged ≥60 years in England has doubled since 2001; hence, the investigation of risk factors for infection in this group is important to inform on prevention and control. Standardized epidemiological information has been sought on cases since 2005, but the value of the data accrued is limited without some perception of exposure prevalence in the population at risk of listeriosis.

Host association of Campylobacter genotypes transcends geographic variation.

Genetic attribution of bacterial genotypes has become a major tool in the investigation of the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis and has implicated retail chicken meat as the major source of human infection in several countries. To investigate the robustness of this approach to the provenance of the reference data sets used, a collection of 742 Campylobacter jejuni and 261 Campylobacter coli isolates obtained from United Kingdom-sourced chicken meat was established and typed by multilocus sequence typing. Comparative analyses of the data with those from other isolates sourced from a variety of host animals and countries were undertaken by genetic attribution, genealogical, and population genetic approaches.