The phenotypic and genetic effects of drought-induced stress on wood specific conductivity and anatomical properties in white spruce seedlings, and relationships with growth and wood density.

Drought frequency and intensity are projected to increase with climate change, thus amplifying stress on forest trees. Resilience to drought implicates physiological traits such as xylem conductivity and wood anatomical traits, which are related to growth and wood density. Integrating drought-stress response traits at the juvenile stage into breeding criteria could help promote the survival of planted seedlings under current and future climate and thus, improve plantation success.

Impacts of spruce budworm defoliation on the habitat of woodland caribou, moose, and their main predators.

Forest logging has contributed to the decline of several woodland caribou populations by causing the fragmentation of mature coniferous stands. Such habitat alterations could be worsened by spruce budworm (SBW) outbreaks. Using 6201 vegetation plots from provincial inventories conducted after the last SBW outbreak (1968-1992) in boreal forests of Québec (Canada), we investigated the influence of SBW-caused tree defoliation and mortality on understory vegetation layers relevant to woodland caribou and its main predators.

Gentamicin Vestibulotoxicity: Further Insights From a Large Clinical Series.

Objective: To review insights gained from a 21-year experience with gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity including differences in vestibulotoxicity between single daily dosing (SDD) and multiple daily dosing (MDD) regimens.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Interdisciplinary integration of nursing and psychiatry (INaP) for the treatment of dizziness.

Objectives: The traditional medical care model of "assess and refer" requires revamping to address the multifaceted needs of patients with chronic dizziness and imbalance by adopting an interdisciplinary approach to care that integrates nursing and psychiatry (INaP). We aim to present a novel interdisciplinary approach that incorporates INaP in the care of patients with chronic dizziness and imbalance.

Methods: Presentation of an interdisciplinary model of care that incorporates INaP provided at the Toronto General Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

Interdisciplinary integration of nursing and psychiatry (INaP) improves dizziness-related disability.

Objectives/hypothesis: The traditional medical care model of "assess and refer" in a sequential fashion fails to recognize the complexities that arise due to overlapping physical and psychiatric comorbidities experienced by patients with chronic dizziness or imbalance, thus resulting in inadequate treatment outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a novel interdisciplinary approach to care that integrates nursing and psychiatry (INaP) on dizziness-related disability.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

BalanCI: Head-Referenced Cochlear Implant Stimulation Improves Balance in Children with Bilateral Cochleovestibular Loss.

Introduction: To determine the impact of a head-referenced cochlear implant (CI) stimulation system, BalanCI, on balance and postural control in children with bilateral cochleovestibular loss (BCVL) who use bilateral CI.

Methods: Prospective, blinded case-control study. Balance and postural control testing occurred in two settings: (1) quiet clinical setting and (2) immersive realistic virtual environment (Challenging Environment Assessment Laboratory [CEAL], Toronto Rehabilitation Institute).

Long-Term Late Toxicity, Quality of Life, and Emotional Distress in Patients With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: To report long-term (>4 years) toxicity and quality of life (QoL) among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in a nonendemic center.

Methods And Materials: A cross-sectional cohort study enrolled patients with NPC who were disease-free and ≥4 years after IMRT ± chemotherapy. Physician-reported adverse events (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.

Association Between Catastrophizing and Dizziness-Related Disability Assessed With the Dizziness Catastrophizing Scale.

Importance: Catastrophizing is a maladaptive thought process that involves irrational fear and worry about anticipated or actual symptoms. Although clinically relevant, the role of catastrophizing in patients with chronic dizziness or imbalance has not yet been explored to our knowledge.

Objectives: To validate a measure of dizziness catastrophizing and to assess its association with dizziness-related disability compared with other negative affect constructs (eg, anxiety and depression).

Consultation diagnoses and procedures billed among recent graduates practicing general otolaryngology - head & neck surgery in Ontario, Canada.

Background: An analysis of the scope of practice of recent Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) graduates working as general otolaryngologists has not been previously performed. As Canadian OHNS residency programs implement competency-based training strategies, this data may be used to align residency curricula with the clinical and surgical practice of recent graduates.

Methods: Ontario billing data were used to identify the most common diagnostic and procedure codes used by general otolaryngologists issued a billing number between 2006 and 2012.

Vestibular stimulation improves insight into illness in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Impaired insight into illness (IMP-INS) is common among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), contributing to medication nonadherence and poor clinical outcomes. Caloric vestibular simulation (CVS) is typically used to assess peripheral vestibular system function. Left cold CVS is also a transiently effective treatment for IMP-INS and hemineglect secondary to right brain hemisphere stroke, and possibly for IMP-INS and mood stabilization in patients with SSD.

Processes driving short-term temporal dynamics of small mammal distribution in human-disturbed environments.

As the impact of anthropogenic activities intensifies worldwide, an increasing proportion of landscape is converted to early successional stages every year. To understand and anticipate the global effects of the human footprint on wildlife, assessing short-term changes in animal populations in response to disturbance events is becoming increasingly important. We used isodar habitat selection theory to reveal the consequences of timber harvesting on the ecological processes that control the distribution dynamics of a small mammal, the red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi).

Large-Scale Variations in Lumber Value Recovery of Yellow Birch and Sugar Maple in Quebec, Canada.

Silvicultural restoration measures have been implemented in the northern hardwoods forests of southern Quebec, Canada, but their financial applicability is often hampered by the depleted state of the resource. To help identify sites most suited for the production of high quality timber, where the potential return on silvicultural investments should be the highest, this study assessed the impact of stand and site characteristics on timber quality in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.

Ménière's Syndrome or Disease: Time Trends in Management and Quality of Evidence Over the Last Two Decades.

Objective: To evaluate the evidence and trends in published literature on the treatment of Ménière's syndrome or disease (MS/D) by comparing studies published in the last two decades.

Data Sources: A literature search was performed on AMED, EMBASE, HMIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, BNI, CINAHL, HEALTH BUSINESS ELITE, CENTRAL and Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat disorders groups trials register using a combination of MeSH. The date of last search was October 2014.

The VAGUS insight into psychosis scale--self-report and clinician-rated versions.

The aim of this study was to develop self-report and clinician-rated versions of an insight scale that would be easy to administer, sensitive to small changes, and inclusive of the core dimensions of clinical insight into psychosis. Ten-item self-report (VAGUS-SR) and five-item clinician-rated (VAGUS-CR) scales were designed to measure the dimensions of insight into psychosis and evaluated in 215 and 140 participants, respectively (www.vagusonline.

The round window region and contiguous areas: endoscopic anatomy and surgical implications.

The round window region is a critical area of the middle ear; the aim of this paper is to describe its anatomy from an endoscopic perspective, emphasizing some structures, the knowledge of which could have important implications during surgery, as well as to evaluate what involvement cholesteatoma may have with these structures. Retrospective review of video recordings of endoscopic ear surgeries and retrospective database review were conducted in Tertiary university referral center. Videos from endoscopic middle ear procedures carried out between June 2010 and September 2012 and stored in a shared database were reviewed retrospectively.

The behavior of mastoidectomy cavities following modified radical mastoidectomy.

Objectives/hypothesis: An analysis of the frequency and intensity of postoperative aftercare required for modified radical mastoidectomy (MRM) and patterns of healing in the postoperative period.

Study Design: A retrospective review of all primary modified radical mastoidectomies carried out for cholesteatoma under the care of the senior author between the years of 2004 and 2009 with minimum follow-up of 2 years.

Methods: The time and number of interventions required to achieve a stable and dry mastoid cavity were collected.

Intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography and multi-slice computed tomography in temporal bone imaging for surgical treatment.

Objective: Conventional computed tomography (CT) imaging is the standard imaging technique for temporal bone diseases, whereas cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging is a very fast imaging tool with a significant less radiation dose compared with conventional CT. We hypothesize that a system for intraoperative cone-beam CT provides comparable image quality to diagnostic CT for identifying temporal bone anatomical landmarks in cadaveric specimens.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Evaluation of intraoperative cone beam computed tomography and optical drill tracking in temporal bone surgery.

Objectives/hypothesis: A prototype system for intraoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging has been developed and augmented with real time optical tracking of a surgical drill. We hypothesize that this system provides sufficient accuracy for guidance of temporal bone surgery.

Study Design: Basic research.

Introducing endoscopic ear surgery into practice.

The otolaryngologist will find in this article a direct and frank discussion and useful advice for how to get started performing solely endoscopic ear surgery for abnormalities of the middle ear. The author provides discussion and photos based on his experience with this procedure. Presented herein are selection of the endoscope, how to approach the first fully endoscopic procedure, patient selection, preoperative planning, setting up the operating room, pitfalls typically encountered, and how to gain skills to perform this procedure successfully.

Endoscopic management of chronic otitis media and tympanoplasty.

The endoscope allows for better inspection for cholesteatoma in cases with chronic otitis media, better access to selective epitympanic poor ventilation and secondary selective chronic otitis media, better visualization of anterior poor ventilation of the mesotympanum (reestablishing adequate ventilation to the mesotympanum), better visualization and reconstruction of anterior tympanic membrane perforations, allows use of Sheehy's lateral graft tympanoplasty through a transcanal approach, and increases the odds of preoperative detection of ossicular chain disruption associated with perforations.

Transcanal endoscopic management of cholesteatoma.

A detailed and comprehensive discussion of transcanal endoscopic management of cholesteatoma is presented. After a presentation of the anatomy of the area, the rationale, advantages and limitations, technique, and long-term results of each technique are presented. A case presentation follows each technique.

Antivirals for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is characterised by sudden loss of hearing of cochlear or retro-cochlear origin without an identifiable cause. Antivirals are commonly prescribed, but there is no consensus on the treatment regimen or their effectiveness.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness and side effect profile of antivirals in the treatment of ISSHL.

Efficacy of the Power Balance Silicone Wristband: a single-blind, randomized, triple placebo-controlled study.

Introduction: The Power Balance Silicone Wristband (Power Balance LLC, Laguna Niguel, CA) (power balance band; PBB) consists of a silicone wristband, incorporating two holograms, which is meant to confer improvements in balance on the wearer. Despite its popularity, the PBB has become somewhat controversial, with a number of articles being published in the news media regarding its efficacy. The PBB has not been formally evaluated but remains popular, largely based on anecdotal evidence.

A portable, low-cost system for posturography: a platform for longitudinal balance telemetry.

Objective: The Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) is a low-cost, commercially available gaming device that shares many characteristics with a laboratory-grade forceplate. This study evaluates the WBB and explores its potential application as a low-cost posturography system.

Methods: Custom software was written to interface with the WBB and measure the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB).