Development of machine learning models to predict papillary carcinoma in thyroid nodules: The role of immunological, radiologic, cytologic and radiomic features.

Objective: Approximately 30 % of thyroid nodules yield an indeterminate diagnosis through conventional diagnostic strategies. The aim of this study was to develop machine learning (ML) models capable of identifying papillary thyroid carcinomas using preoperative variables.

Methods: Patients with thyroid nodules undergoing thyroid surgery were enrolled in a retrospective monocentric study.

Endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy: impact of long-standing disease on surgical outcomes.

Purpose: To assess whether the duration of disease may influence the surgical success of Endonasal Endoscopic DCR (EE-DCR) in patients affected by nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO).

Methods: Single-center observational retrospective analysis on EE-DCR via posterior trans-ethmoidal approach. Consecutive patients were enrolled in 2021-2024 and evaluated with proper questionnaires; resolution of epiphora and dacryocystitis were analyzed after 1 (T1) and 6-months (T2) from surgery.

Diffusion-Weighted MRI for Recurrent/Persistent Head and Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma After Radiotherapy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) in diagnosing persistent/recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) after primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Data Sources: Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant publications until April 18, 2023.

Review Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy statement.

Protein family annotation for the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Proteome by DPCfam clustering.

Technological advances in massively parallel sequencing have led to an exponential growth in the number of known protein sequences. Much of this growth originates from metagenomic projects producing new sequences from environmental and clinical samples. The Unified Human Gastrointestinal Proteome (UHGP) catalogue is one of the most relevant metagenomic datasets with applications ranging from medicine to biology.

Postoperative Morbidity of Different Tonsillectomy Techniques: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To compare different tonsillectomy techniques in terms of postoperative bleeding incidence and postoperative pain.

Methods: An arm-based network analysis was conducted using a Bayesian hierarchical model. The primary and secondary outcomes were postoperative bleeding incidence and mean postoperative pain score.

Preoperative systemic inflammatory markers as prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inflammation has been associated with tumor development and circulating inflammatory biomarkers have been proposed as possible predictors of recurrence of several solid tumors. However, the role of inflammation markers in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is still uncertain.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with DTC.

Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Initiation and Completion among Adults Aged 18-26 Years in a Large Healthcare System.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection, with over 40% prevalence in the US. Oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) driven by high-risk HPV are increasing (up to 90%), with HPV vaccination being the only prevention available. The aim of this study was to investigate HPV vaccination among patients aged between 18 and 26 years old with at least one encounter at a large healthcare system and identify sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine initiation and completion.

Sleep quality burden in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and its modulation by dupilumab.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with a substantial burden on patients' quality of life and impaired sleep quality. The most common CRSwNP endotype is characterized by type 2 inflammation, with enhanced production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody against IL-4 receptor-α, which inhibits both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, and was recently approved for treatment of CRSwNP.

Functional outcomes of soft palate reconstruction after oncologic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze functional outcomes of soft palate reconstruction after oncologic surgery.

Methods: This study was conducted in conformity with the PRISMA statement. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for feeding tube dependence (FTD) (primary outcome), velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and hypernasality (HN) (secondary outcomes) incidences.

Transoral Laser Microsurgery in Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the oncological outcomes of salvage transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in the treatment of patients suffering from recurrent laryngeal cancer.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched. English language, original studies investigating oncological outcomes of TLM in adult patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer were included.

Functional outcomes and complications of total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation and flap reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To analyze the functional outcomes and complications of total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation and reconstruction with free or pedicled flaps.

Methods: A search was conducted using Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for feeding tube dependence (FTD), tracheostomy dependence (TD), and speech intelligibility (SI) rates.

Use, Abuse, and Misuse of Nasal Medications: Real-Life Survey on Community Pharmacist's Perceptions.

Background: Medication overuse is an increasing global problem, especially for those rhinology diseases whose management requires over-the-counter drugs. This observational community pharmacy-based study aimed to investigate the actual use of the best-selling topical nasal medications and to characterize the clinical issues underlying their query through the pharmacist's perception.

Methods: In the pilot phase, a preliminary survey was developed by a team of researchers and tested on a small sample of practitioners to assess usability and intelligibility.

Three-dimensional exoscope-assisted single-stage tracheal resection.

The three-dimensional (3D) 4K exoscope is a surgical tool recently introduced in numerous fields of otolaryngology, such as microvascular surgery, otology, and laryngology. However, other surgical fields may also benefit from this technology. In this case, a single-stage tracheal resection was planned with the aid of the 3D 4K exoscope, in a 75-year-old female with post-tracheostomy tracheal stenosis.

Nasal cytology as a reliable non-invasive procedure to phenotype patients with type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Background: The identification of type-2 inflammation in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) acquires a crucial role in the endotypization needed for selecting patients for biological drugs targeting type-2 inflammation: to date, the parameters used include systemic and histological biomarkers. The aim of this study was to investigate whether nasal cytology could identify type-2 inflammation in patients with CRSwNP.

Methodology: Thirty-three consecutive patients with CRSwNP underwent nasal cytology sampling at the level of the lower nasal turbinate, and of the polypoid tissue, and surgical polyp tissue sample was collected.

DPCfam: Unsupervised protein family classification by Density Peak Clustering of large sequence datasets.

Proteins that are known only at a sequence level outnumber those with an experimental characterization by orders of magnitude. Classifying protein regions (domains) into homologous families can generate testable functional hypotheses for yet unannotated sequences. Existing domain family resources typically use at least some degree of manual curation: they grow slowly over time and leave a large fraction of the protein sequence space unclassified.

Different surgical approaches in retropharyngeal lymph nodes dissection in head and neck cancer: A systematic review.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of studies analyzing different surgical approaches in the treatment of retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) metastases.

Methods: The study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Results: Twenty-one studies were included in the review, for a total of 481 patients (median age: 55.

Reply to Adrian, G. Comment on "Russo et al. Does Tumor Volume Have a Prognostic Role in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. 2022, , 2465".

The authors raised some interesting points [...

Long-standing gustatory and olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a prospective study.

Purpose: Our study aimed to describe recovery of gustatory dysfunction (GD) and olfactory dysfunction (OD) in COVID-19 patients, and to analyze variables associated with early or late recovery.

Methods: Telephone surveys were administered during an 18-month follow-up after COVID-19 diagnosis. One hundred and thirty-two included patients rated olfactory and gustatory function at each follow-up.

Surgical prevention of pharyngocutaneous fistula in salvage total laryngectomy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of different reconstructive techniques in preventing pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after salvage total laryngectomy (STL).

Methods: An arm-based network analysis was conducted using a Bayesian hierarchical model according to the PRISMA-NMA guidelines.

Results: A total of 1694 patients with a median age of 64 years (n = 1569, 95% CI: 62-66 years) were included.

Does Tumor Volume Have a Prognostic Role in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of tumor volume in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 1417 patients with a median age of 59.

Circumferential pharyngeal reconstruction after total laryngopharyngectomy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare the functional outcomes of different reconstructive techniques for circumferential pharyngeal reconstruction.

Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Retrospective and prospective studies were included.