Open Partial Horizontal Laryngectomy in the Elderly: Oncological and Functional Outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the oncological and functional prognostic implication of perioperative risk factors in the elderly patient who underwent open partial horizontal laryngectomy (OPHL).

Study Design: A single institution, retrospective case-cohort study.

Methods: The present study retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of a cohort of 100 elderly laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients who underwent OPHL at our institution.

Adapting an early autism caregiver coaching intervention for telehealth delivery in low-resource settings: A South African study of the 'what' and the 'why'.

We were busy with an early autism caregiver-coaching programme in South Africa, when COVID-19 stopped all in-person work. We changed the programme so it could be done using computers and/or phones. Here, we describe programme changes (which we call the 'what') and the reasons for those changes (which we call the 'why').

Quality of life improvement in Cochlear implant outpatients: a non-randomized clinical trial of an auditory music training program.

Objective: Research on Cochlear implant (CI) outcomes has been mainly focused on verbal communication, whereas music perception has been less extensively explored. This study evaluated a music rehabilitation program, based on the mobile phone app Meludia (Meludia, France) to improve quality of life (QoL) and verbal perception in CI patients.

Design: In this non-randomised clinical trial, the experimental group underwent 16 Meludia sessions, while controls did not receive any music-specific rehabilitation.

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Distant Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/objectives: Distant metastasis (DM), though uncommon at initial presentation, significantly worsens the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). This review aimed to investigate the occurrence rates, patterns, and implications of HNSCC DM.

Methods: A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science.

Functional Outcomes and Self-Reported Quality of Life in Patients with Facial Nerve Impairment Following Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this observational retrospective study was to report quality of life (QoL) in patients with postoperative facial nerve (FN) palsy after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery, investigating clinical factors related to functional outcomes.

Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients (M:F 25:23; median age: 52.5 years) with facial palsy following surgery for sporadic VS were considered retrospectively.

Oral Care in Head and Neck Radiotherapy: Proposal for an Oral Hygiene Protocol.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on the oral side effects caused by radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Various treatments are examined to mitigate these sequelae, and a protocol is proposed for dentists and dental hygienists to manage oncological patients. A literature search was conducted to select relevant articles addressing the effects of radiotherapy treatments on the oral cavity, with a particular focus on the development of mucositis, candidiasis, changes in salivary pH, trismus, fibrosis, and alterations in the oral biofilm.

Behavioral characteristics of toddlers later identified with an autism diagnosis, ADHD symptoms, or combined autism and ADHD symptoms.

Background: Autism commonly co-occurs with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but less is known regarding how ADHD symptoms impact the early presentation of autism. This study examined early behavioral characteristics of a community sample of toddlers later identified with autism diagnosis, ADHD symptoms, combined autism and ADHD symptoms, or neither condition.

Methods: Participants were 506 toddlers who were part of a longitudinal study of children's behavioral development.

Hydrogel-chitosan and polylactic acid-polycaprolactone bioengineered scaffolds for reconstruction of mandibular defects: a preclinical study with assessment of translationally relevant aspects.

Reconstruction of mandibular bone defects is a surgical challenge, and microvascular reconstruction is the current gold standard. The field of tissue bioengineering has been providing an increasing number of alternative strategies for bone reconstruction. In this preclinical study, the performance of two bioengineered scaffolds, a hydrogel made of polyethylene glycol-chitosan (HyCh) and a hybrid core-shell combination of poly (L-lactic acid)/poly ( -caprolactone) and HyCh (PLA-PCL-HyCh), seeded with different concentrations of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs), has been explored in non-critical size mandibular defects in a rabbit model.

Learning disabilities in children with hearing loss: A systematic review.

Purpose: The main aim of this systematic review was to investigate the possible association between hearing loss [and/or history of otitis media with effusion (OME)] and learning difficulties in children. Secondary aims were to: (i) investigate if deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children with learning difficulties might show different clinical and neuropsychological features compared with those with other neurodevelopmental disorders; (ii) identify possible predictors of learning difficulty in DHH children.

Methods: A review was conducted of the scientific literature reported by Pubmed, Cochrane and Scopus databases.

Prognostic Factors in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: The Experience of Two Audiology Tertiary Referral Centres.

: Although different hypotheses have been proposed over time, there is a dearth of information on factors able to predict the response to treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and hearing recovery. The aim of this study was to apply univariate and multivariate statistical models in a retrospective clinical setting of patients given therapy for ISSNHL at our tertiary academic audiological centers to investigate the prognostic value of clinical signs, symptoms, and comorbidities in relation to hearing recovery. : The inclusion criteria were: history of ISSNHL diagnosed and treated at the Padova or Modena tertiary academic audiological centers; age ≥ 18 years; availability of clinical and audiological outcome data.

The Efficacy of Wireless Auditory Training in Unilateral Hearing Loss Rehabilitation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of auditory training (AT) in patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) using hearing aids (HAs), comparing traditional methods with a new approach involving a wireless remote microphone.

Methods: The study included 96 participants, divided into two groups, with ages ranging from 42 to 64 years, comprising both male and female subjects. A clinical trial including consecutive moderate UHL patients was performed at our institution.

Brief Report: Relationships Between Caregiver-Reported Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers.

Purpose: Early detection and intervention are associated with improved outcomes for autistic children. Thus, it is important to understand factors influencing early screening tools designed to detect autism. This study examined the relationship between caregiver-reported emotional and behavioral symptoms and children's scores on a commonly used autism screening questionnaire, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F).

The role of central neck dissection and adjuvant treatment in pT4aN0 laryngeal carcinoma treated with open partial horizontal laryngectomy.

Purpose: The study aimed to identify parameters that could predict oncological and functional outcomes in patients with pT4aN0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) who underwent open partial horizontal laryngectomy (OPHL). The role of paratracheal neck dissection (PTND) was analyzed as the primary outcome. Additionally, the study compared the outcomes of patients who underwent postoperative radio/chemotherapy (PORT/PORCT) with those who refused or did not adhere to adjuvant treatments.

Development of an Aptamer-Based QCM-D Biosensor for the Detection of Thrombin Using Supported Lipid Bilayers as Surface Functionalization.

Biosensors play an important role in numerous research fields. Quartz crystal microbalances with dissipation monitoring (QCM-Ds) are sensitive devices, and binding events can be observed in real-time. In combination with aptamers, they have great potential for selective and label-free detection of various targets.

Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Young Autistic Children, Children with ADHD, and Autistic Children with ADHD.

Objective: Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS; previously called Sluggish Cognitive Tempo) refers to a constellation of cognitive and motor behaviors characterized by a predisposition toward mind wandering (cognitive subdomain) and slowed motor behavior (hypoactive). While there are a number of studies linking CDS traits to greater global impairment in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic children, there are few studies examining the prevalence and impact of CDS traits in autistic children with co-occurring ADHD (Autistic+ADHD). The current study explored CDS traits in autistic children with and without co-occurring ADHD, children with ADHD, and neurotypical children.

Post-traumatic Delayed Facial Nerve Palsy: Report of 2 Cases and Systematic Review.

Objective: Delayed facial nerve palsy (dFNP) secondary to head injury is definitely uncommon. Although the mechanism of immediate facial nerve paralysis is well-studied, its delayed presentation remains debated. Given the dearth of available information, we reported herein our experience with 2 cases of posttraumatic dFNP.

The Role of Large Language Models (LLMs) in Providing Triage for Maxillofacial Trauma Cases: A Preliminary Study.

Background: In the evolving field of maxillofacial surgery, integrating advanced technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs) into medical practices, especially for trauma triage, presents a promising yet largely unexplored potential. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using LLMs for triaging complex maxillofacial trauma cases by comparing their performance against the expertise of a tertiary referral center.

Methods: Utilizing a comprehensive review of patient records in a tertiary referral center over a year-long period, standardized prompts detailing patient demographics, injury characteristics, and medical histories were created.

Microsurgery in carotid body paraganglioma.

Objectives: In carotid paraganglioma surgery, magnification is crucial to properly evaluate the anatomical relationships between mass, carotid wall, cranial nerves, tumour vascular supply and fascial envelope. The aims of this study are to describe the microsurgical technique, along with the underlying microsurgical anatomy, and to assess outcomes in terms of disease control, complications and functional results.

Methods: Twenty-six patients, accounting for 29 carotid paragangliomas, treated with microsurgery by the same senior surgeon over a 35-year period, were included.

Pneumo-Membranous Labyrinth After Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Pneumo-membranous labyrinth is an almost unique condition, in which air extends into the membranous labyrinth, filling the endolymphatic sac through the vestibular aqueduct. In this manuscript, we describe and discuss a case of pneumo-membranous labyrinth, with air bubbles extending also to the endolymphatic sac, resulting in anacusis, following hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The patient was successfully rehabilitated with a cochlear implant, obtaining a pure-tone average of 30 dB, with a speech discrimination score of 100% at 70 dB.

Spectro-acoustic voice parameters in transoral laser microsurgery vs exclusive radiotherapy for early-stage glottic carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: In early glottic squamous cell carcinoma, similar results have been described in terms of disease control between transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and radiation therapy (RT). During the past two decades, several studies compared subjective vocal outcomes of exclusive RT with those of TLM, showing a trend towards improving results for TLM over time. However, the objective differences in terms of spectro-acoustic voice parameters between exclusive RT and TLM have been less frequently investigated.

Clinical effectiveness of telerehabilitation in voice therapy programs for dysphonia.

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of speech therapy, delivered via tele-practice to patients with dysphonia. A secondary aim was to verify whether a telerehabilitation-only protocol could have a clinical efficacy similar to a combined telerehabilitation and in-person approach.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients undergoing telerehabilitation for dysphonia were retrospectively considered.