Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty-A Feasible Double-Blinded Sham Surgery Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol to Study Efficacy.

Introduction: Balloon Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) is used to treat obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD) and recurrent otitis media with effusion (OME). However, there are no indisputable evidence of its efficacy. Here, we present a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (MDRCT) design to evaluate the efficacy of BET, and the results of a pilot trial with 3- and 12-months' follow-up.

Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube in Chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: A Retrospective Study of 107 Patients.

Background: Eustachian tube dysfunction affects from 1% to 5% of adults. This study evaluates the effectiveness of balloon dilation of eustachian tube for treating nonselected patients with eustachian tube dysfunction in a long term.

Methods: We evaluated all balloon dilation of eustachian tube operations at Turku University Hospital from 2013 to 2016.

Efficacy of Balloon Tuboplasty for Baro-Challenge-Induced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and a Retrospective Cohort Study of 39 Patients.

Objective: Baro-challenge-induced Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) manifests due to inadequate Eustachian tube (ET) function during rapid ambient pressure changes, although ET function may be normal in normobaric situations. This systematic review and retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of balloon Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) for the treatment of baro-challenge-induced ETD.

Data Sources: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Helsinki University Hospital cohort.

Tubomanometry correlations with patient characteristics and other diagnostic tests of Eustachian tube dysfunction: a cohort study of 432 ears.

Objectives: Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best protocol for diagnosing Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). We aimed to evaluate how patient characteristics affect tubomanometry (TMM) results. If an association between patient characteristics and TMM results exists, this should be considered in TMM interpretation.

Tubomanometry Measurement Success Rate in Clinical Practice.

Objectives: Tubomanometry (TMM) is an objective method for investigating Eustachian tube (ET) function, but difficulties in technique and interpretation may reduce its usability. The objective of our study was to investigate common difficulties with TMM in different ET dysfunction (ETD) patient groups and at different pressures (30, 40, and 50 mbars) when first introducing TMM to otologic practice. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate whether it would be possible to perform TMM at only one pressure and obtain a representative result.

Isolated cryptorchidism: no evidence for involvement of genes underlying isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Mutations in FGFR1, GNRHR, PROK2, PROKR2, TAC3, or TACR3 underlie isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) with clinically variable phenotypes, and, by causing incomplete intrauterine activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, may lead to cryptorchidism. To investigate the role of defects in these genes in the etiology of isolated cryptorchidism, we screened coding exons and exon-intron boundaries of these genes in 54 boys or men from 46 families with a history of cryptorchidism. Control subjects (200) included 120 males.