Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Sex and Racial Disparities in Chest Pain Presentation and Management Through the Emergency Department.

Background: Sex and racial disparities in the presentation and management of chest pain persist, however, the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on these disparities have not been studied. We sought to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to pre-existing sex and racial disparities in the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain.

Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study with retrospective data collection of patients between January 1, 2016, and May 1, 2022.

Nanosensor-based monitoring of autophagy-associated lysosomal acidification in vivo.

Autophagy is a cellular process with important functions that drive neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Lysosomal hyperacidification is a hallmark of autophagy. Lysosomal pH is currently measured by fluorescent probes in cell culture, but existing methods do not allow for quantitative, transient or in vivo measurements.

Mitral Regurgitation in Female Patients: Sex Differences and Disparities.

Mitral regurgitation is the most common valvular disease, particularly in older adults. Recent literature has consistently supported that there are significant differences in mitral regurgitation outcomes between male and female patients and that this is likely multifactorial. Numerous sex differences in anatomy and pathophysiology may play a role in delayed diagnoses, referrals, and treatments for female patients.

P-selectin-targeted nanocarriers induce active crossing of the blood-brain barrier via caveolin-1-dependent transcytosis.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant paediatric brain tumour, with ~30% mediated by Sonic hedgehog signalling. Vismodegib-mediated inhibition of the Sonic hedgehog effector Smoothened inhibits tumour growth but causes growth plate fusion at effective doses. Here, we report a nanotherapeutic approach targeting endothelial tumour vasculature to enhance blood-brain barrier crossing.

Otolaryngology Patient Satisfaction with In-Office Appointments and Virtual Visits Due to COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced otolaryngologists to seek new methods of providing patient care in a remote setting. The effect of this paradigm shift on patient satisfaction, however, remains unelucidated. This study compares patient satisfaction with telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic to that with in-office visits during the same period in 2019.

Optical Nanosensor for Intracellular and Intracranial Detection of Amyloid-Beta.

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition occurs in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the early detection of Aβ is a persistent challenge. Herein, we engineered a near-infrared optical nanosensor capable of detecting Aβ intracellularly in live cells and intracranially in vivo. The sensor is composed of single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with Aβ wherein Aβ-Aβ interactions drive the response.

Kidney-Targeted Redox Scavenger Therapy Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a significant co-morbidity of chemotherapeutic regimens. While this condition is associated with substantially lower survival and increased economic burden, there is no pharmacological agent to effectively treat CI-AKI. The disease is hallmarked by acute tubular necrosis of the proximal tubular epithelial cells primarily due to increased oxidative stress.

Clinical Features of Parosmia Associated With COVID-19 Infection.

Objective: To characterize the clinical features, risk factors, symptom time-course, and quality of life implications for parosmia among coronavirus disease (COVID)-related olfactory dysfunction patients.

Methods: Individuals with olfactory dysfunction associated with laboratory-confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19 infection were recruited from otolaryngology and primary care practices over a period from August 2020 to March 2021. Participants completed olfactory dysfunction and quality of life surveys.

Ergonomic Analysis of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Using Novel Inertial Sensors.

Objectives/hypothesis: Suboptimal ergonomics during endoscopic sinus surgery can lead to considerable physical discomfort and fatigue for the surgeon. The purpose of this pilot study is to objectively evaluate the ergonomic positions of trainee and attending surgeons while performing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Study Design: Pilot prospective trial.

Sinonasal Issues After Maxillectomy With Free Flap Reconstruction: Incidence and Clinical Approach.

Objective: To characterize the clinical features associated with sinonasal complaints after maxillectomy with free flap reconstruction as well as propose a screening and treatment algorithm.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients who underwent maxillectomy and free flap reconstruction at a tertiary care center.

Results: Fifty-eight patients were included, 25 (43.

Endoscopic Orbital Decompression: Technical Pearls and Pitfalls of an Evolving Technique.

Background: First described in the early 1990s, endoscopic orbital decompression has become increasingly popular and has been shown to be a safe and effective approach for surgical decompression of the medial and inferior orbit.

Methods: We present our preferred technique for performing an endoscopic orbital decompression, highlighting key pearls and pitfalls.

Results: An endoscopic wide maxillary antrostomy and sphenoethmoidectomy is performed in standard fashion.

Comparison of Traditional Upper Airway Surgery and Upper Airway Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objective: To compare patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing traditional single and multilevel sleep surgery to those undergoing upper airway stimulation (UAS).

Study Design: Case control study comparing retrospective cohort of patients undergoing traditional sleep surgery to patients undergoing UAS enrolled in the ADHERE registry.

Setting: 8 multinational academic medical centers.

Snapshot Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Wellness in Nonphysician Otolaryngology Health Care Workers: A National Study.

Objective: Nonphysician health care workers are involved in high-risk patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic, placing them at high risk of mental health burden. The mental health impact of COVID-19 in this crucial population has not been studied thus far. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess the psychosocial well-being of these providers.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Radiographic Sinus Disease on Preoperative Computed Tomography Imaging in the Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery Population.

Introduction: Endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) provides a safe, minimally invasive approach to treat benign and malignant skull base lesions. The significance of concomitant sinonasal pathology on imaging in patients undergoing ESBS and its effect on perioperative management is not well described. We sought to identify the prevalence and clinical significance of incidentally found radiographic sinus disease on preoperative imaging in patients undergoing ESBS and provide a protocol for management of these patients.

Using the Middle Turbinate to Protect the Skull Base in Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Cadaver Study.

Inadvertent intracranial injury from nasogastric tube (NGT) placement is a described and potentially fatal complication following endoscopic transsphenoidal hypophysectomy (TSH). This cadaver study assessed the role of middle turbinate (MT) preservation and medialization in preventing accidental skull base injury from NGT insertion after TSH. Standard approach for TSH was performed on 3 human cadavers.

Mental health among otolaryngology resident and attending physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: National study.

Background: Otolaryngologists are among the highest risk for COVID-19 exposure.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, survey-based, national study evaluating academic otolaryngologists. Burnout, anxiety, distress, and depression were assessed by the single-item Mini-Z Burnout Assessment, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, 15-item Impact of Event Scale, and 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire, respectively.

Impact of perforation size and predictive factors for successful pediatric gelfoam myringoplasty.

Objectives: Rates of success with pediatric myringoplasty range from 35 to 95%. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of perforation size on successful closure of the tympanic membrane (TM) after gelfoam myringoplasty. We also aim to identify variables that affect perforation closure rates and define predictive factors for successful TM closure.

Synthetic molecular recognition nanosensor paint for microalbuminuria.

Microalbuminuria is an important clinical marker of several cardiovascular, metabolic, and other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The accurate detection of microalbuminuria relies on albumin quantification in the urine, usually via an immunoturbidity assay; however, like many antibody-based assessments, this method may not be robust enough to function in global health applications, point-of-care assays, or wearable devices. Here, we develop an antibody-free approach using synthetic molecular recognition by constructing a polymer to mimic fatty acid binding to the albumin, informed by the albumin crystal structure.

Predictive value of the ACS NSQIP calculator for head and neck reconstruction free tissue transfer.

Background: Predictive models to forecast the likelihood of specific outcomes after surgical intervention allow informed shared decision-making by surgeons and patients. Previous studies have suggested that existing general surgical risk calculators poorly forecast head and neck surgical outcomes. However, no large study has addressed this question while subdividing subjects by surgery performed.

Electroporation-induced changes in tumor vasculature and microenvironment can promote the delivery and increase the efficacy of sorafenib nanoparticles.

Blood vessels, the extracellular space, and the cell membrane represent physiologic barriers to nanoparticle-based drug delivery for cancer therapy. We demonstrate that electroporation (EP) can assist in the delivery of dye stabilized sorafenib nanoparticles (SFB-IR783) by increasing the permeability of endothelial monolayers, improving diffusion through the extracellular space in tumorspheres, and by disrupting plasma membrane function in cancer cells. These changes occur in a dose-dependent fashion, increasing proportionally with electric field strength.

Analysis of Process-Related Quality Metrics and Survival of Patients with Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To analyze the association of prior reported key quality metrics-neck dissection ≥18 nodes, radiation oncology referral for stage III/IV disease, unplanned surgery ≤14 days, and unplanned readmission ≤30 days-with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in oral cavity cancer (OCC).

Study Design: A retrospective chart review.

Setting: A tertiary care center from 1995 to 2016.

The Evolving Role of Shear Wave Elastography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

To forego misdiagnosis and biopsy-related complications, we explore a novel technique that embraces tissue elasticity to circumvent the current limitations in the accurate, non-invasive detection of prostate cancer. A MEDLINE® database search of literature pertinent to prostate elastography published in the last five years was guided using the following terms: tissue elasticity, ultrasound elastography, strain elastography, magnetic resonance elastography, and shear wave elastography. Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) utilizes the propagation of induced shear waves to provide a quantitative measurement of elasticity of soft tissue.

Analysis of 24-hour surgical cancellations in an academic rhinology and skull base surgery practice.

Background: Late cancellations within 24 hours of surgery lead to decreased utilization of operating room time with loss of productivity, decreased access to care, and inconvenience to patients and staff. To date, no studies have analyzed 24-hour cancellations in a tertiary rhinology practice.

Methods: All procedures performed at a tertiary rhinology/skull base practice from January 2016 to December 2017 were reviewed.

Evaluating diagnostic yield of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Introduction: Options for imaging for evaluation of pediatric patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) include computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although both CT and MR imaging provide valuable information in the evaluation of pediatric patients with USNHL, debate remains regarding which imaging modality is most ideal and should be the preferred study for these children. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the diagnostic yield of CT versus MRI in children with USNHL.