Serial Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections for Post-herpetic Neuralgia: A Case Report.

The chronic neuropathic pain of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) often persists for months or years after the acute herpes zoster (shingles) episode, may be severe and intractable, and can severely impact the overall quality of life. Antivirals, analgesics, and nerve blocks can effectively shorten the course of shingles and may help to prevent PHN. Although vaccination effectively prevents shingles and PHN, current therapies may be ineffective, and pain management can be challenging when PHN occurs.

Airway Hygiene in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Treatment Responses of 3 Critically Ill Cruise Ship Employees.

BACKGROUND COVID-19, the disease entity caused by the novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to pose a major therapeutic challenge for clinicians. At present, an effective treatment regimen and vaccination has not been established. Many patients develop severe symptoms requiring endotracheal intubation and a prolonged stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Treatment of Severe COVID-19 with Tocilizumab Mitigates Cytokine Storm and Averts Mechanical Ventilation During Acute Respiratory Distress: A Case Report and Literature Review.

COVID-19, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in Wuhan, China, in 2019 and has resulted in the current pandemic. The disease continues to pose a major therapeutic challenge. Patient mortality is ultimately caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Effects of Intratympanic Dexamethasone on High-Dose Radiation Ototoxicity In Vivo.

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery for lateral skull base tumors can cause hearing loss when the cochleae are exposed to high doses of single-fraction radiation. Currently, there are no known nondosimetric preventative treatments for radiation-induced ototoxicity.

Hypothesis: Intratympanic (IT) dexamethasone (DXM), a synthetic steroid, protects against radiation-induced auditory hair cell (HC) and hearing losses in rats in vivo.

Dexamethasone Protects Against Radiation-induced Loss of Auditory Hair Cells In Vitro.

Hypothesis: Dexamethasone (DXM) protects against radiation-induced loss of auditory hair cells (HCs) in rat organ of Corti (OC) explants by reducing levels of oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Background: Radiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss (HL) is progressive, dose-dependent, and irreversible. Currently, there are no preventative therapeutic modalities for radiation-induced HL.

Dexamethasone Protects Against Apoptotic Cell Death of Cisplatin-exposed Auditory Hair Cells In Vitro.

Hypothesis: Dexamethasone (DXM) protects against cisplatin-induced auditory hair cell (HC) loss in rat organ of Corti (OC) explants in vitro by reducing levels of oxidative stress and NADPH-Oxidase-3 (NOX-3).

Background: Intratympanic DXM has demonstrated protective effects against cisplatin-induced hearing loss in a few animal studies and one clinical trial. However, levels of protection with intratympanic DXM vary significantly between studies, which may not be a result of the intrinsic properties of DXM but rather reflect the diffusion of DXM into the cochlea.

Short interfering RNA against Bax attenuates TNFα-induced ototoxicity in rat organ of Corti explants.

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of short interfering RNA against Bax (Bax siRNA) as a treatment for tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced auditory hair cell (HC) loss in rat organ of Corti (OC) explants.

Study Design: Basic science.

Setting: Basic science laboratory, University of Miami Ear Institute.

Mannitol protects hair cells against tumor necrosis factor α-induced loss.

Hypothesis: Mannitol has otoprotective effects against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-induced auditory hair cell (HC) loss.

Background: Mannitol has been demonstrated to possess cytoprotective effects in several organ systems. Its protective effect on postischemic hearing loss has also been shown.