Should dry spinal tuberculosis be managed differently than wet spinal tuberculosis?

Background Context: On radiopathological examination of spinal tuberculosis (TB), two predominant forms are known: dry and wet types. Wet TB, as the name suggests, has abscess formation as its predominant presenting feature and is the exudative form; dry TB includes caseation and sequestration with minimal exudate. Dry TB often exhibits poorer recovery patterns than the wet counterparts, which can be possibly ascribed to vasculitis, ischemia, or tubercular myelitis, rather than isolated mechanical compression.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Induced Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: Database and Systematic Review of Otolaryngologic Adverse Events.

Introduction: GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have gained traction in the management of obesity. There is limited literature on the implications of GLP-1 RAs in the field of otolaryngology.

Methods: We explore the association between GLP-1 RAs with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and patulous ETD (PETD) by review of cases, literature, and the FDA adverse event database (FAERS).

The Effect of Obesity on Postoperative Analgesia Practices and Complications Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Despite growing concern regarding over-prescription of narcotic pain medication following ambulatory surgery, little is known about the analgesic prescribing practices following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in obese patients in comparison to non-obese patients.

Objective: To compare the rates of opioid versus non-opioid prescriptions, the need for steroids, and post-operative adverse events between obese and non-obese adult patients undergoing ESS.

Methods: Using TriNetX Live database, we identified all patients aged ≥18 years who underwent ESS (n = 1303) between 2014 and 2022 across several healthcare institutions across the state of Tennessee.

Audit of risk factors of drug-sensitive, drug-resistant tuberculosis disease, a case-control study of patients registered under NTEP, Gujarat.

Background: Characterizing risk factors for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is critical to guide targeted interventions in high-burden settings like India. We aimed to identify socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB acquisition.

Materials And Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study recruited 350 bacteriologically confirmed TB patients registered under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in Gujarat, India, and 300 matched participants without active/past TB.

Urine metabolomics unravel the effects of short-term dietary interventions on oxidative stress and inflammation: a randomized controlled crossover trial.

Dietary biomarkers in urine remain elusive when evaluating diet-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. In our previous study, we conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial to compare the short-term (4-weeks) effects of the balanced Korean diet (BKD) with Western diets, including the 2010 dietary guidelines for Americans (2010 DGA) and typical American diet (TAD), on various metabolic indices in obese Korean adults. Building on this work, the current research focuses on the impact of these dietary interventions on oxidative stress (d-ROMs and BAP) and inflammation (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1) biomarkers in serum, and the concurrent urine metabolomes.

Mindfulness in Pregnancy and Postpartum: Protocol of a Pilot Randomized Trial of Virtually Delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Promote Well-Being during the Perinatal Period.

Background: During the period from pregnancy through the first year postpartum, vulnerable individuals are at elevated risk for the onset or worsening of psychological distress, and accessible (e.g., virtually delivered) mental health interventions are needed.

Innovative pathways allow safe discharge of mild acute pancreatitis from the emergency room.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a leading cause of gastrointestinal-related hospitalizations in the United States, resulting in 300000 admissions per year with an estimated cost of over $2.6 billion annually. The severity of AP is determined by the presence of pancreatic complications and end-organ damage.

The utility and accuracy of ChatGPT in providing post-operative instructions following tonsillectomy: A pilot study.

Objective: To investigate the utility of answers generated by ChatGPT, a large language model, to common questions parents have for their children following tonsillectomy.

Methods: Twenty Otolaryngology residents anonymously submitted common questions asked by parents of pediatric patients following tonsillectomy. After identifying the 16 most common questions via consensus-based approach, we asked ChatGPT to generate responses to these queries.

Hypophosphatemia as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Phosphate is crucial for cellular repair after injury and may be important in recovery following acute pancreatitis (AP). This study aimed to evaluate the association between hypophosphatemia and severity of AP.

Methods: Patients admitted with AP between 2014-2018 were identified and their records were retrospectively reviewed.

Mind-Body Therapies in the Management of Otolaryngologic Disease: A State-of-the-Art Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: To review and assess the peer-reviewed literature on the utility of mind-body therapy (MBT) as an adjunct treatment in the management of otolaryngologic disease.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane.

Review Methods: Randomized control trials (RCTs) of MBTs in the management of otolaryngologic disease from 2002 to 2022 were identified and included according to predefined criteria.

Comparison of clinical indices with halitosis grading in chronic periodontitis: A randomized control trial.

Background: Oral malodor is a major periodontal complaint, but the best method for assessing the halitosis grade is still undefined. The primary objective of the study was to detect the halitosis grade in the exhaled breath using the three distinct techniques and to compare the readings with different clinical indices to find out the best method of halitosis grading.

Materials And Methods: A total of 90 patients with chronic periodontitis having oral malodor were included in the study.

Myopericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination in adolescent triplets.

Multiple studies have reported myocarditis and pericarditis after the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine. We describe male adolescent triplets who presented with myopericarditis within one week following vaccine administration.

Natural history, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and long-term follow-up of pain-free chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and functional insufficiency. However, a small subset of patients with prior acute pancreatitis (AP) and/or underlying risk factors for developing CP may be pain-free at diagnosis and may have a different clinical course. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and healthcare utilization between CP patients with and without pain.

Racial Variations in Pain Management and Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Pancreatitis.

Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common cause of hospitalization. Black AP patients have higher risk for alcoholic etiology and hospitalization than White patients. We evaluated outcomes and treatment disparities by race in hospitalized AP patients.

The Impact of Prenatal Diagnosis on Clinical Outcomes of Isolated Vascular Rings From a Statewide Paediatric Cardiology Tertiary Service.

Background: Vascular rings, including right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery (RAA-ALSCA), double aortic arch (DAA) and pulmonary artery sling (PAS), are congenital anomalies that may cause airway and oesophageal compression. As prenatal detection has improved, literature comparing clinical outcomes of antenatally versus postnatally diagnosed cases continues to emerge. The aim is to define a statewide tertiary paediatric institution's clinical profile and outcomes of prenatal versus postnatally diagnosed isolated vascular rings.

Biostimulant enhances growth and corm production of saffron ( L.) in non-traditional areas of North western Himalayas.

The usage of seaweed extracts in cropping systems is gaining attention nowadays due to their distinct bioactive properties. This study aims to assess how saffron ( L.) corm production was affected by seaweed extract through different application modes.

Long-Term Follow-up of Disabled Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis: Evaluation of Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes, and Predictors.

Background/aims: Patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) often report a poor quality of life and may be disabled. Our study identifies clinical characteristics, predictors and outcomes in CP patients with disability.

Methods: A review of established CP patients followed in our Pancreas Center between January 1, 2016 and April 30, 2021.

Smoking Is Associated with Worse Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Pancreatitis.

Background: Tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for progression of chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Aim: We compare clinical outcomes of CP patients with current or former smoking with those who have never smoked.

Methods: We reviewed all patients with followed at our Pancreas Center from 2016 to 2021, comparing the demographics, clinical features, comorbidities, outcomes, and resource utilization between smokers and non-smokers.

Building a Quality Practice in Chronic Pancreatitis.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a fibroinflammatory disorder that results in irreversible scarring to pancreatic parenchyma and presents with a myriad of symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss, steatorrhea, and diabetes. Furthermore, patients with CP often have comorbid chemical dependencies to alcohol and tobacco, which can further complicate the management of CP. Recent literature proposes guidelines on how best to care for patients with CP and establishes requirements for centers of excellence.

Improving documentation of anticoagulation and antiplatelet recommendations after outpatientendoscopy.

Clear documentation of instructions for resuming anticoagulant and antiplatelet (AC/AP) medications after gastrointestinal endoscopy is essential for high-quality postprocedure care. Yet, these recommendations are frequently absent, which may impact patient safety. We aimed to improve documentation of postprocedural AC/AP instructions through targeted interventions during outpatient endoscopy at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center using validated Quality Improvement methodology.

Optimal laser usage improves surgical efficiency in pediatric supraglottoplasty.

Objectives: To compare patient specific and surgical efficiency outcomes in children undergoing supraglottoplasty (SGP) with flexible fiber CO2 laser in Ultrapulse mode versus cold steel at a tertiary care center.

Methods: A single surgeon retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with laryngomalacia undergoing SGP without concomitant or prior airway surgery. We reviewed perioperative complications, total hospital stay including intensive care admission, symptom resolution and the need for revision surgery.