Endoscopic and microscopic video modules are effective for teaching middle ear anatomy.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of video modules in improving trainees' objective knowledge of middle ear anatomy and to compare the efficacy of using the endoscope to the microscope in video modules.

Methods: Medical students and residents were recruited. Two videos reviewing middle ear anatomy were developed.

How Does Lacking a Home Program Impact Otolaryngology Applicants?

Objectives: To compare otolaryngology interview and match outcomes between applicants with and without home residency programs.

Methods: Otolaryngology applicants from US allopathic medical schools during the 2019-2023 cycles who responded to the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency (STAR) survey were identified. Students were stratified based upon whether their medical school had an affiliated otolaryngology residency program.

Regulatory T cells play a crucial role in maintaining sperm tolerance and male fertility.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) modulate tissue homeostatic processes and immune responses. Understanding tissue-Treg biology will contribute to developing precision-targeting treatment strategies. Here, we show that Tregs maintain the tolerogenic state of the testis and epididymis, where sperm are produced and mature.

Retrospective assessment of the impact of an education specialist on the care of children with hearing loss.

Objective: To assess the impact of an education specialist in a multidisciplinary pediatric hearing loss clinic.

Study Design: Retrospective review and cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Single tertiary care center.

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Boot Camp in Preclinical Undergraduate Medical Education: A Pilot Study.

There are limited opportunities in the medical school curriculum to learn about the field of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL) and to acquire relevant clinical skills, especially during preclinical years. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the impact of implementing an ORL boot camp in preclinical undergraduate medical education to help first- and second-year medical students learn about common ORL problems and become more comfortable performing basic ORL clinical skills so that they are better prepared to provide care for patients during clerkships and beyond. First- and second-year medical students were recruited to a single 3-hour boot camp session consisting of didactics/demonstrations and clinical experiences.

Impact of COVID-19 on diagnosis and management of newborn hearing loss.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unexpected disruptions in patient care, including adherence to the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) 1-3-6 guidelines. These guidelines mandate newborn hearing screening (NHS) by 1 month of age, diagnosis of hearing loss (HL) by 3 months, and referral to Early Intervention by 6 months. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on EHDI benchmarks in a major US city to help clinicians address current needs and prepare for future disruptive events.

Functionally Clustered mRNAs Are Distinctly Enriched at Cortical Astroglial Processes and Are Preferentially Affected by FMRP Deficiency.

Mature protoplasmic astroglia in the mammalian CNS uniquely possess a large number of fine processes that have been considered primary sites to mediate astroglia to neuron synaptic signaling. However, localized mechanisms for regulating interactions between astroglial processes and synapses, especially for regulating the expression of functional surface proteins at these fine processes, are largely unknown. Previously, we showed that the loss of the RNA binding protein FMRP in astroglia disrupts astroglial mGluR5 signaling and reduces expression of the major astroglial glutamate transporter GLT1 and glutamate uptake in the cortex of Fmr1 conditional deletion mice.

Cocaine Self-administration and Extinction Inversely Alter Neuron to Glia Exosomal Dynamics in the Nucleus Accumbens.

Alteration of glutamatergic synaptic plasticity in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) has been implicated in cocaine-seeking behaviors. Astroglial mechanisms for maintaining extracellular glutamate homeostasis through cysteine/glutamate exchanger (xCT) and glutamate transporter GLT1 are dysregulated following cocaine exposure and contribute to altered glutamatergic synaptic plasticity. However, how these astroglial proteins become dysregulated in cocaine addiction remains unknown.