Publications by authors named "Massimo Ralli"

Purpose: This study analysed the main artificial intelligence (AI) models for the diagnosis of cholesteatoma on computed tomography (CT), evaluating their performance and comparing them with each other. The increasing application of AI in radiology requires a systematic comparison of available methodologies.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted, selecting relevant articles from the main databases.

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  • The paper discusses the potential of analyzing perilymph to study inner ear diseases but notes that current sampling methods are risky and mostly limited to research contexts.
  • It reviews existing literature on perilymph sampling and microneedle technology, identifying eight studies that focus on perilymph features and outcomes related to inner ear drug injections.
  • The authors propose a new, safer method for collecting perilymph in clinical settings by combining traditional techniques and innovative tools like micro-endoscopes and microneedles.
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  • * Key findings revealed a high prevalence of dental disorders, with 63% of participants showing significant caries (assessed by the DMFT index) and 73.2% suffering from gingivitis.
  • * The results highlight the need for improved oral health care and outreach for homeless populations, emphasizing a patient-centered approach to address their specific needs effectively.
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  • Facial synkinesis (FS) is a problem where facial muscles move involuntarily when someone tries to make a facial expression, often happening after facial palsy (FP).
  • The study tested whether combining physical therapy for the face with eyelid surgery helps people recover better and avoid FS compared to just using physical therapy alone.
  • Results showed that patients who had both treatments recovered faster and didn't develop FS, while some patients who only had physical therapy developed FS.
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  • Nasal tip surgery is complex and considered one of the most challenging aesthetic procedures due to its intricate techniques and significant aesthetic impact.
  • The study reviewed data from nearly 20,000 Caucasian patients to develop a treatment algorithm for nasal tip surgery, focusing on evaluating defects and long-term outcomes.
  • Results showed high patient satisfaction (88.7%) and identified surgical techniques that effectively address different types of nasal tip defects, highlighting the importance of tailored approaches for optimal results.
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Purpose: The aim of this article was to systematically review the literature on the pediatric population surgically treated for cholesteatoma and describe the applied post-operative follow-up strategies.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Primary Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement recommendations. After running the selected search string in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, studies in English, reporting on surgically treated pediatric cholesteatoma patients (age younger or equal to 18 year-old) were retrieved.

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Recent evidence shows that it is possible to identify the elements responsible for sensorineural hearing loss, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and macrophages, by performing perilymph sampling. However, current studies have only focused on the diagnosis of such as otologic conditions. Hearing loss is a feature of certain neuroinflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis, and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is widely detected in Alzheimer's disease.

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Purpose: The aim of the present work is to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research activities in a vast multidisciplinary academic community to identify the most critical issues.

Method: To this purpose we planned a survey addressed to the entire academic research staff at "Sapienza" University of Rome, which represents the largest Italian academic community. A questionnaire consisting of both open and closed-ended questions was delivered to 4118 individuals in April 2021.

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Locally advanced laryngeal cancers treatment often involves total laryngectomy, which some patients are unwilling to undergo, even if this choice reduces their survival probability. Therefore, the objective of laryngeal oncologic surgery is not only to remove the tumor, but also to preserve the organ and its functions. To overcome these concerns, several partial laryngectomy techniques have been developed.

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Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder among young women, correlated with hyperandrogenism. Among the symptoms of PCOS, vocal alterations are quite unknown. Dysphonia may be related to hyperandrogenism, and there is no consensus about its prevalence and the severity of vocal disorders, which can cause noticeable discomfort.

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Laryngeal cancer accounts for one-third of all head and neck tumors, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most predominant type, followed by neuroendocrine tumors. Chromogranins, are commonly used as biomarkers for neuroendocrine tumors, including laryngeal cancer. It has been reported that secretogranin VGF, a member of the chromogranin family, can be also used as a significant biomarker for neuroendocrine tumors.

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  • * In a retrospective analysis of 77 patients treated surgically, findings revealed a five-year overall survival rate of 83.2% and a disease-free survival rate of 60%, with aggressive tumors exhibiting factors like necrosis and lymphovascular invasion.
  • * The results highlight the importance of stratifying patients based on certain histological features to better predict outcomes and guide treatment for those with high-risk AciCC.
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NGF plays a crucial immunomodulatory role and increased levels are found in numerous tissues during autoimmune states. NGF directly modulates innate and adaptive immune responses of B and T cells and causes the release of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters controlling the immune system activation in inflamed tissues. Evidence suggests that NGF is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous immune diseases including autoimmune thyroiditis, chronic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, mastocytosis, and chronic granulomatous disease.

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Purpose: Meniere's disease (MD), a disorder of the inner ear, presents numerous therapeutic challenges, and intratympanic (IT) gentamicin has been proposed for intractable cases. However, controversy regarding dosage and method persists. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose IT gentamicin on vertigo attacks in MD using a clinical symptomatology-based method, wherein administration was repeated only if vertigo attacks recurred, with a 2-week interval between injections.

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Unlabelled: This PRISMA-compliant systematic review aimed to investigate the use of and the most common procedures performed with the novel 3D 4K exoscope in surgical pediatric head and neck settings.

Methods: Search criteria were applied to PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Review databases and included all studies published up to January 2023 reporting 3D 4K exoscope-assisted surgeries in pediatric patients. After the removal of duplicates, selection of abstracts and full-text articles, and quality assessment, we reviewed eligible articles for number of patients treated, age, surgical procedures, and outcomes.

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  • Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare and slow-growing salivary gland cancer with difficult treatment options and a poor prognosis.
  • This systematic review analyzed the effectiveness of post-operative radiotherapy compared to surgery alone, focusing on controlling local recurrences and improving survival rates.
  • Findings indicated that while post-operative radiation significantly enhanced local control at 5 years, there were no meaningful differences in overall survival at 5 and 10 years, highlighting the need for further high-quality studies.
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  • Hearing impairment can occur in various neurological conditions and can indicate specific disorders, with objective tests helping to identify affected auditory pathways.
  • A systematic review analyzed case-control studies on hearing and migraine function related to neuro-inflammatory disorders, revealing higher risks of auditory deficits in patients with conditions like headaches, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
  • The findings support the idea that inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid can spread to the inner ear, leading to hearing issues linked to neuroimmunological and neuroinflammatory disorders.
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Early decannulation, performed within the first ten days after supracricoid partial laryngectomy, can result in a more rapid recovery of swallowing function with a semisolid bolus in the short term, about 30 days. We selected 20 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, who underwent supracricoid laryngectomies: 10 cricohyoidopexy (CHP) and 10 cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP). Staging was pT2 (10 pts), and pT3 (10 pts).

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Lateral skull base involvement from parotid cancers is a rare condition and is considered a poor prognostic indicator. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature of parotid tumors with temporal bone invasion to analyze the survival outcome. A systematic literature review was performed in August 2022, without time limits, and 289 patients affected by parotid gland cancers and lateral skull base involvement were included.

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