Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to Increase the Readability of Patient Education Materials in Pediatric Otolaryngology.

To identify the reading levels of existing patient education materials in pediatric otolaryngology and to utilize natural language processing artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the reading level of patient education materials. Patient education materials for pediatric conditions were identified from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) website. Patient education materials about the same conditions, if available, were identified and selected from the websites of 7 children's hospitals.

An expanded genetic toolkit for inducible expression and targeted gene silencing in .

Pathogenic species within the genus are transmitted to humans through arthropod vectors and cause a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild to life-threatening. Despite rickettsiae posing an emerging global health risk, the genetic requirements of their infectious life cycles remain poorly understood. A major hurdle toward building this understanding has been the lack of efficient tools for genetic manipulation, owing to the technical difficulties associated with their obligate intracellular nature.

An expanded genetic toolkit for inducible expression and targeted gene silencing in .

Pathogenic species within the genus are transmitted to humans through arthropod vectors and cause a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild to life-threatening. Despite rickettsiae posing an emerging global health risk, the genetic requirements of their infectious life cycles remain poorly understood. A major hurdle toward building this understanding has been the lack of efficient tools for genetic manipulation, owing to the technical difficulties associated with their obligate intracellular nature.

Tolerance and Cross-Tolerance among Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic 5-HT Receptor Agonists in Mice.

Classical psychedelics represent a subgroup of serotonergic psychoactive substances characterized by their distinct subjective effects on the human psyche. Another unique attribute of this drug class is that such effects become less apparent after repeated exposure within a short time span. The classification of psychedelics as a subgroup within the serotonergic drug family and the tolerance to their effects are replicated by the murine head twitch response (HTR) behavioral paradigm.

Descriptive Analysis of Otolaryngology Program Directors with a Focus on Gender Disparity.

Objective: To describe and analyze the demographics and academic backgrounds of United States otolaryngology program directors (PD) and assess gender disparity in the field.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which an online search using publicly available sources was performed to gather information on PDs for 125 United States otolaryngology programs from May 14, 2021, to May 30, 2021. Data collected included PD appointment year, age, gender, resident gender breakdown, degree, as well as training location and graduation year.

A biomechanical switch regulates the transition towards homeostasis in oesophageal epithelium.

Epithelial cells rapidly adapt their behaviour in response to increasing tissue demands. However, the processes that finely control these cell decisions remain largely unknown. The postnatal period covering the transition between early tissue expansion and the establishment of adult homeostasis provides a convenient model with which to explore this question.

The enigmatic biology of rickettsiae: recent advances, open questions and outlook.

Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that can cause life-threatening illnesses and are among the oldest known vector-borne pathogens. Members of this genus are extraordinarily diverse and exhibit a broad host range. To establish intracellular infection, Rickettsia species undergo complex, multistep life cycles that are encoded by heavily streamlined genomes.

Quality of life outcomes in tracheobronchomalacia surgery.

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is an obstructive airway disease characterized by laxity and redundancy of the posterior membrane of the main airways leading to dynamic airway collapse during exhalation. The gold standard for diagnosis is dynamic computed tomography (DCT) scan and dynamic flexible bronchoscopy (DFB). Patients with complete or near-complete collapse (>90% reduction in cross-sectional area) of the airway are possible candidates for surgical management.

Best Practice Recommendations for Pediatric Otolaryngology during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To review the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on pediatric otolaryngology and provide recommendations for the management of children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data Sources: Clinical data were derived from peer-reviewed primary literature and published guidelines from national or international medical organizations. Preprint manuscripts and popular media articles provided background information and illustrative examples.

Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on otolaryngologic surgery: Brief commentary.

Background: The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global health crisis and otolaryngologists are at increased occupational risk of contracting COVID-19. There are currently no uniform best-practice recommendations for otolaryngologic surgery in the setting of COVID-19.

Methods: We reviewed relevant publications and position statements regarding the management of otolaryngology patients in the setting of COVID-19.

A Mobile Phone-Based Support Intervention to Increase Use of Postabortion Family Planning in Cambodia: Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation.

Background: Despite progress over the last decade, there is a continuing unmet need for contraception in Cambodia. Interventions delivered by mobile phone could help increase uptake and continuation of contraception, particularly among hard-to-reach populations, by providing interactive personalized support inexpensively wherever the person is located and whenever needed.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of mobile phone-based support added to standard postabortion family planning care in Cambodia, according to the results of the MOTIF (MObile Technology for Improved Family planning) trial.

Topical intranasal fluorescein to localize a cerebrospinal fluid leak: a demonstration.

Background: Intrathecal fluorescein is commonly used to localize cerebrospinal fluid leaks. This technique is invasive and associated with several potential adverse effects. The purpose of this video presentation is to demonstrate an alternative technique, the intranasal use of dilute topical fluorescein, to localize a cerebrospinal fluid leak intraoperatively.

Cas9 Cleavage of Viral Genomes Primes the Acquisition of New Immunological Memories.

Type II CRISPR-Cas systems defend prokaryotes from bacteriophage infection through the acquisition of short viral DNA sequences known as spacers, which are transcribed into short RNA guides to specify the targets of the Cas9 nuclease. To counter the potentially devastating propagation of escaper phages with mutations in the target sequences, the host population acquires many different spacers. Whether and how pre-existing spacers in type II systems affect the acquisition of new ones is unknown.

Intestinal serotonin and fluoxetine exposure modulate bacterial colonization in the gut.

The gut microbiota regulates levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) in the intestinal epithelium and lumen. However, whether 5-HT plays a functional role in bacteria from the gut microbiota remains unknown. We demonstrate that elevating levels of intestinal lumenal 5-HT by oral supplementation or genetic deficiency in the host 5-HT transporter (SERT) increases the relative abundance of spore-forming members of the gut microbiota, which were previously reported to promote host 5-HT biosynthesis.

Anti-interferon-α receptor 1 antibodies attenuate inflammation and organ injury following hemorrhagic shock.

Background: Hemorrhagic shock (HS) is a life-threatening condition resulting from rapid and significant loss of intravascular volume, leading to hemodynamic instability and death. Inflammation contributes to the multiple organ injury in HS. Type I interferons (IFNs), such as IFN-α and IFN-β, are a family of cytokines that regulate the inflammatory response through binding to IFN-α receptor (IFNAR) which consists of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 chains.

Minimally Invasive coronary surgery compared to STernotomy coronary artery bypass grafting: The MIST trial.

Rationale: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has emerged as a safe alternative to standard cardiac surgery. Minimally invasive coronary surgery (MICS CABG) was developed to allow adequate exposure and complete revascularization in CABG from a small thoracotomy incision without cardiopulmonary bypass. Multiple studies have reported significant shorter length of hospital stay and earlier postoperative physical recovery for MICS CABG patients when compared to sternotomy CABG patients.

Head and Neck Manifestations of Systemic Disease.

Systemic diseases commonly managed by the Internist may have presentations within the head and neck. Awareness of these manifestations, sometimes as the presenting signs or symptoms of systemic disease, may aid the Internist in diagnosis and management. The Otolaryngologist may be helpful in assisting in the evaluation of these patients and in some cases providing targeted symptomatic therapy.

Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis: Frozen Section Histomorphology and Diagnosis with PAS Stain.

Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) is a fulminant infection in immunocompromised patients requiring rapid diagnosis (DX), frequently made on frozen section (FS) of sinonasal biopsies, followed by prompt surgical debridement. However, FS interpretation is often difficult and DX sometimes not possible. In this study we sought to characterize reasons for misinterpretation and methods to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Molecular mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas spacer acquisition.

Many bacteria and archaea have the unique ability to heritably alter their genomes by incorporating small fragments of foreign DNA, called spacers, into CRISPR loci. Once transcribed and processed into individual CRISPR RNAs, spacer sequences guide Cas effector nucleases to destroy complementary, invading nucleic acids. Collectively, these two processes are known as the CRISPR-Cas immune response.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein-derived peptide C23 attenuates inflammation and tissue injury in a murine model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.

Background: Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein is a novel damage-associated molecular pattern that causes inflammation. C23, a short peptide derived from cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, has been found to have efficacy in blocking cold-inducible RNA-binding protein's activity. We hypothesized that C23 reduces inflammation and tissue injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.