EEG-controlled tele-grasping for undefined objects.

This paper presents a teleoperation system of robot grasping for undefined objects based on a real-time EEG (Electroencephalography) measurement and shared autonomy. When grasping an undefined object in an unstructured environment, real-time human decision is necessary since fully autonomous grasping may not handle uncertain situations. The proposed system allows involvement of a wide range of human decisions throughout the entire grasping procedure, including 3D movement of the gripper, selecting proper grasping posture, and adjusting the amount of grip force.

Drainage of Inferiorly Extended Peritonsillar Abscess Using an Endoscope and Radiofrequency Device: Technical note.

Unlabelled: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck infection of the head and neck, but pharyngeal edema extending behind or below the tonsil and spreading to the larynx is atypical. Accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment are required because airway obstruction, descending mediastinitis, or thrombophlebitis may result. We evaluated surgical outcomes of inferiorly extended PTA (IEPTA) using an endoscope and a radiofrequency device for intraoral drainage.

Diagnostic Performance of Photoplethysmography-Based Smartwatch for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background And Objectives: Considering the prevalence and health effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), early diagnosis and proper treatment are essential. Polysomnography (PSG) has limitations in diagnosing or tracking large-scale OSA patients. Smartwatches (SWs) can be equipped with a photoplethysmograph (PPG) that can indirectly measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation by detecting the difference of light absorption through blood.

Adaptive Discount Factor for Deep Reinforcement Learning in Continuing Tasks with Uncertainty.

Reinforcement learning (RL) trains an agent by maximizing the sum of a discounted reward. Since the discount factor has a critical effect on the learning performance of the RL agent, it is important to choose the discount factor properly. When uncertainties are involved in the training, the learning performance with a constant discount factor can be limited.

Activation of the Complement System on Human Endothelial Cells by Urban Particulate Matter Triggers Inflammation-Related Protein Production.

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is becoming a major global health issue. The amount and time of exposure to PM are known to be closely associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism through which PM affects the vascular system is still not clear.

Efficacy of nasal septal splints for preventing complications after septoplasty: A meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of nasal septal splints, which are used as alternatives to nasal packs for preventing complications such as synechia and maintaining septal stability after septoplasty, remains controversial. The present meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of nasal septal splints used after septoplasty.

Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched until June 20, 2019.

Periorbital Emphysema Presenting With Diplopia After Rhinoplasty.

Periorbital emphysema is a well-known but very rare complication after rhinoplasty. Here, we present a case of periorbital emphysema presenting with diplopia and eyeball deviation after rhinoplasty. All symptoms disappeared spontaneously within days, without any complications.

Esthetic nasolabial angle according to the degree of upper lip protrusion in an Asian population.

Background: The positioning of the nasal tip is as esthetically important as the tip projection when rhinoplasty is being considered. It is not uncommon for Asians to have a protruding upper lip and teeth that affect the nasolabial angle (NLA). This study aimed to find the preferred NLA according to the degree of upper lip protrusion in an Asian population.

Combined Bifrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Tailor-Made Notched Music Training in Chronic Tinnitus.

Background And Objectives: We evaluated the short-term treatment outcomes of combined bifrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and tailor-made notched music training (TMNMT) in tinnitus patients. The associations of patient characteristics with treatment responsiveness were investigated.

Subjects And Methods: Four sessions of bifrontal tDCS (F4: anode, F3: cathode) and TMNMT were conducted over a 2-week period in tinnitus patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging predicts chronic dizziness after benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Methods: A total of 120 patients diagnosed with BPPV completed MRI at the emergency room between December 2012 and June 2015 and met our criteria for inclusion in this study. Epidemiologic characteristics, the results of audio-vestibular testing, and MRI findings were retrospectively analyzed.

Intralesional triamcinolone injections for the treatment of preauricular sinus infections.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to confirm the effect of adjuvant intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections (TRIAM) for the treatment of an infected preauricular sinus (PAS).

Methods: The medical charts of 103 patients diagnosed with PAS from March 2013 to December 2015 were reviewed and documented. The mean duration of treatment and postoperative follow-up period were compared between patients who received TRIAM and patients who received conventional treatment.

Usefulness of Curved-Shaft Needles for Infiltrating the Sphenopalatine Area.

The objective of this study is to evaluate what types of needles are optimal and efficient for infiltrating the sphenopalatine area during endoscopic sinus surgery. Prospective, randomized, open-labeled study was designed. Sixty-three sides of nasal cavities of 45 patients were randomly assigned to three groups with different needle shapes.

Endonasal extended columellar strut in Asian rhinoplasty.

Background: Recently, sculpturing of projected and sharp nasal tips, as is usual in the white population, has been of great concern in Asian rhinoplasty. However, tip surgery in Asians should be performed in a different way due to anatomic differences. The authors used an endonasal rhinoplasty to correct the position of lower lateral cartilage by adopting a modified columellar strut.

Acute-Onset Tinnitus Is Associated with Contralateral Hearing in Sudden Deafness.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors for acute-onset tinnitus associated with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and to assess the relationship between these factors and the final recovery.

Methods: A total of 770 patients with unilateral ISSNHL were enrolled retrospectively and their medical records reviewed. Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of acute-onset tinnitus at the initial examination.

A rare case of intranasal vascular leiomyoma.

Vascular leiomyoma (VL) is a solitary and rare form of leiomyoma that usually occurs in the skin or subcutaneous tissue of the lower extremities. Intranasal VL is extremely rare, probably due to the lack of smooth muscle in the nasal cavity. In this study, we report a case of a 70-year-old woman with VL of the inferior nasal turbinate.

Unexpected rare complication of the facial paralysis in a patient with an antrochoanal polyp following canine fossa puncture.

Canine fossa puncture (CFP) combined with endoscopic sinus surgery is a simple and effective method for treating antrochoanal polyps, particularly those that originate in the anterior, inferior or medial aspect of the antrum. Several complications can occur following CFP, including facial paraesthesia and dental numbness. However, facial palsy is extremely rare after CFP.

Therapeutic effect of combined steroid-lipoprostaglandin E1 for sudden hearing loss: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the synergistic effect of combined steroid-lipoprostaglandin E1 for the treatment of sudden hearing loss.

Methods: A prospective observational, non-randomized study with a historical cohort was performed at a university hospital. Between 2005 and 2012, 421 patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were enrolled in this study and treated with combined steroid-lipoprostaglandin E1 treatment.

Optimal dosage of methylprednisolone for the treatment of sudden hearing loss in geriatric patients: a propensity score-matched analysis.

We aimed to compare the treatment outcomes and the occurrence rates of adverse events associated with different steroid regimens in geriatric patients (aged 65 years or older) with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). After thorough medical chart reviews of 109 patients with ISSNHL between May 2006 and December 2013, we performed a propensity score-matched analysis using previously known prognostic factors, steroid regimens, and other cointerventions. Patients were divided based on their steroid regimens into group I (which initially received 48 mg of methylprednisolone daily with a subsequently tapered dose) and group II (which initially received 24 mg of methylprednisolone daily with a subsequently tapered dose).

Combined endoscopic transnasal and intrasphenoidal septal approach for the drainage of sphenoid sinusitis with cleft lip: technical note.

Isolated sphenoiditis is an uncommon disease, particularly in children. Immediate antibiotic therapy and/or endoscopic transnasal sphenoidotomy should be performed to avoid fatal complications. However, the commonly used transnasal route is not always available in children with a cleft lip and deviated nasal septum.