From Pure Tones to Complex Sounds: Expanding Audiology Tools to Better Address Speech and Language Development.

This editorial highlights the limitations of relying solely on pure-tone audiometry for diagnosing and managing hearing loss, particularly in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. While pure-tone audiometry has long been the gold standard for assessing hearing sensitivity, its capacity to fully capture the complexities of hearing impairments is increasingly called into question. The article examines the profound impact of hearing loss on language development, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life, especially in infants and toddlers, who are at risk of significant delays in speech and language development.

Phase II Window Study of Olaparib Alone or with Cisplatin or Durvalumab in Operable Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: We conducted a phase II randomized noncomparative window of opportunity (WOO) trial to evaluate the inhibition of cellular proliferation and the modulation of immune microenvironment after treatment with olaparib alone or in combination with cisplatin or durvalumab in patients with operable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Experimental Design: Forty-one patients with HNSCC were randomized to cisplatin plus olaparib (arm A), olaparib alone (arm B), no treatment (arm C) or durvalumab plus olaparib (arm D). The primary endpoint was to evaluate the percentage of patients in each arm that achieved a reduction of at least 25% in Ki67.

Treatment-resistant manic episode in a patient diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder.

A considerable group of patients suffering from mental health disorders do not respond adequately to pharmacological treatment. For the purposes of precision and personalized medicine, pharmacogenomics has been developed as a valuable and promising tool. The technology of identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms and genotyping supplies clinicians, and therefore their patients, with the opportunity of avoiding long-lasting 'trial and error' periods, reducing the risk of manifesting disturbing adverse effects during treatment.

Variation in volumes and characteristics of ENT emergency visits during COVID-19 pandemic. Where are the patients?

The aim of this study is to analyze patterns and volumes of patients visiting ENT emergency departments during periods of community lockdowns given the newness of this situation and to assess the variation in numbers of visits and examine whether their reduction equally affects all categories of visit causation or whether it is limited to diseases not considered as emergencies. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on prospectively collected registry data on patients of all age groups visited the emergency ENT department during the period of nationwide lockdown. Patients were grouped in 9 categories, according to the cause of visit the ENT emergency department.

Intradiscal Injection of Iron-Labeled Autologous Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Feasibility Study With 2 Years Follow-Up.

Purpose: Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is considered to be central in pain pathogenesis in patients suffering from chronic low back pain (LBP). In recent years, the injection of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into the disc to arrest or reverse the degenerative process has been proposed as an alternative therapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of using iron-labeled MSCs for intradiscal injection in patients with long-standing LBP.

Clinical and Microbiological Factors Associated With Abscess Formation in Adult Acute Epiglottitis.

Objectives: To evaluate clinical and microbiological findings that are correlated with abscess formation in adult acute epiglottitis (AE).

Methods: We reviewed 140 cases of adult AE. Demographic, clinical, imaging, and microbiological findings are analyzed for all patients with AE in comparison to those with epiglottic abscess (EA).

Metastatic Thyroid Osteosarcoma With Concomitant Multifocal Papillary Carcinoma Presenting as a Collision Tumor.

Metastatic involvement of the thyroid occurs rarely, by either hematogenous spread or direct extension from adjacent organs. The most frequent metastatic tumors are clear cell, renal cell, lung, breast, and squamous cell carcinoma. The occurrence of osteosarcoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma in the same patient is rare, with only a few reported cases in the literature.

Variation in volumes and characteristics of ENT emergency visits during COVID-19 pandemic. Where are the patients?

The aim of this study is to analyze patterns and volumes of patients visiting ENT emergency departments during periods of community lockdowns given the newness of this situation and to assess the variation in numbers of visits and examine whether their reduction equally affects all categories of visit causation or whether it is limited to diseases not considered as emergencies. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on prospectively collected registry data on patients of all age groups visited the emergency ENT department during the period of nationwide lockdown. Patients were grouped in 9 categories, according to the cause of visit the ENT emergency department.

Early detecting cervical necrotizing fasciitis from deep neck infections: a study of 550 patients.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective review study is to evaluate Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score as an indicative parameter in early detecting cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) from deep neck infections (DNI).

Methods: We reviewed 12 cases of CNF and 538 cases of non-necrotizing deep neck infection hospitalized in our hospital over the last decade. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis was histologically confirmed.

Pott Puffy Tumor in Adults: The Τiming of Surgical Ιntervention.

Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) represents a rare complication of frontal sinusitis, and it is considered as a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone based on osteomyelitis. We report two adult PPT patients and discuss the treatment plan as well as the correct timing of surgical intervention. Clinical examination revealed sinusitis with puss, and imaging findings showed bony erosion of the dorsal wall of the frontal sinus in both patients.

Making urban water smart: the SMART-WATER solution.

The rise of Internet of Things (IoT), coupled with the advances in Artificial Intelligence technologies and cloud-based applications, have caused fundamental changes in the way societies behave. Enhanced connectivity and interactions between physical and cyber worlds create 'smart' solutions and applications to serve society's needs. Water is a vital resource and its management is a critical issue.

Spontaneous, Non-Traumatic Retropharyngeal Abscess Complicated by Spinal Osteomyelitis and Epidural Abscess in Immunocompetent Adult: Management and Proposal Pathophysiological Mechanism.

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) in adults is a potentially life-threatening condition that relates in most of the cases with local trauma. Non-traumatic RPA complicated by spinal osteomyelitis and epidural abscess is a rare entity in immunocompetent adults and represents an emergency medical condition when the patient develops neurologic symptoms. This article presents a case of non-traumatic RPA complicated by spinal osteomyelitis and epidural abscess in a 77-year-old male with the free past medical history.

The Traceability of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells After Injection Into Degenerated Discs in Patients with Low Back Pain.

Low back pain is a major health issue and one main cause to this condition is believed to be intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Stem cell therapy for degenerated discs using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has been suggested. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence and distribution pattern of autologous MSCs transplanted into degenerated IVDs in patients and explanted posttransplantation.

Surrogates of immunologic cell death (ICD) and chemoradiotherapy outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Objectives: Chemoradiation can induce immunogenic (ICD) or tolerogenic cell death. ICD relies on the generation of damage-associated molecular patterns which can stimulate toll-like receptors (TLRs). We sought to determine whether we can predict responses to chemoradiation by measuring surrogate biomarkers of ICD in a cohort of patients with locally advanced (LA) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Monte Carlo simulations of the separation of a binary gas mixture (CH + CO) using hydrates.

The current study employs Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations in order to calculate the process efficiency of separating CH4 + CO2 gas mixtures by utilizing structure sI clathrate hydrates. The temperature and pressure conditions examined in the current study resemble those used in industry. The simulation results are compared with experimental measurements and very good agreement is found.

Iron sucrose-labeled human mesenchymal stem cells: in vitro multilineage capability and in vivo traceability in a lapine xenotransplantation model.

For evaluation of cell therapy applications, it is of interest to be able to trace and observe cellular distribution of the transplanted cells. The aim with the study was to examine viability, traceability, and multilineage capability of iron sucrose-labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after transplantation into lapine intervertebral discs (IVDs). MSCs were collected from three human donors, age 31-50 years, and IVDs from 12 rabbits, age 3 months.

Cell viability and chondrogenic differentiation capability of human mesenchymal stem cells after iron labeling with iron sucrose.

For evaluation of cell therapy strategies using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), it is important to be able to trace transplanted cells and their distribution in tissues, for example, cartilage, over time. The aim of the study was to determine effects on cell viability, traceability, and chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs after iron labeling with iron sucrose. hMSCs were collected (seven donors, 13-57 years) from patients undergoing spinal surgery.

An adolescent with a rare midline neck tumor: thyroid carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst.

Occurrence of malignancy in a thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) in children and adolescents is very rare, preoperative diagnosis is a challenge, and appropriate management is still debated. We report a 19-year-old male patient referred for a midline neck mass diagnosed as an atypical TDC after initial and subsequent investigations. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the mass was diagnostic for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Metachronous early gastric adenocarcinoma presenting coinstantaneously with complete remission of stage IV gastric MALT lymphoma.

Adenocarcinoma and lymphoma represent the two most common malignant tumours of the stomach, with both neoplasms being associated with infection by Helicobacter pylori. However, the presence of lymphoma and adenocarcinoma in the same patient is a rare entity with synchronous neoplasms being more common than metachronous types. We report a case of stage IV gastric MALT lymphoma of the gastric angle with infiltration of the bone marrow successfully treated with chemotherapy and the occurrence of metachronous early gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundus presenting 1 year after the diagnosis of the lymphoma.

Feasibility of Induction Docetaxel, Cisplatin, 5-Fluorouracil, Cetuximab (TPF-C) Followed by Concurrent Cetuximab Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To report our experience with a sequential regimen of induction TPF-C followed by radioimmunotherapy with cetuximab in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Patients And Methods: Toxicity and outcome was retrospectively analyzed in 22 patients receiving sequential therapy with induction TPF-C followed by radioimmunotherapy between October 2008 and December 2011. Outcome was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analyses.

Intra-abdominal heterotopic ossification of the peritoneum following traumatic splenic rupture.

Intra-abdominal heterotopic ossification is extremely rare with only approximately 30 cases having been reported. While most reported cases have involved the mesentery, ossification of the peritoneum is even rarer. The pathogenesis remains undetermined but is generally considered a reactive process in response to various stimuli.