Three-dimensional mean disease alleviation (3D-MDA): The next step in measuring sleep apnea treatment effectiveness.

Mean disease alleviation measures the effectiveness of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) treatments. It combines a patient's adherence to treatment normalized to their total sleep time and the treatment's efficacy as determined by the change in the apnea-hypopnea index. This metric fails to capture the patient's OSA-related symptoms, which are a key component and, in some cases, the primary component, of determining response to treatment.

Baseline Characteristics Associated with Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) has emerged as an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Identifying baseline characteristics that prospectively could predict treatment outcomes even better is crucial for optimizing patient selection and improving therapeutic success in the future. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.

International expert consensus statement: surgical failure in obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Upper airway (UA) surgery is commonly employed in the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The intricate pathophysiology of OSA, variability in sites and patterns of UA collapse, and the interaction between anatomical and non-anatomical factors in individual patients may contribute to possible surgical failures. This clinical consensus statement aims to identify areas of agreement among a development group comprising international experts in OSA surgery, regarding the appropriate definition, predictive factors in patients, and management of surgical failure in OSA treatment.

Personalized Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Beyond CPAP.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by repetitive episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a method used as a first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, intolerance and resistance to CPAP can limit its long-term effectiveness.

Acetazolamide as an Add-on Therapy Following Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Surgical interventions, like barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP), are a valuable alternative for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are unable to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, predicting surgical success remains challenging, partly due to the contribution of non-anatomical factors. Therefore, combined medical treatment with acetazolamide, known to stabilize respiratory drive, may lead to superior surgical results.

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Therapy in a Belgian Cohort of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) has emerged as a widespread and innovative treatment option for selected moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients who cannot be treated effectively with traditional treatment modalities. In this observational cohort study, the objective and subjective outcomes of Belgian OSA patients treated with HGNS therapy were analyzed at 6 and 12 months post-implantation. Thirty-nine patients implanted with a respiration-synchronized HGNS device at the Antwerp University Hospital w ere included in this study.

Comparative analysis of two custom-made mandibular advancement devices with varied designs for treating moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Introduction: Custom-made titratable mandibular advancement device (MAD) treatment can nowadays be considered a promising first-line treatment in patients with mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Specific manufacturing designs and titration mechanisms of MAD are on the market, characterized by their titration approach, vertical opening, and materials selection. The wing-designed MAD (SomnoDent® Flex™, SomnoMed Ltd, Sydney, Australia) has a lateral screw mechanism to advance the lower jaw in incremental steps of 0.

A Critical Analysis of Pharyngeal Patterns of Collapse in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Beyond the Endoscopic Classification Systems.

(1) Background: Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) enables the three-dimensional and dynamic visualization of the upper airway (UA) during sleep, which is useful in selecting the best treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, particularly for surgical procedures. Despite international consensus statements or position papers, a universally accepted DISE methodology and classification system remain a controversial open question. (2) Methods: A review of the English scientific literature on DISE related to endoscopic classification systems and surgical outcome predictors (3) Results: Of the 105 articles, 47 were included in the analysis based on their content's relevance to the searched keywords.

Tinnitus suppression by means of cochlear implantation: does it affect cognition?

Purpose: Recent literature suggests that tinnitus can impact cognition, but results were varied due to a diversity in investigated aspects of cognition and utilized tests, as well as the possible influence of confounding factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of tinnitus loudness on cognition by use of a within-subjects design in patients with a cochlear implant (CI). In this population, tinnitus loudness can be modulated by switching the CI on or off as CI is known to highly suppress tinnitus.

Listening effort and fatigue among cochlear implant users: a scoping review.

Introduction: In challenging listening situations, speech perception with a cochlear implant (CI) remains demanding and requires high levels of listening effort, which can lead to increased levels of listening-related fatigue. The body of literature on these topics increases as the number of CI users rises. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on listening effort, fatigue, and listening-related fatigue among CI users and the measurement techniques to evaluate them.

How can peer teaching influence the development of medical students? a descriptive, longitudinal interview study.

Background: Peer-assisted learning (PAL) - where students take up a teaching role at an early stage of their training-is widely used in medical curricula. Many qualitative studies have investigated the perceptions and benefits of PAL, but no studies have longitudinally explored how peer teachers experienced their development. This could allow for a better understanding of PAL.

The prevalence of treatment-emergent central sleep apnea with mandibular advancement device therapy.

Study Objectives: Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TECSA) describes the appearance or persistence of central sleep apnea while undergoing treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. TECSA is well studied in continuous positive airway pressure therapy with an estimated prevalence of 8%. Based on a few case reports, mandibular advancement devices (MAD) may also provoke TECSA.

Quantitative Measurement of Pharyngeal Dimensions During Drug-induced Sleep Endoscopy for Oral Appliance Outcome.

Objective: To quantitatively investigate the effect of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) on pharyngeal airway dimensions in a transverse plane as measured during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE).

Methods: Data from 56 patients, treated with MAD at 75% maximal protrusion and with baseline Apnea-Hypopnea Index ≥10 events/h, were analyzed. For each patient, three snapshots were selected from DISE video footage at baseline, with MAD presence, and during chin lift, resulting in 498 images (168/168/162, baseline/MAD/chin lift).

The effect of CPAP on the upper airway and ventilatory flow in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the mainstay of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, data about its effect on the upper airway, especially the epiglottis, are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in upper airway dimensions and inspiratory flow in response to incremental pressure levels.

Prevalence of tinnitus and hyperacusis in 9-12-year-old children.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of tinnitus and hyperacusis in children aged 9-12 years in Flanders, as well as to explore the associations with hearing abilities and listening behaviours.

Design: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in four different Flemish schools. The questionnaire was distributed among 415 children, with a response rate of 97.

Evaluation of Cognitive Functioning Before and After Cochlear Implantation in Adults Aged 55 Years and Older at Risk for Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Importance: Given the rapidly rising dementia incidence, management of modifiable risk factors, such as hearing loss, is vital. Multiple studies have demonstrated an improvement of cognitive functioning in older adults with severe hearing loss after cochlear implantation; however, few of these studies, to the authors' knowledge, specifically analyzed participants achieving poor cognitive results preoperatively.

Objective: To evaluate the cognitive functioning of older adults with severe hearing loss at risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) before and after cochlear implantation.

Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation Interventions for Self-management of Tinnitus: Systematic Review.

Background: Tinnitus is a highly prevalent symptom affecting 10%-20% of the adult population. Most patients with tinnitus have chronic tinnitus, which can directly or indirectly disrupt their daily life and negatively affect the health-related quality of life. Therefore, patients with tinnitus are frequently in need of costly and time-consuming treatments.

Dual-site transcranial direct current stimulation to treat tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a potential intervention for subjective tinnitus, but supporting evidence remains limited. We aimed to investigate the effect of anodal high-definition tDCS of the left temporal area and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on tinnitus severity. This double-blind randomized controlled trial included 77 patients (age range 18-79, 43 male) with chronic subjective tinnitus as their primary complaint.

Dental sleep-related conditions and the role of oral healthcare providers: A scoping review.

Dental sleep medicine as a discipline was first described about a quarter of a century ago. Snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep bruxism, xerostomia, hypersalivation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and orofacial pain were identified as dental sleep-related conditions. This scoping review aimed to: i) identify previously unidentified dental sleep-related conditions; and ii) identify the role of oral healthcare providers in the prevention, assessment, and management of dental sleep-related conditions in adults.

Pilot study on the role of somatic modulation in hyperacusis.

Background: Hyperacusis is a reduced tolerance to sounds that often co-occurs with tinnitus. Both symptoms have convergent as well as divergent characteristics. Somatic modulation, changes in pitch or loudness during certain movements, is common in patients with a primary complaint of tinnitus.