Sino-Nasal Anatomical Variations in Rhinogenic Headache Pathogenesis.

Rhinogenic headache (RH) is a widespread pain syndrome but its pathogenesis and treatment are still unclear. Some authors recognize a correlation between RH and mucosal contact points or some other sinonasal anatomical variations. The authors conducted a retrospective case-control study to analyze the correlation between radiological findings and clinical symptoms.

Transnasal approach to the orbital apex and cavernous sinus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide the anatomic rationale for a transnasal approach to the orbital apex and cavernous sinus, and to evaluate its applicability and efficiency.

Methods: One hundred patients with lesions of the orbital apex, cavernous sinus, optic nerve, clivus, parapharyngeal space, infratemporal fossa, or pterygopalatine fossa were reviewed over a 10-year period. All patients underwent an endoscopic transnasal approach to the orbital apex and cavernous sinus.

Function preservation using transoral laser surgery for T2-T3 glottic cancer: oncologic, vocal, and swallowing outcomes.

Aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze oncologic and functional results of a cohort of T2 and selected T3 glottic tumors treated by transoral laser surgery (TLS). Eighty-nine patients affected by T2 and T3 glottic tumors were treated by TLS from 2005 to 2010 at an academic institution by Type V cordectomies using an "en bloc" or, more frequently, a "piece-meal" technique depending on a number of variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to evaluate 5-year overall, disease-specific survivals, local control with laser, and organ preservation rates.

Efficacy and safety of ribosome-component immune modulator for preventing recurrent respiratory infections in socialized children.

Attending day care is associated with recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) and asthma. Ribosomal immunotherapy may confer protection against RRIs in children. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of a ribosome-component immune modulator (RCIM) as preventive treatment of respiratory infections in socialized children aged ≤5 years, with or without a history of frequent RRI.

Acoustic features of voice in patients with severe hearing loss.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the acoustic features of voice in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.

Design: Thirty male patients, between 35 and 53 years of age with postlingual bilateral symmetric severe sensorineural hearing loss, were included (group A). As a control group (group B), 30 normal-hearing male adults, aged 38 to 51 years, were identified.

Ribosomal therapy in patients with pharyngolaryngeal reflux.

Conclusions: Our data confirm the induction of specific and nonspecific immune responses of the upper respiratory tract mucosa and the consequent improvement of its physiology, through an oral ribosomal therapy in patients with pharyngolaryngeal reflux disease (PLRD).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency and applicability of oral ribosomal immunotherapy in adult patients with PLRD.

Methods: One hundred adult patients with PLRD were enrolled.

Audiometric characteristics in patients with noise-induced hearing loss after sodium enoxaparin treatment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium enoxaparin treatment on patients with noise-induced hearing loss.

Methods: Sixty patients with noise-induced hearing loss were included and randomly divided into two numerically equal groups. Group A underwent therapy with sodium enoxaparin for 10 days, followed by an additional 10 days of treatment after 10 days of no treatment.

Outcomes of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with harmonic scalpel after failure of continuous positive airway pressure in sleep apnea syndrome.

Conclusions: Our data highlight that uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) with harmonic scalpel (HS) is a reliable treatment in selected patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and users of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to verify the efficacy and applicability of UPPP with HS in the treatment of patients affected by OSA and users of CPAP.

Methods: A total of 21 patients with a retropalatal obstruction and users of CPAP underwent UPPP with HS and were evaluated (before and 6 months after surgery) using the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI); oxygen desaturation index ≥4% (ODI(4)); Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS); snoring level (SL); subjective assessment of the postoperative pain on postoperative days 1, 3, and 10; and number of days until return to solid food.

Day-case stapedotomy: is it a viable option?

Conclusions: Stapedotomy is, in our opinion, the technique of choice in stapes surgery. The precision of this technique allows clinicians to perform the surgical procedure in day surgery under local anesthesia.

Objectives: There is a strong emphasis on increasing the number of elective day surgery cases, especially in the patients' best interest, as it decreases the likelihood of late cancellation and hospital-acquired morbidity.

Efficacy of a topical suspension of bacterial antigens for the management of chronic suppurative otitis media.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a topical suspension of bacterial antigens for the management of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Two-hundred ten patients with CSOM were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two numerically equal groups and randomized to receive a topical suspension of bacterial antigens, Lantigen B (group A), or placebo (group B), according to the following protocol: 5 drops thrice a day for 12 consecutive weeks in the external acoustic duct.

Endoscopic transnasal cauterization of the anterior ethmoidal artery.

Conclusions: In our experience, the technique described can be applied independently according to the specific patient's anatomy and disease, allowing simple, easy, and safe identification of the anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide the anatomic rationale for endoscopic cauterization of the AEA and to present our surgical approach to AEA in the treatment of severe nasal bleeding.

Methods: A retrospective study reviewed 300 endoscopic transnasal AEA cauterizations, over a 20-year period from 1991 to July 2010, at the Instituto Felippu, Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Deleterious sucking habits and atypical swallowing in children with otitis media with effusion.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between otitis media with effusion, bad sucking habits and atypical swallowing in children affected by otitis media with effusion.

Methods: 65 children, aged from 7 to 12 years, observed in the ENT Department of the "La Sapienza" University of Rome, were enrolled in the study group (group A). All children were affected by otitis media with effusion for more than 3 months.

Potential nerve damage following contact with a piezoelectric device.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the extent of the potential nerve damage following prolonged contact with a piezoelectric device.

Methods: The study was conducted with 30 patients; all of the patients had cervical metastatic lymph nodes at levels II, III, and IV (N2b) and a negative evaluation for metastatic disease (MO). The patients underwent radical neck dissection.

A prognostic multigene classifier for squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx.

Survival after diagnosis of laryngeal cancer has not improved over the last 20 years. Selection of patients for radio- and chemotherapy or surgery or follow-up strategies based on a prognostic classifier could improve survival without unduly extending radical surgery. We performed microarray gene expression analysis and developed a four-gene classifier for laryngeal cancer using Prediction Analysis of Microarray and leave-one-out cross validation.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potential in vestibular neuritis.

This study wants to show the diagnostic value of vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in the diagnosis of vestibular neuritis (VN), independently of the caloric test results. Twenty patients were enrolled with acute vertigo caused by VN. VEMP was tested with the binaural simultaneous stimulation method.

The role of three-dimensional CT in the evaluation of nasal structures and anomalies.

Traditionally, computed tomography (CT) is the primary radiographic method to analyze the morphology of the craniofacial bones: Because of the many overlapping anatomical structures, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to evaluate craniofacial bones three-dimensionally (3D) with these images. For this reason, the aim of this paper has been to evaluate and demonstrate the importance of CT scans integrated by three-dimensional reconstructions (3D-CT) volume rendering imaging for the accurate understanding of the nasal pyramid morphology in the evaluation of patients submitted to secondary rhinoseptoplasty. Twenty patients enrolled for a secondary rhinoseptoplasty, underwent a preoperative evaluation through 3D-CT volume rendering imaging.

Nasal tactile sensitivity in allergic rhinitis.

Conclusion: These preliminary data show a decrease in nasal tactile sensitivity and point out interesting aspects of the nasal chronic inflammatory condition in allergic rhinitis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of allergic rhinitis on nasal tactile sensitivity during the intercritical period.

Methods: A total of 70 patients aged between 18 and 67 years (average 42 years), with a positive history of allergy caused by seasonal outdoor allergens, were included (group A).

Comparison of postoperative pain: piezoelectric device versus microdrill.

Piezosurgery® is a recently developed system for cutting bone with microvibrations. The objective of this study was to compare the severity of pain over the first 10 postoperative days in a group of 70 patients who underwent intact canal wall mastoidectomy, with the piezoelectric device, and to compare the results with traditional method by means of microdrill (70 patients). The subjective perception of pain was evaluated on a scale from 0 to 10, such that 0 represented no pain and 10 represented maximum pain; the severity was recorded as null when the score was 0; slight, when it was 1-4; moderate, when it was 5-7; or severe, when it was 8-10.

Water-soluble coenzyme Q10 formulation in presbycusis: long-term effects.

Conclusion: These findings provide the basis for understanding the duration of the effect after the last use of the drug and encourage a larger clinical trial to collect additional evidence on the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in preventing the development of hearing loss in subjects with presbycusis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a water-soluble formulation of CoQ10 (Q-TER) in subjects with presbycusis.

Methods: Sixty patients with presbycusis were included and divided at random into three numerically equal groups.

Nasal tactile sensitivity in elderly.

Conclusion: Although older people varied widely in tactile sensitivity, our results show that tactile thresholds increased with age.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aging on nasal tactile sensitivity.

Methods: A total of 160 healthy patients aged between 50 and 90 years were included.

Computerized voice therapy in hypofunctional dysphonia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency and applicability of the Kay CSL 4500 system with the Sona-Speech II software model 3650 (Kay Pentax, Lincoln Park, NJ) in the voice therapy of patients affected by hypofunctional dysphonia.

Design: The study evaluated the effect of visual biofeedback, obtained with the Sona-Speech II software, on dysphonia associated with hypofunction dysphonia.

Setting: The study was conducted with 40 male adults affected by hypofunctional dysphonia in the Otolaryngology Department of the University of Genoa (Italy) between April 2008 and April 2009.

Piezoelectric stapedotomy: the importance of a micropulse program.

Conclusions: We can consider the micropulse program as the best level of safety that should be used in all cases of piezoelectric stapedotomy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the importance of a micropulse program in determining the success of piezoelectric stapedotomy.

Methods: A total of 112 patients (group A) affected by primary otosclerosis underwent piezoelectric stapedotomy for otosclerotic stapes fixation.

Piezosurgery versus microdrill in intact canal wall mastoidectomy.

Piezosurgery is a recently developed system for cutting bone with microvibrations. The objectives of the present study were to report our experience with the piezoelectric device in the intact canal mastoidectomy, and to compare the results with traditional method by means of microdrill. A non-randomized controlled trial was undertaken on 60 intact canal wall mastoidectomy performed using the piezoelectric device (30 patients) or the microdrill (30 patients).

Piezosurgery for removal of symptomatic ear osteoma.

Piezosurgery is an ultrasound instrument (24.7-29.5 kHz) that is able to cut the bone without necrosis and nonmineralized tissue damage.