The role of wait-and-scan and the efficacy of radiotherapy in the treatment of temporal bone paragangliomas.

Objective: To define the role of wait-and-scan and radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of temporal bone paragangliomas and to review the literature on the outcomes of RT as a treatment modality.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective and literature review. The records of 381 patients with 382 tumors between 1988 and 2012 were analyzed.

The behavior of residual tumors and facial nerve outcomes after incomplete excision of vestibular schwannomas.

Object: The authors evaluated the behavior of residual tumors and facial nerve outcomes after incomplete excision of vestibular schwannomas (VSs).

Methods: The case records of all patients who underwent surgical treatment of VSs were analyzed. All patients in whom an incomplete excision had been performed were analyzed.

Intraoperatively diagnosed cerebellopontine angle facial nerve schwannoma: how to deal with it.

Objective: This study aimed to report our experience in the management of patients with intraoperatively diagnosed intracranial facial nerve schwannomas (FNSs) and propose a decision-making strategy.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with FNS of the internal auditory canal and/or cerebellopontine angle operated on between 1992 and 2012 were identified.

Results: Preoperatively, all cases have been radiographically diagnosed as vestibular schwannomas.

Skull base chondrosarcomas: surgical treatment and results.

Objectives: We describe our experience in the management of patients with skull base chondrosarcoma, an uncommon neoplasm of the skull base.

Methods: Thirteen cases of surgically treated skull base chondrosarcomas were identified. The patients' follow-ups ranged from 7 to 86 months (mean, 47 months).

Lipomas of the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle.

Objectives: Lipomas of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are exceedingly rare lesions. The purpose of this report was to describe our experience with lipomas of the IAC and CPA and perform a review of the literature.

Methods: We report 8 cases of lipomas involving the IAC and/or the CPA that were managed at Gruppo Otologico between April 1987 and October 2012.

State of the art in temporal bone malignancies.

Purpose Of Review: To discuss the histological variants, tumor staging, work up and the latest trends in the treatment of malignancies of the temporal bone.

Recent Findings: Because of the rarity of this subset of tumors, there has been no serious attempt to study tumor histologies of the temporal bone other than the squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). The modified Pittsburgh tumor staging, though popularly used, was primarily developed only for SCC of the external auditory canal.

Top-down analytical platforms for the characterization of the human salivary proteome.

Comprehensive analysis and characterization of the human salivary proteome is an important step towards the possible use of saliva for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The contribution of the different sources to whole saliva, and the evaluation of individual variability and physiological modifications have been investigated by top-down proteomic approaches, disclosing the faceted and complex profile of the human salivary proteome. All this information is essential to develop saliva protein biomarkers.

PKC-mediated HuD-GAP43 pathway activation in a mouse model of antiretroviral painful neuropathy.

Patients treated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) develop painful neuropathies that lead to discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy thus limiting viral suppression strategies. The mechanisms by which NRTIs contribute to the development of neuropathy are not known. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this drug-induced neuropathy, we have characterized cellular events in the central nervous system following antiretroviral treatment.

Predictive role of renal resistive index for clinical outcome after revascularization in hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis: a monocentric observational study.

Background: The present study evaluated the predictive value of renal resistive index (RI) for renal function and blood pressure (BP) outcome in hypertensive patients with unilateral atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis submitted to successful revascularization.

Methods: In 158 hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis RI was acquired. Twelve months after revascularization, they were classified on the basis of renal function and BP outcome as benefit (BP < 140/90 mmHg or diastolic BP reduction > 15 mmHg with the same of reduced drugs; decrease in glomerular filtration rate > 20%), or failure.

Antimicrobial activity against beneficial microorganisms and chemical composition of essential oil of Mentha suaveolens ssp. insularis grown in Sardinia.

Unlabelled: The aim of this work was to determine the chemical constituents and in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oil (EO) of the aerial parts of Mentha sueveolens spp. insularis grown in Sardinia (Italy) against probiotic and starter microorganisms. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis allowed to identified 34 compounds, most of oxygenated monoterpene compounds (82.

Management of facial nerve in surgical treatment of previously untreated fisch class C tympanojugular paragangliomas: long-term results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term facial nerve outcome according to management of the facial nerve in patients undergoing surgery for Fisch class C tympanojugular paragangliomas. The study population consisted of 122 patients. The infratemporal type A approach was the most common surgical procedure.

Cochlear implantation versus auditory brainstem implantation in bilateral total deafness after head trauma: personal experience and review of the literature.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of cochlear implant (CI) in hearing restoration after temporal bone (TB) fractures and investigate the adequacy of auditory brainstem implant (ABI) indication for TB fractures.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study; a systematic review of the literature in PubMed was also performed to identify all published cases of bilateral TB fractures or bilateral deafness after head trauma treated by means of CI or ABI.

Settings: Quaternary otology and skull base surgery referral center.

Facial reanimation after facial nerve injury using hypoglossal to facial nerve anastomosis: the gruppo otologico experience.

To evaluate the results of facial nerve reanimation after facial nerve injury by means of hypoglossal to facial nerve anastomosis. Retrospective case review. Private neuro-otologic and cranial base quaternary referral center.

Lower cranial nerves function after surgical treatment of Fisch Class C and D tympanojugular paragangliomas.

The aim of this study was to report the postoperative lower cranial nerves (LCNs) function in patients undergoing surgery for tympanojugular paraganglioma (TJP) and to evaluate risk factors for postoperative LCN dysfunction. A retrospective case review of 122 patients having Fisch class C or D TJP, surgically treated from 1988 to 2012, was performed. The follow-up of the series ranged from 12 to 156 months (mean, 39.

Giant cell tumors of the skull base: case series and current concepts.

Objective: To study the clinical features, tumor characteristics and outcomes of giant cell tumors (GCTs) in the skull base based on long-term follow-up. We also report the largest series of GCTs in the temporal bone and the lateral skull base.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all GCTs managed at the Gruppo Otologico, a quaternary referral skull base institute, in Italy from 1993 to 2013.

Antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) in patients with lupus nephritis: a retrospective clinical and renal pathology study.

Data about clinical-laboratory features and outcome of antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) in the course of lupus nephritis (LN) are scarce. To determine prevalence, clinical correlations and outcome of APSN in patients with LN, retrospective analysis of renal specimens and review of medical records from 48 LN patients were performed. APSN was found in 12/48 (25 %) of LN.

Preoperative protective stenting of the internal carotid artery in the management of complex head and neck paragangliomas: long-term results.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term results of preoperative stenting of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in complex head and neck paragangliomas (HNP) as well as to report on indications and technical details of the procedure.

Method: A comprehensive retrospective review of patients affected by HNP, consecutively operated on and preoperatively treated with stenting of the ICA in a quaternary referral skull base center, was performed.

Results: Nineteen patients affected by complex HNP were identified, on whom 21 preoperative stenting procedures were performed.

A putative phospholipase C is involved in Pichia fermentans dimorphic transition.

Background: Pichia fermentans DiSAABA 726 is a dimorphic yeast that reversibly shifts from yeast-like to pseudohyphal morphology. This yeast behaves as a promising antagonist of Monilia spp. in the yeast-like form, but becomes a destructive plant pathogen in the pseudohyphal form thus raising the problem of the biological risk associated with the use of dimorphic yeasts as microbial antagonists in the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi.

Daunorubicin, cytarabine, and cladribine regimen plus radiotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusion for extramedullary relapse of acute myeloid leukemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Myeloid sarcoma is a rare tumor consisting of myeloid blasts that involve anatomic sites outside the bone marrow. Fatal prognosis is inevitable in patients with extramedullary relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and no standard treatments are available yet. We report the first case of extramedullary relapse after HSCT treated with a combination of daunorubicin, cytarabine, and cladribine (DAC) regimen plus radiotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI).

[Evaluation of nursing teachers' competencies to develop educational programs for adults].

To evaluate the performance that nursing teachers assigned to themselves in the skills to develop educational programs for adults, was the aim of this descriptive, comparative, cross-sectional study, performed with 226 teachers of undergraduate nursing courses from Sao Paulo. Data were collected by Likert scale, introduced in Excel® spreadsheet and analyzed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests of Wilcoxon and Friedman. The population was predominantly between 46-55 years (87/38, 49%) were women (198/87, 61%) and have a master degree (180/79, 65%).

Predictive value of antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone for follicle and oocyte developmental competence during the early prepubertal period in a sheep model.

Circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) are addressed as suitable markers of oocyte quantity and quality during adulthood. To investigate whether AFC and circulating AMH could predict follicle development and oocyte quality during the prepubertal period we used 40-day-old ewe lambs with high, intermediate and low AFC (≥30, 16-29 and≤15 follicles respectively). The analysis of the response to the exogenous FSH ovarian reserve test showed a positive correlation between AFC, AMH plasma levels, total follicle number and the number of large follicles (≥3mm) grown after exogenous FSH administration.

Infratemporal fossa approach type a with transcondylar-transtubercular extension for Fisch type C2 to C4 tympanojugular paragangliomas.

Background: The classic infratemporal fossa type A approach (IFTA-A) permits superior and anterior exposure of the jugular foramen. The transcondylar-transtubercular extension facilitates posteroinferior and medial access to the jugular foramen. The purpose of this study was to present the IFTA-A with transcondylar-transtubercular extension and to assess its surgical results.

Regular cigarette smoking influences the transsulfuration pathway, endothelial function, and inflammation biomarkers in a sex-gender specific manner in healthy young humans.

Cigarette smoking (CS) is the primary cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Abundant clinical evidence suggests that CS is more harmful to women; however, the mechanisms responsible for these differences are not yet known. CS alters endothelial function, the redox state, inflammation, and global DNA methylation, which is associated with one-carbon metabolism and the transsulfuration pathway.

Modifications of the acidic soluble salivary proteome in human children from birth to the age of 48months investigated by a top-down HPLC-ESI-MS platform.

Unlabelled: During the first year of life the infant oral environment undergoes dramatic changes. To investigate how the salivary proteome of human children evolves during infant development we have analyzed whole saliva of 88 children aged between 0 and 48months by a top-down platform based on RP-HPLC-ESI-MS. Children were divided according to their age into five groups (A, 0-6months, N=17; B, 7-12months, N=14; C, 13-24months, N=32; D, 25-36months, N=16; E, 37-48months, N=9).

Long-term health-related quality of life evaluated more than 20 years after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia.

The principal aim of our study was to investigate whether patients transplanted more than 20 years ago for β-thalassemia major had a different health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with the general population. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) were received from 109 ex-thalassemia patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) during the 1980s and 1990s. Adjusted comparisons were performed separately for patient age at HSCT and the presence or absence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).