Comparison of psychosocial factors over time among HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer and tobacco-related oral cavity cancer patients.

Introduction: The role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is well documented, as is the excellent prognosis of patients with HPV-associated disease; in contrast, oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is associated with tobacco and alcohol use and has a worse prognosis. While causative factors, staging, and treatment guidelines differ between these cancer subsets, few studies have compared psychosocial factors in these groups.

Objective: To explore differences in psychosocial factors between HPV+ OPSCC patients versus OCSCC smokers.

Thirty-day readmission in patients undergoing head and neck microvascular reconstruction.

Background: Characteristics of 30-day unplanned readmissions after head and neck microvascular reconstruction remain poorly understood.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent head and neck microvascular reconstruction between 2010 and 2015.

Results: The 30-day unplanned readmission rate was 13.

Effect of a Documentation Improvement Program for an Academic Otolaryngology Practice.

Importance: Physicians recognize the value of accurate documentation to facilitate patient care, communication, and the distribution of professional fees. However, the association between inpatient documentation, hospital billing, and quality metrics is less clear.

Objectives: To identify areas of deficiency in inpatient documentation and to instruct health care professionals on how to improve the quality and accuracy of clinical records.

Attitudes on and usage of balloon catheter technology in rhinology: A survey of the American Rhinologic Society.

Introduction: Use of balloon catheter dilation in the management of paranasal sinus diseases, including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, remains controversial. In an effort to gain some clarity about its evolving role, we surveyed members of the American Rhinologic Society (ARS).

Method: Online survey.

Hearing preservation in Guinea pigs with long-standing endolymphatic hydrops.

Hypothesis: Interruption of the excitotoxic and inflammatory pathways implicated in endolymphatic hydrops (ELH)-associated hearing loss (HL) should afford hearing protection at the neuronal level.

Background: Previous work in our laboratory in the mouse model of ELH shows that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an anti-inflammatory solvent, can slow the progression of HL before neuronal degeneration occurs. Riluzole, a glutamate release inhibitor, may provide synergistic benefit.

Pharmacological protection of hearing loss in the mouse model of endolymphatic hydrops.

Objectives/hypothesis: Excitotoxic and related inflammatory injury are implicated in the spiral ganglion degeneration seen with Meniere's disease and endolymphatic hydrops (ELH). Excitotoxicity is initiated with glutamate elevation and associated with downstream increases in reactive oxygen species resulting in inflammation-mediated neuronal degeneration. This study tests the hypothesis that interruption of the initial and/or downstream aspects of excitotoxicity should provide hearing protection in ELH-associated hearing loss.

Spiral ganglion loss outpaces inner hair cell loss in endolymphatic hydrops.

Objectives/hypothesis: Neuronal toxicity is thought to be important in Meniere's disease and experimental endolymphatic hydrops (ELH). This study quantifies the relationship between neuronal degeneration and hair cell degeneration in ELH to evaluate the hypothesis that a primary neural insult would yield greater loss in the spiral ganglion than at the inner hair cell level.

Study Design: Following induction and histopathologic confirmation of endolymphatic hydrops in guinea pigs, the degree of hydrops, spiral ganglion loss, and hair cell degeneration were quantified and compared.