The management of peripheral facial nerve palsy: "paresis" versus "paralysis" and sources of ambiguity in study designs.

Objective: Conservative management of idiopathic or herpetic acute peripheral facial palsy (herpes zoster oticus, HZO) often leads to a favorable outcome. However, recent multicenter studies have challenged the necessity of antivirals. Whereas large numbers of patients are required to reveal statistical differences in a disease with an overall positive outcome, surprisingly few studies differentiate between patients with paresis and paralysis.

Age-related changes in the murine larynx: initial validation of a mouse model.

Objectives: Changes in voice are commonly associated with aging (presbyphonia). Age-related voice change significantly impairs elderly individuals' ability to communicate meaningfully with others and affects their quality of life. With changing age demographics in our society and increasing emphasis on quality of life, treatment of presbylaryngis is becoming more paramount.

Slide tracheoplasty applied to acquired subglottic and upper tracheal stenosis: an experimental study in a canine model.

Objective: To assess the applicability and complications of slide tracheoplasty in the management of subglottic and upper tracheal stenosis in experimental animals.

Design: Subglottic stenosis was induced in 10 dogs by cauterizing the subglottic area and the upper 3 to 4 cm of the trachea. After 21 days, the severity of stenosis ranged from 30% to 60%.

Sigmoid sinus diverticulum: a new surgical approach to the correction of pulsatile tinnitus.

Objective: Tinnitus represents a bothersome symptom not infrequently encountered in an otology practice. Tinnitus can be the harbinger of identifiable middle or inner ear abnormality; but more frequently, tinnitus stands alone as a subjective symptom with no easy treatment. When a patient complains of tinnitus that is pulsatile in nature, a thorough workup is indicated to rule out vascular abnormality.