Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis in Non-Caucasian Women.

Objective: To characterize presentation, disease course, and treatment of idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) in non-Caucasian women and compare this cohort to the predominantly female, Caucasian patient cohorts identified in the literature.

Study Design: Retrospective review. Results are compared to systematic review of demographics.

Non-invasive omics analysis delineates molecular changes in water-only fasting and its sex-discriminating features in metabolic syndrome patients.

Fasting has been grown in popularity with multiple potential benefits. However, very few studies dynamically monitor physiological and pathological changes during long-term fasting using noninvasive methods. In the present study, we recruited 37 individuals with metabolic syndrome to engage in a 5-day water-only fasting regimen, and simultaneously captured the molecular alterations through urinary proteomics and metabolomics.

Race and sex demographics in the surgical management of facial nerve palsy.

Objective: Facial palsy affects patients of all backgrounds, yet no existing studies describe differences in its treatment patterns between demographic groups.

Methods: We used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database to investigate whether race and sex disparities exist in facial reanimation surgery. Patients were identified using CPT codes corresponding to facial-nerve procedures.

Impact of COVID-19 versus chronic rhinosinusitis/rhinitis associated olfactory dysfunction on health utility and quality of life.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is associated with both post-viral and inflammatory etiologies such as COVID-19 and chronic rhinosinusitis/rhinitis (CRS/R) respectively, to result in reduced quality of life (QoL). However, the former typically induces a sudden-onset OD while the latter has a gradual presentation. This study aims to establish and compare health utility values (HUVs) and olfactory-specific QoL measurements between patients with COVID-19 and CRS/R related OD.

Particle aerosolization with energy devices: A comparative study.

Objective: To compare the degree of particle aerosolization with the use of several energy devices used in tonsillectomy and other common upper airway procedures.

Methods: Three different energy devices were measured. These included (a) monopolar electrocautery, (b) bipolar electrocautery, and (c) thermal welding device (TWD).

Navigating telemedicine for facial trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic is changing how health care providers practice. As some telemedicine and telecommunication support tools have been incorporated into the otolaryngology practice in response to safety and access demands, it is essential to review how these tools and services can help facilitate facial trauma evaluation during a time when clinical resources are limited.

Objective: To review applications of telemedicine for the evaluation of facial trauma to better direct utilization of these methods and technologies during times of limited access to clinical resources such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cell populations and muscle fiber morphology associated with acute and chronic muscle degeneration in lumbar spine pathology.

Many chronic musculoskeletal conditions are associated with loss of muscle volume and quality, resulting in functional decline. While atrophy has long been implicated as the mechanism of muscle loss in these conditions, recent evidence has emerged demonstrating a degenerative phenotype of muscle loss consisting of disrupted muscle fiber membranes, infiltration of cells into muscle fibers, and as previously describer, possible replacement of muscle fibers by adipose tissue. Here, we use human lumbar spine pathology as a model system to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the morphological features of this mode of muscle loss between early and late stages of disease, including an analysis of the cell populations found in paraspinal muscle biopsies from humans with acute vs chronic lumbar spine pathology.