Clinical Characteristics of Ear Chondroid Syringoma: A Report of 2 Cases and a Literature Review.

Chondroid syringoma, a mixed tumor of the skin, is an acquired hamartoma that differentiates into hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and apocrine sweat glands. Chondroid syringoma in the ear region is exceptionally rare. However, we present 2 cases of ear chondroid syringoma: 1 involving multiple lesions in the external auditory canal and the other including a single lesion behind the auricle.

An Unusual Acute Otitis Media Complication: Luc's Abscess.

Otitis media, a common childhood disease, can lead to serious complications such as acute mastoiditis and, rarely, Luc's abscess, with life-threatening consequences. Luc's abscess, a rare but severe complication, can occur without acute mastoiditis. This case report details a case of Luc's abscess in a 14-year-old girl with acute otitis media, presenting with ear pain, facial swelling, and hearing loss.

Dietary Reference Intakes of Selenium for Chinese Residents.

The plasma selenoprotein P (SELENOP) concentration leveling out was thought to represent saturation of the functional selenium body pool and an appropriate supply of selenium to all tissues, indicating that the necessary amount of selenium had been supplied. Based on the selenium intake when SELENOP reaches saturation, the estimated average requirement (EAR) of selenium was set as 50 μg/d, and the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) was 60 μg/d for Chinese general population. According a recent study, "lactating Chinese women with the optimal daily selenium intake" was defined, and the adequate intake (AI) of 0‒6 months old infants was set as 15 μg/d, and 20 μg/d was calculated for 7‒12 months old infants.

VPT: Video portraits transformer for realistic talking face generation.

Talking face generation is a promising approach within various domains, such as digital assistants, video editing, and virtual video conferences. Previous works with audio-driven talking faces focused primarily on the synchronization between audio and video. However, existing methods still have certain limitations in synthesizing photo-realistic video with high identity preservation, audiovisual synchronization, and facial details like blink movements.

CMPK2 promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation via mtDNA-STING pathway in house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis.

Background: House dust mite (HDM) is the leading allergen for allergic rhinitis (AR). Although allergic sensitisation by inhaled allergens renders susceptible individuals prone to developing AR, the molecular mechanisms driving this process remain incompletely elucidated.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying HDM-induced AR.

Blink completeness and rate in dry eye disease: An investigator-masked, prospective registry-based, cross-sectional, prognostic study.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic ability of blink rate and the proportion of incomplete blinking to predict dry eye disease diagnosis, as defined by the TFOS DEWS II criteria.

Methods: A total of 453 community residents (282 females, 171 males; mean ± SD age, 37 ± 19 years) were recruited in an investigator-masked, prospective registry-based, cross-sectional, prognostic study. Dry eye symptomology, tear film quality, and ocular surface characteristics were assessed in a single clinical session, and blink parameters evaluated by an independent masked observer.

Immunology in corneal transplantation-From homeostasis to graft rejection.

Immunology depends on maintaining a delicate balance within the human body, and disruptions can result in conditions such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and hypersensitivity reactions. This balance is especially crucial in transplantation immunology, where one of the primary challenges is preventing graft rejection. Such rejection can lead to organ failure, increased patient mortality, and higher healthcare costs due to the limited availability of donor tissues relative to patient needs.

Exploring the Intricate Connection Between Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review.

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient crucial for overall health, and deficiencies can lead to hearing loss. The aim of the systematic review was to explore the intricate connection between vitamin B12 deficiency and hearing loss using a systematic literature review. A systematic literature search was carried out to identify the articles exploring the connection between vitamin B12 deficiency and hearing loss.

Deep learning multi-classification of middle ear diseases using synthetic tympanic images.

Background: Recent advances in artificial intelligence have facilitated the automatic diagnosis of middle ear diseases using endoscopic tympanic membrane imaging.

Aim: We aimed to develop an automated diagnostic system for middle ear diseases by applying deep learning techniques to tympanic membrane images obtained during routine clinical practice.

Material And Methods: To augment the training dataset, we explored the use of generative adversarial networks (GANs) to produce high-quality synthetic tympanic images that were subsequently added to the training data.

Battlefield Acupuncture Does Not Provide Additional Improvement in Pain When Combined With Standard Physical Therapy After Shoulder Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Shoulder stabilization surgery is common among military personnel, causing severe acute postoperative pain that may contribute to the development of chronic pain, thereby reducing military readiness. Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) has shown promise as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for acute postoperative pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of BFA combined with standard physical therapy on pain, self-reported mood, self-reported improvement, and medication use in patients after shoulder stabilization surgery.

Medical Management of the Near-Narrowed Internal Auditory Canal Pathology in the Adult Population: A Preliminary Study.

: Objective: To discuss therapeutic outcomes in patients with symptomatic near-narrow internal auditory canal (NNIAC). : We retrospectively analyzed the records of 26 symptomatic patients diagnosed with NNIAC, who had been treated with anti-epileptic drugs. In addition to clinical and radiological data, we recorded I-III latencies of auditory brainstem responses prior to and after medical therapy.

Prevalence of High Frequency Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Medical Students Using Personalized Listening Devices.

The misuse of personalized listening devices (PLDs) resulting in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) has become a public health concern, especially among youths, including medical students. The occupational use of PLDs that produce high-intensity sounds amplifies the danger of cochlear deterioration and high-frequency NIHL especially when used in noisy environments. This study aims to evaluate the incidence and trends of NIHL among medical students using PLDs.

Cochlear Mechanics Are Preserved After Inner Ear Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles.

Novel therapeutic delivery systems and delivery methods to the inner ear are necessary to treat hearing loss and inner ear disorders. However, numerous barriers exist to therapeutic delivery into the bone-encased and immune-privileged environment of the inner ear and cochlea, which makes treating inner ear disorders challenging. Nanoparticles (NPs) are a type of therapeutic delivery system that can be engineered for multiple purposes, and posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) infusion is a method to directly deposit them into the cochlea.

Optimized Prime Editing of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Efficiently Generate Isogenic Models of Mendelian Diseases.

Prime editing (PE) is a CRISPR-based tool for genome engineering that can be applied to generate human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based disease models. PE technology safely introduces point mutations, small insertions, and deletions (indels) into the genome. It uses a Cas9-nickase (nCas9) fused to a reverse transcriptase (RT) as an editor and a PE guide RNA (pegRNA), which introduces the desired edit with great precision without creating double-strand breaks (DSBs).

Distribution of Airway Findings in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: A 20-Year Observational Analysis.

Pulmonary involvement is commonly observed in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), presenting with manifestations such as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, inflammatory infiltrates, pulmonary nodules, and tracheobronchial disease. We aimed to identify distinct subgroups of tracheobronchial disease patterns in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) using latent class analysis (LCA), and to evaluate their clinical characteristics and outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records of patients aged >18 years diagnosed with AAV and tracheobronchial disease between 1 January 2002 and 6 September 2022.

Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices Among Sri Lankan Veterinarians for Common Medical Conditions in Companion Animals.

Veterinarians are essential in antimicrobial stewardship. Companion animal (CA) practitioners have recently received more attention. There are few relevant studies on CA antimicrobial prescribing practices in South Asia.

Leveraging Thermal Infrared Imaging for Pig Ear Detection Research: The TIRPigEar Dataset and Performances of Deep Learning Models.

The stable physiological structure and rich vascular network of pig ears contribute to distinct thermal characteristics, which can reflect temperature variations. While the temperature of the pig ear does not directly represent core body temperature due to the ear's role in thermoregulation, thermal infrared imaging offers a feasible approach to analyzing individual pig status. Based on this background, a dataset comprising 23,189 thermal infrared images of pig ears (TIRPigEar) was established.

Amplitude and Phase Changes in Electrocochleographic Real-Time Recordings During Cochlear Implantation and Its Relation to Pre- and Postoperative Hearing.

Background: The aim of this study was to relate response patterns of electrocochleography (ECochG) recordings during cochlear implantation to pre- and postoperative hearing.

Methods: Thirty subjects with either flat (FA, n = 9) or sloping (SA, n = 21) audiograms before cochlear implantation were prospectively included. Real-time ECochG recordings were conducted via the cochlear implant.

Evolutionary analysis of genes associated with the sense of balance in semi-aquatic mammals.

Background: Semi-aquatic mammals represent a transitional phase in the evolutionary spectrum between terrestrial and aquatic mammals. The sense of balance is crucial for mammalian locomotion, and in semi-aquatic mammals, the structural foundation of this sense (the vestibular system) shows distinct morphological adaptations to both aquatic and terrestrial environments compared to their terrestrial counterparts. Despite this, the precise molecular mechanisms driving these adaptations remain elusive.

Reconstructing the experienced temperature during the larval oceanic migration of anguillid eels from otolith stable oxygen isotopes.

Migration routes and the depth patterns of anguillid eel larvae migrating long distances from spawning grounds in the ocean remain poorly understood. We used otolith stable isotope analysis to study the oceanic migrations of anguillid eels by reconstructing experienced water temperature histories of larvae. The otolith stable oxygen isotopes (δO) of recruited Anguilla japonica glass eels were analyzed to assess the relationship with the experienced water temperature of the early larval stage in laboratory experiments.

Clinical trials for implantable neural prostheses: understanding the ethical and technical requirements.

Neuroprosthetics research has entered a stage in which animal models and proof-of-concept studies are translated into clinical applications, often combining implants with artificial intelligence techniques. This new phase raises the question of how clinical trials should be designed to scientifically and ethically address the unique features of neural prostheses. Neural prostheses are complex cyberbiological devices able to acquire and process data; hence, their assessment is not reducible to only third-party safety and efficacy evaluations as in pharmacological research.

Evaluating the Utility of Initial Exams in Retinopathy of Prematurity: Proposal of FIRST-ROP Algorithm for a Medium-Risk Cohort.

Purpose: To assess the utility of the first or second examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a medium-risk cohort of infants and to propose an optimization to the current ROP screening guidelines.

Design: Retrospective consecutive study.

Subjects: Infants screened for ROP between January 2017 and August 2023 at three different tertiary-level care neonatal intensive care units.

Chemically defined and dynamic click hydrogels support hair cell differentiation in human inner ear organoids.

The mechanical properties in the inner ear microenvironment play a key role in its patterning during embryonic development. To recapitulate inner ear development in vitro, three-dimensional tissue engineering strategies including the application of representative tissue models and scaffolds are of increasing interest. Human inner ear organoids are a promising model to recapitulate developmental processes; however, the current protocol requires Matrigel that contains ill-defined extracellular matrix components.

The Availability of Paternity Leave in US Surgical Residencies: A Study of Program Websites.

Introduction: As family dynamics evolve, an increasing number of male residents are embracing parenthood during their training. Consequently, paternity leave has emerged as a crucial consideration. The aim of this study was to determine the gap in public availability of paternity leave policies in surgical residency programs across the United States.