COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction: associations between coping, quality of life, and mental health.

Background: Persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common symptom following SARS-CoV-2 infection that can greatly impact quality of life (QoL). Because coping strategies have been shown to moderate the effect of disease symptoms on functional and affective outcomes, this study aims to determine whether specific coping strategies are associated with and moderate QoL outcomes.

Methodology: Participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent psychophysical olfactory testing with Sniffin’ Sticks and completed questionnaires to elicit subjective olfactory function, coping strategies, olfactory-specific QoL, general QoL, and mental health.

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Predictive Models for Outcomes After Congenital Heart Surgery.

Background: Despite documented associations between social determinants of health and outcomes post-congenital heart surgery, clinical risk models typically exclude these factors.

Objectives: The study sought to characterize associations between social determinants and operative and longitudinal mortality as well as assess impacts on risk model performance.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were obtained for all congenital heart surgeries (2006-2021) from locally held Congenital Heart Surgery Collaborative for Longitudinal Outcomes and Utilization of Resources Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database data.

Mast cell activation syndrome: Current understanding and research needs.

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a term applied to several clinical entities that have gained increased attention from patients and medical providers. Although several descriptive publications about MCAS exist, there are many gaps in knowledge, resulting in confusion about this clinical syndrome. Whether MCAS is a primary syndrome or exists as a constellation of symptoms in the context of known inflammatory, allergic, or clonal disorders associated with systemic mast cell activation is not well understood.

Hearing Loss and Reduced Income Growth: A Longitudinal Socioeconomic Analysis.

Objective: Hearing loss (HL) has been linked to negative socioeconomic states, including low income. This study examines the relationship between HL and income growth.

Study Design: Longitudinal observational study.

Design and Methods of the Early Age-Related Hearing Loss Investigation Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Hearing loss has been identified as a major modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline. The Early Age-Related Hearing Loss Investigation (EARHLI) study will assess the mechanisms linking early age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and cognitive impairment.

Study Design: Randomized, controlled, single-site, early phase II, superiority trial.

Gender Disparity in Leading Authorship of Critical Care Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In critical care medicine, research trials serve as crucial avenues for disseminating knowledge, influencing clinical practices, and fostering innovation. Notably, a significant gender imbalance exists within this field, potentially mirrored in the authorship of critical care research. This study aimed to investigate an exploration to ascertain the presence and extent of female representation in first and senior authorship roles within critical care literature.

Hampshire Sheep as a Large-Animal Model for Cochlear Implantation.

Background: Sheep have been proposed as a large-animal model for studying cochlear implantation. However, prior sheep studies report that the facial nerve (FN) obscures the round window membrane (RWM), requiring FN sacrifice or a retrofacial opening to access the middle-ear cavity posterior to the FN for cochlear implantation. We investigated surgical access to the RWM in Hampshire sheep compared to Suffolk-Dorset sheep and the feasibility of Hampshire sheep for cochlear implantation via a facial recess approach.

Lower Extremity Surfing Injuries Seen at United States Emergency Departments From 2002 to 2022.

Background: Surfing is an increasingly popular sport with a high propensity for both traumatic and atraumatic injuries.

Purpose: To analyze the trends, etiologies, and diagnoses of lower extremity orthopaedic-related surfing injuries presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (EDs) within a 21-year study period.

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

National Cohort Data Suggests an Association Between Serious Mental Illness and Audiometric Hearing Loss.

Objective: To explore whether there is an association between serious mental illness (SMI) and hearing loss (HL) among US Hispanic adults.

Study Design And Setting: Cross-sectional epidemiological study (Hispanic Community Health Study), including multicentered US volunteers.

Methods: Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to study the association between SMI and HL.

A Systematic Review of Gender Disparity in the Authorship of Clinical Trials and Clinical Practice Guidelines in Various Medicine Subspecialties.

Authorship in clinical trials and clinical practice guidelines is considered prestigious and is associated with broader peer recognition. This systematic review investigated female representation among studies reporting authorship trends in clinical trials or clinical practice guidelines in different medicine subspecialties. Our search strategy yielded 836 articles, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria.

Instrumented insoles for assessment of gait in patients with vestibular schwannoma.

Background: Imbalance and gait disturbances are common in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) and can result in significant morbidity. Current methods for quantitative gait analysis are cumbersome and difficult to implement. Here, we use custom-engineered instrumented insoles to evaluate the gait of patients diagnosed with VS.

Surgical and medical management of chronic rhinosinusitis in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients: Impact on olfactory symptoms.

Background And Purpose: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) commonly occurs in patients with sinonasal dysfunction, but the prevalence and severity of olfactory issues in adolescents with cystic fibrosis (AwCF) is unclear. OD may contribute to dietary deficiencies and exacerbate nutritional challenges. We sought to review literature on the effectiveness of medical and surgical management of sinonasal symptoms in AwCF and the associated impact on olfactory function.

Delivering Therapy to the Olfactory Cleft: A Comparison of the Various Methods of Administering Topical Nasal Medications.

Background and objective Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory condition affecting the nasal mucosa, and it causes olfactory dysfunction (OD) in up to 78.2% of patients. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment to shrink nasal polyposis, reduce inflammation, and improve olfactory function.

Computed tomography anatomic predictors of outcomes in patients undergoing tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Aim: To identify anatomical computed tomography (CT) predictors of procedural and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER).

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing T-TEER between March 2018 to December 2022 who had cardiac CT prior to the procedure were included. CT scans were automatically analyzed using a dedicated software that employs deep learning techniques to provide precise anatomical measurements and volumetric calculations.

Risk Factors for Early Treatment Discontinuation Due to Toxicity Among Patients With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Receptor-targeted Therapy.

Objectives: Androgen receptor-targeted therapies (ARTs) improve survival outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC); however, a significant portion of patients discontinue treatment for various reasons including treatment-related toxicity. We aim to describe reasons for ART treatment discontinuation and identify predictors associated with increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to toxicity.

Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with mCRPC receiving ART between 2010 and 2021.

A Practical Approach to Optimize Computerized Provider Order Entry Systems and Reduce Clinician Burden: Pre-Post Evaluation of Vendor-Derived "Order Friction" Data.

Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems have been cited as a significant contributor to clinician burden. Vendor-derived measures and data sets have been developed to help with optimization of CPOE systems. We describe how we analyzed vendor-derived Order Friction (OF) EHR log data at our health system and propose a practical approach for optimizing CPOE systems by reducing OF.

An Evaluation of Quality, Reliability, and Accuracy of Vocal Health Content on TikTok.

Objectives: Social media plays an ever-growing part in modern life and is a frequent source of health information for patients. Singers are particularly likely to receive health information solely from fellow musicians and may experience barriers to seeking vocal healthcare. However, there have been no studies to date evaluating vocal health information on social media.

Adjusting for Congenital Heart Surgery Risk Using Administrative Data.

Background: Congenital heart surgery (CHS) encompasses a heterogeneous population of patients and surgeries. Risk standardization models that adjust for patient and procedural characteristics can allow for collective study of these disparate patients and procedures.

Objectives: We sought to develop a risk-adjustment model for CHS using the newly developed Risk Stratification for Congenital Heart Surgery for ICD-10 Administrative Data (RACHS-2) methodology.