Endoscopic versus microscopic ossiculoplasty: Does the functional outcome vary according to the type of osciculoplasty?

Abstract Objective: To compare functional outcome of microscopic and endoscopic approach regarding type of ossiculoplasty. Methods: In this retrospective study, cases who had undergone type-II and type-III tympanoplasty between February 2007 to September 2019 were divided into two groups according to the type of approach as microscopic and endoscopic. In cases with type-II reconstruction; Partial Ossicular chain Replacement Prosthesis (PORP), incus interposition and bone cement were used in order of frequency. Whereas in cases with type-III reconstruction, only Total Ossicular chain Replacement Prosthesis (TORP) was used. The average Air Bone Gap (ABG) was determined pre- and post-operatively for the calculation of Air Conductance Gain (ACG). The ACG, pre- and post-operative ABG values of each group were compared with regard to the type of ossiculoplasty. Results: A total of 79 cases consisting of 32 females and 47 males who had undergone type-II and type-III tympanoplasty were enrolled. No statistically significant difference between microscopic and endoscopic approach was found in terms of ACG (p = 0.42), pre-(p = 0.23) and postoperative ABG (p = 0.99). We did not find any significant difference in terms of ACG, pre- and postoperative ABG between two approaches for type-II and type-III reconstructions (p>0.05). Conclusions: According to the current study, endoscopic approach in type-II and type-III reconstruction is at least reliable as microscopic approach regarding functional outcome. Since both techniques have similar functional results, other factors (anatomic characteristics, habitude of the surgeon and duration of the surgery) should be considered when choosing the technique. Level of evidence: In the current paper we present a retrospective comparative study of two different approaches of a particular type of otologic surgery. Level of evidence corresponds to level III.

The CXCL9/10/11-CXCR3 axis as a predictor of COVID-19 progression: a prospective, case-control study

ABSTRACT Background: This study examined the relationship between levels of the chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 and mortality in patients with COVID-19.. Methods: A total of 71 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and 35 health workers with no symptoms and negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR results were included in the study. CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 levels were measured in blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Participants were divided into three groups: healthy individuals, patients with mild to moderate pneumonia, and patients with severe pneumonia. Patients were also divided into sub-groups according to the outcome: dead and survived. Results: Serum CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 levels were significantly higher in patients with severe COVID-19 than in those with non-severe COVID-19; were higher in both patient groups than in the control group; and were higher in patients who died than in those who survived. Lymphocyte counts, and fibrinogen and PaO2/FiO2 levels were significantly lower in patients with severe COVID-19 than in those with moderate disease. Patients with COVID-19 also had elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, neutrophil counts, and lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and ferritin levels. Conclusions: This study confirmed that CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 levels are associated with disease severity in patients with COVID-19. These laboratory parameters can help to estimate disease severity and predict outcomes, and are useful in clinical decision-making.

The evaluation of pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with laryngeal neoplasms / Avaliação da relação neutrófilo-linfócito e relação neutrófilo-linfócito derivadano pré-tratamento em pacientes com neoplasias laríngeas

Abstract Introduction: Systemic inflammatory biomarkers are promising predictive and prognostic factors for solid cancers. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio are used to predict inflammation and used as biomarker in several malignancies. Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the diagnostic, predictive and prognostic role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with laryngeal neoplasms. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on medical records involving 229 patients with benign, premalignant and malignant laryngeal neoplasms between 2002 and 2015. The diagnostic, predictive and prognostic role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were evaluated using uni- and multivariate analysis. Results: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were not statistically different between patients with benign, premalignant and malignant laryngeal neoplasms. Both neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio were predictive factors for stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Patients with high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio value (≥4) had a poor prognosis when compared with patients with low neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio value (5 year, Overall Survival: 69.0% vs. 31.1%, p < 0.001; 5 year, disease free survival: 70.0% vs. 32.7%, p ˂ 0.001; 5 year, locoregional recurrence free survival: 69.7% vs. 32.0%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was an independent prognostic factor for 5 year: Overall survival (HR = 2.396; 95% CI 1.408-4.077; p = 0.001), Disease free survival (HR = 2.246; 95% CI 1.322-3.816; p = 0.006) and locoregional recurrence free survival (HR = 2.210; 95% CI 1.301-3.753; p = 0.003). Conclusion: Pretreatment neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is a useful and reliable predictive and prognostic biomarker for patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

Resumo Introdução: Biomarcadores inflamatórios sistêmicos são fatores preditivos e prognósticos promissores para cânceres sólidos. A relação neutrófilo-linfócito e a relação neutrófilo-linfócito derivada são utilizadas para predizer a inflamação e como biomarcadores em várias malignidades. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi demonstrar o papel diagnóstico, preditivo e prognóstico da relação neutrófilo-linfócito e relação neutrófilo-linfócito derivada em pacientes com neoplasias laríngeas. Método: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo em prontuários médicos de 229 pacientes com neoplasias laríngeas benignas, pré-malignas e malignas entre 2002 e 2015. O papel diagnóstico, preditivo e prognóstico da relação neutrófilo-linfócito e relação neutrófilo-linfócito derivada foi avaliado por meio de análise uni- e multivariada. Resultados: A relação neutrófilo-linfócito e a relação neutrófilo-linfócito derivada não foram estatisticamente diferentes entre pacientes com neoplasias laríngeas benignas, pré-malignas e malignas. Ambas as relação neutrófilo-linfócito e relação neutrófilo-linfócito derivada foram fatores preditivos para o estágio, metástase linfonodal e metástase a distância. Pacientes com valor alto da relação neutrófilo-linfócito (≥ 4) apresentaram pior prognóstico quando comparados com pacientes com valor mais baixo da relação neutrófilo-linfócito (5 anos, Sobrevida Global: 69,0% vs. 31,1%, p < 0,001; 5 anos, sobrevida livre de doença: 70,0% vs. 32,7%, p < 0,001; 5 anos, sobrevida livre de recorrência loco-regional: 69,7% vs. 32,0%, p < 0,001). Além disso, a relação neutrófilo-linfócito foi um fator prognóstico independente para 5 anos: Sobrevida global (HR = 2,396; IC95% 1,408-4,077; p = 0,001), sobrevida livre de doença (HR = 2,246; IC95%: 1,322-3,816; p = 0,006) e sobrevida livre de recorrência loco-regional (HR = 2,210; IC95%: 1,301-3,753; p = 0,003). Conclusão: A relação neutrófilo-linfócito no pré-tratamento é um biomarcador preditivo e de prognóstico útil e confiável para pacientes com carcinoma de laringe.

The role of facial canal diameter in the pathogenesis and grade of Bell's palsy: a study by high resolution computed tomography / O papel do diâmetro do canal facial na patogenia e grau de paralisia de Bell: estudopor tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução

Abstract Introduction: The exact etiology of Bell's palsy still remains obscure. The only authenticated finding is inflammation and edema of the facial nerve leading to entrapment inside the facial canal. Objective: To identify if there is any relationship between the grade of Bell's palsy and diameter of the facial canal, and also to study any possible anatomic predisposition of facial canal for Bell's palsy including parts which have not been studied before. Methods: Medical records and temporal computed tomography scans of 34 patients with Bell's palsy were utilized in this retrospective clinical study. Diameters of both facial canals (affected and unaffected) of each patient were measured at labyrinthine segment, geniculate ganglion, tympanic segment, second genu, mastoid segment and stylomastoid foramen. The House-Brackmann (HB) scale of each patient at presentation and 3 months after the treatment was evaluated from their medical records. The paired samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for comparison of width between the affected side and unaffected side. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was also used for evaluation of relationship between the diameter of facial canal and the grade of the Bell's palsy. Significant differences were established at a level of p = 0.05 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0.; Armonk, NY, IBM Corp). Results: Thirty-four patients - 16 females, 18 males; mean age ± Standard Deviation, 40.3 ± 21.3 - with Bell's palsy were included in the study. According to the HB facial nerve grading system; 8 patients were grade V, 6 were grade IV, 11 were grade III, 8 were grade II and 1 patient was grade I. The mean width at the labyrinthine segment of the facial canal in the affected temporal bone was significantly smaller than the equivalent in the unaffected temporal bone (p = 0.00). There was no significant difference between the affected and unaffected temporal bones at the geniculate ganglion (p = 0.87), tympanic segment (p = 0.66), second genu (p = 0.62), mastoid segment (p = 0.67) and stylomastoid foramen (p = 0.16). We did not find any relationship between the HB grade and the facial canal diameter at the level of labyrinthine segment (p = 0.41), tympanic segment (p = 0.12), mastoid segment (p = 0.14), geniculate ganglion (p = 0.13) and stylomastoid foramen (p = 0.44), while we found significant relationship at the level of second genu (p = 0.02). Conclusion: We found the diameter of labyrinthine segment of facial canal as an anatomic risk factor for Bell's palsy. We also found significant relationship between the HB grade and FC diameter at the level of second genu. Future studies (MRI-CT combined or 3D modeling) are needed to promote this possible relevance especially at second genu. Thus, in the future it may be possible to selectively decompress particular segments in high grade BP patients.

Resumo Introdução: A etiologia exata da paralisia de Bell ainda permanece obscura. Os únicos achados confirmados são a inflamação e o edema do nervo facial (NF) que levam ao aprisionamento no canal facial. Objetivo: Identificar se há alguma relação entre o grau de paralisia de Bell e o diâmetro do canal facial e também estudar qualquer possível predisposição anatômica do canal facial para a paralisia de Bell incluindo as partes que ainda não foram estudadas. Método: Os prontuários médicos e exames de tomografia computadorizada de 34 pacientes com paralisia de Bell foram avaliados neste estudo clínico retrospectivo. Os diâmetros de ambos os canais faciais (acometidos e não acometidos) de cada paciente foram medidos no segmento labiríntico, gânglio geniculado, segmento timpânico, segundo joelho, segmento mastoideo e forame estilomastoideo. As escalas de House-Brackmann (HB) de cada paciente na apresentação inicial e três meses após o tratamento foram avaliadas a partir de seus prontuários. O teste t de amostras pareadas e o teste dos postos sinalizados de Wilcoxon foram usados para comparação de largura entre o lado acometido e o lado não acometido. O teste de postos sinalizados de Wilcoxon também foi usado para avaliação da relação entre o diâmetro do canal facial e o grau de paralisia de Bell. Diferenças significativas foram estabelecidas em um nível de p = 0,05 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, versão 21.0; Armonk, NY, IBM Corp). Resultados: Foram incluídos 34 pacientes - 16 mulheres, 18 homens; idade média ± desvio padrão (DP), 40,3 ± 21,3 com paralisia de Bell. De acordo com o sistema de classificação do nervo facial de HB, oito pacientes eram de grau V, seis de grau IV, 11 de grau III, oito de grau II e um de grau I. A largura média no segmento labiríntico do canal facial no osso temporal acometido foi significativamente menor do que o equivalente no osso temporal não acometido (p = 0,00). Não houve diferença significativa entre os ossos temporais acometidos e não acometidos no gânglio geniculado (p = 0,87), segmento timpânico (p = 0,66), segundo joelho (p = 0,62), segmento mastoide (p = 0,67) e forame estilomastoideo (p = 0,16). Não houve relação entre o grau de HB e o diâmetro do canal facial no nível do segmento labiríntico (p = 0,41), segmento timpânico (p = 0,12), segmento mastoideo (p = 0,14), gânglio geniculado (p = 0,13) e forame estilomastoideo (p = 0,44), mas houve uma relação significativa no nível do segundo joelho (p = 0,02). Conclusão: O diâmetro do segmento labiríntico do canal facial foi um fator de risco anatômico para a paralisia de Bell. Também houve relação significativa entre o grau de HB e o diâmetro do CF no nível do segundo joelho. Estudos futuros (RM-TC combinadas ou modelagem 3D) são necessários para promover essa possível relevância especialmente no segundo joelho. Assim, no futuro, pode ser possível descomprimir segmentos específicos em pacientes com alto grau de PB.