Chronic Invasive Fungal Sinusitis With Negative Histopathology: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Although the diagnosis of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis relies chiefly on identification of invasive fungi on histology, the insidious nature of the disease can preclude detection of fungal organisms. Here, we present a case of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis with negative histopathologic findings and a definitive diagnosis made through fungal DNA detection. Clinicians should consider polymerase chain reaction an important complement to histology and culture in the diagnosis of chronic invasive fungal sinusitis.

Treatment Options and Outcomes for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nail Unit: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Nail squamous cell carcinoma (nSCC) is the most common nail unit malignancy. However, no studies to date have evaluated treatment options for nSCC based on recurrence data while controlling for invasion. OBJECTIVE: To identify temporal trends in nSCC treatment modalities and compare treatment outcomes based on invasion. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The authors performed a systematic review of articles published on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus from inception to April 2020 reporting treatment of nSCC. The primary outcome was disease recurrence. RESULTS: Reports of nSCC treatments have increased in the past decade. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the most common treatment reported overall. The lowest recurrence rates for in situ nSCC were seen with wide surgical excision (WSE) and MMS. For invasive disease, the recurrence rates were lowest with amputation, MMS, and WSE. CONCLUSION: Complete surgical excision of nSCC with either WSE or MMS is associated with lower recurrence rates than limited excision and nonsurgical therapies, regardless of degree of invasion. The prognostic significance of in situ versus invasive disease remains unclear. Confirmation of complete excision may improve outcomes. Digital amputation is indicated for nSCC with bone invasion. Prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to directly compare surgical modalities for nSCC.

Systematic Review of Telehealth Cost Minimization for Patients and Health Systems in Otolaryngology.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in telehealth becoming commonplace in many health care fields. Telehealth benefits include improving access, decreasing costs, and elevating patient's experience. A review of cost minimization (CM) analyses was performed in order to explore scientific studies associated with integrating tele-otolaryngology in clinical practice. Our primary objective was to evaluate published literature for cost related to the implementation of telemedicine across otolaryngology, and to determine CM when compared to in-person visits. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic Literature Review. METHODS: We performed a systematic review using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane in May 2020, to identify studies with a cost analysis of tele-otolaryngology care. Inclusion criteria focused on articles citing CM data from telehealth services. Literature quality was assessed using the MINORS scoring system. RESULTS: From 380 original articles screened only nine evaluated cost in otolaryngology. CM in the US ranged from $68 to $900 per visit. Cost was evaluated in general otolaryngology, sleep medicine, otology, and head and neck cancer surgery, the latter had the most benefit. The most common types of telehealth visits were routine follow-up and screening. Data were insufficient for meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine has been trialed across various otolaryngology subspecialties; its incorporation is projected to have a meaningful impact on access to specialty care. This research suggests that the delivery of virtual care reduces cost with the potential of increasing net revenue across multiple otolaryngology subspecialties. Further studies are needed to better discern the entirety of cost savings and the best settings for integration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:1741-1748, 2021.

Acne and social media: A cross-sectional study of content quality on TikTok.

Our objective was to assess the quality of acne-related medical information present on TikTok, the world's fastest growing social media platform. We queried the TikTok mobile application for videos tagged with "#acne" on May 1, 2020, and assessed the top 100 videos meeting inclusion criteria for content quality using DISCERN, a validated and reliable instrument for evaluating consumer health information. The mean content quality rating of videos was 2.03 (SD 0.47) which, according to the DISCERN instrument, indicates information with serious to potentially important shortcomings. Dermatologists should be aware that adolescents are using TikTok to gather acne-related information, and should prioritize acne education in this patient demographic due to the generally low content quality of such information.

Computer-based video training is effective in teaching basic surgical skills to novices without faculty involvement using a self-directed, sequential and incremental program.

INTRODUCTION: Computer-based video training (CBVT) of surgical skills overcomes limitations of 1:1 instruction. We hypothesized that a self-directed CBVT program could teach novices by dividing basic surgical skills into sequential, easily-mastered steps. METHODS: We developed a 12 video program teaching basic knot tying and suturing skills introduced in discrete, incremental steps. Students were evaluated pre- and post-course with a self-assessment, a written exam and a skill assessment. RESULTS: Students (n = 221) who completed the course demonstrated significant improvement. Their average pre-course product quality score and assessment of technique using standard Global Rating Scale (GRS) were <0.4 for 6 measured skills (scale 0-5) and increased post-course to ≥3.25 except for the skill tying on tension whose GRS = 2.51. Average speed increased for all skills. Students' self-ratings (scale 1-5) increased from an average of 1.4 ± 0.7 pre-elective to 3.9 ± 0.9 post-elective across all skills (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Self-directed, incremental and sequential video training is effective teaching basic surgical skills and may be a model to teach other skills or to play a larger role in remote learning.

Telemedicine in Otolaryngology: A Systematic Review of Image Quality, Diagnostic Concordance, and Patient and Provider Satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: Telemedicine allows for the remote delivery of patient care and has been found to have a wide range of uses in otolaryngology. In order to achieve best practices in telemedicine, a platform must be effective and both patients and providers must be satisfied with the use of technology. As telemedicine becomes more widely used in otolaryngology clinics, particularly in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to assess its applicability in this field. The goal of this study was to evaluate existing literature on telemedicine and assess overall image quality, diagnostic concordance, and patient and provider satisfaction with telemedicine technologies. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed and MEDLINE according to the PRISMA 2009 guidelines for articles from 1982 to 2019 relating to telemedicine in otolaryngology. English language studies with primary or secondary endpoints pertaining to image quality, diagnostic concordance, or patient or provider satisfaction were included. Descriptive studies, editorials, and literature reviews were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 32 studies were included in our review. Studies assessing imaging quality and diagnostic concordance reported adequate results but with some heterogeneity. Patient and provider satisfaction were consistently high. CONCLUSIONS: The literature supports telemedicine delivery of otorhinolaryngologic care as having achieved high rates of patient and provider satisfaction with adequate image quality and heterogeneity in diagnostic concordance. Variability in diagnostic accuracy was reported, but appears improved given proper clinical context. More standardized studies are needed specific to telemedicine in the field of otolaryngology.

Demographics and Risk Factors for Non-Accidental Orthopedic Trauma.

Childhood non-accidental trauma (NAT) is the second most common cause of death in children. Despite its prevalence, NAT is frequently unreported due to provider misdiagnosis or unawareness. The purpose of this study was to determine current risk factors and injury patterns associated with NAT. A retrospective review of the Kids' Inpatient Database was performed for the years 2009 and 2012. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the statistically significant risk factors for NAT. In 2009 and 2012, 174 442 children were hospitalized for fractures. Of these, 2.07% (3614) were due to NAT. Lower extremity (femur, tibia/fibula, foot), hand/carpus, clavicle, pelvis, and spine fractures were more likely to result from NAT; tibia/fibula fractures were most predictive of NAT. Children with anxiety, attention-deficit, conduct, developmental, and mood disorders were more likely to experience NAT. Those with cerebral palsy and autism were not at an increased risk for NAT.

Knocking-out matrix metalloproteinase-13 exacerbates rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration.

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff (RC) tears are common tendon injuries. Clinically, both muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration have generally been attributed to poor functional outcomes. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 plays a crucial role in extracellular matrix remodeling in many physiological and pathological processes. Nevertheless, its role in rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to define the functional role of MMP-13 in rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration using a mouse RC tears model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Unilateral complete supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon transection and suprascapular nerve transection was performed on nine of MMP-13 (-/-) knockout and nine of MMP-13 (+/+) wildtype mice at 3 months old. Mice were sacrificed 6 weeks after surgery. Supraspinatus (SS) and infraspinatus (IS) muscles were harvested for histology and gene expression analysis with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Six weeks after RC surgery, no significant difference in muscle atrophy and fibrosis between MMP-13 knockout and wild type mice was observed. However, there was a significant increase in the amount of fatty infiltration in MMP-13 knockout mice compared to the wild types. Muscles from MMP-13 knockout mice have significantly higher expression of fatty infiltration related genes. DISCUSSION: Results from this study suggest that MMP-13 plays a crucial role in rotator cuff muscle fatty degeneration. This novel finding suggests a new molecular mechanism that governs RC muscle FI and MMP-13 may serve as a target for therapeutics to treat muscle FI after RC tears.

Investigating the cellular origin of rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration and fibrosis after injury.

BACKGROUND: rotator cuff muscle atrophy, fibrosis and fatty infiltration are common complications after large and massive rotator cuff tears. Currently, there are no effective treatments for these muscle pathologies after injury. Furthermore, the cellular source for fibrotic and adipose tissues in rotator cuff muscle after injury remains unknown. In this study, we proposed that two groups of muscle resident progenitors, Tie2+ muscle mesenchymal progenitors and PDGFRα(+) fibro/adipogenic progenitor cells (FAPs), contribute significantly to rotator cuff muscle fibrosis and fatty infiltration. METHODS: we tested our hypothesis using reporter mice. Rotator cuff muscles from Tie2-GFP and PDGFRα-GFP reporter mice were harvested at 2 and 6 weeks after unilateral massive rotator cuff tear surgeries. Immunofluorescent staining for fibroblast and adipocyte markers was conducted. RESULTS: our results showed significant co-localization of Tie2+ cells with fibrotic markers vimentin and αSMA. In the PDGFRα-GFP reporter mice, GFP signal was seen in only a small fraction of cells staining positive for vimentin and αSMA. However, PDGFRα showed significant co-localization with adipocyte markers, including PPAR-γ, adiponectin, and perilipin A. Oil red O staining confirmed that the mature adipocytes appearing in rotator cuff muscles after injury are also PDGFRα(+). CONCLUSION: these data demonstrated that the Tie2(+) muscle mesenchymal progenitors are the major source of fibroblasts while PDGFRα(+) FAPs are the major source of adipocytes in rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration. Basic Science Study.

TGF-ß Small Molecule Inhibitor SB431542 Reduces Rotator Cuff Muscle Fibrosis and Fatty Infiltration By Promoting Fibro/Adipogenic Progenitor Apoptosis.

Rotator cuff tears represent a large burden of muscle-tendon injuries in our aging population. While small tears can be repaired surgically with good outcomes, critical size tears are marked by muscle atrophy, fibrosis, and fatty infiltration, which can lead to failed repair, frequent re-injury, and chronic disability. Previous animal studies have indicated that Transforming Growth Factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling may play an important role in the development of these muscle pathologies after injury. Here, we demonstrated that inhibition of TGF-ß1 signaling with the small molecule inhibitor SB431542 in a mouse model of massive rotator cuff tear results in decreased fibrosis, fatty infiltration, and muscle weight loss. These observed phenotypic changes were accompanied by decreased fibrotic, adipogenic, and atrophy-related gene expression in the injured muscle of mice treated with SB431542. We further demonstrated that treatment with SB431542 reduces the number of fibro/adipogenic progenitor (FAP) cells-an important cellular origin of rotator cuff muscle fibrosis and fatty infiltration, in injured muscle by promoting apoptosis of FAPs. Together, these data indicate that the TGF-ß pathway is a critical regulator of the degenerative muscle changes seen after massive rotator cuff tears. TGF-ß promotes rotator cuff muscle fibrosis and fatty infiltration by preventing FAP apoptosis. TGF-ß regulated FAP apoptosis may serve as an important target pathway in the future development of novel therapeutics to improve muscle outcomes following rotator cuff tear.

Return to sport after muscle injury.

Skeletal muscle injuries are among the most common sports-related injuries that result in time lost from practice and competition. The cellular response to muscle injury can often result in changes made to the muscle fibers as well as the surrounding extracellular matrix during repair. This can negatively affect the force and range of the injured muscle even after the patient's return to play. Diagnosis of skeletal muscle injury involves both history and physical examinations; imaging modalities including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be used to assess the extent of injury. Current research is investigating potential methods, including clinical factors and MRI, by which to predict a patient's return to sports. Overall, function of acutely injured muscles seems to improve with time. Current treatment methods for skeletal muscle injuries include injections of steroids, anesthetics, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Other proposed methods involve inhibitors of key players in fibrotic pathways, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß and angiotensin II, as well as muscle-derived stem cells.