Cataloging Existing Hearing Loss Cohort Data to Guide the Development of Precision Medicine for Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review of Hearing Repositories.

Recent breakthroughs in our understanding of sensorineural hearing loss etiology have encouraged the identification of novel hearing therapeutics, paving the way for precision hearing medicine. Critical to this field is the curation of health resources on hearing data. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to map existing (inter)national and regional datasets that include hearing data to inform the development of future hearing repositories. Systematic literature review was performed adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and MetaAnalysis recommendations. Databases, including those from gray literature, were searched to identify publications reporting on phenotypic and/ or genotypic hearing data in May 2019. The databases reviewed were Medline, PubMed, Embase databases, and Google Scholar. Publications on local datasets were excluded. All hearing datasets identified in the screening process were noted. For each dataset, geography, context, objective, period of time run, numbers and demographics of participants, genomic data, hearing measures and instruments used were extracted and cataloged. One hundred and eighty-eight datasets were identified, containing hearing data on populations ranging from 100 to 1.39 million individuals, and all extracted data have been cataloged. This searchable resource has been made accessible online. This unique catalog provides an overview of existing datasets that contain valuable information on hearing. This can be used to inform the development of national and international patient data repositories for hearing loss and guide strategic collaboration between key stakeholder groups, pivotal to the delivery and development of sensorineural hearing loss precision diagnostics and treatments.

Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mite allergic rhinitis.

In the present study, we investigated the outcomes of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis (HDM-AR) patients. In this prospective, multicentric study, 186 patients with AR who had positive skin prick test results for HDMs were included. The patients were administered SLIT using Staloral 300 for 1 year. Evaluation of the patients regarding symptom scores, clinical findings and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores was performed at baseline, and then at 6 and 12 months of therapy. Our results showed that, for all of the evaluated items (symptom scores, clinical findings and RQLQ scores), 12-month values were significantly lower than those at 6 months and baseline. Similarly, 6-month values were significantly lower than those at baseline. There were no complications in any of our patients. SLIT for HDM-AR is a treatment modality that can be used safely. We obtained better results than expected, and the treatment showed a positive psychological effect; the patients believed that SLIT was the final step of treatment and, which made them feel better.

Does the open rhinoplasty incision decrease nasal projection?

To evaluate the effects of open rhinoplasty incisions on tip projection using digitized photographs. Thirty-one patients, who underwent open technique rhinoplasty were prospectively included in the study. The lateral aspect photographs were taken before the operations. Following midcolumellar incision septal elevation was done until septal cartilage was shown. After replacing the skin totally back and suturing midcolumellar incision, the intraoperative photographs were taken. The projection indexes were measured by Goode method from the photographs and the measurements were compared. A statistically significant decline of the nasal projection was established after open technique approach. Open rhinoplasty approach led to the decrease of the nasal tip projection. This result was thought to be the effect of ligamentous disruption.