[What causes tinnitus to be disturbing?] / Wat maakt tinnitus zo ontregelend?

Recently, findings of a Dutch population-based cohort study on the relationship between tinnitus and the onset of mental health problems have been published. Over time, tinnitus was found to be associated with an increase in anxiety symptoms and poor sleep quality. In this commentary the study methods are discussed and results are put in perspective. The outcomes of this study will help in the understanding of the mechanisms of tinnitus and are a step towards exploring cause-effect relationships between tinnitus and other health issues.

International registry of otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: It has become clear that healthcare workers are at high risk, and otolaryngology has been theorized to be among the highest risk specialties for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to detail the international impact of COVID-19 among otolaryngologists, and to identify instructional cases. METHODS: Country representatives of the Young Otolaryngologists-International Federation of Otolaryngologic Societies (YO-IFOS) surveyed otolaryngologists through various channels. Nationwide surveys were distributed in 19 countries. The gray literature and social media channels were searched to identify reported deaths of otolaryngologists from COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 361 otolaryngologists were identified to have had COVID-19, and data for 325 surgeons was available for analysis. The age range was 25 to 84 years, with one-half under the age of 44 years. There were 24 deaths in the study period, with 83% over age 55 years. Source of infection was likely clinical activity in 175 (54%) cases. Prolonged exposure to a colleague was the source for 37 (11%) surgeons. Six instructional cases were identified where infections occurred during the performance of aerosol-generating operations (tracheostomy, mastoidectomy, epistaxis control, dacryocystorhinostomy, and translabyrinthine resection). In 3 of these cases, multiple operating room attendees were infected, and in 2, the surgeon succumbed to complications of COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The etiology of reported cases within the otolaryngology community appear to stem equally from clinical activity and community spread. Multiple procedures performed by otolaryngologists are aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and great care should be taken to protect the surgical team before, during, and after these operations.

Nitrotyrosine in human neonatal spinal cord after perinatal asphyxia.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury has been reported after perinatal asphyxia in full-term neonates. OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of excessive nitric oxide production in perinatal spinal cord injury. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Tissue samples of 18 full-term neonates who died of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy were analyzed for the presence of nitrotyrosine (NT). RESULTS: NT was demonstrated in 5 of these 18 neonates. In addition, activated caspase 3, a marker of apoptosis, and CD68, as a marker of inflammation, could be demonstrated in some infants. CONCLUSIONS: excessive nitric oxide production and subsequent NT formation is seen in spinal cord tissue after severe perinatal asphyxia. This finding may be relevant for the development of neuroprotective strategies.