Bell's palsy: Symptoms preceding and accompanying the facial paresis

This individual prospective cohort study aims to report and analyze the symptoms preceding and accompanying the facial paresis in Bell's palsy (BP). Two hundred sixty-nine patients affected by BP with a maximum delay of 48 hours from the onset were enrolled in the study. The evolution of the facial paresis expressed as House-Brackmann grade in the first 10 days and its correlation with symptoms were analyzed. At the onset, 136 patients presented postauricular pain, 114 were affected by dry eye, and 94 reported dysgeusia. Dry mouth was present in 54 patients (19.7%), facial pain, hyperlacrimation, aural fullness, and hyperacusis represented a smaller percentage of the reported symptoms. After 10 days, 39.9% of the group had a severe paresis while 10.2% reached a complete recovery. Dry mouth at the onset was correlated with severe grade of palsy and was prognostic for poor recovery in the early period. These outcomes lead to the deduction that the nervus intermedius plays an important role in the presentation of the BP and it might be responsible for most of the accompanying symptomatology of the paresis. Our findings could be of important interest to early address a BP patient to further examinations and subsequent therapy

3D curved multiplanar cone beam CT reconstruction for intracochlear position assessment of straight electrodes array. A temporal bones and patients study

A retrospective review of post-op cone beam CT (CBCT) of 8 adult patients and 14 fresh temporal bones that underwent cochlear implantation with straight flexible electrodes array was performed to determine if the position of a long and flexible electrodes array within the cochlear scalae could be reliably assessed with CBCT. An oto-radiologist and two otologists examined the images and assessed the electrodes position. The temporal bone specimens underwent histological analysis for confirm the exact position. The position of the electrodes was rated as scala tympani, scala vestibule, or intermediate position for the electrodes at 180°, 360° and for the apical electrode. In the patient group, for the electrodes at 180° all observers agreed for scala tympani position except for 1 evaluation, while a discrepancy in 3 patients both for the 360° and for the apical electrode assessment were found. In five temporal bones the evaluations were in discrepancy for the 180° electrode, while at 360° a disagreement between raters on the scalar positioning was seen in six temporal bones. A higher discrepancy between was found in assessment of the scalar position of the apical electrode (average pairwise agreement 45.4%, Fleiss k = 0.13). A good concordance was found between the histological results and the consensus between raters for the electrodes in the basal turn, while low agreement (Cohen’s k 0.31, pairwise agreement 50%) was found in the identification of the apical electrode position confirming the difficulty to correct identify the electrode position in the second cochlear turn in temporal bones. In conclusion, CBCT is a reliable radiologic exam to correctly evaluate the position of a lateral wall flexible array in implanted patients using the proposed imaging reconstruction method, while some artefacts impede exact evaluation of the position of the apical electrode in temporal bone and other radiological techniques should be preferred in ex vivo studies

Anatomical and functional results of ossiculoplasty using titanium prosthesis

Titanium ossicular chain replacement prosthesis is often used for rehabilitation of the columellar effect in otologic surgeries. This retrospective study aims to analyse the anatomical and functional results of surgeries in which a titanium prosthesis was used. Two hundred and eighty procedures in 256 patients operated on in a tertiary referral center were analysed. Aetiologies, preoperative audiograms, peropera-tive data and postoperative outcomes at 2 and 12 months postoperatively were reviewed. Chronic suppurative otitis media with or without cholesteatoma was the main aetiology (89%). There was no difference in anatomical results between partial and total ossicular replacement prosthesis, with an overall dislocation rate of 6%, and an overall extrusion rate of 3%. Regarding functional results, a postoperative air-bone gap ≤ 20 dB was achieved in 65% of cases, with a better result for partial compared to total ossiculoplasty (p = 0.02). A significant difference in air bone gap closure was found when comparing aetiologies, with a higher air-bone gap closure in malformation cases compared to chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma or retraction cases (p = 0.03). Ossiculoplasty using titanium prosthesis is a safe and effective procedure for rehabilitation of hearing loss, which allows reaching an air-bone gap ≤ 20 dB in the majority of patients

Surgical treatment of sporadic vestibular schwannoma in a series of 1006 patients = Trattamento chirurgico degli schwannomi vestibolari: Risultati su una serie di 1006 pazienti

The management of sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) has evolved in the last decades. The aim of this study was to analyse the evolution in surgical outcomes of VSs operated by a neurotological team between 1990 and 2006 by different approaches. A monocentric retrospective review of medical charts of 1006 patients was performed. In order to assess eventual changes and progress, the 17-years period was divided in three periods, each one comprehending 268 VS (1990-1996), 299 VS (1997-2001), and 439 VS (2002-2006). Mean follow-up was 5.9 ± 2.4 years. Overall, complete VS removal was achieved in 99.4% of cases. Mortality rate was 0.3%, meningitis and CSF leaks were observed in 1.2 % and 9 % of the cases, respectively. CSF leakage decreased from 11.6% to 7.1% between the first and last period (p < 0.01) as well as revision surgery from 3.4 % to 0.9 % (p < 0.05). Facial nerve was anatomically preserved in 97.7% of cases. At one year, a good facial nerve function was observed in 85.1% of patients (grade I and II of House-Brackmann grading scale), which ranged between the first and last period from 78.4% to 87.6% (p <0.05). At one year, hearing preservation was obtained in 61.6% of patients, which increased from the first period to the last one from 50.9% to 69.0% (p < 0.05) (class A+B+C from the AAO-HNS classification). Useful hearing (class A+B) was observed in 33.5% of cases overall, with 21.8% and 42% in the first and last period, respectively (p < 0.01). Surgical outcomes of sporadic vestibular schwannoma have improved concerning facial nerve function outcomes, hearing preservation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, mainly due to the neuro-otological team’s experience. Functional results after complete microsurgical removal of large VS depend on experience gained on small VS removal

Sporadic high-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the hypoglossal nerve

Malignant tumors of peripheral nerve sheaths (MPNSTs) are rare malignant soft tissue tumors arising either from a peripheral nerve or from a pre-existing benign nerve sheath tumor. They occur most often in the context of Neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1) and are characterized by poor prognosis and aggressive behavior with a high rate of recurrence and distant metastases. We describe a 50-year-old woman who presented with right neck swelling, progressive dysphagia and tongue paresis. Imaging analysis revealed a mass involving the right parapharyngeal space. The tumor was excissed through a transcervical approach. At surgery, the tumor was strictly adherent to the hypoglossal nerve. Pathologic evaluation of the mass revealed a high-grade MPNST. Based on the pathological diagnosis, a clinical work-up for NF-1 was performed but it resulted negative. Occurrence of sporadic high-grade MPNST in the parapharyngeal space is rare and development from the hypoglossal nerve exceptional. As far as we know, only in two cases, both with clinical features consistent with NF1, the tumor was reported to be arised from the hypoglossal nerve

Ricostruzione multiplanare 3D di immagini cone beam per lidenficazione della posizione degli impianti cocleari. Studio su ossi temporali e pazienti impiantati

Questo studio riporta unanalisi retrospettica delle immagini cone beam CT effettuate su 8 pazienti adulti sottoposti ad impianto cochleare MedEl flex 28 e su 14 ossi temporali impiantati con lo stesso tipo di array portaelettrodi. Lo scopo dello studio é di determinare laffidabilità della metodica cone beam CT nella valutazione della posizione intracocleare degli elettrodi in impianti che si posizionano lungo la parete laterale del lume cocleare, quindi non perimodiolari la cui posizione é più facilmente identificabile. Un otoradiologo e due otologi hanno analizzato le immagini e assegnato la posizione per ciascun elettrodo localizzato nella regione dei 180° e dei 360° del primo giro cocleare e per lelettrodo apicale scegliendo tra scala timpanica, vestibulare o posizione intermedia Lanalisi istologica ha successivamente confermato lesatta posizione negli ossi temporali. Nel gruppo dei pazienti per lelettrodo a 180° i tre esperti concordavano sulla posizione in scala timpanica in tutti eccetto un paziente, mentre una discordanza nella valutazione era presente in 3 pazienti per gli elettrodi a 360° e per gli elettrodi apicali. Negli ossi temporali in 5 casi era presente una discordanza per lelettrodo a 180°, mentre a 360° sei valutazioni erano discordanti tra i valutatori. Una disdcordanza tra le valutazioni più elevata veniva trovata per la la posizione dellelettrodo apicale (concordanza valutatori 45.4%, Fleiss k = 0,13). Un buon grado di concordanza veniva trovato tra i risultati istologici e le valutazioni tra i valutatori per gli elettrodi localizzati nel giro basale; un grado più basso esisteva per la posizione degli elettrodi apicali (concordanza valutatori 50%, Cohens k = 0,31) confermando la difficoltà nella corretta valutazione della posizione degli elettrodi nella regione più apicale negli ossi temporali. In conclusione, le immagini cone beam postoperatorie analizzate con la metodica della ricostruzione multiplanare 3D rappresentano una metodica affidabile per lo studio della posizione intracocleare degli elettrodi a posizionamento laterale nei pazienti impiantati. La corretta identificazione del posizionamento dellelettrodo piu apicale risulta difficile su osso temporale per la presenza di un artefatto più importante o per la minore resistenza delle strutture della parete laterale della coclea (legamento spirale, membrane basilare) nel preparato istologico (osso temporale fresco/congelato) che è responsabile di un maggior numero di traslocazioni dalla rampa timpanica alla rampa vestibolare e di localizzazioni intermedie più difficilmente interpretabili

Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri Cell-Free-Supernatants inhibit Candida parapsilosis pathogenic potential upon infection of vaginal epithelial cells monolayer and in a transwell co-culture system in vitro.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common clinical condition with symptoms and signs of vaginal inflammation in the presence of Candida species. At least one episode of VVC is experienced in up to 75% of women in the reproductive age group during their lifetime, and 5-8% of such women suffer from the chronic form. Most cases of VVC are still caused by C. albicans; however, the incidence of VVC cases by non-albicans (NAC) species, such as C. parapsilosisis, is continuously increasing. Despite the prevalence of VVC from NAC, to date little is known on these species, and almost nothing on the mechanisms that trigger the VVC. Lactobacillus spp. are the most represented microorganisms in the vaginal microbiota of healthy women. Here, cell-free supernatants (CFS) obtained from L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. reuteri were assessed for their effect on C. parapsilosis virulence traits. Moreover, we assessed if such effect persists even after removal of the CFS (CFS-preincubation effect). Moreover, a transwell co-culture system was employed, by which the relevant antifungal effect was shown to be attributable to the compounds released by Lactobacilli. Our results suggests that Lactobacilli can work: a) by reducing C. parapsilosis virulence traits, as indicated by the reduced fungal proliferation, viability and metabolic activity and b) by improving epithelial resistance to the fungus. Overall, these data suggest that, in the context of vaginal microbiota, the Lactobacilli may play a role in preventing the onset of mucosal C. parapsilosis infection

Distinctive physiological muscle synergy patterns define the Box and Block Task execution as revealed by electromyographic features

Stroke survivors experience muscular pattern alterations of the upper limb that decrease their ability to perform daily-living activities. The Box and Block test (BBT) is widely used to assess the unilateral manual dexterity. Although BBT provides insights into functional performance, it returns limited information about the mechanisms contributing to the impaired movement. This study aims at exploring the BBT by means of muscle synergies analysis during the execution of BBT in a sample of 12 healthy participants with their dominant and non-dominant upper limb. Results revealed that: (i) the BBT can be described by 1 or 2 synergies; the number of synergies (ii) does not differ between dominant and non-dominant sides and (iii) varies considering each phase of the task; (iv) the transfer phase requires more synergies. Clinical Relevance— This preliminary study characterizes muscular synergies during the BBT task in order to establish normative patterns that could assist in understanding the neuromuscular demands and support future evaluations of stroke deficit

ACTA OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGICA ITALICA

La gestione dello schwannoma vestibolare (SV) sporadico si è gradualmente evoluta negli ultimi decenni. Lo scopo di questo studio è di analizzare levoluzione negli esiti chirurgici dellexeresi di queste lesioni, realizzata da un team neurotologico tra il 1990 e il 2006, attraverso differenti approcci. È stata eseguita una revisione retrospettica monocentrica dei dati clinici di 1006 pazienti. Al fine di valutare eventuali modifiche e progressi, il periodo di 17 anni è stato diviso in tre periodi, ciascuno comprendente rispettivamente 268 SV (1990- 1996), 299 SV (1997-2001), e 439 SV (2002-2006). Il follow-up medio è stato di 5,9 ± 2,4 anni. Complessivamente lasportazione totale è stata ottenuta nel 99,4% dei casi. Il tasso di mortalità è stato dello 0,3%, la meningite e la perdita di liquido cefalo rachidiano (LCR) sono stati osservati nel 1,2% e il 9% dei casi, rispettivamente. La frequenza della perdita di LCR è diminuita dal 11,6% al 7,1% tra il primo e dellultimo periodo (p < 0,01) e la revisione chirurgica dal 3,4% al 0,9% (p < 0,05). Il nervo facciale è stato anatomicamente conservato nel 97,7% dei casi. Ad un anno, una buona funzione del nervo facciale è stata osservata nel 85,1% dei pazienti (I e II grado House- Brackmann), con una variazione tra il primo e lultimo periodo che andava dal 78,4% al 87,6% (p < 0,05). Ad un anno post-operatorio la conservazione delludito è stata ottenuta nel 61,6% dei pazienti, passando dal 50,9% del primo periodo, al 69,0% del periodo piú recente (p < 0,05) (classe A + B + C dalla classificazione AAO-HNS). Ludito utile (classe A + B) è stato conservato nel 33,5% dei casi complessivamente, con percentuali comprese tra il 21,8% e 42% nel primo e nellultimo periodo rispettivamente (p < 0,01). Gli esiti chirurgici dellasportazion dello schwannoma vestibolare sporadico sono migliorati negli anni per quanto riguarda i risultati funzionali del nervo facciale, la conservazione delludito, le perdite di liquido cefalorachidiano, principalmente grazie allesperienza del team neurotologico. I risultati funzionali dopo la rimozione microchirurgica completa SV di grandi dimensioni dipendono dall esperienza maturata sulle lesioni di piccole dimensioni