Metal Allergy in Tracheostomy Tube Placement Resulting in Complete Subglottic Stenosis: A Case Report

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Metal Allergy in Tracheostomy Tube Placement Resulting in Complete Subglottic Stenosis: A Case Report Via otol rhinol Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2022 Jan 6:34894211070135. doi: 10.1177/00034894211070135. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Metal hypersensitivity reaction to surgical implants is a well- known phenomenon that is associated with pain, swelling, inflammation, and decreased efficacy of the implant. We present a unique case of a patient with placement a metal Jackson tracheostomy tube that led to expeditious total subglottic stenosis. METHODS: The patient was a 33-ye ar old, severely atopic woman with history of asthma exacerbations requiring several intubations for acute respiratory failure with several subsequent tracheal dilations with steroid injections, and eventual tracheostomy placement with a metal Jackson tracheostomy tube that led to expeditious total subglottic stenosis. RESULTS: Initial intervention included performing an airway evaluation, CO2 laser, and steroid injection of the area of complete subglottic stenosis. Follow up several months later revealed little improvement in level of tracheal narrowing proximal to the tracheostomy tube. Patient did not have shortness of breath but continued to be aphonic. Cricotracheal versus tracheal resection have been proposed but surgical morbidity was deemed too high due to patient's obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Metal hypersensitivity reactions are well known phenomena as it relates to surgical implants in other surgical specialties but are seldom reported within the ear, nose and throat literature. Oftentimes, it takes astute observation to diagnose and establish a connection. Prompt recognition and treatment can be acquired from interdisciplinary collaboration with allergy. PMID:34991357 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211070135 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Evaluation of Hearing Loss in Congenital Hypothyroid Children at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Evaluation of Hearing Loss in Congenital Hypothyroid Children at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India Via Otolaryngology Indian Abstract Hearing loss has long been associated with congenital hypothyroidism and, if not noticed and treated early, may result in delayed language acquisition and difficulties in comprehension. In light of the implications of congenital hypothyroidism and its associated hearing loss, we decided to conduct this study. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of hearing loss in congenital hypothyroidism and its relation to the severity of the disease and age of initiation of treatment. This study was conducted from July 2016 to June 2021 at a tertiary care hospital in Bhopal. The hearing status of congenital hypothyroid children and matched controls was assessed by pure tone audiometry or free field audiometry and, in selected cases, with brainstem evoked response audiometry. Eight children (25%) with congenital hypothyroidism had hearing loss, compared to one (3.12%) in the control group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference has b een found in the gender, mean age of diagnosis, mean age of initiation of levothyroxine treatment, mean screening FT4 levels, and mean screening TSH levels between congenital hypothyroid children with and without hearing loss. Due to the high prevalence of hearing loss in congenital hypothyroidism and its impact on language and cognitive development, it is critical to create awareness among healthcare professionals that children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism must undergo audiological evaluation at the time of diagnosis and periodically thereafter. Alternatively, children with unexplained hearing loss must be screened for congenital hypothyroidism. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Association between exposure to radioactive iodine after the Chernobyl accident and thyroid volume in Belarus 10-15 years later

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Association between exposure to radioactive iodine after the Chernobyl accident and thyroid volume in Belarus 10-15 years later Via radioactive iodine Environ Health. 2022 Jan 7;21(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12940-021-00820-0. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: While there is a robust literature on environmental exposure to iodine-131 (131I) in childhood and adolescence and the risk of thyroid cancer and benign nodules, little is known about its effects on thyroid volume. METHODS: To assess the effect of 131I dose to the thyroid on the volume of the thyroid gland, we examined the data from the baseline screening of the Bel arusian-American Cohort Study of residents of Belarus who were exposed to the Chernobyl fallout at ages ≤18 years. Thyroid dose estimates were based on individual thyroid activity measurements made shortly after the accident and dosimetric data from questionnaires obtained 10-15 years later at baseline screening. During baseline screening, thyroid gland volume was assessed from thyroid ultrasound measurements. The association between radiation dose and thyroid volume was modeled using linear regression where radiation dose was expressed with power terms to address non-linearity. The model was adjusted for attained age, sex, and place of residence, and their modifying effects were examined. RESULTS: The analysis was based on 10,703 subjects. We found a statistically significant positive association between radiation dose and thyroid volume (P < 0.001). Heterogeneity of association was observed by attained age (P < 0.001) with statistically significant association remain ing only in the subgroup of ≥18 years at screening (P < 0.001). For this group, increase in dose from 0.0005 to 0.15 Gy was associated with a 1.27 ml (95% CI: 0.46, 2.07) increase in thyroid volume. The estimated effect did not change with increasing doses above 0.15 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to examine the association between 131I dose to the thyroid gland and thyroid volume in a population of individuals exposed during childhood and systematically screened 10-15 years later. It provides evidence for a moderate statistically significant increase in thyroid volume among those who were ≥ 18 years at screening. Given that this effect was observed at very low doses and was restricted to a narrow dose range, further studies are necessary to better understand the effect. PMID:34996456 | DOI:10.1186/s12940-021-00820-0 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppresses vasculogenic mimicry formation in choroidal melanoma cells via the Wnt5a/β-catenin/AKT signaling pathway

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppresses vasculogenic mimicry formation in choroidal melanoma cells via the Wnt5a/β-catenin/AKT signaling pathway Via histochem Acta Histochem. 2022 Jan 4;124(1):151842. doi: 10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151842. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effects of knocking down both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation in choroidal melanoma (CM) cells. METHODS: Cell counting Kit (CCK)-8, monoclonal formation, wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry assays were used to observe the cell effects in CM cell line, ocular choroidal melanoma-1 cells (OCM-1) with respect to proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis. Three-dimensional (3D) cultures were also used to characterize VM tube structural effects in OCM-1 cells and western blotting was used to characterize protein expression changes in VM-related markers. RESULTS: Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but promoted cell apoptosis. It also reduced VM tube structures in OCM-1 cells. VM associated markers including, VE-cadherin, EphA2 and MT1-MMP were also down-regulated in OCM-1 cells. Similarly, Wnt5a, β-catenin and phosphorylated-AKT levels were also down-regulated. Western blotting and 3D cultures further demonstrated that combined Wnt5a silencing with dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown significantly decreased VE-cadherin and EphA2 levels and reduced VM tube structures in OCM-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppressed cell growth and metastas is in OCM-1 cells, and blocked the Wnt5a/β-catenin/AKT signaling pathway thereby inhibiting VM formation. PMID:34995928 | DOI:10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151842 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Unusual Presentation of Otoacariasis

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Unusual Presentation of Otoacariasis: A Prospective Study at Referral Teaching Hospital Via Otolaryngology Indian Abstract Otoacariasis is the presence of ticks and mites within the ear canal. Though the coexistence of ticks and humans is known for thousands of years, tick infestation is relatively rare in urban population. The most common presenting symptoms are usually itching, otalgia and a foreign body sensation and less frequent ones are tinnitus and otorrhoea. We report cases of otoacariasis with unusual presentation. A total of 43 cases presented to the ENT clinic in our hospital over a period of three years from 2018 to 2021. We present patients who presented with unusual symptoms of conductive hearing loss, ear bleed, and facial palsy. Total of 6 cases of otoacariasis had unusual presentation. 2 cases presented with lower motor neuron palsy, 1 case with ear bleed, and 3 cases with hearing loss. Otocariasis can present with unusual symptoms of hearing loss, ear bleed or facial palsy and this should be included in the differential diagnosis of a patient with history of close p roximity to domestic or wild animals. Detailed examination often reveals the presence of the tick and identification and complete removal along with appropriate medication for associated symptoms often results in complete recovery. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Induction and generalization of nocebo effects on itch

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Induction and generalization of nocebo effects on itch Via Experimental Dermatology Abstract Nocebo effects, i.e., negative treatment outcomes due to negative expectancies, can increase itch. Moreover, indirect evidence has shown that nocebo hyperknesis can generalize to another itch modality. Knowledge on response generalization can help to prevent and decrease negative effects. The aims of this study were to investigate 1) the efficacy of inducing nocebo effects on cowhage-evoked itch via verbal suggestions and 2) whether these effects can generalize to 2a) mechanically evoked touch and 2b) mechanically evoked itch. Forty-four healthy participants watched a video suggesting that a nocebo solution increases cowhage-evoked itch and that a control solution does not affect itch. Subsequently, cowhage, mechanical itch, and mechanical touch stimuli were applied. Nocebo effects were measured as the difference in both mean and peak of the outcomes itch and urge to scratch between nocebo and control trials. Main analyses revealed significant nocebo effects on mean and peak itch for all stimuli. For urge to scratch, a significant nocebo effect was only observed for mechanical touch (peak). As mechanical stimuli did not induce pure sensations as planned, post-hoc sensitivity analyses were run for mechanical stimuli that individually induced either touch or itch at baseline. These analyses showed similar results for generalization to mechanical itch, but generalization to mechanical touch was nonsignificant. This study showed that merely verbal suggestion can induce nocebo effects on cowhage-evoked itch and that these effects can generalize to another itch modality. Future studies may examine how to prevent negative experiences from generalizing to subsequent encounters. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.