Mitigation of Effect Modification by Psychological Status in Patients with Hearing Loss.

Importance: Although patient-reported outcomes provide valuable insights, these subjective data may not align with objective test results. Hearing loss is a pervasive problem, such that concordance between subjective perceptions of hearing ability and objective audiogram assessments would be beneficial. Objectives: To determine (1) whether psychological status is an effect modifier of the association between subjective patient reports of hearing ability and objective audiometry results, and (2) whether any effect modification observed in standard static questionnaires would be either mitigated or exacerbated by adaptive testing based on Item Response Theory analyses. Design, Setting, and Participants: This diagnostic study at a tertiary care center and community-based practice included consecutive adults who presented with queries related to hearing loss. Participants were recruited and enrolled and data analyses occurred from 2022 to 2024. Exposures: Participants prospectively reported their hearing-specific abilities through either a standard static or adaptive version of the Inner Effectiveness of Auditory Rehabilitation (EAR) scale, alongside validated measures of their mental health and audiometry. Word recognition scores (WRS) and pure tone averages (PTA) were used to analyze audiometric testing. Main Outcomes and Measures: The association between subjective Inner EAR results and audiometry was evaluated. Stratified analyses were used to assess for effect modification by psychological status. The results of standard static and adaptive testing were compared. Results: In this study of 395 patients (mean [range] age, 55.9 [18-89] years; 210 [53.2%] female), standard static Inner EAR mean scores were appropriately higher in patients with higher (better) WRS (50.7, 95% CI, 46.4-54.9), compared with patients with lower (worse) WRS (34.7, 95% CI, 24.3-45.1). However, among patients with worse mental health, there was no association between standard static Inner EAR scores and WRS. In contrast, adaptive Inner EAR mean scores were significantly higher for those with better WRS, regardless of mental health status. Thus, effect modification was observed in standard static assessments, whereas adaptive testing remained durably associated with audiometry, regardless of mental health. Conclusions and Relevance: Psychological status was an effect modifier of the association between standard Inner EAR scale scores and audiometry, with a positive association observed only in those with better mental health. Adaptive testing scores, however, remained significantly associated with audiometry, even when mental status was worse. Adaptive testing may stabilize the association between subjective and objective hearing outcomes.

Fenestration of the facial nerve by the stylomastoid artery.

BACKGROUND: Anatomic landmarks such as the tympanomastoid suture line, posterior belly of the digastric muscle, tragal pointer, and styloid process can assist the parotid surgeon in identifying and preserving the facial nerve. Vascular structures such as the posterior auricular artery and its branch, the stylomastoid artery, lay in close proximity to the facial nerve and have been proposed as landmarks for the identification of the facial nerve. In this case report, we describe an anatomic variation in which the stylomastoid artery has fenestrated the main trunk of the facial nerve, dividing it in two. METHODS: Two patients underwent parotidectomy (one for a pleomorphic adenoma, the second for a parotid cyst) through a standard anterograde approach with identification of the usual facial nerve landmarks. RESULTS: The appearance of the main trunk of the facial nerve was unusual in both patients due to its being fenestrated by the stylomastoid artery. The stylomastoid artery was divided, and the remainder of the facial nerve dissection was performed uneventfully with subsequent resection of the parotid mass in both patients. CONCLUSIONS: In rare instances, the stylomastoid artery can penetrate through the common trunk of the facial nerve. This is an important anatomic variant for the parotid surgeon to be aware of, as it can increase the difficulty of facial nerve dissection.

The Impact of Sinonasal Symptoms in Relation to Potentially Life-Threatening Comorbidities.

OBJECTIVE: While general health may be influenced by sinonasal symptoms, their effects may be overshadowed by comorbid states which may be more serious. To assess the validity of this postulate, we measured the extent to which sinonasal symptoms and concurrent conditions influenced general health. STUDY DESIGN: Observational outcomes study. SETTING: Academic medical center, community care sites. METHODS: Adults with sinonasal symptoms completed the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test, along with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System global health short form. Comorbidities were categorized with the Deyo modification of the Charlson comorbidity index. Multivariate regression analyses were utilized to determine the relative impact of sinonasal symptoms and concurrent comorbid conditions on general health. RESULTS: Data from 219 consecutive patients demonstrated that sinonasal symptoms were associated with significantly diminished general physical (ß = -1.431, p < .001), mental (ß = -1.000, p < .001), overall (ß = -1.026, p < .001), and social health (ß = -0.872, p = .003), regardless of the presence of potentially life-threatening comorbid conditions. Comorbid conditions included cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, connective tissue disease, peptic ulcer, diabetes mellitus, and hepatic disease. The effect of sinonasal symptoms was neither subsumed nor overshadowed by the effects of comorbid states. Nasal, ear, sleep, and psychological domain scores were also associated with general physical, mental, and global health while adjusting for the impact of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal symptoms have a substantial effect on general health which is not subsumed by the presence of potentially life-threatening concurrent comorbidities. These data may help support the importance of funding and resource allocation for conditions causing sinonasal symptoms.

Normative Values for the Inner EAR Scale.

OBJECTIVE: To determine normative values for the Inner Effectiveness of Auditory Rehabilitation (Inner EAR) scale, a validated instrument utilized to study the impact of hearing loss and potential treatments. STUDY DESIGN: Observational outcomes study. SETTING: Academic medical center and community care sites. METHODS: We included patients who were at least 18 years of age and completed the Inner EAR scale, pure-tone audiometry, and word recognition score assessment. Based on audiometry results, patients were categorized as having: (1) normal bilateral hearing, (2) unilateral hearing loss, and (3) bilateral hearing loss. The distributions of Inner EAR scale scores were assessed within each category. Fisher's exact test was utilized to determine whether data-driven threshold values could discriminate among the 3 clinical groups. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-two consecutive patients with hearing-related complaints met inclusion criteria. Mean Inner EAR scores for patients with bilateral hearing loss (29.2, interquartile range [IQR] 10-41.5), unilateral hearing loss (38.9, IQR 23-49), and normal hearing (46.6, IQR 31-62) were significantly different (analysis of variance F < 0.0001). An Inner EAR score threshold of 50 supported the ability to statistically significantly discriminate between bilateral hearing loss and normal hearing (p = .003), as well as between unilateral hearing loss and normal hearing (p = .015). CONCLUSION: An Inner EAR score normative threshold value of 50 provides significant discriminatory ability between normal hearing and unilateral or bilateral hearing loss on audiometry. Normative values provide useful, frequently referenced data when assessing responses to treatment. Based on these data, this threshold may help distinguish patients with and without perceived functional impact from hearing loss.

Facial Nerve Exploration for Known or Suspected Transection: The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Experience.

Background: There is no ideal test to determine likelihood of spontaneous recovery after post-traumatic and postsurgical facial palsy (FP). Objective: Among patients with unexpected FP undergoing facial nerve (FN) exploration for suspected discontinuity, we endeavored to discern whether intraoperative findings, repair type, and time to exploration impact FN recovery, as measured by electronic Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (eFACE) and FaCE scales. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 42 adult patients who underwent FN exploration. Results: FN injury resulted from either surgery (n = 29) or trauma (n = 13). Average time to repair was 68.4 (standard deviation 79.6) days. Postoperative improvements were observed in total eFACE (73.3-86.5; p < 0.0001) and FaCE (21.5-38.1; p = 0.0214) scores. Distal FN injuries were most common (n = 29) and had best recovery (percentage change in eFACE 57.2% vs. 34.3% main trunk, p = 0.0306). Discontinuity injuries (n = 33) repaired with primary coaptation (n = 18) had noninferior outcomes compared with cable graft repair (n = 16; percentage change in eFACE 49.6% vs. 39.2%, p = 0.3470). Denervation times <3 months yielded better recovery using percentage change in eFACE score (56.9% vs. 33.1%, p = 0.0270). Conclusions: Surgical exploration for unexpected FP allows for direct visualization of anatomical nerve status and timely repair.

Laryngeal Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of laryngeal Langerhans cell histiocytosis, discuss its characteristic features and management, and provide a review of the available literature. METHODS: A patient presenting to a tertiary care medical center with dyspnea and hoarseness is described. A literature review of laryngeal Langerhans cell histiocytosis cases was performed through a search of articles indexed in the National Institutes of Health PubMed system. RESULTS: We report a case of a 69-year old male, who presented with a laryngeal mass highly suspicious for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, was treated with laser excision, and was subsequently found to have laryngeal Langerhans cell histiocytosis upon histological analysis. Including our current case, we found six prior reported cases of laryngeal Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the literature. Of the six cases, four were in adults, while two were in children. Dyspnea is a common presenting complaint present in all cases. Smoking may be a potential risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare condition and an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with a laryngeal mass and symptoms of dyspnea or hoarseness. Biopsy and histopathological analysis are key to the diagnosis. Surgical excision and radiotherapy are successful treatments used in clinical practice.

The Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 or European Position Paper: Which Is More Indicative of Imaging Results?

OBJECTIVE: The 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) is a trusted measure of symptom severity in chronic rhinosinusitis. The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis (EPOS) provides widely accepted diagnostic criteria, which include sinonasal symptoms, their duration, and imaging results. Our objective was to compare these approaches to assessing symptoms to determine if either was more indicative of radiologic findings, to support decisions in telehealth. STUDY DESIGN: Observational outcomes study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. METHODS: In total, 162 consecutive patients provided a structured sinonasal history, completed the SNOT-22, and underwent sinus computed tomography (CT) within 1 month. SNOT-22 scores, EPOS-defined symptom sets, and Lund-Mackay results were assessed. To facilitate direct comparisons, we performed stepwise evaluations of sinonasal symptoms alone and combined with duration. The discriminatory capacity for imaging results was determined through areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC-AUC) for dichotomous outcomes and ordinal regression for multilevel outcomes. RESULTS: In ROC-AUC analyses, SNOT-22 and EPOS-defined symptoms had similar discriminatory capacity for Lund-Mackay scores, regardless of duration. Within ordinal regression analyses, SNOT-22 nasal scores were significantly associated with Lund-Mackay scores, while EPOS-defined nasal symptoms were not statistically significantly related. CONCLUSIONS: SNOT-22 nasal scores and EPOS-defined nasal symptoms may have similar associations with imaging results when assessed via ROC-AUC, while SNOT-22 may have more association within ordinal data. Understanding the implications of discrete patterns of symptoms may confer benefit, particularly when in-person and fiberoptic exams are limited.

Sinonasal Outcome Scores and Imaging: A Concurrent Assessment of Factors Influencing Their Association.

OBJECTIVE: The overall discriminatory ability of validated instrument scores for computed tomography (CT) findings of chronic rhinosinusitis has limitations and may be modified by multiple factors. To support optimal methods for assessment, we studied which factors could influence this relationship, including the concurrent impact of multiple discrete CT scoring mechanisms, colocalized imaging findings, and nasal comorbid conditions. STUDY DESIGN: Observational outcomes study. SETTING: Academic medical center. METHODS: Patients with sinonasal complaints who completed the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and underwent CT were included. Multivariate ordinal regression was utilized to assess associations. CT data were quantified with the Lund-Mackay system, Zinreich system, and a direct measure of maximal mucosal thickness. The impact of incidental findings (mucous retention cysts, periapical dental disease) and nasal comorbid conditions was also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 233 patients were included. SNOT-22 nasal scores were significantly associated with CT results when those with incidental findings were excluded, regardless of the radiologic scoring mechanism utilized: Lund-Mackay regression coefficient, 0.321 (P = .046); Zinreich, 0.340 (P = .033); and maximum mucosal thickness, 0.316 (P = .040). This relationship subsided when incidental findings were present. SNOT-22 overall scores, sleep scores, and psychological domain scores had no significant association with imaging results, regardless of radiologic scoring system utilized. Nasal comorbid conditions had inconsistent associations. CONCLUSIONS: SNOT-22 nasal domain scores were associated with all 3 radiologic scoring systems when incidental findings were absent but not when they were present. Delineating the presence or absence of these colocalized findings affected the relationship between SNOT-22 scores and radiological results, beyond other concurrent factors.

Psychological Status as an Effect Modifier of the Association Between Sinonasal Instrument and Imaging Results.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether psychological status is an effect modifier of the previously observed low discriminatory capacity of Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) scores for Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) results. STUDY DESIGN: Observational outcomes study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We assessed patients presenting with chronic sinonasal complaints who underwent CT of the sinuses within 1 month of completing the SNOT-22 instrument. SNOT-22 overall and domain scores were calculated, as were Lund-Mackay CT scores. The discriminatory capacity of SNOT-22 scores for CT results was determined using the receiver-operator characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC). Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) mental health T-scores were assessed, and stratified analyses were used to test for effect modification by psychological status. RESULTS: In stratified analyses, patients with better PROMIS mental health scores had SNOT-22 overall (ROC-AUC 0.96) and nasal domain scores (ROC-AUC 0.97-0.98) that were highly discriminatory for Lund-Mackay scores, while those with worse mental health scores did not (ROC-AUC 0.42-0.55, P < .007). Patients with better SNOT-22 psychological domain scores also had nasal scores that discriminated among CT results significantly better than those with worse psychological domain scores (ROC-AUC 0.65-0.69 and 0.34-0.35, respectively, P < .013). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological status is an effect modifier of the relationship between SNOT-22 and Lund-Mackay scores. SNOT-22 scores were discriminatory for Lund-Mackay CT results in patients with better psychological status, while they were nondiscriminatory in those with worse psychological status. When assessing the relationship between subjective and objective measures of chronic rhinosinusitis, accounting for effect modification may have practical utility.

Enhancer Histone Acetylation Modulates Transcriptional Bursting Dynamics of Neuronal Activity-Inducible Genes.

Neuronal activity-inducible gene transcription correlates with rapid and transient increases in histone acetylation at promoters and enhancers of activity-regulated genes. Exactly how histone acetylation modulates transcription of these genes has remained unknown. We used single-cell in situ transcriptional analysis to show that Fos and Npas4 are transcribed in stochastic bursts in mouse neurons and that membrane depolarization increases mRNA expression by increasing burst frequency. We then expressed dCas9-p300 or dCas9-HDAC8 fusion proteins to mimic or block activity-induced histone acetylation locally at enhancers. Adding histone acetylation increased Fos transcription by prolonging burst duration and resulted in higher Fos protein levels and an elevation of resting membrane potential. Inhibiting histone acetylation reduced Fos transcription by reducing burst frequency and impaired experience-dependent Fos protein induction in the hippocampus in vivo. Thus, activity-inducible histone acetylation tunes the transcriptional dynamics of experience-regulated genes to affect selective changes in neuronal gene expression and cellular function.