Role of Electrodiagnostic Modalities in Detection of Nasal Septal Deviation.

Nasal Septal Deviation (NSD) is a common sign in otorhinolaryngology that can lead to facial asymmetry. In this case-control observational study, we assessed the role of EMG and NCS in the diagnosis of NSD and its effect on neuromuscular function. Participants were divided into two groups based on paranasal sinus computed tomography scan (PNS CT) results: NSD cases (n = 21) and controls without NSD (n = 13). EMG and NCS were performed on both groups to assess nasal alar muscles at the root of the zygomatic nerve. Our findings showed a significant correlation between NSD and EMG/NCS tests (P-value = 000) and a significant association between septal deviation and nasal alar lateralization (P-value = 000). EMG/NCS can be useful in assessing NSD by providing a better understanding of related neuromuscular structures and neuromuscular function of the nasal alar dilator muscles and aid in the diagnosis of NSD. Nasal Septal Deviation, EMG (electromyography), NCS (nerve conduction studies), Neuromuscular function, Facial asymmetry, Otorhinolaryngology, Paranasal sinus, Computed tomography, Nasal alar muscles, Zygomatic nerve, Nasal Obstruction, Nasal alar lateralization, Diagnosis.

The brain functional connectivity alterations in traumatic patients with olfactory disorder after low-level laser therapy demonstrated by fMRI.

BACKGROUND: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been clinically accepted to accelerate the nerve regeneration process after a nerve injury or transection. We aimed to investigate the neuronal basis and the influence of LLLT on brain functional networks in traumatic patients with olfactory dysfunction. METHODS: Twenty-four Patients with traumatic anosmia/hyposmia were exposed to pleasant olfactory stimuli during a block-designed fMRI session. After a 10-week period, patients as control group and patients who had completed the sessions of LLLT were invited for follow-up testing using the same fMRI protocol. Two-sample t-tests were conducted to explore group differences in activation responding to odorants (p-FDR-corrected <0.05). Differences of functional connectivity were compared between the two groups and the topological features of the olfactory network were calculated. Correlation analysis was performed between graph parameters and TDI score. RESULTS: Compared to controls, laser-treated patients showed increased activation in the cingulate, rectus gyrus, and some parts of the frontal gyrus. Shorter pathlength (p = 0.047) and increased local efficiency (p = 0.043) within the olfactory network, as well as decreased inter-network connectivity within the whole brain were observed in patients after laser surgery. Moreover, higher clustering and local efficiency were related to higher TDI score, as manifested in increased sensitivity to identify odors. CONCLUSIONS: The results support that low-level laser induces neural reorganization process and make new connections in the olfactory structures. Furthermore, the connectivity parameters may serve as potential biomarkers for traumatic anosmia or hyposmia by revealing the underlying neural mechanisms of LLLT.

Short-chain fatty acids profile in patients with SARS-CoV-2: A case-control study.

Background and Aims: SARS-CoV-2, as a new pandemic disease, affected the world. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetic, propionic, and butyric acids are the main metabolites of human gut microbiota. The positive effects of SCFAs have been shown in infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza, and rhinovirus. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the concentration of SCFAs in patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared with the healthy group. Methods: This research was designed based on a case and control study. Twenty healthy individuals as the control group and 20 persons admitted to the hospital with a positive test of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) real-time polymerase chain reaction were included in the study as the patient group from September 2021 to October 2021, in Tabriz, Iran. Stool specimens were collected from volunteers, and analysis of SCFAs was carried out by a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Results: The amount of acetic acid in the healthy group was 67.88 ± 23.09 µmol/g, while in the group of patients with COVID-19 was 37.04 ± 13.29 µmol/g. Therefore, the concentration of acetic acid in the patient group was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than in the healthy group. Propionic and butyric acid were present in a higher amount in the control group compared with the case group; however, this value was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that the concentration of acetic acid as the metabolite caused by gut microbiota is significantly disturbed in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, therapeutic interventions based on gut microbiota metabolites in future research may be effective against COVID-19.

Capsaicin-loaded alginate nanoparticles embedded polycaprolactone-chitosan nanofibers as a controlled drug delivery nanoplatform for anticancer activity.

Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems have been designed into various structures that can effectively prevent cancer progression and improve the therapeutic cancer index. However, most of these delivery systems are designed to be simple nanostructures with several limitations, including low stability and burst drug release features. A nano-in-nano delivery technique is explored to address the aforementioned concerns. Accordingly, this study investigated the release behavior of a novel nanoparticles-in-nanofibers delivery system composed of capsaicin-loaded alginate nanoparticles embedded in polycaprolactone-chitosan nanofiber mats. First, alginate nanoparticles were prepared with different concentrations of cationic gemini surfactant and using nanoemulsion templates. The optimized formulation of alginate nanoparticles was utilized for loading capsaicin and exhibited a diameter of 19.42 ± 1.8 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 98.7 % ± 0.6 %. Likewise, blend polycaprolactone-chitosan nanofibers were prepared with different blend ratios of their solutions (i.e., 100:0, 80:20, 60:40) by electrospinning method. After the characterization of electrospun mats, the optimal nanofibers were employed for embedding capsaicin-loaded alginate nanoparticles. Our findings revealed that embedding capsaicin-loaded alginate nanoparticles in polycaprolactone-chitosan nanofibers, prolonged capsaicin release from 120 h to more than 500 h. Furthermore, the results of in vitro analysis demonstrated that the designed nanoplatform could effectively inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cells while being nontoxic to human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Collectively, the prepared nanocomposite drug delivery platform might be promising for the long-term and controlled release of capsaicin for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Protective Effect of Curcumin, Chrysin and Thymoquinone Injection on Trastuzumab-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Mitochondrial Protection.

Mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to cardiomyocyte death in trastuzumab (TZM)-induced cardiotoxicity. Accordingly, this study was designed to evaluate the mitochondrial protective effects of curcumin, chrysin and thymoquinone alone in TZM-induced cardiotoxicity in the rats. Forty-eight male adult Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: control group (normal saline), TZM group (2.5 mg/kg I.P. injection, daily), TZM + curcumin group (10 mg/kg, I.P. injection, daily), TZM + chrysin (10 mg/kg, I.P. injection, daily), TZM + thymoquinone (0.5 mg/kg, I.P. injection, daily), curcumin group (10 mg/kg, I.P. injection, daily), chrysin group (10 mg/kg, I.P. injection, daily) and thymoquinone group (10 mg/kg, I.P. injection, daily). Blood and tissue were collected on day 11 and used for assessment of creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), troponin, malondialdehyde (MDA) amount, glutathione levels and mitochondrial toxicity parameters. TZM increased mitochondrial impairments (reactive oxygen species formation, mitochondrial swelling, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse and decline in succinate dehydrogenase activity) and histopathological alterations (hypertrophy, enlarged cell, disarrangement, myocytes degeneration, infiltration of fat in some areas, hemorrhage and focal vascular thrombosis) in rat heart. As well as TZM produced a significant increase in the level of CK, LDH, troponin, MDA, glutathione disulfide. In most experiments, the co-injection of curcumin, chrysin and thymoquinone with TZM restored the level of CK, LDH, troponin, MDA, GSH, mitochondrial impairments and histopathological alterations. The study revealed the cardioprotective effects of curcumin, chrysin and thymoquinone against TZM-induced cardiotoxicity which could be attributed to their antioxidant and mitochondrial protection activities.

Alginate sulfate-based hydrogel/nanofiber composite scaffold with controlled Kartogenin delivery for tissue engineering.

In this study, we fabricated two different arrangements of laminated composite scaffolds based on Alginate:Alginate sulfate hydrogel, PCL:Gelatin electrospun mat, and Kartogenin-PLGA nanoparticles (KGN-NPs). The optimized composite scaffold revealed a range of advantages such as improved mechanical features as well as less potential of damage (less dissipated energy), interconnected pores of hydrogel and fiber with adequate pore size, excellent swelling ratio, and controlled biodegradability. Furthermore, the synthesized KGN-NPs with spherical morphology were incorporated into the composite scaffold and exhibited a linear and sustained release of KGN within 30 days with desirable initial burst reduction (12% vs. 20%). Additionally, the cytotoxicity impact of the composite was evaluated. Resazurin assay and Live/Dead staining revealed that the optimized composite scaffold has no cytotoxic effect and could improve cell growth. Overall, according to the enhanced mechanical features, suitable environment for cellular growth, and sustained drug release, the optimized scaffold would be a good candidate for tissue regeneration.

Gastric pull-up with laryngeal preservation of the primary synovial sarcoma of the esophagus: A case report.

In patients who require a gastric pull-up, despite bilateral injury to the vocal cords and regurgitation, preservation of the larynx can improve their quality of life.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Larynx:A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory myofibroblastic pseudotumors are initially described in the lung and various extrapulmonary sites such as the orbits, palatine tonsils, ears, gingiva, pterygomaxillary space, and periodontal tissues. These tumors rarely involve the larynx and predilection to the glottis occurs in an indolent manner. CASE REPORT: This case describes a laryngeal myofibroblastic tumor in a 46-year-old woman who presented with an aggressive tumor that extended to the floor of the mouth and the base of the tongue. Extended supraglottic laryngectomy was undertaken for the patient. The diagnosis was spindle cell proliferation with dense lymphoplasma cell infiltration compatible with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (Inflammatory pseudotumor or plasma cell granuloma). Definitive diagnosis was achieved with immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. CONCLUSION: We believe that further IHC studies are required to define the true nature of these tumors especially for those that behave in an aggressive pattern.

An Island Flap Technique for Laryngeal Intracordal Mucous Retention Cysts.

INTRODUCTION: Mucous retention cysts are a subtype of intracordal vocal cysts that may occur spontaneously or may be associated with poor vocal hygiene, and which require optimal treatment. The objective of this study was to present a new laser-assisted microsurgery technique for treating intracordal mucous retention cysts and to describe the final outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, we assessed the pre-operative and post-operative acoustic analysis, maximum phonation time (MPT), and voice handicap index (VHI) of four patients with a diagnosis of mucous retention cyst. The island flap technique was applied to all patients without any complications. In this procedure, we favored the super-pulse mode using a 2-W power CO2 laser to remove the medial wall of the cyst, before clearing away the lateral wall margins of the cyst using repeat-pulse mode and a 2-W power CO2 laser. Indeed, we maintained the underlying epithelium and lamina propria, including the island flap attached to the vocal ligament. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in the MPT (pre-op,11.05 s; post-op,15.85 s; P=0.002) and the VHI (pre-operative, 72/120; post-operative,27/120; P=0.001) in all patients. Moreover, jitter and shimmer were refined after surgery, but there was no statistically significant relationship between pre-operative and post-operative data (P=0.071) (P=0.622). In the follow-up period (median, 150 days), there was no report of recurrence or mucosal stiffness. CONCLUSION: The island flap procedure in association with CO2 laser microsurgery appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for intracordal mucous retention cysts, but needs further investigation to allow comparison with other methods.

The role of Human papilloma virus (HPV) genotyping in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in Rasoul Akram Hospital.

BACKGROUND: The most common laryngeal mass in children is recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Studies have attempted to correlate viral typing and its aggressiveness. METHOD: 29 patients with histologically confirmed RRP enrolled in adjuvant therapies. Patients underwent several surgical interventions. RESULTS: HPV genotyping demonstrated 45% HPV-6 and 55% HPV-11. The mean age at the first surgical intervention was 52.39 months (SD=102.28) (range from 4 months to 426 months). The mean number of surgical intervention was 10.39 (SD=7.76) (range from 2 to 30). The mean time of surgical intervals was 4.63 months (SD=4.02) (range from 2 to 24 months). In fourteen patients (48%) tracheotomy was done. All patients who had tracheotomy received alpha-interferon. One of our cases was a male who had pulmonary extension with HPV-6. CONCLUSION: A review of patients with RRP was regarding to HPV genotyping and need for adjuvant therapy and tracheostomy. Mean number of surgical procedure was 10/40 and nearly fourteen patients (48%) need to tracheotomy. The clinical differences between HPV6 and HPV11 disease may not be accurately predictable. Patients with less age and with HPV-11 seemed to have more severe problems, but these differences were not statistically significant which needs much more investigations for reasonable starting point of evaluation for these differences.

Angiomyxoma of the larynx: case report of a rare tumor.

Laryngeal spindle cell neoplasms are uncommon tumors, frequently misdiagnosed as reactive lesions or mesenchymal malignancies. One of the rare mesenchymal tumors of the larynx is myxoid spindle cell tumor (angiomyxoma), a benign proliferative lesion. It is considered the laryngeal counterpart of the aggressive angiomyxoma of the pelvis and perineum. Although benign, angiomyxomas have a propensity for local recurrence due to their tendency to infiltrate surrounding tissues. They commonly appear encapsulated, but simple enucleation does not provide adequate treatment; excision should include a margin of normal tissue around the tumor. We describe a case of laryngeal angiomyxoma in a 40-year-old man that, to the best of our knowledge, is only the second such case reported in the literature. The tumor in our case showed no histologic evidence of aggressive behavior, but because of the potential for local recurrence, close follow-up was warranted.