Middle ear promontory osteoma.

Osteomas are benign lesions of the lamellar bone that within the temporal region are common in the external ear canal. Osteomas of the middle ear are extremely rare and until now there are only 14 reported cases. They usually present with conductive hearing loss while others are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally.

A Smart Digital Health Platform to Enable Monitoring of Quality of Life and Frailty in Older Patients with Cancer: A Mixed-Methods, Feasibility Study Protocol.

OBJECTIVES: LifeChamps is an EU Horizon 2020 project that aims to create a digital platform to enable monitoring of health-related quality of life and frailty in patients with cancer over the age of 65. Our primary objective is to assess feasibility, usability, acceptability, fidelity, adherence, and safety parameters when implementing LifeChamps in routine cancer care. Secondary objectives involve evaluating preliminary signals of efficacy and cost-effectiveness indicators. DATA SOURCES: This will be a mixed-methods exploratory project, involving four study sites in Greece, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The quantitative component of LifeChamps (single-group, pre-post feasibility study) will integrate digital technologies, home-based motion sensors, self-administered questionnaires, and the electronic health record to (1) enable multimodal, real-world data collection, (2) provide patients with a coaching mobile app interface, and (3) equip healthcare professionals with an interactive, patient-monitoring dashboard. The qualitative component will determine end-user usability and acceptability via end-of-study surveys and interviews. CONCLUSION: The first patient was enrolled in the study in January 2023. Recruitment will be ongoing until the project finishes before the end of 2023. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: LifeChamps provides a comprehensive digital health platform to enable continuous monitoring of frailty indicators and health-related quality of life determinants in geriatric cancer care. Real-world data collection will generate "big data" sets to enable development of predictive algorithms to enable patient risk classification, identification of patients in need for a comprehensive geriatric assessment, and subsequently personalized care.

Randomized, placebo-controlled evaluation of chlorobutanol, potassium carbonate, and irrigation in cerumen removal.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy over a short period of time of two ceruminolytic products, Otocerum (chlorobutanol, phenol, turpentine essence, ethyl alcohol; Reig Jofre Laboratories, Barcelona, Spain) and Taponoto (potassium carbonate, ethyl alcohol, glycerol, thymol; Teofarma Iberica SA, Barcelona), in adult subjects with complete occlusion of the ear canal due to cerumen. METHODS: Ninety subjects with complete occlusion of the ear canal were enrolled in a randomized, subject- and observer-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three different treatments: Otocerum, Taponoto, or sterile saline solution (control group). The test medication was instilled into an occluded ear for 15 minutes. After this treatment, the subject's ear was irrigated with 50 mL of water. The main outcome was the proportion of tympanic membranes completely visualized after treatment. RESULTS: One subject among the 90 enrolled did not accept a second ear irrigation and was excluded from the study. Neither Otocerum nor Taponoto was superior to saline solution. Cerumen occlusion resolved in 21 of 32 subjects treated with Otocerum (65.6%), 16 of 29 treated with Taponoto (55.2%), and 12 of 28 treated with saline solution (42.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of Taponoto or Otocerum did not significantly improve the proportion of tympanic membranes that were completely visualized compared with saline solution when they were instilled 15 minutes before ear irrigation.

Flipping Game Development.

This work describes the implementation of a flip teaching alternative in an introductory game development course, using resources from a massive open online course. The results proved to achieve better grades and higher satisfaction to previous and similar lecture-based courses.

[Inverted papilloma. Review of 23 cases]. / Papiloma invertido. Revisión de 23 casos.

Inverted papilloma is a benign sinonasal tumour with a high recurrence rate and its treatment must be surgery, using endonasal surgery or external aproach. We present a retrospective study of 23 cases treated in our center from 1988 to 2003. There were 15 males and 8 females with a mean follow-up of 6 years. The recurrence rate was 40.9%. Patients who underwent endonasal surgery had a recurrence rate of 36.6%, and those who underwent external aproach surgery had a recurrence rate of 45.5%. There was a 4.5% of association with carcinoma. Endonasal surgery might be a valid surgery aproach for the treatement of inverted papilloma in selected cases.

Dose-dependent cochlear and vestibular toxicity of trans-tympanic cisplatin in the rat.

In vivo studies are needed to study cisplatin ototoxicity and to evaluate candidate protective treatments. Rats and mice are the preferred species for toxicological and pharmacological pre-clinical research, but systemic administration of cisplatin causes high morbidity in these species. We hypothesized that trans-tympanic administration of cisplatin would provide a good model for studying its auditory and vestibular toxicity in the rat. Cisplatin was administered by the trans-tympanic route in one ear (50µl, 0.5-2mg/ml) of rats of both sexes and two different strains. Cochlear toxicity was corroborated by histological means. Vestibular toxicity was demonstrated by behavioral and histological analysis. Cisplatin concentrations were assessed in inner ear after trans-tympanic and i.v. administration. In all experiments, no lethality and only scant body weight loss were recorded. Cisplatin caused dose-dependent cochlear toxicity, as demonstrated by hair cell counts in the apical and middle turns of the cochlea, and vestibular toxicity, as demonstrated by behavioral analysis and hair cell counts in utricles. High concentrations of cisplatin were found in the inner ear after trans-tympanic administration. In comparison, i.v. administration resulted in lower inner ear concentrations. We conclude that trans-tympanic administration provides an easy, reproducible and safe model to study the cochlear and vestibular toxicity of cisplatin in the rat. This route of exposure may be useful to address particular questions on cisplatin induced ototoxicity and to test candidate protective treatments.

The effect of challenge method on sensitivity and reactivity to adenosine 5'-monophosphate in subjects with suspected asthma.

BACKGROUND: The following two methods of inhalation challenge have been used to determine the airway responsiveness: the tidal-breathing method; and the dosimeter method. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of the challenge method on the response to adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP). METHODS: This study measured airway responsiveness to AMP by dosimeter and tidal-breathing methods in 25 subjects with suspected asthma. The two AMP challenges were conducted in random order, on separate days, at the same time of day, at intervals of 1 to 5 days. Concentration-response curves were characterized by the provocative concentration of a substance causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) and slope. RESULTS: The dosimeter PC20 values were significantly higher than the tidal-breathing PC20 values, with geometric mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) values of 50.35 mg/mL (95% CI, 19.50 to 129.72 mg/mL) and 28.97 mg/mL (95% CI, 11.99 to 69.98 mg/mL; p = 0.02), respectively. The mean difference in the PC20 values obtained with each method was 0.80 doubling concentrations (95% CI, 0.16 to 1.44 doubling concentrations). The mean values for the slope were 17.0%/log mg/mL (95% CI, 12.5 to 21.5 mg/mL) with the tidal breathing method and 13.8%/log mg/mL (95% CI, 9.0 to 18.7 mg/mL; p = 0.03) with the dosimeter. CONCLUSIONS: The tidal-breathing method produces AMP PC20 values that are significantly lower than the dosimeter method and slope values that are significantly higher than the dosimeter method. These data suggest that the results obtained with each method of testing may not be comparable.

Middle fossa approach: Applications in temporal bone lesions. / Abordaje por fosa media, aplicaciones en lesiones del hueso temporal.

The middle fossa approach is a surgical technique that is very useful for lateral skull base surgery. However, it is true that it has limited surgical indications and implementation due to its technical complexity. We present our experience in 10 patients in whom the middle fossa approach was the treatment of choice because of the extent of the injury and complexity of the lesion or process. Despite the complexity of the cases, there was no mortality associated with surgery. Postoperative complications were found in 2 patients who presented an epidural hematoma and a cortico-subcortical hematoma. Hearing function was preserved in 5 patients out of the 7 who had adequate hearing at the time of surgery. House/Brackmann I-II facial nerve function was achieved in 8 patients; the remaining 2 had no deterioration of the nerve function. In 9 out of 10 patients, the surgery achieved complete solution of the lesion. The middle fossa approach is a safe and reliable surgical technique. It gives us great control and exposure of different skull base processes. We consider its knowledge of great importance, because it may be the only viable surgical alternative in some specific patients. That is the reason why it is important to learn this approach and know about it in our specialty.

[Presentation of a case of cervical actinomycosis versus Hodgkin lymphoma]. / Actinomicosis cervical versus linfoma de Hodgkin. A propósito de un caso.

Actinomycosis is an unfrequent bacterian infection, that affects 50% of the cases in the cervical facial region. The evolution and clinical, anatomopathologic radiologic characteristic, and its presentation bring us to suspect another type of more frequent pathology: the neoplastic, that make very difficult its diagnosis. We present the case of a young patient affected by a cervical tumoration initially oriented as Hodgkin lymphoma that finally was diagnosed as cervical actinomycosis and treated with penicillin.

[Functional gain and length of hospital stay at a medium-stay geriatric care unit at the Central Red Cross Hospital in Madrid, Spain]. / Ganancia funcional y estancia hospitalaria en la unidad geriatrica de media estancia del Hospital Central de Cruz Roja de Madrid.

BACKGROUND: The medium-stay or convalescent care geriatric units were defined by the Spanish National Health Institute in 1996 as being the level of geriatric hospital care aimed at recovering those functions, activities or sequelae having undergone changes as a result of different prior processes. This study is aimed at evaluating the characteristics of patients related to functional gain and stay in medium-stay geriatric units. METHODS: A study was made of all those patients admitted throughout the May 2000-December 2001 period. The weekly and overall functional gain was evaluated using the Barthel Index (BI), the hospital stay and the effectiveness (BI at discharge-BI at admission/during stay) having been evaluated. An improvement in the weekly gain of BI>5 points was set at the effectiveness threshold. RESULTS: A total of 459 patients averaging age 80.56 (+/-7.45) admitted for functional recovery from sequelae of ictus (48.4%), orthopedic disorders (26.3%) and immobility due to other ailments (23.5%) were evaluated. The total functional gain was 29.71 (+/-16.75) Barthel Index points, entailing an average stay of 24.93 (+/-12.94) days and a 1.44 (+/-1.02) effectiveness. The weekly functional gain was above the threshold set during the first three weeks, independently of the age and disorder for which admitted. In the multivariate regression analysis, the age, admission due to ictus, functional impairment prior to admission, cognitive impairment at admission, comorbility and delay in admission were related to a lesser functional gain. Admission due to ictus and a better functional condition prior to admission and better cognitive condition at admission were related to a longer stay. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital stays in medium-stay geriatric units is adequate, at least during the first three weeks. A comparison of the results among units should be adjusted by age, the disorder for which admitted, comorbility and functional and cognitive condition of the patients.

[Current aspects of laryngeal tuberculosis]. / Aspectos actuales de latuberculosis laríngea.

In the preantibiotic era laryngeal tuberculosis was the most frequent pathology of the larynx. In the last decades some changes in the presentation and evolution of the pathology have occurred due to the new chemiotherapy and the improvement of the nutrition. Actually it presents less incidence and infectivity and less evidence of pulmonary disease. In this article we analyse, on occasion of a clinical case and with a revision of the literature, the actual patterns of the laryngeal tuberculosis.

[Three cases of cell granular tumor of the larynx]. / Tumor de células granulares a nivel laríngeo. A propósito de 3 casos.

Cell Granular Tumor (CGT) are unusual tumors that can affect any site of the body, with most cases affecting the head and neck region. CGT of the larynx is an uncommon laryngeal tumor accounting for approximately 6-10% of the reported cases. In the larynx pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia may predispose to confuse the CGT with frothy (squamous) cell carcinoma. The origin of this tumor is a matter of debate but most authors believe it to be neural in origin.

[Retropharyngeal phlegmon in the adult. Presentation of a case]. / Flemón retrofaríngeo en el adulto. A propósito de 1 caso.

Nowadays retropharyngeal phlegmon and abscesses are uncommon. Advances in medical care have changed the morbidity and mortality of this processes. The advance of computed tomography (CT) has made possible a more exact diagnosis of these infections. If CT suggests a cellulitis medical treatment is used, but abscesses need surgical drainnage.

Facial reanimation surgery with micro-vascular gracilis free flap for unilateral facial palsy.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Micro-neurovascular free muscle flap transfer is currently the procedure of choice for long-standing facial paralysis. We present a case series of patients treated with gracilis muscle free flap with motor innervation by the masseteric nerve. We discuss the surgical technique and quantify the movement granted by the muscle, the improvement in quality of life and aesthetic results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report ten patients with unilateral facial paralysis who underwent free gracilis muscle flap, between the years 2010 and 2012 in two tertiary hospitals. RESULTS: It is not reported any failure of the microsuture with survival of all flaps. The muscle movement was quantified by vectors at rest and contraction with an average of 1.7 cm that initiated around the fourth month after surgery. Patients also reported a significant improvement in symmetry at rest as well as oral and ocular competition. CONCLUSION: As currently presented in literature, microvascular free flaps are the technique of choice for facial reanimation. In our experience, we believe that gracilis muscle flap innervated by the masseteric nerve is a reliable and secure technique that provides adequate functional and aesthetic results.

Effect of challenge method on sensitivity, reactivity, and maximal response to methacholine.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the tidal breathing method may produce methacholine provocation concentration that caused a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 20% (PC20) values significantly lower than the dosimeter method; however, the effect of the challenge method on the shape of the concentration-response curve has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the challenge method on sensitivity, reactivity, and maximal response to methacholine. METHODS: We measured airway responsiveness to methacholine using dosimeter and tidal breathing methods in 30 individuals with suspected asthma. Concentration-response curves were characterized by their PC20 (sensitivity), slope (reactivity), and, if possible, level of plateau. RESULTS: Dosimeter PC20 values were significantly higher than tidal breathing values (geometric mean, 8.9 and 5.2 mg/mL, respectively); the mean difference in PC20 values obtained using each method was 0.78 doubling concentrations (P = .01). The mean slopes were 22.7%/log mg/mL using the tidal breathing method and 24.9%/log mg/mL using the dosimeter method; the mean difference in the slopes obtained using each method was -2.17%/log mg/mL (P = .18). In 10 individuals who showed a plateau with the 2 methacholine challenge tests, the mean level of plateau was 19.8% using the tidal breathing method and 19.5% using the dosimeter method; the mean difference in the plateau values obtained with each method was 0.3% (P = .87). CONCLUSIONS: Although the tidal breathing method produces methacholine PC20 values significantly lower than the dosimeter method, both methods provide similar values for slope and level of plateau. These results suggest that the technical factors that affect methacholine sensitivity and the shape of the curve are different.