Discrepancies in hidradenitis suppurativa lesion characterization by providers and patients.

BACKGROUND: The hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) clinical response (HiSCR) has come under scrutiny as several HS clinical trials failed to meet primary endpoints with high placebo responses. This may be due to limitations of the tool and raters' ability to accurately characterize and count lesions, rather than lack of efficacy of the studied drug. Due to HS lesion complexity and potential differences in rater training, it was hypothesized that there would be discrepancies in how providers characterize and count lesions for HS clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how HS providers and patients name and count HS lesions and to identify discrepancies among providers to initiate the development of consensus-driven guidance for HS rater training. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to the members of HIdradenitis SuppuraTiva cORe outcomes set International Collaboration (HISTORIC). Respondents were asked to classify lesion images composed of multiple and different morphology types and answer questions regarding inclusion of associated dermatological conditions. RESULTS: Forty-seven HISTORIC members responded (29 providers; 18 patients). There was variability in how respondents classified HS lesions. Of 12 questions containing images, four had ≥50% of respondents choosing the same answer. With an image of a lesion composed of different morphologies, 45% of providers counted it as a single lesion and 45% counted it as multiple distinct lesions. With an image of multiple interconnected draining tunnels, 7% of providers classified it as a single draining tunnel while 79% categorized it as multiple draining tunnels with the number estimated by visual inspection. There was also variability in deciding whether lesions occurring in associated conditions should be considered separately or included in HS lesion counts. Patient responses were also variable. CONCLUSIONS: The result of the current study reaffirms the gap in how providers characterize and count HS lesions for clinical trials and the need to develop consensus-driven rater training related to HS outcome measures.

Timing of First Set of Pressure Equalization Tubes in Pediatric Patients With Cleft Deformities.

OBJECTIVES: Children with cleft palates often have comorbid eustachian tube dysfunction requiring pressure equalization tubes (PETs). PETs can relieve middle ear effusions that impede hearing. Ideal PET placement timing in this population is controversial. In this study, the audiologic exam passing rates of patients with cleft palate prior to and following PET insertion were assessed. Rates for patients receiving PETs at different ages were compared. It was hypothesized that earlier PET placement may benefit patients with additional months of improved hearing. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with cleft palate between November 22, 2016 and November 22, 2021 at a tertiary center. Statistical analysis compared passing/normal audiologic exams in patients receiving PETs at different ages. RESULTS: A total of 348 patients had cleft palate diagnoses, received PETs, and had adequate hearing data for inclusion. Those with PETs inserted at 3 months of age or less had an increase in percent of patients passing audiologic exams following versus prior to PET insertion of 13% (1.3 times improvement). Those receiving PETs between 7- and 12-months had the largest rate of improvement (42%) (2.4 times improvement); other groups had changes in passing rates between 31% and 40%. The rate of passing audiologic exams following PET insertion was high across all groups, ranging from 66% to 81%. CONCLUSION: This is one of the first studies exploring the timing of PET placement in this population and showed that patients receiving PETs at 3 months of age or younger passed subsequent audiologic exams at similar rates relative to those receiving PETs later in life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3391-3394, 2024.

Risk factors and outcomes in patients with cochlear nerve deficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) is a cause of sensorineural hearing loss made by radiologic criteria. There is sparse literature involving audiological outcomes and cochlear implantation (CI) success in patients with CND. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients with sensorineural hearing loss at a tertiary children's hospital from 2000 to 2020 was conducted. Patients with CND on radiographic imaging were included and categorized as hypoplastic, aplastic, or indeterminate. RESULTS: In this study, 53 patients were identified with CND, totaling 70 ears. Of the 53 patients, 30 (56.6 %) were male, 8 (16.0 %) had a family history of childhood hearing loss, 6 (11.3 %) were born preterm, and 11 (23.4 %) required neonatal intensive care admission. The median maternal age was 29 years old [IQR: 27, 35], and 8 (15 %) patients were born to mothers with diabetes. Of the 70 ears, 49 (70 %) utilized conventional hearing aids, 12 (17.1 %) utilized a bone-anchored hearing aid, and 10 (14.3 %) underwent CI. Of the 10 ears implanted, 4 (40 %) ears had nerves classified as hypoplastic, 3 (30 %) as aplastic, and 3 (30 %) as indeterminate. Improvement in pure tone averages compared to preoperative testing was demonstrated in 8 (80 %), and 6 (60 %) displayed improved speech awareness thresholds. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there may be an association between CND and maternal diabetes and NICU admission. There are variable results with hearing amplification options in patients with CND, and further research is needed to better describe the role of CI, bone-anchored hearing aids and conventional hearing aids in patients with CND.

Comparison of peripheral leukocyte parameters in patients receiving conventionally and hypofractionated radiotherapy schemes for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Introduction: Treatment for glioblastomas, aggressive and nearly uniformly fatal brain tumors, provide limited long-term success. Immunosuppression by myeloid cells in both the tumor microenvironment and systemic circulation are believed to contribute to this treatment resistance. Standard multi-modality therapy includes conventionally fractionated radiotherapy over 6 weeks; however, hypofractionated radiotherapy over 3 weeks or less may be appropriate for older patients or populations with poor performance status. Lymphocyte concentration changes have been reported in patients with glioblastoma; however, monocytes are likely a key cell type contributing to immunosuppression in glioblastoma. Peripheral monocyte concentration changes in patients receiving commonly employed radiation fractionation schemes are unknown. Methods: To determine the effect of conventionally fractionated and hypofractionated radiotherapy on complete blood cell leukocyte parameters, retrospective longitudinal concentrations were compared prior to, during, and following standard chemoradiation treatment. Results: This study is the first to report increased monocyte concentrations and decreased lymphocyte concentrations in patients treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy compared to hypofractionated radiotherapy. Discussion: Understanding the impact of fractionation on peripheral blood leukocytes is important to inform selection of dose fractionation schemes for patients receiving radiotherapy.

Nasal Sesamoid Cartilages: Fact or Fiction? An Anatomical Study of the Lateral Nasal Ala.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the presence of cartilage in the lateral nasal ala (LNA) via histological analysis of alar Mohs surgical specimens. An accurate understanding of nasal anatomy is essential to optimize esthetic and reconstructive surgical outcomes. LNA anatomy is typically pictured to include discreet accessory and sesamoid cartilages; however, the authors debate the actual presence of these structures. METHODS: A blinded reviewer analyzed 101 lateral nasal alar histologic specimens from 362 tissue blocks using a Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain to assess for the presence of cartilage. RESULTS: Out of the 362 tissue blocks histologically analyzed, only 1 included cartilaginous components. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the presence of sesamoid and accessory cartilages in the LNA within our sample set is exceedingly rare.

Pediatric peanut aspirations before and after 2015 recommendation for early peanut exposure.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if there has been an increase in peanut foreign body aspirations (FBA) in children since the publication of the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial, which revealed that early exposure to peanut-containing foods prevented peanut allergies in children at risk of atopic disease. METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted separately at two pediatric institutions. Institutions One and Two reviewed children less than 7 years old who underwent bronchoscopy for FBA over ten-year periods between January 2007 and September 2017 and November 2008 and May 2018, respectively. The proportion of FBAs attributed to peanuts was compared before and after the publication LEAP. RESULTS: Out of 515 reviewed cases, there was no change in pediatric peanut aspirations prior to and following the LEAP trial and AAP guideline change (33.5% vs 31.4%, p = 0.70). At Institution One, 317 patients met inclusion criteria. When comparing FBAs before and after LEAP, there were no significant changes in the rate of peanut aspiration (53.5% vs. 45.1%, p = 0.17). Institution Two also found no significant increase in the rate of peanut aspirations before and after the Addendum Guidelines (41.4% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.65) upon review of 198 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple institutions demonstrated a non-significant change in the rate of peanut FBAs following the AAP recommendation. Given that peanuts comprise a large proportion of FBAs, it is important to continue to track peanut aspirations. Longer term data tracking is needed from more institutions to further understand how recommendations from other specialties and the media impacts pediatric aspiration outcomes.

Etiologies of hearing loss in Fanconi Anemia.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe types of hearing loss associated with Fanconi anemia patients who underwent a bone marrow transplant (BMT) to identify possible etiologies of hearing loss. Additionally, we hope to investigate hearing loss early in life as a potential predictor of needing a BMT surgery. Fanconi anemia is a rare autosomal recessive disease that is the most common inherited bone marrow failure syndrome, characterized by bone marrow failure and multiple congenital anomalies, including hearing loss. This is the largest study to date reviewing types of hearing loss in patients with Fanconi anemia, specifically in those who have undergone BMTs. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with Fanconi anemia at a single institution, tertiary, referral-based children's hospital with a bone marrow transplant team specializing in Fanconi anemia was conducted from 4/19/1976 to 10/19/2015. History, physical examination, audiometry, and imaging findings were reviewed in patients with and without history of bone marrow transplant. Patient hearing levels, as measured by pure tone audiometry at 500 Hz, 1, 2, and 4 kHz, were evaluated. Patients were grouped by transplant status and results and were assessed to determine type and degree of hearing loss. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the likelihood of bone marrow transplant procedures in Fanconi anemia patients with normal and abnormal hearing. RESULTS: There were 252 patients with Fanconi anemia identified via diagnosis search in institutional electronic medical records using CPT codes and cross referencing with the Fanconi Anemia database, 58 of whom had available audiometric data. Of the 58 Fanconi anemia patients with available audiograms, 21 (36%) had abnormal audiograms; 37 patients had normal audiograms. Twenty out of 21 (95%) patients who had abnormal audiograms had undergone bone marrow transplants. Thirty-one of 37 (84%) patients with normal audiograms had received bone marrow transplants. Statistical analysis showed that patients with hearing loss were more likely to require a BMT in the future (OR = 3.87, p = 0.05). Of the patients with abnormal audiograms and a bone marrow transplant (n = 20), 14 (70%) had conductive hearing loss, 5 (25%) had mixed hearing loss, and 1 patient (5%) had sensorineural hearing loss. 13 of 20 patients (65%) had bilateral hearing loss and eight of 20 (40%) had unilateral hearing loss. Of those patients with conductive hearing loss (n = 15), the most common etiologies were Eustachian tube dysfunction (47%), external auditory canal stenosis (33%), and abnormal middle ear anatomy (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss is a common finding in Fanconi anemia patients who have undergone BMTs with conductive hearing loss being the most common audiologic manifestation in our cohort of patients. This demonstrates the necessity of frequent hearing screenings in this population and close collaboration with audiology throughout patient care. Our study indicates that hearing status early in life may be a predictor of needing a bone marrow transplant in the future. Further studies should explore the long-term impact of BMT surgery on hearing status.

Joint Corticosteroid Injection Associated With Increased Influenza Risk.

Aging and immunocompromising conditions or medications may reduce influenza vaccine effectiveness. The high-dose vaccine has been used to improve vaccine response in patients 65 years and older. Because of systemic immunosuppressive effects, oral corticosteroids may reduce vaccine effectiveness; however, despite over half a century of use, no data are available regarding the effect of joint and bursa corticosteroid injection on influenza vaccine effectiveness. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether joint corticosteroid injection was associated with reduced influenza vaccine effectiveness. During the 5 influenza seasons between August 1, 2012, and March 31, 2017, a total of 15,068 major joint corticosteroid injections were given to patients residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Vaccinated patients receiving a major joint corticosteroid injection (n=4804) were at increased risk (relative risk, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.20-1.93) for developing influenza compared with vaccinated control patients. Women younger than 65 years were at the highest risk, suggesting that perhaps the high-dose vaccine should be considered for this group to enhance protection when possible.