Experience of French patients with olfactory disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the experience of subjects with olfactory disorders in their daily life and medical management, and their expectations and proposals for improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over the period January 2020 to December 2021, with 300 subjects with olfactory disorders: 222 female, 78 male; mean age 46±15 years. In total, 126 were patients consulting in ENT, and 174 were members of the Anosmie.org patients' association. Participants filled out a questionnaire; free texts were analyzed thematically and coded for various qualitative variables. RESULTS: Olfactory disorders considerably impacted health, safety and quality of life. Non-COVID-19 acute etiologies (non-COVID-19 viral infection, cranial trauma) showed particularly high risk of psychological, social, safety-related and nutritional consequences. Almost all patients (94%) were dissatisfied with their medical management: 28% had received little explanation, and 23% felt their dysosmia was completely neglected, with no exploration and no etiology suggested. Patients wished above all to have follow-up and accompaniment. CONCLUSION: Despite significant impact on health and quality of life, olfactory disorders are neglected by the medical community. Patients should be given an ENT assessment with olfactometry, to establish diagnosis and prognosis. Global multidisciplinary management is necessary, including therapeutic education, and psychological, social and nutritional follow-up.

Critical review of diagnosis in rhinology and its therapeutical implications.

Diagnosis in rhinology is currently based on the concept of inflammation (chronic rhinosinusitis [CRS]) or the clinical concept of chronic nasal dysfunction (CND). The complementarity between these two approaches can be discussed by a critical review of the literature structured by the analysis of the fundamental and diagnostic bases and the therapeutic implications linked to each. The concept of CRS is based on the anatomical continuity of the nasal and sinus respiratory mucosa and molecular biology data, seeking to analyze the mechanisms of chronic inflammation and to identify proteins and biomarkers involved in the different supposed endotypes of chronic inflammation of this mucosa. The concept of CND seeks to analyze medical, instrumental or surgical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, taking account of both inflammatory and non-inflammatory causes impacting the anatomy or physiology of each of the three noses (olfactory, respiratory and sinus) that make up the mid-face sinonasal organ of evolution-development (Evo-Devo) theory. Thus, the concept of CRS offers an endotypic approach, based on biological characterization of mucosal inflammation, while the concept of CND offers a compartmentalized phenotypic and pathophysiological approach to sinonasal diseases. The joint contribution of these two concepts in characterizing nasal functional pathology could in future improve the medical service provided to patients.

Minimal clinically important differences on the DyNaChron questionnaire after surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To determine minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for the DyNaChron chronic rhinosinusitis quality-of-life questionnaire. INTRODUCTION: MCIDs are the smallest changes in a quality-of-life score that are of clinical relevance for the patient. They allow treatment benefit to be estimated. MCIDs have not previously been determined for DyNaChron. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective study analyzed DyNaChron questionnaires filled out between June 2016 and December 2021 by all patients consulting for chronic nasal dysfunction. Five hundred and thirteen of the 2390 patients were operated on for nasal polyposis (NP; n=282) or septo(rhino)plasty+inferior turbinoplasty (SPIT; n=231). Standard error of measurement was used to determine MCIDs. RESULTS: MCID for DyNaChron global score was 60 in NP and 58 in SPIT. MCIDs per symptom domain in NP and SPIT respectively were: 15 and 13 for nasal obstruction, 21 and 21 for anterior rhinorrhea, 20 and 19 for posterior rhinorrhea, and 17 and 17 for olfaction. In agreement with global MCID, 257 NPs (91%) and 149 SPITs (65%) showed clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: MCID helps assess response to treatment. In the DyNaChron questionnaire, MCIDs enable global and symptom-specific assessment of chronic nasal dysfunction and its impact on quality of life in a single patient or in groups.

Maxillary ostium preservation in ethmoidectomy.

The paranasal sinuses play a role in producing and storing nitric oxide (NO). NO is a powerful antiviral and antibacterial gas which may be involved in the non-specific immune defenses of the respiratory tract. Conducted by the inspiratory current at the alveolar-capillary membrane, it increases pulmonary venous blood oxygenation. NO is actively released in the form of independent boluses in the respiratory tract, thanks to a sphincter function that can be identified during ethmoidectomy under general anesthesia. Safeguarding paranasal sinus physiology necessarily involves conserving this ostial sphincter function, which is essential to the respiratory role of the paranasal sinuses. Although it has not yet been demonstrated that the destruction of this ostial function has measurable consequences for respiratory function, it makes sense to avoid systematic antrostomy and to preserve this ostial function whenever possible, depending on the clinical conditions. This technical note describes step-by-step how to conserve the maxillary ostium, in the example of radical ethmoidectomy with mucosal ablation for nasal polyposis (nasalization). It is illustrated by two videos. The discussion focuses on the respective indications for ostial preservation and middle meatotomy (antrostomy).

Urban-rural disparities in acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination among women in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Background: In Vietnam, cervical cancer is a significant public health concern for women. Unfortunately, despite the availability of the HPV vaccine, low vaccination rates persist. Objectives: This study investigates the discrepancy between urban and rural areas in the willingness to receive HPV vaccination with or without fees. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 648 women aged between 15 and 49, living in two urban and two rural Vietnamese districts of Can Tho, between May and December 2021. Results: The overall vaccination rate was 4%, with urban women having a higher rate of 4.9% compared to rural women at 3.1%. Among unvaccinated women, those from rural areas expressed a significantly higher desire to receive the free vaccine (91.4%) than urban women (84.4%). However, the intention to vaccinate declined when rural women and urban women were advised to pay the cost (63.4% and 57.1%, respectively). A strong correlation was found between a positive attitude and intention for vaccination, irrespective of its price or free availability. Education and access to information about the HPV vaccine were also identified as the most significant factors influencing the intention to vaccination among urban and rural women. Conclusion: The low HPV vaccination rates among women aged 15-49 living in both urban and rural regions of Vietnam are a notable public health concern. These outcomes emphasize the critical need for effective programs of vaccine laterization, as an introduction to the offer of affordable and accessible HPV vaccines for women in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Bioconjugation of COL1 protein on liquid-like solid surfaces to study tumor invasion dynamics.

Tumor invasion is likely driven by the product of intrinsic and extrinsic stresses, reduced intercellular adhesion, and reciprocal interactions between the cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is a dynamic material system that is continuously evolving with the tumor microenvironment. Although it is widely reported that cancer cells degrade the ECM to create paths for migration using membrane-bound and soluble enzymes, other nonenzymatic mechanisms of invasion are less studied and not clearly understood. To explore tumor invasion that is independent of enzymatic degradation, we have created an open three-dimensional (3D) microchannel network using a novel bioconjugated liquid-like solid (LLS) medium to mimic both the tortuosity and the permeability of a loose capillary-like network. The LLS is made from an ensemble of soft granular microgels, which provides an accessible platform to investigate the 3D invasion of glioblastoma (GBM) tumor spheroids using in situ scanning confocal microscopy. The surface conjugation of the LLS microgels with type 1 collagen (COL1-LLS) enables cell adhesion and migration. In this model, invasive fronts of the GBM microtumor protruded into the proximal interstitial space and may have locally reorganized the surrounding COL1-LLS. Characterization of the invasive paths revealed a super-diffusive behavior of these fronts. Numerical simulations suggest that the interstitial space guided tumor invasion by restricting available paths, and this physical restriction is responsible for the super-diffusive behavior. This study also presents evidence that cancer cells utilize anchorage-dependent migration to explore their surroundings, and geometrical cues guide 3D tumor invasion along the accessible paths independent of proteolytic ability.

[Screening and prevention of toxic optic neuropathies due to anti-mycobacterium therapies: proposal of recommendations]. / Dépistage et prévention des neuropathies optiques toxiques aux anti-mycobactériens : proposition de recommandations.

While treatment of pulmonary infections by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is currently only rarely the cause of iatrogenic complications, treatment of atypical mycobacterial infections often requires prolonged treatment duration, which can lead to toxic optic neuropathies. This review summarizes the indications for such prolonged treatment and risk factors for toxic optic neuropathies when using ethambutol, isoniazid and/or linezolid and proposes customized screening recommendations.

Chronic respiratory rhinitis: Toward endoscopic diagnosis of nasal allergy? An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to assess the functional, endoscopic and tomodensitometric semiology of a cohort of patients with chronic respiratory rhinitis (CRR). The concept of CRR is based on the anatomical, pathophysiological and semiological individualization of the respiratory nose within the sinonasal organ, in which three noses are distinguished by the parallel study of evolution and development in the "evo-devo" theory of the origins of the nose, anterior base of the skull and middle third of the face. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A single-center retrospective study included a cohort of 28 patients (16 men and 12 women, aged 19 to 69years) with CRR. The main objective was to describe symptoms clinically, endoscopically and on CT. The secondary objective was to compare clinical symptomatology and CT data between CRR and a control group of 31 patients with nasal polyposis (NP). The endoscopic semiology of CRR was analyzed consensually on video recordings using a pre-established grid. The DyNaChron self-administered questionnaire was used to compare symptom intensity and deterioration in quality of life. Olfaction was compared using the Sniffin' Sticks test. CT opacities were compared between CRR and NP on Lund-Mackay sinus score and a specific ethmoid opacities score. RESULTS: In CRR, endoscopy found a constant association of inflammatory or edematous signs in the inferior or middle turbinates with signs of hypersecretion. Ethmoid opacities in CRR were discrete and significantly smaller than in NP (P<0.0001), and were mainly located in the medial compartment in contact with the olfactory cleft (P<0.0001). Allergological assessment was positive in 17 of the 28 cases of CRR. Chronic nasal dysfunction was similar in CRR and NP, but olfactory impairment was significantly lower in CRR (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The CRR entity clinically resembles atopic central compartment disease. In both entities, endoscopy reveals inflammatory lesions restricted to the nasal cavities without significant ethmoid opacity on CT, an observation which seems to contradict the pathophysiological united airway concept.

Perceptions and behaviors of learner engagement with virtual educational platforms.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased utilization of educational technology for surgical education. Our aim was to determine attitudes and behaviors of surgical education champions towards virtual educational platforms and learner engagement. METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to all Association of Surgical Education members addressing i) methods of engagement in virtual learning ii) ways to improve engagement and iii) what influences engagement. Stratified analysis was used to evaluate differences in responses by age, gender, level of training and specialty. RESULTS: 154 ASE members completed the survey (13% response rate). 88% respondents accessed virtual learning events at home. Most (87%) had joined a virtual learning event and then participated in another activity. 1 in 5 who did this did so "always" or "often". Female respondents were more likely than males to join audio and then participate in another activity (62.3% v 37.7%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual platforms do not automatically translate into increased learner engagement. Careful design of educational strategies is essential to increase and maintain learner engagement when utilizing virtual surgical education.

Assessing learner engagement with virtual educational events: Development of the Virtual In-Class Engagement Measure (VIEM).

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated virtual education, but effects on learner engagement are unknown. We developed a virtual in-class engagement measure (VIEM) to assess learner engagement in online surgical education events. METHODS: Using the STROBE, an observer collected tool to document student engagement, as a template an ASE committee workgroup developed the VIEM. The VIEM had two parts: observer assessment and learner self-assessment of engagement. Trained observers collected engagement data from two institutions using the VIEM. Surgical attendings, fellows and residents were observed during virtual learning events. Educator attitudes towards online teaching were also assessed via survey. RESULTS: 22 events with 839 learners were observed. VIEM distinguished between sessions with low and high engagement. 20% of learners pretended to participate. Half of instructors were comfortable with virtual teaching, but only 1/3 believed was as effective as in-person. 2/3 of teachers believed video learners were more engaged than audio learners. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual platforms do not automatically translate into increased engagement. Standard tools such as VIEM may help with assessment of engagement during virtual education.

Visual field defects due to optic nerve drusen in Afro-Caribbean patients: A case series of 16 eyes.

INTRODUCTION: Optic Nerve Head Drusen (ONHD) are very rare among black patients but may cause more severe visual defects in these patients. The goal of our study was to describe the frequency of visual field defects secondary to OND in Afro-Caribbean patients and study the characteristics of their physical examination, color vision and contrast sensitivity. METHODS: We carried out a prospective study at the Martinique university medical center on patients of African descent with ONHD diagnosed on fundus examination and B-scan ultrasonography. All patients received a complete neuro-ophthalmological examination. The primary study endpoint was the frequency of visual field defects. Secondary study endpoints were the results of ETDRS visual acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity chart, and 15 hue color vision test. RESULTS: Sixteen eyes of 10 patients from 11 to 68 years of age were included. Forteen eyes (87%) had exposed ONHD. Eleven eyes (69%) showed a visual field defect: 9 eyes (69%) had an enlarged blind spot, and 9 eyes (69%) had an arcuate scotoma. 3 eyes (19%) had loss of ETDRS visual acuity, and 12 eyes (75%) showed loss of Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity. Five eyes (31%) had an abnormal color vision test. CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest case series of ONHD in Black patients. The frequency of visual field defects was high but comparable to that of studies in other ethnic groups. Larger comparative studies are necessary to confirm these results.

Septorhinoplasty by disarticulation.

Septorhinoplasty by disarticulation is an esthetic and functional solution for naturally occuring nasal pyramid dysmorphia, releasing the anatomic traces of growth-related stresses. Disarticulating the septolateral cartilage from its bony framework via a closed approach to the septal pocket is associated to Rethi's external approach in order to disarticulate the fibrocartilaginous nasal dorsum, while conserving its integrity, under the bony dorsum. The bony pyramid is then disarticulated down to the nasion, after resecting any bone hump, by 2 paramedian and 2 low lateral osteotomies in the basal groove. The lateral sides of the bony pyramid are then fractured at their posterior edges by percutaneous pinching to close the open roof and realign them along the midline. The septolateral cartilage, reduced as necessary at the inferior and anterior edges, is thereafter repositioned on the premaxillary bone. Traction on its anterior edge restores rectilinear frontal and lateral tension in the fibrocartilaginous dorsum, fully conserved from its attachment to the nasion. This technique corrects any septal deformity and restores frontal and lateral dorsum straightness.

The relationship between spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Surgical treatment of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is now performed by ENT surgeons, endonasal endoscopy being preferred to craniotomy as less invasive. However, it is often the symptom of underlying idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which lies outside the traditional sphere of ENT competence. Surgery is a necessary step, but should not obscure the need to treat the underlying pathology. This treatment is complex, and requires multidisciplinary team-work between otorhinolaryngologist, ophthalmologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, dietician, endocrinologist and psychotherapist. The present update details this multidisciplinary management to which the ENT surgeons must be attentive before and after spontaneous CSF leak repair.

Simulation-based training in endoscopic endonasal surgery: Assessment of the cyrano simulator.

PURPOSE: Endoscopic endonasal surgery requires many skills: a learning program was developed with progressive steps, on a surgical simulator (Cyrano) designed to train junior surgeons in the acquisition of basic endoscopic surgery skills and to assess their progress. The main objective of this study was to establish the construct validity of these exercises and to refine objective criteria to establish students' level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty volunteers with varying experience in endoscopic endonasal surgery were blindly evaluated on 4 modules according to objective and subjective criteria. RESULTS: Ten beginner, 11 intermediate and 9 expert level participants were included. For each exercise, at least one criterion was discriminant for level of expertise. Weighted scores succeeded in discriminating groups. Interpretation of a single criterion must remain cautious and evaluation should rather rely on composite scores, which better reflect the participants' level. Useful criteria and their reference values are specific of each exercise. Face and content validity were rated at 3.92/5 and 4.59/5 respectively (5-level Likert scale). CONCLUSION: The construct/face/content validity of the proposed modules have been verified. Most of the modules tested here were physically not realistic, but they were all rated as highly relevant for surgical training by the participants.

Therapeutics potentiating microglial p21-Nrf2 axis can rescue neurodegeneration caused by neuroinflammation.

Neurodegenerative disorders are caused by progressive neuronal loss, and there is no complete treatment available yet. Neuroinflammation is a common feature across neurodegenerative disorders and implicated in the progression of neurodegeneration. Dysregulated activation of microglia causes neuroinflammation and has been highlighted as a treatment target in therapeutic strategies. Here, we identified novel therapeutic candidate ALGERNON2 (altered generation of neurons 2) and demonstrate that ALGERNON2 suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines and rescued neurodegeneration in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease model. ALGERNON2 stabilized cyclinD1/p21 complex, leading to up-regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which contributes to antioxidative and anti-inflammatory responses. Notably, ALGERNON2 enhanced neuronal survival in other neuroinflammatory conditions such as the transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons into murine brains. In conclusion, we present that the microglial potentiation of the p21-Nrf2 pathway can contribute to neuronal survival and provide novel therapeutic potential for neuroinflammation-triggered neurodegeneration.

Septoplasty by disarticulation.

The difficulty of correcting nasal septum deformities using the classical Killian or Cottle techniques or derivatives has led in recent years to new suggestions such as extracorporeal septoplasty or various apposition grafts to counteract refractory deformity of the quadrangular cartilage. Naturally occurring septal deformities result from conflicts in growth between the quadrangular cartilage, perpendicular ethmoidal plate and vomer, which each have their own different evo-devo origin. Septoplasty by disarticulation consistently restores a level septum by completely resolving the growth conflicts. Conserving the quadrangular cartilage is essential for the stability of the nasal pyramid on condition that 1) the lateral flare of the superior edge of both the component septolateral cartilages that suspend it at the roof of the piriform orifice and 2) the height of its anterior edge are respected. The anterior edge is always high enough (except in case of fracture or malformation to project the retrolobular nasal dorsum in proportion to the height of the alar cartilage when it is repositioned on its natural premaxillary base.

Principal Component Regression on Motor Evoked Potential in Single-Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are commonly characterized only by their onset (latency) and size (amplitude) whereas other potentially important information in the MEPs is discarded. Hence, our aim was to examine the morphological information of MEPs using principal component regression (PCR) providing additional perception of MEPs. MEPs were recorded from the first dorsal interosseous muscle following navigated TMS focused at the primary motor cortex. The PCR holding of at least 96% of total variance of the MEP dataset was performed to parameterize MEPs into principal components (PCs), which were used with non-linear least square estimation to reconstruct original MEPs. The comparison between the original and reconstructed MEPs showed that PCs, which accounted for 96% of total variance, were able to characterize the MEP morphology, i.e., the PCR summarizes the repeated information in the MEP dataset into the PC set. In addition, PCR benefited the automated quantification of MEP features as it removed the random noise caused by the environmental interference and the inconsistency of neuronal pathways. Furthermore, we could determine the minimum number of trials required to reliably represent the whole dataset by estimating the partial information of those trials accounted for. Our results showed that this partial information exponentially increased with respect to the number of trials, and saturated within 20 MEPs holding approximately 90% of total variance of the dataset.

[Ocular manifestations in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes: Clinical study of 21 patients]. / Manifestations ophtalmologiques des syndromes d'Ehlers­Danlos : à propos d'une cohorte de 21 patients.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study was to describe and analyze the ophthalmological manifestations found in 21 patients followed for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in our department. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 21 consecutive patients (17 women and 4 men) with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome seen in the Necker hospital, Paris, between April 2016 and November 2017. The mean age was 25.95 years (12-47). A complete evaluation was performed searching for symptoms, orthoptic evaluation and complete ophthalmologic examination with slit lamp examination of the anterior segment, pachymetry and fundus examination with fundus photography and OCT. RESULTS: Nineteen patients presented ophthalmological signs (90.5%). The most frequent ophthalmological signs were: ocular motility disorders in 15 patients (71.4%), with convergence insufficiency in 13 of them, blue sclera in 8 patients (38%) and dry eye syndrome in 7 patients (33%, with 2 patients with reduced Break-Up Time<10seconds and 5 with very reduced Break-Up Time<5seconds). Mean pachymetry was 539.25µm (365-612). One patient presented with bilateral keratoglobus (4.8%). High myopia was present in 2 patients (9.5%) and associated with retinal tears in one patient (4.8%). No patients presented with angioid streaks. DISCUSSION: In this study, the main ophthalmological sign was convergence insufficiency present in more than 60% of the patients. This highlights the importance of an orthoptic examination in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Dry eye syndrome with tear film instability was frequent, even though the patients were young. Blue sclera was seen in 38% of the patients. We reported two patients with high myopia and one patient with keratoglobus in our cohort. No patients presented with angioid streaks, and mean pachymetry was normal in our series. CONCLUSION: An ophthalmological and orthoptic evaluation should be performed in all patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome to detect and treat ocular manifestations. If Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is suspected, ophthalmological examination can also provide support for the diagnosis.

Pediatric endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and operative standardization.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to confirm that the standardized endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) technique routinely performed in adults can be used in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of children undergoing endonasal DCR between 2003 and 2017 was analysed. The surgical procedure consisted of: preoperative CT scan, anatomical localization of the ideal surgical zone, access to the nasal cavity via an optional planned enlargement, creation of a mucoperiosteal flap, osteotomy with rongeurs and equatorial resection of the medial wall of the lacrimal sac. This pediatric series was compared to a series of adult patients operated according to the same standardized technique. RESULTS: A total of 20 DCRs (17 patients, with a mean age of 8 years (range: 4-16)) were included. Anatomical localization was effective in 100% of cases without the need for transillumination. With a mean follow-up of 4 years, the success rate was 95%, and no major complications were observed. Comparison with the same surgical technique in adults revealed similar results. DISCUSSION: Our experience suggests that standardized endonasal DCR can be adapted to the nasal cavities of children. Anatomical localization is effective. The physiologically narrow nasal cavity does not constitute a major obstacle with the use of slightly smaller instruments. The results and complications are similar to those observed in adults. CONCLUSION: The same standardized endoscopic endonasal DCR surgical technique can be used in adults and children with a similar good success rate.