Outcomes of Free Flap Transfer in Facial Reanimation: A Review.

Free functional muscle transfer is is an option for reanimating the face in chronic facial nerve paralysis. The optimal outcome in these patients is the ability to restore a spontaneous smile in response to emotion. We discuss the role of free functional muscle transfer in facial paralysis treatment, the choices of nerve used in reconstruction surgery, and the application of different types of muscle flaps in facial reanimation. In this paper, we review the relevant and up-to-date academic literature regarding the outcomes of free functional muscle flap transfer in facial paralysis patients.

Psychological Aspects of Facial Palsy.

This article discusses the psychological effects of facial palsy (FP) in adults. FP is the abnormal functioning of facial muscles resulting from temporary or permanent damage of the facial nerves. Following facial paralysis, patients can develop motor and psychosocial functioning issues impacting quality of life. In addition, real or perceived judgment in social settings of those with FP increases the risk of low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Currently, most available research focuses on surgical patients and suggests a lack of psychological support throughout the affliction. A multidisciplinary approach when treating patients with FP can help improve the patient's quality of life.

Bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited articles in breast radiology.

Objective: Bibliometrics analysis is a widely used approach that enables influential research within specific fields to be identifiedTo identify the 100 most-cited articles in breast radiology and analyse the trend in breast imaging research. Methods and materials: A systematic search was conducted using the Thomson Rheuters Web of Science database. The results were ranked according to citation count and screened to create a single database. Data including first author, year of publication, journal, country of origin, primary institution, number of citations and average number of citations per year were extracted, as well as the impact factor and the 5-year impact factor of journals publishing the articles. Results: The systematic search yielded a total of 114,426 articles, after filters were applied to include papers that were available in English only. Citations for the 100 most-cited articles ranged from 515 to 3660. Half of the articles on the list were published between 2001 and 2010. Radiology has the most number of publications (n = 17), followed by JAMA-Journal of The American Medical Association (n = 9). CA-A Cancer Journal For Clinicians had the highest impact factor of 286.13. Mammogram (n = 49) was the most commonly studied modality, followed by Magnetic Resonance (n = 26). The most common topic of publication was diagnosis (n = 83). Conclusion: This research serves as a guide to the most influential articles on the topic of breast radiology.

Is Disrupted Mitophagy a Central Player to Parkinson's Disease Pathology?

Whilst the pathophysiology at a cellular level has been defined, the cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains poorly understood. This neurodegenerative disorder is associated with impaired dopamine transmission in the substantia nigra, and protein accumulations known as Lewy bodies are visible in affected neurons. Cell culture models of PD have indicated impaired mitochondrial function, so the focus of this paper is on the quality control processes involved in and around mitochondria. Mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) is the process through which defective mitochondria are removed from the cell by internalisation into autophagosomes which fuse with a lysosome. This process involves many proteins, notably including PINK1 and parkin, both of which are known to be coded on genes associated with PD. Normally in healthy individuals, PINK1 associates with the outer mitochondrial membrane, which then recruits parkin, activating it to attach ubiquitin proteins to the mitochondrial membrane. PINK1, parkin, and ubiquitin cooperate to form a positive feedback system which accelerates the deposition of ubiquitin on dysfunctional mitochondria, resulting in mitophagy. However, in hereditary PD, the genes encoding PINK1 and parkin are mutated, resulting in proteins that are less efficient at removing poorly performing mitochondria, leaving cells more vulnerable to oxidative stress and ubiquitinated inclusion bodies, such as Lewy bodies. Current research that looks into the connection between mitophagy and PD is promising, already yielding potentially therapeutic compounds; until now, pharmacological support for the mitophagy process has not been part of the therapeutic arsenal. Continued research in this area is warranted.

The Readability and Quality of Web-Based Patient Information on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Quantitative Content Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare disease that is strongly associated with exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus and is characterized by the formation of malignant cells in nasopharynx tissues. Early diagnosis of NPC is often difficult owing to the location of initial tumor sites and the nonspecificity of initial symptoms, resulting in a higher frequency of advanced-stage diagnoses and a poorer prognosis. Access to high-quality, readable information could improve the early detection of the disease and provide support to patients during disease management. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the quality and readability of publicly available web-based information in the English language about NPC, using the most popular search engines. METHODS: Key terms relevant to NPC were searched across 3 of the most popular internet search engines: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The top 25 results from each search engine were included in the analysis. Websites that contained text written in languages other than English, required paywall access, targeted medical professionals, or included nontext content were excluded. Readability for each website was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease score and the Flesch-Kincaid grade level. Website quality was assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and DISCERN tools as well as the presence of a Health on the Net Foundation seal. RESULTS: Overall, 57 suitable websites were included in this study; 26% (15/57) of the websites were academic. The mean JAMA and DISCERN scores of all websites were 2.80 (IQR 3) and 57.60 (IQR 19), respectively, with a median of 3 (IQR 2-4) and 61 (IQR 49-68), respectively. Health care industry websites (n=3) had the highest mean JAMA score of 4 (SD 0). Academic websites (15/57, 26%) had the highest mean DISCERN score of 77.5. The Health on the Net Foundation seal was present on only 1 website, which also achieved a JAMA score of 3 and a DISCERN score of 50. Significant differences were observed between the JAMA score of hospital websites and the scores of industry websites (P=.04), news service websites (P<.048), charity and nongovernmental organization websites (P=.03). Despite being a vital source for patients, general practitioner websites were found to have significantly lower JAMA scores compared with charity websites (P=.05). The overall mean readability scores reflected an average reading age of 14.3 (SD 1.1) years. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest an inconsistent and suboptimal quality of information related to NPC on the internet. On average, websites presented readability challenges, as written information about NPC was above the recommended reading level of sixth grade. As such, web-based information requires improvement in both quality and accessibility, and healthcare providers should be selective about information recommended to patients, ensuring they are reliable and readable.

The 100 Most-Cited Manuscripts in Hearing Implants: A Bibliometrics Analysis.

The aim of the study was to characterise the most frequently cited articles on the topic of hearing implants. A systematic search was carried out using the Thomson Reuters Web of Science Core Collection database. Eligibility criteria restricted the results to primary studies and reviews published from 1970 to 2022 in English dealing primarily with hearing implants. Data including the authors, year of publication, journal, country of origin, number of citations and average number of citations per year were extracted, as well as the impact factors and five-year impact factor of journals publishing the articles. The top 100 papers were published across 23 journals and were cited 23,139 times. The most-cited and influential article describes the first use of the continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) strategy utilised in all modern cochlear implants. More than half of the studies on the list were produced by authors from the United States, and the Ear and Hearing journal had both the greatest number of articles and the greatest number of total citations. To conclude, this research serves as a guide to the most influential articles on the topic of hearing implants, although bibliometric analyses mainly focus on citations. The most-cited article was an influential description of CIS.

Mirabegron in Overactive Bladder and Its Role in Exit Strategy After Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Children.

PURPOSE: Mirabegron is a recent addition to the management options of overactive bladder (OAB) in children. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the role of Mirabegron in the treatment algorithm of therapy-resistant OAB especially after botulinum toxin. METHODS: Case notes of all children receiving Mirabegron between July 2017 and February 2020 were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty one children (21 females, 20 males), mean age 12.6 [8-17] years old, commenced Mirabegron: 35 idiopathic OAB, 6 neuropathic OAB. The mean duration of treatment was 20.7 [3-45] months. In total 24 (59%) had Mirabegron after partial/no response to anticholinergics, and 17 (41%) patients had Mirabegron subsequent to botulinum toxin A (BtA) as an exit strategy. In total 35 (85%) patients had combination therapy (Mirabegron and anticholinergics), and 6 (15%) patients had Mirabegron only. Fourteen (34%) had complete response, 17 (41%) had partial response, and 10 (24%) had no response. Side effects were reported in 7 (17%) patients with discontinuation necessitated in 3. CONCLUSION: Mirabegron when used alone or in combination with anticholinergics resulted in complete/partial response in 76% of anticholinergic therapy-resistant OAB. In addition to being an important step in treatment escalation after no/partial response to anticholinergics, it has a crucial role in the exit strategy for recurring symptoms after BtA wears off.