Sound Induced Vibrations Deform the Organ of Corti Complex in the Low-Frequency Apical Region of the Gerbil Cochlea for Normal Hearing

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Sound Induced Vibrations Deform the Organ of Corti Complex in the Low-Frequency Apical Region of the Gerbil Cochlea for Normal Hearing via JARO - Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology via MedWorm.com AbstractHuman speech primarily contains low frequencies. It is well established that such frequencies maximally excite the cochlea near its apex. But, the micromechanics that precede and are involved in this transduction are not well understood. We measured vibrations from the low-frequency, second turn in intact gerbil cochleae using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The data were used to create spatial maps that detail the sound-evoked motions across the sensory organ of Corti complex (OCC). These maps were remarkably similar across animals and showed little variation with frequency or level. We identify four, anatomically distinct, response regions within the OCC: the basilar membrane (BM), the outer hair cells (OHC), the lateral compartment (lc), and the tectorial membrane (TM). Resu... View on Web

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Characterizing the Relationship Between Reflection and Distortion Otoacoustic Emissions in Normal-Hearing Adults

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Characterizing the Relationship Between Reflection and Distortion Otoacoustic Emissions in Normal-Hearing Adults via JARO - Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology via MedWorm.com AbstractOtoacoustic emissions (OAEs) arise from one (or a combination) of two basic generation mechanisms in the cochlea: nonlinear distortion and linear reflection. As a result of having distinct generation processes, these two classes of emissions may provide non-redundant information about hair-cell integrity and show distinct sensitivities to cochlear pathology. Here, we characterize the relationship between reflection and distortion emissions in normal hearers across a broad frequency and stimulus-level space using novel analysis techniques. Furthermore, we illustrate the promise of this approach in a small group of individuals with mild-moderate hearing loss. A "joint-OAE profile" was created by measuring interleaved swept-tone stimulus-frequency OAEs (SFOAEs) and 2f1-f2 distorti... View on Web

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Present and future avenues of cell‐based therapy for brain injury: The enteric nervous system as a potential cell source

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Present and future avenues of cell‐based therapy for brain injury: The enteric nervous system as a potential cell source via Brain Pathology Abstract Cell therapy is a promising strategy in the field of regenerative medicine; however, several concerns limit the effective clinical use, namely a valid cell source. The gastrointestinal tract, which contains a highly organized network of nerves called the enteric nervous system (ENS), is a valuable reservoir of nerve cells. Together with neurons and neuronal precursor cells, it contains glial cells with a well described neurotrophic potential and a newly identified neurogenic one. Recently, enteric glia is looked at as a candidate for cell therapy in intestinal neuropathies. Here, we present the therapeutic potential of the ENS as cell source for brain repair, too. The example of stroke is introduced as a brain injury where cell therapy appears promising. This disease is the first cause of handicap in adults. The therapies developed in recent years allow a partial response to the consequences of the disease. The only prospect of recovery in the chronic phase is currently based on r ehabilitation. The urgency to offer other treatments is therefore tangible. In the first part of the review, some elements of stroke pathophysiology are presented. An update on the available therapeutic strategies is provided, focusing on cell- and biomaterial-based approaches. Following, the ENS is presented with its anatomical and functional characteristics, focusing on glial cells. The properties of these cells are depicted, with particular attention to their neurotrophic and, recently identified, neurogenic properties. Finally, preliminary data on a possible therapeutic approach combining ENS-derived cells and a biomaterial are presented. View on Web

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High Levels of C‐reactive protein‐to‐Albumin Ratio (CAR) Are Associated With a Poor Prognosis in Patients With Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in early stage

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader High Levels of C‐reactive protein‐to‐Albumin Ratio (CAR) Are Associated With a Poor Prognosis in Patients With Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in early stage via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Background C-reactive protein-to-Albumin Ratio (CAR) can be used to assess the prognosis of various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between CAR on the prognosis of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). Methods This study included 155 SFTS patients from the Public Health Clinical Center of Dalian from January to December 2021. They were divided into survival and deceased groups based on the clinical prognosis. The independent risk factors for poor prognosis of SFTS patients at an early stage were determined by Cox regression. The efficacy of CAR prediction was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Result A total of 155 patients were included in this study, with an average age of 61.98±11.70 years, including 77 males and 65 females. The mortality rate of the patients enrolled in this study was 14.19%. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that CAR (HR=2.585, 95% CI 1.405 -4.753, p=0.002) could be an independent predictor for prognosis in SFTS patients at an early stage. CAR had an AUC of 0.781 (95% CI, 0.665-0.898, p=0.000), a cut-off value of 0.57, a sensitivity of 0.77, and a specificity of 0.80, with better predictive efficacy, compared to Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR). Conclusion High levels of CAR are associated with poor prognosis in SFTS patients, and CAR can be used as an independent predictor for SFTS patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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Real‐life impact of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and entecavir therapy on lipid profile, glucose and uric acid in chronic hepatitis B patients

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Real‐life impact of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and entecavir therapy on lipid profile, glucose and uric acid in chronic hepatitis B patients via Journal of Medical Virology Abstract Background & Aims The impact of long-term nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment on host metabolism is a concern. Hence, we conducted this study to compare the effect of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) on metabolic parameters among CHB patients. Methods In this real-life retrospective study, 2,030 CHB outpatients treated with ETV or TDF at Nanfang Hospital, China, were included. For treatment-naïve patients, pretreatment and semiannual metabolic parameters were collected. For treatment-experienced patients, metabolic parameters were collected at the first visit. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the effects of potential confounding factors. Results Among 122 treatment-naïve patients and 1908 treatment-experienced patients, ETV-treated patients were older with a higher percentage of metabolic syndrome. After PSM, the characteristics were comparable between the two groups. For treatment-naïve patients, fou r lipid parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels showed a decreasing trend during the 42-month TDF treatment, while they remained relatively stable or increased during ETV treatment. At month 30, the levels of TC and LDL among TDF-treated patients were significantly lower than those among ETV-treated patients (TC: 4.7 vs. 3.9 mmol/L, p=0.004; LDL: 3.0 vs. 2.4 mmol/L, p=0.009). For treatment-experienced patients, we also observed lower levels of lipid parameters in patients with different durations of TDF treatment. The levels of glucose and uric acid were similar among ETV- and TDF-treated patients. Conclusion TDF has a lipid-lowering effect in CHB patients, which provides a basis for the selection of antiviral drugs for aging CHB patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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Longitudinal follow‐up of HPV16 sequence after cervical infection: low intra‐host variation and no correlation with clinical evolution

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Longitudinal follow‐up of HPV16 sequence after cervical infection: low intra‐host variation and no correlation with clinical evolution via Journal of Medical Virology ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 exhibits different variants that may differ in their carcinogenic risk. In order to identify some high-risk variants, we sequenced and compared HPV16 whole genomes obtained from a longitudinal cohort of 34 HPV16-infected women who had either spontaneously cleared their infection (clearance group or "C"), or developed cervical high-grade lesions following a viral persistence (group persistence or "P"). Phylogenetic analysis of paired samples obtained at the beginning (C0 or P0) and at the end (C2 or P2) of the follow-up (median intervals between C0-C2 and between P0-P2 were 16 and 36.5 months, respectively) revealed a low genetic variability within the host compared to the genetic inter-host diversity. By comparing our HPV16 sequences to a reference sequence, we observed 301 different substitutions, more often transitions (60.9%) than transversions (39.1%), that occurred throughout the viral genome, but with a low frequen cy in E6 and E7 oncogenes (10 and 9 substitutions), suggesting a high conservation of these genes. Deletions and insertions were mostly observed in intergenic regions of the virus. The only significant substitution found between the subgroups C2 and P2 was observed in the L2 gene (L330F), with an unclear biological relevance. Our results suggest a low longitudinal intra-host evolution of HPV16 sequences and no correlation between genetic variations and clinical evolution. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. View on Web

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Voice and communication after open partial horizontal laryngectomies: A cross‐sectional outcome study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Voice and communication after open partial horizontal laryngectomies: A cross‐sectional outcome study via Head & Neck Abstract Objective The present study evaluates voice and communication after open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs), according to surgery and patient-related variables. Methods Fifty-eight patients were included: 18 type I OPHL, 20 type II OPHL and 20 type III OPHL. Acoustic, aerodynamic, endoscopic, perceptual and self-assessment analyses were carried out. Surgery-related variables and patient-related variables were considered for the analysis. Results Type I OPHL revealed the best phonatory outcomes. Type II and type III OPHL showed similar and poor results, with a highly deteriorated voice quality. A significant difference in MTP was found for patients who had both arytenoids/cricoarytenoid units preserved. Age and time from surgery showed significant correlations with voice quality after OPHLs. Conclusions Voice and communication outcomes after OPHLs are heterogeneous and might be influenced by several factors. Knowing variables with a substantial impact on phonatory outcomes may help clinicians in the preoperative decision-making process and the postoperative rehabilitative program. View on Web

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Performance of the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System as applied by general neuroradiologists to predict recurrence of head and neck cancers

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Performance of the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System as applied by general neuroradiologists to predict recurrence of head and neck cancers via Head & Neck Abstract Background The Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS) is used to assess imaging after head and neck cancer treatment. We evaluated NI-RADS with general neuroradiologists rather than with head and neck subspecialists. Methods Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations with/without positron emission tomography from May 2018 to September 2020 were retrospectively identified. NI-RADS scores at the primary site and lymph nodes were provided by 21 neuroradiologists. Recurrence status was based on clinical and imaging findings. Area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess accuracy. Results We assessed 608 scans from 464 patients. For NI-RADS categories 1, 2, and 3, primary site recurrence rates were 5%, 29%, and 65% with AUC of 0.765, while lymph node recurrence rates were 3%, 10%, and 80% with AUC of 0.820. Conclusions NI-RADS as used by general neuroradiologists is effective in separating head and neck cancers into discrete categories for predicting recurrent disease. View on Web

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Deriving prognostic significance from a molecular subtype model of laryngeal carcinoma

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Deriving prognostic significance from a molecular subtype model of laryngeal carcinoma via Head & Neck Abstract Background This study explored whether laryngeal carcinoma could be divided into different subtypes based on molecular differences using a molecular subtype-prediction model. Methods We extracted data from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases and then performed unsupervised cluster analysis to identify discrete molecular subtypes of laryngeal carcinoma. Significance analysis of microarrays was performed to detect differentially expressed genes for each subtype, and gene set enrichment analysis and the GenCliP3 software were used to label gene functions and identify key pathways. Results We categorized 126 patients into C1 and C2 molecular subtypes associated with pathologic grade. The C2 subtype appeared more aggressive, with a worse prognosis. The most significant enrichment pathway of the C2 subtype was the Hedgehog pathway, and GLI1 was a core gene. Conclusions Laryngeal carcinoma can be divided into two subtypes based on differences in molecular expression, which could identify key molecules associated with prognosis. View on Web

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Influence of supplement administration of omega‐3 on the subcutaneous tissue response of endodontic sealers in Wistar Rats

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Influence of supplement administration of omega‐3 on the subcutaneous tissue response of endodontic sealers in Wistar Rats via International Endodontic Journal Abstract Aim Natural substances such as omega-3 have been used in the medical field due to their numerous properties and, in particular, modulating effect on the systemic and local inflammatory processes. Thus, this study evaluated the influence of omega-3 supplementation on the subcutaneous tissue response of endodontic sealers in Wistar Rats. Methodology Polyethylene tubes were implanted in the subcutaneous tissue of 48 animals (one empty for control and three filled with Sealapex, AH Plus or Endofill). The animals were treated with omega-3 (TO) or water (TW). Treatments started 15 days before implantation until euthanasia. After 5, 15 and 30 days (n=8), animals were euthanized and polyethylene tubes and surrounding tissue were removed and processed for histological analysis. The inflammatory reaction was analysed by Haematoxylin and Eosin stain and immunolabeling for IL-6 and TNF-α. The collagen maturity was analysed by picrosirius red stain and calcium deposition by von Kossa stain and polarized light. Results were statistically analysed (p<0.05). Results Among TW sealers groups, Endofill evoked a more intense inflammatory infiltrate compared with AH Plus and control in the 30-day period (p=0.009). However, in TO sealers groups, there was no difference among the sealers and control in all periods (p>0.05). Comparing each sealer as a function of the supplementation with water or omega-3, there are differences for Endofill (p=0.001) and Sealapex (p=0.005) in the 30-day period, presenting lower inflammatory infiltrate in the animals treated with omega 3. A higher percentage of immature fibres was observed at 15 and 30 days in the TO group, compared with TW group (p<0.05). The deposition of calcium particles was observed only by Sealapex in all periods, despite the supplementation procedure. Conclusions Omega-3 supplementation influence the tissue reactions of endodontic sealers, modulating inflammation, the immunolabeling of IL-6 and TNF-α, the repair process and it does not interfere with calcium deposition. View on Web

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