Eustachian tube dysfunction in professional navy divers workers.

Background: Eustachian tube represents the anterior part of the middle ear. Its role is to maintain the pressure balance between the external and middle ear, especially in some jobs such as divers.

Objectives: This clinical study aimed to evaluate Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction in a cohort of professional divers.

Airway Management in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comprehensive Review of Assessment Strategies, Techniques, and Technological Advances.

: Airway management in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presents unique challenges for anesthesiologists and other airway practitioners. This comprehensive review examines current evidence and clinical practices for managing difficult airways in this high-risk population. OSA is characterized by specific anatomical and physiological alterations that increase both the likelihood of encountering difficult intubation and the risk of rapid desaturation during airway manipulation.

The Global Burden of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

This study reviewed the global prevalence, health and socioeconomic impact, and management approaches of obstructive sleep apnea. The narrative review examined three key dimensions: (1) worldwide OSA prevalence across different regions, accounting for variations in diagnostic standards; (2) OSA's effects on health outcomes and socioeconomic conditions across diverse populations and healthcare systems; and (3) current global approaches to OSA diagnosis, treatment, and public health management. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, a large proportion of OSA cases remain undiagnosed or inadequately managed.

Exploring the Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Olfactory Function.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a chronic condition that is closely interrelated to olfactory disorders, with a significant contribution to quality of health and overall quality of life. This narrative review aims to provide a thorough overview of the emerging evidence that now integrates these two previously considered distinct physiologic systems. Studies published recently have reported a significantly higher frequency of olfactory dysfunction among OSA patients compared to the general population, which raises the possibility of a causal relationship.

The SAPIENS 3D-printed temporal bone model: a real tool for advanced otologic surgery education.

Objective: Our study focused on the development and evaluation of the SAPIENS (Specific Anatomical Printed-3D-model In Education and New Surgical Simulations) as a valid tool for otologic surgical education.

Methods: Twenty junior otolaryngologist surgeons in training were enrolled in the study. Each participant was invited to perform dissection of three different temporal bones.

The Impact of Diagnostic Imaging on Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Feedback from a Narrative Review.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep and associated comorbidities. Effective, traditional diagnostic methods, such as polysomnography, have limitations in providing comprehensive anatomical detail. Recent advancements in imaging technology have the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of OSA, offering detailed insights into airway anatomy, function, and dynamics.

Impact of Nasal Anatomical Variation Subtype on Surgical Outcomes for Rhinogenic Contact Point Headache.

Rhinogenic contact point headache (RCPH) is a controversial secondary headache disorder involving mucosal contact points in the nasal sinuses. The efficacy of surgical versus medical management has been debated, with some studies showing excellent long-term outcomes but others citing placebo effects. This study aimed to clarify the correlation with nasal anatomical variation detected by CT and RCPH treatment outcomes.

Coblator Assisted-Barbed Relocation Pharyngoplasty (Co-BRP) in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Surgical Treatment.

Barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) is a new technique to manage velo-pharyngeal obstruction and collapse in OSA patients. Tonsillectomy is a preliminary step of BRP surgery. Dissection of the PPM with monopolar or hot instruments is an essential step of the BRP technique.

Factors influencing audiologic outcomes in ossiculoplasty for chronic otitis media: a prospective multicentre study.

Objectives: Chronic otitis media (COM) is a prevalent condition affecting auditory function. Ossiculoplasty is a known treatment strategy, but its effectiveness concerning the presence of cholesteatoma has not been extensively studied.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre study involving 153 patients diagnosed with COM without cholesteatoma (ncCOM) and with cholesteatoma (cCOM).

Endoscopic versus microscopic approach in the treatment of atelectatic otitis media.

Background: endoscopic ear surgery in patients Chronic Otitis Media(COM) media with eardrum atelectasis.

Objective: to compare the postoperative outcomes and audiological results of the endoscopic approach versus the microscopic approach for treatment of COM media with eardrum atelectasis, using a randomized prospective model.

Methods: Sixty patients were consecutively enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups: Group A 32 patients underwent canal wall up tympanoplasty (CWA); Group B 28 patients underwent tympanoplasty with an exclusive trans-meatal endoscopic approach.

Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Neck Neoplastic Lesions Using Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The most difficult diagnostic challenge in neck imaging is the differentiation between benign and malignant neoplasms. The purpose of this work was to study the role of the ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) value in discriminating benign from malignant neck neoplastic lesions. The study was conducted on 53 patients with different neck pathologies (35 malignant and 18 benign/inflammatory).

International expert consensus statement: surgical failure in obstructive sleep apnea.

Purpose: Upper airway (UA) surgery is commonly employed in the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The intricate pathophysiology of OSA, variability in sites and patterns of UA collapse, and the interaction between anatomical and non-anatomical factors in individual patients may contribute to possible surgical failures. This clinical consensus statement aims to identify areas of agreement among a development group comprising international experts in OSA surgery, regarding the appropriate definition, predictive factors in patients, and management of surgical failure in OSA treatment.

Barbed tonsillectomy.

Purpose: Although tonsillectomy is a common otolaryngological procedure renowned for its ease and safety, it is associated with various complications such as hemorrhage, dysphagia, pain, and infection. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding, especially secondary bleeding, poses a significant risk, with mortality rates reported as 5% of cases. Various techniques have been proposed to mitigate these risks, including the closure of the tonsillar fossa to prevent hemorrhage.

Endoscopic ear surgery in the treatment of chronic otitis media with atelectasis.

Purpose: Atelectasis otitis media (AtOM) is a chronic condition where the tympanic membrane (TM) becomes retracted towards the middle ear and the ossicular chain. Surgical treatment for this condition could be indicated based on stage of atelectasis, patient's clinical condition and hearing loss. Over the years, AtOM has been treated with various types of tympanoplasty under microscopic view.

Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sympathetic Nervous System on Cardiac Health: A Comprehensive Review.

A prevalent condition linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease is sleep apnea. This review examines the connections between cardiac risk, the sympathetic nervous system, and sleep apnea. The increased risk of hypertension, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and heart failure was highlighted in the pathophysiology of sleep apnea and its effect on sympathetic activation.

A new 3D-printed temporal bone: 'the SAPIENS'-specific anatomical printed-3D-model in education and new surgical simulations.

Purpose: Otology and neuro-otology surgeries pose significant challenges due to the intricate and variable anatomy of the temporal bone (TB), requiring extensive training. In the last years 3D-printed temporal bone models for otological dissection are becoming increasingly popular. In this study, we presented a new 3D-printed temporal bone model named 'SAPIENS', tailored for educational and surgical simulation purposes.

Unraveling the Complexities of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Biomarkers in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), affecting approximately 1 billion adults globally, is characterized by recurrent airway obstruction during sleep, leading to oxygen desaturation, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and disrupted sleep architecture. OSAS significantly impacts quality of life and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in the cardiovascular and cognitive domains. The cyclic pattern of intermittent hypoxia in OSAS triggers oxidative stress, contributing to cellular damage.

Clinical Application of Pediatric Sleep Endoscopy: An International Survey.

Objectives: To investigate through an international survey the actual clinical application of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to clarify the use, application, clinical indications, and protocol of pediatric DISE.

Methods: A specific survey about pediatric DISE was initially developed by five international otolaryngologists with expertise in pediatric sleep apnea and drug-induced sleep endoscopy and was later spread to experts in the field of sleep apnea, members of different OSA-related associations.

Results: A total of 101 participants who answered all the survey questions were considered in the study.

A pilot study to evaluate the expression of microRNA‑let‑7a in patients with intestinal‑type sinonasal adenocarcinoma.

Despite its histological resemblance to colorectal adenocarcinoma, there is little information about the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma (ITAC). The present study investigated the possible role and clinical value of microRNA (miR)-let-7a, a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-related miR, in a well-characterized and homogeneous cohort of patients with ethmoidal ITAC associated with occupational exposure, treated by primary surgery. miR-let-7a expression levels were analyzed in 23 pairs of ethmoidal ITAC and adjacent normal formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR.