Στην βιολογία, το περιβάλλον μπορεί να καθοριστεί σαν ενα σύνολο κλιματικών, βιοτικών, κοινωνικών και εδαφικών παραγόντων που δρουν σε έναν οργανισμό και καθορίζουν την ανάπτυξη και την επιβίωση του. Έτσι, περιλαμβάνει οτιδήποτε μπορεί να επηρεάσει άμεσα τον μεταβολισμό ή τη συμπεριφορά των ζωντανών οργανισμών ή ειδών, όπως το φως, ο αέρας, το νερό, το έδαφος και άλλοι παράγοντες. Δείτε επίσης το άρθρο για το φυσικό περιβάλλον και τη φυσική επιλογή.
Στην αρχιτεκτονική, την εργονομία και την ασφάλεια στην εργασία, περιβάλλον είναι το σύνολο των χαρακτηριστικών ενός δωματίου ή κτιρίου που επηρεάζουν την ποιότητα ζωής και την αποδοτικότητα, περιλαμβανομένων των διαστάσεων και της διαρρύθμισης των χώρων διαβίωσης και της επίπλωσης, του φωτισμού, του αερισμού, της θερμοκρασίας, του θορύβου κλπ. Επίσης μπορεί να αναφέρεται στο σύνολο των δομικών κατασκευών. Δείτε επίσης το άρθρο για το δομημένο περιβάλλον.
Στην ψυχολογία, περιβαλλοντισμός είναι η θεωρία ότι το περιβάλλον (με τη γενική και κοινωνική έννοια) παίζει μεγαλύτερο ρόλο από την κληρονομικότητα καθορίζοντας την ανάπτυξη ενός ατόμου. Συγκεκριμένα, το περιβάλλον είναι ένας σημαντικός παράγοντας πολλών ψυχολογικών θεωριών.
Στην τέχνη, το περιβάλλον αποτελεί κινητήριο μοχλό και μούσα εμπνέοντας τους ζωγράφους ή τους ποιητές. Σε όλες τις μορφές της Τέχνης αποτελεί έμπνευση και οι Καλές Τέχνες φανερώνουν την επιρροή οπού άσκησε σε όλους τους καλλιτέχνες με όποιο είδος Τέχνης κι αν ασχολούνται. Ο άνθρωπος μέσα στο περιβάλλον δημιουργεί Μουσική, Ζωγραφική, Ποίηση, Γλυπτική, χορό, τραγούδι, θέατρο, αλλά και όλες οι μορφές τέχνης έχουν άμεση έμπνευση από το περιβάλλον.

Κυριακή 31 Οκτωβρίου 2021

Electrically Induced Blink for the Prevention of Ocular Symptoms and Blurred Vision in Patients With Acute Facial Nerve Palsy

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Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Oct 29:1455613211048576. doi: 10.1177/01455613211048576. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Facial nerve palsy causes blurred vision and ocular discomfort due to deficits in blinking and eye closure. The objective of this study was to determine whether eye-blinks could be elicited by electrical stimulation and whether electrically induced blink would have an effect on the visual acuity and ocular symptoms in patients with acute facial nerve palsy. Methods: The zygomatic branch of the facial nerve of fifteen participants with acute facial nerve palsy was electrically stimulated in order to elicit a blink. In successful cases, the participant proceeded with a two-hour TV watching session in which an electrically induced blink was delivered every 5 seconds. The control condition consisted of an otherwise similar TV watching session without electrically induced blinking. Subjective ocular symptoms were evaluated with a Dry Eye Questionnaire and visual acuity was assessed with a Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) chart before and after both sessions. Results: The stimulation produced a blink in 8 participants (53%). The visual acuity in the affected eye decreased during the control session, whereas no significant change occurred during the stimulation session. The ocular symptoms were significantly reduced during the stimulation session. Conclusions: Electrically elicited blink is a promising method for reducing the eye symptoms in individuals with acute facial nerve palsy.

PMID:34714168 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211048576

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Extensive Parapharyngeal Abscess in a 4-Month-Old Infant

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Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Oct 29:1455613211049854. doi: 10.1177/01455613211049854. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Parapharyngeal abscess in an infant is a very rare condition. We present the case of a 4-month-old girl with large masses on the neck's left side. Computed tomography showed an extensive parapharyngeal abscess. Left tonsillectomy was performed under general anesthesia from a transoral approach, followed by an incision and evacuation of the abscess from the parapha ryngeal space. Microbiological analysis identified a massive occurrence of Streptococcus intermedius.

PMID:34714174 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211049854

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Comparison of the effects of platelet-rich plasma and dexamethasone ınjection on scar formation after vocal fold ınjury in rabbits

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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-07154-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: In this study, a histopathological comparison was aimed between platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and dexamethasone injection in the prevention of scar formation after vocal fold injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electrocautery was applied to damage the right and left vocal folds of a total of 12 New Zealand rabbits. PRP obtained from the rabbit's own blood was injected into the right vocal fold, and dexamethasone was injected into the left vocal fold. After 8 weeks, the experimental animals were euthanized, and the levels of inflammatory cell infiltration, vascularization, collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (HA) were compared in histopathological evaluation.

RESULTS: In statistical comparison of histopathological data obtained; in terms of plasma cell infiltration, vascularization, and edema parameters, statistically significant results were obtained in favor of the PRP group. Although the difference between collagen, elastin and HA, which are critical in vocal fold scar healing, was more positive in favor of PRP, no significant result was revealed in the statistical evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS: PRP injection in rabbits with vocal fold damage reveals similar characteristics with dexamethasone injection in preventing scar formation. PRP injection has favorable effects on vascularization, prevention of edema, and number of plasma cells.

PMID:34718850 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-07154-0

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Identification of biomarkers related to glycolysis with weighted gene co‐expression network analysis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common tumor in the oral cavity and maxillofacial region. Increasing evidence suggests that aerobic glycolysis plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of OSCC. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers related to glycolysis in OSCC represents considerable potential for improving its treatment.

Methods

In the present study, a single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to quantify the degree of glycolysis and identify key modules with the greatest correlation with glycolysis.

Results

Glycolytic scores significantly correlated with prognosis. In the key module 5 HUB genes were finally selected, which displayed a robust predictive effect. The expressions of key genes were associated with glycolysis.

Conclusions

The research comprehensively analyzed the glycolysis of OSCC and identified several biomarkers related to glycolysis. These biomarkers may represent potential therapeutic targets for future OSCC therapy.

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Survival analysis of patients with subglottic squamous cell carcinoma based on the SEER database

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Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 19:S1808-8694(21)00167-1. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.09.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics, and survival outcomes of subglottic Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

METHODS: Demographic and clinicopathological information, including age, sex, race, tumor size, histologic grade, clinical/TNM stage, tumor invasion extent, Lymph Node Metastasis (LNM) extent, size of metastatic lymph nodes, LNM ratio and treatment data, of 842 subglottic SCC patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2016 were acquired. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess the effects of clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modalities, surgical procedures, and adjuvant therapies on overall survival and cancer-specific survival.

RESULTS: Subgl ottic SCC was more frequent among males aged 60-70 years, with low-grade but locally advanced lesions without local or distant metastases. Age and several primary tumor/LNM related variables were independent risk factors for overall survival and cancer specific survival. Advanced-stage and high-grade disease led to unfavorable prognosis. The most common treatment modality and surgical procedure were surgery plus radiotherapy and total laryngectomy, respectively. Surgery plus radiotherapy provided favorable 5-year survival outcomes, while total laryngectomy had the worst. Surgery plus adjuvant therapy showed better survival outcomes than surgery alone.

CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the rarity of subglottic SCC. Patients with subglottic SCCs suffered poor prognosis especially for those with advanced-stage or high-grade lesions. The prognosis of subglottic SCC remained poor over the years, despite recent progress in cancer therapies. Surgery plus adjuvant therapy improved the survival outcome. Although larynx preservation surgery was beneficial for early-stage disease, total laryngectomy was favored for patients with advanced tumors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

PMID:34716102 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.09.001

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Correlation between cow's milk protein allergy and otitis media: a systematic review

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Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 18:S1808-8694(21)00150-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.07.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To review the evidence pertaining to the association between cow's milk protein allergy and recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion.

METHODS: The CENTRAL, Web of Science, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS databases, and gray literature were searched.

RESULTS: Four studies were included, identifying the prevalence rates: 0.2% of delayed speech due to chronic otitis media with effusion in 382 children with cow's milk protein allergy, 10.7% of cow's milk protein allergy in 242 children who underwent ENT procedures, 40% of cow's milk protein allergy in 25 children with recurrent otitis media with effusion and higher tendency to otitis media in children with cow's milk protein allergy of 186 children (1.5 + 0.6 vs. 0.4 + 0.1; p < 0.1).

CONCLUSION: Considering the characteris tics and methodological variations of the identified studies, it is not possible to state that there is reliable evidence of an association between cow's milk protein allergy and otitis media.

PMID:34716104 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.07.005

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Cone beam computed tomography with oral contrast for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning of pharyngeal leakage and fistula: a case series

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Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 13:S1808-8694(21)00153-1. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is one of the severe complications related to head and neck surgeries. Detecting the accurate three-dimensional location of both the fistula and leakage is essential for surgical treatment. Videofluoroscopy is usually used for locating these; however, its imaging is two-dimensional. We evaluated pharyngeal leakage and fistulae using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), known for its three-dimensional high spatial resolution imaging, taken in a sitting position, with oral contrast (contrast CBCT).

METHODS: Pharyngeal leakage and fistulae were evaluated in a total of 31 subjects by sequentially performing videofluoroscopy and contrast CBCT. The detection accuracy of videofluoroscopy and contrast CBCT for leakage and fistula, as well as the ability to determine the extent and depth for surgical planning, were investigated and compared.

RESULTS: Videofluoroscopy and contrast CBCT showed suspicious leakage and/or fistula in six and three of the 31 subjects, respectively. Surgical findings revealed the presence of leakage and/or fistula in three of the 31 subjects. The positive predictive values of videofluoroscopy and contrast CBCT were 50% (3/6) and 100% (3/3), respectively. Contrast CBCT provided more precise images, showing the extent and depth of leakage and fistula in three-dimensions.

CONCLUSION: The present study's results indicate the usefulness of contrast CBCT in terms of accurate diagnosis of leakage and fistula, due to its three-dimensional imaging being performed with the patient in a sitting position.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

PMID:34716103 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.001

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The added value of non-contrast 3-Tesla MRI for the pre-operative localization of hyperparathyroidism

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Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 17:S1808-8694(21)00160-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.07.010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of non-contrast 3-Tesla MR imaging added to the combination of sestamibi with99mTc (MIBI) scintigraphy and Ultrasonography (US) for the pre-operative localization of Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) lesions.

METHODS: A total of 34 parathyroid glands, including nine normal glands, were examined with MIBI, US, and non-contrast 3-Tesla MRI. MRI was performed with the acquisition of T1- and T2-weighted images and fat-suppressed T2-weighted images. We calculated the sensitivities of MIBI, US, and the 'additional' MRI, with knowledge of the former two modalities' results.

RESULTS: For the diagnosis of PHPT lesions, the sensitivity values of MIBI, US, and additional MRI were 88.0% (22/25), 84.0% (21/25), and 92.0% (23/25), respectively. Normal glands were not visualized with any modality (0/9). One lesion was detected neither with US nor MRI, but only with MIBI, with the limitation that MIBI represented no more than laterality. The two glands not identified in MRI were 4 mm and 6 mm in their size, which are within the range of normal gland's size. Two lesions were not detected with US or MIBI but were visualized with the additional MRI, which indicated that the MRI contributed an 8.0% (2/25) improvement of sensitivity, compared from that of US. Fat-suppressed T2-weighted images were useful in the identification of parathyroid lesions, as these images helped to differentiate between the lesion and the adjacent tissue.

CONCLUSION: Additional non-contrast 3-Tesla MRI was a useful adjunctive tool for localization of PHPT, which improved the sensitivity of the pre-operative localization of PHPT lesions. Fat-suppressed T2-weighted images contributed to their identification.

LEVEL VI: Evidence from a single descriptive or quali tative study.

PMID:34716111 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.07.010

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Evaluation of nasal mucociliary clearance by saccharine test in rheumatoid arthritis

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Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Oct 17:S1808-8694(21)00157-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to reveal whether there is nasal involvement by examining the Nasal Mucociliary Clearance (NMC) and the relationship between this activity and disease severity in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODS: In this prospective study, NMC time, disease activity (Disease Activity Score 28) and blood parameters of RA patients (n = 87) were investigated and compared with the healthy control group (n = 50). In addition, the relationship between DAS 28 and NMC was investigated.

RESULTS: The mean NMC of the RA group was 9.51 ± 3.54 min, the mean NMC of the control group was 8.69 ± 2.85 min, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was no correlation between NMC and disease duration, and DAS 28. The mean NMC of the RA patients with Anti Cyclic Citrulled Pep tide (Anti-CCP) positive was significantly higher than the negative ones.

CONCLUSION: Although there was no significant difference in NMC values between the RA and control group, the NMC of the Anti-CCP positive patients was higher.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2.

PMID:34716105 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.005

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Can Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Predict Laryngectomy Complications or Survival Outcomes?

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Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2021 Oct 29:34894211056117. doi: 10.1177/00034894211056117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a reported biomarker for morbidity and mortality in chronic disease and following certain surgeries, has not been well-studied in head and neck cancer patients. The aim of the study was to examine the association of RDW with postoperative complications and survival among patients who underwent primary or sal vage laryngectomy.

METHODS: We analyzed a retrospective case series study of patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated with total laryngectomy. Survival outcomes were examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS: One hundred seventy-seven patients were included in the final analysis. The most common tumor subsite was the supraglottis (60%). On bivariate analysis, patients with RDW ≥14.5 had higher prevalence of non-surgical, systemic complications, including deep venous thrombosis, pneumonia, cardiovascular events, and difficulty weaning from mechanical ventilation. However, there was no significant difference in laryngectomy-specific post-operative complications, including pharyngocutaneous fistula, wound infection, stoma complications, and chyle leak. RDW was not found to be associated with survival outcomes following laryngectomy.

CONCLUSIONS: Among laryngectomy patients, RDW ≥14.5 is associated with higher prevalence of systemic morbidity, but not with specific local surgical complications or decreased survival.

PMID:34715735 | DOI:10.1177/00034894211056117

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Noninvasive Respiratory Support as an Alternative to Tracheostomy in Severe Laryngomalacia

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Objectives/Hypothesis

To analyze the role of noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) as an alternative to tracheostomy in the management of severe laryngomalacia.

Study Design

We conducted a monocentric retrospective study in a tertiary pediatric care center.

Methods

All children under the age of 3 years with severe laryngomalacia, treated between January 2014 and December 2019, were included. Patient demographics, medical history, nutrition, surgery, NRS, and outcome were reviewed. Predictors for NRS were analyzed.

Results

One hundred and eighty-eight patients were included. Mean age was 4 ± 5 months and mean weight was 4,925 ± 1,933 g. An endoscopic bilateral supraglottoplasty was performed in 183 (97%) patients and successful in 159 (87%). NRS was initiated in 29 (15%) patients at a mean age of 3 ± 2 months (1–11 months): 15 (52%) patients were treated with NRS after surgical failure, 9 (31%) were treated with NRS initiated prior to surgery because of abnormal overnight gas exchange, and 5 (17%) were treated exclusively with NRS due to comorbidities contraindicating an endoscopic procedure. NRS was successfully performed in all patients with a mean duration of 6 ± 11 months. No patient required a tracheostomy. Univariate analysis identified the following predictors of NRS: neonatal respiratory distress (P = .003), neurological comorbidity (P < .001), associated laryngeal abnormality (P < .001), cardiac surgery (P&n bsp;= .039), surgical endoscopic revision (P = .007), and nutritional support (P < .001).

Conclusion

NRS is a safe procedure, which may avoid a tracheostomy in severe laryngomalacia, in particular, in case of endoscopic surgery failure, respiratory failure before surgery, and/or severe co-morbidity.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 2021

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