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Objective: To map Greek academic otolaryngologists, and assess gender, age and location-related differences in their rank and academic productivity. Methods: A pre-established database of local and diaspora scientists was used, after adjustment and updating for otolaryngology. The following data were recorded: age, gender, academic rank, country of work, total citations and h-index of December 2022. Results: A total of 276 Greek academic otolaryngologists were identified in the Scopus database. Of Greek otolaryngologists, 15.9 per cent are women. Of all academic otolaryngologists, 27.1 per cent have a university post, but only 4 per cent of them are women. There is an almost linear correlation between university post ranking and citations. Otolaryngologists based in Greece accounted for 3 out of the 10 most cited Greek otolaryngologists. Conclusion: There are significant age, gender and location-related differences in academic output. The representation of women and the full use of their potential in medicine require proactive measures, to lift the burdens limiting their participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Spontaneous skull base cerebrospinal fluid leaks occurring without any apparent cause are rare. But those patients that present such leaks simultaneously, or successively, in multiple locations are even rarer. Given the rarity of this condition, we collected data from other groups in a multicentre study to reach an adequate number of patients and draw some preliminary considerations. Methods: We carried out a multicentre retrospective study on a cohort of patients treated at third level hospitals in Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and Greece for multiple spontaneous-CSF leaks and we compared them with a control group of patients treated for recurrent spontaneous-CSF leaks. Data regarding clinical aspects, radiological findings, surgical techniques and outcome were collected and preliminary considerations on the results were discussed. Results: A total of 25 patients presented multiple simultaneous spontaneous CSF leaks while 18 patients fit with the criteria of recurrent spontaneous CSF leaks. Data analysis was conducted separately. Conclusions: Our understanding of the pathogenesis of this condition is currently very limited. A causative role of IIH may be present but the differences that emerged from the comparison with patients with recurrent fistulas seem to promote the possible role of other cofactors. A longer follow-up period is needed, and, in our opinion, prospective and multicentre studies are the only solution to seriously deal with such a complex topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Few studies have specifically assessed the risk factors for persistence or recurrence of OME in a cohort of school-age children. The generally accepted etiological factors for OME occurrence may not apply in the same way when the presence of OME over a year from original diagnosis is assessed., Methods: A cohort of 250 school-age children with unilateral or bilateral OME, identified through screening of 5121 asymptomatic children was re-examined 16 months later. All were assessed for a variety of demographic, family and medical factors. Measures included tympanometry, acoustic reflexes and a complete otolaryngologic examination., Results: At 16 months after initial confirmation of OME, 56 out of 250 children (22.4%) suffered from OME, 21 bilateral and 31 unilateral. Presence of OME at 16 months was not associated with gender, blood group, gestational age and weight, history of breast feeding, paternal education level and smoking history, history of allergy, previous use of antibiotics, or with surgery (myringotomy, insertion of ventilation tubes or adenotonsillectomy). In multiple backward-eliminating logistic regression, the only factors associated with OME presence after 16 months were episodes of AOM during the study period (odds ratio 2.75 (95% CI: 1.13-8.17), p=0.04) and younger age (odds ratio 0.53 (95% CI: 0.32-0.79), p=0.002 for each 2 years of increase in age)., Conclusion: Seventy-eight percent of school-age children identified with OME through screening will be free of disease 16 months later. The threshold for referral, or surveillance could however justifiably be lower in children who (a) have once been identified with OME and (b) are (relatively) younger, or have experienced an episode of acute otitis media.