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To characterize clinical factors associated with esthesioneuroblastoma treatment delays and determine the impact of these delays on overall survival.Retrospective database analysis.The 2004-2016 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma managed by primary surgery and adjuvant radiation. Durations of diagnosis-to-treatment initiation (DTI), diagnosis-to-treatment end (DTE), surgery-to-RT initiation (SRT), radiotherapy treatment (RTD), and total treatment package (TTP) were analyzed. The cohort was split into two groups for each delay interval using the median time as the threshold.A total of 814 patients (39.6% female, 88.5% white) with mean ± SD age of 52.6 ± 15.1 years who underwent both esthesioneuroblastoma surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy were queried. Median DTI, DTE, SRT, RTD, and TTP were 34, 140, 55, 45, and 101 days, respectively. A significant association was identified between increased regional radiation dose above 66 Gy and decreased DTI (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.35-0.83, p = 0.01) and increased RTD (OR = 3.94, 95% CI 2.36-6.58, p 0.001) durations. Chemotherapy administration was linked with decreased SRT (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.89, p = 0.01) and TTP (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.43-0.82, p = 0.001) durations. Cox proportional-hazards analysis revealed that increased RTD was associated with decreased survival (HR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.26-2.57, p 0.005), independent of age, sex, race, regional radiation dose, facility volume, facility type, insurance status, modified Kadish stage, chemotherapy status, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index, and surgical margins.Delays during, and prolongation of radiotherapy for esthesioneuroblastoma appears to be associated with decreased survival.4 Laryngoscope, 2022.

Objective: To investigate the use of near-infrared (NIR) imaging as a tool for outpatient clinicians to quickly and accurately assess for maxillary sinusitis and to characterize its accuracy compared to computerized tomography (CT) scan. Methods: In a prospective investigational study, NIR and CT images from 65 patients who presented to a tertiary care rhinology clinic were compared to determine the sensitivity and specificity of NIR as an imaging modality. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of NIR imaging in distinguishing normal versus maxillary sinus disease was found to be 90% and 84%, normal versus mild maxillary sinus disease to be 76% and 91%, and mild versus severe maxillary sinus disease to be 96% and 81%, respectively. The average pixel intensity was also calculated and compared to the modified Lund-Mackay scores from CT scans to assess the ability of NIR imaging to stratify the severity of maxillary sinus disease. Average pixel intensity over a region of interest was significantly different ( P < .001) between normal, mild, and severe disease, as well as when comparing normal versus mild ( P < .001, 95% CI 42.22-105.39), normal versus severe ( P < .001, 95% CI 119.43-174.14), and mild versus severe ( P < .001, 95% CI 41.39-104.56) maxillary sinus disease. Conclusion: Based on this data, NIR shows promise as a tool for identifying patients with potential maxillary sinus disease as well as providing information on severity of disease that may guide administration of appropriate treatments.

Author(s): Tsutsumi, Kotaro; Goshtasbi, Khodayar; Risbud, Adwight; Khosravi, Pooya; Pang, Jonathan C; Lin, Harrison W; Djalilian, Hamid R; Abouzari, Mehdi | Abstract: ObjectivesTo develop a multiclass-classifier deep learning model and website for distinguishing tympanic membrane (TM) pathologies based on otoscopic images.MethodsAn otoscopic image database developed by utilizing publicly available online images and open databases was assessed by convolutional neural network (CNN) models including ResNet-50, Inception-V3, Inception-Resnet-V2, and MobileNetV2. Training and testing were conducted with a 75:25 breakdown. Area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics (AUC-ROC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were used to compare different CNN models' performances in classifying TM images.ResultsOur database included 400 images, organized into normal (n = 196) and abnormal classes (n = 204), including acute otitis media (n = 116), otitis externa (n = 44), chronic suppurative otitis media (n = 23), and cerumen impaction (n = 21). For binary classification between normal versus abnormal TM, the best performing model had average AUC-ROC of 0.902 (MobileNetV2), followed by 0.745 (Inception-Resnet-V2), 0.731 (ResNet-50), and 0.636 (Inception-V3). Accuracy ranged between 0.73-0.77, sensitivity 0.72-0.88, specificity 0.58-0.84, PPV 0.68-0.81, and NPV 0.73-0.83. Macro-AUC-ROC for MobileNetV2 based multiclass-classifier was 0.91, with accuracy of 66%. Binary and multiclass-classifier models based on MobileNetV2 were loaded onto a publicly accessible and user-friendly website (https://headneckml.com/tympanic). This allows the readership to upload TM images for real-time predictions using the developed algorithms.ConclusionsNovel CNN algorithms were developed with high AUC-ROCs for differentiating between various TM pathologies. This was further deployed as a proof-of-concept publicly accessible website for real-time predictions.

Author(s): Risbud, Adwight; Muhonen, Ethan G; Tsutsumi, Kotaro; Martin, Elaine C; Abouzari, Mehdi; Djalilian, Hamid R | Abstract: ObjectiveTo compare the presence of migraine features between patients with isolated aural fullness (AF) who meet the diagnostic criteria for migraine headache and those who do not, and to propose diagnostic criteria for migraine-related AF based on our results.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of patients presenting to a tertiary-care neurotology clinic between 2014 and 2020 with migraine-related AF. This was defined as isolated, prolonged aural fullness concurrent with migraine features once other etiologies were ruled out via examination, audiometry, and imaging. Migraine features were compared between patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for migraine headache and those not meeting the criteria.ResultsSeventy-seven patients with migraine-related AF were included. The mean age was 56 ± 15 years and 55 (71%) patients were female. Eleven (14%) patients fulfilled the criteria for migraine headache (migraine group). Of the 66 patients who did not meet the criteria (nonmigraine group), 17 (26%) met 4/5 criteria, and 32 (48%) met 3/5 criteria, for a total of 49 (74%) patients. The migraine and nonmigraine groups were only different in 5 of 20 features, including family history of migraine (p = 0.007), sound sensitivity (p l 0.001), mental fogginess (p = 0.008), visual motion sensitivity (p = 0.008), and light sensitivity (p l 0.001).ConclusionThere are minimal differences in the overall prevalence of migraine features between patients with migraine-related AF who meet and do not meet the diagnostic criteria for migraine. Our findings suggest that the criteria may be too stringent and exclude many patients from potentially benefitting from treatment with migraine prophylaxis.

Objective: To elucidate the associations between geographic locations, rankings, and size/funding of medical schools and residency programs among the current otolaryngology residents. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study queried otolaryngology residency program websites for relevant publicly accessible information. Location was categorized as Midwest, Northeast, South, and West. Ranking was according to Doximity (residency) and US News and World Report (medical school). Medical school and residency programs were labeled large if they had >704 students or >15 residents, respectively. Results: A total of 1413 residents from 98 (89%) otolaryngology residency programs were included. Residents attending their home medical schools (18%) were equally distributed among regions ( P = .845). Residents who attended medical schools in the same US regions (54%) were more likely from top-25 ( P = .001) or private ( P Conclusion: There exist significant associations between otolaryngology residents’ medical school location, ranking, size, and funding source and their residency destination. More than half of the current otolaryngology residents attended medical school in the same geographic region, and about one-fifth have attended medical school and residency at the same institution. Future studies are warranted to evaluate how these results change as the match process evolves in the future. Level of Evidence: N/A.

SUMMARY. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency by which plastic surgery-related terms have been included in the lyrics of Western music hits from the 1970s to the present day as a proxy for estimating the cultural impact of plastic surgery. A list of the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 songs from 1968 to 2019 and the Billboard Year-End Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs from 1970 to 2019 was obtained for a combined total of 8550 songs. Lyrics for each song were extracted via a web-scraping system, and a database of plastic surgery-related terms was developed by our team. Each term was then queried amongst the compiled lyrics data sets, and the total frequency of plastic surgery-related terms per year and per decade was determined. Each term was also examined in its context of usage to validate its relevance to plastic surgery and determine its connotation through sentiment analysis. The frequency of plastic surgery-related terms referenced in the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 and Billboard Year-End Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts has increased 15-fold from the 1970s (n = 1 song) to 2010s (n = 15 songs). The terms most often mentioned included “doctor,” “silicone,” “plastic,” “surgery,” “nip-tuck,” and “lipo.” Artists who most frequently used plastic surgery-related terms were Kanye West, 2 Chainz, and Nicki Minaj. The current study is the first to evaluate trends in plastic surgery references in music formally. In turn, this study helps further our understanding of the interplay between plastic surgery and popular culture.

Purpose: Eligibility for clinical trials is very strict and only patients who satisfy various criteria can enter trials. The individual use of pazopanib has not been adequately investigated. An optimal administration regimen for pazopanib in “real-world” patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is required. Our purpose was to determine the tolerability and efficacy of first-line pazopanib with a low starting dose in patients with mRCC who were ineligible for clinical trials. Materials and Methods: This study included patients with mRCC who underwent treatment with first-line pazopanib and were previously excluded from clinical trials because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. A 400 mg pazopanib starting dose is used routinely in patients with mRCC; if tolerated, dose escalation up to 800 mg may occur. Results: We identified 18 patients with mRCC who received first-line pazopanib and were previously determined ineligible for clinical trials. Pazopanib dose was escalated in 12 patients (66.6%), to 600 mg/day in 8 patients (44.4%) and to 800 mg/day in 4 patients (22.2%), and was not escalated in 6 patients (33.3%). In 3 patients (16.7%), pazopanib was discontinued owing to intolerability. The most common frequent adverse event was elevated alanine aminotransferase levels in 6 patients (33.3%), followed by a decreased platelet count in 5 patients (27.8%) and anorexia in 5 patients (27.8%). Partial response was seen in 5 patients (27.8%) and stable disease in 10 patients (55.6%); median progression-free survival was 11.9 months (95% confidence interval: 6.3–28.7 months). Conclusion: Our data indicated that a low starting dose of 400 mg pazopanib did not negatively affect treatment tolerability and efficacy in patients with mRCC ineligible for clinical trials. We found that lower starting doses may lead to better results. Additional studies are needed in a larger cohort and longer follow-up to attain authentic outcomes.

Summary Age-related neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by a slow, persistent accumulation of aggregated proteins. Although cells can elicit physiological responses to enhance cellular clearance and counteract accumulation, it is unclear how pathogenic proteins evade this process in disease. We find that Parkinson’s disease α-synuclein perturbs the physiological response to lysosomal stress by impeding the SNARE protein ykt6. Cytosolic ykt6 is normally autoinhibited by a unique farnesyl-mediated regulatory mechanism; however, during lysosomal stress, it activates and redistributes into membranes to preferentially promote hydrolase trafficking and enhance cellular clearance. α-Synuclein aberrantly binds and deactivates ykt6 in patient-derived neurons, thereby disabling the lysosomal stress response and facilitating protein accumulation. Activating ykt6 by small-molecule farnesyltransferase inhibitors restores lysosomal activity and reduces α-synuclein in patient-derived neurons and mice. Our findings indicate that α-synuclein creates a permissive environment for aggregate persistence by inhibiting regulated cellular clearance and provide a therapeutic strategy to restore protein homeostasis by harnessing SNARE activity.