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Background: This study aimed to evaluate the swallowing outcomes after transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) and compare them with those of conventional transcervical thyroidectomy. Method: We enrolled 146 patients who underwent thyroidectomy (73 TORT; 73 conventional approach). We prospectively analyzed swallowing outcomes using the Swallowing Impairment Index‐6 (SIS‐6) questionnaire, a patient‐reported measure, before and 1, 3, and 6 days; 1, 3, and 6 months; and 1 year after surgery. Propensity score‐matched analysis was performed using three covariates: age, sex, and extent of thyroidectomy. Results: SIS‐6 scores worsened significantly immediately after surgery and progressively recovered 1 year postoperatively in both groups. Propensity score matching generated two matched groups of 22 patients each. In the propensity score‐matched samples, the SIS‐6 scores did not differ between the TORT and conventional groups, except at 1 day postoperatively. Conclusion: Patient‐reported swallowing outcomes of TORT were comparable to those of the conventional transcervical procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honey bee is an important pollinator of wild plants and crops and provides various useful products for humans. Infestations by honey bee mites damage the honey bees' health, decrease their lifespan, and increase their viral susceptibility. In this study, surveys were conducted throughout South Korea in 2019 to investigate the status of honey bee mite infestation. Mite samples were collected for species identification, and estimation of infestation levels from 47 apiaries in 12 regions was conducted. Mite species were identified by morphological characteristics and genetic analysis using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1). The results showed that 93.6% of the apiaries were infested by honey bee mites, of which 85.1% and 76.6% of the apiaries were infested by Varroa spp. and Tropilaelaps spp., respectively. Furthermore, 68.0% were co-infested by both honey bee mites. Additionally, 82.5% of the apiaries with Varroa spp. showed infestation rate with >3 mites per 100 bees, the infestation level could result in winter losses of honey bee colonies. Species identification revealed that all mites from the apiaries in South Korea were Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps mercedesae. Importantly, these two mite species were determined to be vectors of one to nine honey bee pathogens in real-time polymerase chain reaction detection. The most prevalent pathogen was the deformed wing virus, followed by the Israeli acute paralysis virus and chronic bee paralysis virus. The results of the surveys are important for estimating the economic losses caused by honey bee mites and establishing a possible strategy for controlling mites and mite-borne transmissible pathogens in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Robotic thyroidectomy using remote access approaches has gained popularity with patients seeking to avoid neck scarring and enhanced cosmetic satisfaction. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and advantages of a postauricular facelift approach vs a gasless unilateral axillary (GUA) approach in robotic thyroidectomy.Study Design: Case series with chart review.Setting: University tertiary care hospital.Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 65 patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy with or without central neck dissection using a GUA approach (45 patients) or a postauricular facelift approach (20 patients) between September 2013 and December 2014. We excluded patients who underwent simultaneous lateral neck dissection or completion thyroidectomy.Results: Robotic procedures were completed without being converted to an open procedure in all patients. There were no significant differences in terms of patient and tumor characteristics, extent of thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, operative time, complications, and postoperative pain between the 2 approaches, except the higher female ratio in the GUA approach group (female ratio, 95.6% vs 75%, P = .042). Cosmetic satisfaction evaluated by a questionnaire was not significantly different between the 2 groups, and most patients of both groups (85.7%) were satisfied with postoperative cosmesis.Conclusion: Both GUA and postauricular facelift approaches are feasible, with no significant adverse events in patients, and result in excellent cosmesis. However, a GUA approach seems to be superior when performing total thyroidectomy using a unilateral incision based on the preliminary result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]