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Journal of Personalized Medicine Aug 2022So far, no medical treatment is available for cholesteatoma (C) and the only effective therapy is complete surgical removal, but recurrence is common even after surgical... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
So far, no medical treatment is available for cholesteatoma (C) and the only effective therapy is complete surgical removal, but recurrence is common even after surgical treatment. While C is classically divided into two clinical phenotypes, congenital and acquired, only a few studies have focused on its potential biomarkers. This study aims to revise the literature to identify which biomarkers can define the endotype of C.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process to identify published experimental articles about molecular biomarkers in C.
RESULTS
KGF and its receptor, MMP-9, KRT-1, KRT-10, and MIF might be considered biomarkers of recurrence, whereas Ki-67, TLR-4, RANKL, IL17, MMP-2, MMP-9, IL6, TNF-α, should be considered more specifically as biomarkers of bony erosion.
CONCLUSIONS
These results are interesting especially from a prognostic point of view, nevertheless more studies are needed to search new biomarkers of C that could completely change not only the therapeutic standards of the disease, but also the clinical history of C itself in the era of precision medicine.
PubMed: 36013295
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12081347 -
Value in Health Regional Issues Dec 2016To assess the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety related to the interchangeability between pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and vaccination... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety related to the interchangeability between pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and vaccination schedules in pediatric population.
METHODS
Systematic searches were conducted in December 2010 and April 2015 for economic evaluations in MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Web sites and databases from medical societies, experts, and associations related to the topic, proceedings or congressional annals, and doctoral theses were also searched. No language or temporal restriction was applied. We included randomized controlled trials, economic evaluations, and systematic reviews evaluating antibody response, cost-effectiveness, and effectiveness of PCVs' interchangeability. A Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-based checklist was used to assess the risk of bias in observational studies and a Cochrane approach for experimental/quasi-experimental studies. Pairs of reviewers independently selected (through the Web-based Early Reviewer Organizer Software), assessed the quality, and extracted the data of the studies. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. We planned to perform meta-analysis whenever appropriate.
RESULTS
Forty-six of 202 studies were included. There was no direct information available on the interchangeability between PCVs. The immunogenicity and safety between the 10-valent PCV (PCV10) and the 7-valent PCV were similar when both vaccines were coadministered with other routine pediatric vaccines. PCV10 and 13-valent PCV (PCV13) were consistently more cost-effective than 7-valent PCV.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no direct comparative information available on the interchangeability among PCVs, but they have pretty similar immunogenicity and safety. PCV10 versus PCV13 cost-effectiveness varied according to price, indirect effects, and indirect costs. PCV10 gains more quality-adjusted life-years because of the prevention of more frequent yet less severe events such as otitis media, and PCV13 prevents less frequent but more costly events such as invasive diseases.
Topics: Child; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Humans; Otitis Media; Pneumococcal Infections; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Vaccination; Vaccines, Conjugate
PubMed: 27986195
DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2015.12.001 -
Laryngoscope Investigative... Jun 2018Otogenic brain abscesses are one of the most significant life-threatening complications of otologic infections. Given their low prevalence, otogenic brain abscesses...
OBJECTIVE
Otogenic brain abscesses are one of the most significant life-threatening complications of otologic infections. Given their low prevalence, otogenic brain abscesses require a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. In this systematic review, we aim to provide an analysis of otogenic brain abscesses and describe common clinical signs and symptoms, bacteriology, location, treatment options, morbidity, and mortality.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL database, Google Scholar, and Scopus.
METHODS
A systematic review of literature was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses recommendations. Variables assessed included clinical signs and symptoms, bacteriology, location, treatment, morbidity, and mortality.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine studies met inclusion and exclusion criteria, corresponding to a total of 1307 otogenic abscess cases for review. Fifty-five percent of abscesses were found in the temporal lobe and 28% in the cerebellum. Most patients (88.3%) had a history of suppurative chronic otitis media. The most common symptoms were headache, altered mental status, papilledema, and meningeal irritation. Fever, nausea, and vomiting affected about 40% of patients. The most commonly cultured bacterial species was . In addition to antibiotics, most otogenic brain abscesses were treated by burr hole aspiration. Average mortality following advent of computed tomography was 8.11%.
CONCLUSION
Although rare, otogenic brain abscesses may occur as a complication of suppurative otitis media and require a high index of suspicion. Appropriate imaging studies and multidisciplinary expertise are crucial in the diagnosis and management.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
4.
PubMed: 30062135
DOI: 10.1002/lio2.150 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Apr 2024Early-onset otitis media with effusion (OME) can affect the development of the auditory nervous system and thus lead to auditory processing abnormalities. This study... (Review)
Review
Early-onset otitis media with effusion (OME) can affect the development of the auditory nervous system and thus lead to auditory processing abnormalities. This study aims to review the effect of childhood OME on auditory processing abilities in children. A systematic review of the literature, restricted to the English language from 1990 to 2022 was conducted using search engines like PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. After selecting the articles following predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the data were extracted and meta-analysis was performed. A total of 10 articles met the inclusion criteria. Children with a history of OME had poorer performance in most behavioral and electrophysiological tests. Pooled analysis of various tests such as the gap in noise test, frequency pattern test (verbal and nonverbal), and latencies of auditory brainstem response-I, V, I to III, and I to V showed a difference between the 2 groups. Childhood OME can significantly affect auditory processing abilities in children.
PubMed: 38561944
DOI: 10.1177/01455613241241868 -
European Archives of... Mar 2022Cleft palate children have a higher incidence of otitis media with effusion, more frequent recurrent acute otitis media episodes, and worse conductive hearing losses... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Cleft palate children have a higher incidence of otitis media with effusion, more frequent recurrent acute otitis media episodes, and worse conductive hearing losses than non-cleft children. Nevertheless, data on adenoidectomy for middle ear disease in this patient group are scarce, since many feared worsening of velopharyngeal insufficiency after the procedure. This review aims at collecting the available evidence on this subject, to frame possible further areas of research and interventions.
METHODS
A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was performed. Multiple databases were searched with criteria designed to include all studies focusing on the role of adenoidectomy in treating middle ear disease in cleft palate children. After duplicate removal, abstract and full-text selection, and quality assessment, we reviewed eligible articles for clinical indications and outcomes.
RESULTS
Among 321 unique citations, 3 studies published between 1964 and 1972 (2 case series and a retrospective cohort study) were deemed eligible, with 136 treated patients. The outcomes were positive in all three articles in terms of conductive hearing loss improvement, recurrent otitis media episodes reduction, and effusive otitis media resolution.
CONCLUSION
Despite promising results, research on adenoidectomy in treating middle ear disease in the cleft population has stopped in the mid-Seventies. No data are, therefore, available on the role of modern conservative adenoidectomy techniques (endoscopic and/or partial) in this context. Prospective studies are required to define the role of adenoidectomy in cleft children, most interestingly in specific subgroups such as patients requiring re-tympanostomy, given their known risk of otologic sequelae.
Topics: Adenoidectomy; Child; Cleft Palate; Humans; Middle Ear Ventilation; Otitis Media with Effusion; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34453572
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-07035-6 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Nov 2022This systematic review aims to (a) define what instruments are available to measure quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media... (Review)
Review
This systematic review aims to (a) define what instruments are available to measure quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media (COM) and what is the most commonly selected timing to do so; (b) compare outcomes from different surgical techniques; and (c) describe any reported correlation between subjective and functional results. This review was conducted following the PRISMA statement recommendations. Of the 151 articles screened, 24 were included. Most studies had a prospective design. The mean age at surgery was 44.5 years. A microscopic retroauricular approach was the most common surgical technique. Most articles included both primary and revision surgeries. The most commonly used questionnaire was the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), followed by the Chronic Ear Survey (CES), the Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15 (COMOT-15) and the Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Inventory (ZCMEI-21). Questionnaires were administered about 12 months after surgery in most studies. Ten studies reported possible associations between hearing results and QoL. QoL assessment after COM surgery variably relies on disease-specific and non-specific questionnaires. Patients are usually evaluated 12 months after surgery, and this appears to be a suitable timing to contrast the possible bias effect of different tympanoplasty techniques associated with different healing times. A comparison between QoL outcomes in different surgical approaches cannot be made, as several influencing factors have not been detailed in the included studies. Few studies have investigated the correlation between subjective and objective outcomes of tympanoplasty for COM so far.
PubMed: 36556180
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12121959 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Oct 2023To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies describing the possible prognostic factors affecting hearing outcomes in Otitis media with... (Review)
Review
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies describing the possible prognostic factors affecting hearing outcomes in Otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) patients. To provide guidance for clinical work, avoiding profound irreversible hearing loss affecting patients' lives. A literature search was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify English articles published before December 1, 2022. After screening the articles, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the risk of bias of the extracted literature, and studies with high quality (score > 6) were included. Four studies were included: 1 was a retrospective cohort study, and 3 were case-control studies. We performed a meta-analysis of 4 factors: facial palsy, hypertrophic pachymeningitis, ANCA-negative status, and the period from onset to diagnosis. The results showed that there was a significant association between facial palsy [odds ratio (OR) 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-2.15; = 0%; = .02], hypertrophic pachymeningitis (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.18-2.53; = 24%; = .005), ANCA negativity (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.11-2.77; = 33; = .02), and poor hearing prognosis in OMAAV patients. However, the period from onset to diagnosis (SEM ± SD 2.54; 95% CI -1.56 to 6.64; = 98%; = .22) of OMAAV was not significantly associated with poor hearing outcomes. We found that OMAAV patients with facial palsy, hypertrophic pachymeningitis, and ANCA negativity have a significant association with poor hearing prognosis, which provides diagnosis and treatment guidance in protecting patients' hearing.
PubMed: 37791762
DOI: 10.1177/01455613231200488 -
Laryngoscope Investigative... Jun 2021To assess the effectiveness of tympanoplasty in treating chronic otitis media-related hearing loss, published literature was systematically reviewed to determine the... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of tympanoplasty in treating chronic otitis media-related hearing loss, published literature was systematically reviewed to determine the clinical success rate of tympanoplasty at restoring hearing in chronic otitis media patients at a minimum follow-up period of 12-months.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library.
METHODS
Two independent reviewers performed literature searches. Publications reporting long-term (≥12-month) hearing outcomes and complications data on adult and pediatric patients with chronic otitis media were included and assessed for risk of bias and strength of evidence. To assess how tympanoplasty influences long-term hearing outcomes, data on pure tone audiometry (air-bone gap) and complications were extracted and synthesized.
RESULTS
Thirty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Data from 3162 patients indicated that 14.0% of patients encountered postoperative complications. In adult patients, mean weighted air-bone gap data show closure from 26.5 dB hearing level (HL) (preoperatively) to 16.1 dB HL (postoperatively). In studies that presented combined adult and pediatric data, the mean preoperative air-bone gap of 26.7 dB HL was closed to 15.4 dB HL. In 1370 patients with synthesizable data, 70.7% of patients had a postoperative air-bone gap ˂ 20 dB HL at long-term follow-up. Finally, subgroup analysis identified that mean improvement in ABG closure for patients with and without cholesteatoma was 10.0 dB HL and 12.4 dB HL, respectively.
CONCLUSION
In patients with chronic otitis media, tympanoplasty successfully closed the air-bone gap to within 20 dB HL in 7/10 cases and had an overall complication rate of 14.0%.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
2a.
PubMed: 34195374
DOI: 10.1002/lio2.576 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Sep 2023Otolaryngological diagnoses, such as otitis media, are traditionally performed using endoscopy, wherein diagnostic accuracy can be subjective and vary among clinicians.... (Review)
Review
Otolaryngological diagnoses, such as otitis media, are traditionally performed using endoscopy, wherein diagnostic accuracy can be subjective and vary among clinicians. The integration of objective tools, like artificial intelligence (AI), could potentially improve the diagnostic process by minimizing the influence of subjective biases and variability. We systematically reviewed the AI techniques using medical imaging in otolaryngology. Relevant studies related to AI-assisted otitis media diagnosis were extracted from five databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, Embase, and IEEE Xplore, without date restrictions. Publications that did not relate to AI and otitis media diagnosis or did not utilize medical imaging were excluded. Of the 32identified studies, 26 used tympanic membrane images for classification, achieving an average diagnosis accuracy of 86% (range: 48.7-99.16%). Another three studies employed both segmentation and classification techniques, reporting an average diagnosis accuracy of 90.8% (range: 88.06-93.9%). These findings suggest that AI technologies hold promise for improving otitis media diagnosis, offering benefits for telemedicine and primary care settings due to their high diagnostic accuracy. However, to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes, further improvements in diagnostic performance are necessary.
PubMed: 37762772
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12185831 -
European Archives of... Feb 2022Tympanic membrane retraction (TMR) is a relatively common otological finding. However, no consensus on its management exists. We are looking especially for a treatment...
IMPORTANCE
Tympanic membrane retraction (TMR) is a relatively common otological finding. However, no consensus on its management exists. We are looking especially for a treatment strategy in the military population who are unable to attend frequent follow-up visits, and who experience relatively more barotrauma at great heights and depths and easily suffer from otitis externa from less hygienic circumstances.
OBJECTIVE
To assess and summarize the available evidence for the effectiveness of surgical interventions and watchful waiting policy in patients with a tympanic membrane retraction.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
The protocol for this systematic review was published at Prospero (207859). PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched from inception up to September 2020 for published and unpublished studies. We included randomized trials and observational studies that investigated surgical interventions (tympanoplasty, ventilation tube insertion) and wait-and-see policy. The primary outcomes of this study were clinical remission of the tympanic membrane retraction, tympanic membrane perforations and cholesteatoma development.
FINDINGS
In total, 27 studies were included, consisting of 1566 patients with TMRs. We included data from 2 randomized controlled trials (76 patients) and 25 observational studies (1490 patients). Seven studies (329 patients) investigated excision of the TMR with and without ventilation tube placement, 3 studies (207 patients) investigated the wait-and-see policy and 17 studies (1030 patients) investigated tympanoplasty for the treatment of TMRs.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This study provides all the studies that have been published on the surgical management and wait-and-policy for tympanic membrane retractions. No high level of evidence comparative studies has been performed. The evidence for the management of tympanic membrane retractions is heterogenous and depends on many factors such as the patient population, location and severity of the TMR and presence of other ear pathologies (e.g., perforation, risk of cholesteatoma and serous otitis media).
Topics: Humans; Middle Ear Ventilation; Otitis Media with Effusion; Tympanic Membrane; Tympanoplasty
PubMed: 33689022
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-06719-3