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Journal of the Association For Research... Feb 2023Identifying risk factors for tinnitus could facilitate not only the recommendations for prevention measures, but also identifying potential pathways for new... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS
Identifying risk factors for tinnitus could facilitate not only the recommendations for prevention measures, but also identifying potential pathways for new interventions. This study reports the first comprehensive systematic review of analytical observational studies able to provide information about causality (i.e., case-control and cohort designs).
METHODS
A literature search of four electronic databases identified epidemiological studies published on tinnitus and different exposures. Independent raters screened all studies, extracted data, and evaluated study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Reported relative risks (RR), hazard ratios (HR), odds ratios (OR), and prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to compute crude estimates of RR for tinnitus risk factors.
RESULTS
From 2389 records identified, a total of 374 articles were read as full text (24 reviews, 301 cross-sectional studies, 42 cohort studies, and 7 case-control studies). However, from 49 case-control and cohort studies, only 25 adequately reported risk ratios. Using the findings from these studies, positive causal associations were found for various hearing-related factors (i.e., unspecified hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, occupational noise exposure, ototoxic platinum therapy, and otitis media). Evidence was also found for a number of non-otological risk factors including temporo-mandibular joint disorder, depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hyperlipidemia. Negative associations indicating preventative effects were found for diabetes and high alcohol consumption. No associations were found for low alcohol consumption, body mass index, head injury, heart failure, hypertension, leisure noise exposure, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, sex, smoking, stroke, and whiplash. However, with the exception of unspecified hearing loss, these findings resulted from pooling no more than 4 studies, illustrating that the vast majority of the associations still remain inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS
These systematic review and meta-analysis confirm a number of otological and non-otological risk factors for tinnitus. By highlighting major gaps in knowledge, our synthesis can help provide direction for future research that will shed light on the pathophysiology, improve management strategies, and inform more effective preventions.
Topics: Humans; Tinnitus; Cross-Sectional Studies; Hearing Loss; Risk Factors; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 36380120
DOI: 10.1007/s10162-022-00874-y -
Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare... 2021To evaluate the frequency of antibiotic prescribing for common infections via telemedicine compared to face-to-face visits.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the frequency of antibiotic prescribing for common infections via telemedicine compared to face-to-face visits.
DESIGN
Systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Embase (Elsevier platform) and Cochrane CENTRAL to identify studies comparing frequency of antibiotic prescribing via telemedicine and face-to-face visits without restrictions by publish dates or language used. We conducted meta-analyses of 5 infections: sinusitis, pharyngitis, otitis media, upper respiratory infection (URI) and urinary tract infection (UTI). Random-effect models were used to obtain pooled odds ratios (ORs). Heterogeneity was evaluated with I estimation and the Cochran Q statistic test.
RESULTS
Among 3,106 studies screened, 23 studies (1 randomized control study, 22 observational studies) were included in the systematic literature review. Most of the studies (21 of 23) were conducted in the United States. Studies were substantially heterogenous, but stratified analyses revealed that providers prescribed antibiotics more frequently via telemedicine for otitis media (pooled odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.52; I = 31%) and pharyngitis (pooled OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.33; I = 0%). We detected no significant difference in the frequencies of antibiotic prescribing for sinusitis (pooled OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.70-1.06; I = 91%), URI (pooled OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.59-2.39; I = 100%), or UTI (pooled OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 0.88-7.46; I = 91%).
CONCLUSIONS
Telemedicine visits for otitis media and pharyngitis were associated with higher rates of antibiotic prescribing. The interpretation of these findings requires caution due to substantial heterogeneity among available studies. Large-scale, well-designed studies with comprehensive assessment of antibiotic prescribing for common outpatient infections comparing telemedicine and face-to-face visits are needed to validate our findings.
PubMed: 36168456
DOI: 10.1017/ash.2021.179 -
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 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood Dec 2022To determine the rate and appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for acutely ill children in ambulatory care in high-income countries. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate and appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for acutely ill children in ambulatory care in high-income countries.
DESIGN
On 10 February 2021, we systematically searched articles published since 2000 in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web Of Science and grey literature databases. We included cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, time-series analyses, randomised controlled trials and non-randomised studies of interventions with acutely ill children up to and including 12 years of age in ambulatory care settings in high-income countries. Pooled antibiotic prescribing and appropriateness rates were calculated using random-effects models. Meta-regression was performed to describe the relationship between the antibiotic prescribing rate and study-level covariates.
RESULTS
We included 86 studies comprising 11 114 863 children. We found a pooled antibiotic prescribing rate of 45.4% (95% CI 38.2% to 52.8%) for all acutely ill children, and 85.6% (95% CI 73.3% to 92.9%) for acute otitis media, 37.4% (95% CI 30.9% to 44.3%) for respiratory tract infections, and 40.4% (95% CI 29.9% to 51.9%) for other diagnoses. Considerable heterogeneity can only partly be explained by differences in diagnoses. The overall pooled appropriateness rate is 68.5% (95% CI 55.8% to 78.9%, I²=99.8%; 19 studies, 119 995 participants). 38.3% of all prescribed antibiotics were aminopenicillins.
CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic prescribing rates for acutely ill children in ambulatory care in high-income countries remain high. Large differences in prescription rates between studies can only partly be explained by differences in diagnoses. Better registration and further research are needed to investigate patient-level data on diagnosis and appropriateness.
Topics: Child; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Developed Countries; Cross-Sectional Studies; Respiratory Tract Infections; Ambulatory Care
PubMed: 35948405
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324227 -
International Archives of... Jul 2022Tympanic retraction is a condition characterized by the displacement of the tympanic membrane toward the structures of the middle ear. Clinically, tympanic... (Review)
Review
Tympanic retraction is a condition characterized by the displacement of the tympanic membrane toward the structures of the middle ear. Clinically, tympanic retractions can lead to hearing loss, ear discharge and/or ear pain. In most of the cases, however, tympanic retractions are asymptomatic and are found accidentally during an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination. This condition has created numerous debates regarding the optimal choice of treatment, especially in the asymptomatic forms. The main controversy is regarding the relationship between retraction and the development of cholesteatoma, which would justify a surgical intervention performed for preventive purposes. To study the effectiveness of cartilage tympanoplasty in the management of tympanic membrane retractions by analyzing the results of the studies conducted on the use of cartilage as a reconstruction material. A literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses group (PRISMA). Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. Our initial literature search yielded 2,258 references. Applying the PRISMA flow chart, 1,415 duplicates were excluded, and the remaining 843 abstracts were examined. Afterwards, 794 articles were excluded based on the research protocol criteria. Only 8 papers were included in the review by applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Despite the limitations of the studies taken into consideration, we can conclude that cartilage tympanoplasty may successfully rehabilitate the atelectatic ear especially in the more advanced stages of retraction, unlike the conservative strategies.
PubMed: 35846814
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742349 -
European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology,... Nov 2022Systematic review of the scientific literature dedicated to treatment modalities and results for aural tuberculosis published since the start of the 21 century.
OBJECTIVES
Systematic review of the scientific literature dedicated to treatment modalities and results for aural tuberculosis published since the start of the 21 century.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Search of the Medline, Cochrane and Embase databases for the period 2000 - 2020. Selection of articles in English, French and Spanish devoted to clinical cases and series documenting treatment of auricular tuberculosis. Extraction of data on pre-established files documenting treatment modalities and results. Reading of articles by two authors. Analysis performed according to SWiM guidelines, evaluating cure, tuberculosis-related death, treatment-related complications, improvement in facial palsy, and hearing sequelae rates.
RESULTS
One hundred and twenty eight articles: 118 case reports (159 patients) and 10 cohorts (177 patients) from 42 countries were analyzed. Female/male sex ratio was 1.2 with ages ranging from 1 month to 87 years. Medical treatment consisted in 5 to 24 months' antitubercular antibiotic treatment using 2 to 8 antibiotics. Mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty and facial nerve decompression were associated to medical treatment in 64.7%, 17.4% and 6.2% of cases, respectively. Overall rates of cure, death, treatment-related complications, facial sequelae and hearing sequelae were 96.8%, 2%, 9.5%, 35.8% and 75.5%. In case reports, BCG vaccination did not appear to protect against facial palsy and severe intracranial complications (P>0.6). There was no significant correlation (P>0.3) between death and the clinical variables tested, and facial nerve decompression did not appear to influence outcome for facial function (P=0.4).
CONCLUSION
Medical treatment is very effective but not without risk of death, complications and sequelae. It is the same as for pulmonary tuberculosis. Indications for and benefit of major auricular surgery during medical treatment deserve further studies.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Facial Paralysis; Tuberculosis; Facial Nerve; Bell Palsy; Tympanoplasty; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 35778340
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2022.06.007 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jun 2022Previous studies have demonstrated that both subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual specific immunotherapy (SLIT) are effective in treating allergic rhinitis (AR). Further... (Review)
Review
Previous studies have demonstrated that both subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual specific immunotherapy (SLIT) are effective in treating allergic rhinitis (AR). Further studies have evaluated the efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) on different ear, nose, and throat (ENT) manifestations, in which allergy might have an etiopathogenetic role, such as local allergic rhinitis (LAR), rhinosinusitis (RS), otitis media (OM), and adenotonsillar (AT) disease. Nevertheless, the management of allergy in ENT diseases is still debated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review assessing the efficacy of AIT in ENT diseases aside from AR. Literature data confirmed that AIT might be an effective therapeutic option in LAR, although its effect is restricted to studies with short-term follow-up. Furthermore, previous research demonstrated that AIT may improve symptoms and surgical outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis when used as an adjunctive treatment. Few studies supported the hypothesis that AIT may exert positive therapeutic effects on recurrent upper airway infections as adenotonsillar disease. Finally, some clinical observations suggested that AIT may add some benefits in the management of otitis media with effusion (OME). The results of this systematic review allow us to conclude that the efficacy of AIT in ENT disorders has been only slightly investigated and additional studies are needed.
PubMed: 35743730
DOI: 10.3390/jpm12060946 -
Value in Health : the Journal of the... Jun 2022We aimed to determine the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines on otitis media (OM) and acute otitis media (AOM) in children. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to determine the effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines on otitis media (OM) and acute otitis media (AOM) in children.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic search in databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Lilacs, and Web of Science. We included observational studies that evaluated any pneumococcal vaccine - including 7, 10, and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7, PCV10, and PCV13) and 23-valent polysaccharide vaccines (PPSV23) as the intervention, in children aged less than five years.
RESULTS
Out of the 2112 screened studies, 48 observational studies complied with the eligibility criteria and therefore were included in this review. Of the included studies, 30 (63%) were before-after, eleven (23%) cohort, six (13%) time series, and one (2%) case-control study designs. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing OM or AOM varied by vaccine type. In children under 24 months VE ranged from 8% and 42.7% (PCV7), 5.6% to 84% (PCV10) and 2.2% to 68% (PCV13). In children aged less than 60 months, VE ranged between 13.2% and 39% for PCV7, 11% to 39% for PCV10 (only children under 48 months), and 39% to 41% (PCV13).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate significant effect of pneumococcal vaccination in decreasing OM or AOM in children under five years old in several countries supporting the public health value of introducing PCVs in national immunization programs.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Immunization Programs; Infant; Otitis Media; Pneumococcal Infections; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Vaccines, Conjugate
PubMed: 35667776
DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2021.12.012 -
Electronic Discharge Communication Tools Used in Pediatric Emergency Departments: Systematic Review.JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting Jun 2022Electronic discharge communication tools (EDCTs) are increasingly common in pediatric emergency departments (EDs). These tools have been shown to improve...
BACKGROUND
Electronic discharge communication tools (EDCTs) are increasingly common in pediatric emergency departments (EDs). These tools have been shown to improve patient-centered communication, support postdischarge care at home, and reduce unnecessary return visits to the ED.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to map and assess the evidence base for EDCTs used in pediatric EDs according to their functionalities, intended purpose, implementation context features, and outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) procedures for identification, screening, and eligibility. A total of 7 databases (EBSCO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for studies published between 1989 and 2021. Studies evaluating discharge communication-related outcomes using electronic tools (eg, text messages, videos, and kiosks) in pediatric EDs were included. In all, 2 researchers independently assessed the eligibility. Extracted data related to study identification, methodology, settings and demographics, intervention features, outcome implementation features, and practice, policy, and research implications. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool was used to assess methodological quality. The synthesis of results involved structured tabulation, vote counting, recoding into common metrics, inductive thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and heat mapping.
RESULTS
In total, 231 full-text articles and abstracts were screened for review inclusion with 49 reports (representing 55 unique tools) included. In all, 70% (26/37) of the studies met at least three of five Mixed Method Appraisal Tool criteria. The most common EDCTs were videos, text messages, kiosks, and phone calls. The time required to use the tools ranged from 120 seconds to 80 minutes. The EDCTs were evaluated for numerous presenting conditions (eg, asthma, fracture, head injury, fever, and otitis media) that required a range of at-home care needs after the ED visit. The most frequently measured outcomes were knowledge acquisition, caregiver and patient beliefs and attitudes, and health service use. Unvalidated self-report measures were typically used for measurement. Health care provider satisfaction or system-level impacts were infrequently measured in studies. The directionality of primary outcomes pointed to positive effects for the primary measure (44/55, 80%) or no significant difference (10/55, 18%). Only one study reported negative findings, with an increase in return visits to the ED after receiving the intervention compared with the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
This review is the first to map the broad literature of EDCTs used in pediatric EDs. The findings suggest a promising evidence base, demonstrating that EDCTs have been successfully integrated across clinical contexts and deployed via diverse technological modalities. Although caregiver and patient satisfaction with EDCTs is high, future research should use robust trials using consistent measures of communication quality, clinician experience, cost-effectiveness, and health service use to accumulate evidence regarding these outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42020157500; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=157500.
PubMed: 35608929
DOI: 10.2196/36878 -
Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Apr 2022Bezold's abscess is a deep neck abscess related to otomastoiditis. Due to the insidious clinical presentation, diagnosis can be extremely challenging, leading to delays... (Review)
Review
Bezold's abscess is a deep neck abscess related to otomastoiditis. Due to the insidious clinical presentation, diagnosis can be extremely challenging, leading to delays in treatment and possible life-threatening complications. The literature currently provides a fragmented picture, presenting only single or small number of cases. The present study aims at examining our experience and the literature findings (based on PRISMA criteria) of 97 patients with Bezold's abscess, summarizing their epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatments. Bezold's abscess is found at any age, with overt male prevalence among adults. The clinical presentation, as well as the causative pathogens, are strikingly heterogeneous. Otomastoiditis and cholesteatoma are major risk factors. A clinical history of otitis is commonly reported (43%). CT and MRI are the main diagnostic tools, proving the erosion of the mastoid tip in 53% of patients and the presence of a concomitant cholesteatoma in 40%. Intracranial vascular (24%) or infectious (9%) complications have also been reported. Diagnosis might be easily achieved when imaging (CT) is properly applied. MRI has a limited diagnostic role, but it might be crucial whenever intracranial complications or the coexistence of cholesteatoma are suspected, helping to develop proper treatment (prompt antibiotic therapy and surgery).
Topics: Abscess; Adult; Cholesteatoma; Humans; Male; Mastoid; Mastoiditis; Neck
PubMed: 35448708
DOI: 10.3390/tomography8020074