Customised acoustic therapy delivered through a web‐based platform – an innovative approach to tinnitus treatment

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Customised acoustic therapy delivered through a web‐based platform – an innovative approach to tinnitus treatment via Clinical Otolaryngology Abstract Objectives Customised acoustic therapy aims to moderate the neural pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of tinnitus. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of customised acoustic therapy administered via a web-based treatment platform. Design Clinical trial with prospective recruitment. 58 participants underwent six weeks of customised acoustic therapy. Setting Treatment was delivered for 2 hours each day using a smartphone, tablet or computer. Treatment was integrated into usual daily activities. Participants Participants with subjective tinnitus were recruited through public and private otolaryngology clinics and electronic and print media. Main Outcomes Measured FiveQ, a novel 5 question tinnitus questionnaire, was measured at baseline and each week of treatment. Statistical analyses, including Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and mixed linear regression, were used to assess treatment efficacy and identify factors associated with treatment response. Results 39/58 participants (67.2%) had an improvement in symptom severity scores, 4 had no change (6.9%) and 15 had a decline from baseline (25.9%). Mean FiveQ scores improved by 22.9% from 40.8 (SD=21.4) at baseline to 31.5 (SD=21.3) following 6 weeks of treatment (p<0.001). With the exception of the slight tinnitus group, all other groups (from mild to catastrophic) demonstrated a treatment response. Participants with low frequency tinnitus (<2000 Hertz) had a significantly greater treatment response (p<0.001). Conclusion Customised acoustic therapy administered via a web-based platform demonstrated encouraging efficacy. At least mild symptoms at baseline and low frequency tinnitus were associated with a greater treatment response. Customised acoustic therapy offers accessible and efficacious tinnitus treatment, however longer term clinical studies are required to confirm the observed initial benefit is maintained. View on Web

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Attentional biases for sad faces in offspring of mothers with a history of major depression: trajectories of change from childhood to adolescence

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Attentional biases for sad faces in offspring of mothers with a history of major depression: trajectories of change from childhood to adolescence via Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Background Theorists have proposed that the way children process social–emotional information may serve as a mechanism of risk for the intergenerational transmission of depression. There is growing evidence that infants and children of mothers with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) during the child's life exhibit attentional avoidance of sad faces, which has been proposed as an early emerging emotion regulation strategy. In contrast, there is clear evidence that at-risk and depressed adolescents and adults exhibit difficulty disengaging attention from sad faces. Methods Seeking to link these two literatures, the current U.S.-based study used eye tracking within the context of an accelerated longitudinal design to assess attentional biases in 8–14-year-old offspring of mothers with a history MDD during the child's life (n = 123) or no history of MDD (n = 119) every six months for two years, allowing us to map trajectories of attention from age 8 to 16. Results Mother MDD history moderated age-based changes in children's gaze duration to sad (t[240] = 2.44, p = .02), but not happy (t[240] = 0.11, p = .91) or angry (t[240] = 0.67, p = .50), faces. Consistent our hypotheses, offspring of mothers with MDD exhibited significantly less attention to sad faces than offspring of never depressed mothers before age 8.5 but significantly more attention to sad faces after age 14.5, which was due to an increase in gaze duration to sad faces from childhood to adolescence among offspring of mothers with MDD (t[122] = 5.44, p < .001) but not among offspring of never depressed mothers (t[118] = 1.49, p = .14). Conclusions It appears that the form, and perhaps function, of attentional bias may shift across development in at-risk youth. To the extent that this is true, it has significant implications not only for theories of the intergenerational transmission of depression risk but also for prevention and early intervention efforts designed to reduce this risk. View on Web

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Neuroendokrine Tumoren im Kopf-, Halsbereich

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Neuroendokrine Tumoren im Kopf-, Halsbereich via Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie Laryngorhinootologie DOI: 10.1055/a-1976-9641 Hintergrund Neuroendokrine Tumoren (NET) sind benigne oder maligne Neoplasien, die entwicklungsgeschichtlich der Neuralleiste oder paraganglionären Zellen des vegetativen Nervensystems entstammen. Die alte Bezeichnung Karzinoid (karzinomähnlicher Tumor) ist noch sehr verbreitet, jedoch inzwischen obsolet. Lediglich 0,5–2 % aller Neoplasien des Menschen sind neuroendokrine Tumoren, welche überwiegend gastrointestinal oder bronchopulmonal lokalisiert sind. Die Inzidenz beträgt 9.263/100.000. Jedoch ist nur 1 % der Kopf-Hals-Tumore neuroendokriner Genese. Fallzahlstarke Langzeitstudien und Leitlinien zur Diagnose und Therapie im Kopf-Hals Bereich fehlen. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist der wertende Vergleich bekannter Therapiestrategien und daraus folgender Krankheitsverläufe sowie deren Vergleich mit dem Schrifttum anhand eigener Fälle unterschiedlicher Lokalisation und Ausdehnung. Patienten und Methoden In unserer Klinik wurden zwischen 2010 und 2017 14 Patienten mit neuroendokrinen Tumoren im Kopf-Hals-Bereich behandelt. 8 Patienten davon wurden primär operativ mit adjuvanter Radiochemotherapie versorgt. 6 Patienten erhielten eine primäre Radiochemotherapie in kurativer Absicht. 1 Patient erhielt auf Grund des Tumorprogress nach der primären Radiochemotherapie eine weitere Chemotherapie mit palliativer Indikation. Ergebnisse Die Tumorlokalisationen verteilen sich auf den Larynx (n = 7), die Glandula parotis (n = 2) und auf die Nasenhaupt- und -nebenhöhlen (n=5). Von den 8 operierten Patienten konnte in sechs Fällen eine in-sano Resektion (R0) erreicht werden. Die im Kollektiv gemessene Gesamtüberlebensrate beträgt im Mittel 19±6 Monate. Von den 14 untersuchten Patienten erlitten zwei Patienten ein Rezidiv, wovon ein Patient nach 7 Monaten verstarb und ein Patient 32 Monate nach der Nachresektion Rezidiv-frei lebt. In zwei Fällen sprach das NET nicht auf die kombinierte RCT an und die Patienten verstarben jeweils nach sechs und 13 Monaten. Die Überlebenszeit ist abhängig vom T-Stadium des NET sowie vom Erreichen einer R0-Resektion. Die R0-Resektion bietet eine höhere Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit als die primäre RCT. Schlussfolgerung Patienten mit NET des Kopf-Hals-Bereiches müssen in spezialisierten Zentren interdisziplinär behandelt werden. Zur Erfassung dieser Daten ist eine Tumordatenbank notwendig. Jedoch sind aufgrund der niedrigen Inzidenz keine Studien auf hohem Evidenzniveau zu erwarten. Nach effizienter Diagnosestellung sollte zeitliche Verzögerung unmittelbar im Rahmen einer interdisziplinären Tumorkonferenz eine individuelle auf den Patienten zugeschnittene Therapie erfolgen. [...] Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text View on Web

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Computer‐based performance approach for critical thinking assessment in children

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Computer‐based performance approach for critical thinking assessment in children via British Journal of Educational Psychology Abstract Background Critical thinking (CT) has been identified as one of the key skills in the modern world. Despite a variety of CT assessment systems for secondary school and higher education, there is a shortage of CT assessments for children. Aims To fill the gap, we developed a computer-based performance assessment (CPBA) of CT with automatic scoring. In the study, we analysed: (1) To what extent is the internal structure of the critical thinking assessment tool confirmed? (2) What are the patterns of students' behaviour within the CPBA? (3) To what extent is the convergent validity of the CPBA supported? Sample and Methods The sample consists of 1689 students, aged 9–11 years. To answer the research questions, the following quantitative data analysis methods were selected. The Bayesian Network was applied to investigate the internal structure. Latent Class Analysis was used to investigate the patterns of students' behaviour. To verify the convergent validity, the students were asked to solve the standardized math and language literacy tests. Results and Conclusions The theoretically expected internal structure of the CPBA was confirmed: the two-factor structure (the Analysis of information and the Making inferences subskills of CT) describes the data appropriately. Moreover, CT was described not as a list but as a sequence of cognitive operations. Four different strategies that lead to different results of CT were revealed. A weak positive correlation between the results of the CPBA and the achievement tests confirmed the test validity. View on Web

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enzyme replacement therapy followed by stem cell transplantation in children with Gaucher disease type 1 and 3

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Comprehensive and long‐term outcomes of enzyme replacement therapy followed by stem cell transplantation in children with Gaucher disease type 1 and 3 via Pediatric Blood & Cancer Abstract Background Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder, characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, bone diseases, with or without neurological symptoms. Plasma glucosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb1), a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for GD, has been used for diagnosis and monitoring the response to treatment. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is an effective treatment for the non-neurologic symptoms of GD. Neuronopathic GD (type 2 and 3) accounts for 60%–70% of the Asian affected population. Methods We explored combination therapy of ERT followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and its long-term outcomes in patients with GD type 3 (GD3). Results Four patients with GD3 and one with GD type 1 (GD1) underwent HSCT. The types of donor were one matched-related, one matched-unrelated, and three haploidentical. The age at disease onset was 6–18 months and the age at HSCT was 3.8–15 years in the patients with GD3. The latest age at follow-up was 8–22 years, with a post-HSCT duration of 3–14 years. All patients had successful HSCT. Chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in one patient. The enzyme activities were normalized at 2 weeks post HSCT. Lyso-Gb1 concentrations became lower than the pathological value. All of the patients are still alive and physically independent. Most of them (4/5) returned to school. None of the patients with GD3 had seizures or additional neurological symptoms after HSCT, but showed varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Conclusions ERT followed by HSCT could be considered as an alternative treatment for patients with GD3 who have a high risk of fatal neurological progression. View on Web

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Involuntary evaluation of others' emotional expressions depends on the expresser's group membership. Further evidence for the social message account from the extrinsic affective Simon task

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Involuntary evaluation of others' emotional expressions depends on the expresser's group membership. Further evidence for the social message account from the extrinsic affective Simon task via British Journal of Social Psychology Abstract The social message account (SMA) hypothesizes that the evaluation of emotional facial expressions depends on the ethnicity of the expressers. For example, according to SMA, a happy face of a member of a prejudiced ethnicity is immediately interpreted as potentially malevolent. Evidence for this approach was found initially in evaluative priming (EP) and approach-avoidance tasks (AA) by showing an emotion × ethnicity interaction on positivity scores (EP) and approach scores (AA), respectively. Recently, attempts to replicate the EP results failed. Due to the inconclusive EP results, it was important to examine the influence of ethnicity on processing of emotional expression with another task testing involuntary evaluations. The extrinsic affective Simon task was used with stimuli varying on emotion (happy vs. fear) and ethnicity (White-Caucasian vs. Middle-Eastern men). This task was chosen because in contrast to EP (where faces are presented as task-irrelevant primes) faces are t ask-relevant. Experiment 1 yielded an emotion × ethnicity interaction with regard to positivity scores that fit SMA predictions. The results are also important in challenging a recent theoretical alternative to SMA, namely the processing conflict account. A generalization of the emotion × ethnicity pattern to learned arbitrary in- and out-groups (Experiment 2) failed, suggesting that involuntary processing of (task-irrelevant) group status depends on perceptual features. View on Web

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Efficacy of stabilization splint and low level laser therapy for patients with chronic closed lock from non‐reducible displaced temporo‐mandibular joint discs. A parallel randomized clinical trial

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Efficacy of stabilization splint and low level laser therapy for patients with chronic closed lock from non‐reducible displaced temporo‐mandibular joint discs. A parallel randomized clinical trial via Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Abstract Background Stabilization splint therapy (SST) and low level laser therapy (LLLT) are effective non-invasive treatment for temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) patients. However, the specific efficacy of each therapy in patients with chronic closed lock (CCL) from temporo-mandibular joints (TMJ) disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR) remains unknown. Aim To assess and compare the efficacy of SST and LLLT alone or in combination in patients with CCL from TMJ DDwoR . Methods This parallel randomized clinical trial included 42 patients who were diagnosed with CCL from TMJ DDwoR. Patients were allocated equally and randomly into three treatment groups: group I received combined SST and LLLT, group II received LLLT and group III received SST. Maximum mouth opening (MMO), visual analogue scale (VAS), muscle and joint palpation scores, and time required to achieve normal state, were evaluated at baseline, one week, two weeks, four weeks, three months, and six months after the intervention. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS software. Results Regarding MMO and VAS, a statistically significant improvement was found between group I versus group II and versus group III at all evaluation times. Regarding muscle and joint palpation scores, a statistically significant difference was found between group I versus group III, while non-significant difference was found between group I and group II. A statistically significant faster improvement was found in group I versus group III and versus group II. Conclusion All treatment modalities can be effective in management of CCL from a TMJ DDwoR cases but the combined SST and LLLT group seems to provide the best and quickest improvement. View on Web

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Influence of a resorbable collagen membrane for alveolar bone graft on clinical outcomes and ridge volume stability in cleft alveolus

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Influence of a resorbable collagen membrane for alveolar bone graft on clinical outcomes and ridge volume stability in cleft alveolus via International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery via MedWorm.com This study compared the clinical outcomes, graft quality, and graft quantity after alveolar bone grafting with and without a resorbable collagen membrane. Twenty unilateral cleft patients undergoing defect repair with cancellous iliac bone were assigned to either the collagen membrane group (Mb group) or standard group without a membrane (St group). Postoperative pain and swelling, bone density, and bone volume and quality were assessed. The Mb group showed significantly lower postoperative pain than the St group (P   (Source: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) View on Web

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Dendritic spine loss in epileptogenic Type II focal cortical dysplasia: Role of enhanced classical complement pathway activation

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Dendritic spine loss in epileptogenic Type II focal cortical dysplasia: Role of enhanced classical complement pathway activation via Brain Pathology Abstract Dendritic spines are the postsynaptic sites for most excitatory glutamatergic synapses. We previously demonstrated a severe spine loss and synaptic reorganization in human neocortices presenting Type II focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), a developmental malformation and frequent cause of drug-resistant focal epilepsy. We extend the findings, investigating the potential role of complement components C1q and C3 in synaptic pruning imbalance. Data from Type II FCD were compared with those obtained in focal epilepsies with different etiologies. Neocortical tissues were collected from 20 subjects, mainly adults with a mean age at surgery of 31 years, admitted to epilepsy surgery with a neuropathological diagnosis of: cryptogenic, temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis, and Type IIa/b FCD. Dendritic spine density quantitation, evaluated in a previous paper using Golgi impregnation, was available in a subgroup. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, electron microscopy, a nd organotypic cultures were utilized to study complement/microglial activation patterns. FCD Type II samples presenting dendritic spine loss were characterized by an activation of the classical complement pathway and microglial reactivity. In the same samples, a close relationship between microglial cells and dendritic segments/synapses was found. These features were consistently observed in Type IIb FCD and in 1 of 3 Type IIa cases. In other patient groups and in perilesional areas outside the dysplasia, not presenting spine loss, these features were not observed. In vitro treatment with complement proteins of organotypic slices of cortical tissue with no sign of FCD induced a reduction in dendritic spine density. These data suggest that dysregulation of the complement system plays a role in microglia-mediated spine loss. This mechanism, known to be involved in the removal of redundant synapses during development, is likely reactivated in Type II FCD, particularly in Type IIb; loc al treatment with anticomplement drugs could in principle modify the course of disease in these patients. View on Web

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Epstein–Barr virus‐positive diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma onset as familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an infant

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Epstein–Barr virus‐positive diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma onset as familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an infant via Pediatric Blood & Cancer View on Web

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