Development of a management protocol for internal carotid artery injury during endoscopic surgery: a modified Delphi method and single-center multidisciplinary working group

BACKGROUND

Intra-operative internal carotid artery (ICA) injury during transnasal endoscopic surgery is a potentially catastrophic event. Such an injury is life-threatening in the immediate setting, with a reported peri-operative mortality rate of 10%. Nasal packing, muscle patches, direct vessel closure, and endovascular techniques have been described as useful strategies for managing ICA bleeds. The objective of this study was to develop a formalized management protocol for intra-operative ICA injury through engagement with a multi-disciplinary panel.

METHODS

A modified Delphi method including literature review, iterative rounds of stakeholder feedback, and expert panel discussions was used to develop a management protocol for ICA injury during transnasal endoscopic surgery. The 10-person multi-disciplinary panel included otolaryngologists, neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, anesthesiologists, and operating room nursing staff.

RESULTS

After three rounds of stakeholder engagement with the expert panel, consensus was reached on important elements to include within the protocol. The protocol was divided in three categories: Alert, Control, and Transfer. 'Alert' focusses on early communication with anesthesia and nursing staff. 'Control' focusses on techniques to expose the injury and obtain hemostasis or adequate tamponade. Lastly, 'Transfer' describes the process of contacting neuro-interventional radiology and safely transferring the patient. A one-page handout of the protocol was developed for placement in operating theatres.

CONCLUSION

Due to the life-threatening nature of ICA injury, it is imperative that endoscopic sinus and skull base surgeons are prepared to manage this complication. Using a modified Delphi method with a multidisciplinary expert panel, a protocol for management of intra-operative ICA injury was developed.

Validity and Usefulness of YouTube Videos Related to Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Patient Information

Objectives  This article evaluates the completeness and accuracy of YouTube videos related to endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) as a source for patient information. Design  YouTube was searched using relevant terms pertaining to ETS. Videos were evaluated independently by two physician reviewers experienced in ETS. Video demographics including uploader source along with validity scores based on predetermined checklists were captured. Setting  Internet. Participants  Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures  A novel ETS scoring checklist, the modified DISCERN criteria, and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark score were used to measure completeness and accuracy of videos. video power index (VPI) was calculated to reflect popularity. Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated for rater agreement. Results  Seventy-nine videos were included in final scoring and analysis. The ETS score, DISCERN, JAMA, and mean VPI across all included videos were 5.0 ± 2.7, 2.4 ± 0.83, 2.19 ± 0.62, and 8.92 ± 18.1, respectively. Based on the ETS score checklist, 31 (39%) of the videos were rated as poor, 30 (38%) were moderately useful, 17 (22%) were useful, and 1 (1%) was exceptional. There was a significant positive correlation between the ETS, DISCERN, and JAMA scores ( p  < 0.001), but no correlation with VPI and the validity scores. There were no significant differences comparing validity scores based on the uploader source. Conclusion  YouTube videos related to ETS have limited usefulness and poor overall validity for patient information. Clinicians should direct patients to other validated sources of information and aim to improve the comprehensiveness of ETS-related videos.

The negative impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on the health-related quality of life among adult patients with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

With improved survival in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, it is crucial to evaluate the impact of chronic co-morbidities such as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The objectives were 1) To determine the prevalence of CRS with a large series of CF patients 2) To evaluate the impact of CRS on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of CF patients and 3) To compare CRS-specific, CF-specific and general HRQoL instruments.

METHODS

Consecutive CF patients from the Toronto Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre were recruited between March 2018 and January 2020. Participants completed the 22-Item Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised for adolescents and adults over 14 years of age (CFQ-R), Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Evaluative Self-administered Test (CF-QUEST) and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). HRQoL scores were correlated using Spearman's correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

Out of 195 patients eligible for analysis, the prevalence of CRS with positive endoscopic findings was 42.6% (95% confidence interval: 35.5-49.8%). CRS patients reported significantly lower HRQoL with higher SNOT-22 scores and lower scores in the respiratory domain of CFQ-R and physical health domains of CF-QUEST and SF-36. The physical (ρ= -0.63) and mental (ρ= -0.66) domains of SF-36 and CF-QUEST (ρ= -0.76) had a strong correlation with SNOT-22. Higher scores of SNOT-22 nasal subdomains correlated with lower scores of SF-36, CFQ-R and CF-QUEST.

CONCLUSION

CRS is a prevalent co-morbidity of CF patients, which significantly reduces HRQoL. SNOT-22, CFQ-R, CF-QUEST and SF-36 were strongly correlated. Severity of sinonasal symptoms have a strong correlation with HRQoL in CF patients.

Sinonasal Chondrosarcoma Presenting With Isolated Severe Vision Loss

ABSTRACT

A 24-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of progressive, painless vision loss in the right eye, with no history of headache, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, or epistaxis. His visual acuity was counting fingers at 1 ft in the right eye and 20 of 20 in the left eye with a right relative afferent pupillary defect and mild temporal optic disc pallor. MRI of the brain and orbits showed a mass involving bilateral ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and right nasal cavity. He underwent urgent extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach for resection of the sinonasal skull base tumor and photon radiation therapy. Pathology revealed a well-differentiated cartilaginous neoplasm with focal areas of entrapped native bone, consistent with a chondrosarcoma WHO grade I/III. At 6-month follow-up after surgery, he had a visual acuity of 20/40 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Malignant tumors from the sinonasal area should be kept in the differential diagnosis for compressive optic neuropathies and may present with vision loss even in the absence of nasal or sinus symptoms.

Standardization of 129I using the movable 4πβ(LS)-X(NaI(Tl)) system

The ¹²⁹I standardization, using the movable 4πβ(LS)-X(NaI(Tl)) coincidence system, was performed for two ¹²⁹I radioactive sources - one was dissolved in 0.1M NaOH solution and the other in 0.1M HNO₃ solution. The system incorporates three movable PM tubes for a β-counter placed on a plane and a X-ray detector that can be moved up to the bottom of the vial. The β-efficiency depending on the amount of radioactive solution was investigated with 14 liquid scintillation samples prepared by gravimetrically dispensing 4.4-145 mg of ¹²⁹I radioactive solution. The β-efficiencies above 90% were observed at less than 56 mg, but it was at most 70% at 145 mg. This occurred regardless of the activity of the sample or the type of chemical solution used to dissolve ¹²⁹I source. The activity concentration of each ¹²⁹I source was determined by efficiency-extrapolation method for samples with an activity range of 0.28-4.5 kBq. The β-efficiency points were derived over 10 intervals by moving 3-PM tubes in fine steps of about 1 mm from the sample. The highest value for β-efficiency was 95%. The combined uncertainty were 0.25% and 0.26%, respectively. The stated precision obtained using the system is better than that previously reported in the literature obtained by the triple to double coincidence ratio (TDCR) or the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method.

Admission of Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Ambulatory Surgery in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Objectives:

Within Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients are frequently encountered. To implement policies and screening measures for admission of OSA patients undergoing ambulatory surgery, actual rates of admission must first be determined. We aimed to evaluate rates and reasons for admission of OSA patients after ambulatory OHNS surgery.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review was undertaken of all OSA patients undergoing elective day-surgery OHNS procedures at a tertiary center from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. The primary outcome measure was percentage of OSA patients admitted to hospital after ambulatory OHNS surgery. Secondary outcome measures included reasons for admission. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, perioperative complications, and patient demographics were captured.

Results:

There were 118 OSA patients, out of 1942 cases performed during the review period. Thirty-eight were excluded as the procedures were not considered ambulatory. The remaining 80 OSA patients were included for analysis, with an average age of 51.7, SD 13.8, and 30 (38%) females. The admission rate was 47.5% (38/80 patients). Admitted patients were older (P = .0061), and had higher ASA (P = .039). Indication for surgery or type of surgery did not differ among admitted and non-admitted patients. The majority of patients, 97% (37/38 patients), were admitted for post-operative monitoring.

Conclusion:

More than half of OSA patients did not require admission to hospital after ambulatory OHNS surgery, unaffected by indications for surgery or type of surgery. Higher ASA score and older age were found in admitted as compared to non-admitted patients.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression and intranasal corticosteroid use: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are used in the management of sinonasal conditions. Use of exogenous steroids can be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction and adrenal insufficiency (AI). We aimed to estimate the rate of AI after INCS use in a meta-analysis, stratified by steroid type and treatment duration.

METHODS

Ovid Medline, Embase Classic, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases were searched following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify studies investigating INCS use and AI. AI was defined as morning serum cortisol <550 nmol/L and <80 nmol/L with and without adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation. INCS were classified as first (beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, beclomethasone, budesonide, dexamethasone) and second (ciclesonide, mometasone furoate, and fluticasone propionate) generation. Duration of treatment was classified as short (<1 month), medium (1-12 months), and long-term (>12 months) time periods.

RESULTS

This search identified 3668 articles. A total of 39 studies (1678 patients) were included in the final analysis. The pooled percentage of AI for routinely utilized first- and second-generation INCS was 0.70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-1.12%). Stratified by type, AI was observed in 0.78% (95% CI, 0.25-1.30%) of first-generation and 0.58% (95% CI, -0.1% to 1.26%) of second-generation steroids. AI was seen in 0.48% (95% CI, -0.01% to 0.96%) of short-term, 1.13% (95% CI, 0.2-2.1%) of medium-term, and 1.67% (95% CI, 0.37-2.9%) of long-term use of INCS.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the use of INCS carries a low risk for AI. Although modest, this risk may differ depending on the length of duration and type of INCS used. Informing patients of these risks is of importance for the treatment of chronic sinonasal conditions.

Retrograde transvenous obliteration for the prevention of variceal rebleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of retrograde transvenous obliteration (RTO) for the prevention of variceal rebleeding variceal rebleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This multicentre retrospective study enrolled 79 patients with HCC who underwent RTO for the prevention of variceal rebleeding. Successful occlusion of the gastrorenal shunt and obliteration of the gastric varices were achieved in 74 patients, with a technical success rate of 93.7%. Of the remaining 74 patients (mean age, 64.9±10.3 years; 56 men), 66 (90.4%) had gastroesophageal varices and seven (9.6%) had isolated gastric varices. Thirty-two patients (43.8%) underwent balloon-occluded RTO, 40 patients (54.8%) underwent plug-assisted RTO, and one patient (1.4%) underwent coil-assisted RTO. No patients had major procedural complications.

RESULTS

Rebleeding occurred in seven patients (9.6%) during the follow-up period. The 6-week and 1-year actuarial probabilities of patients remaining free of rebleeding were 90.8±3.6% and 88.6±4.1%, respectively. The median survival was 12.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8-17.3) months. The 6-week, 1-year, and 3-year actuarial probabilities of survival were 83.2±4.4%, 51.1±6.6%, and 32.7±7%, respectively. New or worsening ascites and oesophageal varices occurred in 12 (16.4%) and 13 patients (17.8%), respectively, during the follow-up period. Overt hepatic encephalopathy occurred in one patient (1.4%) during the follow-up period. The Child-Pugh score remained comparable to that at baseline at 1 and 3 months.

CONCLUSION

RTO was effective and safe in preventing variceal rebleeding in patients with HCC.

Weekly epistaxis duration as an indicator of epistaxis severity in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-Preliminary results from a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

There is great interest in developing and studying novel therapies for epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) given its associated morbidity and impact on patients' quality of life. Several recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been negative, likely attributed to poorly characterized outcome measures. This study reported on and evaluated an epistaxis outcome measure, weekly epistaxis duration (WED) in an ongoing RCT, with the aim of better characterizing the measurement of epistaxis for clinical trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients were recruited to an ongoing phase II, double-blind, cross-over RCTs of oral doxycycline for HHT-associated epistaxis. Patients were included for the epistaxis measures analysis if they had already completed the initial 3-month run-in period, and had received treatment of either study drug doxycycline or placebo for a minimum of 6 months. The primary measure of interest was patient-reported outcome (PRO)-WED, captured from prospective daily diaries. Epistaxis severity score (ESS) was collected as a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Seven patients were included for analysis, with 98% completion of the daily diary. The average PRO-WED across all patients was 85.0 minutes, SD 93.2 at baseline, and 65.6 minutes, SD 59.5 during treatment/placebo. Coefficient of variance for PRO-WED at baseline and during treatment/placebo was 0.49, SD 0.1 and 0.58, SD 0.2, respectively. Statistically significant changes in the mean PRO-WED from baseline to treatment/placebo was noted in six patients (86%). Only two patients (29%) had a significant change in ESS, with both reporting decreased (improved) scores after treatment/placebo as compared to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

PRO-WED was a feasible clinical trials measure, was reasonably stable during baseline measurement, and appeared to be variable with treatment state, suggesting it may provide a sensitive clinical trials PRO in HHT.

Development of a movable 4πβ(LS)-γ coincidence counting system for activity standardization of β-γ emitters

A new movable 3PM-γ coincidence system, based on 4πβ(LS)-γ coincidence counting, for activity measurement of β-γ emitters has been designed at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS). The system incorporates 3 PM tubes on the plane and two detectors placed above and below the center of the plane. The 3 PM tubes for β-counters in the plane are movable up to 100 mm from a liquid scintillation vial, thus enabling the variation of β-detection efficiencies by a geometrical technique. A NaI(Tl) γ-counter was set above for the present work. The β-event is determined by counting the logical sum of three double coincidences. All the necessary electronics, i.e., logical sum, adjusting the duration of dead-time of each counting channel and coincidence resolving times, and analyzing coincidence relation, were specially designed to be fabricated in an integrated circuit. Details of the detectors, the electronics, the overall movable 3PM-γ coincidence system are presented, as well as the results of investigations to assess its operating characteristics. Validation measurements have been performed with ⁶⁰Co and ⁵⁷Co sources. The highest β-detection efficiency achieved with ⁶⁰Co and ⁵⁷Co was 97% and 95%, respectively. The activity concentration determined with a new system agreed with calibrated values within the uncertainty range. Further results from validation measurements and the corresponding uncertainty budgets are presented.

Readability and quality assessment of internet-based patient education materials related to nasal septoplasty

BACKGROUND

Given that nasal septoplasty is a common procedure in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and readability of online patient education materials on septoplasty.

METHODS

A Google search was performed using eight different search terms related to septoplasty. Six different tools were used to assess the readability of included patient education materials. These included the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning-Fog Index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Index, Coleman-Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index. The DISCERN tool was used to assess quality and reliability.

RESULTS

Eighty-five online patient education materials were included. The average Flesch-Reading Ease score for all patient education materials was 54.9 ± 11.5, indicating they were fairly difficult to read. The average reading grade level was 10.5 ± 2.0, which is higher than the recommended reading level for patient education materials. The mean DISCERN score was 42.9 ± 10.5 and 42% (36/85) of articles had DISCERN scores less than 39, corresponding to poor or very poor quality.

CONCLUSION

The majority of online patient education materials on septoplasty are written above the recommended reading levels and have significant deficiencies in terms of their quality and reliability. Clinicians and patients should be aware of the shortcomings of these resources and consider the impact they may have on patients' decision making.

Comparative Study of Chemosensory Dysfunction in COVID-19 in 2 Geographically Distinct Regions

OBJECTIVE

To directly compare the prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction (smell and taste) in geographically distinct regions with the same questionnaires.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the self-reported symptoms among adults (older than 18 years) who underwent COVID-19 testing at an ambulatory assessment center in Canada and at a hospital in Israel between March 16, 2020, and August 19, 2020. The primary outcome was the prevalence of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction (anosmia/hypomsia and dysgeusia/ageusia). Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the prevalence of chemosensory deficits among the outpatients.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 350 COVID-19-positive patients (138 Canadians and 212 Israelis). The overall prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction was 47.1%. There was a higher proportion of chemosensory deficits among Canadians compared to Israelis (66.7% vs 34.4%, P < .01). A subgroup analysis for outpatients (never hospitalized) still identified a higher prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction among Canadians compared to Israelis (68.2% vs 36.1%, P < 0.01). A majority of patients recovered their sense of smell after 4 weeks of symptom onset.

CONCLUSION

Although the prevalence of chemosensory deficit in COVID-19 was found to be similar to previously published reports, the prevalence can vary significantly across different geographical regions. Therefore, it is important to obtain regionally specific data so that the symptom of anosmia/dysgeusia can be used as a guide for screening for the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19.

The effect of dietary supplementation with high- or low-dose omega-3 fatty acid on inflammatory pathology after traumatic brain injury in rats

This study investigated dietary supplementation as a prophylactic for neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a preclinical model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received 30 days of supplementation with either water or two dietary supplements. The first consisted of high-dose omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) (supplement A) along with vitamin D3 and vitamin E. The second had the same ingredients at different doses with an addition of cannabidiol (supplement B). Rats were subjected to an impact TBI and then euthanized 7 days post-injury and neuroinflammation quantified by histological detection of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrocyte activation, and CD68, a marker of microglial activity. There was a trend toward increased GFAP staining in injured, unsupplemented animals as compared to sham, unsupplemented animals, consistent with increased activation of astrocytes in response to trauma which was reversed by supplement A but not by supplement B. The pattern of CD68 staining across groups was similar to that of GFAP staining. There was a trend toward an increase in the injured unsupplemented group, relative to sham which was reversed by supplement A but not by supplement B. CD68 staining in injured animals was concentrated in the perivascular domain. The consistency between trends across different measures of neuroinflammation showing benefits of high-dose O3FA supplementation following TBI suggests that the observed effects are real. These findings are preliminary, but they justify further study to determine the functional benefits associated with improvements in histological outcomes and understand associated dose-response curves.

CSO (Canadian Society of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery) position paper on rhinologic and skull base surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

Healthcare services in many countries have been partially or completely disrupted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic since its onset in the end of 2019. Amongst the most impacted are the elective medical and surgical services in order to conserve resources to care for COVID-19 patients. As the number of infected patients decrease across Canada, elective surgeries are being restarted in a staged manner. Since Otolaryngologists - Head & Neck Surgeons manage surgical diseases of the upper aerodigestive tract where the highest viral load reside, it is imperative that these surgeries resume in a safe manner. The aim of this document is to compile the current best evidence available and provide expert consensus on the safe restart of rhinologic and skull base surgeries while discussing the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care and tips. Risk assessment, patient selection, case triage, and pre-operative COVID-19 testing will be analyzed and discussed. These guidelines will also consider the optimal use of personal protective equipment for specific cases, general and specific operative room precautions, and practical tips of intra-operative maneuvers to optimize patient and provider safety. Given that the literature surrounding COVID-19 is rapidly evolving, these recommendations will serve to start our specialty back into elective rhinologic surgeries over the next months and they may change as we learn more about this disease.

Strong correlation between flux pinning and epitaxial strain in the GdBa2Cu3O7-x /La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanocrystalline heterostructure

The effect of magnetic flux pinning is investigated in GdBa₂Cu₃O₇ (GdBCO) thin films with two different types of ferromagnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) buffers (nanoparticles and a layer) deposited on an STO substrate. Magnetization analyses reveal the presence of multiple flux pinning mechanisms responsible for the improvement in the critical current density of GdBCO films. While core pinning becomes a dominant pinning mechanism in GdBCO films with LSMO nanoparticles, a hybrid effect of magnetic-volume and core-point pinning is observed in GdBCO films with LSMO layers. Examinations of local structures for both LSMO and GdBCO using extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) exhibit a close relation between the parameters in the pinning force scaling and the length ratio of the Mn–O bond to the Cu–O bond. This result implies that the origin of core pinning is probably attributed to epitaxial strain induced by lattice mismatch between LSMO and GdBCO. Therefore, an appropriate strain state of LSMO is required for an effective operation of magnetic pinning.

The effect of magnetic flux pinning is investigated in GdBa₂Cu₃O₇ (GdBCO) thin films with two different types of ferromagnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) buffers (nanoparticles and a layer) deposited on an STO substrate.

Resection of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus in functioning pituitary adenomas: Technical note and outcomes in a matched-cohort study

BACKGROUND

Parasellar dural invasion can be associated with treatment failure after excision of functioning pituitary adenomas. Because the medial wall of the cavernous sinus is a common site of microscopic disease, we hypothesize that its resection may lead to improvement in biochemical remission and recurrence rates. We aim to describe our technique in the resection of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus using binasal endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (BETS); and compare tumor control and biochemical remission rates against a matched cohort.

METHODS

Patients with functioning pituitary adenomas who underwent resection of the medial cavernous wall in addition to tumor excision via BETS were compared to a cohort matched for tumor type, size, and Knosp grade. Biochemical remission rates, tumor control at follow-up, and complication rates were assessed.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients underwent resection of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus. Of 14 cases with wall specimens deemed adequate for histopathologic analysis, 43 % had microscopic evidence of tumor. Two of three patients with Knosp grade 0 scores had microscopic tumor invasion of the medial wall. The mean blood loss in the cohort was 175 mL (comparable to control, p = 0.895), with no operative complications noted. Gross total excision was achieved in 81 % of cases in the treatment cohort. At a median follow-up of 11 months, no statistical difference was noted in the biochemical remission and oncologic control rates between groups.

CONCLUSION

Resection of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus is safe and technically feasible using BETS when performed by experienced surgeons. The Knosp classification may not be reliable for microscopic tumor invasion. The effect of this technique on clinical outcomes remains to be determined by larger cohorts with matched controls and long-term follow-up.

Evaluating YouTube as a Source of Patient Information for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of information presented on YouTube regarding functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for patients.

METHODS

YouTube was searched using FESS-specific keywords under the setting of "relevance." The first 50 videos from each keyword were reviewed and analyzed by 2 independent physician reviewers. Videos not related to FESS and duplicates were excluded. Outcome measures included the modified DISCERN score (range 0-5), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (range: 0-4), a novel scoring checklist for FESS assessing usefulness (range: 0-16), and the Video Power Index (VPI). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated.

RESULTS

Of the 200 videos identified, 95 videos were analyzed after exclusions. Videos had an average VPI of 40.8 and SD 133.2. Average scores from the 3 objective checklists among all videos were low: modified DISCERN: 1.91, SD: 1.15; JAMA benchmark: 1.91, SD: 0.76; and FESS score: 3.54, SD: 1.77. The ICC between the 2 independent reviewers was excellent for all 3 checklists. We noted significant positive Pearson correlation between all 3 checklist scores (P < .001). In between-group comparisons of mean scores, there was significantly higher DISCERN and JAMA scores for videos from university/professional organizations, as compared to videos from medical advertising/for-profit companies and independent users. There were no significant differences in FESS scores noted between the 3 groups.

CONCLUSION

There were overall low scores across the modified DISCERN, JAMA benchmark criteria, and FESS scoring checklists, reflecting the poor quality of YouTube videos as a source of patient information for FESS.

The alternative complement pathway in ANCA-associated vasculitis: further evidence and a meta-analysis

We compared the common pathway components C3a, C5a and membrane attack complex (MAC), also known as C5b-9, and the alternative pathway components factor B and properdin in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and healthy controls, and conducted a meta-analysis of the available clinical evidence for the role of complement activation in the pathogenesis of AAV. Complement components were evaluated in 59 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis and 36 healthy volunteers. In 28 patients, testing was repeated in remission. Next, we performed a meta-analysis by searching databases to identify studies comparing complement levels in AAV patients and controls. A random-effects model was used for statistical analyses. The median concentrations of MAC, C5a, C3a and factor B were higher in active AAV patients (P < 0·001). Achievement of remission was associated with reductions in C3a (P = 0·005), C5a (P = 0·035) and factor B levels (P = 0·045), whereas MAC and properdin levels did not change. In active AAV, there were no effects of ANCA specificity, disease phenotype, previous immunosuppression or disease severity on complement levels. A total of 1122 articles were screened, and five studies, including this report, were entered into the meta-analysis. Plasma MAC, C5a and factor B in patients with active AAV were increased compared to patients in remission (excluding factor B) and controls. Changes in C3a were of borderline significance. Our findings and the results of the meta-analysis support activation of the complement system predominantly via the alternative pathway in AAV patients.

Self-reported anosmia and dysgeusia as key symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019

OBJECTIVES

To slow down the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is important to identify specific symptoms for effective screening. While anosmia/hyposmia and dysgeusia/ageusia have been identified as highly prevalent symptoms, there are wide geographic variations, necessitating the regional evaluation of the prevalence of the symptoms.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the self-reported symptoms among adults (over 18 years old) who underwent COVID-19 tests at an ambulatory assessment centre. We identified 1,345 patients (102 positive and 1,243 negative) who visited the assessment centre between March 16 and April 15, 2020. We randomly sampled negative patients in a 1:3 ratio. The primary outcome was the prevalence of self-reported anosmia/hyposmia and dysgeusia/ageusia. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between COVID-19 positivity and loss of smell and taste.

RESULTS

Fifty-six of 102 (50%) positive patients and 72 of 306 (23.5%) negative patients completed the survey. Anosmia/hyposmia and dysgeusia/ageusia were more prevalent among COVID-19 positive patients (41.1% v. 4.2%, p < 0.001 for smell and 46.4% v. 5.6%, p < 0.001 for taste). Anosmia/hyposmia and dysgeusia/ageusia were independently highly associated with COVID-19 positivity (adjusted odds ratios 14.4 and 11.4 for smell and taste, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In this Canadian study, smell and taste loss may be key symptoms of COVID-19. This evidence can be helpful in the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly settings of limited testing capacity.

Short communication: Evaluation of an eating time sensor for use in pasture-based dairy systems

The assessment of grazing behavior is important for research and practice in pasture-grazed dairy farm systems. However, few devices are available that enable assessment of cow grazing behavior at an individual animal level. This study investigated whether commercially available Smarttag "eating time" sensors (Nedap Livestock Management, Groenlo, the Netherlands) were suitable for recording the grazing time of cows. Smarttag sensors were mounted on the neck collars of multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in a herd in Taranaki, New Zealand. Cows were randomly selected each observation day from the milking herd for 8 separate days across a 1-mo period. Trained observers conducted 90-min observation periods to evaluate the relationship between the sensor eating time measure and grazing time. A set of 5 defined cow behaviors (2 "head up" and 3 "head down" behaviors) were assessed. In total, observations of 37 cows were recorded in 14 sessions over 8 d in the study period, providing 55.5 total hours of observations. Observation data were aligned with sensor data according to the sensor time stamps and grouped into matching 15-min intervals. Interobserver reliability was assessed both before and after the main trial period, and the mean percentage eating time per observer had a coefficient of variation of 0.46% [mean 93.2, standard deviation (SD) 0.425] before and 0.07% (mean 96.3, SD 0.074) after. In the main trial, the relationship between observed (mean 70.8%) and sensor-derived (mean 69.3%) percentage eating time over the observation period gave a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.971, concordance correlation coefficient 0.968, mean difference 1.50% points, and SD 5.8% points. Therefore, sensor-identified percentage "eating time" and observed percentage active grazing time were shown to be both very well correlated and concordant (in agreement, with high correlation and little bias). Therefore, the relationship between observed and sensor-derived data had a high degree of agreement for identifying cow grazing activity. In conclusion, Smarttag sensors are a valid and useful tool for estimating grazing activity at time periods of 1 h or more.

Otolaryngology needs among an adult homeless population: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Homeless individuals frequently experience poor access to healthcare, delayed clinical presentation, and higher disease burden. Providing subspecialty otolaryngology care to this population can be challenging. We previously reported on the prevalence of hearing impairment in Toronto's homeless community. As a secondary objective of this study, we sought to define otolaryngology specific need for this population.

METHODS

One hundred adult homeless individuals were recruited across ten homeless shelters in Toronto, Canada using a stratified random sampling technique. An audiometric evaluation and head and neck physical examination were performed by an audiologist and otolaryngology resident, respectively. Basic demographic and clinical information was captured through verbal administration of a survey. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate frequency of otolaryngology specific diseases for this population.

RESULTS

Of the 132 individuals who were initially approached to participant, 100 (76%) agreed. There were 64 males, with median age of 46 years (IQR 37-58 years). The median life duration of homelessness was 24 months (IQR 6-72 months). Participants had a wide range of medical comorbidities, with the most common being current tobacco smoking (67%), depression (36%), alcohol abuse (32%), and other substance abuse (32%). There were 22 patients with otolaryngology needs as demonstrated by one or more abnormal findings on head and neck examination. The most common finding was nasal fracture with significant nasal obstruction (6%). Eleven patients required referral to a staff otolaryngologist based on concerning or suspicious findings, including two head and neck masses, 6 were later seen in follow-up.

CONCLUSION

There were substantial otolaryngology needs amongst a homeless population within a universal healthcare system. Future research should focus on further elucidating head and neck related issues in this population and expanding the role of the otolaryngologist in providing care to homeless individuals.