Otolaryngology News and Research

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The medical discipline and practice of otolaryngology is a specialty that addresses conditions of the ears, nose, and throat. Another name for this practice is otolaryngology head and neck surgery.

ATS releases new report recommending research priorities in OSA treatment

The American Thoracic Society has released a new official report recommending research priorities in incorporating ambulatory management of adults with obstructive sleep apnea into healthcare systems.

4 Mar 2011

Depression negatively impacts outcomes of care in patients with CRS: New research

Depression is a common problem in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and negatively impacts patients' symptom burden, ability to function, and quality of life, according to new research published in the March 2011 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

1 Mar 2011

New study: Black elders seem to have protective effect against hearing loss

Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 70 and older have hearing loss, but those who are of black race seem to have a protective effect against this loss, according to a new study led by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging researchers.

28 Feb 2011

Scientists find p27Kip1 protein expression in adult and aged human inner ear

In collaboration with scientists and clinicians from the University of California Los Angeles, scientists from Sound Pharmaceuticals have found p27Kip1 to be expressed in the adult and aged human inner ear including the auditory and vestibular sensory organs.

25 Feb 2011

Researchers identify low-dose, two-drug cocktail that reduces noise-induced hearing loss in mice

Whether on a battlefield, in a factory or at a rock concert, noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common hazards people face. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a low-dose, two-drug cocktail that reduces hearing loss in mice when given before they are exposed to loud noise. The drugs, already FDA-approved for other conditions, also treat hearing loss after noise exposure.

23 Feb 2011

Study: Early detection of hearing impairment may prevent chronic disease in middle-aged adults

Several factors may be associated with hearing impairment in middle-aged adults, including cardiovascular disease risks, being male and having a noisy job, according to a report published online first in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The paper will be appear in the May print issue of the journal.

22 Feb 2011

BAHA fitting linked with greater benefit and higher quality of life in children with hearing loss

Bone-anchored hearing aids appear helpful in improving hearing and quality of life in children with hearing loss in one or both ears, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Feb 2011

Seniors with hearing loss more likely to develop dementia: Study

Seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing, a study by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging researchers suggests. The findings, the researchers say, could lead to new ways to combat dementia, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide and carries heavy societal burdens.

14 Feb 2011

Tiny gold particles can help doctors detect CTCs in blood of patients with head, neck cancer

Tiny gold particles can help doctors detect tumor cells circulating in the blood of patients with head and neck cancer, researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech have found.

14 Feb 2011

Rational use of heath care dollars for tonsillectomy

Without fanfare, hundreds of thousands of children surrender their tonsils to a surgeon's scalpel each year, usually to alleviate recurring infections and obstructive sleep problems. Most of the time, the snipped tonsils are sent to a pathologist, who looks for evidence of more serious medical problems, like unsuspected cancer.

9 Feb 2011

Tulane surgeon performs new robotic-assisted surgery to treat head, neck cancers

Tulane University School of Medicine surgeon Dr. Paul Friedlander is performing a new, less-invasive form of robotic surgery to treat head and neck cancers.

9 Feb 2011

Study: Fluorescent probe may serve as useful tool in future surgeries to repair injured nerves

Accidental damage to thin or buried nerves during surgery can have severe consequences, from chronic pain to permanent paralysis. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine may have found a remedy: injectable fluorescent peptides that cause hard-to-see peripheral nerves to glow, alerting surgeons to their location even before the nerves are encountered.

6 Feb 2011

U-M Medical School earns $368.7 million in NIH research funding during federal fiscal year 2010

University of Michigan Medical School physicians and scientists earned more than $368.7 million in National Institutes of Health research funding in federal fiscal year 2010, according to NIH data. In all, the School's faculty brought in $481.8 million in research funding from all sources in U-M fiscal year 2010.

5 Feb 2011

Researchers receive NIH grant to develop computer models for pediatric airway problems

A multidisciplinary team of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers has been awarded a $3.6 million grant to develop computer models that will allow physicians to predict which treatments will work best in children with upper airway problems.

4 Feb 2011

Tonsillectomy linked to obesity later in life: Study

The study involved 795 children from 0 to 18 years who were described as normal to overweight prior to their operations, and they were separated into three separate groups. Group 1 included three studies involving 127 children, whose body mass index (BMI) increased by 5.5 per cent to 8.2 per cent.

2 Feb 2011

Tonsillectomy increases risk of pediatric obesity

Tonsillectomy is the most common major surgical procedure performed in children. Children who undergo the surgical removal of their tonsils (tonsillectomy), with or without the removal of their adenoids (adenoidectomy), are at increased risk for becoming overweight after surgery, according to new research published in the February 2011 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

1 Feb 2011

Light therapy can help preserve vocal cord function for patients with early stage laryngeal cancer: Study

Light, or photodynamic, therapy can help preserve the voice and vocal cord function for patients with early stage laryngeal (voice box) cancer, according to a study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

29 Jan 2011

New surgical approach can remove throat tumor and rebuild trachea

Using a novel surgical approach, it's possible to rebuild the trachea and preserve a patient's voice after removing an invasive throat tumor, according to a new report from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

29 Jan 2011

Study finds surgery greatly reduces daytime sleepiness in sleep apnea patients

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea who undergo surgery to improve their breathing get a better night's sleep and therefore are less drowsy during the day, according to a new study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

27 Jan 2011

ACS NSQIP Pediatric helps hospitals prevent complications

A first of its kind surgical quality improvement program for children has the potential to identify outcomes of children's surgical care that can be targeted for quality improvement efforts to prevent complications and save lives. The results of a study of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (ACS NSQIP Peds) phase 1 pilot were published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.