A set of circulating microRNAs (miR-125a-5p, miR-125b-5p, and miR-143-3p) associates with acute IS and might have clinical utility as an early diagnostic marker.
Purpose It has been established that the infection with SARS-CoV-2 may cause an impairment of chemosensory function. However, there is little data on the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on chemosensory function. Methods Twenty three SARS-CoV-2-positive patients diagnosed in spring 2020 with subjective hyposmia (out of 57 positive patients, 40.3%) were compared to SARS-CoV-2-positive patients without hyposmia (n = 19) and SARS-CoV-2-negative patients (n = 14). Chemosensory function was assessed by the Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT), Taste Strips (TS), Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), and the SNOT-22. The initial cohort with hyposmia were also examined at 8 weeks and 6 months after initial examination. Results There were no differences between the SARS-CoV-2-positive cohort without hyposmia and negative controls in terms of BSIT (8.5 ± 2.6 vs. 10.2 ± 1.8), TS (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.9 ± 0.3) or VAS (2.1 ± 1.3 vs. 1.1 ± 0.5); yet the SNOT-22 was significantly elevated (27.7 ± 11.2 vs. 16.4 ± 10.8). The SARS-CoV-2-positive group with hyposmia performed significantly poorer in BSIT (4.0 ± 1.7 vs. 8.5 ± 2.6/10.2 ± 1.8), TS (2.6 ± 1.3 vs. 3.4 ± 0.6/3.9 ± 0.3), and VAS (7.9 ± 2.2 vs. 2.1 ± 1.3/1.1 ± 0.5) compared to both control groups. At week 8 and month 6 control, six and five patients, respectively, still suffered from subjectively and objectively impaired chemosensory function. The other patients had recovered in both respects. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 patients with subjectively impaired chemosensory function regularly perform poorly in objective measurements. About 70% of patients suffering from olfactory dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2 quickly recover—the rest still suffers from considerable impairment 6 months after infection.
BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Menière’s disease (MD) is made according to diagnostic criteria, the last revision of which was in 2015. For diagnosis, symptoms are weighted with audiometric findings and this can be challenging in individual patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze patient’s characteristics and symptoms in a real-life cohort of 96 patients with diagnosed MD regarding sociodemographic parameters, clinical specifics, and audiometry. METHODS: Prospective clinical patient registry containing demographic and socioeconomic parameters, symptoms, as well as pure-tone audiometry data. RESULTS: 31 patients with definite MD, and 36 with probable MD were identified. 29 patients showed typical clinical signs of MD, but did not meet the full diagnostic criteria, and were considered separately. Mean duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 3.9±4.6 years. Significant differences between categories were found regarding aural fullness, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing. If multiple audiograms were available, 28.6 %(6/21) documented fluctuating hearing. CONCLUSIONS: Current diagnostic criteria probably do not represent patients with monosymptomatic presentation or an early stage very well. Long-term follow-up with repeated audiometry is advisable.
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Durch die Digitalisierung hat sich das Internet zu einem wesentlichen Informationsmedium für Patienten entwickelt. Patienten mit Hörsturz haben aufgrund unsicherer wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse einen besonders großen Informationsbedarf. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden daher die Ergebnisse einer Internetsuche zum Thema Hörsturz untersucht. Material und Methoden Die ersten 30 Treffer einer Google-Suche mit dem Begriff „Hörsturz“ wurden kategorisiert, eine Lesbarkeitsstatistik anhand verschiedener Formeln (Flesch-Reading-Ease-Score; 0=schwer, 100=leicht lesbar) berechnet und falsche Informationen dokumentiert. Eine strukturierte inhaltliche Bewertung erfolgte mit dem DISCERN-Fragebogen (1=niedrige, 5=hohe Qualität) getrennt durch 2 verblindete Untersucher. Die Einhaltung empfohlener Standards wurde anhand einer Health-On-The-Net-Zertifizierung erfasst. Ergebnisse 18 Internetseiten (60,0%) waren Informationsportale, 7 (23,3%) von Medizinprodukteunternehmen (davon 3 Hörgerätehersteller), 2 (6,7%) von öffentlichen Einrichtungen und je 1 (3,3%) von einem Ärzteverband und einer Selbsthilfeorganisation sowie ein wissenschaftlicher Artikel. Im Mittel lag die Wortanzahl bei 1307,0±840,2 Wörtern, die letzte Aktualisierung war vor 17,1±32,5 Monaten und der Flesch-Reading-Ease-Score lag bei 36,1±13,9. Am schwierigsten lesbar war der wissenschaftliche Artikel (13,7). Insgesamt lag der DISCERN bei 2,2±0,7 mit schlechtester Bewertung von Medizinprodukteunternehmen (1,6±0,5). Zwei Internetseiten (6,7%) hatten ein Health-On-The-Net-Zertifikat, 14 (46,7%) zeigten falsche Informationen. Schlussfolgerung Patienteninformation im Internet sind aufgrund geringer Lesbarkeit, potenzieller Interessenkonflikte, niedriger Qualität oder falscher Informationen kritisch zu bewerten. Eine mögliche Konsequenz wäre eine Bereitstellung verlässlicher Gesundheitsinformationen im Internet durch medizinische Leistungserbringer und Fachgesellschaften.
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