BACKGROUND Reusable nasal-spray devices are frequently used in otolaryngologic examinations, and there is an increasing concern about the risk of cross-contamination from these devices. The aim of our study was to determine, by means of microbiologic analysis, the safety of a positive-displacement or pump-type atomizer after multiple uses. METHODS A reusable nasal spray bottle, pump, and tips...

The cause of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss is diverse, comprising genetic, acquired, and idiopathic conditions. Identifying the specific cause requires that children undergo thorough otolaryngologic and audiometric evaluations, which generally include laboratory tests and temporal bone imaging studies. Clinical genetics and ophthalmologic consultations are also frequently warranted. A se...

Paraneoplastic syndromes (PS) occur less commonly in association with otolaryngologic neoplasms than other carcinomas such as those of lung or breast. Piriform sinus carcinoma with PS is extremely rare. We here report a case of piriform sinus carcinoma accompanied by PS that was initially misdiagnosed as adult onset Still’s disease and describe our diagnosis and treatment. One lesson we have dr...

This case report highlights an unusual case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss related to superficial siderosis (SS). Our patient had a craniotomy for medulloblastoma 23 years earlier, and this may represent a delayed complication related to this procedure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the key diagnostic investigation to illustrate the imaging features of superficial siderosis and...

Entropy and compression have been used to distinguish fetuses at risk of hypoxia from their healthy counterparts through the analysis of Fetal Heart Rate (FHR). Low correlation that was observed between these two approaches suggests that they capture different complexity features. This study aims at characterizing the complexity of FHR features captured by entropy and compression, using as refe...

In this paper we consider the modern theory of the Bayesian brain from cognitive neurosciences in the light of recommender systems and expose potentials for our community. In particular, we elaborate on noisy user feedback and the thus resulting multicomponent user models, which have indeed a biological origin. In real user experiments we observe the impact of both factors directly in a repeate...

Velocardiofacial syndrome is one of the most common multiple-anomaly syndromes in humans. With its many otolaryngologic manifestations and its almost ubiquitous effects on speech, language, hearing, immune dysfunction, and airway problems, velocardiofacial syndrome may be the most common genetic disorder seen by pediatric otolaryngologists. Individuals affected with velocardiofacial syndrome lo...