RESUMEN

Juvenile Xanthogranuloma (XG) is a rare disorder that belongs to the heterogeneous group of histiocytic neoplasms, characterized by a clonal expansion of non-Langerhans cell histiocytes that share a dermal macrophage phenotype. Although the head and neck region is the most common reported site of involvement by the Juvenile Xanthogranuloma family, laryngeal localization is extremely rare. We report a unique case of Adult Onset Xanthogranuloma with subglottic localization, presenting as a solitary laryngeal mass without other systemic or cutaneous lesions. A review of the previously described cases of laryngeal Xanthogranuloma has been performed, highlighting 7 cases of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma and only 3 cases of Adult Onset Xanthogranuloma. Despite the extreme rarity of laryngeal localization of XG, this histiocytic neoplasm should be considered as a differential diagnosis for laryngeal masses causing airway obstruction, even in the absence of other concomitant manifestations.

RESUMEN

Recent reports suggested that even moderate sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) can be partly responsible for a loss of gray matter volume in the primary auditory cortex, hence reducing the capacity of the auditory cortical areas to react to sound stimulation. There is also evidence for a plastic reorganization of brain functional networks visible as enhanced local functional connectivity. The aim of this study was to use rs-fMRI, in conjunction with graph- theoretical analysis and a newly developed functional "disruption index" to study whole-brain as well as local functional changes in patients with acute and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. No statistically significant differences in global or local network measures we found between SSNHL patients and healthy controls. However, when analyzing local metrics through the disruption index k, we found negative values for k which were statistically different from zero both in single subject analysis. Additionally, we found several associations between graph-theoretical metrics and clinical parameters.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Noise is a well-known risk factor in occupational medicine. Several studies have been performed in workplaces with noise sources, especially in the industrial field; on the contrary, only a few studies have been carried to evaluate the noise exposure effects in non-industrial workplaces such as small factories, handicraft laboratories, and dental laboratories. The aims of this study were to evaluate workplace noise exposure and hearing thresholds in dental technicians. Four laboratories and 51 dental technicians were included in the study. Noise exposure levels during a nominal eight-hour working day (LEX, 8 h) were assessed in the included laboratories. Audiometric thresholds with pure tone audiometry were performed in 51 dental technicians, and results were compared with those expected in subjects not exposed to noise. The environmental noise measures showed moderate differences of the LEX, 8 h among the four laboratories (range 71.4 to 76.2); average LEX, 8 h was 73.9 ± 2.2 dB(A). The audiometric results showed a progressive increase of hearing threshold values at the frequencies mostly involved in noise-induced hearing loss (3, 4 and 6 kHz) and a correlation with age and working seniority especially in males (p<0.005). Nevertheless, in the 92.1% of subjects the threshold increases were in line with those expected in subjects of the same age and sex not exposed to noise and in the remaining 7.8% were not statistically significant (p>0.05). In 3.9% of the cases the increases were bilateral, typical of noise-induced hearing loss, and only 1.9% showed involvement of several frequencies with worsening of expected thresholds >25 dB. In conclusion, our study showed that exposure to noise in dental laboratories was not sufficient to represent a hazard to hearing, as demonstrated by the LEX, 8 h, which were below 80 dB(A) and therefore below the European exposure limit values and exposure action values for workers.

Asunto(s)