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Pump-probe response of the spin-orbit coupled Mott insulator Sr_{2}IrO_{4} reveals a rapid creation of low-energy optical weight and suppression of three-dimensional magnetic order on laser pumping. Postpump there is a quick reduction of the optical weight but a very slow recovery of the magnetic order-the difference is attributed to weak interlayer exchange in Sr_{2}IrO_{4} delaying the recovery of three-dimensional magnetic order. We suggest that the effect has a very different and more fundamental origin. Combining spatiotemporal mean field dynamics and Langevin dynamics on the photoexcited Mott-Hubbard insulator, we show that the timescale difference is not a dimensional effect but is intrinsic to charge dynamics versus order reconstruction in a correlated system. In two dimensions, we obtain a short, almost pump-fluence-independent timescale for charge dynamics, while recovery time of magnetic order involves domain growth and increases rapidly with fluence. Apart from addressing the iridate Mott problem, our approach can be used to analyze phase competition and spatial ordering in superconductors and charge ordered systems out of equilibrium.

Background: Melanocytes in the hair and melanocytes in the stria vascularis of the inner ear have common origins. Many congenital and acquired disorders of cutaneous pigmentation have auditory abnormalities. There is a paucity of studies on the auditory associations of early graying., Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the association between early graying and auditory system abnormalities., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was done on 100 patients with early graying and 100 controls. Pure tone audiometry was done at 0.25 to 4 kHz for bone conduction, conventional and high frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz for air conduction, and extended high frequencies from 9 kHz to 20 kHz for air conduction in both ears., Results: Bilateral hearing loss >25 dB was present in three patients with early graying based on the four-frequency average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Patients with early graying had significantly higher thresholds for hearing except at 0.25 kHz in the right ears and 0.25, 2, 10, and 11 kHz in the left ears., Limitations: We did not assess cochlear function with otoacoustic emissions, and our study design did not allow us to assess causality and temporal association., Conclusion: Our study found that early graying may be a visible marker of changes in auditory thresholds. Patients with early graying need periodic auditory evaluations and health education to prevent further hearing loss., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Dermatology Online Journal.)

Recurrent erythematous rashes in the same anatomical site are a feature of a disorder known as fixed drug eruption (FDE). We describe a rare instance of a fixed eruption in a 70-year-old woman who had recurrent skin lesions at the same locations due to the use of chloroquine. This case demonstrates the timely and precise identification of an FDE, which resulted in the offending medication being stopped and the symptoms clearing up when topical steroids were used. This case study underscores the significance of attentive healthcare practices and the vital impact that thorough, individualized treatment plays in improving the patient's condition., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Anand et al.)

Laryngeal schwannoma is a rare type of neurogenous tumour with a non-specific presentation. We present a case of a middle-aged man with issues of hoarseness, globus sensation and intermittent episodes of throat pain. The Hopkins examination showed right vocal fold irregularity with fullness in the right ventricle. The contrast-enhanced CT neck revealed an ill-defined lesion with contrast uptake extending into the paraglottic region with no neck node involvement. Considering the clinical presentation of hoarseness, throat pain and globus with imaging revealing contrast enhancement of lesion, direct laryngoscopy and biopsy were planned to rule out malignancy. Intraoperatively, a well-defined submucosal capsulated swelling became apparent after incision and dissection of the mucosa over the right vocal fold. A complete excision of the swelling was done with microlaryngeal instruments without tracheostomy. The histopathological report was suggestive of schwannoma. The literature review discusses clinical presentation, location, imaging features and management strategy., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Context: SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19 by infecting nasal and oral cavities primarily by attaching its spike proteins to ACE 2 receptors expressed in epithelial cells., Aim: This study was done to evaluate the micronucleated cell count, metanuclear abnormalities, and genotoxic factor in exfoliated buccal mucosal cell among the COVID-19 suspected patients., Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted at AIIMS, Mangalagiri, between August and October 2022., Methods: One hundred COVID-19 suspected patients were recruited for this study after obtaining informed and written consent; buccal smear was obtained and stained for papanicolaou test (PAP). The PAP-stained slides were analyzed for micronuclei (MN), pyknotic, karyolytic, and karyorrhexic cell count, respectively. Based on their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) report, the patients were grouped into COVID-19 positive and negative groups., Statistical Analysis: The genotoxicity factor was calculated using the micronucleated cell count from both the groups using mean and standard deviation., Results: The MN, micronucleated cell, pyknotic, karyolitic, and karyorrhexic cell count in COVID-19 positive patients were 24.12, 15.24, 3.08, 2.88 and 4.40, respectively, than COVID-19 negative patients 5.69, 8.17, 1.08, 1.00 and 2.43, respectively. The genotoxicity factor for SARS-CoV-2 was 2.68 which is a positive genotoxic effect on buccal mucosal cells., Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 increases the expression of micronucleated cells, pyknotic cells, karyolytic cells, and karyorhexic cells and concludes SARS-CoV-2 is having cytogenotoxic effect on the buccal mucosal cells. This can be used as a reliable marker in identifying the early carcinogenic effects of virus causing COVID-19., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Cytology.)

The intricate interplay between viral infections and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) presents a fascinating and clinically significant intersection of virology and hepatology. This review article delves into the complex relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and NAFLD. It outlines the shared mechanisms linking viral infections to NAFLD development, including their effects on lipid metabolism, immune responses, inflammation, and gut microbiota. The clinical implications of this interplay are explored, including challenges in diagnosis and management and potential therapeutic strategies. The review emphasises the need for a comprehensive understanding of these interactions as they impact disease progression, risk stratification, and treatment decisions. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of integrated approaches and personalised treatment paradigms for optimising patient care. As we navigate this intricate crossroads, the insights gained can reshape our understanding of liver health and contribute to more effective strategies for managing viral infections and NAFLD., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Narladkar et al.)

Aim: A simple and reliable method for diagnosing COVID 19 infections is the needed. The role of saliva in the transmission of the infection has already been established., Method: Saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs from patients suspected to have COVID 19 infections were taken simultaneously, and the results of the RT-PCR were compared., Result: Total 405 samples were collected, of which 250 males and 155 females. In the 391 samples included for analysis, 370 (94.63%) samples were found to have concordance results, and 21 (5.37%) samples had discordant results., Conclusion: The use of saliva to diagnose COVID 19 infection is reliable, and its use can be recommended., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction  Tinnitus is one of the most common otological complaints encountered. Patients often use the internet, especially YouTube videos, as a source of information regarding their health condition. There is a need to analyze the standard and quality of information in these videos so that the patients receive correct information. Objective  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability and utility of YouTube videos on tinnitus. Methods  The first 100 videos on YouTube using the search terms tinnitus and ringing in the ear were identified. Three subject experts assessed the reliability using the modified five-point DISCERN score and utility using a usefulness score. Various indices like view ratio, like ratio, video power index, and interaction index were also calculated. Results  Out of the 100 videos selected, 34 were excluded; collectively the remaining 66 videos were viewed 12,797,730 times. The most common upload sources were hospital/physician (39%), paramedic health care providers (19%), and alternative medicine (19%). The discern score was the highest in hospital/physician group (mean 19.3) and lowest in patient experience group (mean 13.4). A negative correlation was observed between the number of views (correlation coefficient -0.214), number of likes (correlation coefficient -0.242), number of comments (correlation coefficient -0.242), and the usefulness score. Conclusion  Although there are multiple videos on YouTube regarding tinnitus, the overall educational content and reliability of the videos are poor. Video popularity is not associated with usefulness. Healthcare providers should counsel patients regarding videos on YouTube and try to create more comprehensive videos., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests., (Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Introduction: Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) is an essential component of thyroid cytopathology, particularly important in thyroid lymphoma, anaplastic carcinoma, metastasis to avoid unnecessary surgery. Follicular epithelial neoplasms are the most common tumors arising from the thyroid, whereas primary thyroid lymphomas are uncommon, accounting for less than 5% of all thyroid malignancies., Case Description: A 45-year-old male patient presented to our ENT outpatient department with swelling in the anterior neck for 3 years duration. Non-aspirational needling was done along with rapid on-site evaluation using 1% aq. toluidine blue and was reported as Malignant thyroid neoplasm- possibility of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Cellblock sample also confirmed as B-cell NHL followed by Immunohistochemistry., Discussion: Primary thyroid lymphomas (PTL) are uncommon malignant neoplasms. They represent < 5% of all thyroid malignancies and 1-2% of all extra-nodal lymphomas. If diagnosed cytologically, unnecessary surgery can be avoided in thyroid lymphoma. ROSE helps in the rapid diagnosis and sample adequacy. Cellblock can avoid the biopsy procedure used for confirmation and subtyping of lymphoma., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2022. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Introduction: Dizziness is an important symptom presenting in routine practice and the life time prevalence ranges from 17 to 30%. Persistent positional perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common cause of chronic dizziness and has often been labeled as psychogenic dizziness in the past., Discussion: PPPD is diagnosed based on clinical criteria laid down by the Barany society. The vestibular function tests and imaging of the brain and the inner ear are often normal. Most of the patients have an underlying anxiety trait and most cases of PPPD arise following an attack of acute vertigo like Meniere's disease and vestibular neuritis. It is important to differentiate the condition from bilateral vestibulopathy. There is no role of vestibular sedative in the treatment of such condition. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) like sertraline have shown benefits. However, long-term outcome is not known., Conclusion: PPPD is a relatively new entity in the ever-expanding field of neurotology that requires a multimodality approach for effective management. The otologists and general physicians must identify the condition so that favorable outcome can be achieved. The long-term effects of treatment with CBT and VRT are not known. It is important to formulate standard guidelines for treatment. Further research is necessary to identify the role of endogenous biomarkers in the outcome of treatment., (© 2022. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.)

Introduction: Noise is a preventable occupational hazard for certain professions like automobile drivers and traffic police personnel. The harmful auditory effects of noise are well known. However, little is known about the status of the vestibular function in chronic noise exposure without noise induced hearing loss. Our objective was to assess the vestibular function in chronic noise exposure., Methodology: : The study was conducted with a sample size of 242 (chronic noise exposure group - 121, group without chronic noise exposure - 121). Noise estimation was carried out across various traffic intersections to assess the noise exposure levels of the exposed group. All participants underwent a detailed vestibular evaluation in the clinical vestibulometry laboratory., Results: There was no difference in nystagmus, saccades, caloric function between the two groups. The latency and amplitude of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) were similar in both the groups. However, dynamic posturography showed a significant difference in the Adaptation test between the two groups (P < 0.05). We also found a statistically significant difference between the static and dynamic subjective visual vertical (SVV) and the dynamic visual acuity (DVA) between the two groups (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: We did not find any clinical evidence of vestibular dysfunction in the noise exposed group. However, the statistical significance of SVV and DVA as seen in this study needs to be evaluated further as an early marker for vestibular dysfunction. It remains to be seen whether the statistically significant prolongation is reversible after the noise exposure is withdrawn., Competing Interests: None

Background Exposure to recreational noise is an emerging public health problem leading to hearing loss. Young people often spend their leisure and relaxation time listening to unsafe levels of music on their personal audio systems. This study aimed to study hearing impairment among young adults due to exposure to various audio gadgets. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted among 241 patients and healthcare workers aged 20-40 years. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire including the history and patterns of usage of headphones. A mobile application-based hearing test, a validated Smartphone hearing screening technology, by the World Health Organization (hearWHO) was used to check hearing. Results Of the 241 adult participants (aged 20 to 40 years), 188 (78%) were males and 53 (22%) were females. The mean hearWHO score was 46.02 ± 9.854, ranging from 21 to 85. The mean hearWHO score for headphone usage with a music system of 50.45 ± 12.32 (p = 0.023) and television of 44.13 ± 8.595 (p = 0.015) was statistically significant. The mean hearWHO score for daily headphone users was 45.93 ± 9.67, for users using daily for more than two hours was 46.59 ± 10.34, for those using headphones for leisure was 47.51 ± 7.74, and for usage music/gaming was 48.71 ± 12.57. Subclinical hearing loss was seen in 201 (83.4%) headphone users. A higher proportion of subclinical hearing loss (74.1%) was noted among participants who used headphones for multiple reasons such as leisure, education, service, music, and gaming. Conclusions In this study, a high proportion of headphone users were found to have subclinical hearing loss. This study generated imperative facts for people and emphasize that they look after their hearing. This study introduces the applicability of new technology in an Indian setting where hearing healthcare is facing challenges., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Gupta et al.)

Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate oral manifestations associated with COVID-19 disease., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 367 suspects with mild/moderate COVID-19 symptoms who reported to a tertiary care hospital's screening OPD. An in-depth case history was taken, and an oral cavity examination was performed to detect any oral findings. All participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using a naso-pharyngeal swab and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Oral manifestations and the results of RT-PCR testing were correlated. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info and R software. To estimate the prevalence of oral symptoms, the Pearson chi-square test was used., Results: Oral manifestations were found in 58% of the study population. The difference in the prevalence of oral manifestations between RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients versus RT-PCR negative suspects was statistically significant (p = 0.007) with xerostomia and dysgeusia being significantly higher in positive patients (p = 0.036 and p = 0.044 respectively) while the prevalence of stomatopyrosis and other intraoral signs was insignificant., Conclusion: Xerostomia and dysgeusia are the common oral manifestations of COVID-19., Competing Interests: None., (© 2022 Craniofacial Research Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Newborn hearing screening is an effective strategy for early identification of hearing loss in the newborn which result in early intervention and best outcome. However implementing universal screening strategy is a challenge in many resource constrained settings. There are various limitations towards successful implementation of hearing screening program in the developing countries. The cost effectiveness of the screening program also needs to be considered in a resource constrained settings. We attempt to provide a viewpoint that can be potentially helpful for the successful implementation of hearing screening in a resource constrained settings of the developing countries., Competing Interests: Nil., (© 2020 PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Production and hosting by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd.)

Introduction  Nasal septal surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed by otolaryngology surgeons; however, anxiety before surgery and postoperative pain remain a significant cause of morbidity. The search for a complimentary modality to reduce the symptoms and side effects has gained momentum in recent years. Objective  Music therapy is an exciting and inexpensive modality in this regard, but scientific evidence in terms of randomized clinical trials is still lacking for common otolaryngology surgeries. Hence, we performed the present study. Method  The sample of our study was composed of 59 patients, 30 of which were submitted to conventional medicine, while the remaining 29 were submitted to both conventional medicine and music therapy with music of their own choice, with 2 sessions per day, each lasting 30 minutes. This was performed using the generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale and the pain visual analogue scale until postoperative day 2, when the patients were discharged from the hospital. Result  On comparing the anxiety and pain scores between the two groups, the group who underwent music therapy showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety both preoperatively ( p  < 0.0001) and postoperatively ( p  < 0.0001), as well as reduced postoperative pain starting from day 0 ( p  < 0.001), which continued until postoperative day 2 ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion  Music therapy is an effective adjunct in the control of anxiety and postoperative pain following nasal septal surgery., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests Dr. Bakshi and Dr. Gogoularadja report grants from the Indian Council of Medical Research during the conduction of the study. The present paper has not been sent anywhere else for publication.

&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection affecting people with impaired immunity. The aim of this study is to shed light on the epidemiology, incidence, and outcome of patients with mucormycosis hospitalized at a tertiary care center in Pondicherry. &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; We conducted a retrospective chart review between January 2008 and January 2018. All patients with proven or probable mucormycosis were included. &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; A total of 24 patients were included. Their median age was 49 years and the majority were males. Comorbidities included mainly hematologic malignancy and diabetes mellitus. A liposomal amphotericin B formulation alone or in combination with other antifungals was used as a first line agent in all patients. &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The incidence of mucormycosis has significantly increased over the past 10 years at our institution, most likely due to increased risk factors.

Competing Interests: Competing interestsNone declared

Introduction: Autoimmune inner disease (AIED) is an uncommon cause of sensorineural hearing loss and poses a diagnostic challenge. The present study aims to review the existing knowledge on the clinicopathological aspects, the diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic interventions in AIED., Discussion: The incidence of AIED is less than five cases per 100,000 population. There are no definite seromarkers which make diagnosis of AIED difficult. Even though various markers have been studied, their sensitivity and specificity have not been replicated in the clinical scenario. The treatment of the condition is also an enigma. Corticosteroids are the drug of choice and require long-term use to prevent relapse. Various other therapeutic agents have been studied in a small cohort of patients, but the efficacy of these drugs needs to be validated in a large multicentric trial., Conclusion: Timely intervention can restore hearing loss in AIED patients, but the clinician has to find a delicate balance between the hearing outcome and the potential side effects resulting from long-term use of the drugs. Treatment of steroid resistant AIED is a challenge and there are no universal guidelines for the same. AIED being an uncommon diagnosis, multicentric trials and collaboration are required to formulate diagnostic criteria and therapeutic guidelines.

The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results in patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction treated with intranasal endoscopic dacryo-cystorhinostomy (DCR) with intraoperative topical application of mitomycin-C. The procedure was carried out in 34 subjects (41eyes). Patients with post-saccal stenosis were divided into two groups, 21 patients were treated with intranasal endoscopic dacryo-cystorhinostomy with intraoperative application of Mitomycin-C (MMC) and the other 20 cases underwent procedure only without Mitomycin-C. Effectiveness of drug at rhinostomy site was assessed in relation to granulation formation, adhesions and ostium size. Outcomes were assessed on the basis of relief of subjective symptoms, patency of rhinostomy site confirmed via syringing and final ostium size at end of 6 months, 1 and 2 year. Success rate was 100% at 3 and 6 months follow-up in both the groups. At the end of 1 year, one failure was noted in control group which had to undergo revision endoscopic DCR with overall success rate decreasing to 97%. This was maintained at the end of second year. Results revealed that adjunctive use of Mitomycin-C was effective at 3 months when granulation tissue formation was significantly lesser in MMC group compared to no MMC group. Topical application of Mitomycin-C has been found to be beneficial in preventing adhesions and also resulted in larger neo-ostium. We concluded that results with intraoperative topical application of Mitomycin-C in endoscopic dacryo-cystorhinostomy are encouraging. It can favourably affect wound healing and result in larger rhinostomy size/ostium. Mitomycin-C is safe and effective adjunct in endoscopic dacryo-cystorhinostomy procedure. Level of evidence Individual prospective cohort study, level 1b., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2018.)