The Journal of International Advanced Otology (J Int Adv Otol) is an international, peer reviewed, open access publication that is fully sponsored and owned by the European Academy of Otology and Neurotology and the Politzer Society. The journal is published triannually in April, August, and December and its publication language is English. The scope of the Journal is limited with otology, neurotology, audiology (excluding linguistics) and skull base medicine. The Journal of International Advanced Otology aims to publish manuscripts at the highest clinical and scientific level. J Int Adv Otol publishes original articles in the form of clinical and basic research, review articles, short reports and a limited number of case reports. Controversial patient discussions, communications on emerging technology, and historical issues will also be considered for publication. Target audience of J Int Adv Otol includes physicians and academics who work in the fields of otology, neurotology, audiology and skull base medicine.

Objectives We aimed to determine if superb microvascular imaging (SMI) can predict response to uterine artery embolization (UAE) as compared with power Doppler ultrasound. Methods The blood flow and the volume of the dominant leiomyoma was evaluated by power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) and SMI 1 day before and 3 months after the UAE procedure. SMI and PDUS blood flow were classified to 4 grades of vascularity. The change in fibroid volume in Grades 0–2 (hypovascular group) was compared to the hypervascular Grade 3 group. Results Twenty‐eight women (mean age, 40.9 years; range, 33–53 years) were examined with PDUS and SMI before and 3 months after UAE. The volume reduction was statistically significantly higher hypervascular group (P < .05). When we accept 30% or more volume reduction as a good response to UAE, the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of SMI were 100, 64, 73.6, 100, and 82.1%, respectively. There was excellent agreement between the two blinded observers in SMI measurements. Conclusions SMI, with its high reproducibility, provides further microvessel information than PDUS in uterine fibroids. It may be a useful tool in prediction of response to UAE treatment and improve counseling and patient selection for UAE versus medical or surgical treatment options.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate clinical and laboratory findings of hospitalized asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with COVID-19 and demonstrate that they have different symptoms and/or laboratory results and outcomes than COVID-19 patients with comorbidity (CoV-com) and without comorbidity (CoV-alone). Methodology: The data of the demographic, clinical, laboratory findings of hospitalized CoV-alone, asthma, COPD patients with COVID-19 (CoV-asthma, CoV-COPD, respectively), and CoV-com were analyzed. Results: Out of 1082 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, 585 (54.1%) had CoV-alone, 40 (3.7%) had CoV-asthma, 46 (4.3%) had CoV-COPD and 411 (38%) had CoV-com. Cough, shortness of breath, fever and weakness were the most common four symptoms seen in all COVID-19 patients. Shortness of breath, myalgia, headache symptoms were more common in CoV-asthma than the other groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.05 respectively). Sputum was more common in CoV-COPD than other groups (p < 0.01). COPD group most frequently had increased values, different from the other groups with CRP>5ng/mL in 91.3%, D-dimer > 0.05mg/dL in 89.1%, troponin > 0.014micg/L in %63.9, INR>1.15 in 52.2%, CK-MB>25U/L in 48.5%, PT>14s in 40.9% of patients (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). NT-ProBNP was found to have the highest AUC value and the best differentiating parameter for CoV-asthma from CoV-alone. Typical CT findings were present in 44.4% of CoV-alone, 57.5% of CoV-asthma, 28.3% of CoV-COPD and 38.9% of CoV-com groups. CoV-COPD and CoV-com patients died more frequently than other groups (17.8%, 18.5%). Conclusions: CoV-asthma and CoV-COPD patients might have different symptoms and laboratory parameters than other COVID-19 patients which can guide the physicians.

Purpose To investigate the relationship of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-4 (FGFR-4) expression with radiologic, pathologic, and clinical parameters in pituitary adenomas. Methods Among 307 patients who underwent pituitary surgery for a pituitary adenoma between 2000 and 2015, we included 161 patients (53 gonadotroph, 26 corticotroph, 25 null cell, 22 lactotroph, 13 somatotroph, 8 adenomas with unusual combination, 7 Pit-1 positive adenomas, and 7 lactosomatotroph) based on availability of pathology specimens. Patients’ radiologic, pathologic, and clinical parameters were determined. FGFR-4 immunostaining was evaluated using a semi-quantitative histologic score (H-score). Results The mean follow-up period was 61 (IQR=32–84) months. The median H-scores for FGFR-4 were higher in patients without remission, those with residual lesion, and T2-hyperintense adenoma (p<0.05). Ki-67 level was higher in patients without remission compared to those in remission (p<0.05). The mean Ki-67 levels did not differ between patients with and without residual lesion or T2-hyperintense tumor (p>0.05). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) when the H-score and Ki-67 levels were assessed in terms of sex, sellar-dural invasion, Knosp and a grading system for superior, inferior, parasellar, anterior and posterior tumor extension Classification, tumor function or presence of poor subtype. Adenomas with Ki-67 expression ≥3% had higher FGFR4 expression levels than those with <3% expression (p=0.002). There was a weak positive correlation between H-score and Ki-67 (p=0.011; r=0.201). Conclusions Higher levels of FGFR-4 in pituitary adenomas could be use a marker for more aggressive tumor behavior.

No abstract