Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Ear, Nose and Throat News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/ent/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156374.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156374.php Even when she's well, little Cammy Barber doesn't like getting her ears checked - and for good reason. She's only nine months old and has already had eight ear infections. And her mom, Coleen Barber, will tell you, treating them isn't always easy. "The shots are awful to see the child have to get, but even the medicine alone, they don't like the flavor of it, at this age, it's hard to sneak it into anything," says Coleen. Ear, Nose and Throat Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156286.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156286.php Tinnitus (from the Latin tinnitus or "ringing") is a condition characterized by ringing, swishing, or other noises that appear to be originating in the ear or head. Not normally a dangerous or serious problem, tinnitus is usually a symptom of some other underlying condition and most often considered a nuisance. Age-related hearing loss, ear injury, foreign objects in the ear, and circulatory system problems, for example, may cause the condition. Ear, Nose and Throat Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155923.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155923.php Otitis media, more commonly known as an ear infection, is the most frequently diagnosed illness in children less than 15 years of age in the United States and is the primary cause for emergency room visits. More than 80 percent of children will experience at least one ear infection before their third birthday. Much research has been dedicated to preventing this common childhood disease at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Ear, Nose and Throat Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155870.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155870.php New data presented at the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) annual meeting demonstrate that Grazax® is the first tablet treatment to provide sustained disease control in patients with grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis (hay fever) after the treatment period ended. This is the first time disease modification by sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablets has been achieved; effectively re-setting the immune system to reduce future allergic reactions to grass pollen. Allergy Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155504.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155504.php The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on cetuximab for the treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic (where the cancer has spread) squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. The guidance does not recommend cetuximab in combination with platinum- based chemotherapy as a treatment option for patients with this type of head and neck cancer. The cells that line parts of the body like the mouth and nose are called the 'epithelium'. Cancer / Oncology Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155438.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155438.php Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) announced that results of a study published in the February issue of the Laryngoscope were favorable toward the use of Medtronic's Straightshot® M4 Microdebrider for powered inferior turbinoplasty. Ear, Nose and Throat Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155396.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155396.php Two NYU Langone Medical Center researchers have received $1,560,000 in grant support for their first year of studies focused on microbiome and psoriasis and on microbiome and esophageal cancer from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The studies being conducted at NYU Langone Medical Center are two of several projects being conducted through the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research as part of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) taking place at institutions across the country. Eczema / Psoriasis Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155412.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155412.php Strep throat is a sore throat caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus. Sore throat is a term for any situation where the throat feels scratchy, tender, and possibly painful. Strep throat is a type of sore throat. Sore throat may be caused by bacteria or viruses, while strep throat is only caused by bacteria. The term strep throat is more commonly used in the USA and Canada, compared to other English speaking countries. Flu / Cold / SARS Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154887.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154887.php ORLANDO - Cisplatin/S-1 (CS) is non-inferior to cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (CF) for the treatment of advanced gastric/gastro-esophageal carcinoma and at the same time offers important safety improvements, according to phase III results released recently at a meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Cancer / Oncology Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154715.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154715.php Gargling with a licorice solution can help reduce postoperative sore throat a common and painful complication of anesthesia in patients undergoing surgery, reports a study in the July issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS). Patients who gargled with licorice before surgery had fewer problems with postoperative sore throat and cough, according to the new study by Dr. Pain / Anesthetics Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154458.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154458.php Researchers from Strategic BioSciences, together with investigators from the Institute for Asthma and Allergy (Wheaton, MD) reported that the new all-natural product is safe and effective in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis. MucoAd® is a mucoadhesive molecule (hypromellose) that prolongs contact with the nasal surface so that the nasal spray is well tolerated, lasts longer, and repeat dosing is needed less frequently. Allergy Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154283.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154283.php The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to stop using three products marketed over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia). Anosmia may be long-lasting or permanent. Ear, Nose and Throat Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153681.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153681.php New data from Phase 3 European clinical trials reinforce that Wyeth's (NYSE: WYE) investigational pneumococcal vaccine, Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine, 13-valent [Adsorbed]), has the potential to provide coverage against the 13 most prevalent serotypes associated with pneumococcal disease (PD), the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children younger than five worldwide. Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153559.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153559.php - The "Improving Access to Audiology Services in England", document in March 2007 by stated that: "Improving Access to Audiology Services in England sets out a simple aspiration: for local health systems to transform the experience of the audiology service for all their patients. This requires a radical reduction in waiting... Ear, Nose and Throat Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153589.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153589.php Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative agent in squamous cell cancers of head and neck (HNSCC) a new meta-analysis presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) confirms; but a separate European survey at the same meeting reveals the public is woefully ignorant about it and possible ways to avoid it. Sexual Health / STDs Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153420.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153420.php PEAK Surgical, Inc., announced the first use of its PEAK(R) Surgery System by surgeons in the European Union, where the innovative tissue dissection system received its CE Mark in January. Dr. Raul Pellini and Prof. Giuseppe Spriano, ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons at Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri (National Cancer Institute) in Rome, performed head and neck surgeries in cancer patients using the PEAK PlasmaBlades(TM). Additionally, Prof. Ear, Nose and Throat Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153387.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153387.php So many classic childhood movies (Dumbo) and sing-a-longs (Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?) emphasize large and protruding ears. But it turns out that having protruding ears is often-times a humiliating feature for a teenager. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery's 2008 Procedural Survey, 27. Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152928.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152928.php When it comes to maintaining their health, men tend to wait for serious symptoms to appear before taking the necessary precautions. Indications of serious physical conditions, however, can oftentimes take a silent form. Take hearing loss: The condition affects more than 31 million people, 65 percent of whom are men, but the signs of the condition are typically overlooked. Hearing / Deafness Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152602.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152602.php It has been linked to learning impairment, stroke and premature death. Now UNSW research has found that snoring associated with sleep apnoea may impair brain function more than previously thought. Sufferers of obstructive sleep apnoea experience similar changes in brain biochemistry as people who have had a severe stroke or who are dying, the research shows. Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152228.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152228.php If having malodorous armpits (called osmidrosis) and goopy earwax isn't bad enough, a discovery by Japanese scientists may add a more serious problem for women facing these cosmetic calamities. That's because they've found that a gene responsible for breast cancer causes these physical symptoms. The report describing this finding is featured on the cover of The FASEB Journal's June 2009 print issue, and should arm physicians with another clue for detecting breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152182.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152182.php The world's largest ear, nose, and throat professional medical association, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), has released a manual detailing best practices for the creation of new clinical practice guidelines. The manual is published as a supplement to the June issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. Ear, Nose and Throat Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152146.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152146.php The Long Path to Diagnosis Peter Lawrence's symptoms began in August 2005 when he started to suffer chest pains. He was admitted to Kent and Sussex Hospital where he was prescribed pain killers. These provided immediate relief, but Peter needed to have various tests to find out what the underlying problem was. An ultrasound to check his gall bladder was negative, and his chest X-ray was clear. It was decided that Peter needed a scan, for which there was a waiting list. Vascular Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152030.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152030.php Patients undergoing treatment for advanced head and neck cancers may respond well to the addition of gefinitib to chemotherapy, according to a study sponsored by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and chaired by Ethan Argiris, M.D., associate professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and co-leader of the Head and Neck Cancer Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). Cancer / Oncology Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151991.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151991.php Hearing and vocal problems go hand-in-hand among the elderly more frequently than previously thought, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Together, they pack a devastating double punch on communication skills and overall well-being. "It's important to realize these disabilities often occur concurrently," says Seth Cohen, MD, an otolaryngologist at the Duke Voice Care Center. Hearing / Deafness Fri, 29 May 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151812.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151812.php In October 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for the newly formulated higher strength azelastine nasal spray as complete for substantive review after initial evaluation. This NDA contained data on six phase III studies and a long-term safety study, involving more than 1,600 patients in total. Ear, Nose and Throat