Otolaryngologic clinics of North America
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Otolaryngol. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2014
ReviewShould vitamin D supplementation be a regular part of asthma care?
Vitamin D (vitD3) deficiency occurs frequently and has profound effects on health, especially asthma. This article examines how current knowledge of vitD3 actions and the worldwide distribution of vitD3 deficiency influences everyday clinical allergy practice. Within the limits of current knowledge, the article concisely explains the molecular nature of vitD3 actions, reviews key vitD3 research as it applies to clinical care, answers questions about the potential clinical impact of low vitD3 levels, and discusses use and safety of vitD3 supplements.
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Otolaryngol. Clin. North Am. · Oct 2013
ReviewSurgical treatment of traumatic injuries of the cranial base.
Skull-base fractures involve one or more of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, orbital plate of the frontal bone, sphenoid bone, occipital bone, and petrous or temporal bone. Although the fractures themselves only require reduction and reconstruction when the skull base is severely comminuted and altered, even small fractures and the traumatic shear forces can create tears in the meninges and thus predispose to cerebrospinal fluid leaks. This article explores the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of skull-base fractures, which most commonly involves resolution of the cerebrospinal fluid leak and the prevention of future leaks or meningoencephaloceles.
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This article reviews the evidence behind surgical innovations and effect on treatment-related morbidity to examine how they may be integrated into modern management strategies for oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Technologic advances, including transoral laser microsurgery and transoral robotic surgery, along with the application of sentinel lymph node biopsy for oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC are discussed.