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Papers by Justinas Vaitkus

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of sinonasal outcomes test (SNOT-22) to Lithuanian patients

Research paper thumbnail of Pacientų sergančių lėtiniu rinosinusitu gyvenimo kokybės vertinimas po chirurginio gydymo naudojant sino – Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT – 22)

Research paper thumbnail of Nosies vožtuvų chirurgija

Research paper thumbnail of Alterations of interleukins for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in different age groups

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of quality life five years after sinus surgery using sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22)

Research paper thumbnail of Burnout Syndrome among Otorhinolaryngologists during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Medicina

Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among otorhinolaryngol... more Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among otorhinolaryngologists in Lithuania and investigate associations with sociodemographic and professional factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Burnout was measured using the validated Lithuanian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Demographic characteristics and professional characteristics were collected utilizing an anonymous questionnaire. Results: Eighty otorhinolaryngologists (ORL group) and 30 information technology professionals (the control group) were enrolled in this study. A high level of professional burnout in at least one of the subscales was observed in 82.5% of the ORL group subjects. Depersonalization and burnout syndrome were more frequently detected with increasing age in the ORL group (r = 0.2, p < 0.04). Greater satisfaction with salary and working environment resulted in a lower burnout incidence (r = 0.31, p = 0.001). Conclusions: During the COVID-19...

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of an HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Attitudinal Instrument

AIDS Education and Prevention, 2007

An instrument developed in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to... more An instrument developed in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge and four attitudinal dimensions (Peer Pressure, Abstinence, Drug Use, and Threat of HIV Infection) and an instrument developed by Basen-Engquist et al. (1999) to measure abstinence and condom use were translated, cross-culturally adapted, and validated for use with Spanish-speaking high school students in El Salvador. A back-translation of the English version was cross-culturally adapted using two different review panels and pilot-tested with Salvadorian students. An expert panel established content validity, and confirmatory factor analysis provided support for construct validity. Results indicated that the methodology was successful in cross-culturally adapting the instrument developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the instrument developed by Basen-Engquist et al. The psychometric properties of the knowledge section were acceptable and there was partial support for the four-factor attitudinal model underlying the CDC instrument and the two-factor model underlying the Basen-Engquist et al. instrument. Additional studies with Spanish-speaking populations (either in the United States or Latin America) are needed to evaluate the generalizability of the present results.

Research paper thumbnail of CT and MRI value for diagnosing Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea

Research paper thumbnail of Makšties infekcijų diagnostikos ir gydymo naujasių rekomendacijų apžvalga = Review of the latest quidelines for diagnostics and treatment of vulvovaginal infection

Research paper thumbnail of The Significance of IL-21 and IL-22 concentration changes in different CRSwNP patients age groups

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 for Lithuanian patients

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2012

The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation... more The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the SNOT-22 in the Lithuanian language. This is a prospective case–control study. The study was conducted at the University clinic. The sino-nasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22) was translated into the Lithuanian language; the pilot study involved 34 patients, the test–retest group consisted of 34 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and the control group of 115 patients with no CRS complaints; 36 patients were evaluated before surgery and 3 months after surgery. The results showed a good internal correlation with Cronbach’s alpha—0.89 in the initial test, and 0.93 in the retest; both values suggesting good internal consistency within the SNOT-22. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.72 (p < 0.001), revealing good correlation between the initial scores and the retests scores. Our sample of healthy individuals had a median score of 12 points, and the instrument was capable of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Local inflammatory marker production in Lithuanian patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Journal of Immunotoxicology, 2020

There are two clinical subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): chronic rhinosinusitis with nasa... more There are two clinical subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The aim of the study here was to determine the levels of invasive inflammatory markers in nasal mucosa samples taken from CRSwNP patients during the surgery and to identify markers that could serve as targets for potential clinical and therapeutic interventions. The study was carried out in 59 patients with proven CRSwNP and a control group consisting of 52 healthy individuals. Concentrations of the inflammatory markers of interest were determined using a LuminexR Assay multiplex kit. The data obtained indicated that levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -7, -12, -17 and -22 were all significantly higher in the nasal polyps (NP) than those in the mucosa of control participants. No differences were seen between the study groups for IL -6, -10, -13, -21 and interferon (IFN)-γ. OR (Odds Ratio)...

Research paper thumbnail of Endoscopic ear surgery: A case series

Research paper thumbnail of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Age and Disease Severity Differences in the Levels of Inflammatory Markers

Background and objectives: The aim of our study was to analyze the concentrations of inflammatory... more Background and objectives: The aim of our study was to analyze the concentrations of inflammatory markers in the nasal tissue of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) and controls of different age groups, as well as to find associations between age, inflammation development, and NPs. Materials and methods: Patients were divided into two groups—patients with CRSwNPs and control subjects who had nasal surgery for another reason beside CRS. Our analysis was performed across three different age groups (18–30 years, 31–50 years, and 51 years and more). Tissue biopsies from the sinus cavity for all study participants were taken and frozen at −80 °C, until use. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-13, IL-21, and IL-22, were quantified using a magnetic bead-based multiplex assay. Results: In the group aged 18–30 years, the levels of inflammatory markers IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, and IL-22 were significantly higher in patients with CRSwNPs t...

Research paper thumbnail of Chronic Odontogenic Rhinosinusitis: Optimization of Surgical Treatment Indications

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

Background The treatment of chronic odontogenic and nonodontogenic rhinosinusitis is different. I... more Background The treatment of chronic odontogenic and nonodontogenic rhinosinusitis is different. It requires the elimination of odontogenic cause and optimal sinus surgical treatment. To date, there are no clear indications when sinus surgical treatment is necessary. Objective Our aim was to define clear indication(s) for sinus surgical treatment in patients with chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis after elimination of odontogenic cause. Methods A group of 96 patients with chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis caused by apical periodontitis completed a Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire with incorporated additional symptom “malodor” before treatment. Moreover, they were distributed according to computed tomography (CT) radiological criteria such as degree of periapical pathology, anatomical ratio between maxillary lateral teeth and sinus floor, sinus mucosal thickening, and ostiomeatal complex condition. The elimination of odontogenic cause was performed by extracting cau...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 Symptom Scores in Rhinogenic and Odontogenic Sinusitis

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

Background Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) and rhinogenic sinusitis (RS) are the main types... more Background Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) and rhinogenic sinusitis (RS) are the main types of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL), but the difference in HRQL and symptom presentation between them has not been specifically evaluated to date. Obejctive: Our aim was to compare patterns of symptoms and HRQL disease-specific domains in patients affected with these 2 types of CRS. Methods A group of 201 patients with CRS (99 with rhinogenic and 102 with odontogenic origin) completed the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire before treatment. Data sets were analyzed by using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify a set of symptom components together with the items excluded from PCA, which were then analyzed for differences between patients with OMS and RS. Results PCA of SNOT-22 items identified 5 components: “rhinologic,” “extranasal rhinologic,” “ear/facial,” “sleep and functional disturbance,” an...

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 for Lithuanian patients

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2013

The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation... more The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the SNOT-22 in the Lithuanian language. This is a prospective case-control study. The study was conducted at the University clinic. The sino-nasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22) was translated into the Lithuanian language; the pilot study involved 34 patients, the test-retest group consisted of 34 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and the control group of 115 patients with no CRS complaints; 36 patients were evaluated before surgery and 3 months after surgery. The results showed a good internal correlation with Cronbach&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s alpha-0.89 in the initial test, and 0.93 in the retest; both values suggesting good internal consistency within the SNOT-22. Pearson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s correlation coefficient was 0.72 (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001), revealing good correlation between the initial scores and the retests scores. Our sample of healthy individuals had a median score of 12 points, and the instrument was capable of differentiating between the healthy and the patient group, demonstrating its validity (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001). The statistically significant reduction in the post-operative scores, vis-à-vis pre-operative values, demonstrates the responsiveness of the instrument. The minimally important difference was 13 points in the SNOT-22 score. The Lithuanian version of the SNOT-22 is a valid instrument for assessing patients with CRS. It demonstrated good internal consistency, reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness.

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of sinonasal outcomes test (SNOT-22) to Lithuanian patients

Research paper thumbnail of Pacientų sergančių lėtiniu rinosinusitu gyvenimo kokybės vertinimas po chirurginio gydymo naudojant sino – Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT – 22)

Research paper thumbnail of Nosies vožtuvų chirurgija

Research paper thumbnail of Alterations of interleukins for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in different age groups

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of quality life five years after sinus surgery using sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22)

Research paper thumbnail of Burnout Syndrome among Otorhinolaryngologists during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Medicina

Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among otorhinolaryngol... more Background and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among otorhinolaryngologists in Lithuania and investigate associations with sociodemographic and professional factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Burnout was measured using the validated Lithuanian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Demographic characteristics and professional characteristics were collected utilizing an anonymous questionnaire. Results: Eighty otorhinolaryngologists (ORL group) and 30 information technology professionals (the control group) were enrolled in this study. A high level of professional burnout in at least one of the subscales was observed in 82.5% of the ORL group subjects. Depersonalization and burnout syndrome were more frequently detected with increasing age in the ORL group (r = 0.2, p < 0.04). Greater satisfaction with salary and working environment resulted in a lower burnout incidence (r = 0.31, p = 0.001). Conclusions: During the COVID-19...

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of an HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Attitudinal Instrument

AIDS Education and Prevention, 2007

An instrument developed in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to... more An instrument developed in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge and four attitudinal dimensions (Peer Pressure, Abstinence, Drug Use, and Threat of HIV Infection) and an instrument developed by Basen-Engquist et al. (1999) to measure abstinence and condom use were translated, cross-culturally adapted, and validated for use with Spanish-speaking high school students in El Salvador. A back-translation of the English version was cross-culturally adapted using two different review panels and pilot-tested with Salvadorian students. An expert panel established content validity, and confirmatory factor analysis provided support for construct validity. Results indicated that the methodology was successful in cross-culturally adapting the instrument developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the instrument developed by Basen-Engquist et al. The psychometric properties of the knowledge section were acceptable and there was partial support for the four-factor attitudinal model underlying the CDC instrument and the two-factor model underlying the Basen-Engquist et al. instrument. Additional studies with Spanish-speaking populations (either in the United States or Latin America) are needed to evaluate the generalizability of the present results.

Research paper thumbnail of CT and MRI value for diagnosing Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea

Research paper thumbnail of Makšties infekcijų diagnostikos ir gydymo naujasių rekomendacijų apžvalga = Review of the latest quidelines for diagnostics and treatment of vulvovaginal infection

Research paper thumbnail of The Significance of IL-21 and IL-22 concentration changes in different CRSwNP patients age groups

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 for Lithuanian patients

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2012

The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation... more The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the SNOT-22 in the Lithuanian language. This is a prospective case–control study. The study was conducted at the University clinic. The sino-nasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22) was translated into the Lithuanian language; the pilot study involved 34 patients, the test–retest group consisted of 34 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and the control group of 115 patients with no CRS complaints; 36 patients were evaluated before surgery and 3 months after surgery. The results showed a good internal correlation with Cronbach’s alpha—0.89 in the initial test, and 0.93 in the retest; both values suggesting good internal consistency within the SNOT-22. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.72 (p < 0.001), revealing good correlation between the initial scores and the retests scores. Our sample of healthy individuals had a median score of 12 points, and the instrument was capable of ...

Research paper thumbnail of Local inflammatory marker production in Lithuanian patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Journal of Immunotoxicology, 2020

There are two clinical subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): chronic rhinosinusitis with nasa... more There are two clinical subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS): chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The aim of the study here was to determine the levels of invasive inflammatory markers in nasal mucosa samples taken from CRSwNP patients during the surgery and to identify markers that could serve as targets for potential clinical and therapeutic interventions. The study was carried out in 59 patients with proven CRSwNP and a control group consisting of 52 healthy individuals. Concentrations of the inflammatory markers of interest were determined using a LuminexR Assay multiplex kit. The data obtained indicated that levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, -7, -12, -17 and -22 were all significantly higher in the nasal polyps (NP) than those in the mucosa of control participants. No differences were seen between the study groups for IL -6, -10, -13, -21 and interferon (IFN)-γ. OR (Odds Ratio)...

Research paper thumbnail of Endoscopic ear surgery: A case series

Research paper thumbnail of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Age and Disease Severity Differences in the Levels of Inflammatory Markers

Background and objectives: The aim of our study was to analyze the concentrations of inflammatory... more Background and objectives: The aim of our study was to analyze the concentrations of inflammatory markers in the nasal tissue of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) and controls of different age groups, as well as to find associations between age, inflammation development, and NPs. Materials and methods: Patients were divided into two groups—patients with CRSwNPs and control subjects who had nasal surgery for another reason beside CRS. Our analysis was performed across three different age groups (18–30 years, 31–50 years, and 51 years and more). Tissue biopsies from the sinus cavity for all study participants were taken and frozen at −80 °C, until use. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-13, IL-21, and IL-22, were quantified using a magnetic bead-based multiplex assay. Results: In the group aged 18–30 years, the levels of inflammatory markers IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, and IL-22 were significantly higher in patients with CRSwNPs t...

Research paper thumbnail of Chronic Odontogenic Rhinosinusitis: Optimization of Surgical Treatment Indications

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

Background The treatment of chronic odontogenic and nonodontogenic rhinosinusitis is different. I... more Background The treatment of chronic odontogenic and nonodontogenic rhinosinusitis is different. It requires the elimination of odontogenic cause and optimal sinus surgical treatment. To date, there are no clear indications when sinus surgical treatment is necessary. Objective Our aim was to define clear indication(s) for sinus surgical treatment in patients with chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis after elimination of odontogenic cause. Methods A group of 96 patients with chronic odontogenic rhinosinusitis caused by apical periodontitis completed a Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire with incorporated additional symptom “malodor” before treatment. Moreover, they were distributed according to computed tomography (CT) radiological criteria such as degree of periapical pathology, anatomical ratio between maxillary lateral teeth and sinus floor, sinus mucosal thickening, and ostiomeatal complex condition. The elimination of odontogenic cause was performed by extracting cau...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 Symptom Scores in Rhinogenic and Odontogenic Sinusitis

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

Background Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) and rhinogenic sinusitis (RS) are the main types... more Background Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) and rhinogenic sinusitis (RS) are the main types of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and have a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL), but the difference in HRQL and symptom presentation between them has not been specifically evaluated to date. Obejctive: Our aim was to compare patterns of symptoms and HRQL disease-specific domains in patients affected with these 2 types of CRS. Methods A group of 201 patients with CRS (99 with rhinogenic and 102 with odontogenic origin) completed the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire before treatment. Data sets were analyzed by using principal component analysis (PCA) to identify a set of symptom components together with the items excluded from PCA, which were then analyzed for differences between patients with OMS and RS. Results PCA of SNOT-22 items identified 5 components: “rhinologic,” “extranasal rhinologic,” “ear/facial,” “sleep and functional disturbance,” an...

Research paper thumbnail of Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 for Lithuanian patients

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2013

The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation... more The objective of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the SNOT-22 in the Lithuanian language. This is a prospective case-control study. The study was conducted at the University clinic. The sino-nasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22) was translated into the Lithuanian language; the pilot study involved 34 patients, the test-retest group consisted of 34 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and the control group of 115 patients with no CRS complaints; 36 patients were evaluated before surgery and 3 months after surgery. The results showed a good internal correlation with Cronbach&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s alpha-0.89 in the initial test, and 0.93 in the retest; both values suggesting good internal consistency within the SNOT-22. Pearson&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s correlation coefficient was 0.72 (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001), revealing good correlation between the initial scores and the retests scores. Our sample of healthy individuals had a median score of 12 points, and the instrument was capable of differentiating between the healthy and the patient group, demonstrating its validity (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0001). The statistically significant reduction in the post-operative scores, vis-à-vis pre-operative values, demonstrates the responsiveness of the instrument. The minimally important difference was 13 points in the SNOT-22 score. The Lithuanian version of the SNOT-22 is a valid instrument for assessing patients with CRS. It demonstrated good internal consistency, reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness.