Oral antifungal therapy for Fusarium-associated chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Fusarium is commonly reported as an organism found in fungus-associated chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) yet it is known to be resistant to commonly used antifungal therapies. The goals of this work are to report the incidence of Fusarium-associated CRS in fungal cultures and to describe the treatment experience with oral antifungal agent aimed at this problem.

Methods: Patients with sinus cultures obtained from 2005 through 2008 were retrospectively identified and their medical records were evaluated.

Atypical mycobacterium detection in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: Atypical mycobacterium (AM) involvement in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is sought by some surgeons with customary acid-fast bacilli cultures (AFBC) in the operating room (OR). We evaluate our experience with AM in CRS by describing (1) associated risk factors, (2) species identified, and (3) frequency of positive cultures in clinic versus OR.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Evaluating the safety of frontal sinus trephination.

Objectives/hypothesis: The depth of the frontal sinus was measured using axial computed tomography (CT) images to examine the safety of frontal sinus trephination at selected distances from the midline.

Study Design: Review of 200 sinus CT scans.

Methods: Two hundred sinus CT scans (400 frontal sinuses) were reviewed to measure the frontal sinus depth at 5 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm from midline.

Preparation and rheological characterization of a gel form of the porcine urinary bladder matrix.

Biologic scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) have been used to facilitate the repair and reconstruction of a variety of tissues in clinical and pre-clinical studies. The clinical utility of such scaffolds can be limited by the geometric and mechanical properties of the tissue or organ from which the ECM is harvested. An injectable gel form of ECM could potentially conform to any three-dimensional shape and could be delivered to sites of interest by minimally invasive techniques.

The application of tissue engineering procedures to repair the larynx.

The field of tissue engineering/regenerative medicine combines the quantitative principles of engineering with the principles of the life sciences toward the goal of reconstituting structurally and functionally normal tissues and organs. There has been relatively little application of tissue engineering efforts toward the organs of speech, voice, and hearing. The present manuscript describes a study that was conducted in which a biologic scaffold derived from porcine (pig) extracellular matrix (ECM) was used to repair the defect following a hemilaryngectomy procedure in dogs.

Efficacy of cidofovir injection for the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

To evaluate the efficacy of intralesional cidofovir injection for the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). It is a prospective, open-label study design. This prospective study included 16 RRP patients, ages 9 to 68 years, who were treated with intralesional injections of cidofovir combined with surgical excision of RRP.

Development and validation of the voice handicap index-10.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective was to develop an abbreviated voice handicap assessment instrument and compare it with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).

Study Design: Item analysis of the VHI in individuals without voice disorders and patients with voice disorders and creation and validation of the abbreviated VHI.

Methods: Clinical consensus review of the VHI items was held to prioritize the clinical value of each of the VHI items (30 items in all).

A rationally designed genotoxin that selectively destroys estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells.

We describe a novel strategy to increase the selective toxicity of genotoxic compounds. The strategy involves the synthesis of bifunctional molecules capable of forming DNA adducts that have high affinity for specific proteins in target cells. It is proposed that the association of such proteins with damaged sites in DNA can compromise protein function and/or DNA repair resulting in increased toxicity.