Transcriptomics unravels molecular changes associated with cilia and COVID-19 in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common upper respiratory tract complication where the pathogenesis is largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the transcriptome profile in nasal mucosa biopsies of CRSwNP patients and healthy individuals. We further integrated the transcriptomics data with genes located in chromosomal regions containing genome-wide significant gene variants for COVID-19.

A new digitised screen test for strabismus measurement.

Purpose: Our study presents a digitised tangent screen test for ocular motility analysis according to the Harms and Hess tests (measurement of the squint angle in all fields of vision). This test uses an image beamer to display the tangent screen, a position sensor to measure the patient's head orientation, and a distance sensor to measure the fixation distance. Digital measurement of head orientation allows for a test procedure that eliminates the conventional requirement for a light pointer in the patient's hand.

Comparison of spherical and aspherical intraocular lenses with decentration and tilt error using a physical model of human contrast vision and an image quality metric.

Purpose: In this study, two intraocular lenses (spherical IOL SA60AT and aspherical IOL SN60WF) are examined in an eye model under conditions of misalignment (defocus, decentration and tilt). The lenses are rated using the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) based on Barten's physical model. The square root integral (SQRI) method is used as a quality criterion comparable to the subjective image quality assessment of the human eye.

New digital methods: remodelling the harms tangent scale setting.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present a feasibility study to evaluate and compare a self-constructed, digital-based tangent scale using the Harms tangent screen test for the examination of patients' strabismus angles.

Methods: The documented strabismus angles of 10 patients were measured at nine gaze-positions and compared using the Harms tangent screen test (Harms Screen) and a self-constructed digital screen test (Digital Screen). The primary outcome is the difference in the measured angles between both methods.

A family-based genome-wide association study of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps implicates several genes in the disease pathogenesis.

Background: The pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is largely unknown. Previous studies have given valuable information about genetic variants associated with this disease but much is still unexplained. Our goal was to identify genetic markers and genes associated with susceptibility to chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps using a family-based genome-wide association study.

Relative frequencies of symptoms and risk factors among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps using a case-control study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relative frequency of important symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), the link between CRSwNP and the lower airways and the importance of smoking in CRSwNP.

Method: Three hundred and sixty-eight patients with CRSwNP and 1349 controls were recruited to the study and underwent a structured interview about symptoms from the upper and lower airways, and about smoking habits. Furthermore, all participants were clinically examined using nasal endoscopy.

What Happens With Untreated Nasal Polyps Over Time? A 13-Year Prospective Study.

Objectives: Nasal polyps are often seen in ENT practice, but little is known about the pathogenesis and the natural development. Our objective was to follow individuals with untreated nasal polyps prospectively, in terms of polyp size, symptoms, and respiratory function.

Methods: Thirty-three individuals, aged 27 to 87 years, with untreated nasal polyps were identified in a population-based study.

Healthcare provider contact for children with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing: a population survey.

Background: Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in children, such as frequent snoring, apnoea and choking, may lead to health problems if untreated. The caregiver's level of awareness of these symptoms has been poorly studied. This study aimed to study healthcare provider contact related to sleep-disordered breathing symptoms in a population of children aged 0-11 years.

Olfactory dysfunction in chronic stroke patients.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate odor identification performance in patients one year after hospital admittance due to stroke. Predictors for olfactory dysfunction were investigated as well as self-reported olfactory function and pleasantness of olfactory items.

Methods: A 1-year prospective study was performed.

Heredity of nasal polyps.

Background: Nasal polyps is a common disease but little is known about its` pathogenesis. Our hypothesis was that there are genetic factors involved in the development of this disease. The aim of this study was to examine close relatives of patients with nasal polyps and comparing them with a general population with regard to prevalence of polyps.

Olfactory loss after head and neck cancer radiation therapy.

Background: A reduced sense of smell may be one explanation for why patients with cancer in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) region who are treated with radiation therapy lose weight. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether radiation therapy has a negative effect on olfactory function and, if so, whether this effect is dose-related.

Methodology: Seventy-one patients were tested using odour-detection sensitivity and olfactory identification tests before radiation therapy and 20 months after it.

Inhalation of menthol reduces capsaicin cough sensitivity and influences inspiratory flows in chronic cough.

Introduction: Chronic cough is a common clinical problem and there is a shortage of effective treatments for it. Within the group of transient receptor potential ion channels a receptor for the cooling substance menthol has been identified. This study aimed to assess whether pre-inhalation of dissolved, nebulised menthol could increase capsaicin cough thresholds and influence spirometric values.

Prevalence of chronic cough in relation to upper and lower airway symptoms; the Skövde population-based study.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic cough in relation to upper airway symptoms, in a cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study. Another aim was to relate coughing to other explanatory variables and risk factors. A random sample of 1900 inhabitants from the age of 20, stratified for age and gender, was recruited.

Normative data for the chemical sensitivity scale for sensory hyperreactivity: the Västerbotten environmental health study.

Objectives: The chemical sensitivity scale for sensory hyperreactivity (CSS-SHR) is used to quantify affective reactions to and behavioral disruptions by odorous/pungent substances in the environment and has documented good metric properties. However, normative data have not been available. The main objective of the present study was therefore to establish normative data for reference by means of a large-scale population-based study.

[Complex assessment of late side effects affecting quality of life - the "Debrecen model"].

As the outcome of childhood cancer improved substantially during the last 3 decades, the attitude of pediatric oncology has changed from "cure at any cost" to "cure at least cost". We investigated factors affecting quality of life in long-term survivors of childhood cancer in the in- and outpatient clinics of the Department of Pediatric Hematology-oncology, Institute of Pediatrics, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen. As a part of a comprehensive follow-up care program, we focused our attention on nephrotoxicity, osteoporosis and on cardiovascular morbidity.

The effect of smoking on physiological decongestion of the nasal mucosa in human.

Background: Exercise is known to decongest the nasal mucosa which results in increased nasal patency. In a recent study it was suggested that smoking might influence the effect of exercise on the nasal mucosa. This implies that smoking may cause neurological damage to the normal nasal physiology, which has not previously been shown.

Relationship of airway sensory hyperreactivity to asthma and psychiatric morbidity.

Background: Patients with airway symptoms induced by chemicals and odors are common in allergy clinics, but the problems cannot be explained by allergic or asthmatic reactions. Previous studies have shown that these patients often have increased sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin, which is known to reflect sensory reactivity; a diagnosis of airway sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) has been suggested for this condition.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between asthma and SHR and to investigate whether patients with SHR show signs of increased psychiatric morbidity.

Chemosensory interaction: acquired olfactory impairment is associated with decreased taste function.

Olfaction, taste and trigeminal function are three distinct modalities. However, in daily life they are often activated concomitantly. In health and disease, it has been shown that in two of these senses, the trigeminal and olfactory senses, modification of one sense leads to changes in the other sense and vice versa.

The idiopathic environmental intolerance symptom inventory: development, evaluation, and application.

Objective: To develop, evaluate, and apply a questionnaire-based instrument for investigation of specific symptoms in idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI), called the Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance Symptom Inventory (IEISI).

Methods: Participants with IEI to chemicals responded to 82 candidate symptoms and to three subscales of the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) at a test (n = 207) and retest (n = 193) occasion.

Results: The 27 most commonly reported symptoms were selected and grouped into five symptom categories.

Attention bias and sensitization in chemical sensitivity.

Objective: We investigated whether persons with self-reported chemical sensitivity (CS) have an attention bias and enhanced sensitization to chemical exposure.

Methods: Chemosomatosensory, olfactory, and auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 21 CS subjects and 17 controls in attend and ignore conditions. Reaction times (RTs) and magnitude estimations of perceived intensity were collected in the attend condition.

"Taste Strips" - a rapid, lateralized, gustatory bedside identification test based on impregnated filter papers.

Objective: To elaborate normative values for a clinical psychophysical taste test ("Taste Strips").

Background: The "Taste Strips" are a psychophysical chemical taste test. So far, no definitive normative data had been published and only a fairly small sample size has been investigated.

Dyspnea from exercise in cold air is not always asthma.

In the absence of other explanations, exercise-induced dyspnea is often labeled as a manifestation of asthma. The aim of this study was to use exercise provocation in cold air among patients with exercise-induced dyspnea, but without any bronchoconstriction, in order to study induced symptoms and different physiological parameters and to measure the possible influence of exercise in cold air on capsaicin cough sensitivity. Eleven patients with exercise-induced dyspnea but no asthma, along with 11 healthy controls, performed a capsaicin inhalation provocation on two occasions.

Capsaicin provocation using two different inhalation devices.

Background: Sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) has been suggested as one explanation for chemically induced airway symptoms; it can be diagnosed with a capsaicin inhalation test. Previous capsaicin inhalation studies of SHR have used a Pari Boy device. This model of inhalator device has become outdated, hence it is necessary to abandon it in favour of a new device.

Inhaled ethanol potentiates the cough response to capsaicin in patients with airway sensory hyperreactivity.

A suggested explanation for airway symptoms induced by chemicals and scents is sensory hyperreactivity (SHR) of airway mucosal nerves. Patients with SHR have increased cough sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin, mediated by transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. In animal experiments, some TRP receptors are potentiated by ethanol, which is why in this study, the aim was to evaluate whether a pre-inhalation of ethanol could influence the capsaicin cough response in patients with SHR.