Quantitative sinonasal symptom assessment in an unselected pediatric population with cystic fibrosis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to establish baseline sinonasal quality of life scores in an unselected pediatric population with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to test the correlation of those scores with various clinical outcome measurements.

Methods: A total of 50 consecutive children, ages 2-12 years, seen routinely in a large CF clinic were evaluated by using the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Survey (SN-5) tool at the time of their visit. At this time, the parent or guardian of the child was also questioned about recent episodes of sinusitis, antibiotic prescriptions for sinusitis, recent hospitalizations, and days missed from school or recreational activities due to sinonasal symptoms.

Passive smoke exposure in chronic rhinosinusitis as assessed by hair nicotine.

Background: Prevalence of passive smoke exposure is relatively unknown in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Previous studies have attempted to establish this relationship using subjective, questionnaire-based methodologies to assess smoke exposure, thus introducing the potential for error bias. The purpose of this study was to accurately determine the prevalence of passive smoke exposure in CRS and control patients using hair nicotine levels as a quantitative measure of cigarette smoke exposure.

Systematic review of immunotherapy for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Immunotherapy (IT) has been well established as an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR), but little is known about the benefits of IT on clinical outcomes of comorbid chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The goal of this publication is to systematically review the literature regarding outcomes of IT in patients with atopic CRS.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted including studies that assessed the efficacy of IT on clinical outcome measures in CRS including without polyp, with polyp, and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis subgroups.

Systemic monocyte-derived dendritic cells and associated Th2 skewing in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Introduction: Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) are antigen-presenting cells capable of directing immune responses toward T-helper 1 (Th1) or T-helper 2 (Th2) phenotypes. The systemic profile of moDCs and their association with Th1/Th2 skewing in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to characterize circulating moDCs in controls, CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and correlate moDCs with Th1/Th2 skewing, mucosal inflammation on computed tomography (CT), and quality of life (QoL).

Leukotriene antagonists in nasal polyposis: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background: Leukotriene antagonists (LTAs) provide a potential strategy for the management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), which is often refractory to medical and surgical treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of LTA treatment alone and in conjunction with intranasal corticosteroids (INCSs) on nasal symptoms, objective clinical outcomes, and immune parameters in CRSwNP.

Methods: A systematic review was performed including studies that assessed the effectiveness of LTAs on clinical outcome measures of CRSwNP.

Balloon laryngoplasty for pediatric laryngeal stenosis: case series and systematic review.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to systematically review available literature on the outcomes of children treated with balloon laryngoplasty (BLP) as a primary or adjuvant treatment for subglottic or laryngeal stenosis, as well as briefly report on a new series of 60 children treated at the Medical University of South Carolina from 2007 to 2013.

Study Design: Review of published case series and retrospective chart review.

Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed and MEDLINE to identify trials that reported clinical outcomes of BLP in human patients under the age of 18 with subglottic or laryngeal stenosis.

Selection of a simian-human immunodeficiency virus strain resistant to a vaginal microbicide in macaques.

PSC-RANTES binds to CCR5, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry, and has been shown as a vaginal microbicide to protect rhesus macaques from a simian-human immunodeficiency virus chimera (SHIV(SF162-p3)) infection in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, env gene sequences from SHIV(SF162-p3)-infected rhesus macaques treated with PSC-RANTES were analyzed for possible drug escape variants. Two specific mutations located in the V3 region of gp120 (K315R) and C-helical domain of gp41 (N640D) were identified in a macaque (m584) pretreated with a 100 microM dose of PSC-RANTES.