An eosinophil peroxidase activity assay accurately predicts eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: A definitive diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (eCRS) requires invasive surgical tissue sampling and histologic enumeration of intact eosinophils. Eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) is an accurate biomarker of sinonasal tissue eosinophilia in CRS regardless of polyp status. A less invasive and rapid method that accurately identifies tissue eosinophilia would be of great benefit to patients.

Healthcare Provider Feedback Improves Outpatient E/M Billing and Coding in Otolaryngology Clinics.

Objective: Discrepancies in medical coding can negatively impact institutional revenue and result in accusations of medical fraud. The objective of the present study was to prospectively assess the utility of a dynamic feedback system for otolaryngology providers in improving the coding/billing accuracy of outpatient clinic encounters.

Methods: A billing audit of outpatient clinic visits was performed.

Intraoperative Alcoholization of the Pituitary Gland Does Not Reduce the Recurrence Rate of Growth Hormone Secreting Pituitary Adenomas.

 Although the role of intraoperative alcoholization of the pituitary gland has been examined for the management of malignant tumor metastases and Rathke's cleft cysts, no such studies have been conducted relating to growth hormone (GH) secreting pituitary tumors, despite the high rate of recurrence in this cohort of patients. Here, we sought to understand the impact of adjunctive intraoperative alcoholization of the pituitary gland on recurrence rates and perioperative complications associated with resection of GH-secreting tumors.  This is a single-institution retrospective cohort study analyzing recurrence rates and complications among patients with GH-secreting tumors who received intraoperative alcoholization of the pituitary gland postresection versus those that did not.

Nasal endoscopy, room filtration, and aerosol concentrations during live outpatient encounters: a prospective, case-control study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted safety concerns surrounding possible aerosol-generating procedures, but comparative data on the smallest particles capable of transmitting this virus remain limited. We evaluated the effect of nasal endoscopy on aerosol concentration and the role of a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in reducing aerosol concentration.

Methods: Otolaryngology patients were prospectively enrolled in an outpatient, cross-sectional study.

Cell Adhesion Molecules are Upregulated and May Drive Inflammation in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis.

Purpose: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is predominantly characterized by eosinophil- and T helper 2 cell (Th2)-biased inflammation. Integrins and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) are superfamilies of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that facilitate the recruitment and trafficking of immune cells and have been implicated in coordinating eosinophil and Th2 cell adhesion and signaling in asthma. The roles of CAMs in CRSwNP, however, remain poorly understood.

Transcriptional Changes in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Asthma Favor a Type 2 Molecular Endotype Independent of Polyp Status.

Background: Data regarding the inflammatory profile of patients with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS-A) with (CRSwNP-A) and without (CRSsNP-A) nasal polyposis remain limited.

Objective: Define and compare systemic transcriptional changes in patients with CRS-A to those with non-asthma-related CRS with (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP).

Methods: Thirty-four patients with CRS-A (n=19) and CRS (n=15) were prospectively enrolled into an observational study.

Comparison of FDA-Reported Visual and Refractive Outcomes of the Toric ICL Lens, SMILE, and Topography-Guided LASIK for the Correction of Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism.

Purpose: To compare U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-reported visual and refractive outcomes following surgical correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism using the Visian Toric Implantable Collamer Lens (STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, CA) (Toric ICL), small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE), and topography-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (TG-LASIK).

Differential expression and role of S100 proteins in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Purpose Of Review: Immune system modulators have been under investigation to help elucidate the underlying pathophysiologies of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Psoriasin (S100A7) and calgranulins (S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12) are S100 proteins that have been studied for their immune-mediating responses to pathogens within the context of CRS. This review highlights the expression patterns and proposed roles of S100 proteins in CRS with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps.