Otitis Media in Children with Down Syndrome Is Associated with Shifts in the Nasopharyngeal and Middle Ear Microbiotas.

Otitis media (OM) is defined as middle ear (ME) inflammation that is usually due to infection. Globally, OM is a leading cause of hearing loss and is the most frequently diagnosed disease in young children. For OM, pediatric patients with Down syndrome (DS) demonstrate higher incidence rates, greater severity, and poorer outcomes.

Prevalence of Postpartum Depression in Mothers Presenting to a Pediatric Otolaryngology Clinic.

Objectives: To further understand specific risk factors for the development of postpartum depression (PPD) amongst mothers of infants with common otolaryngologic diagnoses.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed to screen for PPD in mothers of infants presenting to the pediatric otolaryngology clinic. After obtaining consent for inclusion, subjects were administered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, which was completed during the visit.

Women Surgeons Who Contributed to the Development of Pediatric Otolaryngology in the United States.

Objective: Our goal was to identify the early pioneering women surgeons in the United States who devoted their career or the majority of their practice to the care of otolaryngologic disorders in children. We sought to share their stories, recognize their contributions to the surgical subspecialty now known as pediatric otolaryngology, and acknowledge their vision and leadership.

Data Sources: Primary sources include books, published articles in the medical literature, newspaper articles, memorials/obituaries in both the medical literature and lay press, web logs, the John Q Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology to include the Women in Otolaryngology, a number of otolaryngology departments, and children's hospitals nationwide.

Rare Coding Variants in Patients with Non-Syndromic Vestibular Dysfunction.

Vertigo due to vestibular dysfunction is rare in children. The elucidation of its etiology will improve clinical management and the quality of life of patients. Genes for vestibular dysfunction were previously identified in patients with both hearing loss and vertigo.

Novel candidate genes for cholesteatoma in chronic otitis media.

Cholesteatoma is a rare and benign disease, but its propensity to cause erosive damage through uninhibited growth can be detrimental to hearing and health. Prior reports indicated a genetic component to pathogenesis in at least a subset of patients. In this study, we aimed to identify rare DNA variants in affected patients.

The Variant c.461G>A (p.Trp154*) Is Associated With Differentially Expressed Genes and Nasopharyngeal Microbiota Shifts in Patients With Otitis Media.

Otitis media (OM) is a leading cause of childhood hearing loss. Variants in , which encodes alpha-(1,2)-fucosyltransferase, were identified to increase susceptibility to OM, potentially through shifts in the middle ear (ME) or nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiotas as mediated by transcriptional changes. Greater knowledge of differences in relative abundance of otopathogens in carriers of pathogenic variants can help determine risk for OM in patients.

Multi-omic studies on missense PLG variants in families with otitis media.

Otitis media (OM), a very common disease in young children, can result in hearing loss. In order to potentially replicate previously reported associations between OM and PLG, exome and Sanger sequencing, RNA-sequencing of saliva and middle ear samples, 16S rRNA sequencing, molecular modeling, and statistical analyses including transmission disequilibrium tests (TDT) were performed in a multi-ethnic cohort of 718 families and simplex cases with OM. We identified four rare PLG variants c.

Identification of Novel Genes and Biological Pathways That Overlap in Infectious and Nonallergic Diseases of the Upper and Lower Airways Using Network Analyses.

Previous genetic studies on susceptibility to otitis media and airway infections have focused on immune pathways acting within the local mucosal epithelium, and outside of allergic rhinitis and asthma, limited studies exist on the overlaps at the gene, pathway or network level between the upper and lower airways. In this report, we compared [1] pathways identified from network analysis using genes derived from published genome-wide family-based and association studies for otitis media, sinusitis, and lung phenotypes, to [2] pathways identified using differentially expressed genes from RNA-sequence data from lower airway, sinus, and middle ear tissues, in particular cholesteatoma tissue compared to middle ear mucosa. For otitis media, a large number of genes ( = 1,806) were identified as differentially expressed between cholesteatoma and middle ear mucosa, which in turn led to the identification of 68 pathways that are enriched in cholesteatoma.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Position: Does It Matter for Infants With a Cleft Palate?

Objective: To determine whether nonsupine sleep improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants with cleft palate undergoing polysomnography (PSG).

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary care pediatric hospital.

A2ML1 and otitis media: novel variants, differential expression, and relevant pathways.

A genetic basis for otitis media is established, however, the role of rare variants in disease etiology is largely unknown. Previously a duplication variant within A2ML1 was identified as a significant risk factor for otitis media in an indigenous Filipino population and in US children. In this report exome and Sanger sequencing was performed using DNA samples from the indigenous Filipino population, Filipino cochlear implantees, US probands, Finnish, and Pakistani families with otitis media.

FUT2 Variants Confer Susceptibility to Familial Otitis Media.

Non-secretor status due to homozygosity for the common FUT2 variant c.461G>A (p.Trp154) is associated with either risk for autoimmune diseases or protection against viral diarrhea and HIV.

Multiple surgeries in pediatric otolaryngology patients and associated anesthesia risks.

Objectives: To determine the risk of healthy children undergoing tympanostomy tubes of an additional surgery prior to age three and associated risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of pediatric patients at a tertiary metropolitan children's hospital who underwent tympanostomy tube insertion procedure before age of three from January 2010 through March 2015. We determined patient demographics, indication for tympanostomy tube insertion, as well as information about additional procedures requiring general anesthesia before the age of three years.

Presentation and management of nasal foreign bodies at a tertiary children's hospital in an American metro area.

Objectives: To examine rates of otolaryngology intervention in children presenting to our emergency department with nasal foreign bodies, factors associated with otolaryngology involvement, rates of complications, and details on nasal button battery exposure.

Methods: All patients presenting with a nasal foreign body to Children's Hospital Colorado from 2007 to 2012 were identified. Factors leading to referral to otolaryngology and operative intervention were examined, as well as complications.

Cricopharyngeal achalasia in children: botulinum toxin injection as a tool for diagnosis and treatment.

Objectives/hypothesis: Characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients undergoing cricopharyngeus injection with botulinum toxin for the treatment of cricopharyngeal achalasia were reviewed. A parental telephone survey was performed to assess improvement and satisfaction.

Study Design: Retrospective review of patients who underwent injection of the cricopharyngeus with botulinum toxin for cricopharyngeal achalasia.

The internet, adolescent males, and homemade blowgun darts: a recipe for foreign body aspiration.

We describe our experience with blowgun dart aspiration via an illustrative case series and review the resources available to teach children how to construct these objects. A 15-year-old boy presented with cough, wheeze, and eventually admitted to aspiration of a homemade blowgun dart. This instance heightened the awareness of our experience with blowgun dart aspiration as 3 cases presented within a 3-month period.

Complement activation in pediatric patients with recurrent acute otitis media.

Objective: Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common childhood diseases. The relative contribution of complement activation in protection and pathogenesis during OM remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial and pathogenic contributions of complement activation in the middle ear of pediatric patients with recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM), and therefore to provide a rational approach to prevent sequelae of OM such as hearing loss.

Microtia and congenital aural atresia.

Microtia and congenital aural atresia (CAA) are congenital anomalies that are so common that every otolaryngologist should be familiar with the initial evaluation and care of the patient. When one ear hears normally, speech and language development should be normal. The gross and fine motor development of the baby or child is not expected to be affected in isolated cases of microtia and CAA.