The influence of obstructive sleep apnea and continuous positive airway pressure on the nasal microbiome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of obstructive sleep apnea and continuous positive airway pressure on the nasal microbiome.

Patients And Methods: Endonasal swabs from the olfactory groove of 22 patients with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and a control group of 17 healthy controls were obtained at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to further evaluate the endonasal microbiome.

TIMP-1 as a biomarker in obstructive sleep apnea: screening, monitoring, risk stratification, and a step towards precision medicine.

Objective: The diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a complex time- and resource-intensive diagnostic procedure. Since tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP's) are involved in various pathophysiological processes and are correlated with a high cardiovascular risk, TIMP's appear to be a suitable candidate for an OSA-biomarker.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective controlled diagnostic study, TIMP-1 serum levels of 273 OSA-patients and controls were analyzed for correlation with OSA severity, BMI, age, sex, cardio-/ cerebrovascular comorbidities.

Infliximab therapy of relapsing tracheal stenosis in a pediatric patient with granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report.

Background: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a granulomatous, necrotizing small-vessel vasculitis affecting both children and adults. However, subglottic tracheal stenosis appears more frequently in the pediatric cohort. To date, granulomatosis with polyangiitis is often treated with steroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, or rituximab, but tumor-necrosis-factor-α-antagonistic drugs are increasingly gaining significance in treatment of refractory cases.

Fluctuation in electrical hearing in a Morbus Meniere's patient.

The glycerol test is an easy-to-use instrument to elucidate fluctuations of electrical hearing in patients with Meniere's disease and it might be also used as a therapeutic option.

Transoral submandibulotomy for deep hilar submandibular gland sialolithiasis.

Objectives/hypothesis: To assess the long-term results after transoral submandibulotomy for stones located in the deep hilar and intraparenchymal submandibular region.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Methods: Retrospective evaluation including all patients treated with transoral submandibulotomy for sialolithiasis at a tertiary referral center.

The novel cytokine interleukin-36α is expressed in psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis synovium.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-36α is a recently described member of the IL-1 cytokine family with pro-inflammatory and clearly pathogenic properties in psoriasis.

Objective: To determine the IL-36α expression in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Synovial tissues obtained from arthritis patients were stained for IL-36α, IL-36 receptor (IL-36R) and IL-36R antagonist (IL-36Ra) by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.