Polysomnographic Phenotype of Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background And Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction, leading to disrupted sleep and various health complications. Positional OSA (POSA) refers to patients whose OSA severity is significantly influenced by body position, especially when lying supine. This study aimed to evaluate the polysomnographic characteristics of POSA and non-positional OSA (non-POSA) and to assess their clinical implications.

Endotype and Phenotype Related Postoperative Effects of Bacterial Lysate in Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) endotypes have demonstrated clinical value in guiding treatment decisions. Bacterial lysates are immunomodulators that have shown beneficial effects in various respiratory inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of postoperative bacterial lysate therapy on different CRS endotypes.

Dental implant as a potential risk factor for maxillary sinus fungus ball.

Fungus ball is the most common form of non-invasive fungal sinusitis, and maxillary sinus is the most commonly involved site. Maxillary sinus fungus ball (MFB) accounts for a considerable proportion of unilateral maxillary sinusitis. The prevalence of MFB has recently increased; however, its contributing factors are unclear.

The Olfactory System: Basic Anatomy and Physiology for General Otorhinolaryngologists.

Olfaction is one of the five basic human senses, and it is known to be one of the most primitive senses. The sense of olfaction may have been critical for human survival in prehistoric society, and although many believe its importance has diminished over time, it continues to have an impact on human interaction, bonding, and propagation of the species. Even if we are unaware of it, the sense of smell greatly affects our lives and is closely related to overall quality of life and health.

The clinical influence of nasal surgery on PAP compliance and optimal application among OSA subjects uncomfortable with PAP device wear.

This study aimed to evaluate the alteration of PAP compliance after nasal surgery and to determine the optimal indications of nasal surgery in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects. Among OSA subjects using PAP devices, 29 subjects who underwent septoturbinoplasty due to nasal obstruction were included and their pre- and postoperative medical and PAP records were reviewed retrospectively. Postoperative autoPAP usage data was further assessed by grouping the compliance (the percentage of days with usage ≥ 4 h) data (group 1: the good compliance group; group 2: the poor compliance group).

Compositional Alterations of the Nasal Microbiome and Staphylococcus aureus-Characterized Dysbiosis in the Nasal Mucosa of Patients With Allergic Rhinitis.

Objectives: Host-microbial commensalism can shape the innate immune response in the nasal mucosa, and the microbial characteristics of nasal mucus directly impact the mechanisms of the initial allergic responses in the nasal epithelium. We sought to determine alterations of the microbial composition in the nasal mucus of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and to elucidate the interplay between dysbiosis of the nasal microbiome and allergic inflammation.

Methods: In total, 364,923 high-quality bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA-encoding gene sequence reads from 104 middle turbinate mucosa samples from healthy participants and patients with AR were obtained and analyzed using the Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology pipeline.

Comparison of hearing outcomes in patients with congenital aural atresia managed with canaloplasty and bone conduction hearing devices.

Background: Treatment options for congenital aural atresia (CAA) include canaloplasty and implantation of an osseointegrated bone conduction device (OBCD). Few studies have compared hearing outcomes in these two treatment methods.

Objectives: Hearing outcomes and revision surgery rates were compared in CAA patients managed by canaloplasty and surgically implanted OBCD.

Primary versus modified secondary closure techniques for persistent tracheocutaneous fistula in pediatric patients.

Purpose: This study aimed at compating two closure techniques for tracheocutaneous fistulas (TCFs) in pediatric patients.

Methods: A total of 106 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent closure of a persistent TCF between April 2007 and February 2021 at a tertiary pediatric hospital were evaluated, and 103 pediatric patients aged between 12 months and 18 years were included. The clinical characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative outcomes were compared between TCF closure by primary closure (Group 1) and a modified secondary healing technique (Group 2).

Characteristics of Circulating CD4 T Cell Subsets in Patients with Complex Pulmonary Disease.

Although prevalence of complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) is increasing, limited data are available regarding vulnerability to complex (MAC) infections. To understand the pathobiology of interaction between MAC and host-immunity, it is important to understand the characteristics for circulating T cells in terms of the immunological phenotype and functional correlates in MAC-PD. We aimed to characterize immunophenotype, cytokine profile, and immune inhibitory receptors of circulating CD4 T cells in MAC-PD patients.

miRNA Expression Profiles and Potential as Biomarkers in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease.

Pulmonary disease (PD) due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing globally, but specific biomarkers for NTM-PD have not been established. As circulating miRNAs are promising biomarkers for various diseases, we investigated whether miRNAs have potential as NTM-PD biomarkers. Sera from 12 NTM-PD patients due to Mycobacterium avium, M.

Severe Hypophosphatemia-Induced Acute Toxic-Metabolic Encephalopathy in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.

Acute toxic-metabolic encephalopathy (TME) is an acute condition of global cerebral dysfunction in the absence of primary structural brain disease. Severe hypophosphatemia leads to muscle weakness and involves the diaphragm but hypophosphatemia-induced TME is very rare. Herein, we report the case of a 43-year-old woman with encephalopathy with severe hypophosphatemia during continuous renal replacement therapy.

Beware of a Fragile Footplate: Lessons from Ossiculoplasty in Patients with Ossicular Anomalies Related to Second Pharyngeal Arch Defects.

Background And Objectives: We review the intraoperative findings and postoperative outcomes of ossiculoplasty in subjects with second pharyngeal arch (SPA)-derived ossicular anomalies. We summarize potential intraoperative complications and recommend precautions that may reduce the risk of fracture.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four patients with SPA-derived ossicular anomalies were included, and pre- and postoperative audiometric results were compared.

The effects of myokines on osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Recently, muscle has received much attention as an endocrine organ regulating other biological targets, including the pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue. Although there is a possibility that muscle-secreting factors biochemically affect bone metabolism in a paracrine manner, the net effects of myokines on the biology of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, particularly on bone mass in vivo, have not yet been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we performed in vitro as well as animal experiments using conditioned media (CM) collected from C2C12 myoblast and myotube cultures to better understand the interactions between muscle and bone.

Effects of Residual Hearing on the Auditory Steady State Response for Cochlear Implantation in Children.

Background And Objectives: We aim to explore the effects of residual auditory steady state response (ASSR) on cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes in children lacking auditory brainstem responses (ABRs).

Subjects And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of child CI recipients lacking ABRs. All ears were divided into two groups: with residual ASSR and without ASSR.

Assessment of 7 trace elements in serum of patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung diseases are an emerging cause of pulmonary infection, becoming more common in the clinical setting as incidence of NTM lung diseases steadily increases worldwide. Trace elements are essential micronutrients and are known to play many important roles in infectious diseases. We investigated the concentrations of trace elements in patients with NTM lung disease and compared these values to patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy controls.

Comparison Between Signature Cytokines of Nasal Tissues in Subtypes of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Purpose: Endotype in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been established in the last decade. However, the exact immunologic profile of CRS still has controversy because it has a considerable immunologic heterogeneity. Therefore, we investigated various inflammatory mediators according to different nasal tissues in chronic rhinosinusitis and compared them within the same subject.

Clinical Implications of Intralesional Steroid Injections in the Management of Otohematoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the long-term effects of intralesional steroid injections (ILSIs) in patients with otohematoma and to suggest the clinical implications, especially with regard to the duration of otohematoma.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Methods: Fifty-six patients were enrolled and classified into short-term otohematoma (n = 30) and long-term otohematoma (n = 26) groups according to the period of time after auricular trauma.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on the differentiation of synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), the plasma portion of blood with a high platelet concentration, has been reported to be helpful in stem cell chondrogenesis due to large amount of growth factors it contains. Here, we examined the influence of PRP on the differentiation of synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs) and also evaluated if PRP alone was sufficient to induce SDSCs differentiation. First, the cell proliferation in various differentiation media was analyzed using the MTT assay and it was significantly higher in groups cultured with media that contained PRP.

Effects of CD14 macrophages and proinflammatory cytokines on chondrogenesis in osteoarthritic synovium-derived stem cells.

We investigated the effects of CD14 macrophages and proinflammatory cytokines on chondrogenic differentiation of osteoarthritic synovium-derived stem cells (SDSCs). Osteoarthritic synovial fluid was analyzed for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6. Levels of stem cell surface markers in osteoarthritic SDSCs were evaluated using flow cytometry.

Synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated in a novel injectable gel can repair osteochondral defects in a rabbit model.

We developed a novel injectable type I collagen/hyaluronic acid/fibrinogen (COL/HA/FG) composite gel that encapsulated synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SDSCs) for the repair of damaged articular cartilage. We first analyzed the suitability of the composite gel as a three-dimensional injectable cell carrier in vitro. In an in vivo rabbit model, the COL/HA/FG composite gel displayed the potential to regenerate and repair osteochondral defects in the knee.