SinoNasal Microbiota Transfer to treat recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis: A case series.

KEY POINTS: SinoNasal Microbiota Transfer (SNMT) was safe with immediate benefit in all recipients, with sustained improvement in two of three recipients for up to 180 days. The addition of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy worsened chronic rhinosinusitis. These promising SNMT results warrant further study of safety and efficacy.

Climate change, the environment, and rhinologic disease.

BACKGROUND: The escalating negative impact of climate change on our environment has the potential to result in significant morbidity of rhinologic diseases. METHODS: Evidence based review of examples of rhinologic diseases including allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis was performed. RESULTS: The lower socioeconomic population, including historically oppressed groups, will be disproportionately affected. CONCLUSIONS: We need a systematic approach to improve healthcare database infrastructure and funding to promote diverse scientific collaboration to address these healthcare needs.

The efficacy of diluted topical povidone-iodine rinses in the management of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis is a persistent inflammatory condition of the sinonasal mucosa despite adequate medical therapy and sinus surgery. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of dilute povidone-iodine (PVP-I) sinonasal rinses as an adjunctive therapy. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Twenty-nine recalcitrant CRS patients with endoscopic evidence of ongoing inflammation and purulent discharge were prescribed 0.08% diluted PVP-I rinses. Changes to endoscopic modified Lund-Kennedy (MLK) scores at 7 weeks post-PVP-I rinsing served as the primary outcome measure. RESULTS: The median MLK-discharge score significantly decreased in all patients by 1.50 points post-PVP-I rinsing (p value < 0.01). The total MLK score significantly decreased in all patients by 1.50 points (p value = 0.01). Up to a 17% reduction in serum inflammatory markers was measured post-PVP-I rinsing. Sinonasal culture revealed a shift from moderate-heavy growth to lighter bacterial growth overall. Subjective SNOT-22 scores significantly improved overall by ≥ 1 minimal clinically important difference (MCID > 12; baseline median = 33; follow-up median = 20; p value < 0.01; n = 22). TSH levels increased non-significantly within normal ranges (baseline median = 1.59 mU/L; follow-up median = 1.92 mU/L; p = 0.10; n = 15). Mucociliary clearance time increased non-significantly within normal ranges (baseline median = 9 min; follow-up median = 10 min; p value = 0.53; n = 17). Olfactory Sniffin'16 scores non-significantly decreased within age-related normal ranges (baseline median = 14; follow-up median = 13; p value = 0.72; n = 18). CONCLUSION: A dilute 0.08% PVP-I sinonasal rinse as an ancillary therapy in recalcitrant CRS significantly reduces signs of infection alongside notable symptom improvement, without affecting thyroid function, mucociliary clearance or olfaction.

Computerized Dynamic Posturography does not detect measured CVEMP and OVEMP abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)was developed by the American space program to assess imbalance in astronauts, and eventually evolved into a clinical diagnostic tool. However it is not a specific measure of vestibular function. Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential testing (VEMPs) is a new clinical tool which is sensitive and specific for measuring otolithic pathology, especially in the atypical vestibular patient. RESEARCH QUESTION: As posturography measures ability to maintain balance, and VEMP testing measures the structures responsible for this, we wondered if CDP results would correlate with VEMP abnormalities in the clinical setting. METHODS: We analysed 180 patients sequentially referred to our unit for vestibular complaints. All patients had a full battery of vestibular assessments. We correlated VEMP results with CDP results to look for abnormality patterns and correlations. An occasional patient's only abnormality was on CDP RESULTS: There was a high rate of VEMP abnormalities seen, which correlates with the fact that our referral base consists of patients with chronic vestibular complaints. The rate of VEMP abnormalities was the same in patients with normal CDP and those with abnormal CDP. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results do not suggest that CDP is unnecessary, but we feel that they emphasize the idea that these tests are measuring two different aspects of balance control. In some patients, all assessments are abnormal, but in some patients only one assessment is abnormal, suggesting that these modalities measure different things and are all important in the diagnostic armamentarium. Hopefully in the near future, the use of virtual reality will reduce the cost of CDP to the point where it can be made widely accessible to patients and clinicians.

Management of frontal sinus fractures.

The traditional treatment of frontal sinus fractures is undergoing a review by many clinicians. This review will undoubtedly contribute to the existing controversy surrounding the management of patients with this condition. This article seeks to further the review and suggest the authors' perspective on a more appropriate approach to the care of patients with frontal sinus injuries.