Analysis of addiction craving onset through natural language processing of the online forum Reddit.

AIMS: Alcohol cravings are considered a major factor in relapse among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to investigate the frequency and triggers of cravings in the daily lives of people with alcohol-related issues. Large amounts of data are analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to identify possible groupings and patterns. METHODS: For the analysis, posts from the online forum "stopdrinking" on the Reddit platform were used as the dataset from April 2017 to April 2022. The posts were filtered for craving content and processed using the word2vec method to map them into a multi-dimensional vector space. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the nature and frequency of craving contexts and triggers (location, time, social environment, and emotions) using word similarity scores. Additionally, the themes of the craving-related posts were semantically grouped using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic model. The accuracy of the results was evaluated using two manually created test datasets. RESULTS: Approximately 16% of the forum posts discuss cravings. The number of craving-related posts decreases exponentially with the number of days since the author's last alcoholic drink. The topic model confirms that the majority of posts involve individual factors and triggers of cravings. The context analysis aligns with previous craving trigger findings related to the social environment, locations and emotions. Strong semantic craving similarities were found for the emotions boredom, stress and the location airport. The results for each method were successfully validated on test datasets. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory approach is the first to analyze alcohol cravings in the daily lives of over 24,000 individuals, providing a foundation for further AI-based craving analyses. The analysis confirms commonly known craving triggers and even discovers new important craving contexts.

A polygenic risk score for alcohol-associated cirrhosis among heavy drinkers with European ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) based on results from genome-wide association studies offer the prospect of risk stratification for many common and complex diseases. We developed a PRS for alcohol-associated cirrhosis by comparing single-nucleotide polymorphisms among patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis (ALC) versus drinkers who did not have evidence of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. METHODS: Using a data-driven approach, a PRS for ALC was generated using a meta-genome-wide association study of ALC (N=4305) and an independent cohort of heavy drinkers with ALC and without significant liver disease (N=3037). It was validated in 2 additional independent cohorts from the UK Biobank with diagnosed ALC (N=467) and high-risk drinking controls (N=8981) and participants in the Indiana Biobank Liver cohort with alcohol-associated liver disease (N=121) and controls without liver disease (N=3239). RESULTS: A 20-single-nucleotide polymorphisms PRS for ALC (PRSALC) was generated that stratified risk for ALC comparing the top and bottom deciles of PRS in the 2 validation cohorts (ORs: 2.83 [95% CI: 1.82 -4.39] in UK Biobank; 4.40 [1.56 -12.44] in Indiana Biobank Liver cohort). Furthermore, PRSALC improved the prediction of ALC risk when added to the models of clinically known predictors of ALC risk. It also stratified the risk for metabolic dysfunction -associated steatotic liver disease -cirrhosis (3.94 [2.23 -6.95]) in the Indiana Biobank Liver cohort -based exploratory analysis. CONCLUSIONS: PRSALC incorporates 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, predicts increased risk for ALC, and improves risk stratification for ALC compared with the models that only include clinical risk factors. This new score has the potential for early detection of heavy drinking patients who are at high risk for ALC.

Phenibut­an Illegal Food Supplement With Psychotropic Effects and Health Risks.

BACKGROUND: Phenibut (ß-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid) is an analog of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Like gabapentin and pregabalin, it inhibits α2-δ-subunits of voltage-dependent presynaptic calcium channels. The potential harm resulting from the use of these gabapentinoids is currently a matter of debate. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective literature search and on cases reported to the Giftinformationszentrum-Nord (GIZ-Nord), a poison information center at the University of Göttingen, Germany. RESULTS: Phenibut is a prescription drug in Russia but its production, possession, use, trafficking, or administration is illegal in Germany. The phenibut toxicity syndrome resembles that of gabapentinoids and GABA mimetics: benzodiazepine-like withdrawal symptoms including epileptic seizures, delirium and paradoxical activation have been described, as have cases of abuse and dependence. A few cases of use in the setting of multidrug abuse, and of phenibut-related death, have been described to date in the USA. The GIZ-Nord received 17 inquiries about phenibut, 55 about gabapentin, and 126 about pregabalin over the period 2008-2022. Over the same period, the GIZ-Nord was informed of 1207 cases involving Z substances and 4324 involving benzodiazepines. In the majority of the registered intoxications, including those with phenibut, the symptoms were mild. Overdoses of phenibut (2-100 g) were reported in 15 of the 17 cases; 8 of the persons who had taken an overdose were somnolent. In such cases, observation in intensive care was recommended. Respiratory depression or coma was not encountered in any case, not even in the patient who had taken 100 g of phenibut. CONCLUSION: Phenibut causes symptoms resembling those of gabapentinoid and benzodiazepine use. There have been reports of phenibut use in combination with other psychotropic drugs; in particular, its use together with opiates could increase the risk of coma and respiratory depression. No deaths due to phenibut intoxication have been published in Germany or elsewhere in Western Europe, although such cases may have been overlooked, as this drug is still largely unknown to Western medicine.

Detection of Scedosporium spp.: Colonizer or pathogen? A retrospective analysis of clinical significance and management in a large tertiary center.

Infections with Scedosporium spp. are emerging in the past two decades and are associated with a high mortality rate. Microbiological detection can be associated with either colonization or infection. Evolution from colonization into infection is difficult to predict and clinical management upon microbiological detection is complex. Microbiological samples from 2015 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed in a single tertiary care center. Classification into colonization or infection was performed upon first microbiological detection. Clinical evolution was observed until July 2023. Further diagnostic procedures after initial detection were analyzed. Among 38 patients with microbiological detection of Scedosporium spp., 10 were diagnosed with an infection at the initial detection and two progressed from colonization to infection during the observation time. The main sites of infection were lung (5/12; 41.6%) followed by ocular sites (4/12; 33.3%). Imaging, bronchoscopy or biopsies upon detection were performed in a minority of patients. Overall mortality rate was similar in both groups initially classified as colonization or infection [30.7% and 33.3%, respectively (P = 1.0)]. In all patients where surgical debridement of site of infection was performed (5/12; 42%); no death was observed. Although death occurred more often in the group without eradication (3/4; 75%) compared with the group with successful eradication (1/8; 12.5%), statistical significance could not be reached (P = 0.053). As therapeutic management directly impacts patients' outcome, a multidisciplinary approach upon microbiological detection of Scedosporium spp. should be encouraged. Data from larger cohorts are warranted in order to analyze contributing factors favoring the evolution from colonization into infection.

Scedosporium is an environmental mould with a varied clinical relevance, as described in this cohort from a tertiary centre. Its microbiological detection represents a colonization or infection. An interdisciplinary approach is crucial for an optimal diagnostic strategy and patient outcome.

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma treatment response assessment to immune checkpoint inhibitors using hybrid positron emission tomography imaging.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate response of sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SMM) patients to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), using hybrid PET imaging. Fifteen SMM patients underwent hybrid PET imaging before and three months after initiation of ICI. The disease-specific survival (DSS) was calculated. Quantitative PET parameters of the primary tumor and their association with DSS and therapy response were investigated. Nine of the fifteen (60%) patients responded to ICI therapy. Patients with therapy response depicted on hybrid PET imaging had better DSS than those without (p = 0.0058). Quantitative PET parameters of the initial PET harbored no association with DSS or therapy response. However, these findings lack of sufficient statistical power and must be interpreted with caution. The first restaging PET-imaging after ICI initiation can help stratify patients with regard to DSS.

Atherosclerosis of the iliac arteries for the prediction of erectile dysfunction and epistaxis in men undergoing abdominal CT scan.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) as well as epistaxis (ES) in relation to the extent of iliac atherosclerosis. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, all consecutive male patients treated at our institution from 01/2016 to 12/2020 undergoing abdominal CT scan were evaluated. Patients (n = 1272) were invited by mail to participate in the study in returning two questionnaires for the evaluation of ED (IIEF-5) and ES. Patients who returned filled-in questionnaires within a 3-month deadline were included in the study. The extent of atherosclerosis in the common iliac artery (CIA) and the internal iliac artery (IIA) was assessed by calcium scoring on unenhanced CT. Stratification of results was performed according to reported IIEF-5 scores and consequential ED groups. RESULTS: In total, 437 patients (34.4% of contacted) met the inclusion criteria. Forty-two patients did not fulfill predefined age requirements (< 75 years) and 120 patients had to be excluded as calcium scoring on nonenhanced CT was not feasible. Finally, 275 patients were included in the analysis and stratified into groups of "no-mild" (n = 146) and "moderate-severe" (n = 129) ED. The calcium score (r=-0.28, p < 0.001) and the number of atherosclerotic lesions (r=-0.32, p < 0.001) in the CIA + IIA showed a significant negative correlation to the IIEF-5 score, respectively. Patients differed significantly in CIA + IIA calcium score (difference: 167.4, p < 0.001) and number of atherosclerotic lesions (difference: 5.00, p < 0.001) when belonging to the "no-mild" vs. "moderate-severe" ED group, respectively. A multivariable regression model, after adjusting for relevant baseline characteristics, showed that the number of atherosclerotic CIA + IIA lesions was an independent predictor of ED (OR = 1.05, p = 0.036), whereas CIA + IIA calcium score was not (OR = 1.00031, p = 0.20). No relevant correlation was found between ES episodes and IIEF-5 scores (r=-0.069, p = 0.25), CIA + IIA calcium score (r=-0.10, p = 0.87) or number of atherosclerotic CIA + IIA lesions (r=-0.032, p = 0.60), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The number of atherosclerotic lesions in the iliac arteries on nonenhanced abdominal CT scans is associated with the severity of ED. This may be used to identify subclinical cardiovascular disease and to quantify the risk for cardiovascular hazards in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: BASEC-Nr. 2020 - 01637.

Dupilumab-induced eosinophilia in patients with diffuse type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab, a monoclonal anti-IL-4Rα antibody, is approved for several type 2 mediated inflammatory diseases like asthma, atopic dermatitis, and diffuse type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Clinical studies had reported a transient increase in blood eosinophils during dupilumab therapy. This study aimed to assess the impact of elevated blood eosinophils on clinical outcome and to investigate the cause of high blood eosinophil levels under dupilumab therapy. METHODS: Patients suffering from diffuse type 2 CRS treated with dupilumab were examined on days 0, 28, 90, and 180 after therapy start. Sino-Nasal-Outcome-Test Score (SNOT-22), Total Nasal Polyp Score (TNPS), and blood samples were collected. Cytokine measurements and proteomics analysis were conducted. Flow cytometry analysis measured receptor expression on eosinophils. RESULTS: Sixty-eighty patients were included. Baseline eosinophilia ≥0.3G/L was observed in 63.2% of patients, and in 30.9% of patients, eosinophils increased by ≥0.5G/L under dupilumab. Subjects with eosinophilia ≥0.3G/L at baseline had the best SNOT-22 mean change compared to no eosinophilia. Eosinophil elevation during dupilumab therapy had no impact on clinical scores. The eosinophil adhesion molecule VCAM-1 decreased significantly during therapy in all patients. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 was significantly down- and IL-4 upregulated in subjects with eosinophil increase. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that increased eosinophils in type 2 CRS are associated with a good clinical response to dupilumab. Patients with elevated IL-4 at baseline developed dupilumab-induced transient eosinophilia. We identified the downregulation of VCAM-1 and surface markers CD49d and CXCR4 on eosinophils as possible explanations of dupilumab-induced eosinophilia.

Long-term use of benzodiazepines in chronic insomnia: a European perspective.

Chronic insomnia occurs in ~10% of the general population and has numerous negative health effects. The recommended first line treatment of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia is not widely available for patients in Europe, so pharmacotherapies such as benzodiazepine receptor agonist agents (benzodiazepines and Z-drugs) are commonly used. However, their use is only recommended for ≤4 weeks due to unproven long-term efficacy in treatment of chronic insomnia, and the risk of tolerance, and the potential for dependence and misuse. In Europe, recommendations limiting the use of benzodiazepines (lowest dose and shortest duration) in chronic insomnia are not always followed, likely due to the lack of approved effective alternative therapies. Here we present a recent pilot survey of the pharmacological treatment landscape in chronic insomnia in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and physicians' attitude toward treatment. The results suggest that benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are the most widely used treatments in chronic insomnia and are being used for longer than their recommended duration. Country variations in prescription rates were observed. Due to the known association between long-term benzodiazepine use and potential for developing dependence, further analysis of the literature was performed on the use and misuse of benzodiazepines. The results show that long-term use of benzodiazepines is associated with multiple consequences of treatment, including dependence, but also that previous use of benzodiazepines may increase the risk of opioid use disorder.

Evaluation of a Primary E-Health Intervention for People with Alcohol Use Disorder: Clinical Characteristics of Users and Efficacy.

In Germany, only about 10% of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are treated by the professional help system. "The First 30 Days without Alcohol", an interactive e-health intervention, was developed to support people with "alcohol problems" to abstain from alcohol. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of the approach, the program's target group, if and why it is effective. In March 2022 an email was sent to all users who had completed the program. A link to a web-based survey regarding the target group's characteristics, its alcohol-use patterns, former attempts to change the problematic drinking behavior and experience with the program was introduced. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used prior and post intervention. A total of 718 participants completed the questionnaire. Of these, 99.2% suffered from AUD; 81.6% of participants were females, and about one third reported some form of psychiatric comorbidity; 46.6% did not use any additional help or assistance apart from the program; 78.3% reported to be abstinent after participation in the 30-day program, and the data show a significant AUDIT score reduction. Primary e-health interventions may contribute to the established addiction-help system. The intervention seems to reach predominantly highly educated and high-functioning females because of their characteristics.

Concomitant Drug Use among Opioid-Dependent Patients with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Does Methylphenidate Merit a Trial?

INTRODUCTION: Concomitant drug use is common among opioid-dependent patients in maintenance therapy. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common comorbidity among opioid users, is associated with a higher risk of concomitant drug use. Earlier studies showed that methylphenidate (MPH) can reduce cocaine consumption among patients with ADHD. The use of MPH as an agonist-replacement or maintenance therapy in cocaine-dependent patients without ADHD is also common in Switzerland, despite a lack of supporting evidence. The aim of this study was to assess concomitant cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA, MPH, and heroin use among patients in opioid maintenance therapy either with or without comorbid ADHD. We expected stimulant consumption to be higher in patients with cocaine dependence and comorbid ADHD and that use of MPH would not lead to a reduction in cocaine consumption in patients without ADHD. We therefore evaluated correlations between use of MPH and cocaine consumption and between MPH consumption and cocaine craving within the two groups. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 94 opioid-dependent patients in maintenance therapy in an outpatient department of the Psychiatric Hospital of Zurich. The patients were divided into two groups based on comorbid ADHD; a group with ADHD (N = 27) and a group without ADHD (N = 67). Drug use was assessed using 3-month hair analysis. RESULTS: We did not find significant differences in the number of patients using cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA, or heroin between groups with or without ADHD. With respect to cocaine use, 85.2 percent of patients in the ADHD group and 73.1 percent in the non-ADHD group were users. The non-ADHD group showed a significant positive correlation between the concentration of MPH and cocaine in hair samples (p < 0.05), and a positive correlation between cocaine craving and the concentration of MPH in hair samples (p = 0.065). These two trends were not evident in the ADHD group. CONCLUSION: Among patients without ADHD, use of MPH correlates with higher cocaine consumption and craving. Conversely, no significant correlation was found between MPH and cocaine use in patients with ADHD. Our study adds to the evidence that MPH confers negative effects in cocaine users without ADHD and should thus have no place in the treatment of these patients.

Impact of extended sinus surgery on allograft infection, allograft function and overall survival in cystic fibrosis lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Studies investigating the impact of sinus surgery for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients performed early after lung transplantation (Ltx) are scarce. Recent studies evaluating frequency of respiratory infections and graft outcomes are not available. OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether there is a difference in allograft infection, allograft function and overall survival among CF lung transplant recipients with and without concomitant sinus surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective single-center study. METHODS: We examined 71 CF patients who underwent Ltx between 2009 and 2019 at our center. Fifty-nine patients had sinus surgery before or/and after transplantation and twelve did not undergo sinus surgery. We assessed the survival, the diagnosis of chronic allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and all elevated (> 5 mg/l) c-reactive protein episodes during the observed period. The infectious events of the upper and lower airways were categorized in mild infections (5-15 mg/l CRP) and severe infections (> 15 mg/l CRP). RESULTS: There was no difference in the long-time overall survival (p = 0.87) and no benefit in the short-term survival at 4 year post-transplant (p = 0.29) in both groups. There was no difference in both groups concerning CLAD diagnosis (p = 0.92). The incidence of severe upper and lower airway infections (CRP > 15 mg/l) was significantly decreased in the sinus surgery group (p = 0.015), whereas in mild infections there was a trend to decreased infections in the sinus surgery group (p = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: CF patients undergoing Ltx benefit from extended endoscopic sinus surgery (eESS) in terms of frequency of severe infectious events of the upper and lower airways. There was no difference in overall survival and frequency of CLAD in the two groups.

Human memory B cells show plasticity and adopt multiple fates upon recall response to SARS-CoV-2.

The B cell response to different pathogens uses tailored effector mechanisms and results in functionally specialized memory B (Bm) cell subsets, including CD21+ resting, CD21-CD27+ activated and CD21-CD27- Bm cells. The interrelatedness between these Bm cell subsets remains unknown. Here we showed that single severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific Bm cell clones showed plasticity upon antigen rechallenge in previously exposed individuals. CD21- Bm cells were the predominant subsets during acute infection and early after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-specific immunization. At months 6 and 12 post-infection, CD21+ resting Bm cells were the major Bm cell subset in the circulation and were also detected in peripheral lymphoid organs, where they carried tissue residency markers. Tracking of individual B cell clones by B cell receptor sequencing revealed that previously fated Bm cell clones could redifferentiate upon antigen rechallenge into other Bm cell subsets, including CD21-CD27- Bm cells, demonstrating that single Bm cell clones can adopt functionally different trajectories.

High producer variant of lipoprotein lipase may protect from hepatocellular carcinoma in alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Progression of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is driven by genetic predisposition. The rs13702 variant in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We aimed at clarifying its role in ALD. Methods: Patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, with (n = 385) and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 656), with HCC attributable to viral hepatitis C (n = 280), controls with alcohol abuse without liver damage (n = 366), and healthy controls (n = 277) were genotyped regarding the LPL rs13702 polymorphism. Furthermore, the UK Biobank cohort was analysed. LPL expression was investigated in human liver specimens and in liver cell lines. Results: Frequency of the LPL rs13702 CC genotype was lower in ALD with HCC in comparison to ALD without HCC both in the initial (3.9% vs. 9.3%) and the validation cohort (4.7% vs. 9.5%; p <0.05 each) and compared with patients with viral HCC (11.4%), alcohol misuse without cirrhosis (8.7%), or healthy controls (9.0%). This protective effect (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5) was confirmed in multivariate analysis including age (OR = 1.1/year), male sex (OR = 3.0), diabetes (OR = 1.8), and carriage of the PNPLA3 I148M risk variant (OR = 2.0). In the UK Biobank cohort, the LPL rs13702 C allele was replicated as a risk factor for HCC. Liver expression of LPL mRNA was dependent on LPL rs13702 genotype and significantly higher in patients with ALD cirrhosis compared with controls and alcohol-associated HCC. Although hepatocyte cell lines showed negligible LPL protein expression, hepatic stellate cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells expressed LPL. Conclusions: LPL is upregulated in the liver of patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis. The LPL rs13702 high producer variant confers protection against HCC in ALD, which might help to stratify people for HCC risk. Impact and implications: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis influenced by genetic predisposition. We found that a genetic variant in the gene encoding lipoprotein lipase reduces the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in alcohol-associated cirrhosis. This genetic variation may directly affect the liver, because, unlike in healthy adult liver, lipoprotein lipase is produced from liver cells in alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

Rhinologic outcome of endoscopic transnasal-transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: an institutional series, systematic review, and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to summarize the available data on the objective rhinologic outcome after endoscopic transnasal-transsphenoidal (ETT) surgery. METHODS: Retrospective study on a consecutive cohort of treatment-naïve patients undergoing ETT pituitary gland surgery. Additionally, a systematic review and meta-analysis with focus on the rhinologic outcome, including postoperative smell function was performed. RESULTS: The institutional series incorporated 168 patients. A concomitant endoscopic septoplasty was performed in 29/168 patients (17.3%). A nasoseptal flap was used for reconstruction of large skull-base defects or high-flow CSF leaks in 4/168 (2.4%) patients. Early postoperative rhinologic complications (< 4 weeks) included epistaxis (3%), acute rhinosinusitis (1.2%) and late postoperative complications (≥ 8 weeks) comprised prolonged crusting (15.6%), symptomatic synechiae (11.9%) and septal perforation (0.6%). Postoperative smell function was not impaired (Fisher's exact test, p = 1.0). The systematic review included 19 studies on 1533 patients with a median postoperative epistaxis rate of 1.4% (IQR 1.0-2.2), a postoperative acute rhinosinusitis rate of 2.3% (IQR 2.1-3.0), a postoperative synechiae rate of 7.5% (IQR 1.8-19.1) and a postoperative septal perforation rate of 2.2% (IQR 0.5-5.4). Seven studies including a total of 206 patients reported adequate outcome measures for smell function before and after ETT surgery. Only 2/7 studies reported an impairment of smell function postoperatively, especially in patients with nasoseptal flap harvesting. CONCLUSION: Early and late postoperative rhinologic complication rates after ETT surgery for pituitary lesions seem to be low. A thorough evaluation of smell function, in particular in patients at risk for nasoseptal flap harvesting, may be an important factor in optimal postoperative care.

Predicting dupilumab treatment outcome in patients with primary diffuse type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis with a type 2 inflammatory pattern (T2CRS) is believed to be restricted to the nose and sinuses and associated with polyps, without clear serologic markers. Dupilumab is a promising new therapy in difficult to treat T2CRS. No factors are known to predict dupilumab treatment outcome. METHODS: Patients undergoing dupilumab treatment were assessed clinically to report ultra-short- and short-term outcome up to 90 days. Serum samples were taken on day 0 and 30 days of treatment, and proteomic analyses were performed using Olink®. The results were compared with healthy controls (HC). The aim was to identify clinical and serological markers associated with a treatment response to dupilumab. Confirmation of predictive parameters was evaluated in a prospective cohort of 20 T2CRS patients. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included, 80% of which were treatment responders. SinoNasalOutcomeTest-20 (SNOT-20) scores and the total nasal polyp score improved significantly (p < .05) on Day 7. An improvement of 2.5 points at the first visit was associated with a favorable outcome with a sensitivity of 86%. Proteomic analyses revealed significant changes compared with HC. Furthermore, we could identify OPG in the serum of dupilumab-treated patients that may serve as a predictor of the clinical outcome of dupilumab treatment. The predictive value of OPG was confirmed in the second cohort. CONCLUSION: Clinical response after 1 week of treatment with dupilumab is highly associated with a favorable outcome. High sensitivity proteomic analyses can identify T2CRS-specific dysregulated proteins in serum. Serum OPG may serve as a predictor for dupilumab treatment outcome before the initiation of any therapy.

Progression of Rhinitis to Rhinosinusitis: A Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinitis (CR) and rhinosinusitis are prevalent conditions affecting people all over the world. Their exact relationship is still not fully understood. We sought to find out, whether CR is a risk factor for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and which main subgroup or other factors could be predisposing. METHODS: Patients with diagnosed CR between 2005 and 2010 were selected from the electronic medical record and were contacted by phone call. They were interviewed and screened for possible CRS using internationally approved questionnaires, e.g. NOSE-D and SNOT-20-GAV. Those with elevated scores were invited for a clinical examination. RESULTS: Of 113 patients available for statistical analysis (48/65 = f/m), mean age of 52 ± 15 years, 13 patients were diagnosed with CRS. Extrapolated for the total cohort of 334, calculated prevalence was 9.5%. No statistical significantly higher probability of developing CRS for either main subgroup of CR was found. Age of onset, prior surgery of the nose, and use of topical nasal treatments were associated with the development of CRS in multivariate analyses (OR = 0.1, 3.2, and 3.2, respectively). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Only a small number of rhinitis patients developed CRS, questioning the paradigm of CR being a clear risk factor for CRS.

Gustatory Function of Patients With and Without Cholesteatoma Undergoing Middle Ear Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare measured and perceived taste function before and after surgery of patients with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma (OMCC) to patients without cholesteatoma (patients with chronic suppurative otitis media [CSOM] and patients with lateral skull base lesions [LSB]). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 29 patients undergoing surgery for unilateral OMCC. The chorda tympani nerve (CTN) was resected in 8 of these patients. Fourteen patients undergoing surgery for unilateral CSOM and 5 patients undergoing surgery for unilateral LSB (with CTN resection) served as the comparison group. Taste function was measured using taste strips on both sides of the tongue before surgery, 2 weeks postoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The affected side of the tongue was compared to the unaffected side. A questionnaire on taste perception was completed at each visit. RESULTS: Preoperatively, cholesteatoma patients showed higher taste strip scores than non-cholesteatoma patients, indicating a larger difference between the healthy and affected sides of the tongue. Despite this difference in measured taste function few cholesteatoma patients reported taste alteration before surgery (3/29 [10.3%]). Postoperatively, patients with CTN resection (OMCC patients with CTN resection and LSB patients) showed a decreased measured taste function. Subjectively, only approximately 20% of these patients reported taste alteration 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Before surgery, cholesteatoma patients displayed an impaired measured taste function compared to patients without cholesteatoma (CSOM, LSB). Subjectively this was often unnoticed. After surgery, despite removal of the CTN and consequent reduction of measured taste function, few patients reported taste alteration and subjective taste perception was seen to be improving. In regards to middle ear surgery, perceived taste function does not seem to reflect measured gustatory function.