The influence of flowmeters on rhinomanometry results and detection of nasal airflow asymmetry.

<b><br>Introduction:</b> Rhinomanometry is an otolaryngological diagnostic method used to determine airflow as a function of the pressure drop through the left and right nasal cavities. Airflow is measured using orifice flowmeters that attenuate the flow.</br> <b><br>Aim:</b> This paper describes the results of a study into the effects of flowmeter design on rhinomanometry results and detection of nasal airflow asymmetry.</br> <b><br>Material and methods:</b> Four flowmeters were examined using a 3D printed model of a human nose.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> Each flowmeter interfered with the rhinomanometry results.</br>.

Non-eosinophilic asthma in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: The cellular inflammatory pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease (N-ERD) is heterogeneous. However, data on the heterogeneity of non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA) with aspirin hypersensitivity are scanty. By examination of N-ERD patients based on clinical data and eicosanoid biomarkers we aimed to identify NEA endotypes potentially guiding clinical management. METHODS: Induced sputum was collected from patients with N-ERD. Sixty six patients (49.6% of 133 N-ERD) with NEA were included in the hierarchical cluster analysis based on clinical and laboratory data. The quality of clustering was evaluated using internal cluster validation with different indices and a practical decision tree was proposed to simplify stratification of patients. RESULTS: The most frequent NEA pattern was paucigranulocytic (PGA; 75.8%), remaining was neutrophilic asthma (NA; 24.2%). Four clusters were identified. Cluster #3 included the highest number of NEA patients (37.9%) with severe asthma and PGA pattern (96.0%). Cluster #1 (24.2%) included severe only asthma, with a higher prevalence of NA (50%). Cluster #2 (25.8%) comprised well-controlled mild or severe asthma (PGA; 76.5%). Cluster #4 contained only 12.1% patients with well-controlled moderate asthma (PGA; 62.5%). Sputum prostaglandin D2 levels distinguished cluster #1 from the remaining clusters with an area under the curve of 0.94. CONCLUSIONS: Among identified four NEA subtypes, clusters #3 and #1 represented N-ERD patients with severe asthma but a different inflammatory signatures. All the clusters were discriminated by sputum PGD2 levels, asthma severity, and age of patients. The heterogeneity of non-eosinophilic N-ERD suggests a need for novel targeted interventions.

Biocidal Activity of Tannic Acid-Prepared Silver Nanoparticles towards Pathogens Isolated from Patients with Exacerbations of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

The microbiome's significance in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is unclear. Antimicrobials are recommended in acute exacerbations of the disease (AECRS). Increasing rates of antibiotic resistance have stimulated research on alternative therapeutic options, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). However, there are concerns regarding the safety of silver administration. The aim of this study was to assess the biological activity of tannic acid-prepared AgNPs (TA-AgNPs) towards sinonasal pathogens and nasal epithelial cells (HNEpC). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for pathogens isolated from patients with AECRS was approximated using the well diffusion method. The cytotoxicity of TA-AgNPswas evaluated using an MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion. A total of 48 clinical isolates and 4 reference strains were included in the study (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiellaoxytoca, Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae). The results of the studies revealed that the MIC values differed between isolates, even within the same species. All the isolates were sensitive to TA-AgNPs in concentrations non-toxic to human cells during 24 h exposition. However, 48 h exposure to TA-AgNPs increased toxicity to HNEpC, narrowing their therapeutic window and enabling 19% of pathogens to resist the TA-AgNPs' biocidal action. It was concluded that TA-AgNPs are non-toxic for the investigated eukaryotic cells after short-term exposure and effective against most pathogens isolated from patients with AECRS, but sensitivity testing may be necessary before application.

Scraping nasal cytology in the diagnostics of rhinitis and the comorbidities.

Nasal scraping cytology is a non-invasive tool used in the diagnostics of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. The study aimed to analyze to what extent the cytological picture of the nasal mucosa coincides with the diagnosis of a given disease, taking into account the content of eosinophils. Retrospective analysis of the cytograms performed in 842 patients was carried out in relation to the disease entities and the content of eosinophils. Significant relationship between the Epith:Infl ratio and the four groups of diseases (Chi2 = 9.6488; p = .014) was confirmed. The more intensive inflammation was found, the higher percentage of patients had manifested the increased level of eosinophils (> 1% in the inflammatory cells). The value of 20% of eosinophils in all counted cells corresponds to around 45% of eosinophils in the inflammatory cells in patients with the evident inflammatory picture. Allergic rhinitis presents a different cytological picture regarding the eosinophilic reaction against the background of the inflammation process: the higher degree of inflammation observed, the lower amount of eosinophils detected, with the exception of allergic rhinitis provoked by pollen allergens.

Neurological Prognostic Factors in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19.

We aimed to search whether neurological symptoms or signs (NSS) and the MEWS (Modified Early Warning Score) score were associated with in-hospital mortality or oxygen requirement during the first 14 days of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients recruited at the University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. The detailed clinical questionnaires on twenty NSS were either filled out by patients prospectively or retrospectively assessed by neurologists based on daily medical records. NSS were considered high or low-risk if they were associated with increased or decreased mortality in the univariable analysis. This cohort study included 349 patients with COVID-19 (median age 64, interquartile range (51-77), women 54.72%). The presence of high-risk NSS (decreased level of consciousness, delirium, seizures, and symptoms of stroke or transient ischemic attack) or its combination with the absence of low-risk NSS (headache, dizziness, decreased mood, and fatigue) increased the risk of in-hospital mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infection 3.13 and 7.67-fold, respectively. The presence of low-risk NSS decreased the risk of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients more than 6-fold. Death in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, apart from NSS, was predicted by older age, neoplasm, and higher MEWS scores on admission. High-risk NSS or their combination with the absence of low-risk NSS increased the risk of oxygen requirement during hospitalization in COVID-19 patients 4.48 and 1.86-fold, respectively. Independent predictors of oxygen therapy during hospitalization in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were also older age, male sex, neoplasm, and higher MEWS score on admission.

Virtual rhinomanometry based on computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses in patients with nasal septum deviation a pilot study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the flow disturbances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique based on computed tomography (CT) to the results of active anterior rhinomanometry (RMM), in patients with nasal septum deviation (NSD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 24 patients with NSD, RMM and CT of the paranasal sinuses were performed as a part of typical clinical management. For each patient, 3D models of air-filled spaces in the nasal cavity were created, based on CT images, and air flow simulations during inhalation were performed using CFD technique. Correlations between RMM, both before and after anemization, during inspiration, and CFD were tested, independently for the left and right side. RESULTS: The obtained correlation coefficients for the comparison of flow in RMM during inspiration and in CFD during simulated inspiration were: before anemization 0.46 for the left side and 0.52 for the right side, after anemization 0.65 for the left side and 0.61 for the right side (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate correlation was found between the results of real and virtual rhinomanometry, with higher correlation coefficients obtained after anemization, compared to the values before anemization.

Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Disease-Modifying Therapies.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction evaluated with time-consuming tests was more common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in controls and correlated with neurological deficit. The aim of the present study was to compare olfactory function between patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and controls with short and simple screening tool-the Sniffin' Sticks Identification Test (SSIT)-and search for its association with clinical and radiological features of the disease. METHODS: The study included 30 controls and 30 patients with RRMS treated with disease-modifying therapies-injectables (interferon ß or glatiramer acetate, N = 18) and oral drugs (dimethyl fumarate or fingolimod, N = 12). Hyposmia was defined as a score of 6 points or fewer in the SSIT olfactory test. The data concerning number of previous relapses, disability in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and recent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan were collected. Moreover, thalamic volume and third ventricle width were recorded in every patient. Additionally, cognition and fatigue in patients were evaluated 24 months after olfactory assessment with the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC), respectively. RESULTS: Patients with RRMS had a higher risk of hyposmia than controls (66.7% vs 36.7%, OR = 1.82, 95% CI, 1.10-3.67, P = .02). Neither inflammatory (number of previous relapses or new brain MRI lesions) nor neurodegenerative (EDSS, SDMT, and FSMC scores; thalamic volume; third ventricle width) MS features did not correlate with SSIT score (P > .05). In patients treated with oral drugs, olfactory dysfunction correlated with FSMC cognitive subscale (r = -0.90, P = .006). CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory dysfunction is nearly twice as common in RRMS as in controls and correlates with fatigue level in patients treated with dimethyl fumarate or fingolimod.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of Silver Nanoparticles-Effect of a Surface-Stabilizing Agent.

The biocidal properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) prepared with the use of biologically active compounds seem to be especially significant for biological and medical application. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine and compare the antibacterial and fungicidal properties of fifteen types of AgNPs. The main hypothesis was that the biological activity of AgNPs characterized by comparable size distributions, shapes, and ion release profiles is dependent on the properties of stabilizing agent molecules adsorbed on their surfaces. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were selected as models of two types of bacterial cells. Candida albicans was selected for the research as a representative type of eukaryotic microorganism. The conducted studies reveal that larger AgNPs can be more biocidal than smaller ones. It was found that positively charged arginine-stabilized AgNPs (ARGSBAgNPs) were the most biocidal among all studied nanoparticles. The strongest fungicidal properties were detected for negatively charged EGCGAgNPs obtained using (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). It was concluded that, by applying a specific stabilizing agent, one can tune the selectivity of AgNP toxicity towards desired pathogens. It was established that E. coli was more sensitive to AgNP exposure than S. aureus regardless of AgNP size and surface properties.

Vertigo as One of the Symptoms of Lyme Disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of vertigo symptoms and potential labyrinth damage in patients with diagnosed Lyme disease (LD). LD can affect the vestibulocochlear nerve, leading to hearing loss and vertigo/dizziness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included a group of 38 patients between the ages of 20 and 77, who were hospitalized due to vertigo/dizziness between 2018 and 2019. All of the patients underwent a detailed medical interview and an otolaryngological and neurological examination, including video electronystagmography (VENG), in addition to audiological and diagnostic tests. Additionally, ELISA and Western blot tests were performed to confirm the diagnosis of LD. RESULTS: In 20 patients (53%), the Romberg trial was positive (p < 0.001). The degree of vestibular dysfunction as shown by the VENG test was associated with the rate of hearing loss as confirmed by the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test (p = 0.011), and it mainly concerned high-frequency sounds (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Vertigo can be a symptom of LD. It is often associated with labyrinth and hearing-organ damage, which can imply that the inner ear or nerve VIII is dysfunctional in the course of this disease. Antibiotic therapy is effective in reducing otoneurological symptoms.

Neurological symptoms in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and their association with in-hospital mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the spectrum of neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 during the first 14 days of hospitalisation and its association with in-hospital mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 200 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 164 patients, a detailed questionnaire concerning neurological symptoms and signs was performed prospectively within 14 days of hospitalisation. In the remaining 36 patients, such questionnaires were completed retrospectively based on daily observations in the Department of Neurology. RESULTS: During hospitalisation, 169 patients (84.5%) experienced neurological symptoms; the most common were: fatigue (62.5%), decreased mood (45.5%), myalgia (43.5%), and muscle weakness (42.5%). Patients who died during hospitalisation compared to the remainder were older (79 [70.5-88.5] vs. 63.5 [51-77] years, p = 0.001), and more often had decreased level of consciousness (50.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001), delirium (33.3% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), arterial hypotension (50.0% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.005) or stroke during (18.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.026) or before hospitalisation (50.0% vs. 7.1, p < 0.001), whereas those who survived more often suffered from headache (42.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.012) or decreased mood (51.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Most hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms. Decreased level of consciousness, delirium, arterial hypotension, and stroke during or before hospitalisation increase the risk of in-hospital mortality.

Association between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Lyme Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as sensorineural hearing loss of 30 dB or more over at least three adjacent audiometric frequencies occurring within a 72-h period of time. One of the causes of SSNHL could be the progressive inflammatory state caused by an infection. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SSNHL caused by various factors, most importantly those potentially related to Lyme disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study includes a group of 86 patients between the ages of 20 and 70 who were hospitalized due to SSNHL between 2017 and 2018. All of these patients underwent a detailed medical interview and an otolaryngological examination, including audiological and diagnostic tests. Additionally, ELISA and Western blot tests were performed to confirm the diagnosis of Lyme disease. RESULTS: In this group of 86 patients, nine patients presented with positive antibodies toward Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. This group was treated with antibiotics and experienced partial or complete regression of their deafness. This may suggest a relationship between SSNHL and Lyme disease. CONCLUSION: Infections caused by Borrelia burgdorferi may contribute to the development of inflammatory and angiopathic lesions, which are a possible cause of SSNHL. The longer the duration of the infection, the greater the likelihood of permanent and irreversible changes in the vessels of the cochlea or auditory nerve. Therefore, serological tests for Borrelia burgdorferi should be performed during the diagnosis of SSNHL as a possible cause of this illness.

Challenging the gold standard: methods of sampling for microbial culture in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

PURPOSE: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a highly prevalent multifactorial disorder. Culture-directed antibiotics are frequently prescribed to patients with CRS and the middle nasal meatus (MM) is traditionally believed to be a representative sampling site of the sinuses as a whole. The purpose of our study was to reevaluate the reliability of the MM as a sampling site in patients with CRS who suffer from impaired drainage from the sinuses to the MM. METHODS: Swabs and tissue biopsies were collected from the MM, maxillary sinus and frontal sinus from 50 patients with CRS. The results of bacterial culture were compared between sampling methods and sites in relation to the patency of the sinus ostia. RESULTS: 782 bacterial isolates were cultured from the samples. Concordant results between the MM and the sinus cavity were noted in 80% of patients for the maxillary sinus, but only 66% for the frontal sinus and 76% for the sinuses a whole. The differences were similarly prevalent in patients with open and occluded sinus ostia. Notably, swabs from all three sites provided representative information in 92% of patients and tissue biopsies did not provide additional information compared to multiple swabs. CONCLUSION: The traditional method of sampling from the middle meatus provides inadequate information in 24% of patients with CRS, which may result in inadequate antibiotic therapy and contribute to increasing antibiotic resistance. Additional sampling from the sinuses should be recommended whenever possible, while invasive sampling is not necessary.

Exacerbations of Chronic Rhinosinusitis-Microbiology and Perspectives of Phage Therapy.

The chronically inflamed mucosa in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can additionally be infected by bacteria, which results in an acute exacerbation of the disease (AECRS). Currently, AECRS is universally treated with antibiotics following the guidelines for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS), as our understanding of its microbiology is insufficient to establish specific treatment recommendations. Unfortunately, antibiotics frequently fail to control the symptoms of AECRS due to biofilm formation, disruption of the natural microbiota, and arising antibiotic resistance. These issues can potentially be addressed by phage therapy. In this study, the endoscopically-guided cultures were postoperatively obtained from 50 patients in order to explore the microbiology of AECRS, evaluate options for antibiotic treatment, and, most importantly, assess a possibility of efficient phage therapy. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequently isolated bacteria, followed by Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteriaceae. Alarmingly, mechanisms of antibiotic resistance were detected in the isolates from 46% of the patients. Bacteria not sensitive to amoxicillin were carried by 28% of the patients. The lowest rates of resistance were noted for fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. Fortunately, 60% of the patients carried bacterial strains that were sensitive to bacteriophages from the Biophage Pharma collection and 81% of the antibiotic-resistant strains turned out to be sensitive to bacteriophages. The results showed that microbiology of AECRS is distinct from ABRS and amoxicillin should not be the antibiotic of first choice. Currently available bacteriophages could be used instead of antibiotics or as an adjunct to antibiotics in the majority of patients with AECRS.

Otolaryngological symptoms in patients treated for tick-borne diseases.

infections are borreliosis (Lyme disease) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Lately there is growing incidence of Bartonella, Babesia, Anaplasma and Brucella co-infections. The similarity between the symptoms of tick-borne diseases and other pathologies causes serious diagnostic issues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 216 patients aged 18-55, who presented to the outpatient clinic for tick-borne diseases in the years 2014-2016, were enrolled in the study. The patients had been diagnosed with Lyme disease and co-infections. The principal diagnostic tests to confirm the infections included ELISA, Western-Blot and circulating immune complexes (CIC). RESULTS: In the group of 216 patients, 162 presented with otolaryngological symptoms. The most common complaint was tinnitus (76,5%) accompanied by vertigo and dizziness (53,7%), headache (39%), unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (16,7%). The patients also had tick-borne coinfections, among them the most common was Bartonella henselae (33,4%) and Bartonella quintana (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Otolaryngological symptoms are a common manifestation of tick-borne diseases. They are most frequently observed in Lyme disease and Bartonella spp. infections. The symptoms in the head and neck region are usually occur in chronic Lyme disease with predominant IgG antibodies nad VlsE antigen.

Can phage therapy solve the problem of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis?

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects 5-15% of the global population. In some patients, the infectious exacerbations of the disease are recalcitrant to medical treatment and surgery. These cases are probably associated with the presence of bacterial biofilms. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy seems to be a promising antibiofilm strategy. The efficacy of phage therapy in sinonasal infections has been demonstrated both in vitro and in animal models. In the past, phage preparations were also administered to humans with CRS with favorable outcomes and no significant side effects. Very recently, the safety and efficacy of phage therapy in otolaryngological infections has been demonstrated in pioneer Phase I/II clinical trials. This review addresses the potential of phage therapy to treat CRS. We also discuss issues that require further research.

Smell impairment in chronic rhinosinusitis ­ evaluation of endoscopic sinus surgery results and review of literature concerning olfactory function predictors.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) refractory to medical therapy. ESS successfully reduces most symptoms of CRS, but its effect on olfaction is always uncertain. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of sinus surgery on olfaction and to analyze the predictors of olfactory function before and after ESS in the context of a literature review. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised of 153 patients with CRS refractory to medical treatment. The patients evaluated their olfactory function before ESS, 3-6 months after ESS (121 individuals) and 12 months after ESS (58 individuals). Statistical analysis concerned the postoperative olfactory improvement as well as the influence of various predictors on the impairment of smell before and after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory dysfunction was significantly reduced after ESS. The smell impairment before and after surgery depended on different predictors. Patients with severe preoperative olfactory dysfunction and extensive pathological changes in the nose and sinuses, including nasal polyps, reported most pronounced improvement after ESS. However, severely hyposmic subjects with nasal polyposis, asthma or aspirin intolerance as well as older patients reported worse postoperative smell scores.

Outcome prediction in endoscopic surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis - a multidimensional model.

PURPOSE: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common diseases in the modern society. In recent years endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become the treatment of choice for patients with CRS refractory to medical therapy. ESS proved to be successful in most, but not all patients with CRS. Currently there is no direct method available to distinguish between patients who are likely to benefit from ESS and those who are not. The aim of this study was to build multidimensional models (artificial neural networks) to predict early outcomes of ESS in individual patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study group comprised of 115 patients operated for CRS in the Department of Otolaryngology, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Cracow. The neural models were created using the Statistica Neural Network computer software package. The models required only information easily achievable for every patient before surgery. Consequently, the models could be readily applicable in everyday clinical practice. To define the results of surgery three different mathematical descriptions were compared. The models' predictions were compared with the actual results of surgery 3-6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The models were able to predict the early outcome of surgery in 90% of the patients but their quality depended on mathematical representation of the surgery result. The best models were characterized by 93% sensitivity and 86% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of ESS depend on many factors, so reliable outcome prognoses can be produced only by multidimensional models. Artificial neural networks are a promising multidimensional tool facilitating clinical decision making in patients with CRS.

[Orbital tumors treated at the University Hospital Otolaryngology Clinic in Kraków between 1997 and 2011]. / Guzy oczodolów w materiale Kliniki Otolaryngologii Szpitala Uniwersyteckiego w Krakowie w latach 1997-2011.

The main aim of the study was to establish the frequency of orbital tumor occurrence in the patients of the University Hospital Otolaryngology Clinic in Kraków as well as to analyze the clinical features, location in the orbit and to identify the group of patients with the highest risk of orbital tumor. The authors retrospectively analyzed 46 patients (29 women and 17 men) between the ages of 23 and 87. This group of patients was compared to a group of 80 patients who were surgically treated at the same clinic 10 years ago and to a group of 70 patients treated 15 years ago. We established that the tumors localized in the orbit were mainly benign. A variety of histological types of tumors arises in the orbit but it was significant that inflammatory pseudotumors were the most common cases in all three groups of patients treated in our clinic now, about 10 and about 15 years ago. Referring to the group of patients at the highest risk, we established that orbital tumors are definitely most common in women than men. It has turned out to be statistically significant that benign tumors were most common in younger patients and malignant in older people. That suggests the conclusion that being female is a risk factor for orbital tumors and age is a risk factor for them being malignant. Comparing different approaches for the resection of orbital tumors, we established that the lateral orbitotomy provides access to orbital tumors in the most common locations (intraconal and in the top corner of the orbit). Malignant and extensive tumors have to be treated by orbital exenteration.

[Evaluation of the impact of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease on the result of surgical treatment with the use of endoscopic techniques and postoperative pharmacological treatment in patients with chronic sinusitis]. / Ocena wplywu objawowego refluksu zoladkowo-przelykowego na wyniki chirurgii endoskopowej i pooperacyjnej farmakoterapii u chorych z PZZP.

It is estimated that in Europe 10% of adults suffer from chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis can be caused by many different diseases that share chronic inflammation of the sinuses as a common symptom. Rhinitis can be caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus, which successively can result in chronic sinusitis. The current gold standard for diagnosing GERD is--bothersome for the patient--24 h esophageal pH monitoring. This method can be unpleasant for the patients, which makes it less acceptable. Because of that the criteria for symptomatic GERD were made an alternative diagnostic way. We acknowledge that the presence of heartburn and stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus at least once a week can be diagnosed as symptomatic GERD. The aim of the study is the assessment of the frequency of symptomatic GERD in patients operated because of chronic sinusitis and impact of symptomatic GERD on the follow-up treatment up to 12 months after endoscopic nasal surgery. The authors analysed 144 patients operated at the JUCM Otolaryngological Clinic in Kraków between 2011 and 2013 because of sinusitis. The inclusion criteria were: diagnosed chronic sinusitis, indications for endoscopic sinus surgery, and a written consent for the research. Each patient was examined laryngologically and surveyed. Patients were divided into two groups: with and without symptomatic GERD. We analysed the symptoms in patients treated for sinusitis with or without GERD before, between 3 and 6 as well as in the 12th month after endonasal surgery. Moreover, we analysed the intensity of the global symptoms (expressed in the VAS scale) and separately for each of the 13 symptoms of chronic sinusitis (expressed on a scale 0 - 3). We established that 33 out of the 144 patients (22.9%) qualified for the first survey reported the symptoms of GERD. In the second survey, which was conducted between 3 and 6 month after ESS, 24 out of 119 (20%) people reported the symptoms and in the third survey, which took place in the 12th month after ESS, 14 out of 52 patients reported symptomatic GERD. The intensity of global symptoms rated in the VAS scale in patients with chronic sinusitis during the first survey was 7.8 and in the second and third survey the intensity was 4.2 and 4.3 respectively. But in patients without any symptoms they were 7.4, 2.8, 3.2. We also analysed 13 symptoms of chronic sinusitis rated on a scale 0 - 3. The result of the research was that in patients with symptomatic GERD, even after FESS and the appropriate follow-up, we can still suspect such symptoms as streaming the fluid over the back side of the throat, cough, pain or the feeling of fullness in the ear, headache or halitosis. We should take it under consideration during qualification for the surgery as well as predicting the results of the treatment. Further research is required to state if and how different methods and procedures used in case of patients with symptomatic GERD can reduce the uncomfortable influence of this disease on the effects of chronic sinusitis treatment.

Artificial neural network modelling of the results of tympanoplasty in chronic suppurative otitis media patients.

The application of computer modelling for medical purposes, although challenging, is a promising pathway for further development in the medical sciences. We present predictive neural and k-nearest neighbour (k-NN) models for hearing improvements after middle ear surgery for chronic otitis media. The studied data set comprised 150 patients characterised by the set of input variables: age, gender, preoperative audiometric results, ear pathology and details of the surgical procedure. The predicted (output) variable was the postoperative hearing threshold. The best neural models developed in this study achieved 84% correct predictions for the test data set while the k-NN model produced only 75.8% correct predictions.