Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the upper airways characterized by a Th2-skewed immune response, elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and eosinophilia. Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to the regulation of immune pathways in AR; however, their role in pediatric populations remains insufficiently understood. Aim: The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate serum expression of miRNA-100, miRNA-155, and miRNA-224 in children with AR and to assess their associations with immunological and clinical parameters. Materials and methods: A total of 21 children were included (12 with AR and 9 non-atopic controls). Serum levels of selected miRNAs, cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13), eosinophil counts, and total IgE were analyzed. Results: MiRNA-100 expression was higher in the AR group compared with controls; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.051). No significant differences were observed for miRNA-155 or miRNA-224. In unadjusted analyses, correlations between miRNA-100 and eosinophil parameters were not statistically significant. In partial correlation analysis adjusted for age and sex, a moderate association between miRNA-100 and absolute eosinophil count was observed (rho = 0.498; p = 0.042). Among cytokines, only IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the AR group, while a substantial proportion of measurements for other cytokines were below the detection limit, limiting interpretability. Conclusions: Given the small sample size and lack of statistical significance in primary comparisons, these findings should be considered preliminary and hypothesis- generating. The observed association between miRNA-100 and eosinophilia may warrant further investigation in larger, well-characterized cohorts.
<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Pollen monitoring plays an important role in modern allergy care.<br />Quantitatively determining airborne pollen concentrations serves as a clinically relevant<br />tool for diagnosis, treatment, disease monitoring, and prevention.<br /><strong>Aim:</strong> The study provides an overview of current clinical applications of pollen monitoring<br />in allergology and otolaryngology, and its integration with new technologies<br />that support precision medicine.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> A narrative review of the current scientific literature was conducted, critically<br />analysing publications that connect pollen monitoring, molecular aerobiology,<br />climate change, and digital medical technologies in relation to their clinical applications<br />in allergology and otolaryngology.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Conventional aerobiological monitoring with Hirst-type volumetric samplers<br />remains the established method for quantifying airborne pollen. It provides<br />data on the duration, intensity, and regional variation of exposure to allergenic pollen<br />from sensitising plants. Such information supports the interpretation of clinical<br />symptoms, skin test results, and molecular diagnostics. It is essential in specific<br />allergen immunotherapy, assisting with allergen selection, optimising treatment<br />courses and evaluating outcomes. These data form the basis for allergen avoidance<br />strategies, which are fundamental to prevention. Pollen monitoring also contributes<br />to otolaryngology, informing the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases<br />of the upper respiratory tract. Integrating pollen monitoring with electronic symptom<br />diaries, mobile health applications, and portable measuring devices supports<br />personalised assessment of allergen exposure and advances precision medicine. Automated<br />monitoring systems and artificial intelligence facilitate near real-time transmission<br />of information. Developments in molecular aerobiology have improved the<br />understanding of the relationship between environmental exposure and respiratory<br />symptoms. Long-term pollen monitoring provides insight into the biological impacts<br />of climate change, including changes in the timing, duration, and intensity of pollen<br />seasons, as well as the spread of invasive allergenic species.<br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Pollen monitoring is a clinically significant component of personalised<br />management of allergic respiratory diseases. Integration with advanced technologies<br />is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy, optimise allergen immunotherapy,<br />strengthen preventive strategies, and support the ongoing development of precision<br />medicine.</p>.
<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a standard preoperative diagnostic tool for salivary gland tumors, yet its sensitivity is widely debated.</p><p><strong>Aim:</strong> This study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC compared to final histopathology, with a specific focus on institutional variability and the influence of tumor size on diagnostic yield.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A retrospective, multicenter analysis was conducted on 1331 patients who underwent surgical resection for salivary gland tumors across five tertiary centers. After excluding incomplete records, 1031 patients with informative FNAC results were analyzed. Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and likelihood ratios) was calculated by comparing preoperative cytology with final histopathology. Statistical evaluations (Chi-square, Welch's t-test) assessed the impact of patient demographics, tumor dimensions (4 cm), and institutional location on diagnostic concordance.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The overall diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was 94.1%. The procedure demonstrated excellent specificity (98.4%) but suboptimal sensitivity (50.0%), confirming a high false-negative rate. Significant institutional variability was observed (p &lt; 0.001), with local sensitivities ranging from 16.7% to 69.2%. Tumor size significantly impacted diagnostic accuracy (p = 0.0258), peaking in intermediate lesions (2-4 cm; 95.0%) but declining in both smaller (&lt;2 cm; 93.7%) and larger&nbsp;neoplasms (&gt;4 cm; 91.9%). An independent review of 298 initially non-diagnostic aspirates revealed a substantial subset of histologically confirmed malignancies, demonstrating that non-informative cytological smears cannot be assumed benign.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> While FNAC provides highly specific evidence for salivary gland malignancies, its low sensitivity and susceptibility to institutional and size-dependent variables limit its reliability in ruling out cancer. High false-negative rates, particularly in tumors exceeding 4 cm, necessitate a multimodal diagnostic approach. Integrating core needle biopsy for challenging lesions and intraoperative frozen section analysis is crucial to mitigate cytopathological limitations and ensure appropriate surgical management.</p>.
<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Multi-centre datasets are becoming essential for evidence-based decision-making in geriatric otolaryngology, yet their reliability depends on a transparent and reproducible process of data preparation.</p><p><strong>Aim:</strong> To present the complete "engine-room" workflow of the ENT Geriatric Database - a harmonised, anonymised multi-centre dataset - and to demonstrate how systematic data curation supports trustworthy analyses of perioperative risk and outcomes in elderly patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study integrated 16 Excel files from eight tertiary ENT centres into a unified dataset of 888 patients aged 65 years and older. The scripted pipeline standardised 97 canonical variables using positional and keyword-based mapping, removed personally identifiable information, harmonised heterogeneous coding schemes across 44 variables, and performed a multilevel data-quality audit.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The workflow revealed major structural and clinical data-quality issues: five variables exceeded 50% overall missingness, 44 had coded-missing categories, and 99 potential duplicates were detected. Five centre-specific block patterns indicated how procedural differences influence data completeness. All cleaned data, missingness matrices, and anomaly logs were exported for independent review.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A scripted, auditable curation pipeline can transform heterogeneous spreadsheets into a more reliable multicentre dataset. Investing in this "engine-room" infrastructure strengthens data validity and provides a more robust basis for perioperative risk estimation and meaningful inter-centre comparisons in geriatric otolaryngology.</p>.
Introduction: A patient's voice, after thyroidectomy uncomplicated by recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, may undergo both objective and subjective changes. The intensity and duration of these changes are unclear. Aim: To perform a subjective and acoustic analysis of the voice in patients after thyroidectomy uncomplicated by recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. Materials and methods: A prospective study was performed at an endocrinological surgery clinic in Poland between 2018 and 2019. The study included 70 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy due to a noncancerous goiter. The Voice Handicap Index was used for a subjective assessment of the voice. An acoustic analysis was performed usingtheDiagnoScopeSpecjalistasoftware,designedforacomprehensive assessment of the voice. A three-stage laryngologic examination was performed. Results: The mean age of the participants was 53 years (71% women and 29% men). Most of the patients (80.0%) subjectively assessed their vocal impairment as minor, 18.6% as moderate, and 1.4% as severe. The patients assessed the physical state of their voice as the worst. The short-term parameters obtained through an acoustic analysis differed significantly between the subsequent measurements and were worst on the second day after the operation. The changes subsided six months after the operation. Similarly, a significant improvement in the long-term parameters was observed six months after the operation; specifically, the phonation time (15.11 vs 12.64 vs16.14) and the performance index (7.91 vs6.50 vs9.04). No significant changes were observed between each measurement in terms of the no phonation index, voice breaks coefficient, and the F0 modulation index. Conclusions: Voice impairment after thyroidectomy is frequent, according to a subjective assessment, and has been confirmed by an acoustic analysis of the short-and long-term parameters of the voice. These changes usually subside six months after the operation. Some patients require speech therapy to normalise their voice emission technique.
INTRODUCTION:Although several genomic alterations have been reported in adenocarcinoma of unknown primary (ACUP), molecularly targeted therapies are not yet clinically established, and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is rarely used in daily practice. AIM:We aimed to clarify the molecular landscape and prognostic impact of key mutations in recurrent or metastatic ACUP. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Data from 480 consecutive ACUP patients registered in Japan's National Cancer Center (C-CAT) between June 2019 and August 2025 were analyzed. Somatic mutations were identified using the FoundationOne CDx platform. Overall survival (OS) was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank tests, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS:The most frequent alterations were TP53 (59.4%), KRAS (31.5%), CDKN2A (26.3%), KMT2D (22.3%), LTK (17.9%), NOTCH3 (16.9%), STK11 (16.3%), CDKN2B (15.8%), ERBB2 (15.4%), and GNAS (15.2%). Patients harbored an average of 17.3 9.9 mutations. Mutations in GNAS (p = 0.046) and PIK3CA (p = 0.025) were associated with better OS, whereas ARID1A (p = 0.049) and NOTCH1 (p = 0.038) predicted worse OS. In Cox analysis, hazard ratios (HR [95% CI]) were 0.57 (0.36-0.92, p = 0.020) for GNAS, 0.57 (0.33-0.96, p = 0.033) for PIK3CA, 1.98 (1.27-3.09, p = 0.0024) for ARID1A, and 1.84 (1.17-2.91, p = 0.0090) for NOTCH1. CONCLUSIONS:GNAS and PIK3CA mutations were linked to favorable outcomes, while ARID1A and NOTCH1 alterations indicated poor prognosis in ACUP. These results highlight the prognostic significance of specific genomic alterations and support integrating CGP into the clinical management of ACUP.
Introduction: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a phenomenon characterized by the occurrence of specific somatic and emotional sensations induced by audiovisual stimuli. Despite the growing popularity of ASMR on social media and reports of its potential relaxation-related effects, there is a lack of conclusive data supporting its use as a therapeutic tool. Aim: This study aimed to assess social awareness of ASMR, characterize the demographic profile of its users, and estimate the therapeutic potential of ASMR in the context of social perception of this method and the declared willingness to use it. Material and methods: The study was exploratory and conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire among 203 respondents of diverse ages, sexes, and educational backgrounds. The analysis included familiarity with ASMR, patterns and frequency of ASMR content use, preferred sensory stimuli, subjective emotional responses, and attitudes toward the potential use of ASMR in therapy. Results: The results demonstrated that ASMR is mainly known among individuals under 30 years of age and is primarily used for entertainment and relaxation. At the same time, a significant proportion of respondents reported neutral or negative reactions, and more than half did not express a willingness to use ASMR as a therapeutic method. Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that ASMR remains a phenomenon with limited acceptance as a therapeutic tool, and its potential clinical application requires further research into its mechanisms of action, safety, and individual differences in sensory processing.
<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Total laryngectomy (TL) remains the standard treatment for advanced la‑ ryngeal cancer, and its perioperative management requires close collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, including anaesthesiologists and clinical nutritionists.</p><p><strong>Aim:</strong> The aim of this study was to analyse the perioperative course of patients un‑ dergoing TL from both an anaesthesiologist's and a nutritionist's perspective, with a particular focus on the feasibility and performance of structured data extraction from electronic medical records using large language models (LLMs).</p><p><strong>Material and methods:</strong> We performed a single‑centre retrospective analysis of 43 consecutive patients undergoing TL (ICD‑9 codes 30.32, 30.39, 30.41, 30.49) be‑ tween January 2024 and April 2026. Clinical data, including physician notes (n = 845), nursing notes (n = 2578), discharge summaries (n = 173), and consultations (n = 123), were subjected to structured extraction using large language models (gemma-3-31Bit/gemma-4-26B-it). Demographics, tumour stage, length of stay (LOS), periopera‑ tive nutrition, pharmacotherapy, postoperative complications, temporal laboratory trends, and rehabilitation were analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort comprised 35 men (81%) and 8 women (19%), with a mean age of 66.4 9.8 years; pT4a (49%) and pN0 (82%) predominated. Median LOS was 15.0 days (IQR 13.1-16.5). Enteral nutrition via nasogastric tube was used in 95% of patients, and oral intake was initiated at a median of postoperative day 13. Multimodal anal‑ gesia based on intravenous paracetamol (60%), ketoprofen (47%), and metamizole (40%) was routinely employed, while strong opioids were used in only 5% of pa‑ tients. Postoperative complications occurred in 22.5% of cases, with pharyngocuta‑ neous fistula (PCF) being the most frequent (12.5%). In‑hospital mortality was 0%, and overall mortality during a median 12‑month follow‑up was 2.3%. CRP peaked on postoperative day 3 (mean 114 mg/L). Pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis was admi‑ nistered in 65% of patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In TL patients, enteral feeding forms the backbone of nutritional sup‑port, and multimodal analgesia provides effective pain control, whereas VTE pro‑phylaxis and other modifiable elements of perioperative care warrant optimization within prehabilitation and ERAS-based protocols.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>.
<b>Introduction:</b> Although genetic mutations have been reported in salivary duct carcinoma (SDC), no scientifically validated targeted therapies are currently available. Moreover, cancer genomic profiling tests remain underutilized in clinical practice. These issues highlight the urgent need to elucidate the genomic landscape of SDC and its potential therapeutic relevance. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> This study aimed to characterize the mutational profile of recurrent and/or metastatic SDC. <br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> Data were analyzed for 207 consecutive patients with SDC registered at the Japan National Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) between June 2019 and October 2025. Genetic mutations were determined by next-generation sequencing. Survival of patients was determined by the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model. <br><br><b>Results:</b> The top 10 mutations in SDC were <i>TP53</i> (74.4%), <i>ERBB2</i> (52.2%), <i>NF1</i> (32.4%), <i>CDK12</i> (29.0%), <i>PIK3CA</i> (28.0%), <i>NOTCH3</i> (19.8%), <i>LTK</i> (18.4%), <i>CDKN2A</i> (18.4%), <i>BRCA2</i> (16.9%), <i>SPEN</i> (16.9%), with 17.1 7.2 (mean standard error of the mean [SEM]) mutations/individual. <i>TP53</i> mutations (p = 0.005707) were associated with a significantly worse prognosis, as determined by log-rank test. The hazard ratios for cases with this mutation was 2.6390 (95% CI, 1.2180-5.720, p = 0.0139) for <i>TP53</i>. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> This study delineated the mutational spectrum of recurrent and/or metastatic SDC. Even in advanced disease, prognostically relevant mutations were identified, emphasizing the clinical importance of cancer genomic profiling tests.
Introduction: Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ASD) is a focal laryngeal dystonia characterized by involuntary vocal fold spasms, resulting in a strained and effortful voice. Botulinum toxin injection is the standard treatment, typically performed using electromyography-guided techniques. Aim: This study evaluates the efficacy of office-based transnasal videoendoscopic-guided botulinum toxin injection as an alternative to electromyography-guided per-cutaneous injection in patients with adductorspasmodicdysphonia (ASD). Methods: A cohort of patients with ASD underwent transnasal laryngeal injections of botulinum toxin using a flexible video endoscope. Local anesthesia was administered, and a flexible needle was used to inject botulinum toxin into the vocal and/or vestibular folds. Phonation was assessed before and after the procedure. Results: Twenty-seven patients with ASD showed significant improvements in VHI-10 (Voice Handicap Index-10) and VRQOL (Voice Related Quality of Life) scores post-injection. Additionally, the GRBAS scale scores improved after the procedure. Conclusions: Office-based transnasal videoendoscopic-guided botulinum toxin injection is a reliable and straightforward technique for treating ASD. It can be performed without electromyography, making it accessible for all laryngologists.
<b>Introduction:</b> Odor processing provides a unique window into the interaction between perception, language, and memory during development. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> This study investigated how children aged 4-10 identify and name odors, focusing on age-related changes, potential gender differences, and priming effects between recognition and naming. <br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> Using a cross-sectional experimental design, we measured both accuracy and response times for odor identification and naming. Children identified on average 5 odors (17.62 s) and named 4 (13.14 s), with mint and coffee being most reliably recognized and rose and banana least. Age robustly predicted both identification (R = 0.14) and naming performance (R = 0.24), whereas gender exerted no influence. Notably, prior identification facilitated subsequent naming, particularly in older children, consistent with the idea that semantic activation supports lexical access. <br><br><b>Discussion:</b> These findings demonstrate that olfactory cognition develops significantly during middle childhood, highlighting odor naming as a sensitive marker of the integration between perceptual and linguistic systems. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> Beyond descriptive patterns, our results suggest that odor-based paradigms can serve as a powerful tool for probing mechanisms of semantic development and may inform early detection of atypical cognitive trajectories.
Introduction: Hearing loss affects millions worldwide,yet access to timely audiometric testing remains limited. Mobile applications offerthe potential for convenient, low-cost screening and monitoring outside the clinic. Aim: This study evaluates the Mimi Hearing Test app, focusing on its diagnostic accuracy, reliability, and overall user experience compared with the clinical standard. Materials and methods: Thirty adult patients from an otolaryngology clinic participated in this comparative study. Each underwent 2 assessments, a traditional pure-tone audiogram performed by an audiologist and a digital hearing test using the Mimi Hearing Test app. Participants then completed a questionnaire rating the app's usability, clarity of results, and suitability for at-home use. Results: The study found a strong concordance between the pure tone average values obtained from the Mimi HearingTestapp andthose from clinical audiometry, especially in participants with normal or moderate hearing loss. Discrepancies were noted in cases of profound and asymmetric hearing loss, where the app sometimes underestimated hearing thresholds. Patient feedback was generally positive, with a significant interest in regular at-home monitoring. Neutral or negative impressions were more common among older participants, highlighting the need for age-sensitive design and user support with digital health tools. Conclusions: The Mimi Hearing Test app demonstrates strong potential as a screening and monitoringtool for individuals with mild-to-moderate hearing impairment. While it is not a substitute for formal clinical audiometry testing in complex cases, it serves as an effective complementary tool that can raise patient awareness, encourage self-monitoring, and support earlier interventions in hearing health.
<b>Introduction:</b> The ninth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system for patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was based on data from endemic regions, and it required validation for application to non-endemic regions. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the 8<sup>th</sup> and the 9<sup>th</sup> editions of the AJCC/UICC TNM system for patients with non-metastatic NPC from non-endemic regions. <br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, 2004-2021, we re-classified NPC patients using 8<sup>th</sup> and the 9<sup>th</sup> edition staging based on surrogate markers of advanced radiological extranodal extension (nodes described as "fixed") and compared the prediction performance of both staging editions for overall survival (OS) and cancer specific survival (CSS). <br><br><b>Results:</b> Our analysis included 4981 patients with a median follow-up of 99.0 months. Comparing the 9<sup>th</sup> version of AJCC/UICC (TNM-9) with TNM-8, only 29 (1.8%) patients with N1 and 47 (3.3%) patients with N2 were upstaged to N3 in TNM-9. In comparisons based on OS, TNM-9 did not outperform TNM-8 with regard to hazard consistency (2.2326 <i>vs</i> 1.9160), hazard discrimination (1.4092 <i>vs</i> 1.0947), sample size balance (0.3476 <i>vs</i> 0.3398), and percent variance explained (0.2704 <i>vs</i> 0.2704). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of TNM-9 and TNM-8 were 0.5299 and 0.5330 for OS (P = 0.549), respectively. The AUC values of TNM-9 and TNM-8 were 0.5332 and 0.5357 for CSS (P = 0.345), respectively. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> Restaging according to TNM-9 criteria involved only minor changes in the distribution of nodal (N) categories. Neither the TNM-9 nor the TNM-8 staging system demonstrated adequate overall discrimination between each stage group classification in terms of OS and CSS for patients with non-metastatic NPC from a non-endemic region.
<b>Introduction:</b> Stapedotomy improves air conduction thresholds and restores one of the components of bone conduction (BC): sound transmission to the inner ear via vibrations of the ossicular chain. This results in a measurable improvement in BC thresholds. Audiometric confirmation of pseudoperceptual hearing loss is the loss of the Carhart's notch (CN) observed after surgery. Sensorineural hearing loss is characterized by varying degrees of speech incomprehension impairment, particularly clinically apparent when the impairment affects frequencies essential for communication. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of the occurrence and behavior of the CN on selected speech audiometry parameters after stapedotomy in patients with otosclerosis. <br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> A retrospective analysis of 116 patients undergoing otosclerosis surgery between 2016 and 2019 was conducted. Patients were divided into groups based on the presence of a CN in the operated ear, based on pure-tone audiometry (PTA) performed preoperatively and during postoperative follow-up after 2-3 years of stapedotomy. Speech audiometry analysis considered changes in speech detection threshold (SDT), speech reception threshold (SRT), and speech discrimination threshold. <br><br><b>Results:</b> In the group of patients who did not have a CN on PTA preoperatively, improving mean BC threshold values after stapedotomy had a beneficial effect on SDT improvement. This association was not confirmed when assessing the effect of mean BC values on SRT. More profound sensorineural hearing loss in the preoperative assessment was associated with poorer SDT, SRT, and speech discrimination threshold in the absence of a CN on PTA. In the group of patients who had a CN on PTA preoperatively, a strong correlation was found between CN disappearance and improvement in SDT and SRT after surgery. A persistent CN after surgery proved to be an unfavorable prognostic factor for improvement in speech audiometry parameters. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> 1. The disappearance of the preoperatively observed CN after stapedotomy is a significant prognostic factor for improving the SDT and speech reception threshold; 2. A CN persisting after surgical treatment is an unfavorable factor in improving speech audiometry parameters; 3. Profound sensorineural hearing loss in the absence of the CN in the preoperative assessment is an unfavorable factor in improving the SRT, SDT and speech discrimination threshold; 4. Improvement of mean BC threshold values after stapedotomy, regardless of the preservation of the CN, has a beneficial effect on the improvement of SDT but not on SRT (the study showed that the improvement of SRT correlates with CN disappearing).
Introduction: Voice prostheses (VPs) are devices that are widely used in voice rehabilitation of patients after laryngectomy. The main cause of VPs failure is their destruction by the growth of biofilm, mainly fungal. Aim: The aim of this study was to design and build a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) simulator to observe and analyse the process of biofilm formation on voice prostheses and its effect on the structure of the material from which they are made, in conditions asclose to real as possible. Methods: Biofilm cultures were performed on voice prostheses under controlled in vitro conditions using a TEF simulator. Then, the crystal violet staining and confocal microscopic examination were performed. Results: The analysis of voice prostheses cultured in the TEF simulator conditions confirmed the presence of biofilm on their surface. Conclusions: The TEF simulator can be a valuable tool for future studies of silicone modificationsthatcan limitthe growth of biofilm on the VPs.
Introduction: Some viral pharyngitis can mimic streptococcal pharyngitis. The clinical similarity of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and streptococcal pharyngitis makes differential diagnosis based on the clinical picture alone tricky, and patients with IM may be treated empirically with antibiotics (ATBs). Aim: To assess prehospital ATB use in adult patients with IM admitted to the hospital. In addition, to compare antibiotic-treated individuals and patients not treated with ATBs usingselected demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters. Materials and methods: Medical records of patients with a laboratory-confirmed IM diagnosis (2006-2023) from one center in Poland were analyzed. Results: Out of one hundred and forty-four patients, 119 (82.6%) were treated with ATBs in the prehospital period. Many patients (n = 59) received more than one ATB. The most common choices were amoxicillin/clavulanate (46.2%), cefuroxime (27.7%), and macrolides (26.1%). One-fourth of patients had palpebral edema (more commonly in subjects treated with ATBs). The enlarged spleen was found in almost 90% of individuals with an available abdominal ultrasound assessment (113/127). A significant proportion of patients (43.1%) were given steroids (more commonly in subjects treated with ATBs). Conclusions: More severe IM in young adults is a common cause of ATB therapy. Broad-spectrum ATBs are often prescribed. Meticulous clinical evaluation supported by simple and widely available diagnostic tools could reduce the use of antimicrobials in such a patient population.
Comprehensive genome profiling (CGP) has been reimbursed under Japan's national health insurance since 2019 for patients with advanced solid tumors, including head and neck cancers. Despite this, genomic insights into rare nasal carcinoma subtypes remain limited, hindering subtype-specific therapeutic strategies. To characterize the genetic mutational profiles of recurrent and/or metastatic nasal carcinoma across histological subtypes using data from the Japanese National Genomic Profiling Database. Materials and methods: Genomic data from 135 patients with nasal carcinoma were analyzed, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 48), neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (n = 52), adenocarcinoma (n = 20), and undifferentiated carcinoma (n = 15). All cases were registered in the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT), National Cancer Center Japan, between June 2019 and May 2025. Mutations were identified via FoundationOne CDx next-generation sequencing. Survival analysis employed the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: TP53 and KMT2D were frequently mutated across all subtypes. In SCC, KMT2D (p = 0.03), EGFR (p = 6.4 × 10-), and RICTOR (p = 0.03) mutations correlated with poor prognosis. No significant differences were found among subtypes in mutation count or tumor mutational burden (TMB). Discussion: Shared and distinct mutational patterns were observed, with prognostic relevance in SCC. These findings underscore the importance of genomic stratification in rare nasal carcinomas. Conclusions: CGP reveals key genetic drivers in nasal carcinoma, supporting its role in precision oncology and informing future subtype-specific therapeutic approaches.
<b>Introduction:</b> Epicutaneous sensitization (ES) plays a role in the onset of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), bronchial asthma, and food allergies, but its effects on nasal allergic diseases remain unclear. <br><br><b>Aim:</b> The aim of this study was to compare the effects of intranasal challenge following ES with those following intranasal sensitization (NS) on nasal allergic inflammation. <br><br><b>Materials and methods:</b> Female BALB/c mice were sensitized epicutaneously or intranasally with 25 μg of ovalbumin (OVA) and 2 μg of cholera toxin (CT) six times at weekly intervals. These groups were compared with control groups that received ES with phosphate- buffered saline (PBS) alone, OVA alone, or CT alone. Two weeks after the final sensitization, the mice were challenged intranasally with 500 μg of OVA ten times over a two-week period. Four weeks after the final sensitization, allergic inflammation in the nasal cavity, OVA-specific IgE production, and cytokine profiles were evaluated in the different groups. <br><br><b>Results:</b> Post-challenge, there was no significant difference in the number of eosinophils or the thickness of lateral nasal mucosa between the ES and NS groups. However, the serum level of OVA-specific IgE in the ES group was significantly higher than that in the control and NS groups. Levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-33 in CD4+ T cells were also significantly higher in the ES group than in the NS group. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> These results indicate that intranasal challenge following ES induces comparable eosinophilic inflammation in the nasal cavity, but elicits a stronger systemic Th2-type inflammatory response than that following NS.
Introduction: Serious intracranial complications of acute mastoiditis seem to be reduced due to vaccine prophylaxis and antibiotics, but recently, after the COVID-19 era, we observe its significant growth.Aim: Due to this observed growth, especially regarding central venous thrombosis, we decided to investigate the patterns of infections within our patients.Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients hospitalized in our clinic in the years 2018–2022 with the diagnosis of acute mastoiditis. We gathered and analyzed data concerning patients’ characteristics and the course of illness. We divided our data into 2 groups: pre- and post-COVID-19-era cases.Results: We found 97 records of 86 patients treated due to acute mastoiditis. As many as 54 cases were classified as pre- and 43 as post-COVID-19 cases. We noted a definite decline in hospitalizations from March 2020 to September 2021 (to 0), which reflects the lockdown period. In the year 2022 we had surprisingly more cases in spring and summer months than in winter. We observed male predominance (p>0.5). Most cases in the pre-COVID group received no treatment before hospitalization in our clinic (p<0.05). We observed higher WBC and CRP levels in the post-COVID group (p<0.05). We found no statistically significant differences in microbiological results between the groups. We found more serious complications in the post-COVID group, with statistical significance only for nerve abducens palsy. We observed a higher need for the use of Vancomycin alone (p = 0.04), mostly as a corrected treatment, or in combination with Ceftriaxone (p = 0.04) in the post-COVID group. The mean time of hospitalization between the 2 groups seems to be similar and was about 13 4 days.Conclusions: We presume that the children’s isolation, together with post-infection immunosuppression led to the observed growth of severe complications.
Introduction: At the Department of Otolaryngology, USK1 PUM in Szczecin, 205 cochlear implant surgeries were performed between 2008 and 2023 in patients with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss. Reimplantation was necessary in 8 cases, 3 of which were primarily operated on outside our clinic. The re-implantation rate at the local centre is 2.4%.Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the reasons for reimplantation and the surgical procedure at the Department of Otolaryngology in Szczecin. In addition, changes in electrophysiological parameters of electrode impedance, transimpedance measurement, and neural response telemetry (NRT) were assessed.Materials and methods: Electrophysiological tests (impedance and NRT) were measured before and after the reimplantation procedure, followed by statistical analysis of the changes in the values of the collected measurements.Results: Reasons for reimplantation comprised: tip fold-over n = 2, extrusion of the implant n = 2, recurrent mastoiditis n = 1, recurrent chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma n = 1, failure of the internal part of the device n = 2. Healing was normal in all patients. Analysis shows that reimplantation leads to a change in impedance. The variability between patients is very significant. In contrast, for NRT, all patients had a decrease in recorded values or no change, but the variation in effect between patients was not significant, allowing the general conclusion that reimplantation typically causes a decrease in NRT values.Discussion: Given the observed changes in NRT and impedance values in patients after reimplantation surgery, each patient should be treated as newly implanted during the activation of the cochlear implant speech processor.Conclusions: Surgical re-treatment was successful in all cases. Post-treatment follow-up has shown that reimplantation allows continued successful use of the cochlear implant system.
