Evaluation of the Quality of Life of Patients Suffering from Chronic Rhinosinusitis in a Hospital Setting in Kinshasa

Background and objective: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a common disease worldwide, has a major impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). In recent years, the measurement of health-related QoL has made it possible to assess the patient’s state of health, the severity of the CRS and the treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the QoL of patients with CRS in a hospital setting in Kinshasa. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted from June 2020 to May 2021 in the ENT service of the Kinshasa University Hospital and the Monkole Hospital Center. The study involved 113 patients aged at least 18 years, whose QOL was compared with that of a control group consisting of 100 non-patients. QOL was assessed using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the patients was 41.0 years (18 - 74 years) and that of the controls was 39.1 years (19 - 77 years). More than half of the participants were university graduates. The median SNOT-22 score was 44 (14 - 78) in patients and 7 (1 - 40) in controls. Compared with subjects without CRS, patients with CRS had significantly higher scores in all four domains of the SNOT-22. Around 9 out of 10 patients had a severely impaired QoL compared with 2 out of 10 controls. Considering mildly impaired QoL, we found that in the otological and sleep domains, scores were not significantly different between patients and controls. In the case of severely impaired QoL, however, only the otological domain showed a non-significant difference in scores between the two groups. Conclusion: CRS is a real public health problem in our environment and significantly alters the QoL of patients suffering from it, with repercussions on their professional productivity;hence the need for better management.

Association of Comorbid Asthma and the Efficacy of Bioabsorbable Steroid-eluting Sinus Stents Implanted After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Objective To identify factors affecting the efficacy of steroid-eluting sinus stents implanted after endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS)in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP).Methods We performed a post-hoc analysis of a randomized self-controlled clinical trial on post-operative implantation of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting stents in patients with CRSwNP.Univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify which of the following factors affect the response to post-operative stent implantation:sex,serum eosinophil levels,history of prior surgery,endoscopic scores,and comorbid conditions(asthma and allergic rhinitis).The primary outcome was the rate of post-operative intervention on day 30,and the secondary outcome was the rate of polypoid tissue formation(grades 2–3)on days 14,30,and 90.Results A total of 151 patients with CRSwNP were included in the post-hoc analysis.Asthma was identified as the only risk factor for a poor response to steroid-eluting sinus stents on post-operative day 30,with an odds ratio of 23.71(95%CI,2.81,200.16;P=0.004)for the need for post-operative intervention and 19(95%CI,2.20,164.16;P=0.003)for moderate-to-severe polypoid tissue formation.In addition,the asthmatic group showed higher rates of post-operative intervention and polypoid tissue formation than the non-asthmatic group on post-operative day 30.Blood eosinophil levels were not identified as a risk factor for poor outcomes after stent implantation.Conclusion Comorbid asthma,but not blood eosinophil level,impairs the efficacy of steroid-eluting sinus stents in the short term after ESS in patients with CRSwNP.

Socioeconomic Status Impacts the Prognosis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Treated by Endoscopic Sinus Surgery:An Observational Cohort Study in Northeast China

Objective To explore the association between socioeconomic status(SES)and postoperative outcomes in patients with chronic sinusitis(CRS)after functional endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS).Methods We conducted an observational cohort study of 1,047 patients with CRS undergoing ESS.Discharged patients were followed up to 72 weeks for all-cause recurrence events.Baseline SES was established based on occupation,education level,and family income of the patients 1 year before the operation.Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate the recovery rate after ESS,and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between SES and prognosis.Results Patients of middle SES had lower unadjusted all-cause recurrence than those of low or high SES;24-week overall recovery rate was 90.4%[95%confidence interval(CI):89.6%–91.2%]in patients of middle SES,13.5%(95%CI:12.8%–14.2%)in patients of low SES,and 31.7%(95%CI:30.7%–32.7%)in patients of high SES(both log-rank P<0.001).After adjustment for covariates,hazard ratios(HRs)were7.69(95%CI:6.17–9.71,Ptrend<0.001)for all-cause recurrence for low SES versus middle SES,and 6.19(95%CI:4.78–7.93,Ptrend<0.001)for middle SES versus high SES.Conclusion Low SES and high SES were more associated with the worse prognosis of CRS patients after ESS than middle SES.

Clinical and Therapeutic Characteristics of Acute Maxillary Rhinosinusitis in a Hospital of Cotonou

Introduction: Acute maxillary rhinosinusitis (AMRS) is one of the most common ear, nose and throat infections. The aim of this study was to contribute to the improvement of the management of the condition in sub-Saharan Africa. Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study that ran from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 in the ENT-HNS department of the “Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Zone de Suru-Léré” (CHUZ SL) in Cotonou, Benin. It involved all patients who consulted during the study period and in whom the diagnosis of acute maxillary rhinosinusitis was made. Results: A total of 405 cases were identified. The mean age was 34.26 ± 15.26 years with extremes of 9 and 63 years. The predominance was female with a sex ratio of 0.61. Acute maxillary rhinosinusitis was bilateral in 371 cases (91.60%). The main symptoms were facial pain in 346 cases (85.43%), mucopurulent rhinorrhea: 315 cases (77.78%), headache: 283 cases (69.88%), and nasal obstruction: 244 cases (60.25%). The most frequent physical signs were pain on pressure of the maxillary sinus points in 405 cases or 100%, purulent secretions at the middle meatus: 11.35%, hyperemia of the nasal mucosa: 53.58%, hypertrophy of the middle turbinate: 41.48% and discharge of pus on the posterior pharyngeal wall: 36.79%. Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid was the main antibiotic prescribed. Vasoconstrictors were used in 228 cases 56.30%. The evolution was favorable in all cases. Conclusion: The diagnosis of acute maxillary rhinosinusitis is clinical. Treatment with antibiotic gives good results.

Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis in East Asians

Chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS) is a common disease worldwide, with a prevalence rate of 5%-15% in the general population. CRS is currently classified into two types: CRS with and without nasal polyps. CRS may also be divided into eosinophilic CRS(ECRS) and non-ECRS subtypes based on the presence of tissue eosinophilic infiltration or not. There are significant geographic and ethnic differences in the tissue eosinophilic infiltration, which is predominant in Western white patients and less common in East Asians, despite an increasing tendency for its prevalence in East Asia countries. ECRS differs significantly from non-ECRS in clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and strategies, and underlying pathogenic mechanisms. ECRS commonly demonstrates more severe symptoms, polyp diseases with a higher incidence of bilateral polyps and sinonasal diseases on computed tomography, and the increase in blood eosinophils. ECRS is considered a special and recalcitrant subtype of CRS, commonly with poor treatment outcomes compared to non-ECRS. The differentiation of specific subtypes and clinical features of CRS will be important for developing novel treatment strategies and improving treatment outcomes for individual phenotypes of CRS. This review discusses clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of ECRS in East Asians.

Successful treatment of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis caused by Cunninghamella: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis(IFR) caused by Cunninghamella is very rare but has an extremely high fatality rate. There have been only seven cases of IFR caused by Cunninghamella reported in English and, of these, only three patients survived.In this article, we present another case of IFR caused by Cunninghamella, in which the patient was initially treated successfully but then deteriorated due to a relapse of leukemia 2 mo later.CASE SUMMARY A 50-year-old woman presented with a 2-mo history of right ocular proptosis,blurred vision, rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction. Nasal endoscopic examination showed that the middle turbinate had become necrotic and fragile. Endoscopic sinus surgery and enucleation of the right orbital contents were performed successively. Additionally, the patient was treated with amphotericin B both systematically and topically. Secretion cultivation of the right eye canthus showed infection with Cunninghamella, while postoperative pathology also revealed fungal infection. The patient's condition gradually stabilized after surgery. However, the patient underwent chemotherapy again due to a relapse of leukemia 2 mo later. Unfortunately, her leukocyte count decreased dramatically,leading to a fatal lung infection and hemoptysis.CONCLUSION Aggressive surgical debridements, followed by antifungal drug treatment both systematically and topically, are the most important fundamental treatments for IFR.

Relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower airway diseases: An extensive review

Significant links between allergic rhinitis and asthma have been reported, and the united airway disease hypothesis is supported by numerous findings in epidemiologic, physiologic, pathologic, and immunologic studies. The impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma has been established. On the other hand, the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lung diseases has been under investigation. Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common disease, and the high prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in some kinds of lung diseases has been reported. Recent studies suggest that the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis has beneficial effects in the management of asthma. Here, we present an overview of the current research on the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and lower airway diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, idiopathic bronchiectasis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis accompanied by allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Concomitant allergic fungal rhinosinusitis(AFRS)and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(ABPA)are extremely rare,with no more than 20 cases reported in the English literature.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old female patient complained of right-sided nasal obstruction,rhinorrhea,sneezing,epistaxis,and hyposmia for a period of around 5 mo.Nasal examination detected paleness and edema of the nasal mucous membrane and a polyp in the right middle meatus.A computed tomography(CT)scan of the sinuses revealed a ground-glass opacity filling the right maxillary and ethmoid sinuses,along with bone absorption in the medial wall of the right maxillary sinus.Magnetic resonance images were obtained with T1-weighted,T2-weighted,and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted sequences.A well-defined mass,located in the right maxillary and ethmoid sinuses and displaying obvious hypointense features,was observed on both T1-and T2-weighted images,with peripheral enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images.The patient also has a 20-year history of cough and dyspnea.Chest CT revealed columned and cystiform bronchiectasis in the bilateral bronchus,surrounded by a large number of spotted and funicular high-density lesions.The level of serum total IgE was>5000 kU/L.Serum IgE levels related to house dust and aspergillus showed a positive result,with the values being 3.5 kU/L and 1.2 kU/L.We performed functional endoscopic sinus surgery under local anesthesia.After surgery,topical glucocorticoids and saline irrigation were applied in the nasal cavity until the present time.An oral glucocorticoid(methylprednisolone 16 mg/d)and antifungal agent(itraconazole 200 mg/d)were also used for a period of 4 wk.Montelukast was prescribed at 10 mg/d until the present time.An endoscopic examination showed that the patient was recovering well at 3 mo after surgery.CONCLUSION Since different specialists treat ABPA and AFRS,their coexistence may be overlooked.AFRS accompanied by ABPA requires surgical therapy combined with medical control to improve the symptoms.

Analysis of pathogenetic process of fungal rhinosinusitis: Report of two cases

BACKGROUND Fungal rhinosinusitis is an infectious and/or allergic disease caused by fungi in the sinus and nasal cavity. Due to the warm and humid climate in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the incidence of fungal rhinosinusitis is higher than that in other provinces. However, its physiological mechanism is not yet clear.Not every patient colonized by fungi develops a fungal infection. To a large extent, the immune status of the patient determines the nature of fungal disease in the nasal passages. The pathologic process of progression from harmless fungal colonization to fungal rhinosinusitis is unclear and has not been reported.CASE SUMMURY We report two patients, one who developed fungal rhinosinusitis 1.5 years after surgery performed to treat an inverted papilloma, and the other with a history of hypertension and cerebral infarction. Both patients recovered from their surgeries. An average time of 2.5 years elapsed from the development of maxillary sinus cysts to the development of fungal rhinosinusitis.CONCLUSION According to these case reports, we speculate that the progression of fungal rhinosinusitis from harmless colonization to disease onset requires approximately one to three years and that the length of the process may be related to underlying diseases, surgical treatment, deficient autoimmune status,and abuse of hormone antibiotics and hormones. Additional data are needed to conduct relevant studies to appropriately prevent and treat fungal rhinosinusitis.

Quality of Life after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a group of disorders characterized by the inflammation of mucosa of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses. It includes chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps, CRS without polyps and Allergic Fungal Sinusitis (AFS). This debilitating disease causes negative impact on quality of life (QOL) of patients. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the mainstay of surgical treatment for patients and improves QOL of patients. This subjective assessment of QOL can be measured by disease specific questionnaires. SNOT-22 questionnaire is widely used and validated questionnaire for this purpose. Prospective study was done on 54 patients. Data were collected using SNOT-22 questionnaire and filled in pre-operative period then in post-operative follow-up visits on 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th months. Paired sample t-test was used to compare pre-operative and post-operative SNOT scores and multivariate generalized linear model was used to estimate regression parameters for SNOT scores in CRS with polyp and AFS in comparison of CRS without polyps. Out of 54 patients, 59.3% were males, mean age was 35.98, 29.6% were in CRS without polyp group, 44.4% and 25.9% were in CRS with polyps and AFS group. Recurrence occurred in 7.4%, revision surgery required in 3.7% while 22.2% had history of asthma. Paired sample t-test showed statistical significant reduction in post-operative SNOT scores. Linear model results showed SNOT scores in CRS with polyp group was significantly reduced. Thus FESS provides significant improvement in QOL of patients in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Biyuanshu Oral Liquid in the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

[Objectives]The objective was to study the clinical efficacy and safety of Biyuanshu oral liquid in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS).[Methods]Randomized controlled trial was adopted to conduct scientific and standardized assessment on the risk of bias in the included papers.With overall effect and incidence of adverse reactions as indices,meta-analysis was performed,and sensitivity and safety analysis was conducted on the included literature.[Results]A total of 15 papers were included,involving 1489 patients.The efficiency of Biyuanshu oral liquid combined with Western medicine was better than that of Western medicine alone.[Conclusions]Biyuanshu oral liquid is safe and effective in treating chronic rhinosinusitis,and is suitable for patients who are not convenient for surgery.However,as the 15 papers included are all low in quality and there is a certain degree of publication bias,the objectivity of the results is affected to some extent.

Correlation between Radiological Staging of Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Revision of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory condition affecting the sinonasal mucosa with duration of more than 12 weeks. Multifactorial aetiology contributes to its refractoriness. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the most common surgical technique preferred in CRS not responding to medical management, showing high success rates. However, some failure has been noted, requiring revision FESS. CT (Computed Tomography) is a diagnostic tool for CRS, and aids in improving surgical outcomes. Combined with the Lund-Mackay scoring system, CT can help stage the CRS, predicting the need for revision surgery. Methods: In our paper, we aimed to study the relationship between severity of CRS using radiological staging and revision of functional endoscopic sinus surgery, assessing outcome after at least 1 year of follow-up. There was a single centre retrospective study involving 150 patients selected by random sampling, to study the correlation between the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis and revision of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The study was conducted in the ENT department of King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain for a time period of 6 months. Records were scanned and scored using Lund-Mackay system. Lund Mackay score of 10 and above was considered severe. The relation between increased severity with Lund Mackay score on the CT scan and the need for revision sinus surgeries was then determined. Results and Conclusion: This study concludes that LMS score in CT scans can be used to predict the outcomes of primary FESS procedure and the need for revision surgery in the management of CRS.

Dysregulation of E-cadherin in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

E-cadherin is a key epithelial protein and adhesive molecule. This study detected the E-cadherin expression in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and controls, and analyzed its possible role in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP. The expression of E-cadherin was detected by using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in controls and patients with CRSwNP. Computed tomography (CT) scan findings were scored. The results showed that the E-cadherin expression was up-regulated in patients with CRSwNP as compared with controls (P=0.039) and the positive staining was predominantly localized on the epithelial cell membrane. E-cadherin level was correlated negatively with Lund-Mackay scores in patients with CRSwNP (r=–0.604, P=0.005). It is suggested that E-cadherin may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP and correlated with disease severity.

Correlation study between dendritic cell and eosinophil in refractory rhinosinusitis

Objective:To investigate the correlation of refractory rhinosinusitis by detecting the expression of dendritic cells and eosinophils infiltration in nasal mucosa.Methods:Histological staining was performed to detect eosinophils infiltration respectively in 30 normal nasal mucosa,30 chronic rhinosinusitis tissues and 30 refractory rhinosinusitis tissues,Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double labeling were performed to detect the expression of CD83 and CD11c in each group,and univariate anova was used to analyze the differences among groups.The correlation between the co-expression of CD83 and CD11c and the infiltration of eosinophilic cells was measured by Pearson correlation analysis.Results:The positive expression of dendritic cells immune markers CD83 and CD11c and eosinophils infiltration of refractory rhinosinusitis was significantly increased compared with the other two groups(P<0.05).Through Pearson correlation analysisthe,correlation coefficient r between CD83 and CD11c co-expression and eosinophils infiltration in each group was positive and P<0.05,both were positively correlated.Conclusion:The number of dendritic cells in refractory rhinosinusitis increased significantly and was positively correlated with the infiltration of eosinophils,which was involved in the development of refractory rhinosinusitis.

CX3CR1 receptor as a potential therapeutic target in chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis are chronic inflammatory diseases that affect the mucous membrane of the nose and paranasal sinuses. These diseases are characterized by recruitment of inflammatory cells to the upper airway. For this to take place a complex interaction between inflammatory cells and the cytokines/chemokines(ligand) liberated at the site of inflammation is involved in a process termed chemotaxis or directed cell migration against concentration gradient of the ligand. This entails signal transduction through the cell surface receptor resulting in cellular functional response and directed migration. In this editorial the novel role of CX3CR1 receptor in the immunopathology of chronic inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses will be explored with its potential role as therapeutic target in chronic nasal inflammation.

The Influence of Jia Wei Cang Er San on the Postoperative Bacteriology of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

Background: Antibiotics have been used routinely for postoperative care in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, increased bacterial growth was found after antibiotic treatment. In traditional Chinese medicine, Jia Wei Cang Er San has been used to treat CRS. This study was to investigate the influence of Jia Wei Cang Er San on the postoperative bacteriology of CRS. Methods: Ninety-seven CRS patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) were included. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. In the group of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), patients were given a capsule of Jia Wei Cang Er San tid for 8 weeks and a placebo capsule for amoxicillin q8h for 4 weeks after FESS. In the amoxicillin group, patients were given a capsule of amoxicillin 250 mg q8h for 4 weeks and a placebo capsule for Jia Wei Cang Er San tid for 8 weeks. In the placebo group, patients were given both placebo capsules. Bacterial cultures were performed from bilateral middle meati before FESS, and 8 and 12 weeks after FESS. Results: In the CHM group, bacteria grew in 21 (46%) of 46 specimens pre-operatively, in 23 (50%) specimens 8 weeks and in 17 (37%) specimens 12 weeks after surgery. In the amoxicillin group, bacteria grew in 15 (28%) of 54 specimens pre-operatively, in 30 (56%) specimens 8 weeks and in 32 (59%) specimens 12 weeks after surgery. In the placebo group, bacteria were found in 13 (34%) of 38 specimens pre-operatively, in 16 (42%) specimens 8 weeks and in 12 (32%) specimens 12 weeks after surgery. The rates of bacterial growth did not change by Jia Wei Cang Er San 8 or 12 weeks after surgery, but increased significantly by amoxicillin 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. Conclusion: Our study showed that Jia Wei Cang Er San did not induce bacterial growth after FESS as amoxicillin.

Antibiotic Treatment for Chronic Rhinosinusitis after Endoscopic Surgery: How Long Should Macrolide Antibiotics Be Given?

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine an appropriate period for macrolide antibiotic therapy, and to investigate whether this period could be shorter, for patients with chronicrhino sinusitis (CRS) after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 41 patients undergoing FESS for CRS was performed. All patients underwent pre-operative computed tomography (CT). Patients with fungal sinusitis, allergic fungal sinusitis, and eosinophilic sinusitis were excluded. After FESS, normalized sinus mucosa was confirmed by CT and endoscopy in all patients. Postoperative antibiotic therapy consisted of first-line and second-line regimens. Garenoxacin (GRNX), or clarithromycin (CAM, 400 mg/day) was used as the first-line regimens and low-dose macrolide therapy (CAM, 200 mg/day) was used as the second-line regimen and was prescribed at outpatient visits based on our clinical criteria. Results: Second-line antibiotic therapy (low-dose CAM) was not necessary in 12 of 41 (29%) patients, while it was prescribed in 29 of 41 (71%). The mean duration of low-dose CAM therapy after FESS was 36 days (range 7 to 122 days;median, 25 days). Patients who received second-line therapy (n = 29) were divided into two groups based on the choice of first-line therapy, a GRNX group (n = 13) and a non-GRNX group (n = 16). Those in the non-GRNX had longer periods of postoperative CAM therapy than those in the GRNX group. Conclusion: GRNX was associated with a shorter duration of low-dose macrolide therapy after FESS, and 29% of patients did not need any low-dose macrolide therapy postoperatively. Therefore, macrolide antibiotics should not be routinely prescribed after FESS.

Pathological Role of Fungal Biofilms in Fungal Rhinosinusitis: A Case-Control Study

Objective: This case-control study aimed to detect the presence of fungal biofilms in cases of fungal sinusitis, trying to find its role in recurrence of fungal sinus infection and resistance to medical treatment. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at Ain-Shams University from June-2017 to June-2018 upon 20 patients as the fungal cases are not much in Egypt. All patients were subjected to functional endoscopic sinus surgery and taking specimens. Examination of specimens by scanning electron microscope was made. Results: The prevalence of fungal biofilms was 7 (70%) in cases and 0 (0%) in controls (p-value = 0.001). There is higher risk of fungal biofilms in cases of fungal sinusitis, the odds of biofilms is higher in the study group 2.33 than in the control group 0. The lower is the invasiveness, the higher is the fungal biofilms (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.46 - 4.05). Also, the analysis showed that the lower is the recurrence the lower is the fungal biofilms (OR = 2.25, 95% CI 0.15 - 7.93). Conclusion: This study showed the presence of fungal biofilms in different cases of fungal sinusitis whether primary or recurrent, also whether invasive or non-invasive. Studies with large sample size are recommended to get a strong evidence.

Utilization of RNA sequencing to investigate olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps:A pilot study

Objectives:Prior research on olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS)has focused on patients with polyps and suggests that direct inflammation of the olfactory cleft mucosa plays a contributory role.The purpose of this study was to evaluate gene expression in superior turbinate mucosal specimens,comparing normosmic and dysosmic CRS patients without polyps(CRSsNP).Methods:Tissue samples were obtained from the superior turbinates of patients with CRSsNP at the time of endoscopic sinus surgery.Samples subsequently underwent RNA sequencing and functional analysis to investigate biological pathways associated with differentially expressed genes between dysosmic(n=7)and normosmic(n=4)patients.Results:Differential gene expression analysis comparing dysosmic and normosmic CRSsNP patients showed upregulation of 563 genes and downregulation of 327 genes.Using stringent criteria for multiple comparisons,one upregulated gene(Immediate Early Response 3[IER3])had an false discovery rate(FDR)correction adjustedP value considered statistically significant(P<0.001,fold change 2.69).Reactome functional analysis revealed eight biological pathways significantly different between dysosmic and normosmic patients(P<0.05,FDR correction)including IL-4 and IL-13 signaling,IL-10 signaling,and rhodopsin-like receptors.Conclusions:RNA sequencing of the superior turbinates in patients with CRSsNP can provide valuable information regarding biological pathways and genes involved in olfactory dysfunction.This study supports literature suggesting that Type 2 inflammation may play a role in olfactory dysfunction in at least some patients with CRSsNP.This study also prompts questions regarding the role of IL-10,rhodopsin-like receptors,andIER3 in the pathogenesis of olfactory dysfunction.

Enhanced oxidative stress is associated with tissue neutrophilia and poor steroid response in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Objective:To analyze the oxidative stress status and its association with tissue neutrophilia and oral steroid response in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)patients.Methods:The levels of total oxidant status(TOS)were detected in the sinonasal tissues by using specific assay kits.Tissue neutrophil was examined by immunohistochemical staining,and oxidant status index(OSI)was evaluated in polyps tissues,and the messenger RNA(mRNA)levels of superoxide dismutase 2(SOD2),aldehyde dehydrogenase 1(ALDH1A1),and microsomal glutathione S‐transferase 1(MGST1)were examined using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction in the sinonasal tissues.The receiver operating characteristics(ROCs)curve of ALDH1A1,MGST1,and SOD2 mRNA levels were evaluated to determine the steroid response of CRSwNP patients.Results:The levels of TOS and OSI were significantly higher in CRSwNP and CRSsNP than in normal controls,and OSI in polyps tissues was positively associated with tissue neutrophilia and poor steroid response.The ALDH1A1,MGST1,and SOD2 mRNA levels showed comparable accuracy as predictors of poor steroid response indicated by the area under the curve.Conclusion:These findings provided evidence that the increased level of oxidative stress contributes to enhanced tissue neutrophilia and poor steroid response in CRSwNP patients.