International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology最新文献

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammatory condition of the sinus mucosa. While Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to play a significant role in mucosal barrier disruption in CRS patients, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus lugdunensis are also implicated in CRS pathophysiology. This study investigates the effects of exoproteins secreted by planktonic and biofilm forms of clinical isolates of S. epidermidis and S. lugdunensis on the nasal epithelial barrier.

Methods

Thirty-one clinical isolates of CoNS were grown in planktonic and biofilm forms, and their exoproteins were concentrated. The epithelial barrier structure was assessed by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran. Toxicity and inflammatory response were also studied.

Results

Our findings demonstrate that exoproteins from all planktonic forms of S. lugdunensis disrupted the mucosal barrier, whereas only nine of 16 biofilm-derived exoproteins had similar effects. Conversely, 11 of 15 exoproteins from planktonic S. epidermidis significantly disrupted barrier integrity; however, biofilm exoproteins did not. The study also showed that some exoproteins from planktonic S. epidermidis significantly reduced cell viability, while exoproteins from planktonic and biofilm forms of S. lugdunensis and biofilm S. epidermidis did not induce any statistically significant change in cell viability. Notably, four of 16 biofilm exoproteins from S. lugdunensis induced higher interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion, whereas none of the S. epidermidis isolates showed a significant increase in IL-6 secretion.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that CoNS exoproteins may contribute to CRS etiopathogenesis.

Key points

Background

Emerging evidence has underscored the harmful effects of air pollution on the upper airway. We investigated the relationship between ambient particulate matter (PM) level and the frequency of outpatient visits for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Methods

We conducted an ecological cohort study of US adults enrolled in The Merative MarketScan outpatient database from 2007 to 2020. For each geographical subunit (core-based statistical area [CBSA]), we calculated the annual rate of CRS-related outpatient visits per 1000 well-patient checkup visits (CRS-OV). Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System, we mapped the rolling statistical average of daily PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ over the preceding year onto each CBSA × year combination. We employed multivariable negative binomial regression modeling to estimate the association between PM levels and subsequent CRS-OV.

Results

Across 3933 observations (CBSA × year combinations), encompassing ∼4 billion visits, the median CRS-OV was 164 (interquartile range 110–267). The mean PM_2.5 level was 8.9 µg/m³ (SD 2.6) and the mean PM₁₀ level was 20.2 µg/m³ (SD 7.2). Adjusting for patient demographics and respiratory comorbidities, a compounded rise in subsequent CRS-OV was observed with increasing PM levels. Each µg/m³ rise in PM_2.5 independently predicted a 10% increase in CRS-OV (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]) 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–1.13) and each µg/m³ rise in PM₁₀ independently predicted a 3% increase in CRS-OV (aIRR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04).

Conclusion

Elevated ambient PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ levels are associated with a subsequent compounded increase in the frequency of CRS-OV, with PM_2.5 predicting a more pronounced rise compared to PM₁₀.

Key points

Background

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) in the elderly is common and associated with numerous comorbidities, yet often underrecognized. This study sought to develop an instrument for widespread screening of this condition.

Methods

Demographic factors, comorbidities, and olfactory-related questions were examined in a focus group (N = 20) and development cohort (N = 190). The 4-item Concise Aging adults Smell Test (4-CAST) screening instrument was then developed to predict OD on Sniffin Sticks testing. An independent validation cohort (N = 147) was then examined to confirm ability of the 4-CAST to predict OD on Smell Identification Test 40 (SIT40).

Results

The most important variables for predicting olfactory loss in older subjects were age, type II diabetes status, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of overall rating of smell, and VAS of impact of smell upon safety. In the development cohort, the 4-CAST model yielded predictive probability (area under the curve) of 0.805 (p < 0.001) for predicting the bottom 25th percentile on Sniffin Sticks. Results were similar in the validation cohort, as the 4-CAST accurately classified 83.8% subjects (area under the curve [AUC] 0.789, p < 0.001) in the bottom 25th percentile of SIT40 testing. The 4-CAST was able to accurately classify 89.4% of subjects with anosmia.

Conclusion

The 4-CAST is a quick screening instrument for predicting OD in older adults and has similar performance characteristics in independent populations using the two most common validated olfactory tests. Given the high prevalence of unrecognized olfactory loss in this population, this can be a useful tool for practitioners to determine which subjects may benefit from more extensive olfactory testing.

Background

Operating rooms generate 1.8 million tons of waste annually, or 20%‒30% of the total healthcare waste in the United States. Our objective was to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) for endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESSs) in order to analyze its environmental impact.

Methods

A comprehensive LCA of ESS was performed considering energy, climate, and water use impacts associated with the materials and processes used. It focuses on the ESS performed at a large tertiary academic hospital and then extends the impacts to consider annual US surgeries. The assessment considers end-of-life waste management at both landfills and incinerators.

Results

Single-use instrument production constitutes 89%‒96% of the total impacts throughout the life cycle of an ESS. Waste-to-energy incineration is shown to be a preferred end-of-life destination, as it recovers much of the input production energy of plastic items, ultimately reducing the input to 36%, although this is done at the expense of higher greenhouse gas emissions. For multi-use items, decontamination dominates environmental impact (>99% of totals), but consideration of reusable items reduces overall energy consumption and global warming potential (GWP) by 25%‒33%.

Conclusion

Single-use items dominate the total environmental impact of ESS. While multi-use items require additional decontamination over their lifetimes, results show that their incorporation reduces energy consumption and GWP by 25%‒33%, demonstrating the clear environmental benefit.