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Smoking, whether active or passive, has proven deleterious effects on the nasal mucosa. There is also a link between smoking and development and/or maintenance of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Reversal of smoking-induced mucosal changes after quitting smoking is still unconfirmed and controversial. The present study investigated the possibility of reversal of smoking-related nasal mucosal changes back to normal after completely quitting smoking. The study was performed on 32 smokers whose nasal mucosa was previously biopsied for electron microscopic examination and then they completely quit smoking. Smoking history of the participants and duration of cessation of smoking were recorded. A tiny 1-mm3 biopsy was taken from the inferior turbinate 1 cm behind its anterior end and processed for electron microscopy. The specimens were processed for electron microscopy and the sections were examined by a pathologist who was blinded to the identity and smoking status of the participant. The results of electron microscopic examination of the nasal mucosa before and after quitting smoking were compared. The mean duration of quitting smoking was 30.75 months (± 8.26). Examination of the electron microscopic sections before quitting smoking showed variable degrees of loss of cilia and columnar cells, edema between the epithelial cells, few goblet cells, hyperplasia of seromucinous acini, and vascular congestion. The pathologic changes correlated positively with the smoking index of the participant. On the other hand, the sections after quitting smoking showed variable degrees of regeneration of the ciliated cells and decreased vascular congestion. Numerous goblet cells and seromucinous acini were seen. Less pathologic changes were observed with longer durations of cessation of smoking. The present study showed an association between smoking and the nasal mucosa. Smoking has several injurious effects on the nasal mucosa. However, the nasal mucosa has excellent regeneration potentials and quitting smoking for sufficient periods of time may reverse these deleterious changes. Considering the established link between smoking and CRS, quitting smoking may help smokers to overcome their recalcitrant disease. This should be further investigated.

Background Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid malignancy in childhood which, despite the current progress in radiotherapy and chemotherapy protocols, still has a high mortality rate in high risk tumors. Nanomedicine offers exciting and unexploited opportunities to overcome the shortcomings of conventional medicine. The photocatalytic properties of Fe3O4 core-TiO2 shell nanocomposites and their potential for cell specific targeting suggest that nanoconstructs produced using Fe3O4 core-TiO2 shell nanocomposites could be used to enhance radiation effects in neuroblastoma. In this study, we evaluated bare, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) coated Fe3O4@TiO2 as potential radiosensitizers for neuroblastoma in vitro. Results The uptake of bare and MIBG coated nanocomposites modestly sensitized neuroblastoma cells to ionizing radiation. Conversely, cells exposed to DOPAC coated nanocomposites exhibited a five-fold enhanced sensitivity to radiation, increased numbers of radiation induced DNA double-strand breaks, and apoptotic cell death. The addition of a peptide mimic of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) to nanoconjugates coated with MIBG altered their intracellular distribution. Cryo X-ray fluorescence microscopy tomography of frozen hydrated cells treated with these nanoconjugates revealed cytoplasmic as well as nuclear distribution of the nanoconstructs. Conclusions The intracellular distribution pattern of different nanoconjugates used in this study was different for different nanoconjugate surface molecules. Cells exposed to DOPAC covered nanoconjugates showed the smallest nanoconjugate uptake, with the most prominent pattern of large intracellular aggregates. Interestingly, cells treated with this nanoconjugate also showed the most pronounced radiosensitization effect in combination with the external beam x-ray irradiation. Further studies are necessary to evaluate mechanistic basis for this increased radiosensitization effect. Preliminary studies with the nanoparticles carrying an EGF mimicking peptide showed that this approach to targeting could perhaps be combined with a different approach to radiosensitization – use of nanoconjugates in combination with the radioactive iodine. Much additional work will be necessary in order to evaluate possible benefits of targeted nanoconjugates carrying radionuclides. Graphic abstract

Background The physiological functions of the paranasal sinuses are as yet unclear, and it is often assumed that these empty air-filled spaces have no vital function in our body. Recently, nitric oxide has been reported to be synthetized in high concentration by the paranasal sinuses which seems to be the main function of these air-filled empty spaces. Body of abstract The functional role of the paranasal sinuses is still ambiguous despite the several hypotheses that have been put forward to justify their existence. Although it has been recently demonstrated that the paranasal sinuses produce large amounts of nitric oxide (NO), otolaryngologists overwhelmed by attempting to unravel the enigmatic etiology underlying chronic rhinosinusitis have interpreted the high NO output in this context. Nevertheless, NO prime function is vasodilation and has long been recognized to be produced by the endothelial cells. In this review, evidence in the literature is piled and pieces of the puzzle are put together to show that NO synthesized in the paranasal sinuses functions as an airborne messenger that induces pulmonary vasodilation and thereby decreases the workload on the heart. Recognition that the paranasal sinuses are in fact an organ with known function is likely to foster further research and has an impact on our current surgical philosophy. Conclusion The paranasal sinuses seem to play a vital physiological role in our body rather than being evolutionary remnants as initially thought. They are likely responsible for regulating the pulmonary blood pressure thereby preventing pulmonary hypertension.

Objective The objective of the study was to translate the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) into Arabic and to check its reliability and validity in Arabic-speaking patients. Patients and methods The study included 178 patients with confirmed chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and 95 asymptomatic individuals as a control group. All participants completed the Arabic SNOT-22 (A-SNOT-22) questionnaire. The scores of the two groups were compared for validity analysis. Eighty-two patients completed the questionnaire twice, 1 week apart, for test-to-test reliability analysis. The A-SNOT-22 scores of 60 CRS patients were correlated with Lund–Mackay scores for criterion validity analysis. The preoperative and postoperative scores of 73 patients were compared for responsiveness analysis. Results All participants completed the questionnaire with no or minimal assistance. Internal consistency (α=0.90) and test-to-test reliability (intraclass correlation=0.78) were good. The differences between the scores of CRS patients and asymptomatic individuals were significant (P

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are produced for many different purposes, including development of therapeutic and diagnostic nanoparticles for cancer detection and treatment, drug delivery, induction of DNA double-strand breaks, and imaging of specific cells and subcellular structures. Currently, the use of optical microscopy, an imaging technique most accessible to biology and medical pathology, to detect TiO2 nanoparticles in cells and tissues ex vivo is limited with low detection limits, while more sensitive imaging methods (transmission electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, etc.) have low throughput and technical and operational complications. Herein, we describe two in situ post-treatment labeling approaches to stain TiO2 nanoparticles taken up by the cells. The first approach utilizes fluorescent biotin and fluorescent streptavidin to label the nanoparticles before and after cellular uptake; the second approach is based on the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition, the so-called Click chemistry, for labeling and detection of azide-conjugated TiO2 nanoparticles with alkyne-conjugated fluorescent dyes such as Alexa Fluor 488. To confirm that optical fluorescence signals of these nanoparticles match the distribution of the Ti element, we used synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Titanium-specific XFM showed excellent overlap with the location of optical fluorescence detected by confocal microscopy. Therefore, future experiments with TiO2 nanoparticles may safely rely on confocal microscopy after in situ nanoparticle labeling using approaches described here.