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Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) carriers seem to have a higher risk to develop chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS), although the full underlying mechanisms are unknown. Ion concentrations in nasal airway surface liquid (ASL) may be influenced by the heterozygosity for CF gene mutation, with possible impacts on the development of CRS. Methods: A cheap and feasible standardized technique was designed to measure the ion levels in nasal ASL. With this purpose we collected, under basal conditions, samples from the nasal cavity of 165 adults: 14 homozygous for CF, 83 carriers and 68 healthy controls. Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl) concentrations were then evaluated among different groups. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference of Na and Cl values between controls and carriers and between controls and homozygotes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and derived indicators (Youden‘s index and Area Under the Curve, AUC) were used to further evaluate the diagnostic capability of Na and Cl concentrations to differentiate heterozygotes from controls. ROC curves demonstrated that the optimal diagnostic cut-off value of Na is at 124, and the optimal cut-off value of Cl is at 103,2. Conclusion: ASL sampling can be considered a new diagnostic tool for providing quantitative information on nasal ion composition. According to our findings, Na and Cl concentrations of nasal ASL could represent a useful tool to assess heterozygotes and healthy controls.

Background Killian polyp (KP) is a benign lesion that arises from the maxillary sinus. The etiology of KP is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential involvement of human papilloma- (HPV) and polyoma-viruses (HPyV) infections in the onset of KP. Methods DNA from antral (n = 14) and nasal (n = 14) KP fractions were analyzed for HPV and HPyV sequences, genotypes, viral DNA load and physical status along with expression of viral proteins and p16 cellular protein. Results The oncogenic HPV16 was detected in 3/14 (21.4%) antral KPs, whilst nasal KPs tested HPV-negative (0/14). The mean HPV16 DNA load was 4.65 ± 2.64 copy/104 cell. The whole HPV16 episomal genome was detected in one KP sample, whereas HPV16 DNA integration in two KPs. P16 mRNA level was lower in the KP sample carrying HPV16 episome than in KPs carrying integrated HPV16 and HPV- negative KPs (p Conclusions A fraction of KP tested positive for the oncogenic HPV16. HPV16 detection in the KP antral portion may be consistent with HPV16 infection derived from the maxillary sinus. HPV16 DNA integration represents a novel finding. Altogether, these data improve our knowledge on the association between KP and HPV infection, whereas it indicates that the KP onset is heterogeneous.

Background Dyspnea secondary to acute upper airways airflow limitation (UAAFL) represents a clinical emergency that can be difficult to recognize without a suitable history; even when etiology is known, parameters to assess the severity are unclear and often improperly used. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the role of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) as a predictor of severity of upper airway obstruction. Methods The authors propose an experimental model of upper airway obstruction by a progressive increase of UAAFL. Ten healthy volunteers randomly underwent ventilation for 6 min with different degrees of UAAFL. SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume, accessory respiratory muscle activation, and subjective dyspnea indexes were measured. Results In this model, SpO2 was not reliable as the untimely gravity index of UAAFL. Respiratory rate, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Borg dyspnea scale were statistically correlated with UAAFL (p 0.05) and tidal volume (p > 0.05); a RR ≤ 7 breaths/min; VAS and Borg scale showed statistically significant parameters changes (p Conclusions RR, VAS, and Borg dyspnea scales are sensitive parameters to detect and stage, easily and quickly, the gravity of an upper airways impairment, and should be used in emergency settings for an early diagnosis of a UAAFL. SpO2 is a poorer predictor of the degree of upper airways flow limitation.

Despite improved prognosis for many HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), some cases are still marked by recurrence and metastasis. Our study aimed to identify novel biomarkers for patient stratification. Classical HPV markers: HPV-DNA, p16 and HPV mRNA expression were studied in HNSCC (n = 67) and controls (n = 58) by qPCR. Subsequently, ELISA tests were used for HPV16 L1 antibody and HPV16 E7 oncoprotein detection in serum at diagnosis and follow-up. All markers were correlated to relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). HPV-DNA was found in HNSCCs (29.85%), HPV16-DNA in 95% of cases, HPV16 E7 mRNA was revealed in 93.75%. p16 was overexpressed in 75% of HPV-positive HNSCC compared to negative samples and controls (p &lt, 0.001). Classical markers correlated with improved OS (p &lt, 0.05). Serological studies showed similar proportions of HPV16 L1 antibodies in all HNSCCs (p &gt, 0.05). Serum E7 oncoprotein was present in 30% HPV-positive patients at diagnosis (p &gt, 0.05) and correlated to HNSCC HPV16 E7 mRNA (p &lt, 0.01), whereas it was associated to worse RFS and OS, especially for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) (p &lt, 0.01). Detection of circulating HPV16 E7 oncoprotein at diagnosis may be useful for stratifying and monitoring HPV-positive HNSCC patients for worse prognosis, providing clinicians a tool for selecting patients for treatment de-escalation.

Silent Sinus Syndrome is defined as a painless spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus with maxillary sinus hypoplasia and orbital floor resorption. It is caused by maxillary sinus atelectasis in a setting of ipsilateral chronic maxillary sinus hypoventilation. The syndrome was first described in 1964 by Montgomery, but the term "Silent Sinus Syndrome" was not coined until 1994 by Soparkar. The aetiology is still controversial: some authors postulate a basal hypoplastic sinus, other suggest an acquired process due to an obstruction of the ostium in the medium meatus. Silent Sinus Syndrome presents in the third to fifth decades of life, very rarely in childhood with no gender predilection and it is usually a unilateral disorder. The symptoms are not shown to be related to chronic sinuses disease. The clinical signs are: enophthalmos, hypoglobus, upper lid retraction secondary to dystopia of the globe, sinking of the eye and orbital asymmetry, deepened upper lid sulcus, disappearance of the palpebral fold line, lagophthalmos, vertical diplopia, malar depression, and facial asymmetry. Extraocular muscle function is generally preserved and usually there is no visual impairment. The diagnosis is confirmed by computed tomography scan of the orbits and paranasal sinuses. The treatment consists of orbital reconstruction and functional rehabilitation of the maxillary sinuses.

Stomeo, Francesco; Rispoli, Vittorio; Sensi, Mariachiara; Pastore, Antonio; Malagutti, Nicola; Pelucchi, Stefano Subtotal arytenoidectomy for the treatment of laryngeal stridor in multiple system atrophy: phonatory and swallowing results Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, vol. 82, num. 1, enero-febrero, 2016, pp. 116120 Associacao Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cervico-Facial Sao Paulo, Brasil

Introduction To date, cCMV represents the most frequent non-genetic congenital cause of permanent sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in childhood and the leading infectious cause of developmental and neurologic disabilities. The aim of this paper is to describe the outcome of cochlear implantation in children affected by severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss, due to a symptomatic or asymptomatic cCMV infection, particularly comparing their performance results to that of matched mutated Connexin 26 (Cx26) implanted patients. Methods Retrospective case control study. The clinical data of symptomatic cCMV and asymptomatic cCMV patients were collected and compared to those of Cx26 patients matched for age and pre-CI (cochlear implant) linguistic category; all subjects were affected by bilateral severe-to-profound SNHL and were treated by CI and speech therapy rehabilitation. The Speech Perception Category, the language stage and the linguistic level scores, at 6 months, 1 year, and 3–4 years after CI of the three groups (symptomatic cCMV, asymptomatic cCMV and Cx26 mutation) were collected and compared. Results Statistical analysis did not show any significant difference in pre-CI perception category and linguistic level among the three groups; the symptomatic cCMV group showed a statistically worse performance of the language stage over time (p = 0.017). Conclusions Our data support that children affected by cCMV have improved language abilities over time, although the symptomatic cCMV group achieved a lower language stage 3–4 years after CI compared to the asymptomatic cCMV and Cx26 mutation groups. Nonetheless, to date, CI supported by speech therapy can be considered an effective intervention for children affected by cCMV-related severe-to-profound hearing loss.

Sinonasal polyposis (SNP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of nasal and paranasal cavities. Human leukocyte antigen-G molecules (HLA-G) are non-classic HLA-I molecules with anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic properties. HLA-G production is mainly induced by interleukin (IL)-10. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines and induces HLA-class II down-modulation. Recent studies suggest that HLA-G could play a role in SNP pathogenesis; in SNP patients physiological levels of IL-10 (produced by activated peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes) are not able to induce production of HLA-G. Different mechanisms could justify these findings: genomic or amino-acidic sequence alterations in IL-10 lower IL-10 receptor expression, lower IL-10 receptor affinity, or alterations of the intracellular signal transmission. This study analyzes nucleotidic sequence of IL-10 gene in SNP patients. Sequencing of IL-10 gene shows that the lack of HLA-G production by peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes is not related to alterations in IL-10 gene nucleotidic sequence.

Background Sinonasal polyposis (SNP) is a chronic inflammatory pathology of nasal and paranasal cavities. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) G molecules are nonclassic class I antigens with anti-inflammatory and tolerogenic properties. As most theories consider polyps to be the manifestation of chronic inflammation, there could be a possible implication of HLA-G molecules in SNP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between SNP and the production of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods The study involved 22 SNP patients (11 with no evidence of disease [NED] after surgery and 11 with relapse [RE]) and 20 healthy subjects. The presence of sHLA-G in PBMC lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated culture supernatants was analyzed. The levels of interleukin (IL) 10, one of the main up-regulators of sHLA-G production, were determined. Exogenous IL-10 was added to the SNP PBMC cultures to reconstitute the impairment in sHLA-G production. Results Increased IL-10 levels in LPS-activated PBMC culture supernatants were found in NED patients in comparison with healthy subjects (p = 0.0184). No sHLA-G production was observed in either of the patient subgroup supernatants (p < 0.0001). The addition of exogenous IL-10 showed the reconstitution of sHLA-G production in NED and in a lower amount in RE patients. Conclusion The results show a defect in sHLA-G production in SNP patients mainly related to the IL-10/HLA-G pathway. Given the anti-inflammatory functions of HLA-G molecules, this impairment could increase the susceptibility to the disease. The different sHLA-G production after exogenous IL-10 addition between NED and RE SNP could represent a marker of disease severity.

Hemangiopericytomas (HPC) are uncommon tumors that originate from perivascular cells of capillary vessels. HPC are about 1% of all vascular tumors and can be found in the head-neck region with an incidence between 16% and 33%. HPC is a neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential; it can behave as an aggressive tumor with metastases and increased mitotic activity or as a relatively benign neoplasm with only local development. In this paper we describe a case of hemangiopericytoma with uncertain malignant potential with cervical location associated with a concomitant papillary thyroid carcinoma and lung metastasis of unknown origin; this case led us to follow a specific and uncommon diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a minimally invasive procedure usually well tolerated, easy to perform, quick, cheap and easy to repeat in case of doubts or non-diagnostic results. Echography is also a fast, cheap and non-invasive tool; however, the role of FNAC and echography in the diagnosis of salivary gland pathology is not universally recognised. Three hundred and fifty-seven patients with a cytological diagnosis at FNAC, and 247 of these who were also studied with echography, were enrolled for this retrospective study. The final histopathological diagnoses, obtained after surgery, were then compared to the preoperative FNAC diagnoses and echographic findings. From the analysis of our data, the overall FNAC specificity resulted 93 percent, sensitivity 83 percent, and diagnostic accuracy 92 percent. Echography sensibility was 57.1 percent specificity 98.2 percent, while positive and negative predictive value were respectively 80 percent and 94.8 percent. While echography can be useful in order to provide a better characterization of salivary gland lesions, FNAC can then be considered a safe diagnostic tool with reliable sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of salivary gland pathology and thus for selecting patients and indicating the best surgical treatment.