Nasal Cavity Research Articles

DSIFNet: Implicit Feature Network for Nasal Cavity and Vestibule Segmentation from 3D Head CT

This study is dedicated to accurately segment the nasal cavity and its intricate internal anatomy from head CT images, which is critical for understanding nasal physiology, diagnosing diseases, and planning surgeries. Nasal cavity and it’s anatomical structures such as the sinuses, and vestibule exhibit significant scale differences, with complex shapes and variable microstructures. These features require the segmentation method to have strong cross-scale feature extraction capabilities. To effectively address this challenge, we propose an image segmentation network named the Deeply Supervised Implicit Feature Network (DSIFNet). This network uniquely incorporates an Implicit Feature Function Module Guided by Local and Global Positional Information (LGPI-IFF), enabling effective fusion of features across scales and enhancing the network's ability to recognize details and overall structures. Additionally, we introduce a deep supervision mechanism based on implicit feature functions in the network's decoding phase, optimizing the utilization of multi-scale feature information, thus improving segmentation precision and detail representation. Furthermore, we constructed a dataset comprising 7116 CT volumes (including 1,292,508 slices) and implemented PixPro-based self-supervised pretraining to utilize unlabeled data for enhanced feature extraction. Our tests on nasal cavity and vestibule segmentation, conducted on a dataset comprising 128 head CT volumes (including 34006 slices), demonstrate the robustness and superior performance of proposed method, achieving leading results across multiple segmentation metrics.

Assessment of Vidian canal morphology in axial section and its associated structures using cone beam computed tomography: A descriptive study

The Vidian Nerve (VN), a branch of the trigeminal nerve, passes by the Vidian Canal (VC), located at the base of the skull. The VC branches into the greater petrosal nerve and the VN in the pterygopalatine fossa, where the greater petrosal nerve carries parasympathetic fibers to the lacrimal glands and nasal mucosa, and the VN carries sensory fibers from the nasopharynx, nasal cavity, and palate. In this study, 60 subjects of both sexes who underwent cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were selected by a convenient sampling technique. The data were subjected to statistical analysis following the examination of the various parameters in the axial sections. Among the various morphological characteristics appraised in the axial section, there was no significant sexual dimorphism, except for the angle between the VC and the medial wall of the maxillary sinus, which shows statistical significance. The present study aims to investigate morphometric analysis and its associated structures, offering insightful information about the complex structure of the Vidian canal (VC), which provides adequate knowledge for surgeons to plan with more caution complex skull base procedures, and eventually to lower the therapeutical risks associated with it.

Detection of Oronasal Fistula Using a Fluorescent Water Passing Test.

The confirmation of a connection between the oral and nasal cavities provides a definitive diagnosis for an oronasal fistula (ONF). However, visual detection is difficult in patients with small fistulas. This study examined whether fluorescein sodium could be used to detect small ONFs. The study included 25 dogs that underwent dental examination and had confirmed periodontal pockets at the Amica Pet Clinic, Japan, between 2020 and 2022. Saline containing fluorescein sodium was injected into the periodontal pocket, termed a fluorescent "water-passing test," followed by detection of fluid discharge from the external naris using an examination light. Of the 25 dogs, 13 showed symptoms consistent with an ONF and of these, 12 were positive and one was negative on the fluorescent water-passing test. Of the 12 asymptomatic dogs, 3 tested positive and 9 tested negative on the fluorescent water-passing test. The fluorescent water-passing test enhanced visibility and facilitated the detection of small volumes of the discharged fluid. The results of this study confirmed the fluorescent water-passing test was useful for the detection of small ONFs.

Displacement of maxillary dental implants: a case series on various scenarios.

Oral rehabilitation with dental implants is a common procedure in modern dentistry due to its high success rates. However, complications such as implant displacement can occur, particularly in the maxillary region due to factors like atrophied maxilla, thin alveolar bone, and low bone density. This case series explores scenarios of maxillary dental implant displacement, emphasizing the impact of immediate preoperative imaging on patient outcomes. Three cases of maxillary implant displacement are presented, each illustrating a different scenario. Complications resulting from the displacement of implants into adjacent structures such as the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity are described. All cases involved implants that were displaced during second-stage surgery, occurring four to six months post-implantation. Removal attempts used transnasal endoscopic, intraoral, or combined approaches, with only one implant successfully retrieved. Delays in surgery ranged up to 72h, leading to one implant being swallowed and another unlocated. Outcomes varied, with some patients requiring hospitalization for up to five days. This series highlights the crucial role of immediate preoperative 3D imaging in precisely locating displaced implants to ensure their safe and efficient removal. While implant displacement may not always be preventable, optimizing the timeframe between diagnostic imaging and surgical intervention can significantly enhance management. Accurately locating the implant minimizes treatment invasiveness and patient discomfort, thereby improving clinical outcomes.

Microbiological comparison of the disinfecting efficacy of small and large cotton swabs in nasotracheal intubation: a randomized trial.

Nasotracheal intubation (NTI) is necessary during surgeries requiring clear access to the surgical field and in patients with respiratory issues. This study investigates the pre-NTI nasal disinfection efficacy of different cotton swab sizes, hypothesizing that smaller swabs could minimize bleeding while maintaining disinfection efficacy. Patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists-physical status (ASA-PS) class 1 or 2 scheduled for general anesthesia with NTI were randomly assigned to either a large cotton swabs (LCS) or fine cotton swabs (FCS) group in this randomized controlled trial (RCT)." After anesthesia, a fine cotton swab was inserted into the inferior nasal meatus in both groups to collect bacteria (sample A). Next, the nasal cavity was disinfected with LCS or FCS according to the patient group. Bacteria were collected by inserting a fine cotton swab into the inferior nasal meatus (sample B). After surgery, bacteria were collected from the endotracheal tube tip using a fine cotton swab in both groups (sample C). The samples were cultured for 24 hours, and the colonies from samples A-C were counted. The changes in bacteria count between samples A and B and samples A and C were determined. Nasal bleeding from cotton swab insertion was assessed as a secondary outcome. Student's t-tests, a chi-square independence test, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for the statistical analysis. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Between samples A and B, the change in bacteria count was 7.2% (1.4-26.1%) (median[interquartile range]) in the LCS group and 6.9% (0.9-22%) in the FCS group (p = 0.90). Between samples A and C, the change in bacteria count was 7.5% (0.2-44%) in the LCS group and 8.3% (0.3-39%) in the FCS group (p = 0.55). We examined 62 subjects in each group (LCS and FCS), and samples A, B, and C were collected from all participants in both groups. Nasal bleeding occurred in 42/62 in the LCS group and 22/62 in the FCS group (p < 0.01). Cotton swab thickness did not impact disinfection efficacy, but large swabs increased the risk of nasal bleeding. We recommend FCS for nasal disinfection prior to NTI in ASA 1-2 patients, as they reduce bleeding risk without compromising disinfection. UMIN-CTR (registration no. UMIN000051495), June 30, 2023.

Use of blue laser in a patient with postop restenosis of the choana after multiple surgical interventions for congenital choanal atresia

One of the most common complications following surgical interventions in nasal cavity is synechiae and scarring, which often leads to restenosis, particularly in cases of choanal atresia. Laser technologies, especially blue laser (wavelength 445 nm), represent a promising opportunity in rhinology for addressing these complications. Objective: to study the effectiveness and safety of blue laser for nasal synechiae and stenosis surgery in patients with congenital choanal atresia after multiple surgical interventions. In ENT department of Veltishev Institute 4 children have undergone choanal reconstruction following multiple attempts of choanoplasty. A clinical case of a 6-year-old girl diagnosed with bilateral complete choanal atresia, who underwent six surgical interventions within two years and was admitted with complete choanal restenosis is presented. The most common cause of restenosis after surgery for hoan atresia is the formation of synechiae in the surgical area. Traditional dissection of the synechiae in most cases leads to repeated stenosis. To reduce the recurrence rate in the patient, the authors used a blue laser. The blue laser demonstrated high effectiveness in the surgical treatment of postop restenosis, minimizing surgical trauma, preventing recurrences, and improving the patient’s quality of life. The results confirm the feasibility of using lasers in rhinology as a preferred method for treating restenosis and enhancing respiratory function.

Features of the clinical and functional state of the nose in patients with chronic polypous rhinosinusitis and impaired sense of smell

Introduction. According to EPOS 2020, сhronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polypsis detected in 2–4.3% of the population, in Russia about 1.5 million people suffer from polyposis. In clinical practice, attention is most often paid to indicators of respiratory function. At the same time, the assessment of olfactory impairment characteristic of CRSwNP is carried out only by answering one of the 22 questions of the SNOT-22 questionnaire, and indicators of olfactory function are rarely taken into account when evaluating the results of objective research methods.Aim. To study the features of the clinical and functional state of the nose in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and impaired sense of smell.Materials and methods. 50 patients with сhronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polypsis were examined. The study included an assessment of the sense of smell using Sniffin Stiks test-12, a study of respiratory function, performing a video endoscopy of the nose, computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses. A comprehensive assessment of the condition was carried out using the SNOT-22 questionnaire.Results. The subjective assessment of the sense of smell by patients with CRSwNP does not always coincide with the results of identification tests. The results of the SNOT-22 questionnaire often depend on the degree of olfactory impairment. Patients with CRSwNP and anosmia are more likely to complain of postnasal congestion, thick nasal discharge and cough than patients with hyposmia, which is consistent with objective research methods.Conclusions. In patients with Ghronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polypsis and varying degrees of olfactory impairment, heterogeneity of the clinical and functional state of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses was noted. When interpreting the results of the SNOT-22 questionnaire, it is advisable to use factor analysis, taking into account the patient’s complaints. To plan individual management of patients with CRSwNP, a comprehensive assessment of the sense of smell is necessary, including identification tests, as well as an additional assessment of the results of computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses and a video endoscopic picture of the nose according to generally recognized scales.

Content Validity for a 3D-Printed Model for Simulation-Based Training of Basic Epistaxis Management

Introduction Hands-on training of basic epistaxis management is often minimal during pregraduate medical training. The objective was to develop and gather structured content validity evidence for a 3D-printed model for simulation-based training and assessment of technical skills in basic epistaxis management. Methods A simulator for epistaxis management training was built based on publicly available 3D-print files with addition of tubing to mimic anterior bleeding. Ten otorhinolaryngologists evaluated the model after performing nasal cavity inspection and insertion and insufflation of a nasal tamponade device. Content validity evidence was collected following Messick's framework. Results Two content experts contributed to define features in the iterative building process. In the structured evaluation of the model, experienced clinicians found the appearance of the outer nose and the resistance when insufflating a nasal tamponade device into the nasal cavity satisfying (mean score of 3.9 and 4.7 out of 5, respectively), whereas the nasal cavity was found to be a bit too spacious compared with typical real-life conditions. Conclusions A 3D-printed simulator for simulation-based training of basic epistaxis management was successfully built. Content validity was gathered, and overall, content experts found the model to adequately represent the technical skills challenges for training novices such as medical students and junior doctors.

Features of management of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

Introduction. Seasonal allergic rhinitis continues to be one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting up to 24% of the adult population of the Russian Federation.Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of the drug mometasone furoate (Nozefrin Allergy) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis in outpatient practice.Materials and methods. The study was conducted in a group of 42 patients aged 18 to 73 years (average age 39.0 ± 15.5 years) diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis. All patients received monotherapy with Nozefrin Allergy, 2 injections (50 mcg of mometasone furoate each) into each nostril once a day for 30 days. The effectiveness of the treatment was determined on the 7th, 14th, 30th day of treatment and on the 60th day.Results and discussion. During the use of the drug Nozefrin Allergy, by the 7th day there was a significant decrease in complaints of impaired smell by 3.6 times, sneezing by 2.4 times, discharge from the nasal cavity decreased by 2.3 times, and nasal congestion by 2.3 times. 2.1 times. After 14 days, nasal congestion disappeared in 64.3%, nasal discharge and itching in the nasal cavity were absent in 69.0% and 88.1% of patients. According to the SST-12 test, already by the 7th day of using the drug Nozefrin Allergy, there was an increase in the average total score to 10.1 ± 1.9 points, which corresponds to normosmia. At days 14, 30, and 60, the mean total SST-12 score remained stable at 10.6 ± 0.9 points, 10.9 ± 1.1 points, and 11.1 ± 0.5 points, respectively. The dynamics of respiratory function at the end of the course of treatment was characterized by an improvementin the total volumetric flow to 783.4 ± 162.7 cm3/s and a decrease in nasal resistance to 0.2 ± 0.1 cPa/ml. The total rTNSS scale score by the 7th day decreased to 9.1 ± 0.4 points, the severity of the assessed complaints was moderate.Conclusion. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness of using the drug Nozefrin Allergy in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis in outpatient clinical practice.

Quantifying the impact of vaccination on transmission and diversity of influenza A variants in pigs.

Global evolutionary dynamics of influenza A virus (IAV) are fundamentally driven by the extent of virus diversity generated, transmitted, and shaped in individual hosts. How vaccination affects the degree of IAV genetic diversity that can be transmitted and expanded in pigs is unknown. To evaluate the effect of vaccination on the transmission of genetically distinct IAV variants and their diversity after transmission in pigs, we examined the whole genome of IAV recovered from the nasal cavities of pigs vaccinated with different influenza immunization regimens after being infected simultaneously by H1N1 and H3N2 IAVs using a seeder pig model. We found that the seeder pigs harbored more diversified virus populations than the contact pigs. Among contact pigs, H3N2 and H1N1 viruses recovered from pigs vaccinated with a single dose of an unmatched modified live vaccine generally accumulated more extensive genetic mutations than non-vaccinated pigs. Furthermore, the non-sterilizing immunity elicited by the single-dose-modified live vaccine may have exerted positive selection on H1 antigenic regions as we detected significantly higher nonsynonymous but lower synonymous evolutionary rates in H1 antigenic regions than non-antigenic regions. In addition, we observed that the vaccinated pigs shared significantly less proportion of H3N2 variants with seeder pigs than unvaccinated pigs. These results indicated that vaccination might reduce the impact of transmitted influenza variants on the overall diversity of IAV populations harbored in recipient pigs and that within-host genetic selection of IAV is more likely to occur in pigs vaccinated with improperly matched vaccines.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding how vaccination shapes the diversity of influenza variants that transmit and propagate among pigs is essential for designing effective IAV surveillance and control programs. Current knowledge about the transmission of IAV variants has primarily been explored in humans during natural infection. However, how immunity elicited by improperly matched vaccines affects the degree of IAV genetic diversity that can be transmitted and expanded in pigs at the whole-genome level is unknown. We analyzed IAV sequences from samples collected daily from experimentally infected pigs vaccinated with various protocols in a field-represented IAV co-infection model. We found that vaccine-induced non-sterilizing immunity might promote genetic variation on the IAV genome and drive positive selection at antigenic sites during infection. In addition, a smaller proportion of H3N2 viral variants were shared between seeder pigs and vaccinated pigs, suggesting the influence of vaccination on shaping the virus genomic diversity in recipient pigs during the transmission events.

Topical Therapies for Management of Olfactory Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Steroid-Eluting Stents.

Steroid-eluting stent implantation after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) effectively alleviates postoperative symptoms and polyp recurrence in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the efficacy of steroid-eluting stents for the treatment of olfactory dysfunction in CRSwNP and the influencing factors therein have not been studied. Fifty-nine patients with CRSwNP with olfactory dysfunction from Peking University Third Hospital who were hospitalized for ESS were recruited and randomly divided into a stent group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 29), and were assessed for symptom scores, olfactory function, endoscopic findings, and type 2 inflammatory mediators (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, eotaxin-3, periostin) expression. Postoperative olfactory Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, T&T olfactometer scores, SNOT-22 scores, and Lund-Kennedy (LK) scores were reduced in patients with CRSwNP (P < .01). Postoperative olfactory VAS scores, T&T olfactometer scores, SNOT-22 scores, and LK scores, IL-5, IL-13, and periostin were significantly lower in the stent group than in the control group (P < .05). Correlation analysis was performed and found that the postoperative olfactory VAS scores were strongly correlated with IL-5 and IL-13 (r = .496, P < .001 and r = .289, P = .026), and the postoperative T&T olfactometer scores were strongly correlated with IL-5 and IL-13 (r = .553, P < .001 and r = .398, P = .002). Steroid-eluting stent implantation after ESS is an effective treatment for olfactory deficits in patients with CRSwNP and may be related to the stent's more effective reduction of local type 2 inflammatory mediators in the nasal cavity.

DDEL-03. INTRANASAL DELIVERY OF PDGFRA-TARGETED NANOTHERAPEUTICS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC HIGH-GRADE GLIOMA

Abstract Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) is the most common cause of cancer-related death in children, of which the most malignant and devastating tumors include diffuse midline glioma (DMG). Its anatomical location in the brainstem, infiltrative nature, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) limit surgical resection and the distribution of systemically administered drugs. Intranasal delivery (IND) is a noninvasive method that bypasses the BBB, by leveraging the unique anatomic connections of the olfactory and trigeminal nerve pathways with the nasal cavity. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of IND of nanoliposomal (LS) formulation of the active metabolite of the DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, irinotecan, LS-SN-38, in orthotopic human brainstem xenograft models. The specificity of liposomes can be enhanced by using immunoliposome (iLS) formulation, which are coated with antibodies specific to the tumor cells leading to targeted drug delivery and reduced toxicity to normal cells. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) plays a role in DMG oncogenesis and is expressed in as much as 70% of DMG by immunohistochemistry. In this study, we evaluated the effect of anti-PDGFRA monoclonal antibody-conjugated immunoliposome encapsulated SN-38 (PDGFRA-iLS-SN-38) in pHGG cell lines. PDGFRA signals were assessed in pHGG cells using western blotting. Cells were treated with rhodamine (Rho)-labeled PDGFRA-iLS and cellular uptake was confirmed with a fluorescent microscope. PDGFRA-iLS-SN38 had the additive effect on the LS-SN-38 in DIPG007 cells (PDGFRA positive), but not in SF8628 cells (PDGFRA negative) in vitro. We treated mice bearing human DMG xenografts with IND of PDGFRA-iLS-SN38. Tumor growth and response to therapy are quantitatively measured by bioluminescence imaging, and efficacy is assessed by survival analysis. Results of survival analysis will be reported at the meeting. PDGFRA-targeted nanotherapeutics represented a specific effect on glioma cells expressing PDGFRA, providing a promising therapeutic approach for targeting pHGG.

EXTH-57. EXPLORING NOVEL ROUTES FOR NON-INVASIVE DRUG ADMINISTRATION: INTRADERMAL DELIVERY FOR THE TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMORS

Abstract Effective non-invasive drug delivery to brain tumors remains challenging, despite extensive exploration of these methods, due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Intranasal drug delivery has emerged as a promising alternative approach, as it circumvents limitations on tumor access imposed by the BBB when administering therapeutics systemically and limits the occurrence of systemic toxic responses to treatment. The intranasal route of administration allows therapeutic access to brain tumors through pathways involving the olfactory and trigeminal nerves (TNs) that connect the nasal passage to the brain. However, effective nose-to-brain delivery is impeded by rapid mucosal drug clearance in the nasal cavity, drug aspiration, and ingestion. Since the TN arises from the brainstem and its branches innervate the facial skin, in addition to muscles, meninges, and respiratory mucosa, we tested the hypothesis that facial intradermal administration targeting the V2 branch of the TN could be an alternative strategy to harness TN-mediated brain delivery to bypass the BBB. Here, we developed Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) consisting of a 15nm spherical gold nanoparticle core functionalized with radially oriented fluorophore-tagged ssDNA as a model therapeutic. We observed the delivery of the SNAs to the brain starting 4 hours post intradermal injection, with the SNA accumulation in the tumor persisting over time. Using ex vivo fluorescent imaging, comprehensive immunofluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry we confirmed the SNA accumulation in the brain, dura, TN, and cervical lymph nodes. In particular, we demonstrated that SNAs were enriched in the neuronal cell bodies of the trigeminal ganglia and within the epineurium and perineurium of the TN. The SNAs were also enriched in CD45-positive immune cells. In conclusion, this study credentialed facial intradermal administration of SNAs as a promising non-invasive method for brain drug delivery to target intracranial tumors.

A rare presentation of isolated intraosseous Rosai-Dorfman disease of the tibia – The role of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in management

Rosai–Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytic disorder, usually presenting with enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Extranodal involvement is quite common and synchronously involves the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, skin, orbit, central nervous system, and rarely bones. Isolated bone involvement is rare and can present with local symptoms such as pain, swelling, restriction of activity, and occasionally pathological fracture. The most common sites of osseous RDD are the cranium, facial bones, and tibia, in decreasing order of frequency. Imaging findings of primary osseous RDD can be variable and there are no key features to diagnose this entity with certainty. Hence, the primary role of imaging is to plan the management and post-treatment follow-up. Here, we present a case of primary osseous RDD involving tibial diaphysis and emphasize the importance of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in ruling out systemic involvement.

Medium-term oncological outcome endoscopic surgery malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses

Introduction. Transnasal endoscopic resection of sinonasal tumors is currently used in many clinics around the world. Short- and long-term oncological outcomes primarily depend on tumor histology. However, most currently existing studies are based on a small number of observations due to the rarity and heterogeneity of sinonasal malignancy.Aim. To evaluate short- and medium-term oncological outcomes of treatment of malignant sinonasal tumors. Materials and methods. The study is based on retrospective analysis of 95 patients who underwent endoscopic surgery for sinonasal malignancy between 2014 and 2023 at the N.N. Blokhin National medical Research Center of Oncology. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 27 (28.4 %) patients, olfactory neuroblastoma in 13 (13.7 %), mucosal melanoma in 30 (31.6 %), adenocarcinoma in (6.3 %), adenoid cystic carcinoma in 7 (7.3 %), sarcomas in 12 (12.7 %). Results. In the study group, 2-years overall survival and recurrence-free survival were 81.3 and 61.4 % respectively, survival without local recurrence was 87.5 %. The outcomes significantly depended on tumor histology.Conclusion. Oncological outcomes of endoscopic resections of sinonasal tumors significantly depend on tumor histology, but in general they allow to achieve good local control. Small number of observations, variety of histological forms, and short follow-up periods do not allow to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of this approach for each tumor type. further research in large populations is needed to establish risk factors.

Anatomical Variations on NCCT Nose and Paranasal Sinuses and Their Relation with Symptoms of the Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: There are various bones around the nasal cavity that pneumatize to form the paranasal sinuses; namely, maxilla, ethmoid bone, frontal bone, and sphenoid bone. The CT scan of nose and paranasal sinus is the gold standard investigation for the patients of chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS). Objective: This study was conducted with aim to determine the prevalence anatomical variation of Nose and Paranasal Sinuses on CT-scan and their relation with symptoms. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among 200 patients over a period of one year (2022-2023). Patients with various symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis were subjected to non-contrast enhanced Computed Tomography of nose and paranasal sinuses. Results: In our study 56% patients had septal deviation with most common C shaped deviation followed by S shaped deviation. 99.5% patients have agger nasi cells. The attachment of uncinate process was to the lamina papyracea in 83.0%, followed by the base of skull in 13.0%. The least common types were free uncinate process in 1.5%. The prevalence of concha bullosa was found 16.5%. However, paradoxical turbinate was present in 2.0% subjects. The incidence of Haller cells was found to be 5.0% and Onodi cells were found in 4.5%. The type of frontal cell was Agger Nasi followed by a Supra-bullar. In Sphenoid sinus, commonest type was pre-sellar type of pneumatisation. Conclusion: Our study concluded these various anatomical variations and its prevalence. The relation of variations with disease symptomatology is inconclusive.

Development of High-Production Bacterial Biomimetic Vesicles for Inducing Mucosal Immunity Against Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli

To evaluate the immunoprotective effect of bacterial biomimetic vesicles (BBVs) against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a ΔtolA J11 mutant strain was generated by deleting the tolA gene in the low pathogenic O78 serotype J11 strain. The total protein content of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from the ΔtolA J11 strain exhibited a sevenfold increase compared to the wild-type strain. Additionally, high-pressure homogenization technology was employed to produce BBVs, resulting in a sixfold increase in total protein content compared to spontaneously secreted OMVs from ΔtolA J11. The immunogenicity of both OMVs and BBVs was assessed through intranasal or intramuscular immunization in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Results demonstrated that intranasal immunization with OMVs or BBVs in chickens elicited specific IgY antibodies against APEC outer membrane proteins and specific sIgA antibodies in the nasal cavity and trachea, as well as a significant increase in the proliferation response of chicken peripheral blood lymphocytes. The bacterial load in the blood and various organs of the challenged chickens were significantly reduced, resulting in a 66.67% and 58.30% survival rate against a high pathogenic serotype O78 strain challenge, while the control group exhibited only a 16.67% survival rate. The intramuscular immunization with OMVs or BBVs in chickens only induced specific IgY antibodies, with a survival rate of only 33.33% for challenged chickens during the same period. Therefore, intranasal vaccination of the highly productive BBVs is capable of eliciting an immune response similar to that of OMVs and providing protection against APEC infection, thus offering innovative insights for the advancement of APEC vaccines.

Special entities of the head and neck region: cancers of the nasopharynx, (para)nasal cavities, salivary glands, and the thyroid gland : Post ASCO 2024

Malignancies of the nasopharynx (NPC), the (para)nasal cavities, the salivary glands, and the thyroid gland are distinct to head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) in the oro-/hypopharynx and larynx in terms of etiology, tumor biology, and the therapeutic concept. The contributions to the 2024 American Society of Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting provide insight into the latest developments in these "special entities of the head and neck region." Abstracts were examined for their clinical relevance and placed into context with current therapeutic concepts. In the treatment of locally advanced NPC, arandomized phaseIII study showed equivalence of induction (ICT) and adjuvant therapy (AT; NCT03306121). PD-1inhibitors have become established in the palliative therapy of NPC in recent years and could now also play an increasing role in curation: the phaseIII study "Dipper" showed asignificantly better 3‑year event-free survival in patients adjuvantly treated with camrelizumab versus placebo after IT and definitive platinum-containing chemoradiotherapy (dRCT; 89% vs.80%; NCT03427827). The phaseIII study "Beacon" showed complete remission in 30.5% of patients after IT with gemcitabine/cisplatin and the PD‑1 inhibitor tislelizumab (three cycles), arate almost twice as high as with gemcitabine/cisplatin alone (NCT05211232). Intensification of dRCT in NPC using EGFR and VEGF inhibitors appears promising (NCT04447326). Abstracts on salivary gland and nasal and sinus cancers emphasize the importance of targeted therapies. In anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, the combination of aPD‑1 inhibitor and aCTLA4 inhibitor showed a50% response.

Visualizing the human olfactory projection and ancillary structures in a 3D reconstruction

Visualizing in 3D the histological microanatomy of the human olfactory projection from the olfactory mucosa in the nasal cavity to the olfactory bulbs in the cranial cavity necessitates a workflow for handling a great many sections. Here, we assembled a 3D reconstruction of a 7.45 cm3en-bloc specimen extracted from an embalmed human cadaver. A series of 10 µm coronal sections was stained with quadruple fluorescence histology and scanned in four channels. A trained anatomist manually segmented six structures of interest in a subset of the sections to generate the ground truth. Six convolutional neural networks were then trained for automatic segmentation of these structures in 1234 sections. A high-performance computing solution was engineered to register the sections based on the fluorescence signal and segmented structures. The resulting 3D visualization offers several novel didactic opportunities of interactive exploration and virtual manipulation. By extrapolating manual counts of OSNs in a subset of sections to the calculated volume of the envelope of the entire olfactory epithelium, we computed a total of ~2.7 million OSNs in the specimen. Such empirically derived information helps assess the extent to which the organizational principles of the human olfactory projection may differ from those in mice.

Olfactory neuroblastoma

Originating from the olfactory neuroepithelium, olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the nasal cavity that typically affects adults between the ages of 35 and 70. Clinical presentation predominantly consists of nonspecific symptoms such as nasal obstruction, nasal drainage or epistaxis, thus illustrating the need for a thorough diagnostic workup. In addition to a complete head and neck examination, rigid nasal endoscopy, biopsy and imaging are necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis as well as plan for treatment. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the primary imaging modalities utilized to assess for bony invasion and soft tissue involvement, respectively. Hyams grading system provides a histologic assessment of disease severity while various staging systems correlate severity of disease to anatomic location/progression. Treatment relies on both surgical intervention and radiation. In addition, ongoing research trials are investigating therapeutic targets. Given the risk of recurrence, extended post-treatment surveillance remains necessary.