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Background: Elevated serum uric acid is crucial in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, its impact on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) recurrence risk is unknown. This study investigates the association between elevated serum uric acid and the risk of CRS recurrence. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1004 CRS patients (including 638 males and 366 females) who received functional endoscopic sinus surgery. All patients were followed up for more than 2 years, and categorized into subgroups based on phenotype, gender, and postoperative recurrence. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between serum uric acid and the risk of CRS recurrence. Results: After categorization, 104 males had hyperuricemia, and 54 females presented hyperuricemia. The rate of recurrent CRS in the hyperuricemia group was significantly higher compared to the non-hyperuricemia group in both males and females (P< 0.05). In both male and female patients, the rate of hyperuricemia and uric acid levels were elevated in the recurrent CRS group in comparison with the non-recurrent CRS group (P< 0.05). Unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression analysis demonstrated that serum uric acid was an independent risk factor for CRS recurrence (P< 0.05). The receiver operator characteristic curve showed that serum uric acid was a potential biomarker for predicting the recurrence of CRS and its phenotypes in both genders (P< 0.05). Conclusion: There is a close relationship between elevated serum uric acid and the recurrence risk of CRS and its phenotypes, suggesting that serum uric acid may be a novel biomarker for predicting recurrent CRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in monosensitized and polysensitized children with allergic rhinitis (AR). Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Methods: One hundred thirty children were enrolled and categorized into 2 groups: monosensitized to only dust mites and polysensitized to at least 1 additional allergen beyond dust mites. All patients received SCIT targeting dust mites for 3 years, followed by a 5‐year monitoring period. The Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Symptom and Medication Score (SMS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) were assessed before SCIT (T0); at 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) years of SCIT; immediately after SCIT (T3); and 2 years post‐SCIT (T5). Safety was assessed based on adverse events (AEs). Results: Fifty‐one monosensitized and 50 polysensitized children completed the study. At T3, 47 monosensitized and 46 polysensitized children were effectively treated, with no significant between‐group difference in efficacy (P >.05). The TNSS, SMS, VAS scores, and RQLQ score were significantly lower at T1, T2, T3, and T5 than at T0 in both groups (P <.05). The differences in the TNSS, SMS, VAS score, and RQLQ score between the 2 groups were nonsignificant at T0, T1, T2, and T3 (P >.05), but significant at T5 (P <.05). No serious AEs were reported. Conclusion: Monosensitized and polysensitized children exhibited similar beneficial efficacy and safety after 3 years of dust mite SCIT. Monosensitized children derived more benefits 2 years after discontinuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mediating effect of social participation and depressive symptoms on the relationship between hearing impairment and frailty remains unclear. Methods: A total of 3981 participants from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included. The outcome was incidental frailty. Hearing impairment, social participation, and depressive symptoms were the main variables. Cox regression models and structural equation models were adopted to examine the relationship between hearing impairment, social participation, depressive symptoms, and the incidence of frailty, with adjustments for demographic characteristics and lifestyle variables at baseline. Results: Hearing impairment (hazard ratio [HR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12, 1.74), social participation (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55, 0.94), and depressive symptoms (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.37, 2.30) were associated with the incidence of frailty. Hearing impairment was associated with frailty not only through social participation (β = 0.015, 95% CI 0.003, 0.037) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.070, 95% CI 0.037, 0.116) separately but also through social participation and depressive symptoms sequentially (β = 0.002, 95% CI 0.001, 0.004). Furthermore, the effect of social participation on frailty occurred in participants with hearing impairment, while the effect of depressive symptoms on frailty occurred in participants with normal hearing status. Conclusions: Hearing impairment is associated with frailty, in which social participation and depressive symptoms partly mediate the association. The effect of social participation and depressive symptoms on frailty varies across hearing statuses. Integrated and comprehensive intervention measures, including hearing screenings, promoting social participation, and improving depressive symptoms, are suggested to prevent frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recent reports have identified autoimmune systemic diseases as a significant risk factor for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We investigated whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were correlated with the hearing recovery of SSNHL.Study Design: A retrospective study.Methods: Records of 663 SSNHL patients between January 2008 and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed, including demographic, comorbid diseases, and hearing recovery. Patients were divided into four groups (complete, partial, slight, and no recovery) according to Siegel's criteria and Chinese Medical Association of Otolaryngology (CMAO) criteria. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of onset of treatment, initial hearing threshold, audiogram pattern, diabetes mellitus, SLE, and RA on the prognosis of SSNHL according to both criteria.Results: Patients in complete recovery, partial recovery, slight recovery, and no improvement were 95 (14.3%), 183 (27.6%), 170 (25.6%), and 215 (32.4%) by Siegel's criteria, and 90 (13.6%), 152 (22.9%), 188 (28.4%), and 233 (35.1%) by CMAO criteria, respectively. Among the four groups, onset of treatment, initial hearing threshold, diabetes mellitus, SLE, RA, and profound audiogram pattern were found to be associated with recovery outcome by both Siegel's criteria and CMAO criteria (P < .05). According to analysis results, presence of SLE, RA, diabetes mellitus and higher initial hearing threshold were significantly correlated with a poor prognosis by both Siegel's criteria and CMAO criteria (P < .05).Conclusion: Comorbid SLE or RA may negatively affect the prognosis of SSNHL. Lower initial hearing threshold and absence of diabetes mellitus are associated with favorable hearing recovery.Level Of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 130:2475-2480, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to evaluate possible prognostic factors of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) treated with adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) using univariate and multivariate analyses. From January 2008 to October 2016, records of 178 ISSNHL patients treated with auxiliary hyperbaric oxygen therapy were reviewed to assess hearing recovery and evaluate associated prognostic factors (gender, age, localization, initial hearing threshold, presence of tinnitus, vertigo, ear fullness, hypertension, diabetes, onset of HBOT, number of HBOT, and audiogram), by using univariate and multivariate analyses. The overall recovery rate was 37.1%, including complete recovery (19.7%) and partial recovery (17.4%). According to multivariate analysis, later onset of HBOT and higher initial hearing threshold were associated with a poor prognosis in ISSNHL patients treated with HBOT. HBOT is a safe and beneficial adjuvant therapy for ISSNHL patients. 20 sessions of HBOT is possibly enough to show its therapeutic effect. Earlier HBOT onset and lower initial hearing threshold is associated with favorable hearing recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater has been increasingly used as an alternative to freshwater in mineral flotation. Although previous studies suggest that Mg2+ ions in seawater have the primary negative roles in chalcopyrite flotation, insufficient work has been conducted to understand the effects of kerosene as a collector in chalcopyrite flotation. In this study, the influence of kerosene emulsion on chalcopyrite floatability in a solution containing Mg2+ was systematically investigated. The results indicated that the addition of kerosene significantly reduced the adsorption of hydrophilic Mg-precipitates onto the chalcopyrite's surface. In addition to contact angle, zeta potential, optical microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses, extended Derjguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (EDLVO) theory and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted to understand the influencing mechanisms of kerosene on chalcopyrite flotation. The adsorption energies showed an order of kerosene and Mg(OH)2 > kerosene and chalcopyrite > chalcopyrite and Mg(OH)2, indicating kerosene was preferentially adsorbed on the Mg(OH)2 surface, forming agglomerates and therefore reducing the adsorption of Mg(OH)2 precipitates onto the chalcopyrite's surface. In addition, hydrophobic agglomerates were also formed due to the attachment of kerosene to the chalcopyrite's surface when additional kerosene was added, further enhancing chalcopyrite floatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of smoking statuses on disease severity and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) efficacy in allergic rhinitis (AR)., Study Design: Open observational cohort study., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Methods: Five hundred and five AR patients undergoing dust mite allergen SCIT were categorized into never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. AR severity was assessed using widely employed questionnaires. The changes in questionnaire scores pre- and post-SCIT were evaluated for SCIT efficacy. The differences in disease severity and SCIT efficacy were compared for different smoking statuses among AR patients., Results: Compared to never smokers, former and current smokers exhibited higher proportion of male, alcohol, and asthma (P < .05). Current smokers had a greater prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis than former smokers (P < .05). Before SCIT, AR severity was similar across 3 groups, even after adjusting for confounders (P > .05). Current smokers reported lower SCIT efficacy in the first year (P < .05). By the third year, 3 groups showed comparable long-term efficacy (P > .05). However, current smokers experienced a significant decrease in benefits 2 years post-SCIT (P < .05) and lower improvement rates at the end of the 3-years SCIT period and 2 years following SCIT (P < .05)., Conclusion: AR patients across different smoking statuses demonstrated similar baseline disease severity and long-time SCIT efficacy. Active smoking was associated with increased asthma risk, delayed early SCIT efficacy perception, reduced improvement over 3 years, and diminished benefits 2 years after SCIT. Prompt smoking cessation is crucial to mitigate these effects., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Asthma is a prevalent respiratory condition with multifaceted pathomechanisms, presenting challenges for therapeutic development. The SLC (Solute Carrier) gene family, encompassing diverse membrane transport proteins, plays pivotal roles in various human diseases by facilitating solute movement across biological membranes. These solutes include ions, sugars, amino acids, neurotransmitters, and drugs. Mutations in these ion channels have been associated with numerous disorders, underscoring the significance of SLC gene families in physiological processes. Among these, the SLC26A4 gene encodes pendrin, an anion exchange protein involved in transmembrane transport of chloride, iodide, and bicarbonate. Mutations in SLC26A4 are associated with Pendred syndrome. Elevated SLC26A4 expression has been linked to airway inflammation, hyperreactivity, and mucus production in asthma. Here, we review novel insights from SLC gene family members into the mechanisms of substrate transport and disease associations, with specific emphasis on SLC26A4. We explore triggers inducing SLC26A4 expression and its contributions to the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases, particularly asthma. We summarize the inhibitors of SLC26A4 that have shown promise in the treatment of different phenotypes of diseases. While SLC26A4 inhibitors present potential treatments for asthma, further research is imperative to delineate their precise role in asthma pathogenesis and develop efficacious therapeutic strategies targeting this protein., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Objective: To investigate the changes of serum B cell activating factor（BAFF） levels in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps（CRSwNP） patients and its predictive value in phenotypes. Methods: Forty healthy volunteers（control group） and 77 patients with CRSwNP were recruited in the present study, all CRSwNP patients were divided into eosinophilic（neCRSwNP group, n =40） and non-eosinophilic（eCRSwNP group, n =37） according to the degree of eosinophil infiltration in postoperative histological sections. Serum samples were collected from all subjects, and serum BAFF levels were detected by ELISA, and the relationships between BAFF levels and clinical variables were evaluated. The predictive value of serum BAFF in distinguishing eCRSwNP was evaluated by receiver operating curve（ROC） and Logistic regression. Results: BAFF concentrations in the serum of CRSwNP patients were（1.2±0.4） ng/mL, which were higher than control group（[0.8±0.3]ng/mL）. In addition, serum BAFF levels in eCRSwNP group were （1.3±0.5） ng/mL, which were higher than neCRSwNP group（[1.1±0.2]ng/mL）, and both groups were higher than control groupt（ P <0.05）. The elevated serum BAFF levels in CRSwNP patients were positively correlated with the tissue eosinophil percentage（ r =0.629, P <0.001） and counts（ r =0.563, P <0.001）, peripheral blood eosinophil percentage（ r =0.411, P =0.002） and counts（ r =0.501, P <0.001）, and serum total IgE（ r =0.178, P =0.021）. Multivariate Logistic regression showed that serum BAFF level was an independent factor associated with CRSwNP phenotypes（ OR =3.652, P =0.001）. ROC analysis suggested that serum BAFF exhibited a good predictive value for eCRSwNP（AUC=0.885）. Conclusion: Serum BAFF levels were increased in CRSwNP patients and associated with the degree of systemic and polyp eosinophilic inflammation. Preoperative evaluation of serum BAFF level maybe clinically meaningful for distinguishing CRSwNP phenotypes., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)