Efficacy of inferior turbinate coblation for treatment of nasal obstruction

Objective: To determine the efficacy of inferior turbinate coblation for the treatment of nasal obstruction. Methods: Twenty patients awaiting submucosal diathermy to the inferior turbinates were recruited into the study. All underwent inferior turbinate coblation. Pre-operative and post-operative nasal function was investigated using posterior rhinomanometry and subjective symptom scales. Results: There was no significant increase in nasal conductance two weeks after inferior turbinate coblation (p = 0.159). However, three months after inferior turbinate coblation, median nasal conductance had increased significantly, from 203 to 324 cm3/s (p = 0.004). The median increase in nasal conductance was 73 cm3/s or 43.5 per cent. Post-operative visual analogue patients' reported post-operative visual analogue scales scores for nasal obstruction decreased significantly, both two weeks (p = 0.006) and three months after inferior turbinate coblation (p = 0.001) when compared to Pre-operative values. There was no change in the reported severity of rhinorrhoea, nasal itching or sneezing. There was a significant relationship (ρ = −0.57, p = 0.014) between pre-operative nasal conductance and change in nasal conductance after inferior turbinate coblation. Conclusions: This study confirms the short-term efficacy of inferior turbinate coblation for the treatment of nasal obstruction. The benefit was greatest in patients with lower pre-operative nasal conductance. Objective measures of nasal obstruction may be important when selecting patients for inferior turbinate coblation

Non-invasive genotyping and spatial mark-recapture methods to estimate European pine marten density in forested landscapes

Accurate population density estimates are important for conservation but can be difficult to obtain where species are elusive or rare. Non-invasive genotyping from hair or faeces has provided a promising solution and allowed individual identification from genotypes to inform population assessment models. We use individual genotypes derived from hair samples and Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture (SECR) models to estimate the population density of European pine marten (Martes martes) in three Scottish forests, then examine the effects of forest fragmentation on population size. Relative trends in pine marten abundance can be observed via changes in the number of scats in an area through time, but the link between this measure and population density remains unclear. We provide the first calibration of scat counts to enable population density estimation without the need for genetic analysis. Population density estimates ranged from 0.07 km-2 (95% CI 0.03 – 0.16) to 0.38 km-2 (95% CI 0.11 – 1.07), which were mid to low compared to other estimates from the Scottish population. An unequal sex ratio was found in one of the three forests. We found support for the previous finding that pine marten density in Scotland increases with forest fragmentation up to a threshold level (20 – 35% forest cover), beyond which it decreases. Our calibration suggests a non-linear relationship between scat counts and population density, although relatively small changes in population density result in marked changes in scat number. Following the recent re-introduction of pine martens to Wales, non-invasive genetic sampling for population estimation may provide an effective way of monitoring their progress

Sensitivity to inhibition of DNA repair by Olaparib in novel oropharyngeal cancer cell lines infected with Human Papillomavirus

The incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing rapidly in the UK. Patients with HPV-positive OPSCC generally show superior clinical responses relative to HPV-negative patients. We hypothesised that these superior responses could be associated with defective repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSB). The study aimed to determine whether defective DNA repair could be associated with sensitivity to inhibition of DNA repair using the PARP inhibitor Olaparib. Sensitivity to Olaparib, and induction and repair of DNA damage, were assessed in a panel of 8 OPSCC cell-lines, including 2 novel HPV-positive lines. Effects on cell cycle distribution and levels of PARP1 and p53 were quantified. RNA-sequencing was used to assess differences in activity of DNA repair pathways. Two HPV-positive OPSCC lines were sensitive to Olaparib at potentially therapeutic doses (0.1–0.5 μM). Two HPV-negative lines were sensitive at an intermediate dose. Four other lines, derived from HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumours, were resistant to PARP inhibition. Only one cell-line, UPCISCC90, showed results consistent with the original hypothesis i.e. that in HPV-positive cells, treatment with Olaparib would cause accumulation of DSB, resulting in cell cycle arrest. There was no evidence that HPV-positive tumours exhibit defective repair of DSB. However, the data suggest that a subset of OPSCC may be susceptible to PARP-inhibitor based therap

Inverted Papilloma Originating Primarily from the Nasolacrimal Duct: A Case Report and Review of the Pertinent Literature

Introduction. Inverted papilloma (IP) is an uncommon, benign yet aggressive neoplasm characterised by high recurrence rates and tendency towards malignant transformation. The majority of IP cases originate in the ethmoid region, lateral wall of the nasal fossa, and maxillary sinus. The authors report a case of an IP originating primarily from the nasolacrimal duct (NLD). Case. A 69-year-old Caucasian gentleman presented with a lump in his right medial canthal region, epiphora, and discharge bilaterally. Radiological investigation revealed a well-defined, heterogeneous mass within the proximal NLD eroding the bony canal, protruding into the middle meatus and into the right orbit. The tumour was excised en bloc utilizing a combined external and endoscopic approach based on its location. Histology revealed hyperplastic ribbons of basement membrane-enclosed epithelium growing endophytically into the underlying stroma with no evidence of invasive malignancy. The patient made an uneventful recovery with unchanged visual acuity and normal extraocular movements. Conclusion. The case demonstrates variability within the sinonasal tract that IP can develop and the individuality of each case necessitating tailored operative techniques for complete excision whilst minimising recurrence rates. We also present a combined endoscopic approach for the en bloc resection of a NLD IP with no clinical recurrence at 15-month follow-up

A Hydrocarbon Detector for the Remote Sensing of Vehicle Exhaust Emissions

A new remote sensor for measuring on‐road carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbon exhaust emissions in under 1 s from vehicles passing the sensor is described. The new design adds the capability for measuring exhaust hydrocarbons and eliminates the need for liquid–nitrogen‐cooled detectors while improving upon the overall signal to noise. Under typical field operating conditions, sensitivity to 0.05% propane with a precision of 0.014% propane is observed. Two types of water interferences important to the measurement of exhaust hydrocarbons are reported. The water vapor present in all auto exhaust causes a small positive bias dependent on the analytical wavelength chosen. A much larger interference is caused by liquid water (often called ‘‘steam’’) plumes seen behind cold vehicles at low temperatures