Background COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction is an emerging problem with a significant impact on the quality of life of affected individuals. Different lines of treatment have been used with varying results. This study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effect of PRP in the treatment of post-COVID olfactory dysfunction. This work aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating post-COVID-19 parosmia. A pilot study was conducted on 60 patients with post-COVID parosmia without responding to a 3-month course of olfactory training, topical corticosteroids, omega-three, vitamin B12, and zinc supplementation. The patients were distributed randomly and equally among 2 groups. The case group was subjected to three PRP injections in the olfactory cleft at 3 weeks intervals. The control group continued the pre-study treatment protocol for 6 weeks. The degree of parosmia was assessed before and after treatment subjectively using a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10. Reaching 0–1 on the visual analog scale was a complete improvement. The primary outcome was assessing the post-treatment score for parosmia 1 month after the third injection in the case group. The second outcome was the comparison between both groups regarding the degree of improvement 1 month after cessation of treatment. Results There was a highly significant improvement in VAS for parosmia (p < 0.00001) in the case group and a significant improvement in VAS for parosmia in the control group (p = P = 0.00148). There was a significant difference between both groups regarding the degree of improvement favoring the case group (p = 0.002). Conclusion Platelet-rich plasma injection in the olfactory cleft offers a therapeutic option for treating patients with post-COVID-19 olfactory parosmia who failed to respond to traditional conservative treatment.

Background Different biomarkers are detectable in cases of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) with need for evaluation of their diagnostic and prognostic roles. Objective To assess the serum levels of total IgE, interleukin-17 and Pentraxin-3 in patients with CRSwNP and correlate them with the clinical evaluation using Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), radiological evaluation using Lund – Mackay (LM) computed tomography scan score, and polyposis recurrence. Methods This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out on fifty patients with CRSwNP and twenty-five age and gender matched healthy volunteers as control group. Patients were assessed clinically by SNOT-22 and radiologically by LM score. Blood samples of patients and controls were analyzed for serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3). The correlation between the serum levels of every two markers of the study markers was assessed. The levels of the three biomarkers were correlated with SNOT-22 and LM scores and polyp recurrence with assessment of their sensitivity and specificity to diagnose CRSwNP. Results This study showed significantly higher values of the three biomarkers in patients group compared with control group (p < 0.001 for all). There were significant positive correlations between the levels of the three markers and SNOT 22 and LM scores (p < 0.001 for all) and with recurrence of polyposis (p < 0.001, p = 0.005 and p = 0.032 respectively). Agreement (sensitivity and specificity) for these markers to diagnose patient group was statistically significant (p < 0.001 for all). There was a significant positive correlation between every two markers of the study markers. Conclusion Serum levels of total IgE, IL-17 and PTX-3 are important biological markers for diagnosis and follow up of cases of CRSwNP with high sensitivity and specificity in detection of such cases. They should be included in the routine laboratory workup for cases of CRSwNP.

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Background A nasal septal dislocation is a common form of septal deviation with many challenges and different surgical techniques for correction. Objective To assess the efficacy of fashioned mucoperichondrial flap technique versus fishing line technique in the repair of septal dislocation. Methods The study was a prospective comparative cohort study conducted on 88 patients aged above 18 years who have symptomatic mild to moderate caudal septal dislocation spanning the period from June 2021 to June 2022. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated by the Nasal Obstruction and Septoplasty Effectiveness (NOSE) scale to assess the degree of nasal obstruction. Anterior rhinoscopy and endoscopic examination of the nose were done for every patient to assess the degree of obstruction, whether mild, moderate, or severe. Outcomes included an assessment of both techniques’ efficacy in managing nasal obstruction as expressed by the NOSE scale and comparing both techniques regarding the operative and postoperative details. Results The current study showed a highly significant improvement in the NOSE scale postoperatively in both groups ( P < .00001 for both groups). The mean operative duration for group I was significantly less than that for group II ( P < .00001). There was a nonsignificant difference between both groups regarding the postoperative NOSE scale, and postoperative degree of obstruction ( P = .066 and .56, respectively). Regarding postoperative complications, there was a nonsignificant difference between both groups except for patient discomfort as assessed 1 week postoperatively. Group II showed significantly more patient discomfort ( P = .02), which improved 4 weeks postoperatively. Conclusion Both techniques presented in this study effectively corrected mild and moderate caudal septal dislocation with significant improvement of nasal obstruction postoperatively. Both techniques produced good esthetic outcomes and were associated with few comparable complications in both groups.

Objective: To assess the validity of the Arabic version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test in the Egyptian population. Patients and Methods: This was a cross sectional study including 124 normal Egyptian subjects. Socioeconomic standard was assessed, and patients were categorized into three categories; low, moderate and high socioeconomic levels. The total number of correct answers for the 40 odorants presented was used to determine the test score. The difficulty level of the test was checked by a visual analogue scale. The percentage of the study sample detecting every odor was calculated. Internal consistency of the test was checked by cronbach's alpha test. Results:The study group included 87 females and 37 males with a mean age of 29.28 ±5.92 years. The average smell identification test score for all participants was 31.49 ± 1.74. The average visual analog scale score for ease of applicability of the test was 7.13 ± 0.58 with no significant difference between males and females. The smell identification test score was higher among males than females with little significance. Participants with high and moderate socio-economic standards reported significantly higher test score. Thirty-one odors were correctly identified by at least 70% of the volunteers, Overall alpha was 0.749. Conclusion:The Arabic version of University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test is an adequate tool for assessment of olfaction in the Egyptian population. But 9 Odorants of this test needs further revision. Males and higher socioeconomic levels were associated with better test results.