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Respiratory tract infections are common illnesses in children, causing significant morbidity and negatively affecting their health. Vitamin A protects against infections and maintains epithelial integrity. The goal of this study was to determine the correlation between vitamin A deficiency and recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs). Participants in this cross-sectional study were divided into 3 groups: RRTIs (including patients with history of RRTIs presenting with respiratory tract infection symptoms), RTI (including patients without history of RRTIs presenting with respiratory tract infection symptoms), and control (including children who came for a routine health checkup without a history of RRTIs or respiratory tract infection symptoms). The vitamin A assay was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The study included 550 children aged 6.64 ± 2.61 years. The RRTIs group included 150 children (27.3%), the RTI group included 300 children (54.5%), and the control group included 100 children (18.2%). Subclinical vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A deficiency affected 3.1% and 1.3% of subjects, respectively. Subclinical vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A deficiency were higher in children with RRTIs than in those with RTI (8% vs 1.3%, P = .001 and 4% vs 0.3%, P = .006). Additionally, children with RRTIs had significantly higher rates of subclinical vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A deficiency than those in the control group, which had 1% subclinical vitamin A deficiency (P = .017) and no cases of vitamin A deficiency (P = .043). The RRTIs group had higher rates of otitis media (27.3%), sinusitis (20%), and pneumonia (4.7%) than the RTI group (P = .002). Vitamin A insufficiency was associated with RRTIs in children.

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Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related respiratory disorder that affects between 5% and 20% of the population. In obstructive sleep apnea, lingual tonsillar hypertrophy (LTH) has been suggested as a contributing factor to airway blockage. Objectives: The aim of this work is to demonstrate the polysomnographic indices and their values in OSA patients with LTH before and after the surgical intervention. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on eighteen patients endoscopically diagnosed as having LTH, with the main complaints being snoring, sleep apnea, and/or sleep disturbance. Clinical examination, grading of LTH, body mass index (BMI), endoscopic assessment using Muller’s maneuver, and sleep endoscopy were recorded for all patients. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and overnight sleep polysomnography (PSG) were conducted before and after the surgical removal of LTH. All data were submitted for statistical analysis. Results: The mean ± SD of the AHI decreased from 33.89 ± 26.8 to 20.9 ± 19.14 postoperatively, and this decrease was of insignificant statistical value. The average SpO2 (%) mean ± SD was 91.14 ± 5.96, while the mean ± SD of the desaturation index was 34.64 ± 34.2. Following surgery, these indices changed to 96.5 ± 1.47 and 9.36 ± 7.58, respectively. The mean ± SD of the ESS was changed after the surgery, from 17.27 ± 6.48 to 7.16 ± 3.56. The mean ± SD of sleep efficacy was 71.2 ± 16.8 and the snoring index mean ± SD was 277.6 ± 192.37, and both improved postoperatively, to become 88.17 ± 9.1 and 62.167 ± 40.01, respectively. Conclusions: The AHI after lingual tonsillectomy showed no statistically significant change. The changes in the average SpO2 (%), desaturation index, sleep efficiency, snoring index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale following the surgery were statistically significant.

Background: Nasal polys [NPs] are frequently encountered in otorhinolaryngology practice. It had been proposed to share etiological origin with eosinophilic esophagitis [EOE]. However, there is not yet adequate estimations of this association and incidence of NPs recurrence after endonasal surgery in patients with EOE. Aim of the work: To evaluate incidence of recurrence of NPs after endoscopic endonasal surgery for patients with EOE. Patients and Methods: 150 patients were included and divided into three groups: the control [CG] [50 patients indicated for gastroscopy]. The nasal polyp's subgroups consisted of 100 patients and further subdivided into two groups according to result of nasal biopsy into two subgroups, eosinophilic nasal polyps [ENP] group IIA; non-eosinophilic nasal polyps [NENP] group IIB. In NPs subgroups, sinonasal outcome test [SNOT22] had been performed to measure the health status and quality of life in patients with NPs through questions relating to their symptoms. The recurrence of nasal polyps were investigated after endoscopic sinus surgery and during follow up and outcome had been compared between groups. Results: 22% suffered polyp recurrence after surgery during the follow-up period. Patients with EOE had a significantly higher recurrence rate of nasal polyps [100%] in comparison to 16.4% in EOE patients. These results indicate that, mucosal eosinophilia is a determinant factor in the recurrence of nasal polyps. Hence in patients with EOE [had mucosal eosinophilia] who underwent endonasal surgery, the recurrence of nasal polyps should be highly expected. Conclusion: Mucosal eosinophilia in patients with EOE, and ENP are a more important prognostic factor in recurrence of nasal polyps.

To accommodate the growing demands of sample throughput, reliability, and reduced hands-on time of targeted sequencing, automation is critical. The implementation of sample preparation automation is limited by several factors — complicated protocols and long incubation times. As an industry first, Avida’s Point-n-Seq™ hybridization-based targeted sequencing kit solution features 1 hr hybridization time and PCR free capture which enables full automation on a broad range of open platform liquid handlers, from the economical Opentrons (OT-2) to the high throughput Hamilton (Microlab Star). We report a walk-away targeted sequencing sample-prep solution based on the highly efficient chemistry of our Point-n-Seq technology. This strategy supports PCR-free capture for variant detection. A sequencing-ready captured library is prepared in 6 hours, with just 25 minutes of hands-on time. More importantly, a PCR-free protocol increases sequence uniformity, decreases amplicon bias as well as GC-bias, and eliminates the need for purification and quantification before capture. We have demonstrated the feasibility of automated workflows using 40 ng of genomic DNA with panel sizes ranging from 20 Kb to 2 Mb. Using a comprehensive oncology panel containing 500 genes to analyze Horizon oncology cfDNA (30 ng) or FFPE gDNA (40 ng) reference standards, we demonstrated reliable detection of SNV and structural variations with allele frequency matching the expected values. The Point-n-Seq technology enables fully automated targeted sequencing sample prep on open platform liquid handlers, enhancing accuracy and reliability while reducing hands-on time. The one hour hybridization time makes hybridization more economical on the liquid handler when compared to off-instrument for overnight/longer hybridization. This automated solution greatly accelerates the development of fast, simple, and accurate genomic profiling assays. Furthermore, Point-n-Seq targeted methylation sequencing and targeted RNA assays can also be easily adapted to the same automation platforms for research and clinical applications. Citation Format: Ashraf Wahba, Yun Bao, Heng Wang, Kinnari Watson, Grace Q. Zhao, Shengrong Lin. Fully automated targeted sequencing sample prep on open platform liquid handlers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 259.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common diseases, with no consensus on its ideal treatment. Botulinum Toxin-A was proposed to be an effective treatment. Aim of the work: To estimate the outcome of intranasal injection of Botulinum Toxin-A [BTX-A] as a sole therapy for allergic rhinitis. Patients and Methods: Ninty patients with classic symptoms of allergic rhinitis were clinically evaluated and asked to complete the score for allergic rhinitis [SFAR] questionnaire using cutoff at >8 as diagnostic AR. Two blood samples [venous] and nasal smears were obtained at the beginning of the study and at the end of 12-weeks after initiation of therapy for estimation of human immunoglobulin E [IgE] and eosinophilia grading. Control group included patients who chose to receive combined medical treatment. BTX-A, 2.5 units were injected intranasally, under 0o rigid telescope guidance. Study outcome was the treatment success rate at the end of 12-w follow-up period. Results: Intranasal BTX-A injection provided significantly maintained relieve of allergic rhinitis manifestations especially for running nose than combination therapy. The treatment success rate of 1.9 versus 0.7 item/patient in study versus control group with significant difference in favor of BTX-A injection. Serum IgE levels and eosinophilia grades were significantly lower in control patients. Patients' satisfaction grading was significantly more with BTX-A injection. Conclusion: Intranasal BTX injection could be a safe and effective sole therapeutic modality for patients with long-lasting AR.

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