In evaluating the effectiveness of further sampling in species taxonomic surveys, a practical and important problem is predicting the number of new species that would be observed in a second survey, based on data from an initial survey. This problem can also be approached by estimating the corresponding expected number of new species. A. R. Solow and S. Polasky recently proposed a predictor (or estimator), with the form of a sum of many terms, that was derived under the assumption that all unobserved species in the initial sample have equal relative abundances. We show in this paper that the summation can be expressed as only one term. We provide a direct justification for the simplified estimator and connect it to an extrapolation formula based on a special type of species accumulation curve. Using the proposed justification, we show that, for large sample sizes, the estimator is also valid under an alternative condition, i.e., species that are represented the same number of times in the initial sample have equal relative abundances in the community. This condition is statistically justified from a Bayesian approach, although the estimator exhibits moderate negative bias for predicting larger samples in highly heterogeneous communities. In such situations, we recommend the use of a modified estimator that incorporates a measure of heterogeneity among species abundances. An example using field data from the extant rare vascular plant species patterns in the southern Appalachians is presented to compare the various methods. Corresponding Editor: A. R. Solow

Background The clinical characteristics of central‐compartment‐type chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in East Asian individuals are not clear. We sought to investigate the clinical features and the cytokine profiles of central‐compartment‐type CRS in our patient group. Methods Adult patients diagnosed with bilateral CRS were recruited, and patients who had previously undergone sinus surgery and pansinusitis (Lund‐Mackay scores >23) were excluded. Central‐compartment‐type CRS was defined by both endoscopic and radiological features. The symptoms, inhalant allergen sensitization status, endoscopic findings, and radiological assessments were recorded and compared between patients with central‐compartment‐type CRS and other types of CRS. We also examined the extent of tissue eosinophilia and specific cytokine protein levels (eosinophil cationic protein [ECP], myeloperoxidase [MPO], immunoglobulin E [IgE], interleukin [IL]‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13) in the sinonasal tissues. Results Central‐compartment‐type CRS was found in 16 (23.9%) patients, and non–central‐compartment‐type CRS was found in 51 (76.1%) patients. Hyposmia or anosmia as the major symptom was more common in the central‐compartment‐type CRS group. The numbers of eosinophils in tissue and serum were significantly higher in the central‐compartment‐type CRS patients. The presence of allergen sensitization was not significantly different between groups. The levels of IL‐5 and IL‐13 were increased in middle turbinate tissues of patients with central‐compartment‐type CRS. Conclusion Central‐compartment‐type CRS was associated with hyposmia or anosmia, eosinophilic subtypes, and elevated levels of IL‐5 and IL‐13 in middle turbinate tissues but not necessarily correlated with allergic disease in our patients.

TSD is associated with local recurrence, contralateral neck metastasis, and the overall survival of patients with tongue cancer.

ALI + RA culture developed ciliary differentiation as observed by light and scanning electron microscopic examination in 3 weeks. It had higher interleukin (IL)-8 basal secretion (21.9 vs 0.82-1.45 ng/ml) and transepithelial potential (-20.4 mV). TLR1-10 mRNA expression in cultured nasal epithelial cells was determined by RT-PCR. Only TLR3 mRNA significantly increased at day 20 vs day 1 (n=5, p=0.02) in ALI + RA cell culture. Higher TLR3 protein was also expressed at day 20 in ALI + RA cell culture but not in SSL culture by western blotting.

Patients who underwent surgery via the prelacrimal recess approach did so mostly because tumors were present in the maxillary sinuses (12/15; 80%), while most of the patients in this study underwent surgery because of chronic inflammation (122/177; 68.9%) and fungal infections (40/177; 22.6%). Among 15 patients undergoing surgery via the prelacrimal recess approach, 9 were cases of inverted papilloma. The mean follow-up period was 16.5 months (range, 6 to 28 months). No postoperative complications occurred after the prelacrimal recess approach. One out of the 15 cases undergoing the prelacrimal recess approach had tumor recurrence CONCLUSION: Most chronic inflammation and fungal infections of the unilateral maxillary sinuses can be managed through a middle meatal antrostomy. The endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach is a reliable and effective method used to approach maxillary sinus diseases.

Traumatic cerebral contusion and intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) commonly result from traumatic brain injury and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Current animal models require craniotomy and provide less control over injury severity. This study proposes a highly reproducible and controllable traumatic contusion and ICH model using non-invasive extracorporeal shockwaves (ESWs). Rat heads were exposed to ESWs generated by an off-the-shelf clinical device plus intravenous injection of microbubbles to enhance the cavitation effect for non-invasive induction of injury. Results indicate that injury severity can be effectively adjusted by using different ESW parameters. Moreover, the location or depth of injury can be purposefully determined by changing the focus of the concave ESW probe. Traumatic contusion and ICH were confirmed by H&E staining. Interestingly, the numbers of TUNEL-positive cells (apoptotic cell death) peaked one day after ESW exposure, while Iba1-positive cells (reactive microglia) and GFAP-positive cells (astrogliosis) respectively peaked seven and fourteen days after exposure. Cytokine assay showed significantly increased expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The extent of brain edema was characterized with magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusively, the proposed non-invasive and highly reproducible preclinical model effectively simulates the mechanism of closed head injury and provides focused traumatic contusion and ICH.

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