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Standard clinical culture is a poor representation of resident microbiota. The incorporation of modern culture-independent techniques into clinical and research practices provides additional information that may be relevant for CRS.

Purpose of review The development of culture-independent bacterial DNA sequencing techniques and integration into research practice has led to a burgeoning interest in the microbiome and its relevance to human health and disease. Introduction into the study of chronic rhinosinusitis in the past few years has shaped current thinking on the role of bacteria in the disease process. Recent findings Rich and diverse populations of bacteria inhabit the sinonasal cavity at all times. Decreased bacterial richness and diversity may be associated with disease state and outcomes. Summary Although there is much to be explored, the sinus microbiome appears to have potentially promising roles in many aspects of sinus health and disease.

Introduction Olfactory dysfunction is one of the hallmark symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Eosinophilic inflammation has been implicated as a potential causative factor. However, prior studies have been limited by retrospective study designs, concomitant use of systemic corticosteroids, and other confounding factors. Methods CRS and healthy non-CRS control subjects undergoing endoscopic sinus or skull base surgery were prospectively enrolled and completed olfactory testing utilizing the 40-item Smell Identification Test (SIT) immediately prior to surgery. Histopathological evaluation of tissue excised from the ethmoid bulla was performed by a pathologist in a blinded fashion. Disease severity and patient reported outcomes were measured via the Lund-Mackay CT grading system and Sinonasal Outcome Test-22, respectively. The associations between olfactory function, tissue eosinophilia, and disease severity were analyzed using Spearman rank order correlation and multiple linear regression. Results 27 subjects with CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), 32 subjects with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and 10 healthy non-CRS controls were enrolled. CRSwNP was associated with higher mean tissue eosinophil counts (71.6 vs. 28.1 eosinophils/HPF, p<0.05) and lower age/sex-adjusted SIT scores (−17.4 vs. −6.2, p<0.001) when compared to CRSsNP. SIT scores were strongly negatively correlated with tissue eosinophil counts in CRSwNP (r=−0.60, p=0.0003), but not CRSsNP (r=0.16, p=0.42). The correlation between olfactory function and tissue eosinophilia in CRSwNP persisted after adjusting for disease severity. Conclusions Tissue eosinophilia is associated with olfactory loss in CRSwNP, independent of disease severity. These results suggest a possible role for eosinophils or eosinophil-associated cytokines in CRS-associated olfactory loss.

Objective To identify resident applicant characteristics that increase the odds of matching to Otolaryngology residency. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis. Methods Residency applications to our institution from 2009 through 2013 were reviewed. The available data represented 81.1% of applicants to Otolaryngology programs nationwide. Online public records were searched to determine whether an applicant matched to an Otolaryngology residency position. Factors that were significantly associated with the odds of matching were determined using logistic regression. Results A total of 1,479 unique applications were analyzed. On univariate analysis, 27 demographic, academic, personal, medical school, prior training, and application-specific factors were associated with the odds of matching into Otolaryngology. On multivariate analysis, indicators of academic achievement, including AOA status, whether applicant received awards, and publications were significantly associated with the odds of matching (OR 2.03, 1.39, 1.66, respectively). The odds of matching increased with increasing Step 1 scores (p<0.001). Attending a medical school ranked by the US News & World Report and being a US citizen born in the US significantly increased odds of matching (OR 1.55 and 2.04, respectively), while being a non-US Senior significantly decreased the odds of matching (OR 0.33). Conclusion Multiple factors are associated with successfully matching into an Otolaryngology residency. While this information allows medical students to determine the strength of their application, these criteria have not been correlated with resident success. We urge selection committees to begin identifying applicant selection methods that reflect the values we want to cultivate in our future colleagues.