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A new biomarker for chronic rhinosinusitis

This Chinese study looked at the feasibility of periostin (usually found in bone and lung tissue) as a biomarker for chronic rhinosinusitis. They sampled ethmoid mucosa in 12 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) and 25 patients with...

Thalidomide in HHT

An interesting paper from a specialist centre in the Netherlands regarding the use of thalidomide in HHT patients. The St Antonius hospital has 1238 patients with HHT and 1% of these use thalidomide. The aim was to assess the benefits,...

Risk factors for post tonsillectomy bleeds

This paper reviews post-tonsillectomy bleeding in 692 patients and attempts to tease out risk factors. The overall bleed rate of 11.6% seems very high. The return to theatre rate was 2.6%. The paper identifies male patients and adult patients as...

Intranasal steroids in COVID-19

COVID-19 in patients with allergic conditions does not seem to take more severe course. The Global Initiative for Asthma recommended that asthmatic patients who are on prescribed inhaled or oral steroids should continue to take them. Contradictions between guidelines in...

Biopsy sites with a diagnosis of pemphigusand mucous membrane pemphigoid

This is a systemic review and met-analysis to critically evaluate optimal biopsy site for patients presenting with pemphigus or mucous membrane pemphigoid. Historically, diagnosis is made if H&E staining direct immunofluorescence and serological testing of auto-antibodies. Direct immunofluorescence has been...

Diagnosing persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD)

The authors, part of an influential committee of experts of the Bárány Society, proposed this consensus document after reviewing 30 years of research on phobic postural vertigo, space-motion discomfort, visual vertigo, and chronic subjective dizziness. They also reviewed interesting historical...