Volume 15 Issue 3 (2025): In Progress

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a complex chronic lung disorder that affects extremely premature infants, particularly those born before 30 weeks of gestation or weighing less than 1500 g at birth. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for BPD and to explore otolaryngologic manifestations and management strategies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, yielding five studies that met the inclusion criteria. The studies investigated the effects of corticosteroids (prednisolone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone), erythropoietin, and diuretics on BPD outcomes. Prednisolone showed minimal short-term benefits, whereas hydrocortisone did not significantly reduce the incidence of BPD. However, extended dexamethasone regimens have been shown to improve survival rates without increasing complications. Early erythropoietin treatment reduced the incidence of BPD but did not affect hospital readmission rates. Diuretic use varied widely across centers, without clear survival or discharge benefits. Preterm infants with severe BPD requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation are at a high risk of subglottic stenosis, tracheomalacia, and vocal cord paralysis. Early diagnosis through airway endoscopy and multidisciplinary management, including tracheostomy for severe cases, are crucial for optimizing outcomes. BPD survivors may experience long-term respiratory impairment, exercise intolerance, and developmental delays, necessitating close monitoring and intervention. Future research should focus on developing standardized, evidence-based management protocols and exploring novel therapies to improve long-term respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes in this vulnerable population group.

Topical drug applications to the external auditory canal (EAC) are one of the most important applications in Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) practice. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the histopathological, biochemical, and microbiological effects of oxygen-boric acid drops in the EAC. Eighteen albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The left ear was designated as the drop-treated ear, and the right ear was the control ear in each rat.  Group 1 rats were treated with Oxygen-boric acid drops, group 2 with ciprofloxacin drops, and group 3 with hydrogen peroxide drops for two weeks. For biochemical evaluation, the pH of the EAC was measured. Microbiological analysis was performed by culturing samples from both EACs.  Finally, both EACs underwent histopathological examination. Histopathologically, oxygen-boric acid ear drops had no adverse effect on the EAC mucosa. There was also no statistically significant difference amongst the groups in histopathological findings and bacterial growth.  While there was a statistically significant difference in pH was observed between the groups during the first week of treatment, no significant difference was found between the groups during the second week of treatment. Topical oxygen-boric acid, ciprofloxacin, and hydrogen peroxide can be used safely for EAC diseases due to their topical efficacy and fewer side effects. Topical drops should be chosen according to the disease, the patient's comorbidities, and the cost-effectiveness of ear drops.

Cuproptosis, a novel type of regulated cell death, is controlled through protein fatty acylation and has been linked to mitochondrial metabolic processes. Nonetheless, continued research efforts are essential to determine how CDKN2D (Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2D), a gene associated with cuproptosis, influences the tumor immune microenvironment and progression of esophageal cancer (EC). Gene expression levels of CDKN2D in EC and matched normal tissues were assessed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). To confirm these findings, we conducted validation analyses utilizing datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). To ascertain if CDKN2D expression levels were associated with clinical outcomes, we conducted a multivariable regression analysis supplemented by Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. The protein-protein interaction network related to CDKN2D was created using the STRING database (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins). To characterize the immunological relevance of CDKN2D in EC, we performed comprehensive bioinformatic analyses to assess its correlation with tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Three complementary computational approaches-Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation, conventional GSEA, and ssGSEA (single-sample GSEA) were integrated to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of CDKN2D in EC. Transcript abundance level of the CDKN2D in EC samples is considerably higher than in normal tissue samples. Analyses involving both single variables and multiple variables indicate that there is no significant statistical difference in overall survival (OS) between EC patients with high CDKN2D expression and those with low CDKN2D expression (p > 0.05). Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) is a critical protein that interacts with the CDKN2D gene, and ECs with high CDKN2D expression are bound to a considerable volume of infiltrating immunocytes. Elevated CDKN2D expression in EC correlated with disease progression and modified immune infiltration patterns.