Objectives/Hypothesis: To quantify the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic upon the 2020 to 2021 residency match for Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS).Study Design: Retrospective cohort design.Methods: Residency match outcomes for all applicants to our institution during 2020 to 2021 were collected from the National Residency Matching Program including medical school of origin and matched program. Matches were categorized as to home‐program, within‐region, or out‐of‐region and sorted by US geographic region. Matches from the 2020 to 2021 cycle were compared to those from 2019 to 2020, as well as averages and trends from match cycles 2016 to 2020. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and chi‐square testing.Results: During 2020 to 2021, there were 436 applicants to our single OHNS program. From 2019–2020 to 2020–2021, the match rate decreased significantly for groups studied, including: All applicants (72.0% [268/372] to 64.7% [282/436]; P = .025); all US MD Senior applicants (76.5% [254/332] to 68.9% [262/380]; P = .024); and US MD Seniors specifically without a home program (77.5% [31/40] to 56.4% [22/39]; P = .046). The match rate for US MD Seniors with a home program did not change significantly (76.4% [223/292] to 70.4% [240/341]; P = .09). From 2019–2020 to 2020–2021, the proportion of US MD seniors who matched to home‐program increased significantly (22.0% [49/223] to 30.0% [72/240]; P = .05).Conclusion: The COVID‐19 pandemic saw high volumes of OHNS applicants with an overall decreased rate of matching compared to previous years. These changes particularly affected applicants without home programs. Home‐program matching increased significantly, likely as a consequence of the limitations placed on in‐person away experiences including interviews. Laryngoscope, 132:1934–1938, 2022

Nasal septal cartilage tissue engineering is a promising and dynamic field with the potential to provide surgical options for patients with complex reconstruction needs and mitigate the risks incurred by other tissue sources. Developments in cell source selection, cell expansion, scaffold creation, and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting have advanced the field in recent years. The usage of medicinal signaling cells and nasal chondroprogenitor cells can enhance chondrocyte proliferation, stimulate chondrocyte growth, and limit chondrocyte dedifferentiate. New scaffolds combined with recent innovations in 3D bioprinting have allowed for the creation of more durable and customizable constructs. Future developments may increase technical accessibility and manufacturability, and lower costs, to help incorporate these methods into pre-clinical studies and clinical applications of septal cartilage tissue engineering.

Background: Cartilage harvest and transplantation is a common surgery using costal, auricular, and septal cartilage for craniofacial reconstruction. However, absorption and warping of the cartilage grafts can occur due to inflammatory factors associated with wound healing. Transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is activated by the various stimulation such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), and plays a central role in the transactivation of this inflammatory cytokine gene. Inhibition of NF-κB may have anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of an NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (Decoy) as a chondroprotective agent. Materials and Methods: Safe and efficacious concentrations of Decoy were assessed using rabbit nasal septal chondrocytes (rNSChs) and assays for cytotoxicity, proteoglycan (PG) synthesis, and PG turnover were carried out. The efficacious concentration of Decoy determined from the rNSChs was then applied to human nasal septal cartilage (hNSC) in vitro and analyzed for PG turnover, the levels of inflammatory markers, and catabolic enzymes in explant-conditioned culture medium. Results: Over the range of Decoy conditions and concentrations, no inhibition of PG synthesis or cytotoxicity was observed. Decoy at 10 μM effectively inhibited PG degradation in the hNSC explant, prolonging PG half-life by 63% and decreasing matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP-3) by 70.7% (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Decoy may be considered a novel chondroprotective therapeutic agent in cartilage transplantation due to its ability to inhibit cartilage degradation due to inflammation cytokines.

One of the most common reasons a patient would see an otolaryngologist is for nasal obstruction. This article provides an overview of the physical principles related to nasal airflow as well as the critical role that the internal nasal valve plays in regulating airflow resistance. Common treatment options for internal nasal valve obstruction are discussed as well as an in-depth tutorial on an alternate lateral nasal suspension suture technique for internal nasal valve collapse.

: Background: Cartilage harvest and transplantation is a common surgery using costal, auricular, and septal cartilage for craniofacial reconstruction. However, absorption and warping of the cartilage grafts can occur due to inflammatory factors associated with wound healing. Transcriptional factor nuclear factor κB (NFκB) is activated by cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), and plays a central role in the transactivation of this inflammatory cytokine gene. Inhibition of NFκB may have anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of an NFκB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (Decoy) as a chondroprotective agent. Materials and Methods: Evaluation of safe and efficacious concentrations of Decoy were assessed using rabbit nasal septal chondrocytes (rNSCh) and assays for cytotoxicity, proteoglycan (PG) synthesis, and PG turnover. The efficacious concentration of Decoy determined from the rNSCh was then applied to human nasal septal cartilage (hNSC) in vitro and analyzed for PG turnover, the level of inflammatory markers, and catabolic enzymes in explant-conditioned culture medium. Results: Over the range of Decoy conditions and concentrations, no inhibition of PG synthesis or cytotoxicity was observed. Decoy at 10 μM effectively inhibited PG degradation in the hNSC explant, prolonging PG half-life 63% and decreasing matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP3) by 70.7% (P = 0.027). Conclusions: Decoy may be a novel chondroprotective therapeutic agent in cartilage transplantation due to its ability to inhibit cartilage degradation due to inflammation cytokines.