Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in Patients with Atrophic Rhinitis

Tissue specific stem cell therapy for airway regeneration

Secondary atrophic rhinitis (AR), a consequence of mucosal damage during nasal surgeries, significantly impairs patient quality of life. The lack of effective, lasting treatments underscores the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. A major impediment in advancing research is the scarcity of studies focused on secondary AR. Our study addresses this gap by developing an animal model that closely mirrors the histopathological changes observed in patients with secondary AR. These changes include squamous metaplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia, submucosal fibrosis, and glandular atrophy. Upon administering human nasal turbinate stem cells embedded in collagen type I hydrogel in these models, we observed ciliary regeneration. This finding suggests the potential therapeutic benefit of this approach. Our animal models not only emulate the clinical manifestations of secondary AR but also serve as valuable tools for evaluating the efficacy of cell-based biotechnological interventions.

Autologous Platelet and Extracellular Vesicle-Rich Plasma as Therapeutic Fluid: A Review

The preparation of autologous platelet and extracellular vesicle-rich plasma (PVRP) has been explored in many medical fields with the aim to benefit from its healing potential. In parallel, efforts are being invested to understand the function and dynamics of PVRP that is complex in its composition and interactions. Some clinical evidence reveals beneficial effects of PVRP, while some report that there were no effects. To optimize the preparation methods, functions and mechanisms of PVRP, its constituents should be better understood. With the intention to promote further studies of autologous therapeutic PVRP, we performed a review on some topics regarding PVRP composition, harvesting, assessment and preservation, and also on clinical experience following PVRP application in humans and animals. Besides the acknowledged actions of platelets, leukocytes and different molecules, we focus on extracellular vesicles that were found abundant in PVRP.

Nonallergic Rhinitis, Allergic Rhinitis, and Immunotherapy: Advances in the Last Decade

Chronic rhinitis encompassing both allergic and nonallergic rhinitis affects a significant portion of the population worldwide, having a great impact on patient quality of life, and associated comorbid conditions, with an important societal economic burden. Allergists are often the first to evaluate and treat allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, addressing the individual triggers of the disease as well as the patient-specific responses to these triggers. This review focuses on the advances that have been made in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of nonallergic and allergic rhinitis over the past 10 years, including specific allergen immunotherapy, care pathways, and digital health.

Effectiveness and safety of PRP on persistent olfactory dysfunction related to COVID-19

INTRODUCTION

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a well know symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), accounting for 48 to 85% of patients. In 1 to 10% of cases, patients develop a chronic olfactory dysfunction (COD), lasting more than 6 months. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was used in patients with non-COVID-19 COD and authors reported encouraging results.

METHODS

In the present study, we investigated the usefulness and safety of PRP injection in 56 patients with COVID-19 COD by the Sniffing Stick test (TDI score) and a linker-scale from 0 (none) to 3 (strong) and we compare the result to a control group.

RESULTS

At 1 month post-PRP injection, the mean TDI scores significantly improved by 6.7 points in the PRP group (p < 0,001), the mean self-assessment of improvement in smell function was 1.8 (mild-to-moderate) in the PRP group, which was significantly higher than the score (0.3) in the control group (p < 0,001).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that PRP in the olfactory cleft can increase the olfactory threshold 1 month after the injection. Moreover, our results suggest that timing of treatment may be an important factor and that PRP is a safe treatment, because no adverse effects were reported throughout the study.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05226546.