Laparoscopic appendectomy is as safe and effective as the open procedure. It significantly reduces the rate of postoperative wound infection. However, it is still acceptable to perform the open procedure, especially in hospitals without a large amount of laparoscopic experience.

ObjectiveThe study purpose was to detect the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to computed tomography (CT) and different imaging modalities as conventional radiology in evaluation of sinonasal neoplasms diagnosed by Histopathology.MethodsThirty patients (16 males and 14 females) were complaining of symptoms related to sinonasal tract. After thorough clinical and local examination, the patients were subjected to the following: conventional radiography, CT, MRI, and histopathological examination.ResultsThe nasal cavity was the most commonly involved site with sinonasal malignancies followed by the maxillary sinuses. The least commonly affected site was the frontal sinuses. Benign sinonasal tumors were present in 14 cases. The most common benign lesion was juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (6 cases), followed by inverted papilloma (3 cases). While malignant sinonasal tumors were present in 16 cases, squamous cell carcinoma was present in 5 cases, and undifferentiated carcinoma, in 3 cases. Lymphoepithelioma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas were present in 2 cases each, while adenocarcinoma, chondrosarcoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma were present in 1 case each.ConclusionMRI with its superior soft tissue contrast and multiplanar capability is superior to CT in pretreatment evaluation of primary malignant tumors of sinonasal cavity.

ObjectiveWe conducted this study to determine the associations of possible risk factors and prevalence of recurrent otitis media with effusion (OME) in a cohort of children in Upper Egypt.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional study undertaken in two tertiary referral centers in Upper Egypt. Associations of possible risk factors with prevalence of recurrent OME were studied. Multi‐factor logistic regression analysis was done to recognize the statistically significant risk factors associated with recurrent OME.ResultsWe collected the data of 2003 pediatric patients, of which 1016 were males (50.7%). A total number of 310 children have OME, including 159 males (51.3%). The prevalence rate of OME in our cohort was 15.5%. Multi‐factor logistic regression analysis of the risk factors related to recurrent OME showed it was strongly associated with adenoid hypertrophy (P < 0.0001), tonsil hypertrophy (P < 0.0001), sinusitis (P < 0.0001), posterior nostril polyps (P = 0.009), allergic rhinitis (P < 0.0001), recurrent URTIs (P = 0.029) and gastroesophageal reflux (P = 0.031).ConclusionsOur study showed that recurrent OME in children in Upper Egypt is a common multifactorial problem, especially in young age. In our locality, allergic rhinitis, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, gastroesophageal reflux, adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy were the most important associated factors related to the etiopathogenesis of OME.

The studies of T-regulatory (Treg) cells in the pediatric allergic disorders, especially allergic rhinitis (AR), are very few and still far from being elucidated. The aim of this study is to assess the frequencies of CD4CD25Foxp3 (CD4Tregs) and CD8CD25Foxp3 (CD8Tregs) regulatory T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of children with AR. In fresh whole blood of 60 children with AR and 40 healthy controls, the frequencies of CD4Tregs and CD8Tregs were examined by flow cytometry. The total IgE concentration in the serum was measured. In AR children, the frequencies of CD4Tregs and CD8Tregs were significantly reduced when compared to control group (p = 0.041, p = 0.011, respectively). Moreover, the expressions of Foxp3 in CD4CD25 and CD8CD25 cells were significantly lower in patient group than controls. We found a significant negative correlation between the frequencies of CD4Tregs and the total IgE concentration (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the percentages of CD8Tregs and CD4Tregs T cells were significantly decreased in children with AR. This suggests that decreased Treg cells might represent a defect in the compartment of T-cell population in children with AR. Further studies are warranted to fully appreciate the clinical relevance of Tregs in children with AR.

The aim of this study is to assess the level of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on monocytes and their ligands (CD28) on T-lymphocytes in children with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: The study included 60 children with AR and 50 controls. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze MDSCs and the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on monocytes and their ligands (CD28) on T-lymphocytes. Results: The percentages of total and monocytic MDSCs and the expression of costimulatory molecule CD86 on monocytes were significantly higher in children with AR than in healthy controls. In addition, the expressions of CD28 on CD4 + and CD8 + were significantly elevated in AR patients. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the percentages of MDSCs were significantly elevated in AR children. Moreover, the expressions of CD28 on CD4 + and CD8 + were significantly higher in children with AR.