BackgroundThe microbiota of the nares has been widely studied. However, relatively few studies have investigated the microbiota of the nasal cavity posterior to the nares. This distinct environment has the potential to contain a distinct microbiota and play an important role in health.ResultsWe obtained 35,142 high-quality bacterial 16S rRNA-encoding gene sequence reads from the nasal cavity and oral cavity (the dorsum of the tongue and the buccal mucosa) of 12 healthy adult humans and deposited these data in the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) (Bioproject: PRJNA248297). In our initial analysis, we compared the bacterial communities of the nasal cavity and the oral cavity from ten of these subjects. The nasal cavity bacterial communities were dominated by Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria and were statistically distinct from those on the tongue and buccal mucosa. For example, the same Staphylococcaceae operational taxonomic unit (OTU) was present in all of the nasal cavity samples, comprising up to 55% of the community, but Staphylococcaceae was comparatively uncommon in the oral cavity.ConclusionsThere are clear differences between nasal cavity microbiota and oral cavity microbiota in healthy adults. This study expands our knowledge of the nasal cavity microbiota and the relationship between the microbiota of the nasal and oral cavities.

BACKGROUND Few human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines exist. We established UM-SCC-104, a new HPV(+) HNSCC cell linefrom a recurrent oral cavity tumor, and characterized it for the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC). METHODS Tumor cells were tested for biomarker expression by immunohistology and the presence of HPV was assessed by several methods. RESULTS UM-SCC-104 has a unique genotype, contains HPV-16 and expresses E6/E7. Inoculation of (Aldehyde Dehydrogenase) ALDH(+) and ALDH(−) cells in an immunocompromised mouse resulted in tumor growth from the ALDH(+) cells after 6 weeks that recapitulated the histology of the primary, while ALDH(−) cells did not produce tumors. CONCLUSIONS UM-SCC-104, a new HPV-16, CSC-containing HNSCC cell line will aid in studying recurrent HPV(+) tumors. The aggressive nature of this tumor is consistent with high uniform expression of EGFR and a functionally significant proportion of ALDH(+) CSC.

We demonstrate that there are at least two S‐phase checkpoint mechanisms controlling mitosis in Aspergillus. The first responds to the rate of DNA replication and inhibits mitosis via tyrosine phosphorylation of p34cdc2. Cells unable to tyrosine phosphorylate p34cdc2 are therefore viable but are unable to tolerate low levels of hydroxyurea and prematurely enter lethal mitosis when S‐phase is slowed. However, if the NIMA mitosis‐promoting kinase is inactivated then non‐tyrosine‐phosphorylated p34cdc2 cannot promote cells prematurely into mitosis. Lack of tyrosine‐phosphorylated p34cdc2 also cannot promote mitosis, or lethality, if DNA replication is arrested, demonstrating the presence of a second S‐phase checkpoint mechanism over mitotic initiation which we show involves the function of BIME. In order to overcome the S‐phase arrest checkpoint over mitosis it is necessary both to prevent tyrosine phosphorylation of p34cdc2 and also to inactivate BIME. Lack of tyrosine phosphorylation of p34cdc2 allows precocious expression of NIMA during S‐phase arrest, and lack of BIME then allows activation of this prematurely expressed NIMA by phosphorylation. The mitosis‐promoting NIMA kinase is thus a target for S‐phase checkpoint controls.

Objectives/Hypothesis Characterization of leadership within otolaryngology is key to evaluating trends and promoting program advancement. This study evaluates representation of women in otolaryngology holding residency and fellowship directorships, or chair positions, comparing sex differences in academic rank, years in practice, and scholarly activity. Study Design Cross sectional analysis. Methods A comprehensive list of otolaryngology residency and fellowship directors from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–accredited programs in 2017 to 2018 was compiled. Academic rank and years in practice were determined from departmental websites, with online search tools used as secondary resources. The h‐index was utilized as a measure of research productivity. Regression analysis was performed to analyze these variables. Results Among the 306 directorships, women held 57 (18.6%) of these positions, 27 (26.5%) residency and 30 (14.7%) fellowship directorships. Of the 99 chair positions, five (5.1%) were held by women. The majority (53.6%) of male directors were full professors, whereas only 26.3% of females were full professors (P = .04). Mean years in practice for female directors (13.9 ± 6.8) was less than that of male directors (20.3 ± 9.4, P < .0001). Similarly, mean h‐index for female directors (11 ± 7.2) was lower than for males (17.5 ± 12.5, P = .0001). After controlling for academic rank and years of practice in a multivariable regression, the h‐index remained lower for women than for men (P = .03). Conclusions Women are disproportionately underrepresented in positions of residency and fellowship directorships, and chair positions, consistent with other specialties. Women in leadership had lower academic ranks, fewer years of practice, and lower h‐indices than their male counterparts. This may represent a shift in academic otolaryngology as female otolaryngologists seek early involvement in leadership. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 130:1664–1669, 2020