Metabolomics in Otorhinolaryngology

Abstract

Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat-ENT) focuses on inflammatory, immunological, infectious, and neoplastic disorders of the head and neck and on their medical and surgical therapy. The fields of interest of this discipline are the ear, the nose and its paranasal sinuses, the oral cavity, the pharynx, the larynx, and the neck. Besides surgery, there are many other diagnostic aspects of ENT such as audiology and Vestibology, laryngology, phoniatrics, and rhinology. A new advanced technology, named metabolomics, is significantly impacting the field of ENT. All the “omics” sciences, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, converge at the level of metabolomics, which is considered the integration of all “omics.” Its application will change the way several of ENT disorders are diagnosed and treated. This review highlights the power of metabolomics, including its pitfalls and promise, and several of its most relevant applications in ENT to provide a basic understanding of the metabolites associated with these districts. In particular, the attention has been focused on different heterogeneous diseases, from head and neck cancer to allergic rhinitis, hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, noise trauma, sinusitis, and Meniere’s disease. In conclusion, metabolomics study indicates a “fil rouge” that links these pathologies to improve three aspects of patient care: diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics, which in one word is defined as precision medicine.

Applications and challenges of neural networks in otolaryngology (Review)

“…Otolaryngology [ear, nose and throat (ENT)] is a vast specialist field that focuses on infectious, inflammatory, immunological and neoplastic disorders of the head and neck, along with their medical and surgical therapy (7). According to data from a previous study, non-communicable diseases (including ENT disorders) accounted for 60% of the global mortality cases in 2008.…”

“…ENT diseases treated at health facilities constitute 20-50% of the cases, with an incidence of diagnostic error varying 0.7-15% in developed countries (9) ENT surgical sub-specialties are also evolving, where risk awareness is increasing for specialists becoming deskilled in the case of certain emergencies (10). Apart from surgical interventions, other diagnostic aspects are also of importance, such as rhinology, phoniatrics, laryngology and audiology (7). Due to the vastness of the field and the incidence of diseases, there is now an opportunity to develop AI tools to evaluate the performance of newly developed AI programs (11,12).…”

RNA-Based Liquid Biopsy in Head and Neck Cancer

“…Their potential to reflect the metabolic alterations associated with HNC provides opportunities for personalized approaches and the development of targeted therapies. Further research is needed to validate these biomarkers, optimize their detection methods and explore their clinical utility in guiding HNC management, especially given the incredible complexity of metabolic pathways in the cell, which means that metabolic biomarker candidates are being analyzed by the hundreds [84,85], while thousands more are waiting to be studied.…”

Clinical Efficacy and Metabolomics Modifications Induced by Polyphenol Compound Supplementation in the Treatment of Residual Dizziness following Semont Maneuver in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) of the Posterior Semicircular Canal (PSC): Preliminary Results

“…Most biological specimens studied in metabolomics include blood samples (either serum or plasma), saliva and urine [17]. To date, metabolomics is considered a research tool that can give novel insights in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of ENT diseases, such as head and neck cancers, allergic rhinitis, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss and Menière's disease [18][19][20]. Despite its high clinical incidence, to date, no metabolomics studies have been conducted on BPPV and on residual dizziness after successful treatment with CRM.…”