title: A pilot randomised controlled trial of oral doxycycline after endoscopic sinus surgery and its effects on the sinonasal microbiome

authors: Challis, Jacinda M.

subjects: endoscopic sinus surgery

abstract: Oral antibiotics are commonly prescribed after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) despite minimal clinical data supporting this practice. We aim to assess the effect of post-ESS doxycycline on clinical outcomes and on the diversity and composition of the sinonasal microbiome. Methods: Samples from the middle meatus were collected from twelve patients undergoing ESS to treat chronic rhinosinusitis. Patients were double-blind randomised to receive either oral doxycycline or placebo in the post-operative period. Further samples were collected at two weeks and three months post-operatively. The sinonasal microbiome was characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing. SNOT-22 scores, Lund Mackay scores, and Modified Lund Mackay Endoscopic Scores (MLMES) were collected. Results: After ESS, bacterial diversity increased while SNOT-22 score decreased for both treatments. Microbiome composition diverged between treatments, and random forest analysis identified nine taxa that may distinguish treatment groups. There was no significant difference in SNOT-22 score, 3-month MLMES or bacterial diversity between the placebo and doxycycline groups. The trends for all of these measures favour placebo. Conclusion: In this pilot study, we detected no significant difference between placebo and antibiotic treatments in clinical outcome. As patient symptoms improved after ESS, we detected a concurrent increase in the diversity of the sinonasal microbiome. Our data highlight the need for and facilitate the design of future larger studies to explore the relationship between prophylactic antibiotics and post-ESS recovery.

text: A pilot randomised controlled trial of oral doxycycline after endoscopic sinus surgery and its effects on the sinonasal microbiome Oral antibiotics are commonly prescribed after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) despite minimal clinical data supporting this practice. We aim to assess the effect of post-ESS doxycycline on clinical outcomes and on the diversity and composition of the sinonasal microbiome. Methods: Samples from the middle meatus were collected from twelve patients undergoing ESS to treat chronic rhinosinusitis. Patients were double-blind randomised to receive either oral doxycycline or placebo in the post-operative period. Further samples were collected at two weeks and three months post-operatively. The sinonasal microbiome was characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing. SNOT-22 scores, Lund Mackay scores, and Modified Lund Mackay Endoscopic Scores (MLMES) were collected. Results: After ESS, bacterial diversity increased while SNOT-22 score decreased for both treatments. Microbiome composition diverged between treatments, and random forest analysis identified nine taxa that may distinguish treatment groups. There was no significant difference in SNOT-22 score, 3-month MLMES or bacterial diversity between the placebo and doxycycline groups. The trends for all of these measures favour placebo. Conclusion: In this pilot study, we detected no significant difference between placebo and antibiotic treatments in clinical outcome. As patient symptoms improved after ESS, we detected a concurrent increase in the diversity of the sinonasal microbiome. Our data highlight the need for and facilitate the design of future larger studies to explore the relationship between prophylactic antibiotics and post-ESS recovery.

year: 2022-04-08

title: Superintegrability and associated polynomial solutions: Euclidean space and the sphere in two dimensions

authors: Kalnins, Ernie G.

subjects: Mathematics

abstract: In this work we examine the basis functions for those classical and quantum mechanical systems in two dimensions which admit separation of variables in at least two coordinate systems. We do this for the corresponding systems defined in Euclidean space and on the two-dimensional sphere. We present all of these cases from a unified point of view. In particular, all of the special functions that arise via variable separation have their essential features expressed in terms of their zeros. The principal new results are the details of the polynomial bases for each of the nonsubgroup bases, not just the subgroup Cartesian and polar coordinate cases, and the details of the structure of the quadratic algebras. We also study the polynomial eigenfunctions in elliptic coordinates of the n-dimensional isotropic quantum oscillator.

text: Superintegrability and associated polynomial solutions: Euclidean space and the sphere in two dimensions In this work we examine the basis functions for those classical and quantum mechanical systems in two dimensions which admit separation of variables in at least two coordinate systems. We do this for the corresponding systems defined in Euclidean space and on the two-dimensional sphere. We present all of these cases from a unified point of view. In particular, all of the special functions that arise via variable separation have their essential features expressed in terms of their zeros. The principal new results are the details of the polynomial bases for each of the nonsubgroup bases, not just the subgroup Cartesian and polar coordinate cases, and the details of the structure of the quadratic algebras. We also study the polynomial eigenfunctions in elliptic coordinates of the n-dimensional isotropic quantum oscillator.

year: 1996-12

title: Older men gardening on the marae: Everyday practices for being Māori

authors: King, Pita

subjects: manaakitanga

abstract: Like indigenous peoples globally, Māori are over- represented among the homeless population due to processes of colonialism, disruptions and continued socio- economic marginalization. This article explores how, through gardening and other everyday practices, a group of older Māori men who are homeless find respite, reconnection, a sense of belonging, and remember Māori ways of being. We consider how the regular participation of these men also contributes to the reconciliation of the marae (communal complex used for everyday Māori life) space that has been reclaimed by Ngāti Whātua (local Auckland tribe) after a lengthy hiatus. Our analysis foregrounds the importance of core values of manaakitanga (care for others), whanaungatanga (relationships based on shared experience or kinship) and wairuatanga (spirituality) for responses to Māori homelessness.

text: Older men gardening on the marae: Everyday practices for being Māori Like indigenous peoples globally, Māori are over- represented among the homeless population due to processes of colonialism, disruptions and continued socio- economic marginalization. This article explores how, through gardening and other everyday practices, a group of older Māori men who are homeless find respite, reconnection, a sense of belonging, and remember Māori ways of being. We consider how the regular participation of these men also contributes to the reconciliation of the marae (communal complex used for everyday Māori life) space that has been reclaimed by Ngāti Whātua (local Auckland tribe) after a lengthy hiatus. Our analysis foregrounds the importance of core values of manaakitanga (care for others), whanaungatanga (relationships based on shared experience or kinship) and wairuatanga (spirituality) for responses to Māori homelessness.

year: 2015