title: The effects of post-operative antibiotics in endoscopic sinus surgery

authors: Challis, Jacinda

subjects: Chronic rhinosinusitis

abstract: Previous research into post-operative antibiotic usage for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients generated contradictory results. Some studies found that post-operative antibiotics did not improve the short-term clinical outcomes (Jiang et al., 2008; Lehmann et al., 2020; Liang et al., 2011) while some did (Albu & Lucaciu, 2010). Those studies had also focused primarily on the clinical outcomes of the surgery, overlooking the potential impact of prophylactic antibiotics on the sinonasal microbiome. Using cultivation-independent methods, this study aimed to examine the impact of post-operative antibiotics on the sinonasal microbiome alongside short-term clinical outcomes of CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Twelve patients undergoing ESS to treat their CRS were enrolled in this study and randomly distributed into two groups: an antibiotic treatment group and a placebo treatment group. The antibiotic treatment group received doxycycline for 28 days after surgery. Clinical information, including computed tomography scan, symptom questionnaires, and nasal endoscopy, were collected for each patient before and after ESS. Swab and tissue samples were collected and underwent DNA extraction, PCR amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, and amplicon sequencing analysis to longitudinally characterise each patient’s sinonasal microbiome. There were no differences in symptom scores or endoscopic/radiological scores between treatment groups before or after the surgery, and there was no significant difference in the microbiome between the treatment groups after surgery. Our preliminary study showed that post-operative antibiotics did not improve short-term clinical outcomes for CRS patients undergoing ESS, and there was no significant difference in the microbiome between treatments, either. However, our preliminary findings reflect only short-term effects, and many of our analyses were statistically underpowered due to the modest sample size. A larger study is needed to explore specific patterns observed in our data with greater confidence.

text: The effects of post-operative antibiotics in endoscopic sinus surgery Previous research into post-operative antibiotic usage for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients generated contradictory results. Some studies found that post-operative antibiotics did not improve the short-term clinical outcomes (Jiang et al., 2008; Lehmann et al., 2020; Liang et al., 2011) while some did (Albu & Lucaciu, 2010). Those studies had also focused primarily on the clinical outcomes of the surgery, overlooking the potential impact of prophylactic antibiotics on the sinonasal microbiome. Using cultivation-independent methods, this study aimed to examine the impact of post-operative antibiotics on the sinonasal microbiome alongside short-term clinical outcomes of CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Twelve patients undergoing ESS to treat their CRS were enrolled in this study and randomly distributed into two groups: an antibiotic treatment group and a placebo treatment group. The antibiotic treatment group received doxycycline for 28 days after surgery. Clinical information, including computed tomography scan, symptom questionnaires, and nasal endoscopy, were collected for each patient before and after ESS. Swab and tissue samples were collected and underwent DNA extraction, PCR amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, and amplicon sequencing analysis to longitudinally characterise each patient’s sinonasal microbiome. There were no differences in symptom scores or endoscopic/radiological scores between treatment groups before or after the surgery, and there was no significant difference in the microbiome between the treatment groups after surgery. Our preliminary study showed that post-operative antibiotics did not improve short-term clinical outcomes for CRS patients undergoing ESS, and there was no significant difference in the microbiome between treatments, either. However, our preliminary findings reflect only short-term effects, and many of our analyses were statistically underpowered due to the modest sample size. A larger study is needed to explore specific patterns observed in our data with greater confidence.

year: 2021

title: The Crucible of Language: How Language and Mind Create Meaning

authors: Calude, Andreea S.

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: Among the chief qualities of The Crucible, apart from the charming writing style, is its ability to bring to light, in a highly readable form for a non-expert audience, the complex problems that researching language raises. The Crucible is therefore a worthy and long-awaited addition to current works on language, and one which is sure to bring much joy and excitement to anyone who has ever wondered about how meaning arises. The book is also testament to the fact that no explanation of any complex phenomenon can ever be done on neutral territory; each such explanation is anchored in a particular approach or belief, and seen through the lens of a particular theoretical leaning– and researching language is no exception.

text: The Crucible of Language: How Language and Mind Create Meaning Among the chief qualities of The Crucible, apart from the charming writing style, is its ability to bring to light, in a highly readable form for a non-expert audience, the complex problems that researching language raises. The Crucible is therefore a worthy and long-awaited addition to current works on language, and one which is sure to bring much joy and excitement to anyone who has ever wondered about how meaning arises. The book is also testament to the fact that no explanation of any complex phenomenon can ever be done on neutral territory; each such explanation is anchored in a particular approach or belief, and seen through the lens of a particular theoretical leaning– and researching language is no exception.

year: 2020-05-20

title: Rauaroha: He tohu Aroha rau i te akoranga

authors: Paringatai, Karyn

subjects: huarahi ako

abstract: Nö te tau 2001 i whakatüria ai e Ako Aotearoa (National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence) tëtahi tohu hei whakanui i ngä mahi a te tangata e whakaako ana i te taumata takiura. Me whakaatu te kaiwhiwhi tohu i tana ü roa ki ngä taumata tiketike rawa i tana mahi whakaako. Tekau mä rua ngä kaiwhiwhi toa i ia tau, kätahi ka whiriwhirihia ai e tëtahi kömiti kaiwhakawä kia kotahi te tangata e whiwhi nei i te Tohu Tiketike o te Pirimia. Mö ngä tau e whä kua hipa ake nei i riro i ngä kaiako Mäori te tohu tiketike nei. Ko te aronga o tënei tuhinga he whakaatu i ngä ähuatanga o ënei kaiako kia märama pai atu ai te whakaaro tiketike o te Mäori ki tënei mea te ako.

text: Rauaroha: He tohu Aroha rau i te akoranga Nö te tau 2001 i whakatüria ai e Ako Aotearoa (National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence) tëtahi tohu hei whakanui i ngä mahi a te tangata e whakaako ana i te taumata takiura. Me whakaatu te kaiwhiwhi tohu i tana ü roa ki ngä taumata tiketike rawa i tana mahi whakaako. Tekau mä rua ngä kaiwhiwhi toa i ia tau, kätahi ka whiriwhirihia ai e tëtahi kömiti kaiwhakawä kia kotahi te tangata e whiwhi nei i te Tohu Tiketike o te Pirimia. Mö ngä tau e whä kua hipa ake nei i riro i ngä kaiako Mäori te tohu tiketike nei. Ko te aronga o tënei tuhinga he whakaatu i ngä ähuatanga o ënei kaiako kia märama pai atu ai te whakaaro tiketike o te Mäori ki tënei mea te ako.

year: 2017