Reversal of Tobacco-Related Sinusitis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is focused on identifying the prevalence of passive or active smoke exposure and zinc deficiency in a cohort of patients who meet the objective and subjective guidelines for chronic rhinosinusitis set forth by the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership.

Detailed Description
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By using patient screening questionnaires and measuring hair nicotine, a well acknowledged biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke, we will attempt a more objective study to examine the association between tobacco smoke and chronic rhinosinusitis. (CRS) Likewise, zinc deficiency is documented in numerous animal and human studies to decrease resistance to infectious diseases and is especially common among smokers. We will explore our hypothesis that SHS exposure and zinc deficiency contribute to CRS. To accomplish this, we will measure serum zinc and hair nicotine levels in CRS patients and correlate them to a variety of CRS diagnostic indicators. A second objective of this study is investigating alterations within the epithelium lining the sinonasal cavities in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. The alterations may be one or a combination of anatomic, genetic, inflammatory, or infectious etiologies. To further investigate these possibilities we plan on taking residual clinical material from endoscopic sinus surgery specimens and performing various in vitro investigations including but not limited to microarray analysis, northern and western blot analysis, ciliary beat frequency analysis, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and propagation of tissue with tissue culture techniques. Tissues taken from non-sinusitis patients undergoing sinonasal surgery will serve as a non-chronic rhinosinusitis control source of sinus mucosa.

Official Title
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Reversal of Tobacco-Related Sinusitis (Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI) Young Clinical Scientist Award)

Conditions
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Rhinosinusitis

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: CRS and skull base surgery patients; CRS patients that meet the objective and subjective guidelines for CRS set forth by the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership. Exclusion Criteria: Ciliary dysfunction, autoimmune disease, CF or any known immunodeficiency.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Chronic Rhinosinusitis<br>Participants with chronic rhinosinusitis | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| prevalence of passive or active smoke exposure | This study is focused on identifying the prevalence of passive or active smoke exposure and zinc deficiency in a cohort of patients who meet the objective and subjective guidelines for chronic rhinosinusitis set forth by the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership. | Completion of study |