As the weather cools and we prepare for the arrival of the little goblins and ghouls this Halloween, the October issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology focuses on the sinus and nose, and what every practicing clinician should know about sinonasal disease.
What do the sinuses and smell have to do with each other? The CME review this month explores olfactory dysfunction in sinonasal disease. Other reviews focus on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), with one exploring the role of biologic therapies versus surgical management of CRS with nasal polyps. Robert M. Frederick, MD, and colleagues review the cellular and immune mechanisms that drive acute exacerbations of CRS with insight on how to treat this vexing problem. The final review this month explores what remission and meaningful outcomes would be in CRS and what the implications of these definitions have for disease management and patient-centered care.
Original articles this month cover a wide range of topics, including: predicting mortality in asthma, small airway dysfunction; predicting recurrence of nasal polyps; the effect of dupilumab treatment on otologic symptoms of CRS; the effect of sublingual immunotherapy for lipid transfer protein syndrome; the role of nasal and inhaled steroids in eosinophilic esophagitis; and barriers that prevent access to an allergist in the Midwest, amongst others.
If you are looking for a little chuckle, be sure to check out the Cartootorial and Marginal Zone this month. You will find out about neutrophils being invited to the ball, only to learn that it isn’t all fancy dresses and champagne. Check it out, you’ll love it (and learn a little, too)!
Our “10 ways to improve” series this month has an informative article on how to improve your practice website from the ACAAI Practice Management and Member Website Committees. This is a quick and focused read that gives you 10 pointers on how to make your practice website more user-friendly, patient-engaging, and business-generating. It is definitely a must read.
Letters this month cover a large area of our specialty. There are studies looking at the effect of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy on atopic disease and immunoglobulin levels, the effect of ambient nitric oxide on FeNO measurements, the risk of methemoglobinemia during an oral food challenge, development of milk allergy after bariatric surgery in an adult, and allergy and immunology practice trends over the past decade.
Before you head to the store to buy some treats (allergy-free treats, of course) to hand out for Halloween, be sure to read Annals every month cover to cover! Annals goal is to always provide the most up-to-date information so that you can provide the best possible care to your patients. As we ask every month, if you have any comments, please email Annals (annals@ACAAI.org) with any comments (good or bad) about articles and the utility of the journal.
Mitchell H. Grayson, MD, FACAAI
Editor-in-Chief
