Otorhinolaryngology
Summary
Otorhinolaryngology encompasses the diagnosis and management of disorders of the ear, nose and throat, integrating both surgical and medical therapies. The field spans auditory and vestibular function—including hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo—together with sinonasal inflammation, allergies and obstructive airway conditions. Advances in genomics, immunology and imaging have refined our understanding of inner-ear tumours, such as vestibular schwannomas, and chronic nasal diseases, including rhinosinusitis endotypes driven by type-2 inflammation. Minimally invasive techniques—from endoscopic sinus procedures to robotic ear surgery—have reduced morbidity and improved functional preservation. Concurrently, novel pharmacological agents and biologics are targeting specific molecular pathways in allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis, offering more precise, personalised care. Global trends emphasise multidisciplinary collaboration to address the full spectrum of otorhinolaryngological conditions, underpinned by objective diagnostics and patient-centred outcome measures.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Single-cell multi-omic profiling of human vestibular schwannomas has revealed a repair-like Schwann cell subpopulation that secretes CSF1 to recruit myeloid cells, a process linked to larger tumour size. These findings highlight nerve injury–like microenvironments and identify CSF1 signalling as a potential target to limit tumour progression. In allergic rhinitis models, administration of α-lipoic acid restored Th17/regulatory T-cell balance, increased IL-10 and Foxp3 expression and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway while inhibiting NF-κB/IκB. This dual modulation of immune and redox signalling suppressed mucosal inflammation, pointing to redox-based strategies for refractory sinonasal inflammation.
Otorhinolaryngology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in otorhinolaryngology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Vestibular schwannoma: A benign tumour arising from Schwann cells of the vestibulocochlear nerve at the cerebellopontine angle.
Single-cell multi-omics: Integrated analysis of individual cells’ gene expression and chromatin accessibility to reveal cellular heterogeneity.
CSF1 signalling: Colony-stimulating factor 1 pathway that promotes recruitment and differentiation of myeloid cells in the tumour microenvironment.
Nrf2/HO-1 pathway: A cellular antioxidant cascade in which Nrf2 activates heme oxygenase-1 to mitigate oxidative stress.
α-Lipoic acid: A redox-active molecule that modulates Th17/Treg balance and antioxidant responses in inflammatory diseases.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): A form of positional vertigo caused by dislodged otoconia in the semicircular canals.
Otolin-1: A glycoprotein component of otoconia released into serum upon otoconial disruption, serving as a biomarker for inner-ear pathology.
Multimodal deep learning: Artificial intelligence models that integrate multiple data types—such as video and positional signals—to enhance diagnostic performance.
References
- Single-cell multi-omic analysis of the vestibular schwannoma ecosystem uncovers a nerve injury-like state. Nature Communications (2024).
- Anti-allergic rhinitis activity of α-lipoic acid via balancing Th17/Treg expression and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 pathway signaling. Scientific Reports (2020).
- Multimodal deep learning-based diagnostic model for BPPV. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making (2024).
- Vitamin D Supplementation and Recurrence of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Nutrients (2024).
- Serum Otoconin-90 and Otolin-1 Concentrations in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Biomolecules (2024).
About these summaries
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