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This mini-review highlights some recent literature examples of unique biomedical applications of PELs, PECs and PEMs prepared through the molecular engineering of PASA. It discusses biomineralization modulators, anti-mycobacterial agents, underwater adhesives, mucoadhesive drug and gene delivery agents, and cell encapsulants fabricated using PASA derived PELs.Tonsil hypertrophy (TH) and adenoid hypertrophy (AH) are very common in children. Adenoid is visible only by endoscopy. Epacadostat This study investigated the possible relationship between the tonsil and adenoid volume and the possible prediction of adenoid size. Globally, 991 children (461 females, 530 males, mean age 6.2 ± 2.3 years), complaining persistent upper airway obstruction, were consecutively visited at an otorhinolaryngological unit. TH was significantly (p less then 0.0001) associated with AH and tonsil volume predicted adenoid size. This outcome could have relevance in clinical practice as adenoid are evaluable only by endoscopy, so tonsil assessment could mirror adenoid volume.Children with recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) represent a social issue for the economic burden and the familiar negative impact. Bacteriotherapy, such as the administration of “good” bacteria, is a new therapeutic strategy that could be potentially effective in preventing infections. The current study tested the hypothesis of preventing RRI by oral Bacteriotherapy in a real-life setting. This open study was conducted in an outpatient clinic, enrolling 51 children (27 males, mean age 4.8 ± 2.6 years) suffering from RRI. Children were treated with an oral spray, containing Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis89a (125 x 109 CFU/g), 2 puffs per os once/day for 30 consecutive days; this course was repeated for 3 months. The evaluated parameters were RI number and school absences reported in the current year; these outcomes were compared with those recorded in the past year. The mean number of RI significantly diminished from 5.17 (2.30) in the past year to 2.25 (2.43) after the treatment (p less then 0.0001). The mean number of school absences significantly diminished (from 3.35 to 1.86; p less then 0.0001). In conclusion, this real-life study suggests that oral Bacteriotherapy with Streptococcus salivarius 24SMB and Streptococcus oralis89a could efficaciously and safely prevent RRI in children.Allergic rhinitis (AR) is caused by an IgE-mediated inflammatory reaction consequent to the exposure to the causal allergen. Glycyrrhetic acid (GlyAc) is a natural compound extracted from the liquorice that exerts anti-inflammatory activity. This real-life study compared intranasal GlyAc, present in a medical device containing also glycerol and mannitol, with mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) in 50 adult outpatients with AR. Both treatments lasted 2 months. Endoscopic signs, perception of symptom severity, assessed by VAS, and nasal function measured by rhinomanometry were evaluated at baseline (T0), after one (T1) and two (T2) months. The intergroup analysis showed that at T1 there was no significant difference between groups about the use of decongestants and antihistamines, turbinate hypertrophy and pale mucosa, perception of olfaction and snoring. At T2 there was no significant difference between groups about use of relievers, all endoscopic signs, and perception of nasal discomfort, nasal obstruction, olfaction, and snoring. The intragroup analysis showed that in MFNS group there was a significant change during the entire period of treatment for all parameters except watery rhinorrhea (sign) and ocular discomfort; in GlyAc group there was a significant change during the entire period of treatment for all parameters. In conclusion, this preliminary study, conducted in clinical practice, evidenced that intranasal CysAC plus mannitol was able to significantly improve nasal endoscopic signs, perception of symptoms, and nasal function in patients with AR. Therefore, GlyAc could be a reasonable therapeutic option to control allergic inflammation.Foreign bodies in pediatric age represent an extremely frequent pathological condition and can undergo fearsome complications. Within the ENT area, foreign bodies in the pediatric age can be found in various districts such as external auditory canal, nasal passages, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and trachea. They can be various and shape; generally, the main ones are buttons, beads, small parts of toys, caps of pens, pebbles, fragments of food bolus and others. As described in the literature, the main localizations are the external auditory canal and nasal cavities. Laryngeal and tracheal localization is infrequent but can be fatal. The aspiration of foreign bodies, mainly small parts of toys, occurs more frequently under three years age and mainly-especially in males. The experience of the ENT Department of the San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital in Rome, in the period between January 2007 and December 2018, consists a total of 1443 patients, aged between 0 and 14, who arrived in the emergency room with a foreign body diagnosis; of these, 613 (42.5%) were found with foreign body in the external auditory canal, 458 (31.7%) in nasal fossa, 298 (20.5%) in pharynx, 64 (4.4%) in oropharynx, and 10 (0.7%) in larynx and trachea. Treatment was in 1255 (87%) removal in the emergency room and home discharge, 79 (5.4%) with outpatient discharge, 40 (2.7%) need for hospitalization and surgery, 64 (4.4 %) refusal of hospitalization and 1 case (0.07%) died in the emergency room.Acute mastoiditis is the most common complication of acute otitis media. Although rare, the disease is carefully studied by otolaryngologists because it usually affects very young children with severe clinical course and sometimes causes serious complications. Most important risk factors are the young age (often>2 years), high fever, alteration of the laboratory findings (very high values of WBC count, absolute neutrophil count and C-reactive protein), while less important are previous antibiotic therapy or previous middle ear infections. The main pathogen of the acute mastoiditis is Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Streptococcus piogenes, Haemophilus influentiae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The finding of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not uncommon, but often its presence is often considered a contamination or simultaneous infection. The complications can be extracranial (subperiosteal abscess, Bezold’s abscess); intratemporal (facial nerve palsy, labyrinthitis) and intracranial (subdural abscess). The complications have often a very serious clinical course and potentially life-threatening.