Search results for "Otorhinolaryngologic diseases"
showing 10 items of 838 documents
Effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on bacteria and mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract.
2019
Abstract Objective Ear, nose and throat infections are among the most common reasons for absence from work. They are usually caused by various bacteria like Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) can effectively eliminate even multi-resistant bacteria and has no cytotoxic or mutagenic effects on the mucosa when applied for less than 60 s. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of CAP on common ENT bacteria and on the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Methods The bactericidal effects of CAP against the bacteria most commonly causing ENT infections were investigated using the colony-forming…
Characteristics of tinnitus with or without hearing loss: Clinical observations in Sicilian tinnitus patients
2010
Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of tinnitus both in normal hearing subjects and in patients with hearing loss. Methods: The study considered 312 tinnitus sufferers, 176 males and 136 females, ranging from 21 to 83 years of age, who were referred to the Audiology Section of the Department of Bio-technology of Palermo University. The following parameters were considered: age, sex, hearing threshold, tinnitus laterality, tinnitus duration, tinnitus measurements and subjective disturbance caused by tinnitus. The sample was divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1) subjects with normal hearing; Group 2 (G2) subjects with hearing loss. Results: Among the patients considered, 115 ha…
Endonasal Sinus Surgery Improves Mucociliary Transport in Severe Chronic Sinusitis
1997
A total of 22 patients with extensive chronic sinusitis were examined before and 7.2 ± 1.1 months after microscopic endonasal sinus surgery. Pre- and postoperative nasal mucociliary transport was measured using a modified saccharine test and ciliary beat frequency of nasal respiratory cells using video interference contrast microscopy. In patients suffering from chronic sinusitis, nasal ciliary beat frequency was significantly lower (8.0 ± 1.8 Hz) than in normals (9.5 ± 1.7 Hz, p < 0.02). Following endonasal sinus surgery, ciliary beat frequency in patients with chronic sinusitis remained reduced (8.3 ± 1.2 Hz). Nasal mucociliary transport time was significantly (p < 0.05) longer (20…
Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in nasal polyps of aspirin-intolerant patients.
2012
Objective To study differences between aspirin-tolerant patients and aspirin-intolerant patients concerning vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Recent publications strongly suggest the involvement of VEGF and its receptors in the pathophysiologic process of nasal polyps. Design We subjected 43 polyp specimens to semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis. We quantified VEGF and its receptors (Flk, Flt, and neuropilin) in all samples. To gain insight into potential VEGF-mediated cellular responses, we determined proliferative (Ki67) and apoptotic (caspase 3) indices. Patients Polyp samples were obtained from 22 aspirin-intolerant patients and from 21 aspirin-tolerant pat…
Dysregulated Survivin Expression in Nasal Polyps of Individuals with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease
2012
Background A derailed balance of cell proliferation and apoptosis is presumed to result in cell hyperplasia as a typical feature of nasal polyps. Survivin, a protein of the inhibitors of the apoptosis family is proposed to promote polyp formation. However, studies concerning survivin expression in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps are rare and the specificity of the survivin expression in nasal polyps from individuals with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) has not been investigated. Methods Immunohistochemical survivin expression analysis was performed. Samples were taken from the ethmoid sinus of individuals with CRS with nasal polyps with and without AERD during …
Brainstem evoked potentials and magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in differential diagnosis of intracranial hypotension.
2019
Summary Objective To compare brainstem acoustic evoked potentials (BAEP) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the differential diagnosis of intracranial hypotension (IH), Chiari malformation (CM) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Methods BAEP were recorded in 18 IH, 18 CM, 20 SNHL patients and 52 controls. MRI were acquired in all IH and CM patients. Results Abnormal BAEP were observed in 94% of IH patients, in 33% of CM and 70% of SNHL patients. After recovery from IH, BAEP abnormalities disappeared. Internal auditory canal (IAC) MRI abnormalities were described in 88% of IH patients. MRI signs of IH were observed in 33–78% in IH patients, but the most frequent MRI sign was 8th ner…
Evidence for modulation of opioidergic activity in central vestibular processing: A [(18)F] diprenorphine PET study.
2009
Animal and functional imaging studies had identified cortical structures such as the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex, the retro‐insular cortex, or the anterior cingulate cortex belonging to a vestibular cortical network. Basic animal studies revealed that endorphins might be important transmitters involved in cerebral vestibular processing. The aim of the present study was therefore to analyse whether the opioid system is involved in vestibular neurotransmission of humans or not. Changes in opioid receptor availability during caloric air stimulation of the right ear were studied with [(18)F] Fluoroethyl‐diprenorphine ([(18)F]FEDPN) PET scans in 10 right‐handed healthy volunteers and compa…
Hearing loss in Fabry disease: data from the Fabry Outcome Survey
2006
Hearing loss is a common symptom in Fabry disease, but neither its natural course nor its aetiology has been defined precisely. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed epidemiological description of hearing impairment in patients in the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS), which is the largest available database of Fabry patients. Questionnaires were completed by 566 Fabry patients, of whom 316 reported ear-related symptoms. Pure-tone audiograms from 86 patients, performed before starting enzyme replacement therapy, were analysed and compared with age- and sex-specific normal values (International Organization for Standardization, ISO 7029). When compared to an age-matched population (ISO 70…
Management of intralabyrinthine schwannomas
2006
Abstract Objectives Our protocol to manage the intralabyrinthine schwannoma (ILS). Methods Retrospective chart review of 7 consecutive patients managed for ILS. Results Five patients underwent surgical removal of the lesions and none experienced significant complications or recurrent disease. One patient refused surgical treatment and was closely followed by serial MRI scans with no signs of tumor growth. One patient is presently managed conservatively due to a good hearing. Conclusions Diagnosis of ILS is based on high resolution MRI scans and should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients investigated for cochleovestibular symptoms. Treatment modality of ILS is controversial…
Cochlear origin of early hearing loss in vestibular schwannoma.
2007
Objective: To test whether early hearing loss (HL) is cochlear in origin in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS). Study Design: Retrospective case review in an academic tertiary referral center. Methods: A group of 19 VS patients with normal/symmetrical hearing and a group of 20 VS patients with mild HL (threshold at any tested frequency better than 45 dB HL) on the tumor ear side. Differences of the amplitudes of the distortion products of otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) between the tumor ear and the nontumor ear were studied at frequencies of 1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, and 4 kHz. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the ears for both groups and to test for possible differences in tumor size betw…