relation between the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and grade of retinopathy in Egyptian type 2 diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus causes metabolic and physiological abnormalities in the retina suggestive the role of inflammation in the development of diabetic retinopathy. Tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha is a pleiotropic cytokine implicated for early inflammatory changes seen in the diabetic retina. A strong correlation between the serum levels of TNF-o and the severity of diabetic retinopathy has been described. The aim of this study is to estimate the serum levels of TNF-o in Egyptian type 2 diabetic patients with different grades of retinopathy and correlating these levels to the grade of retinopathy. Eighty subjects participated in the study and they were classified into four groups; group [A] with type 2 diabetes but no retinopathy, group [B] with non proliferative type 2 diabetic retinopathy, group [C] with proliferative type 2 diabetic retinopathy and group [D] which was a control group of subjects matched for age and sex with the other groups. The study revealed a progressive elevation of serum TNF-alpha in e 2 diabetic patients according to the progression of retinopathy and that the serum levels of TNF-alpha were significantly correlated with the grade of retinopathy which was also significantly correlated with age and duration of diabetes but not with sex. A common feature of a number of new therapies for diabetic retinopathy is inhibition of the production of inflammatory mediators

Effect of passive smoking on ciliary regeneration of nasal mucosa after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in children

Passive smoking in the pediatric age group is associated with increased frequency of a number of childhood respiratory disorders, but its effect on the power of ciliary regeneration after functional endoscopic sinus surgery [FESS] for chronic sinusitis has never been tried in the literature. We are conducting a prospective non randomized cohort study on pediatric patients with chronic sinusitis to compare between two patient groups, passive and non passive smokers as regard the power of ciliary degeneration after FESS. On a total number of 38 patients passive smoking had a negative impact on the power of regeneration of sinus cilia after FESS

Effect of thickness of cartilage disc on the hearing results of perichondrium/cartilage island flap tympanoplasty

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the thickness of cartilage disc on the hearing result after perichondrium/cartilage island flap tympanoplasty. Our hypothesis was that thinning the rigid thick cartilage disc to half of its thickness could increase the compliance and give better acoustic gain and hearing results to the reconstructed tympanic membrane. Prospective before/after clinical trial was conducted between January 2003 and March 2004. Patients with chronic suppurative otitis media [mucosal type], central perforations and intact ossicular chain we divided randomly into 2 groups, the 1st group was treated with the perichondrium/cartilage island flap technique using full thickness cartilage disc, while the 2nd group was treated by the same technique but after bisecting the cartilage to half of its thickness, Hearing was evaluated using four frequency [500-1000-2000-3000H z] pure tone average air-bone gap [PTA-ABG] before and then 8-9 months after the tympanoplasty, and results were compared statistically

Single stage partial cricotracheal resection [CTR] with thyrotracheal anastomosis for the management of severe post intubation tracheal and subglottic stenosis: a short term report

Subglottic stenosis [SGS] and tracheal stenosis can be caused by a wide variety of disease processes, but mechanical trauma from endotracheal tubes remains the most common cause. The management of laryngotracheal stenosis continues to challenge the head and neck surgeon. In this work we review our experience in managing 14 adult patients with severe [Cotton's grade III and IV] SGS and upper tracheal stenosis using partial cricotracheal resection with end to end thyrotracheal anastomosis,and we proved that this treatment modality is an effective, safe, and single stage treatment modality that can be applied safely to cases of severe subglottic and upper tracheal stenosis.

Effect of phototherapy on cytokines in neonatal jaundice

Jaundice is a common problem in the neonatal period. Phototherapy is, so far, the most effective and safe management of neonatal jaundice. Cytokines are proteins synthesized and secreted by T, B, and NK cells, and by the cells with which they interact. They have the ability to promote and facilitate differentiation and proliferation of the cells of the immune system. The aim of this work is to highlight the effect of phototherapy, if any, on certain types of Cytokines [IL - 1B, IL - 2r, IL- 6, IL - 8 and TNF -] in cases of neonatal jaundice. The results of this case controlled study revealed that the level of IL- 1B was below 5 pg/ml in all the studied sample, whereas, the level of IL- 2r was higher in infant exposed to phototherapy than the other group. The levels of IL - 6 and IL - 8 did not vary between the two groups. The level of TNF - was high in both groups compared to the start studied sample. We concluded that, phototherapy although it is a safe tool of management, yet, it has an effect on the immune system of the neonates through the impact on certain types of cytokines. So it is recommended that phototherapy should be applied to indicated cases only and for limited period to avoid known and unknown hazards untoward effects

Bioactive-glass powder obliteration of open mastoid cavity

Forty patients with chronic suppurative otitis media of the cholesteatomatous type were included in this study. Their open radical mastoid cavity were obliterated using a new bioactive glass powder; 30 of them as a primary procedure at the time of radical mastoidectomy and 10 as a secondary procedure later on. The study aimed to evaluate a new bioactive glass powder [particulates] as an obliterative material in open mastoid cavities. The results of this technique were promising. It was concluded that bioactive glass powder is a safe and effective biomaterial to be used as on obliterative material in open mastoid cavities

Effect of psychotherapy on the quality of life in cancer larynx patients

To study the effect of psychotherapy the quality of life of cancer larynx patients treated by total laryngectomy. Prospective cohort study. 18 patients were divided into two groups, group A [10 patients] received psychotherapy pre and then post laryngectomy, while group B [8 patients] didn't receive any form of psychotherapy. Both groups were compared as regards psychological well being and quality of life using depression scale, anxiety scale, hopelessness scale, suicidal ideations scale QQL questionnaires. Psychotherapy has a positive effect on quality of life in cancer larynx patients