[Comparison of the efficiency of rhinomanometry and E.N.T examination in diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

Considering the high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS] and its complications, proper diagnosis and treatment is particularly important. Since the standard diagnostic test for OSAS is polysomnography, which is not widely available, finding a simple, available, and cheap diagnostic method is very helpful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of anterior rhinomanometry and upper respiratory tract examination in diagnosis of the OSAS. In this observational analytic study, all patients referred to BAMDAD sleep clinic for polysomnography from Feb 2007 to Jul 2007 were evaluated by anterior rhinomanometry as well as upper respiratory tract examination and results were compared with each other. Of 66 patients participated in our study, 31 patients were in the normal group, 19 in mild apnea group, and 16 in moderate to severe apnea group. The results of ENT examination showed clear obstruction in 22 patients. 12 of them were in moderate to severe apnea group, and 9 of them in mild apnea group. Only one patient with abnormal examination was in the normal group. The respiratory tract resistance which was measured by anterior rhinomanometry showed no significant association with positive results of polysomnography. Our study showed that although anterior rhinomanometry is invalid for diagnosis of OSAS, ENT examination [such as noctural oxymetry] can be a useful diagnostic method for OSAS

Prevalence of anti-EBV antibodies in adult patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma during 2003-2007 in Isfahan, Iran

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma [NPC] is a nonlymphomatous squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] that occurs in the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx. Viral, geographic, and ethnic factors are responsible for its multifactorial futures. Previous studies have showed the role of Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] in the pathogenesis of NPC but no study has been conducted on the Iranian population to assess the etiology of NPC and to investigate the role of EBV in carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We collected 87 paraffin wax embedded blocks of NPC [n=34] and Laryngeal SCC patients [n=53] operated in Isfahan Hospitals during 2003-2007 from the archives of the department of pathology and then sera of patients were provided. We measured the titers of early antigen [anti-EA] and Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen [anti-EBNA] antibodies by means of ELISA method in sera of patients. Our data showed a significant association between elevated titer of these antibodies and the presence of NPC [P value =0.016 for anti-EBNA and 0.001 for anti-EA antibodies]; however, we did not find such a relationship about Laryngeal SCC. The prevalence of EBV infection in patient with NPC is significantly higher than the control group. Further studies should investigate the value of serum markers of EBV infection in the follow up or early diagnosis of NPC in high risk patients