Surgery of the inferior nasal turbinates: a comparative study of the operative outcomes of three techniques

In the present study, three of the widely practiced surgical procedures for the reduction of the size of the inferior turbinates, i.e. Partial inferior turbinectomy [PIT], submucous diathermy [SMD] and submucous turbinectomy or turbinoplasty [ST or TP] were assessed for subjective efficacy and morbidity. In all cases, turbinectomy was performed as an isolated procedure. The study was conducted on three groups of 90 adult patients [assigned into three groups of 30 patients each] with symptoms and signs of nasal obstruction due to enlargement of inferior turbinates. All patients were followed up for two weeks after surgery and after two months with subjective assessments of nasal breathing. The data obtained showed that the three procedures are relatively safe, effective, well-tolerated and do not require an expensive instrumentation. Nevertheless, when turbinectomy deemed necessary, the most conservative techniques are preferred

Value of magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of temporomandibular joint pain

The aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate the clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] findings in 40 patients with temporomandibular joint [TMJ] pain. Lesions that can be shown by MRI included internal derangements with or without degenerative joint diseases [osteoarthritis], various forms of disc displacement, different types of rheumatic diseases [such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis], joint effusion fibrous and bony ankylosis and adhesions. In conclusion, these findings supported the need for MRI in patients with a clinical diagnosis of TMJ pain. MRI allows a direct visualization of TMJ and disk. Furthermore, MRI identifies different anatomic abnormalities in patients with TMJ pain to make more specific diagnosis and to differentiate between the subgroups of patients with TMJ disorders

Fibroblasts in the human vocal fold mucosa. Microscopic study in different age groups

An investigation was carried out to determine the morphologic characteristics of fibroblasts in two portions of the vocal fold [VF] mucosa, the macula flava [MF] and Reinke's space [RS], of three different age groups: newborn, adult and geriatric. The study was done by means of transmission electron microscopy [TEM]. In MF of both adults and newborns, fibroblasts tended to be stellate in shape, with a small nucleus/cytoplasm [N/C] ratio and a well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum [rER] and Golgi apparatus [GA]. In RS, most fibroblasts were oval in newborns, and spindle-shaped in adults, with large N/C ratio and less developed rER, and GA. In geriatric MF, the majority of fibroblasts were stellate in shape; while in geriatric RS, the majority of fibroblasts were spindle in shape with N/C ratio of 0.5-2.0 in the majority of fibroblasts which were the case with adults. However, the development of rER and GA was less marked in geriatric than in adults. Glycogen particles [GP] were observed in geriatric fibroblasts, while lipid droplets were observed in both adult and geriatric fibroblasts. The findings suggest that fibroblasts in newborns contribute to the development of vocal ligaments, while in adults they participate in the metabolism of vocal ligaments. Much-more, geriatric changes in the vocal ligament can be attributed to the presence of activities of ageing processes in the fibroblasts of geriatric VF mucosa

Auditory cognition - heart beats physiological axis

Electrocardiogram [ECG] tracings were recorded from normal 28 male subjects in response to an attentive auditory task. Data regarding the changes in ECG that occur on listening to the rare tone bursts were calculated and compared with those on listening to frequent tone bursts. P wave showed longer duration and lower amplitude, in response to rare stimuli, indicating longer, but weaker atrial contraction. QRS complex and P-R interval did not show significant differences between the listening of the two types of stimuli. T wave showed shorter duration and lower amplitude on listening to rare stimuli indicating faster and less ventricular relaxation. The present work denoted that not only passive hearing, but also the active listening had changes in the cardiac cycle