Foreign bodies in the food and air passages

Ninety-five cases of foreign bodies in the food and air passages removed by the author at the Bronchoscopic Clinic of the Philippine General Hospital was analyzed. Of these 95 consecutive cases of foreign bodies, in 76 cases these were in the oesophagus and in 19 cases, in the respiratory tract. The different foreign bodies and their incidence were given including the age incidence and the most common sites of lodgement of the foreign bodies in the oesophagus and air passagesThe most common symptoms observed in foreign bodies of the oesophagus and air passage were given and analyzed. Diagnosis and its attendant complications were also givenPrognosis as a whole is good if properly diagnosed and properly removed. Out of the 95 cases recovery was obtained in 94 or 99%Bronchoscopy and removal of the foreign body was the only treatment worthy of consideration. Complications were treated accordingly. (Summary)

Ocular symptoms and signs associated with deficiency of vitamin B complex

We have reported here an outbreak of nutritional eye disease associated with multiple vitamin deficiencies. This seems to be the first epidemic of this nature ever reported in this country. The chief complaint was dimness of vision in both eyes, the cause of which was: (1) chronic retrobulbar neuritis or (2) superficial vascularizing keratitis or (3) both affections co-existing. The patients invariably gave the history of having subsisted for some time on very deficient diet-deficient both in quantity and in quality. They were on the whole healthy up to the time of onset of their complaint. Adult males and females were attacked. In females, pregnancy and lactation were predisposing factorsIn many patients associated signs and symptoms of vitamin B complex deficiency were observed-namely, angular stomatitis, glossitis, numbness around the mouth, hyperesthesia or hyposthesia in the extremities, and other manifestationsThe retrobulbar neuritis was probably brought about by several known and unknown causes but mainly by the deficiency of the B1 factor and especially of the vitamin B complex: Likewise, the superficial vascularizing keratitis was brought about by similar mechanism-the deficiency of the B2 factor of the same vitamin B complex playing a predominant roleThe essence of the treatment was the administration of well-balanced and liberal diet, especially rich in vitamins that were suspected to be insufficient. Prompt response was noted. In those cases in which a let up in the liberal dietary regime could not be helped owing to economic reasons, relapse occurredThe outbreak of the epidemic commenced soon after the war, reaching the maximum height of incidence about December 1942 and practically disappeared about the end of September 1943. The cause could be traced to the sudden dislocation in the supply of foods and the poor economic conditions of the masses occasioned by the national emergency. Unfortunately, no laboratory tests were employed for the estimation of the different vitamin content of the blood or urine to check the clinical diagnosis by dietary trial. Since satisfactory results appeared promptly after dietary therapy alone, the presumption of a deficiency disease was considered verifiedWe conclude this report by emphasizing that there is a great neccessity for continuing the study of nutritional eye diseases in collaboration with the internist, the neurologist, the nutritionist, and the pathologist. There is likewise an imperative need of recommending to the public a balanced diet that is both easily available and within the reach of even the poorest in order to help forestall future outbreaks of serious epidemics of deficiency diseases in the face of sudden and unexpected national emergencies that may disrupt the adequate supply of foods for the masses. (Summary)