ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are the principal effector cells involved in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. Cell numbers increase in non-allergic rhinitis patients with eosinophilia, aspirin hypersensitivity and nasal polyposis, as well as in allergic rhinitis patients. Exfoliative nasal cytology can be used in the differential diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nasal eosinophilia in nasal smears of patients with mild, persistent and intermittent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: The study comprised 60 patients with allergic rhinitis and 20 healthy volunteers. The patients were divided into intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis groups. Nasal smear status, eosinophil numbers and Total Nasal Symptom Scores were compared. RESULTS: Nasal smear results were pathological in 40 of 60 allergic rhinitis patients, which was significantly higher than the rate in controls. The mean nasal eosinophilia score was significantly higher in the intermittent allergic rhinitis than in the persistent allergic rhinitis group (p = 0.029). There was a positive correlation between nasal eosinophilia score and Total Nasal Symptom Score (r = 0.652; p < 0.05) in persistent allergic rhinitis and intermittent allergic rhinitis patients. CONCLUSION: The nasal smear test is inexpensive, objective and simple to perform, and should be part of the diagnostic investigation.
Subject(s)
Eosinophilia/diagnosis , Nasal Mucosa/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic/immunology , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Eosinophilia/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between psychological well-being and different voice rehabilitation methods in total laryngectomy patients. METHODS: The study enrolled 96 patients who underwent total laryngectomy. The patients were divided into three groups according to the voice rehabilitation method used: esophageal speech (24 patients); a tracheoesophageal fistula and Provox 2 voice prosthesis (57 patients); or an electrolarynx (15 patients). The participants were asked to complete the Turkish version of the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) to assess voice problems. They were also asked to complete the Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The test scores of the three groups were compared statistically. RESULTS: Patients who used esophageal speech had a mean VHI-10 score of 10.25 ± 3.22 versus 19.42 ± 5.56 and 17.60 ± 1.92 for the tracheoesophageal fistula and Provox 2 and electrolarynx groups respectively, reflecting better perception of their voice. They also had a PSS score of 11.38 ± 3.92, indicating that they felt less stressed in comparison with the tracheoesophageal fistula and Provox 2 and electrolarynx groups, which scored 18.84 ± 5.50 and 16.20 ± 3.49 respectively. The HADS scores of the groups were not different, indicating that the patients' anxiety and depression status did not vary. CONCLUSION: Patients who used esophageal speech perceived less stress and were less handicapped by their voice.
Subject(s)
Laryngectomy/psychology , Laryngectomy/rehabilitation , Larynx, Artificial/psychology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Voice Disorders/psychology , Voice Disorders/rehabilitation , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Larynx, Artificial/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Satisfaction , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Speech, Alaryngeal/psychology , Stress, Psychological/diagnosis , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Treatment Outcome , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The cauda equina syndrome is an uncommon complication of long-standing ankylosing spondylitis and its aetiology is controversial. We report a case of the cauda equina syndrome, erosion of the posterior elements of the lumbar spine and traction of the lumbar nerve roots because of multiple dural diverticula in a patient with long-standing ankylosing spondylitis. Magnetic resonance imaging is valuable in excluding other spinal lesions. Extensive dural diverticula formation is characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis and has the potential to provide an early diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Lumbar Vertebrae , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Polyradiculopathy/diagnosis , Spondylitis, Ankylosing/complications , Aged , Diagnosis, Differential , Diverticulum/etiology , Early Diagnosis , Humans , Male , Polyradiculopathy/etiology , Spinal Diseases/etiologyABSTRACT
With the rapid development of powerful protein evolution and enzyme-screening technologies, there is a growing belief that optimum conditions for biotransformation processes can be established without the constraints of the properties of the biocatalyst. These technologies can then be applied to find the "ideal biocatalyst" for the process. In identifying the ideal biocatalyst, the processes of gene discovery and enzyme evolution play major roles. However, in order to expand the pool genes for in vitro evolution, new technologies, which circumvent the limitations of microbial culturability, must be applied. These technologies, which currently include metagenomic library screening, gene-specific amplification methods and even full metagenomic sequencing, provide access to a volume of "sequence space" that is not addressed by traditional screening.
