ABSTRACT
Septal deformities are very frequent in patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The question is whether or not some types of septal deformities are involved more frequently in this process or not. The authors observed the incidence of particular types of septal deformities in a group of CRS patients using Mladina classification. The same has been done with a control group that consisted of healthy volunteers. In the literature, type 7 has been found very frequently, i.e. in nearly 30% of all CRS cases. Herein, type 7 was mostly composed of types 3 and 5. Type 3 can be accurately recognised on axial MSCT scans, while type 5 can be accurately recognised on coronal views. Concomitant septal surgery at the time of endoscopic sinus surgery is recommended.
Subject(s)
Nasal Septum/abnormalities , Rhinitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Chronic Disease , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radiography , Rhinitis/diagnostic imaging , Rhinitis/etiology , Sinusitis/diagnostic imaging , Sinusitis/etiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIM: To isolate and genotype Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies in serum samples of Croatian patients with erythema migrans. METHODS: DNA isolates from sera of patients with erythema migrans were analyzed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplifying a segment of flagellin gene with primers encompassing the conserved region of the gene. To screen PCR products for heterogeneity, we performed single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The samples showing differences in SSCP patterns were sequenced, and the sequence compared in the GeneBank for sequence homology with known Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies. We also constructed phylogenetic tree of all known borrelial sequences. RESULTS: The nested PCR method using specially designed flagellin gene primers, achieved the sensitivity of 10 genome copies (0.01 pg of purified Borrelia burgdorferi DNA from culture) by dilution analysis. The assay specificity was confirmed by amplification of a part of the flagellin gene from different bacterial species. The primer pairs successfully amplified only Borrelia burgdorferi flagellin gene. The genome of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was detected in the sera of all 10 tested patients with erythema migrans. Sequence data and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that all amplified samples belonged to Borrelia afzelii genospecies. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic tree analysis placed the borrelial isolates together with Borrelia afzelii sequences into a single group. This finding was additionally supported by sequence homology analysis, which produced a homology score of 99%. In patients with erythema migrans who come from the northwest Croatia, an endemic area for Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia afzelii was the cause of skin manifestations of Lyme borreliosis.
Subject(s)
Borrelia burgdorferi Group/genetics , Borrelia burgdorferi Group/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Croatia/epidemiology , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , Erythema Chronicum Migrans/epidemiology , Erythema Chronicum Migrans/microbiology , Genotype , Humans , Phylogeny , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sequence Homology, Nucleic AcidABSTRACT
During the 1980-1995 period, 957 patients were admitted for nasal polyposis, 59 (6.2%) of them children. Results were analyzed with respect to localization of the polyps, allergy, histologic picture, bacteriologic tests, radiologic findings of paranasal sinuses, cytology of nasal mucosa, therapeutic approach, and tendency to relapse. Forty children (22 boys and 18 girls) were analyzed. Their mean age was 11.1 years. Unilateral polyposis was found in 29, and bilateral in 11 children. Antrochoanal polyps (ACP) were found in 30, bilateral nasal polyps in 5, polyps in maxillary sinus in 5, and allergy in 8 children. Inflammation of the maxillary sinus was present in 93% of children with ACP. Their correlation between ACP and inflammation in maxillary sinus suggested that edema of the sinus mucosa have led to protrusion through the ostium and formation of the nasal polyp.
Subject(s)
Nasal Polyps , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Nasal Polyps/diagnostic imaging , Nasal Polyps/microbiology , Nasal Polyps/pathology , RadiographyABSTRACT
Lingual thyroid is one of the rarest anomalies of thyroid origin. It is located in the midline of the base of the tongue. Lingual thyroid répresents ectopic, i.e. accessory thyroid tissue. It develops from the epithelium of the thyroglossal duct that has not obliterated properly, and it is sometimes the only thyroid tissue. Beside two cases presented, the embryology, symptomatology, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the literature reports of lingual thyroid are reviewed.
Subject(s)
Choristoma , Thyroid Gland , Tongue Diseases , Adult , Choristoma/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Tongue Diseases/diagnosisABSTRACT
Susceptibility to environmental pollutants involves both biological and nonbiological factors. Individuals belonging to minority groups are much more likely to be subject to a number of these factors. This paper examines biological susceptibility of minorities to environmental pollutants and provides specific examples of susceptibility resulting from: genetic makeup; occupation; other factors such as compromised health status, exposure to mixtures of pollutants, substance abuse, and unemployment; and social inequality of access to health care, education, and communication skills. Recommendations are made for specific actions and for additional studies.
