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COVID-19 caused by the infection of SARS-CoV-2 is still a global concern. WHO reported that from 13 March to 9 April 2023, there were 3 million new cases and approximately 23,000 deaths, mostly occurring in the South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions, which is predicted due to the new Omicron variant, Arcturus XBB.1.16. Many studies have reported the potency of medicinal plants in enhancing the function of the immune system to combat virus infection. The literature review aimed to describe the efficacy and safety of add-on plant-based drugs for COVID-19 patients. The articles were explored on the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases, and published during 2020-2023. Twenty-two varieties of plants were used as add-on therapy for COVID-19 patients. These plants were Andrographis paniculata, Viola odorata, Withania somnifera, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Ferula foetida, Centella asiatica, Thymus vulgaris, Citrus sinensis, Eugenia caryophyllus, Boswellia carterii, Elettaria cardamomum, Salvia rosmarinus, Piper nigrum, Alstonia scholaris, Picrorhiza kurroa, Swertia chirata, Caesalpinia crista, Cucurbita maxima, Tinospora cordifolia, Ocimum sanctum, and Allium sativum. The best efficacy of an add-on therapy for COVID-19 patients was found in A. paniculata herbs as a single component in pharmaceutical dosage form or in combination with other plants. The safety of the plant has been confirmed. A. paniculata does not show interaction with remdesivir or favipiravir, however, caution and therapy drug monitoring is needed if A. paniculata is used in combination with lopinavir or ritonavir because a strong noncompetitive inhibition of CYP3A4 may occur.
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Resumen La enfermedad de Ménière (EM) es una conocida causa de vértigo crónico asociado a múltiples síntomas audiológicos fluctuantes (hipoacusia, tinnitus, plenitud aural). Su fisiopatología no es completamente comprendida, pero se ha relacionado al hidrops endolinfático (HE) como entidad principal. A la fecha, varios estudios electrofisiológicos han intentado posicionarse como pruebas diagnósticas definitivas, pero no lo han logrado, ya sea por dificultad técnica para realizarlos o por resultados inconsistentes en la literatura internacional. Pero cabe destacar que varios hallazgos son altamente sugerentes de enfermedad de Ménière como la presencia de una baja tasa de respuesta asociado al aumento del umbral de esta misma en los VEMPs (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials), tanto oculares como cervicales, o el aumento del cuociente entre el potencial de sumación/potencial de acción en la electrococleografía. A pesar de estas pruebas, hasta el día de hoy, el diagnóstico se sigue realizando en base a criterios clínicos consensuados internacionalmente, dado lo dificultosa que es la visualización directa del HE y falta de compresión de otros mecanismos fisiopatológicos de esta enfermedad. En las últimas décadas, ha habido avances prometedores en la detección de hidrops endolinfático con el uso de resonancia magnética, permitiendo la visualización de los espacios peri y endolinfáticos usando gadolinio como contraste. A su vez, esto ha permitido mejoría de las secuencias imagenológicas usadas, el desarrollo de varias nuevas técnicas de procesamiento de imágenes, conllevando que varias escalas o clasificaciones de HE hayan sido propuestas, las cuales serán revisadas en detalle en este trabajo.
Abstract Ménière's disease (MD) is a known cause of chronic vertigo, with multiple fluctuating audiological symptoms (hearing loss, tinnitus, aural fullness). The pathophysiology is not completely understood but has been attributed to endolymphatic hydrops (EH). There are many electrophysiological tests available, but none of them can be considered as the gold standard, either because of difficult technique or inconsistent results in the literature. Nonetheless, some findings are highly suggestive of MD, like the presence of a low response and high threshold in ocular and cervical VEMPs (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials), or the increased ratio between the amplitudes of summation potential and action potential in the electrocochleography. Despite the availability of these tests, the diagnosis of MD is still made clinically, following the diagnostic criteria establish by international consensus, due to the difficulty to visualize the EH and also the lack of full comprehension of other pathophysiological mechanisms. In the last decades, there have been promising advances in the detection of endolymphatic hydrops with magnetic resonance imaging, allowing the visualization of the perilymphatic and endolymphatic space using gadolinium as a contrast agent. At the same time, the imaging sequences have improved, new techniques for imaging processing have been developed, entailing that various classifications or graduation systems for EH have been proposed, which will be review in detail, in this paper.
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Introducción: La prueba Visual Subjetiva Vertical (SVV por sus siglas en inglés) corresponde a una prueba de bajo costo y complejidad que permite el estudio de la función vestibular "estática". En el año 2009 se valida la Prueba del Balde con igual confianza, sensibilidad y especificidad, que la prueba de domo. Sin embargo, diversos factores impresionan disminuir su precisión. Objetivo: Proponer un nuevo método utilizando un programa computacional y una interfaz pantalla-paciente, que permita disminuir la influencia de variables y aumentar la precisión de la evaluación. Material y método: En 43 voluntarios sin historia de patología vestibular y en 32 pacientes con patología vestibular se compararon los resultados de la aplicación de SVV en dos modalidades: prueba del balde tradicionalyuna prueba computarizada propuesta en el presente artículo. Resultados: En nuestro estudio el SVV con balde muestra 57% de sensibilidad y 90% de especificidad, mientras el SVV digital tiene 74% de sensibilidad y 93% de especificidad, el cual también presentó significativamente una menor desviación estándar. Conclusión: En suma, el SVV computarizado arroja un resultado más preciso que SVV con balde, con mejor utilidad clínica al tener mayor de discriminación con mejores perfiles de sensibilidad/especificidad.
Background: Subjective Visual Vertical Test (SVV) is a low-cost and simple evaluation that allows the physician to study the static vestibular function of a patient. In 2009 the Bucket Test was validated as a high confidence, sensitivity and specificity comparable to the hemispheric dome testing device. Although, its result can be affected by multiple variables. Aim: To propose a new method to evaluate SVV using a computer software interface, that allows a reduction ofvariables therefore increasing its precision. Material and method: In a sample of 43 volunteers with no previous history of vestibular pathologies and 32 patients with diagnosed vestibular pathologies we compared the results of 2 different modules of SVV testing: a traditional bucket test and a computerized test proposed in the present article. Results: Bucket test SVV for this research showed a sensitivity of 57% and a specificity of 90%, meanwhile Computerized SVV had a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 93%, which also presented a significant smaller standard deviation. Conclusion: In summary, digital SVV testing grants more accurate result in comparison to the Bucket Test, with a better clinical performance due to an improved discriminatory capacity with better Sensitivity/Specificity profiles.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Vestibular Function Tests/methods , Software , Vestibular Diseases/diagnosis , Visual Perception , Vestibular Diseases/physiopathology , ROC Curve , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a histopathologiocally and behaviourally unique and specific entity. It is the most aggressive and recurrent of all the cysts and shows characteristics resembling both cyst and a tumour. The unique nature of OKC and the recent shift of OKC as a tumour made us evaluate yet another factor, Inducible nitric oxide synthase an (iNos) enzyme which has been implicated in the tumourigenesis of various neoplasms. Aims and Objects: The objective of the study was to analyse and compare the immunohistochemical expression of iNOS in odontogenic keratocysts (OKC's) in variants of ameloblastoma affecting the oral cavity, to determine the neoplastic potential of OKC and to reinforce the classification of OKC as keratocystic odontogenic tumour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty two specimens, eight specimens each in OKC, follicular ameloblastoma, plexiform ameloblastoma and unicystic ameloblastoma, taken from the Oral Pathology Department were randomly selected for this study and were evaluated for epithelial expression of iNOS by immunohistochemistry Results: Epithelial immunoreactivity to iNOS was strongly positive in 93.5% of follicular ameloblastomas, 68.7% of plexiform ameloblastomas, 66.9% of odontogenic keratocysts and 66.2% of unicystic ameloblastomas. CONCLUSION: iNOS may be an important marker involved in the biological behaviour of OKC. Furthermore the presence of increased expression of iNOS in Follicular ameloblastomas followed by Plexiform ameloblastomas, OKCs and Unicystic ameloblastomas is yet another evidence to support that OKC could be considered as a neoplasm.
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Introducción: El examen funcional del VIII par, mediante la prueba calórica permite conocer la función del canal semicircular horizontal, dejando de lado la evaluación de otras estructuras como el complejo utrículo-sacular. Objetivo: Evaluar el rendimiento diagnóstico de pruebas vestibulares de bajo costo y complejidad cefálico para suplir esta falencia. Material y método: En 34 pacientes con indicación de estudio funcional de VIII par se realizaron, además de las pruebas tradicionales, el test visual subjetivo vertical mediante prueba del balde, la prueba de impulso cefálico a ojo desnudo, y la aplicación del cuestionario de sintomatología "Dizziness Handicap Inventory". Resultados: Considerando el VIII par clásico como patrón de oro, se encuentra evidencia objetiva de patología en 50% de la muestra. Con la incorporación de los nuevos exámenes esta cifra aumenta a 85%. Se realizó análisis de discrepancia sobre pacientes con resultados normales en el estudio tradicional, pero anormal según los nuevos exámenes. El 100% de dicho grupo presenta una puntuación patológica en el cuestionario de síntomas. Más aún, los valores de desviación de verticalidad correlacionaron fuertemente con la puntuación de sintomatología (r =0,79; p =0,002). Conclusiones: El análisis de discrepancia sugiere que los nuevos exámenes son confiables en identificar patología en el estudio. Incluir en el estudio tradicional del VIII par pruebas de baja complejidad y corta duración (menos de 5 minutos en su conjunto) podría aumentar el rendimiento diagnóstico del estudio del equilibrio en hasta 35%.
Introduction: Traditionally, the assessment of vestibular function is based on the caloric test. This procedure assesses mainly the horizontal semicircular canal function, leaving other vestibular structures aside, such as the utricule-saccule complex. Aim: To assess the diagnostic performance low complexity tests to compensate for these issues. Material and methods: 34 patients with indication for vestibular assessment were recruited. In addition to traditional testing (caloric test and postural provocation maneuvers), the mentioned Subjective Visual Vertical and Head Impulse tests were applied alongside the Dizziness Handicap Inventory for vestibular symptoms. Results: Considering caloric testing and Dix-Hallpike maneuvers as gold standard, 50% of the sample presented an objective cause of their symptomatology. When including the new test, this value increases to 85%. A discrepancy analysis was conducted on the group with normal traditional tests and abnormal new tests. 100% of this group showed symptoms score above pathological levels. Furthermore, there was a strong relationship between deviation on the Visual Vertical test and symptomatology (r =0,79; p =0,002). Conclusion: The discrepancy analysis suggests that the new tests are reliable in determining pathology on this study. It these test are included to traditional testing, diagnostic performance may increase up to 35%.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Vestibular Function Tests , Vestibular Diseases/diagnosis , Caloric Tests , Single-Blind Method , Vestibular Diseases/physiopathology , Prospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Head Impulse TestABSTRACT
La percepción musical es una experiencia que no sólo involucra componentes cognitivos, sino también respuestas emocionales acorde a la experiencia y cultura del sujeto. El procesamiento musical se inicia a nivel periférico en el sistema auditivo, y a nivel central se divide en diferentes regiones cerebrales que se ocupan del análisis de la organización melódica y temporal, además del análisis del repertorio. Por lo tanto, es necesaria una gran red neuronal córtico-subcortical ascendente y descendente, entre ambos hemisferios y además conexiones hacia el cerebelo, que permiten la creación de la percepción musical. Los trastornos de la percepción musical se pueden clasificar a grandes rasgos, en amusia y alucinaciones musicales. La amusia, en términos generales, es la pérdida específica de la percepción musical, que puede ser congénita o adquirida. Un grupo creciente de pacientes con amusia adquirida son la mayoría de los usuarios de implante coclear. Por otro lado, las alucinaciones musicales son descripciones verbales de experiencias sensoriales acústicas de tipo musical que no están explicadas por un estímulo externo y están presentes en pacientes con patología neurológica y psiquiátrica, pero también en personas con sordera profunda bilateral. Actualmente, existen disponibles algunos instrumentos para evaluar las alteraciones de la percepción musical, siendo la batería de Montreal para la evaluación de amusia, una de las pruebas musicales más utilizadas que permite estimar las habilidades perceptuales y de memoria en adultos y recientemente también en niños. Los trastornos de la percepción musical son patologías emergentes con impacto en la calidad de vida de los pacientes.
Music perception is an experience that involves cognitive and emotional sensations according to the cultural background of the subject. The musical processing begins at the periphery in the auditory system and then in the central level is divided in melodic and temporal processing including the musical repertory. An extensive cortical and subcortical neuronal network is needed for the creation of the musical experience including ascending and descending pathways, both cerebral hemispheres and the cerebellum. Musical perception disorders can be classified in two main groups; amusia and musical hallucinations. Amusia corresponds to the inability to recognize musical tones that can be congenital or acquired. A growing group of acquired amusia patients is the majority of cochlear implant users. On the other hand musical hallucinations are the perception of music without an external stimulus, which can be produced by neurologic and psychiatric states, but also in persons with profound bilateral deafness. Nowadays the Montreal battery of evaluation of amusia is available to evaluate the perceptual skills and memory in adults and child; this test allows the detection of musical perception disorders that are seen as an emerging group of diseases with an important impact in life quality of our patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Auditory Perceptual Disorders/physiopathology , Music , Pitch PerceptionABSTRACT
The nose muscles have a rudimentary action in humans with the exception of dilator naris muscle and depressor septi nasi muscle. The depressor septi nasi muscle has an important role pulling the nasal tip caudally while smiling, along with the orbicularis oris muscle. The detachment of this muscle from the premaxilla produces a dynamic rhinoplasty of the nasal tip. The objective of this study is to determine the importance of the detachment of the depressor septi nasi muscle and orbicularis oris muscle from the premaxillar bone in rhinoplasties of patients with a drooping nasal tip while smiling. 45 patients that underwent dynamic rhinoplasty were analized. All patients had an excellent postoperative evolution, with improvement of the drooping tip; this was demonstrated by direct nasolabial angle measuring and by photographic analysis. The detachment of the depressor septi nasi muscle and orbicularis oris muscle isa simple and reproducible technique, with limited morbidity and used during rhinoplasty that enhances the nasal tip rotation.
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Humans , Male , Adult , Female , Nose/surgery , Rhinoplasty/methods , Rhinoplasty/trends , Chile , Surgery, PlasticABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This paper advocates a complete procedure, which includes both quantitative and qualitative analysis of urinary GAGs in the diagnosis of MPS in a clinically suspected population. METHODS: Urine samples from 219 clinically suspected mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) patients and 91 controls were analysed using a combination of methods. Quantitation of isolated urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were carried out using acid alcian blue complex formation method and qualitative urinary GAG analysis by multisolvent sequential thin layer chromatography RESULTS: Of the 219 patients analysed, 131 were confirmed to be suffering from MPS. Quantitation of urinary GAGs alone would have missed 60 low GAG excreting MPS patients and misdiagnosed 26 high GAG excreting nonMPS as MPS patients. Further qualitative analysis and enzyme estimation were needed to identify these 60 low GAG excreting MPS patients and 26 high GAG excreting non MPS patients. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize that quantitation of urinary GAGs alone cannot diagnose MPS patients, it should be coupled with qualitative analysis and enzyme estimations for differential/definitive diagnosis.
