Translation and Validation of the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Surgery Survey in Serbian.

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Surgery Survey into the Serbian language to evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity. Study Design: The study included 49 consecutive patients between 12 and 18 years old with rhinologic symptoms. Patients were given a paper survey to complete along with a link to complete the online survey within the same day. Setting: The study was conducted at the University Children's Hospital Clinic for Pulmonology and Allergology between January 2023 and March 2023. Methods: Responses between the paper and online survey were compared and regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship. Internal reliability and test-retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach's α coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient. All data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 29.0. Results: Pearson correlation coefficient between the paper and online survey was very high and statistically significant (r = 0.999; P < .001). Each item had a high correlation (0.993-1.000), where the lowest correlation coefficient was obtained from question 2 (0.993). Average scores in each item differed slightly for only item 2 (mean difference = -0.041), but not to the level of statistical significance. Bland-Altman plot indicated no proportional bias between the 2 versions. Linear regression analysis suggested a high level of agreement between the 2 versions (slope = 1.00, R 2 = 0.999). Conclusion: The survey is a useful questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life in patients with rhinologic symptoms. The high correlation between the paper and online survey shows the reliability of the questionnaire regardless of administration modality.

PRISM III Score Predicts Short-Term Outcome in Children with ARDS on Conventional and High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation.

Therapeutic recommendations for pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) include conventional (CMV) and rescue high-frequency oscillatory mode (HFOV) of mechanical ventilation (MV). The pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) is a frequently used mortality score for critically ill patients. In search of methods to recognize those patients, we analyzed the PRISM III score as a potential predictor of the short-term outcome in MV subjects with PARDS. A retrospective five-year study of PARDS in children on MV was conducted in the Pediatric ICU. Seventy patients were divided into two groups (age group <1 year and age group 1−7 years). The PRISM III score was used to assess the 28-day outcome and possible development of complications. The most common causes of PARDS were pneumonia and sepsis. Male sex, malnourishment, sepsis, and shock were significant indicators of poor outcome. The PRISM III score values were significantly higher in those who died, as well as in subjects requiring HFOV. The score had a significant prognostic value for short-term mortality. There was no significant difference in outcome based on the comparison of two modes of ventilation. A significantly higher score was noted in subjects who developed sepsis and cardiovascular insufficiency. The PRISM III score is a fair outcome predictor during the 28-day follow-up in MV subjects with PARDS, regardless of the ventilation mode.

Effects of subchronic methionine stimulation on oxidative status and morphological changes in the rat ileum.

This study was conducted to explore the effects of sulfur containing amino acids on redox status and morphological parameters in the rat ileum tissue. Male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Group K (saline (1 ml/day, i.p.)), Group M (methionine (0.8 mmol/kg/day, i.p.)), Group C (methionine (0.8 mmol/kg/day) + L-cysteine (7 mg/kg/day), i.p.) and Group N (methionine (0.8 mmol/kg/day) + N-acetyl-L-cysteine (50 mg/kg/day), i.p.). Activities of antioxidant enzymes in the ileum were analyzed to profile oxidative status. Morphometric analysis included measurement of villus height (µm), tunica mucosa thickness (µm), tunica muscularis thickness (µm), the total thickness of the ileal wall (µm) and the number of cells in the lamina propria (per 0.1 mm2 of tissue). Results showed that methionine treatment reduced the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, CAT) and the GSH content compared to the control group (p > 0.05). The application of methionine reduced the following parameters statistically significant compared to the control group: length of the ileal villi (p < 0.01), tunica mucosa thickness (p < 0.01), and ileal wall thickness (p < 0.01). We concluded that methionine induced the changes in the gut redox status, which implied oxidative stress occurrence. L-cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine both exhibited antioxidant properties.

Suppression of methionine-induced colon injury of young rats by cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

Changes in the methionine metabolism can cause a state called hyperhomocysteinemia, inducing oxidative stress in the gut. The production of free radicals is important in the colon damage caused by methionine. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the use of L-cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine on the colon morphometry of young rats treated with methionine. A total number of 32 male rats were distributed in a randomized experimental design in 4 groups: control group treated with saline; methionine group; cysteine + methionine group, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine + methionine group. After 21 days of treatment, rats were sacrificed and the colon samples were taken for histological and biochemical analysis. Methionine load increased depth of crypts, the lamina muscularis mucosae thickness, the mucosal height, and the number of cells in lamina propria (p < 0.01). Combination of methionine with L-cysteine (C group) and with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (N group) reversed methionine effects. Methionine treatment increased the GPx activity and MDA concentration, while L-cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine increased the catalase activity compared to methionine group. It was concluded that the use of L-cysteine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine was beneficial to decrease intestinal mucosal height and oxidative damage when methionine was used in combination with them.