The effects of nasal irritant induced responses on breathing and cough in anaesthetized and conscious animal models.

There is little evidence to support the down-regulation of coughing from the nose. The cough response to citric acid (CA) was studied in anesthetized and conscious guinea pigs after nasal pretreatment with saline, 1% DMSO, allylisothiocyanate (TRPA1 agonist) and allylisothiocyanate +AP-18 (TRPA1 antagonist). Cough was induced by adding citric acid (CA) to the tracheal perfusion in anaesthetized animals, or by inhaling 0.4M CA in conscious animals. The cough response was counted from the dose response curves, airflow traces and cough sound analysis. In conscious animals, nasal allylisothiocyanate induced reproducible, dose dependent nasal symptoms and a significant drop in respiratory rate. Cough induced by CA was suppressed after nasal allylisothiocyanate (p<0.05), and this effect was prevented by AP-18 (1mM). In anaesthetized animals, nasal allylisothiocyanate induced a significant drop in respiratory rate. Cough induced subsequently by CA was suppressed when compared to baseline and vehicle responses (p<0.05). The reasons for the suppression of CA induced cough by TRPA1 agonist applied to the nose are not clear and remain to be elucidated.

Antitussive effects of nasal thymol challenges in healthy volunteers.

Eighteen healthy volunteers with normal lung function were tested for cough. Before and after nasal administration of thymol (0.025 ml, 10(-3) M) into both nostrils, urge-to-cough, cough threshold, cumulative and total count of coughs per provocation were estimated during standardized and validated capsaicin cough challenge. Nasal thymol challenges induced pleasant olfactory sensation and in 6 out of the 18 subjects also mild cooling sensation. Cough threshold was not influenced when compared with intranasal saline and vehicle challenges (12.5 vs. 13.2 vs. 10.2 µM of capsaicin to induce two or more coughs (C2), respectively), but the total count of coughs after nasal thymol challenge was significantly lower than that obtained after saline or vehicle (19 vs. 20 vs. 14 coughs/provocation, respectively; p<0.05). Importantly, subjects did not report the urge to cough, which appeared to correspond to C2. We conclude that the modulation of cough by thymol is mostly of olfactory origin.

[Streptococci group B in perinatology]. / Streptokoky skupiny B v perinatológii.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of screening and prophylaxis of streptococci group B (GBS). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic. METHODS: Groups of patients: A-GBS negative (n=601), B-GBS positive (n=166), and C-unknown GBS status (n=238). RESULTS: We assessed 1005 deliveries; antenatal screening was done in 767 patients (166 GBS positive). Intrapartal antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) was the most frequent in group B (75.3%), (A-10.0%, C-15.0%). The most common antibiotics: ampicillin, and cephalosporins of the 1st and 2nd generation. The interval from rupture of membranes (ROM) to the first IAP dose was significantly the shortest in group B. The longest interval from ROM to delivery was in group A (490 min.). CONCLUSION: This study shows the possibilities for improvement in GBS prophylaxis, in unknown GBS status, and preterm delivery, particularly.

[Hormonal treatment effectivity in hyperandrogenic syndrome]. / Efekt hormonálnej liecby hyperandrogénneho syndrómu.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectiveness of hormonal treatment of hyperandrogenic syndrome (HAS). DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic. METHODS: We assessed effect of one-year-long hormonal treatment on menstrual cycles (MC), clinical signs of HAS, and ultrasound finding (USG) in 90 patients with HAS. Patients were divided into three groups with 30 females: A--35 microg ethinylestradiol (EE) with 2.0 mg cyproterone acetate/day; B--30 microg EE with 2.0 mg dienogest/day; C--30 microg EE with 3.0 mg drospirenone/day. RESULTS: It was achieved a positive effect on MC regularity in every group during the first six months of treatment (p < 0.001). Signs of hirsutism, virilization, and USG finding were significantly better in group A. CONCLUSION: The most effective hormonal treatment in our study was the combination of 35 microg EE with 2.0 mg cyproterone acetate/day.

[Single umbilical artery syndrome (review and a case report)]. / Syndróm jednej umbilikálnej artérie (review a kazuistika).

OBJECTIVE: Authors present a review of epidemiology, ethiopathogenesis and current diagnostic approaches of single umbilical artery syndrome (SUA). They describe one case of SUA complicated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and possible management of risk pregnancy like that. SUBJECT: Literature review and a case report. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Jessenius Medical Faculty, Commenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic. SUBJECT AND METHOD: The observation and management of one case with SUA and IUGR. CONCLUSION: SUA is the most frequent umbilical malformation. The finding of isolated SUA does not markedly increase perinatal morbidity and mortality, but its association with other pathologies leads to higher perinatal losses. An accurate management is still unclear (invasive antenatal diagnosis, especially), but SUA diagnosis should be a reason for more strict observation, timing of delivery, appropriate mode of delivery, and/or for more prompt intervention during pregnancy and labor. An early intervention and appropriate termination of pregnancy allowed delivery of live premature newborn with good posptartal adaptation and good prognosis was delivered after early intervention in our case.