Demographic analysis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo as a common public health problem.

BACKGROUND: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common peripheral vestibular problem. However, demographic analysis is few. AIM: The aim of this study was to document the demographic data of patients with BPPV regarding distribution of gender, age, associated problems, most common form, symptom duration, severity of nystagmus and cure rate. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 263 patients with video-nystagmography confirmed BPPV were enrolled in this retrospective study (2009-2013). The data were collected in Anadolu Medical Center. Distribution of gender, age and affected side were reviewed. Associated problems were noted. Patients were analyzed according to the canal involvement, age, duration of symptoms, duration of nystagmus and recurrence. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated. One-way ANOVA test was used for the analysis of the data (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 17.0 version, IBM, Chicago, III, USA). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Women were affected more frequently than men (1:1.5). Comparative analysis of average age between the two gender groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.84). BPPV was common at middle age group. The incidence of affected side was not significant (P = 0.74). Posterior canal-BPPV (PC-BPPV) was the most leading one (129/263; 49%) followed by lateral canal (LC)-canalolithiasis (60/263; 22.8%), LC-cupulolithiasis (38/263; 14.5%) and superior canal-BPPV (9/263; 3.4%). 55.1% of patients were defined as idiopathic (145/263). Associated problems were migraine (31/263; 11.8%), trauma (19/263; 7.2%), inner ear disorders (18/263; 6.8%) and other systemic problems (50/263; 19.1%). 72.6% of patients had symptoms <2 months (191/263). 23,6% of patients had intensive nystagmus lasting more than a minute regardless of canal involvement (62/263). 33% of patients required two or more maneuvers for the relief of symptoms (87/263). CONCLUSION: Symptoms are prone to recur in those of traumatic origin, associated inner ear problems and systemic disorders. As the prognostic factors are illuminated, preventive measures will be more effective and more patients will be cured properly.

Vertical nystagmus during the seated-supine positional (straight head-hanging) test in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the clinical features of up-beating vertical nystagmus observed during the seated-supine positional (straight head-hanging) test in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. METHODS: A total of 190 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo symptoms who had presented between 2009 and 2012 were enrolled for this retrospective case series. Twelve patients with positional up-beating vertical nystagmus, as confirmed by video-nystagmography during the seated-supine positional test, were selected. RESULTS: The incidence and duration of symptoms of multiple canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were significantly lower compared with the other types of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (p = 0.029 and p = 0.048 respectively). Trauma was the leading aetiological factor in those patients (p = 0.012). The average number of therapeutic manoeuvres required for the relief of symptoms in patients with multiple canal involvement was significantly higher than in the other groups (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: In patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, the presence of vertical up-beating nystagmus while lying down is a unique peripheral sign and could indicate multiple canal involvement. Therefore, the seated-supine positional test should always be included in the test battery.

Mechanisms and frequency of resistance to gatifloxacin in comparison to AM-1121 and ciprofloxacin in Staphylococcus aureus.

Gatifloxacin, an 8-methoxyfluoroquinolone, was found to be two- to fourfold more active against wild-type Staphylococcus aureus ISP794 than its desmethoxy derivative, AM-1121, and ciprofloxacin, another desmethoxy fluoroquinolone. Single grlBA mutations caused two- to fourfold increases in the MIC of gatifloxacin, and a single gyrase mutation was silent. Double mutations in gyrA and grlA or grlB caused a 32-fold increase in the MIC of gatifloxacin, in contrast to a 128-fold increase for ciprofloxacin and AM-1121. Overexpression of the NorA efflux pump had minimal effect on the MIC of gatifloxacin. The bactericidal activity of the three quinolones at four times the MIC differed only for a double mutant, with gatifloxacin exhibiting a killing pattern similar to that for ISP794, whereas ciprofloxacin and AM-1121 failed to show any killing. With gatifloxacin, selection of resistant mutants at twice the MIC was 100- to 1,000-fold less frequent than with the comparison quinolones, and mutants could rarely be selected at four times the MIC. The limit resistance in ISP74 was 512 times the MIC of gatifloxacin and 1,024 times the MICs of ciprofloxacin and AM-1121. Novel mutations in topoisomerase IV were selected in five of the six single-step mutants, three of which were shown to cause quinolone resistance by genetic studies. In conclusion, topoisomerase IV is the primary target of gatifloxacin. In contrast to comparison quinolones, mutations in both topoisomerase IV and gyrase are required for resistance to gatifloxacin by clinical breakpoints and do not abolish bactericidal effect, further supporting the benefit of the 8-methoxy substituent in gatifloxacin.

Mechanisms and frequency of resistance to premafloxacin in Staphylococcus aureus: novel mutations suggest novel drug-target interactions.

Premafloxacin is a novel 8-methoxy fluoroquinolone with enhanced activity against Staphylococcus aureus. We found premafloxacin to be 32-fold more active than ciprofloxacin against wild-type S. aureus. Single mutations in either subunit of topoisomerase IV caused a four- to eightfold increase in the MICs of both quinolones. A double mutation (gyrA and either grlA or grlB) caused a 32-fold increase in the MIC of premafloxacin, while the MIC of ciprofloxacin increased 128-fold. Premafloxacin appeared to be a poor substrate for NorA, with NorA overexpression causing an increase of twofold or less in the MIC of premafloxacin in comparison to a fourfold increase in the MIC of ciprofloxacin. The frequency of selection of resistant mutants was 6.4 x 10(-10) to 4.0 x 10(-7) at twofold the MIC of premafloxacin, 2 to 4 log(10) less than that with ciprofloxacin. Single-step mutants could not be selected at higher concentrations of premafloxacin. In five single-step mutants, only one previously described uncommon mutation (Ala116Glu), and four novel mutations (Arg43Cys, Asp69Tyr, Ala176Thr, and Pro157Leu), three of which were outside the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) were found. Genetic linkage studies, in which incross of grlA(+) and outcross of mutations were performed, showed a high correlation between the mutations and the resistance phenotypes, and allelic exchange experiments confirmed the role of the novel mutations in grlA in resistance. Our results suggest that although topoisomerase IV is the primary target of premafloxacin, premafloxacin appears to interact with topoisomerase IV in a manner different from that of other quinolones and that the range of the QRDR of grlA should be expanded.

Effect of methotrexate on the temporomandibular joint and facial morphology in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation in one or more joints; it affects children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. This disease may cause significant skeletal joint destruction, and the temporomandibular joint, like other joints, may become severely affected resulting in aberrant mandibular growth, abnormal dentofacial development, and/or altered orofacial muscle function. Methotrexate is the most common remittive agent used in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to modify the course of inflammatory destruction of peripheral joints. The purpose of this study was: (1) to evaluate the effect of methotrexate therapy on the prevalence of temporomandibular joint lesions and aberration in craniofacial development in children afflicted with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; (2) to further examine the relationship between the temporomandibular joint/cephalometric findings and rheumatologic data (ie, age at onset, duration of disease); and (3) to evaluate further pauciarticular- and polyarticular-onset disease in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and the prevalence of temporomandibular joint lesions and facial dysmorphology. The following information was obtained from 45 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: (1) routine rheumatologic clinical examination data; (2) anamnestic temporomandibular joint evaluation data; (3) clinical temporomandibular joint examination data; (4) lateral cephalometric measurement data; (5) posteroanterior cephalometric measurement data; and (6) individually corrected axial tomographic data. The results demonstrated the following: (1) radiographic evidence of condylar degeneration was apparent in 63% of all patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with pauciarticular patients showing less temporomandibular involvement than polyarticular patients; (2) polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving methotrexate showed less severe temporomandibular joint involvement than the polyarticular patients not receiving methotrexate; (3) the craniofacial structure was affected to a greater extent in the polyarticular form of the disease; (4) the craniomandibular index scores were significantly greater in the polyarticular group; (5) vertical height asymmetry and chin deviation were noted in more than 50% of the patients; and (6) there was a correlation between the severity of condylar lesions and cephalometric findings (ie, mandibular retroposition, posterior rotation, smaller ramus and mandibular dimensions) and the onset and duration of the disease. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, methotrexate therapy was effective in minimizing temporomandibular joint destruction and craniofacial dysmorphology in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients with the polyarticular form of the disease.

A comparison of autogenic drainage and the active cycle of breathing techniques in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

PURPOSE: The effects of a long-term treatment of autogenic drainage (AD) and the active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT) were evaluated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Thirty clinically stable male COPD patients were randomly assigned to AD or the ACBT treatment for a 20-day treatment period. Patients were assessed through pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, a 6-minute walking test, and a modified Borg Scale before, and immediately after the walking test. RESULTS: Autogenic drainage improved forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, forced expiratory volume from 25 to 75%, chronic hypercapnia, arterial oxygenation, exercise performance, and dyspnea perception during exercise. The ACBT increased forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow rate, arterial oxygenation and exercise performance. Peak expiratory flow rate increased in AD more than in ACBT. In AD treatment, the increase in oxygen saturation was significantly higher than in ACBT treatment. Chronic hypercapnia improved significantly in AD treatment than in ACBT. No differences were found in other lung function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Autogenic drainage is as effective as the ACBT in cleaning secretions and improving lung functions. These techniques can be used in stable COPD patients according to the patients' and the physiotherapists' preferences.

The effect of methotrexate on the temporomandibular joint in polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthropathy is common in juvenile rehumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients and can cause functional and esthetic problems. The purpose of this pilot study was to begin to evaluate whether methotrexate (MTX) therapy can reduce TMJ arthropathy in patients with polyarticular JRA.There were 27 patients with polyarticular JRA studied. Of these, 18 were receiving MTX and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and 9 were receiving just non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A routine physical examination, including a detailed joint evaluation, was performed by their rheumatologist. A craniofacial examination was performed by the orthodontist and included a radiographic TMJ evaluation (panoral and corrected axial tomograms).Radiographic evidence of condylar degeneration was apparent in 83% of all polyarticular JRA patients. The patients receiving MTX showed less severe TMJ involvement than those not receiving MTX.

Reversible MRI lesions after seizures.

After generalized or partial seizures, transient lesions may appear on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The mechanisms of MR changes might be a defect in cerebral autoregulation and blood-brain permeability. We report a patient with partial and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. After her first seizure which was generalized tonic-clonic in nature, we detected multiple high signal intensities over the frontal cortical area on proton density images which were enhanced with gadolinium on T1-weighted images. The first and repeated EEGs showed no abnormalities or epileptic discharges. We started carbamezapine (600 mg/d) and excluded systemic diseases like vasculitis, infections, aetiological factors causing cerebrovascular diseases. In the follow-up, she was seizure free under antiepileptic therapy and no other neurological deficit. Repeated MR scans after 24 months from her first seizure revealed no pathologic signal intensities. Although the pathophysiology is unknown, recognition of reversible lesions helps diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to abnormal MR findings after seizures.

Accuracy of reported family histories of essential tremor.

We studied the accuracy of reported family histories of essential tremor (ET) by questioning the patients in our clinic and subsequently by mail and phone. For individuals who continued to report a negative family history, we mailed a screening questionnaire to their first-degree relatives to further ascertain the presence of ET. On initial assessment, 67.7% of patients reported a positive family history of ET, but following all assessments, 96.0% of patients had a positive family history. We conclude that a negative family history of ET is often inaccurate, and that ET is primarily a hereditary disease.