Perennial allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis: correlation with rhinologic risk factors.

BACKGROUND: The reported association of allergy and sinusitis varies greatly between study, and the exact role of allergy in predisposing to sinusitis is not clear. We attempted to determine whether patients with perennial allergic rhinitis are at greater risk of developing sinusitis with respect to a control group, and to determine whether there is a correlation between rhinomanometry, endoscopy, and nasal swab, and computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: Forty adult patients with perennial allergic rhinitis underwent CT scans of the paranasal sinuses, and the results were then compared to CTs of the paranasal sinuses of 30 control subjects. All allergic patients underwent nasal endoscopy, nasal swab, and active anterior rhinomanometry, and the results were studied in relation to the CT findings. RESULTS: We found sinusitis in 67.5% of the allergic patients and in 33.4% of the controls, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.017). Twenty-three patients had a positive nasal swab; 22 showed increased nasal resistance on rhinomanometry, and 36 had positive endoscopy, but the association of CT findings with endoscopy, rhinomanometry, or nasal swab was not statistically significant (P = 0.583, P = 1.00, P = 0.506, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Allergic rhinitis is often associated with sinusitis, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be determined. Evidently, factors other than classical pathogen growth and mechanical factors, such as the association of the various factors and immunologic mechanisms, may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis in allergic patients.

[Microscopic polyangiitis. A case report]. / Poliangite microscopica. Descrizione di un caso.

We describe a 36 year old male patient affected by microscopic polyangiitis; he was treated with corticosteroic and cyclophosphamide pulses obtaining clinical improvement and remission and acute flogistic index normalization. The peculiar aspect is a stable remission during a four years follow up; the only relapse was controlled with low dose of corticosteroids.

[Multiple primary neoplasms. Report of a clinical case]. / Neoplasie primitive multiple. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The Authors, after a short review of the literature on the subject, with particular emphasis to statistics, pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria, describe a case of the onset of multiple primary malignant neoplasms in a 90 years old woman they followed in various hospital admittances. Thereafter, they discuss the possible consequences arising from the recognition of this clinical picture.

[The efficacy and tolerance of Bay-o-9867 (ciprofloxacin) in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract and of the lower respiratory tract]. / Efficacia e tollerabilità di Bay-o-9867 (ciprofloxacina) nel trattamento di infezioni delle vie urinarie e delle basse vie respiratorie.

A clinical trial was performed to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of Bay-o-9867 in the treatment of UTI and LRTI. 40 patients were admitted to the study: 27 affected with LRTI, mainly exacerbations of COPD, and 15 affected with UTI. Two patients were affected concomitantly with a UTI and LRTI. The patients were treated with Bay-o-9867 (ciprofloxacin) administered orally at a daily dosage of 500 mg (250 q 12 h) in 30 patients and of 1000 mg (500 q 12 h) in 10 patients, depending on the severity of infection. Clinical results were extremely favourable as complete clinical resolution of infective episode was achieved in 38 patients (15/15 in UTI patients; 25/27 in LRTI patients), whereas improvement was achieved in 2 (in LRTI). Overall clinical efficacy was therefore successful in 100% of cases. Concerning bacteriological results, 38 pathogens were isolated from infective sites before starting treatment, and all were eradicated (eradication rate: 100%). Tolerability was assessed as good: no adverse event was observed.

Late onset peripheral seronegative spondyloarthropathy: report of two additional cases.

Two more cases of late onset peripheral seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA) are reported. Like the patients reported by Dubost and Sauvezie, they had extensive pitting edema of the lower limbs, constitutional symptoms, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and minimal involvement of the axial skeleton with marked signs of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperstosis.

Bronchodilator effect of tiaramide hydrochloride.

A bioassay with tiaramide hydrochloride (THC) and placebo was performed in 32 non-asthmatic patients suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease. Each patient received one administration of THC (200 mg) and one of placebo according to a double-blind cross-over design. FVC, FEV1, FM25-75, PEF and FEF200-1,200 were measured before and at several intervals until 360 min after treatment. Significant differences were found between drug and placebo which gave no significant variations. It is concluded that THC is an effective and safe bronchodilator. The substained bronchodilator effect shown by THC appears to be a clinical advantage.