The Journal of laryngology and otology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of isotonic and hypertonic saline solutions on mucociliary activity in various nasal pathologies: clinical study.
To investigate the impact of nasal irrigation with isotonic or hypertonic sodium chloride solution on mucociliary clearance time in patients with allergic rhinitis, acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. ⋯ Nasal irrigation with isotonic or hypertonic saline can improve mucociliary clearance time in various nasal pathologies. However, these solutions should be selectively prescribed rather than used based on anecdotal evidence. Further studies should be conducted to develop a protocol for standardised use of saline solution irrigation in various nasal pathologies.
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Comparative Study
Foreign body ingestion: comparison of diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography versus endoscopy.
To investigate and compare the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography and of endoscopy, as diagnostic tests for foreign body ingestion. ⋯ Our study showed that computed tomography had high negative predictive value and accuracy in the diagnosis of foreign body ingestion. It was useful if endoscopy showed negative findings but the patient still had persistent symptoms of foreign body ingestion.
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To assess the antibacterial and antifungal properties of human cerumen by studying its effect on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Esherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. ⋯ Cerumen was demonstrated to have potential antimicrobial effects on strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect on hearing of ganciclovir therapy for asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection: four to 10 year follow up.
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the leading identified nongenetic cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Most of the infections are asymptomatic but may be detected from umbilical cord vein and/or newborn serum positivity for human cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin M, and from urine positivity (on polymerase chain reaction) for human cytomegalovirus deoxyribonucleic acid in the newborn period. Children infected by cytomegalovirus may later develop sensorineural hearing loss. In symptomatically infected infants, ganciclovir therapy administered in the neonatal period prevents hearing deterioration. However, preventative therapy of asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus disease with ganciclovir is controversial, as side effects such as severe neutropenia may occur during treatment. ⋯ Asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection is likely to be a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss in young children. Intravenous ganciclovir therapy seems to offer a medical option to prevent subsequent sensorineural hearing loss. Further studies including a greater number of children are needed. Cytomegalovirus screening models are mandatory if medical therapy is to be implemented in time.
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To describe our results with botulinum toxin type A injection for headache in carefully selected patients, and to present the rationale behind this therapy. ⋯ Xylocaine injection is a good predictor of the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injection into the corrugator muscle as treatment of frontally localised headache. We hypothesise that this pain is caused by entrapment of the supratrochlearis nerve in the corrugator muscle. Furthermore, we found botulinum toxin injection to be a safe and effective means of achieving pain relief in this patient group.