Arachidonic acid metabolites and enzyme transcripts in asthma are altered by cigarette smoking.

BACKGROUND: Arachidonic acid metabolites are implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma although only limited information is available on the impact of current smoking history on these metabolites. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of smoking status on urinary, sputum, and plasma eicosanoid concentrations and relevant enzyme transcripts in asthma. METHODS: In 108 smokers and never smokers with asthma and 45 healthy controls [smokers and never smokers], we measured urinary tetranor prostaglandin (PG)D2 (PGDM) and leukotriene (LT)E4 , induced sputum fluid LTB4 , LTE4 , PGD2 , and PGE2 , plasma secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2 ), and 11ß prostaglandin F2α (11ßPGF2α ), and, in a subgroup with severe asthma, airway leukocyte and epithelial cell mRNA expression levels of arachidonic acid metabolic enzymes. RESULTS: Smokers with asthma had higher urinary LTE4 ; 83 (59, 130) vs 59 (40, 90) pg/mg creatinine, P = 0.008, and PGDM; 60 (35, 100) vs 41 (28, 59) ng/mg creatinine, P = 0.012 concentrations, respectively, and lower sputum PGE2 concentrations 80 (46, 157) vs 192 (91, 301) pg/ml, P = 0.001 than never smokers with asthma. Sputum LTB4 (P = 0.013), and plasma 11ßPGF2α (P = 0.032), concentrations, respectively, were increased in smokers with asthma compared with healthy smokers. Asthma-specific and smoking-related increases (>1.5-fold expression) in arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase and gamma-glutamyltransferase transcripts were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Several arachidonic acid metabolites and enzyme transcripts involving both lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways are increased in smokers with asthma and differ from never smokers with asthma. Possibly targeting specific lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways that are activated by asthma and cigarette smoking may optimize therapeutic responses.

An evidence based approach to the management of salivary masses.

BACKGROUND: Salivary lumps are common and constitute 13.8% of all lumps assessed at the North Glasgow neck lump clinic. We present our management plan for these conditions. METHOD: Literature search using key words salivary lumps or glands or cancer or sialadenitis or sialalisthiasis in combination with diagnosis, management, investigation, treatment, intervention and surgery was performed in June 2009 using MEDLINE and Pubmed. Data from the North Glasgow neck lump clinic database are also presented. RESULTS: Published literature on management of salivary lumps is level 2/3 evidence. CONCLUSION: The majority of salivary gland swellings can be adequately assessed with ultrasound and ultrasound guided FNA. The majority of patients with salivary gland tumours are likely to benefit from surgical excision. Due to the higher risk of malignancy in submandibular gland tumours surgical excision should be undertaken, unless there is significant co-morbidity.

Aggressive papillary tumour of the nasopharynx followed by an aggressive papillary tumour of the middle ear. A multiple site tumour?

We report the case of a 72-year-old male presenting with a papillary adenocarcinoma of the middle ear. He had had a similar tumour excised from the ipsilateral nasopharynx seven years previously with no evidence of local recurrence. We conclude that this middle ear lesion possibly represents a second tumour. No record of such a case has been reported previously in the literature. We discuss presentation and management and highlight the need for close follow-up of these patients.

Training opportunities for specialist registrars post-calmanization: audit of trainees' exposure to repair of the tympanic membrane.

Specialist training at the registrar grade in the United Kingdom has undergone significant change in the recent past. One of the effects has been a reduction in the length of time spent in training. This and the application of the European working time directive have the potential to reduce trainees' surgical exposure. The proportion of tympanic membrane procedures performed by reconstructive otolaryngology registrars in the Grampian University hospitals was audited to monitor the impact of these changes. Case notes of all patients who underwent myringoplasty or tympanoplasty between July 1998 and June 1999 were analysed retrospectively. Details of the surgeons' grade were recorded. The proportion of myringoplasties performed by registrars as determined by the Royal College of Surgeons of England National Comparative Audit survey, carried out in 1995 before the widespread implementation of recommended changes in otolaryngology registrar training, was set as the gold standard. In the period July 1998-1999 registrars had performed fewer myringoplasties than the standard, 17 per cent versus 34.2 per cent respectively (p = 0.035). A strategy to increase registrar exposure to myringoplasty surgery was then adopted by the department and the proportion of myringoplasties performed by registrars re-audited prospectively. The proportion of myringoplasties undertaken by registrars increased in the period January 2001 to July 2001 compared to July 1998-1999, 53 per cent versus 17 per cent respectively (p < 0.0007). Changes in working practice can address shortfalls in registrars' exposure to surgical procedures.

Isolated partial, transient hypoglossal nerve injury following acupuncture.

We report a case of isolated unilateral hypoglossal nerve injury following ipsilateral acupuncture for migraines in a 53-year-old lady. The palsy was partial, with no associated dysarthria, and transient. Further examination and imaging was negative. Cranial nerve injuries secondary to acupuncture are not reported in the literature, but are a theoretical risk given the location of the cranial nerves in the neck. Anatomical knowledge is essential in those administering the treatment, and those reviewing patients with possible complications.

Characterising and quantifying outcomes in rhinology out-patients: measurements in the 'real world'.

AIMS: We aimed to evaluate a practical, computerised database for collection of patient-reported and clinical outcome data, introduced as a means of characterising our patient population and assessing the effect of our interventions. METHODS: A prospectively updated, computerised database was used to detail each patient's coded and structured diagnosis and clinical findings. Response to treatment was recorded using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 and changes in graded clinical examination findings. RESULTS: Data for 770 patients were prospectively entered into the database. Patients were grouped diagnostically as follows: rhinitis (20.4 per cent), chronic rhinosinusitis (12.2 per cent), chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (24.7 per cent), anatomical anomaly (22.7 per cent), epistaxis (3.4 per cent) and 'other' (18.4 per cent). Following initial medical intervention, the greatest improvement in the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 score was seen in the chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps group (-11.3), followed by the rhinitis group (-6.1) and the chronic rhinosinusitis group (-5.4). CONCLUSIONS: The tested rhinology database provides a simple, effective and practical tool for integrating the recording of clinical and patient-reported outcome measures during the out-patient visit. It enables characterisation of the patient population, and accurately monitors and records treatment responses.

Columella stabilising suture.

Caudal septal deformities if uncorrected can lead to poor functional and cosmetic outcomes. Adequate fixation of the septum to the maxillary spine is paramount in correcting these deformities. We describe a simple technique for securing the caudal septum to the maxillary spine that stabilises it in all three planes.

Bronchoscopy training: is simulated surgery effective?

Intensive surgical skills courses have become an essential part of surgical skill acquisition for surgeons in training. There is a need to monitor the value of these courses in terms of skill attainment. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of skills-laboratory-based training in rigid bronchoscopy and bronchial foreign body removal. Bronchoscopies were recorded, analysed and categorized by a single observer according to time to completion and four predetermined parameters of surgical error. An overall quality score was obtained by simple summation of the number of errors and determined as acceptable or unacceptable (scoring 0 or 1 respectively). The data was analysed using a t-test for paired groups. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. In total, 20 trainee otolaryngologists performed 80 separate bronchoscopies. The time to complete the task pre versus post training showed significant improvement; P < 0.001. The overall quality score pre training was 66 and post training 17; P < 0.001. We conclude that intensive surgical simulation-based courses appear to be an effective means of training surgical trainees in surgical skill proficiency.

A randomised control trial of surgical task performance in rigid bronchoscopy: foreign body extraction with optical versus non-optical forceps.

There are currently two types of forceps used for foreign body removal at rigid bronchoscopy, these can be classified as standard bronchoscopy forceps and optically guided grasping forceps. In order to evaluate them in the removal of foreign bodies from the tracheo-bronchial tree a randomised subject controlled trial was conducted. All 80 bronchoscopies were recorded and analysed by a single observer according to predetermined criteria for surgical error. The data was analysed using a t-test for paired groups. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups. We conclude that no clear advantages were found comparing the optically guided forceps with the standard bronchoscopy forceps and that further clinical evaluation will be difficult to initiate.