Effects of otosclerosis and stapedotomy on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data are available on the effects of otosclerosis and otosclerosis surgery on the utricle and saccule. This study aimed to determine the effect of otosclerosis and stapedotomy on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials. METHODS: This retrospective study included 16 otosclerosis patients and 18 controls. Thirty-two ears of 16 patients with otosclerosis were divided into 2 groups based on whether the ear had been operated on or not. All patients and subjects underwent 500 Hz air- and bone-conducted ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials testing. RESULTS: Overall comparison of response rates showed a significant difference among the groups. Further statistical tests showed that this difference arose from differences between both operated and unoperated groups and the control group, for air-conducted cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials. CONCLUSION: Otosclerosis and stapedotomy may affect the elicitability of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials. Otosclerosis is associated with lower response rates for air-conducted ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials, regardless of whether operated on. Having been operated on does not significantly increase the response rate of air-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.

[Rarely seen fractures]. / Nadir görülen kiriklar.

Rarely seen fractures are presented in this study. One case was a calcaneal spur, 2 cases osteochondroma pedicule fractures and talus posteromedial tubercle fracture due to direct trauma. Calcaneal spur and osteochondromas were removed surgically and posteromedial tubercle was treated by short-leg cast immobilization. In conclusion, we think that fractures of osteochondroma and calcaneal spur may be treated by surgical removal which do not cause any functional disorders after this operation, but fractures like the talus posteromedial tubercle should be treated conservatively by short-leg immobilization in the early period.

Epidemiologic particularities of influenza in 1986 in a large urban centre of Romania.

The study presents the evolutive peculiarities of the epidemiologic influenza process in 1986 in a large urban centre in Romania, inferrable from the active control by a complex methodology based on clinical, epidemiologic and laboratory investigations. The prevalent part of A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B influenza viruses in causing seasonal morbidity risings is being stressed. A (H3N2) and B influenza viruses determined an epidemic rising during the first trimester and A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) during the fourth trimester in 1986. The epidemiologic influenza impact in 1986 is discussed from the point of view of the complex relationships between the antigenic structure of circulating influenza viruses and the antiinfluenza immune structure of the population.

[Pharyngeal viral population in 3- to 6-year-old children before and after influenza immunization using the NIVGRIP vaccine administered orally]. / Etude de la population virale du pharynx chez des enfants âgés de 3 à 6 ans avant et après l'immunisation contre la grippe à l'aide du vaccin NIVGRIP administré par voie orale.

Immunofluorescence techniques were used to investigate the incidence of viral antigens in exfoliated pharyngeal cells collected from 94 3-6-year-old children living in a collectivity, vaccinated by oral route with NIVGRIP inactivated influenza vaccine. The vaccination resulted in a significant decrease of IF-positive subjects from 80% before to 39% after immunization, indicating a fall in the virus carriage level. The percentage of children in which two or more viral antigens were found also decreased from 72% to 33%. As regards the incidence of different viruses, the complete disappearance of influenza antigens and a marked decrease of the other investigated viral agents were recorded.

Efficiency of the NIVGRIP inactivated influenza vaccine applied by oral route: evaluation in a community of pre-school children in the period 1981-84.

The NIVGRIP inactivated influenza vaccine prepared in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology was administered by oral route to 3-6-year-old children of a preschool community in October 1981, 1982 and 1983. There were no cases of acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) in the community in the winter seasons of 1981-82, 1982-83 and 1983-84, with the exception of 3 ARTI cases recorded in February 1982 in unvaccinated children. In a similar community where no vaccination had been performed morbidity by ARTI was of 20% in 1982-83 and 12.6% in 1983-84. The efficiency and the advantages of oral influenza vaccination are outlined.

Epidemiological features of influenza in a large town of Romania during 1983.

Data supplied by the active influenza surveillance - including clinical, epidemiological and laboratory investigations - allowed the characterization of the particularities of an influenza outbreak caused by A(H3N2) virus in a large town of Romania in March 1983. The epidemiological impact of influenza in 1983 is discussed in the light of the complex relationships between the antigenic structure of circulating influenza strains and the profile of antiinfluenza immunity of the population.

Epidemiological particularities of influenza in a town of Romania during 1982.

The particularities of influenza evolution in a large town of Romania during 1982 are outlined on the ground of the data obtained by a complex methodology of active influenza surveillance. The epidemiological features of influenza are discussed within the complex framework of the relationships between the antigenic structure of circulating influenza viruses and the profile of antiinfluenza immunity among the population.

[The risk of grave evolution of tuberculosis in young children (under 2 years of age)]. / Riscul de evoltie grava a tuberculozei la copilul mic (sub 2 ani)

Between 1971 and 1972, 22% of all children under two years with tuberculosis presented with severe forms of the disease (meningitis, miliaria, caseous forms). In the period 1974-1975, although the number of cases in the group was reduced by half, the severe forms still represented 20,4% of the total. The risk of severe evolution of tuberculosis decreases rapidly, from 55--66% in the first months of life. to 14,2--15,5% at 1--2 years. The risk of death in children aged between 0 and 2 years with tuberculosis (all forms) was of 26,6--58,3% between 0 and 5 months but only 4,5--9,3% in the second year of life. The risk of death in young children with severe forms of tuberculosis was as high as 70--76,7% in those under the age of 6 months. The source of infection was identified in 72,4--76,4% of the severe cases. At the onset of the disease only 57,1% of the sources were known, while 42,9% were discovered later, by epidemiologic investigations. An analysis of cause for a severe evolution of tuberculosis in young children led to the conclusion that BCG vaccination should be performed systematically at birth, and that tuberculin skin test be carried out in all hospitalized children, regardless the diagnosis. They also recommend the use of anamnestic data concerning the possible existence of tuberculosis cases in the families of patients, performing of radiologic controls in young mothers etc. In the case of infants that come into a close contact at a very early age with parents, or other relatives suffering with tuberculosis, chemoprophylaxis with two associated tuberculostatics is indicated.

[Reducing the risk of tuberculosis in children vaccinated with BCG]. / Reducerea riscului de imbolnavire prin tuberculoza la copiii vaccinati B.C.G.

In 1973, of 1774192 children aged 18 months to 6 years, 82,2% had to be revaccinated with BCG, 10.7% presented tuberculin reactions larger than 10 mm and 7.1% were absentees. In 1974 a number of 485 children belonging to the respective age group contracted tuberculosis. Analysis of these cases showed that the risk of tuberculosis was of 10.9 per 100,000 revaccinated subjects and of 74.6 per 10,000 absentees. BCG vaccination not only lowered the risk of the disease but also reduced the risk of a severe evolution and death.