[Aspirin hypersensitivity: characteristics and diagnostic approach]. / Intolérance à l'aspirine : caractéristiques et éléments diagnostiques.

INTRODUCTION: In routine medical practice, the diagnosis of aspirin hypersensitivity (AH) remains difficult. No clinical feature or biomarker is available to reliably confirm this diagnosis and oral provocation tests (OPT) are rarely performed. AIM: To compare asthmatics with and without AH. METHOD: The clinical characteristics of 21 asthmatics with and 24 without AH respectively were determined. AH was defined by a positive OPT. A full blood count was done before and 24 hours after the OPT. RESULTS: The medical history was associated with a weak sensitivity (52%) and a good specificity (96%) for assessing the diagnosis of AH. There was a higher prevalence of AH in women, and a higher frequency of allergic rhinitis in AH, but no characteristic was useful to facilitate the diagnosis of AH in asthmatic patients. Our results demonstrate higher values of platelets in AH patients. Following OPT, in AH patients only, a decrease in blood eosinophils and an increase in neutrophils was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that the diagnosis of AH is challenging, with the history having only weak sensitivity. The observation that fluctuations in eosinophils and neutrophils occur following OPT in AH patients only warrants further investigations and suggests a rapid pro-inflammatory role for aspirin.

Deep cervical granular cell tumor: an atypic location suggestive of neurogenic origin.

INTRODUCTION: Granular cell tumor (GCT), or Abrikossoff's tumor, is usually benign, with predominantly head-and-neck locations. Putative Schwann-cell origin is controversial. Treatment is surgical, due to risk of malignancy. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old man presented with benign GCT in one of the deep cervical plexus roots, suggesting neurogenic origin. DISCUSSION: Surgical resection is important. Preoperative diagnosis is hindered by the ubiquity of the lesions and the poor specificity of imaging. Pathologic and immunohistochemical analysis is essential for definitive diagnosis.

Medical information prior to invasive medical procedures in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery in France.

Based on a review of the medical literature (PubMed database, keywords: medical information, informed consent), the authors analyse the main medicolegal aspects concerning the patient information that must be provided in France prior to any invasive diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedures in otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery, as well as the patient's perception and recall of the information provided, the quality of the information provided and problems encountered in providing this information. In the light of this review, several solutions are recommended to improve this essential phase prior to obtaining the patient's informed consent.

Maxillary sinus fungal infection by Acremonium.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate by this case report that Acremonium must now be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of maxillary fungus balls. CASE REPORT: Seventy-seven-year-old woman consulted for persistent pain of the right maxillary sinus, with rhinorrhea and nocturnal coughing. Computed tomography (CT) of the sinuses showed a heterogeneous opacification of the right maxillary sinus with well-defined hyperdense foci suggesting aspergillosis. She underwent a middle meatus antrectomy by an endonasal approach. Six months after the surgery, her symptoms were gone and had not recurred. Mycological examination found Acremonium. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Acremonium is a genus of saprobic fungi that rarely cause disease in humans. Infection with Acremonium has recently been described in immunocompromised patients. We describe the first case of fungal maxillary sinusitis caused by Acremonium in an immunocompetent person. Clinically and radiologically, the initial diagnosis was aspergillosis. Acremonium must be considered together with aspergillosis in all situations of fungus ball chronic sinusitis.

Glioblastoma multiforme mimicking a frontal abscess after surgery for a large vestibular schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES: Routine vestibular schwannoma surgery can result in serious and potentially lethal infectious complications. A high degree of vigilance is necessary to diagnose these uncommon infections and in case of postoperative neurological symptoms, brain magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to eliminate a brain abscess. In some cases, the final diagnosis is not the expected one. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old man presented three months postoperatively after a vestibular schwannoma removal by translabyrinthin approach with a rapid and progressive history of headaches, confusion, and left hemi paresis with fever. The brain CT and MRI were in favour of a delayed postoperative frontal abscess. TECHNIQUE: A biopsy under stereotactic guidance was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed WHO grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme. CONCLUSION: Symptoms and signs of glioblastoma multiforme are congruent with brain abscess. Its rapid evolution, the normality of the first magnetic resonance imaging, and its radiological aspect made it a differential diagnosis of a postoperative brain abscess and should be systematically researched.

Writing an article for the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery: rights and responsibilities.

Based on a review of the literature published on medical writing, the authors discuss the rules to respect in terms of both structure and substance to facilitate publication of studies in the European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. The main errors leading to an article's being rejected are detailed and analyzed.

Social and cultural representation of Epilepsy in elderly aged 65 and more, during a community survey in two French Departments (Hautevienne and Creuse).

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is often associated with discrediting representations even in the developed countries. The prevalence of disease is 3-5 in thousand. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to assess social and cultural representation of epilepsy in the elderly in two French departments (Haute-Vienne and Creuse). METHODS: An analysis of the answers given by 380 (190 in Haute-Vienne and 190 in Creuse) persons aged 65 and more, selected with the method of quota, during a face to face interview using a questionnaire which explores the representations of epilepsy. The interview was done in 2003 during the local step of an international multi centric community survey entitled "Mental disorders: Image and Realities in community sample". RESULTS: Beliefs in supernatural causes of epilepsy, witchcraft, curse and punishment are more important in elderly aged 65 and more prevalent compared to the younger subjects; it's the opposite for social causes (conflicts, bereavements, stress). The alimentary interdictions are also persistent. Medical assistance keep a good place in the knowledge of the therapy of epilepsy. It showed that those aged 65 and more in Haute-Vienne had social and cultural representation of epilepsy, generally more pessimistic than those of the persons aged less than 65. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed a decrease in the stigma about epilepsy. This data suggest a better consideration of the social and cultural representations in the fight against epilepsy even in western countries.

[Practical methods for controlled diaphragmatic breathing in 2009: proposals for a consensus]. / Modalités pratiques de réalisation de la ventilation dirigée abdomino-diaphragmatique en 2009: propositions pour un consensus.

BACKGROUND: This work has been completed at the request of the French Language Society of Pneumology. It is the result of collaboration between the 'Muscles and Respiration Group' and the 'Working Group in Physiotherapy', arriving at a consensus on diaphragmatic breathing. RESULTS: From the literature followed by a formalized consensus methodology, the authors specify the terminology and define the appropriate methods of this technique that should be used. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the literature to date does not allow assessment of the efficacy of this technique. The precise definition of the methods of diaphragmatic breathing as proposed in the present study will be used as a basis for forthcoming studies on this technique.

A pilot study of the safety and performance of the Otologics fully implantable hearing device: transducing sounds via the round window membrane to the inner ear.

OBJECTIVES: The safety and performance of the Otologics fully implantable hearing device were assessed in adult patients with mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: The subcutaneous microphone of this fully implantable device picks up ambient sounds, converts them into an electrical signal, amplifies the signal according to the user's needs, and sends it to an electromechanical transducer. The transducer tip is customized with a prosthesis in order to be in contact with the round window membrane and is protected by fascia; this translates the electrical signal into a mechanical motion that directly stimulates the round window membrane and enables the user to perceive sound. The implanted battery is recharged daily via an external charger and the user can turn the implant on and off as well as adjust the volume with a hand-held remote control. In this pilot study, 6 patients with mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss were implanted with the Otologics fully implantable hearing device. Pre- and postoperative air conduction, bone conduction, as well as aided and unaided thresholds and speech scores were measured. RESULTS: No significant differences between preoperative and postoperative pure-tone averages were noted. Average improvement ranged from 19.16 to 35.8 dB of functional gain across audiometric frequencies with a mean of 26.17 +/- 5.15 dB. Long-term average functional gain at 12 months was 20.83 +/- 6.22 dB. Word recognition scores demonstrated significant differences between unaided and implant-aided conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of this trial of the Otologics fully implantable hearing device provide evidence that this fully implantable device is capable of efficiently transferring the sound to the inner ear via the round window membrane in patients with mixed hearing loss.

Effects of acetyl-DL-leucine in vestibular patients: a clinical study following neurotomy and labyrinthectomy.

For 40 years, the amino acid acetyl-DL-leucine (or isoleucine - Tanganil) has been used in clinical practice to reduce imbalance and autonomic manifestations associated with acute vertigo crises. In animal models, acetyl-DL-leucine accelerates vestibular compensation following unilateral labyrinthectomy, and has only minor effects on normal vestibular function. Our work in animal models suggested that acetyl-DL-leucine acted mainly on abnormally hyperpolarized and/or depolarized vestibular neurons by restoring their membrane potential towards a mean value of -65 to -60 mV. Acute vestibular disorders are associated with asymmetrical spontaneous activities of vestibular neurons, so this previous study suggested that acetyl-DL-leucine may reduce acute, vestibular-related imbalances in humans. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the efficacy of acetyl-DL-leucine during the acute stage following neurotomy or labyrinthectomy in patients undergoing surgery for unilateral vestibular acoustic neurinoma, or suffering from unilateral and intractable Ménière's disease. By clinical testing of the vestibular function, patients were categorized according to the degree of compensation of the vestibular deafferentation prior to surgery. For patients who had achieved a close to perfect compensation before surgery, acetyl-DL-leucine had minor or no effect after surgery. For patients who displayed residual vestibular function before surgery, acetyl-DL-leucine eased the static vestibular syndromes, which followed neurotomy. Our findings tend to confirm the view that acetyl-DL-leucine mainly acts, in humans, on abnormally hyperpolarized and/or depolarized vestibular neurons by restoring their membrane potential towards normal values; this is consistent with findings in guinea pigs following unilateral labyrinthectomy. Moreover, it suggests that the degree of caloric paresis of the patients before neurotomy is useful both to predict the outcome of any acute vestibular syndrome following neurotomy and to assess the potential value of the administration of acetyl-DL-leucine to treat any such syndrome.

[Tympanic membrane perforation and tympanoplasty]. / Les perforations tympaniques et les greffes de tympan.

OBJECTIVES: To report anatomic and physiologic characteristics of the tympanic membrane, to discuss the etiology and pathogenesis of tympanic perforation, and to discuss its management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After a review of the literature, different surgical techniques and the postoperative results were evaluated. RESULTS: The rate of tympanic membrane closure is greater than 90% for the majority of authors. Age, mucosa inflammation, pathological contralateral ear (perforation, otitis media, cholesteatoma), and surgical experience influence this result. DISCUSSION: Even if surgical results are good, abstention must always be proposed and all complications must be explained. CONCLUSION: Palisade cartilage tympanoplasty is an effective technique for both tympanic membrane closures.

[Endoscopic staple diverticulostomy for Zenker's diverticulum]. / Traitement endoscopique des diverticules de Zenker à la pince autosuturante.

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic stapled diverticulotomy of patients with Zenker's diverticulum. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with Zenker's diverticulum were evaluated. All patients had a preoperative barium swallow, which confirmed the Zenker diverticulum. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: Patients underwent an attempted endoscopic resection of the Zenker diverticulum using the endoscopic stapling technique. If unsuccessful, an open approach was then taken. All patients were seen in follow-up within one and then at six months after surgery and had a barium swallow during the first month. RESULTS: The patient's mean age was 74 years. The operation lasted a mean of 20minutes. Conversion to open surgery was required in five patients, which lasted a mean 20minutes. No postoperative morbidity or mortality was recorded. In two patients with a small diverticulum (2cm), persistent discomfort with no dysphagia or regurgitation was noted. The barium swallow demonstrated a persistent diverticulum without a neck. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic staple diverticulotomy is an excellent first-intention method to surgically correct Zenker's diverticulum in many patients. It is a technique with a significantly shorter operative time, hospital stay, time to resumption of oral feeding and lower mortality and fewer morbidity complications.