Correlations between selected parameters of nasal cavity in neonates and young infants - computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: Correlations between selected metric parameters of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx in children without atresia may be useful for anticipating probable dimensions of this region in living subjects, in terms of changes with age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty children, age range 0-3 years, were divided into five age groups, and measurements of 18 distances between structures of nasal cavity and nosopharynx were performed on computed tomography scans. Correlation coefficients and relations between parameters have been determined. RESULTS: Our study confirmed the existence of statistically significant correlations between linear dimensions within nasal cavity in children. The analysis demon-strated that for the values of following indexes: nasal septum length/piriform aperture width, and maximum length of the nasal septum/posterior nares width no statistically significant differences have been noted between age groups of children. All correlations have been positive. No statistically significant differences have been noted between the maximum width of the vomer and osseous parameters measured, both in the anterior and posterior part of the nasal cavity, and nasal septum length. CONCLUSIONS: The size of posterior nares changed with age in children by a constant value. So far, no such an analysis has been carried out assessing potential correlations between linear dimensions for the entire nasal cavity, nasopharynx, length of the nasal septum in children, as well as proportions of individual linear dimensions of the anatomical structures analysed, in various age groups.

Physical stability of the amorphous anticholesterol agent (ezetimibe): the role of molecular mobility.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of molecular mobility in the recrystallization process from the amorphous state of the anticholesterol drug ezetimibe. Both the molecular dynamics and crystallization kinetics have been studied using various experimental techniques, such as broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our investigations have shown that ezetimibe easily recrystallizes from the disordered state, both below and above its glass transition temperature (Tg = 336 K). Moreover, we found that an only slightly elevated pressure (5 MPa) significantly accelerates the recrystallization process at T > Tg. We predict that the structural relaxation time of amorphous ezetimibe at 293 K (storage temperature) and ambient pressure is only 22 days. This result corresponds to the characteristic time, determined from XRD measurements, for amorphous ezetimibe to recrystallize during storage at Troom = 298 K. It leads to the conclusion that the molecular mobility reflected in structural relaxation of ezetimibe is mainly responsible for devitrification of this drug. Finally, we determined a relatively easy way to improve the physical stability of the drug by preparing a binary amorphous ezetimibe-Soluplus mixture. Ezetimibe in an amorphous mixture with 20 wt % Soluplus has a much better (over six times) solubility than the pure crystalline material.

Molecular dynamics, physical stability and solubility advantage from amorphous indapamide drug.

This study for the first time investigates physicochemical properties of amorphous indapamide drug (IND), which is a known diuretic agent commonly used in the treatment of hypertension. The solid-state properties of the vitrified, cryomilled and ball-milled IND samples were analyzed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). These analytical techniques enabled us (i) to confirm the purity of obtained amorphous samples, (ii) to describe the molecular mobility of IND in the liquid and glassy state, (iii) to determine the parameters describing the liquid-glass transition i.e. Tg and dynamic fragility, (iv) to test the chemical stability of amorphous IND in various temperature conditions and finally (v) to confirm the long-term physical stability of the amorphous samples. These studies were supplemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and apparent solubility studies of the amorphous IND in 0.1 M HCl, phosphate buffer (pH=6.8), and water (25 and 37 °C).

Molecular dynamics studies on the water mixtures of pharmaceutically important ionic liquid lidocaine HCl.

In this paper the molecular dynamics of a common local-anesthetic drug, lidocaine hydrochloride (LD-HCl), and its water mixtures were investigated. By means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy and calorimetric measurements it was shown that even a small addition of water causes a significant effect on the relaxation dynamics of analyzed protic ionic liquid. Apart from the two well-resolved relaxations (σ- and γ-processes) and the ß-mode, identified as the JG-process, observed for anhydrous LD-HCl, a new relaxation peak (υ) is visible in the dielectric spectra of aqueous mixtures of this drug. Additionally, the significant effect of the water on the glass transition temperature of LD-HCl was found. The sample characterized with mole fraction of water X(w) = 0.44 reveals the glass transition temperature T(g), 42 K lower than that of anhydrous material (307 K). Finally, it was shown that by amorphization of the hydrochloride salt of lidocaine it is possible to obtain its room temperature ionic liquid form.

Mechanism of mutarotation in supercooled liquid phase: Studies on L-sorbose.

We have studied mutarotation in anhydrous supercooled L-sorbose by means of dielectric spectroscopy. The phenomenon observed in L-sorbose is much faster than in the structurally similar D-fructose. The kinetics of this process has been determined by applying 1st order kinetics model. Activation energy equal to 68 kJ/mol was obtained from temperature dependence of rate constants. To understand differences in mutarotation rate between D-fructose and L-sorbose, quantum mechanical calculations were performed to study mechanism of this phenomenon. The possible impact of water absorbed from air on the mutarotation in supercooled liquid state has been checked. It turned out that the process is probably intermolecular and the water molecules or other carbohydrate molecules assist in the proton transfer process. Finally we have shown that the rate constant can be alternatively determined from frequency of the maximum of peak, obtained by performing Fourier transform of kinetic curve.

Osteomyelitis associated with pressure sores.

BACKGROUND: Pressure sores may be associated with underlying osteomyelitis that is difficult to differentiate clinically from infection or colonization of adjacent soft tissue. Cultures of bone specimens are frequently contaminated with organisms residing in adjacent soft tissue. The three objectives of this cohort study were to (1) determine the accuracy of clinical evaluation for osteomyelitis; (2) evaluate the potential role of quantitative cultures of bone in differentiating osteomyelitis from soft-tissue infection or colonization; and (3) assess the impact of treating osteomyelitis on the outcome of pressure sores. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with pressure sores related to spinal cord injury or cerebrovascular accident underwent clinical evaluation for osteomyelitis, followed by percutaneous needle biopsy of bone. Routine semiquantitative and quantitative, aerobic and anaerobic cultures of bone specimens were performed. Pathologic examination of bone tissue was used as the standard criterion for diagnosing osteomyelitis. RESULTS: Six (17%) of 36 patients were diagnosed by pathologic examination as having osteomyelitis. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical evaluation were 33% and 60%, respectively. When positive, quantitative bone cultures yielded a similar number of bacterial isolates and a comparable range of bacterial concentration in patients with osteomyelitis vs those without osteomyelitis. Pressure sores healed in all six patients with osteomyelitis after appropriate therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical evaluation for osteomyelitis is often inaccurate. Pathologic examination of bone tissue is required for definitive diagnosis of osteomyelitis. Quantitative bone cultures do not help differentiate osteomyelitis from infection or colonization of adjacent soft tissue. It is possible that treatment of osteomyelitis may improve the outcome of associated pressure sores.

T cell responses to myelin basic protein in patients with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

Autoimmune inflammation secondary to myelin destruction may play an inhibitory role in restoration of nerve functions in spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we demonstrated that T cells recognizing myelin basic protein (MBP) occurred at a high precursor frequency in patients with SCI, which was compatible to that in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease of presumed autoimmune pathology. The findings suggest of hyperactivity of MBP-reactive T cells in patients with SCI. MBP-reactive T cell lines derived from patients with SCI exhibited a preferential recognition pattern toward the 81-99 and the 151-169 regions of MBP. There were functional differences in the epitope recognition and cytokine profile between two panels of MBP-reactive T cell lines derived from patients with SCI and patients with MS. The study provides new evidence important for further investigation of the role of the inflammatory component in SCI.

Galvanic couples of 316L steel with Ti and ion plated Ti and TiN coatings in Ringer's solutions.

Steel 316L was coated with titanium or titanium nitride by ion plating. The tightness of the coatings was examined electro-chemically. The galvanic effects for the galvanic couples steel-titanium, steel-titanium-coated steel and steel-titanium nitride-coated steel were studied. It was found that both titanium and titanium nitride coatings were non-porous in Ringer's solution; titanium served as an anode in the couple steel-titanium; it was oxidized according to the logarithmic law. For the other two couples, the coatings were the cathodes. The rate of dissolution of steel in these couples, was however, smaller than expected, owing to a strong polarization of the coatings. The potential of the couple was similar to that of steel.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for urodynamic testing in patients with spinal cord injury: a preliminary study.

This study was performed in order to: (i) determine the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) in patients with spinal cord injury after urodynamic testing; (ii) evaluate the role of antibiotic prophylaxis for such a procedure; and (iii) investigate whether pre-existing bacteriuria predisposes to the development of symptomatic UTI after urodynamic testing. Forty patients were prospectively randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive a 3-day oral course of either ciprofloxacin (18 patients) or placebo (22 patients), beginning 2 days prior to the urodynamic procedure. None of 18 (0%) patients who received ciprofloxacin developed symptomatic UTI within 5 days after the procedure compared with three of 22 (14%) subjects randomized to the placebo group; the protective efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis, however, did not attain statistical significance (P = 0.24). None of the three bacterial isolates that were responsible for symptomatic infection were grown in corresponding urine cultures prior to the procedure. These findings may serve as a pilot for a larger study.

Activity of glutathione transferase and reductase in tissues of bird cherry-oat aphid during its host-plant alternation.

Changes in activity of detoxifying enzymes, involved in metabolism of glutathione in bird cherry-oat aphid during its host alternation have been investigated. Glutathione transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity was found in homogenates from tissues of the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.). The highest activity of the enzymes was recorded in winged migrants that fly from bird cherry (Prunus padus L.), the winter host onto cereals a summer host. Before the migration an increase in activity of the glutathione transferase and glutathione reductase within tissues of winged migrants was observed. When the migrants started to feed on cereals, GST activity further increased and GR activity decreased. The significance of the R. padi glutathione transferase and reductase in detoxification of plant allelochemicals while the aphid host-plants alternation is discussed.

[Otorhinolaryngologic problems of Wegener's granulomatosis of three months duration]. / "Problemy oto-ryno-laryngologiczne w ziarniniakowatosci Wegenera o trzymiesiecznym przebiegu".

A case of Wegener's granulomatosis in a 30 years old female was described. The authors have presented the diagnostic difficulties and treatment this rare disease.

[A contribution to the etiology of objective tinnitus: the case of arteriovenous fistula between the superficial artery and external jugular vein]. / Przyczynek do etiologii obiektywnych szumów usznych--przypadek przetoki tetniczo-zylnej tetnicy skroniowej powierzchownej i zyly szyjnej zewnetrznej.

The authors have presented a very rare case of vascular anomaly in 51-years old female with an arteriovenous fistula between the frontal branch and parietal branch of superficial temporal artery and external jugular vein with simultaneously haemangioma cavernosum of temporal region. The clinical manifestation and the diagnosis of this anomaly are discussed with particular stress laid on the role of carotid arteriography which demonstrated the presence of this abnormal arterio-venous communication. Surgical treatment and its results are discussed also. The results of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were compared with cases described in the literature.

[Septal fascioplasty as the method of surgical treatment of nose bleeding in patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease]. / Fascioplastyka jako metoda zabiegowego leczenia krwawien z nosa w przebiegu choroby Rendu-Oslera-Webera.

The authors describe an own method of surgical treatment of nosebleed caused by Rendu-Osler-Weber's disease. For closure of nasal septal defects we used free graft of fascia lata. In five patients treated by our method, the transplantation ended successful; during the several weeks after operations the fascia lata was covered with epithelium growing from the surrounding tissues. Control examinations did not demonstrate recurrences. In two patients our method was unsuccessful.

[A case of giant size lipoma of the submental region]. / Przypadek tluszczaka okolicy podbródkowej o znacznych rozmiarach.

The authors described a case of giant size tumor of the submental region in a 53 year old patient. The very large tumor (fig. 1, 2, 3) was treated by total extirpation. Histological investigation had shown structure of lipoma.

[A case of metastasis of clear cell carcinoma of the kidney to the hypopharynx]. / Przypadek przerzutu raka jasnokomórkowego nerek do gardla dolnego.

A rare case of kidneys clear cell carcinoma metastasis to the laryngopharynx was described. The observed metastasis manifested itself only just three months after total left-sided nephrectomy and partial right-side nephrectomy because of clear cell carcinoma.

[Laryngeal carcinoma distant metastasis to the occipital bone: a case report]. / Przerzut raka do kosci potylicznej z ogniska pierwotnego w krtani.

The authors present a case of laryngeal carcinoma with rare metastasis to the occipital bone.

[A rare case of multiple primary malignant neoplasms of parotid gland: fibrosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma]. / Rzadki przypadek pierwotnego mnogiego nowotworu zlosliwego slinianki przyusznej: wlókniako-miesaka i raka plaskonablonkowego.

Primary multiple malignant neoplasms and multifocal neoplasms are a very complex problem and therefore have been a topic of many articles. The mechanism of origin, frequency of occurrence, co-existence of neoplasms in functionally similar organs (uterus, mammary gland), heredity, a possibility of diagnostic and therapy are the most interesting aspects. Frequency of multiple primary malignant neoplasms occurrence is about 2-8% and still increases. Pathogenesis of multifocal and multiple neoplasms has rarely been a subject of articles. A simultaneous exposure of a tissue to damaging factors and special tissue sensitivity are the main reasons for neoplasms origin in this group. The authors present a rare case of parotid gland multiple neoplasm: fibrosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as discuss the diagnostics, therapy, and prognosis of multiple neoplasms.

[Alloplastic valve vocal prosthesis to serve for rehabilitation speech after total laryngectomy]. / Alloplastyczna wentylowa proteza glosowa do wyksztalcania mowy zastepczej u chorych po calkowitym usunieciu krtani.

The authors have presented structure and method of implantation of alloplastical valve vocal prosthesis to serve for rehabilitation speech after total laryngectomy.

[The case of a large orbital foreign body evacuated by lateral orbitotomy using the Kronlein-Reese-Berk method]. / Przypadek ciala obcego oczodolu usunietego metoda orbitotomii bocznej wg Kronleina-Reesego-Berke'a.

The authors describe a case of patient with orbital large foreign body (glass) treated using Kronlein lateral orbitotomy.

[Evaluation of frequency of recurrence in malignant head and neck neoplasms in the years 1980-1990]. / Ocena czestosci wystepowania wznów w nowotworach zlosliwych glowy i szyi w latach 1980-1990.

During the years 1980-1990 in the Otolaryngological Department of the Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice 452 patients with malignant neoplasms of the head and neck were treated. 154 (35%) patients treated by radiotherapy. 140 (30%) were operated, 133 (29%) were treated by both methods and 25 (6%) were treated symptomatically. 139 (30%) out of them have had the recurrencies after the treatment. The authors made the analysis of frequency of recurrencies in years 1980-86 in comparison with period 1987-90. The statistically significant increase of frequency of recurrencies in years 1987-1990 was found.