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Biomedical subjects

E B Kern

Publications and source records attributed to E B Kern.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Classical intranasal ethmoidectomy: does the endoscope have a role?

The major advantage of intranasal endoscopy is that it allows a magnified view of the osteomeatal region and the frontal recess. Performing intranasal ethmoidectomy with nasal endoscopes may be hazardous, particularly in the hands of inexperienced surgeons. The use of 2-power loops for performing intranasal ethmoidectomy has several advantages, including direct binocular vision and visualization of external anatomic landmarks. The use of loops does not preclude the use of endoscopes.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1990

Nasal influences on snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Although the relationship between nasal obstruction and sleep disturbance is variable, either partial or total obstruction of the nasal passages can cause snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and the sequelae of alveolar hypoventilation. In addition, nasal obstruction can cause sleep fragmentation, sleep deprivation, and the known sequelae of disturbed sleep architecture, including associated daytime tiredness and alterations in normal behavior patterns. Nasal obstruction may produce greater physiologic effects during sleep than during the awake state. A complete examination of the upper respiratory tract should be done in all patients with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. The degree of nasal obstruction is not directly correlated with the severity of symptoms and findings.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Effect of Klebsiella ozaenae on ciliary activity in vitro: implications in the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis.

Klebsiella ozaenae is a gram-negative rod that has been isolated with relative frequency from patients with atrophic rhinitis. The relationship of this bacterium to the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis is not understood, and whether this bacterium is simply an opportunistic colonizer of the injured nose or the etiologic agent of the disease is unclear. This study was designed to investigate a potential role for bacterially produced cilioinhibition as a mechanism for the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis.

Cilia↗
PubMed1990

Measurement of human nasal ciliary motility using computerized microphotometry.

A new computerized technique for the assessment of human nasal ciliary beat frequency is described. Thirty normal volunteers underwent nasal cytologic brushing to obtain ciliary samples. In each subject, 150 ciliary beats were analyzed from each of 50 separate ciliated cell clusters. The ciliary beat frequency for each area was determined with fast Fourier transformation. The results were plotted on a histogram to determine the ciliary beat distribution. The mean frequency for these samples was 11.29 Hz, with a standard deviation of 0.96 Hz. The median frequency for these samples was 11.25 Hz. These results show a marked improvement over hand-counting microphotometry techniques because of the much larger sampling size and elimination of much human error. We believe this method of ciliary analysis represents a significant advancement in the evaluation of ciliary function and should assist in the diagnosis of patients with congenital and acquired forms of ciliary dysmotility.

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1990

Rhinolift operation in the treatment of the aging nose.

Disturbance of the normal relationship between the caudal border of the upper lateral cartilage and the cephalic margin of the lobular cartilage--the so-called "cul-de-sac" area--can result in alar collapse and nasal airway obstruction. This may be caused by either the aging process or trauma, both surgical and nonsurgical. Rhinolift is a surgical procedure that was developed for the treatment of the aging ptotic nasal tip. We have applied this technique to patients with nasal airway obstruction resulting from alar collapse. Elevation of the cephalic margin of the lobular cartilage to a position superficial to the upper lateral cartilage restores the normal relationship between these two structures. The upper lateral cartilage then assists in stenting the vestibule open, and thereby improves nasal breathing. Over the past 10 years, 20 patients have had rhinolifts at our institution for the relief of nasal airway obstruction. Concomitant surgery included nasal septal reconstruction in 12 patients, polypectomy in one patient, and placement of a silicone rubber septal prosthesis for closure of a large septal perforation in three patients. Rhinolift was the sole procedure used for the correction of valvular pathology in 10 patients. The other 10 patients had modifications made in their upper lateral cartilage along with the rhinolift. Five patients described restoration of normal nasal breathing, while 14 patients showed partial symptomatic improvement. One patient reported no improvement in nasal breathing. Rhinolift is a safe effective surgical technique for functional improvement of nasal breathing in patients with alar collapse resulting from inadequate cartilaginous support.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Third place--Resident Clinical Science Award 1990. The in vivo and in vitro effect of phenylephrine (Neo Synephrine) on nasal ciliary beat frequency and mucociliary transport.

Twenty volunteers with normal noses were studied to determine the effect of phenylephrine on nasal ciliary function. In vivo study of this drug was performed in 15 patients and revealed a significant increase in their ciliary beat frequency from a control of 11 Hz to 12.03 Hz (p = 0.001). Mucociliary transit times in these volunteers were also studied, revealing a mean of 9.9 minutes prestimulation and 10.2 minutes poststimulation, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.77). Five additional subjects donated ciliated mucosal samples for in vitro analysis of varying concentrations of this agent that showed a significant ciliostimulatory effect at lower concentrations (0.01%), with a progressive cilioinhibitory effect at higher concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%). The 0.05% concentration showed no significant change in ciliary activity compared to control measurements. These data demonstrate that phenylephrine has a ciliostimulatory effect in vivo, as well as in appropriate concentrations in vitro, and should be safe and relatively nontoxic to the mucociliary apparatus for short-term use.

Awards and Prizes↗
PubMed1989

Rhinomanometry for preoperative and postoperative assessment of nasal obstruction.

In this retrospective study we used active, anterior mask rhinomanometric methods to measure nasal resistance before and after surgery for nasal obstruction. The study group comprised 60 patients with nasal obstruction who had 63 preoperative and postoperative rhinomanograms and the control group contained 14 asymptomatic patients who underwent rhinomanometric studies before transnasal, transsphenoidal pituitary surgery. Before surgery the study group had significantly higher total and combined unilateral nasal resistances than either the control group before surgery (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively) or the study group after surgery (p less than 0.0001 for both comparisons). Surgery normalized the nasal resistances of the study group in relation to the control group. A total nasal resistance greater than 1 cm H2O/L/sec or a unilateral resistance greater than 3.5 cm H2O/L/sec suggests clinically significant nasal obstruction. Airway narrowing and obstructive symptoms correlated with airway resistance in the preoperative patient, but symptoms did not correlate well with postoperative resistance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Office endoscopy--when, why, what, and how.

Comprehensive diagnostic nasal endoscopy is a relatively recent advance in the office practice of rhinology. The examination is performed most commonly with 4.0-mm telescopes (0 and 30 degrees) and 2.7-mm telescopes (30 and 70 degrees). Nasal endoscopy provides the rhinologist with unparalleled visualization with brilliant illumination of the nasal cavity which permits more accurate diagnosis of nasal conditions. It also serves as an excellent teaching tool and source of photodocumentation.

Endoscopes↗
PubMed1988

The effects of sinus bacteria on human ciliated nasal epithelium in vitro.

The mechanisms by which bacteria colonize and damage ciliated epithelium are important in understanding the pathophysiology of rhinitis, sinusitis, and otitis. Bacteria that have the ability to impair mucociliary clearance would be at an advantage in establishing infection of ciliated surfaces. This study investigates the effect of Hemophilus Influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Branhamella catarrhalis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis on the ciliary activity of normal ciliated nasal epithelium in human beings. Ciliary activity of the nasal epithelium in the presence of each pathogen was assessed for more than 240 minutes with a photometric method of ciliary beat frequency (CBF) measurement. H. influenzae exerted significant effects on ciliary activity, with a 46% decrease in the CBF by 4 hours (with bacteria-containing broth) and a 32% decrease with bacteria-free filtrate. S. epidermidis decreased CBF by 44% with the bacterial broth. A sterile cell-free filtrate had no significant effect. S. pneumoniae and B. catarrhalis had no significant effect on CBF within a 240-minute period. H. influenzae and S. epidermidis disrupted normal synchronous ciliary motion, causing adjacent cilia to beat at different rates.

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1988

The universal tip: a systematic approach to aesthetic problems of the lower lateral cartilages.

A systematic approach to the various common aesthetic problems of the lower lateral cartilages is presented. Since this approach and technique may be applied to a wide variety of problems, we have taken the liberty of calling this the universal tip. These concepts have emerged from study of the literature and have evolved over the past thousand rhinoplasties. A classification of lower lateral cartilage problems includes five basic variations: (1) the wide, amphorous, ill-defined tip, (2) insufficient projection of the tip, (3) overprojection of the tip, (4) dependent tip with lack of definition, and (5) asymmetrical tip. It is important to realize that any of these five categories may be found in various combinations with each other. The details and fundamental steps of this universal tip technique are presented along with illustrative case examples in each of the five basic variations. In approximately 4 percent of patients there is a postoperative asymmetry in the position of cartilaginous flaps in the region of the dome of the lower lateral cartilage. These abnormalities plus abnormal ridges or bossa can usually be corrected at the time of secondary surgery under local anesthesia.

Cartilage↗
PubMed1987

Suppurative (bacterial) sinusitis.

Upper respiratory tract (viral) infection is the most common predisposing cause of suppurative sinusitis. Acute disease is manifested by pain, nasal discharge, systemic manifestations, and nasal obstruction. In chronic disease (greater than 3 months' duration) nasal airway obstruction and postnasal discharge may be the only symptoms. Diagnosis is made on the basis of the history and physical examination, supported by roentgenographic findings and, if necessary, cultures. Acute infection is treated with antibiotics, decongestants, and analgesics. If medical management fails, surgery is necessary. Complications of suppurative sinusitis include cellulitis, abscess, meningitis and cavernous sinus thrombosis, osteomyelitis, and oroantral fistula.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Nasal valve physiology. Implications in nasal surgery.

Knowledge of the structure and function of the nasal valve region is required by all who operate on the nose. This article defines and classifies nasal valve region abnormalities; discusses principles, goals, and details of surgery in this area; and considers strategies to avoid or minimize complications, especially in cosmetic rhinoplasty.

Cartilage↗
PubMed1986

Microbiologic analyses of nasal polyp tissue.

Nasal polyps from 40 patients were cultured within 2 1/2 hours after surgical removal to determine whether microorganisms were present. The first 20 polyps were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, viruses, fungi, mycoplasmas, and mycobacteria. Of these 20 polyps, eight were sterile by all tests, one grew Cryptococcus albidus, one grew Sporobolomyces, one had large numbers of Peptostreptococcus micros and Propionibacterium acnes, greater than 10(6) colony-forming units per gram (cfu/gm), and nine had aerobic bacteria including 10 different species at levels less than 10(5) cfu/gm. The second 20 polyps were cultured for aerobic bacteria only; 11 polyps were positive. Overall, 14 of 26 polyps from patients with asthma and two of 14 polyps from patients without asthma were positive for aerobic bacteria at levels greater than 10(3) cfu/gm (p less than 0.05). Multiple aerobic bacterial species tended to occur in polyps from patients with asthma (11 of 26) more frequently than in those from patients without asthma (one of 14) (p less than 0.01). There was a highly significant positive correlation between tissue neutrophilia and bacterial count (r = +0.9; p less than 0.001). The results indicate that patients with asthma have a significantly higher number and a tendency to a greater variety of aerobic bacteria in nasal polyp tissue than patients without asthma and that the number of infiltrating neutrophils is directly related to the number of bacteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Normal nasal resistance.

Eighty normal adults without nasal symptoms were studied to determine normal nasal resistance values and the variation of nasal resistance in normal adults. A microprocessor-based system for collection and analysis of transnasal pressure and flow was used to obtain nasal resistance values. Unilateral and total transnasal pressure and flow values were determined before and after decongestion of the nose with 1% phenylephrine spray. The distribution of the 80 resistance values was found to be skewed to the right. Log transformation of the resistance values was the best method to normalize their distribution. The mean and variation of normal nasal resistance are reported at flows of 0.1 and 0.2 L/sec, at pressures of 0.5 and 1 cm H2O, and at radii of 1, 2, and 3 on the pressure-flow curve.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Nonsurgical closure of nasal septal perforations.

Seventy-three patients had medical-grade Silastic buttons inserted transnasally (between June 1972 and June 1976) into a perforation of the nasal septum. This nonsurgical technique was done as an office procedure on 67 of the patients with the use of topically applied 5% cocaine solution. The Silastic button has remained in place in 72.6% of the entire study group; follow-up times for this group range from six months to four years. This mechanical covering of the perforation substantially reduced crusting and epistaxis, and it improved nasal respiration in many cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Autografts of uncrushed and crushed bone and cartilage. Experimental observations and clinical implications.

This study evaluated autografts of bone and cartilage, uncrushed and crushed, in the perichondrial space of the ear and subcutaneously in the paraspinal region in rabbits six weeks and six months after transplantation. The results support the belief that in a clinical setting it is important to preserve perichondrium because it facilitates growth of new cartilage. This study suggests that when autogenous tissue is to be used for subcutaneous augmentation, it is best to use crushed or uncrushed cartilage or uncrushed bone because they remain viable. In the perichondrial space, crushed and uncrushed cartilage grafts not only remain viable but also induce growth of new cartilage and bone. Autogenous crushed bone does not survive in the perichondrial space of the rabbit ear.

Animals↗