PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Ahsan

Publications and source records attributed to F Ahsan.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Quality of life outcome analysis in patients undergoing submandibular duct repositioning surgery for sialorrhoea.

Bilateral submandibular duct transposition is one of several surgical methods described to control sialorrhoea in the paediatric patient. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of submandibular duct repositioning surgery on the quality of life of children using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory outcome measure. Consecutive children who underwent submandibular duct repositioning surgery were invited to participate in the study. The parents or guardians of children who gave consent were interviewed. The carer's opinion of the change in salivation, responses to the items in the Glasgow Benefit Inventory score and report of the complications were recorded. Nine children aged two and a half to 16 years were studied. The mean follow-up time was four years. The mean Glasgow Benefit Inventory score of +33 related to the procedure demonstrates that submandibular duct repositioning leads to a substantial measurable improvement in the quality of life (QoL) of the drooling child.

Adolescent↗

Satisfaction with cosmesis following nasal manipulation: do previous fractures matter?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if patients who have had multiple previous nasal fractures and who undergo manipulation of fractured nasal bones under general anaesthetic (MUA) are as likely to be satisfied with their post-operative nasal cosmesis as patients who have only sustained a single injury. DESIGN: Telephone survey. SETTING: District general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients who had undergone MUA over the preceding three years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction with nasal cosmesis and nasal airway and willingness to consider corrective surgery. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients were contacted. Overall patient satisfaction with cosmesis and nasal airway was 82 and 77 per cent, respectively, with 15 per cent willing to consider a procedure to improve their nasal cosmesis and 12 per cent willing to consider a procedure to improve nasal airway. Twenty-three (22.5 per cent) gave a history of one or more nasal bone fractures, either treated or untreated, prior to the most recently treated injury. Patient satisfaction with cosmesis in this group was 65 per cent, compared with 87 per cent satisfaction in the single injury group (p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were demonstrated when comparing these groups for: satisfaction with nasal airway (70 vs 80 per cent, p = 0.46); willingness to consider a procedure to improve cosmesis (26 vs 11 per cent, p = 0.16); and willingness to consider a procedure to improve nasal airway (17 vs 10 per cent, p = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: A history of multiple previous nasal fractures does appear to alter patient satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome of nasal manipulation. These patients should be informed that they have a decreased chance of attaining a cosmetically acceptable result.

Adolescent↗

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma of the parotid gland.

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcomas (IDCSs) are extremely uncommon tumours that arise predominantly in lymphoid tissue. We report a case of an IDCS arising in the parotid gland of a 73-year-old man. Clinically, a primary salivary gland tumour was suspected but fine needle aspiration cytology suggested a soft tissue tumour. A diagnosis of IDCS was made on histopathological examination of the resection specimen, with subsequent confirmation by electron microscopy. Given the extreme rarity of this tumour at this site, it is unlikely to be a common diagnostic problem, but the importance of multiple diagnostic modalities is emphasized. The findings of cytology, histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy have not previously been described together in a single case report of this tumour.

Aged↗

Unilateral opacification of paranasal sinus CT scans.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of study was to describe the histopathology in patients with unilateral sinus opacification and to identify variables that may predict neoplastic pathology. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of paranasal sinus CT scans performed between 2000 and 2003 was conducted to identify patients with unilateral sinus opacification. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 1118 CT scans showed unilateral sinus opacification. Twelve patients had neoplastic disease, 13 had inflammatory disease. Nasal discharge was more common in inflammatory than neoplastic disease (P = 0.009). A polyp or mass lesion was more common on nasendoscopy in neoplastic than inflammatory disease (P = 0.01). Bony erosion was only identified in malignant disease. CONCLUSION: A wide variety of pathologies present with unilateral sinus opacification on CT scanning. In our series, neoplastic disease was more associated with a visible polyp or mass lesion and less with nasal discharge. Bony erosion on CT scan was only seen in malignant disease. Histologic confirmation remains obligatory for diagnosis.

Adult↗

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting as buttock pain.

This is the first case report of a ruptured aortic aneurysm presenting with acute right buttock pain. The patient was an 80 year old man. A literature search revealed one report of ruptured internal iliac artery aneurysm presenting with acute hip pain and another of an unruptured aortic aneurysm presenting with chronic hip pain. Thus the present case is another unusual presentation of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and highlights the importance of careful history taking and clinical examination. A high index of clinical suspicion of aneurysm rupture should be maintained in elderly patients presenting with a history of collapse.

Aged↗

Infrasellar craniopharyngioma presenting as epistaxis, excised via Denker's medial maxillectomy approach.

Infrasellar craniopharyngioma is an uncommon neoplasm. Rarely, it presents with epistaxis. To date, 39 cases of infrasellar craniopharyngioma have been reported in the world literature. Involvement of the maxillary sinus has only been reported once. We report a second case exclusively involving the nasal cavity, ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus. Excision was performed using a Denker's medial maxillectomy approach.

Craniopharyngioma↗

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.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗

Does synchronous nasal surgery increase the risk of post-operative haemorrhage in adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy?

Otolaryngologists occasionally perform simultaneous procedures on their patients, the indication being co-existent pathology. This is not a universally accepted practice as some feel that the post-operative morbidity is increased in such patients. Tonsillectomy is a common otolaryngological procedure and the main life-threatening complication, haemorrhage is easily identifiable. This study compares the incidence of post-operative haemorrhage requiring admission in patients undergoing tonsillectomy alone with that in patients undergoing tonsillectomy and nasal surgery. A retrospective study was undertaken of all adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy alone or tonsillectomy and synchronous nasal surgery in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Seventy-one patients (34 male) with a mean age of 23 years underwent tonsillectomy and synchronous nasal surgery over a nine-year period 1991-1999. The commonest nasal procedure was reduction of the inferior turbinates (in 48 cases). Three hundred and ninety-eight patients (131 male) with a mean age of 23 years underwent tonsillectomy alone over a nine-month period, July 1998 to April 1999. The incidence of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage in the synchronous nasal surgery group was 12.7 per cent (9 out of 71) compared with four per cent (16 out of 398) in the tonsillectomy alone group (p <0.01, Chi-squared test). There was no difference in hospital stay between the two groups (mean two days). Synchronous nasal surgery increases the incidence of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage.

Adolescent↗

Mutual inhibition of the insulin absorption-enhancing properties of dodecylmaltoside and dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin following nasal administration.

PURPOSE: To determine if a nasal insulin formulation containing two distinct absorption-enhancing agents exhibits an additive or synergistic increase in the rate of systemic insulin absorption. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin absorption were measured in hyperglycemic anesthetized rats following nasal insulin administration with formulations containing two different types of absorption-promoting agents, dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DMBCD) and dodecylmaltoside (DDM). RESULTS: When either DDM (0.1-0.5%) or DMBCD (1.0-5.0%) was added to the nasal insulin formulation, a significant and rapid increase in plasma insulin levels was observed, with a concomitant decrease in blood glucose concentration. A combined preparation containing 0.25% DDM (0.005 M) and 2.5% DMBCD (0.019M), however, failed to cause an increase in plasma insulin levels or a decrease in blood glucose concentration. Increasing concentrations of DDM added to an insulin formulation with a fixed DMBCD concentration caused a decrease, rather than an increase, in systemic absorption of insulin. CONCLUSIONS: Mixing DMBCD and DDM resulted in mutual inhibition of their ability to enhance systemic absorption of insulin following nasal delivery. The results are consistent with the formation of an inclusion complex between DDM and DMBCD which lacks the ability to enhance nasal insulin absorption.

Absorption↗

Enhanced bioavailability of calcitonin formulated with alkylglycosides following nasal and ocular administration in rats.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of alkylglycosides on the bioavailability of calcitonin following nasal and ocular administration. METHODS: A salmon calcitonin specific radioimmunoassay kit was used to measure calcitonin levels in anesthetized rats at various times after nasal or ocular administration of calcitonin formulated with saline or with octylmaltoside, a medium chain length alkylglycoside or tetradecylmaltoside, a long chain alkylglycoside. The extent of calcitonin absorption was determined directly from the plasma calcitonin level-time curve and the bioavailability of calcitonin was determined from the area under the plasma calcium level-time curve. The calcium level was determined using a colorimetric method. RESULTS: When the nasal formulation contained calcitonin plus saline or 0.125% octylmaltoside, little or no calcitonin was absorbed. However, plasma calcitonin levels were increased and plasma calcium levels were decreased when the nasal formulation contained calcitonin plus 0.125% or 0.25% tetradecylmaltoside. Maximal calcitonin levels were observed 7.5-10 min after nasal administration of the formulation. Ocular administration of calcitonin formulated with tetradecylmaltoside also resulted in calcitonin absorption, but less calcitonin absorption was found after ocular administration than after nasal administration. CONCLUSION: The experimental data indicate that tetradecylmaltoside, but not octylmaltoside. can be effectively used to enhance the bioavailability of nasally and ocularly administered calcitonin.

Absorption↗

Influence of surfactants (present in the dissolution media) on the release behaviour of tolbutamide from its inclusion complex with beta-cyclodextrin.

The possible competitive displacement of a drug from its cyclodextrin-based inclusion complex by a third substance was investigated by studying the dissolution behaviour of tolbutamide-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex in demineralised water and in aqueous solution of different surfactants. Physical mixtures and kneaded systems were prepared in 1:1 and 1:2 drug-beta-cyclodextrin mol/mol ratios and they were characterised by hot-stage microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray powder diffractometry. The release behaviour of tolbutamide from its inclusion complex was studied by studying the dissolution of the binary systems in water and in aqueous solutions of three surfactants: polysorbate 20, poloxyl 23-lauryl ether, and sodium lauryl sulphate. When demineralised water was used as the dissolution media, the fastest dissolution of tolbutamide was obtained from 1:2 kneaded system followed by 1:1 kneaded system. The presence of poloxyl 23-lauryl ether and sodium lauryl sulphate in the media caused a decrement in the rate and extent of dissolution of the drug from both kneaded systems in comparison with that obtained from the same systems in water. However, the release of tolbutamide from the kneaded systems remains unaffected when polysorbate 20 was present in the dissolution media. Results of this study suggest that the simultaneous presence of beta-cyclodextrin and surfactants of proper molecular structure in a pharmaceutical formulation can give rise to an unexpected dissolution of the drug.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Study of tolbutamide-hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin interaction in solution and solid state.

Tolbutamide-hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin (TBM-HPGCD) interaction has been investigated in an aqueous environment and in the solid state. The solubility of TBM was increased in accord with the amount of HPGCD added to the aqueous medium forming a soluble inclusion compound. The phase solubility diagram obtained was of A(L) type. Physical mixtures and kneaded systems of the drug and cyclodextrin derivative were prepared in 1:1 and 1:2 drug/cyclodextrin mol/mol ratio. All solid binary systems were characterised by hot-stage microscopy (HSM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). An inclusion complex was formed in both of the kneaded systems. In the 1:2 kneaded system, the entire drug was included in the cyclodextrin cavity, while, in the 1:1 kneaded system only a part of the drug formed an inclusion complex with the cyclodextrin. A significant improvement in the dissolution of the drug was obtained from the kneaded systems in comparison with that of the pure TBM and physical mixtures. However, there was no significant difference between the dissolution profiles of the two kneaded systems. The study suggests that an inclusion complex was obtained both in aqueous solution and in solid state.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the frontal sinus: how we diagnosed it.

Isolated primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the frontal sinus is rare. We describe the case of a middle-aged man who came to us with signs of orbital cellulitis complicating an acute infected frontal mucocele. His condition was initially controlled with medical therapy and subsequent endoscopic sinus surgery, but his symptoms eventually returned. We were able to diagnose the lymphoma only by approaching the sinus externally to obtain a biopsy. This case highlights the importance of making a full visual inspection of the involved sinus in order to avoid missing an unexpected, albeit a rarely encountered, pathology.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Interactions of griseofulvin with cyclodextrins in solid binary systems.

Griseofulvin/cyclodextrin interactions were investigated in aqueous environment and in solid state. Two cyclodextrin derivatives (beta-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin) were used to prepare different physical mixtures and kneaded systems, and the drug/cyclodextrin ratios were 1:1 and 1:2 mol/mol. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hot-stage microscopy (HSM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), and X-ray powder diffractometry were employed to characterize pure substances and their kneaded counterparts and all of the binary systems. The solubility of griseofulvin was increased in accord with the quantity of cyclodextrin added. HSM examination revealed that 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin was dissolved in the droplets of melted griseofulvin, but did not show any interactions between melted griseofulvin and beta-cyclodextrin particles. The presence of griseofulvin endothermic peak in the DSC curves of all binary systems suggests the absence of any griseofulvin/cylcodextrin inclusion compound in the solid state. In TG, data of weight loss owing to the dehydration of cyclodextrins was similar for both kneaded systems and physical mixtures. X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited the amorphous nature of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and the crystalline nature of griseofulvin and binary systems. Griseofulvin dissolution profiles from all binary systems showed an improvement in drug dissolution, which indicates that an "in situ" drug/cyclodextrin inclusion compound was formed in the aqueous dissolution medium.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗