PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Noussios

Publications and source records attributed to G Noussios.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Decannulation in children after long-term tracheostomy.

Various approaches and techniques are used in discontinuing tracheostomy in children. The variability in the use of resources is considerable. The objective of the study was to assess decannulation in children attending our ENT department. A retrospective analysis was carried out of the medical records of patients who had had both a tracheostomy (n=7) and a decannulation (n=6) from 1998 to 2003. Tracheostomies placed at a mean age of 4.2 months were discontinued on average 26.4 months later. All the children underwent airway endoscopy in the operating room in preparation for decannulation. They had downsizing, then capping of the tracheostomy as a functional trial. One child failed decannulation and another needed a second trial for successful decannulation. The individualization of tracheostomy decannulation is necessary in children.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed2006

Thymic cyst in the differential diagnosis of paediatric cervical masses.

Thymic cyst in the differential diagnosis of paediatric cervical masses. Cervical ectopic thymic tissue is rarely reported. However, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses, especially in children. We present a case of a 7-year-old male with a soft, asymptomatic right-sided cervical mass. The patient underwent complete excision of a 3 x 4 cm cyst, which was derived from a mass of soft tissue and was in close relation with the carotid sheath. Histological examination of the specimen showed a thymic cyst. The child's post-operative course was unremarkable and follow-up appointment six months later showed complete recovery. The embryological development, clinical presentation and management of ectopic thymic lesions are discussed together with a brief review of the literature.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Long term audiological evaluation of beta-thalassemic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the incidence and to monitor the progression of hearing loss in children and young adults with beta-thalassemia major. METHODS: One hundred and four (104) patients aged 6-35 years (mean 17,2 years) participated in the study. All patients were on a regular transfusion-chelation program maintaining a mean hemoglobin level of 9.5 gr/dl. Subjects were receiving desferrioxamine (DFO) chelation treatment with a mean daily dose of 50-60 mg/kg, 5-6 days a week during the first six years of the study, which was then reduced to 40-50 mg/kg for the following eight years. Patients were followed for 8-14 years. RESULTS: Overall, 21 out of 104 patients (20.2%) presented with high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), either unilateral or bilateral. No ototoxic factor, other than DFO, was present in any of the patients. Patients with SNHL presented with relatively lower serum ferritin levels than those with normal hearing, however, no statistically significant difference was observed. Subjects with SNHL were submitted to DFO reduction or temporary withdrawal. Following intervention, 7 out of 21 affected patients recovered, 10 remained stable and 4 demonstrated aggravation. CONCLUSION: The findings are indicative of DFO's contributing role in the development of hearing impairment. Regular audiologic evaluation is imperative in all thalassemic patients so that early changes may be recognized and treatment may be judiciously adjusted in order to prevent or reverse hearing impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of patient benefit from septo-rhinoplasty with the use of Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) and Nasal Symptom Questionnaire (NSQ).

Septorhinoplasty is the most difficult and complicated procedure in facial plastic surgery. Because of the complex interdependency of the anatomical parts, alteration of one may have an impact on another. Form and function are completely interwoven in septorhinoplasty. The selection of appropriate candidates involves an understanding of their expectations. Outcome research is a new concept in clinical medicine and its importance is increasingly recognized for the patient management and policy decisions. This study includes an analysis of patients' subjective opinion of the surgical outcome after septo-rhinoplasty, with the use of Glasgow Benefit Inventory (postoperatively) and the Nasal Symptom Questionnaire (pre- and postoperatively). In this study we analyze the patient subjective rating of benefit in 41 consecutive patients who underwent septo-rhinoplasty within the first 8 months of 2001, and had completed a follow up period of more than 6 months postoperatively. The early complication rate was recorded and analyzed along with data regarding the patient satisfaction rate using GBI and NSQ. The response rate was 80%, which is high. Patients had significant improvement in all subscales of GBI (General, Social, Physical) related with a decreased number of nasal symptoms postoperatively and a good aesthetic result.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Morphological study of development and functional activity of palatine tonsils in embryonic age.

Palatine tonsils play an important role in the development of the immune system, being the first organ in the lymph system which analyses and reacts to antigenic stimulation. In this study, the peritonsillar area of Waldeyer's ring was investigated in 88 normal human embryos which were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. The progressive development of palatine tonsils during embryonic life is discussed. The first appearance of tonsils is in about the 14th-15th week followed by a parallel development of B- and T-cell regions which accounts for the high incidence of non mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas among all tonsillar lymphomas and the higher incidence of T-cell-lymphomas, in comparison to the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the digestive system. The way in which the human body develops the palatine tonsils quickly and prepares them to react to the first antigenic stimulation, are discussed.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed2003

A study of the effects on the ovarian cycle of athletic training in different sports.

AIM: The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of sports training on the ovarian cycle of athletes of various disciplines, and of non-athletes, their participation and their performance in competition as well as the appearance of symptoms of discomfort pre and during the duration of menstruation. METHODS: Athletes from the disciplines of basketball, track athletics, gymnastics, swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo as well as non-athletes took part in this research. All the participants, both athletes and non-athletes were selected and completed a specially designed questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of the research showed that there are no significant differences in the menarche to the duration of the ovarian cycle and to the duration of the menstrual flow. Also, the involvement in different athletic disciplines appears to affect to different degrees the regularity of the cycle although this does not prevent the athlete from participating in training and in competition. The effects are sometimes beneficial to their performance and sometimes they could have a negative effect on their performance. Regarding the symptoms and the discomforts which occasionally appeared pre and during the duration of menstruation e.g. headache symptoms, these appear to be greatly decreased in the athletes of swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo and perhaps this is a result of the beneficial effects of the water. The percentage for abdominal pain appeared decreased for certain disciplines (such as swimming) or stable both pre and during the duration of menstruation. Concerning the pain in the thoracicolumbar region, the percentages were different for every sport: a noticeable decrease was recorded for the athletes of swimming, gymnasts, synchronized swimming, water polo, track athletes and the non-athletes, but with an increase for the basketball players. For the symptoms of weakness and fatigue, the percentages were increased for all the athletic disciplines as well as for the non-athletic during the duration of menstruation compared with pre menstruation, although for the percentages for symptoms of nervousness, the picture was different, that is, the percentages appeared decreased during the duration of menstruation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, where problems appear in the function of the ovarian cycle, the assistance of a specialist gynaecologist is considered essential when we are sure that these problems are not caused by training, malnutrition or psychological factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Subglottic hemangioma treated with interferon alpha 2A.

Infantile subglottic hemagioma is a rare vascular malformation involving the subglottic larynx and although present from birth, symptoms will not be noted until later in infancy (due to tendency to enlarge). Typically presents with a progressive crouplike illness that begins a few weeks after birth and the infant develops inspiratory stridor, which becomes expiratory as the obstruction increases. Although benign lesions which involute spontaneously, they may demand the attention of an ENT surgeon to maintain a secure airway. We report a case of a 3-month-old female patient (full term, normal delivery) who was referred to us for investigation of respiratory distress. Endoscopic examination revealed a hemangioma at the left lateral wall of the subglottic larynx while the rest of the airway was normal. The infant was treated with a combination of steroids (dexamethazone 0.5 mg x 3 per os) and interferon A-2a (650.000 IU subcutaneously, every other day, for 12 months) and had fast improvement of her symptoms. Repeated endoscopy 3 months after the diagnosis reveal impressive remission of the subglottic hemangioma. Throughout the years, a variety of treatments have been proposed and utilised for subglottic hemangioma. Interfron 2-alpha, drug acting by interference with angiogenesis, is very effective in treating subglottic hemangiomas without the need for tracheostomy. Its side effects are generally not serious. As congenital subglottic hemangiomas have tendency towards spontaneous regression, conservative treatment seems more appropriate compared to more aggressive treatment that carry substantial risks of long term complications.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2002

Ramsay Hunt syndrome presenting as a cranial polyneuropathy.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is herpes zoster of the facial nerve, frequently associated with VIII cranial nerve involvement, but on rare occasions other cranial nerves are affected as well. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with RHS with involvement of V, VII, VIII, IX, and XII cranial nerves. The patient showed significant improvement after treatment with acyclovir and prednisolone. RHS should be recognized as a polycranial neuritis characterized by damage to sensory and motor nerves, including the facial nerve and the auditory-vestibular apparatus. Early institution of treatment with antiviral agents may help hasten healing. Involvement of the XIIth cranial nerve has not been reported previously.

Cranial Nerve Diseases↗
PubMed2002

A diagnostic challenge: investigating suspected tracheobronchial and pharyngoesophageal tears. Are there gold standards?

Pneumomediastinum and surgical emphysema of the neck as a result of blunt chest trauma occurs rarely. We report a case of pneumomediastinum and extensive surgical emphysema of the face and neck due to blunt chest trauma (assault), without evidence of laryngotracheal or pharyngoesophageal tear from the clinical assessment and the radiological examinations. Diagnosis, management, evaluation of investigations and potential mechanisms are discussed. In the presence of suspicious tracheal rupture bronchoscopy is mandatory but not the gold standard to confirm the location of the tear, as seen in our case. In the absence of respiratory compromise, conservative management is appropriate.

Bronchi↗
PubMed2001

Hearing loss in children with sickle cell disease.

Hearing loss in children with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell anemia (S/S) has been associated with a high incidence of hearing loss mostly of the sensorineural type (SNHL). Twenty-four patients with sickle cell disease (13 female and 11 male; 22 patients belonging to the S/beta(+)-Thal and 2 to the S/S phenotype) with a mean age of 12.5 +/- 3.6 years and hemoglobin (Hb) levels range 6.5-11 g/dl underwent ENT examination, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, auditory reflex evaluation, tone decay test and brain auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in order to evaluate the presence, type and degree of hearing loss. Only one patient (4.6%) who also sustained an infarct of the middle cerebral artery, demonstrated a unilateral SNHL in high tone frequencies exceeding 70 dB, as well as a prolonged III-V interpeak latency at the same side. No abnormalities were detected in the control group. These findings suggest a low incidence of SNHL in Greek SCD patients probably due to different hematological and clinical profile (S/beta(+)-Thal).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Testicular tumor metastatic to the nose. A case report.

In this paper we present an uncommon tumor found in the nasal cavity, the result of a metastasis from primary tumor of testis (embryonal carcinoma) in a young patient of 24 years of age. For this uncommon tumor we discuss the case with the Greek and foreign bibliography.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Tracheotomy in neonates.

The particularities and complications of tracheotomy in neonates, as well as postoperative care and follow-up are presented. During the five year period from 1991-1996, 12 urgent tracheotomies were performed on 12 neonates in the Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki, 7 boys and 5 girls, ranging from 1 to 25 days. All these infants presented severe respiratory failure due to upper airway obstruction. Endotracheal intubation was attempted on all of them with no success, and urgent tracheotomy was recommended by the neonatologists. Three out of the twelve neonates died (the first during the procedure, the second just after the procedure and the third one week later) while the remaining nine were relieved from respiratory distress. Tracheotomy is a procedure of major importance for the survival and further development of young patients.

Emergencies↗
PubMed1996

Sensorineural hearing loss in children with thalassemia major in Northern Greece.

Eighty eight (88) beta-thalassemic patients undergoing regular transfusion- chelation therapy with desferrioxamine (DFO) were studied for ENT problems from 1988 to 1993, as DFO has been implicated for auditory neurotoxicity. The mean age of the patients was 9.66 +/- 3.1 years, their pre-transfusion haemoglobin level was 9 +/- 2 g/dl, serum ferritin level was 2065 +/- 898 ng/ml and the daily DFO dose was 50.7 +/- 9.5 mg/kg for 5 days/week. The ENT study included, ENT examination, pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, tone decay test and ABR. During this 6-year study 24/88 (27%) patients developed bilateral or ipsilateral sensorineural hearing loss in high tone frequencies, sometimes exceeding 80 dB, which was attributed to DFO toxicity. Therefore, a reduction or temporary withdrawal of DFO followed. After this intervention 12/24 patients recovered almost completely, 7/24 remained stable and 5/24 presented aggravation of their hearing loss. This study confirms the DFO induced auditory neurotoxicity and the necessity of periodical audiology control of beta-thalassemic patients for prompt diagnosis and management of this complication.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗