Transtympanic penetrating injury to the internal auditory canal.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S M Lam.
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We diagnosed and treated a case of Ludwig's angina in a 45-year-old man who had edema of the floor of mouth and the tongue along with bilateral submandibular sialadenitis and sialolithiasis. We secured the patient's airway via nasal fiberoptic intubation in the surgical intensive care unit and administered intravenous antibiotics. The edema subsided, and the patient was extubated on the third postoperative day and discharged shortly thereafter. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient with bilateral submandibular sialadenitis and sialolithiasis presenting as Ludwig's angina. Despite the decreasing incidence of this disease, Ludwig's angina remains an important disease process because a failure to control the airway can have disastrous consequences. Proper diagnosis, airway control, antibiotic therapy, and occasionally surgical management are essential to ensure the safety of the patient.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the incidence of postoperative headaches after retrosigmoid resections of acoustic neuromas and to evaluate the impact of cranioplasty on the prevention and management of these headaches. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective evaluation was performed on 30 consecutive patients who underwent a cranioplasty after retrosigmoid excision of their acoustic neuroma. The results were compared with 30 historical control patients who underwent the same procedure but did not have reconstruction with a cranioplasty. The patients were evaluated by review of office records and via telephone questionnaire. METHODS: One group of patients (30 patients) had no cranioplasty, and the other group of 30 patients had primary reconstruction with a titanium mesh-acrylic cranioplasty. All 60 patients were asked to report on the duration and severity of their headaches by means of a standard questionnaire, grading their symptoms on a scale of 1 to 4. The data were subjected to chi2 and Student t test statistical analyses. RESULTS: New-onset, postoperative headaches occurred in 27% of patients, 23% in the cranioplasty group compared with 30% in the group without cranioplasty (a difference that was not statistically significant [P = .158]). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the severity of the headaches (P<.03). The headaches in the cranioplasty group were less severe and were not disabling. There were no complications, infections, or extrusions related to the cranioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Cranioplasty has not been able to eliminate postoperative headaches. However, the use of cranioplasty has significantly decreased the severity of postoperative headaches after retrosigmoid excision of acoustic neuromas.
OBJECTIVES: Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) has been implicated in diverse physiologic and pathophysiologic functions including immunological, inflammatory, and neoplastic processes. TGF-alpha has been localized in the hyperproliferative, inflammatory environment of chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, and asthmatic airways. TGF-beta1, which must be present with TGF-alpha to transform fibroblasts, has been found in rhinitic mucosa and in asthma in prior studies. The authors sought to identify whether TGF-alpha also played a role in the inflammatory cascade and fibrosis of rhinitis. STUDY DESIGN: A nonrandomized, prospective study was carried out in which samples of inferior turbinate and nasal polyps from rhinitic and nonrhinitic patients were subjected to immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to determine the presence of TGF-alpha. METHODS: Twenty-seven subjects undergoing surgery for rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal fracture, and rhinoplasty were recruited for this study, the latter three groups acting as controls. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting techniques were employed to identify the presence of TGF-alpha in inferior-turbinate and nasal-polyp samples of rhinitic subjects. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the selective staining of TGF-alpha in the basement membrane and extracellular matrix, including lymphatic, vascular, and glandular structures, in most turbinate samples and the absence of staining in corresponding controls. Further, TGF-alpha was isolated to a discrete 30-kD band in both inferior turbinate and polyp tissues by Western blotting without staining in the corresponding controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TGF-alpha may play a role in the inflammatory derangement of rhinitis.
We report a 39-year-old female non-smoker who has history of asthma since the age of 29 and history of allergic rhinitis at age 13. No symptomatic characteristics of premenstrual tension were reported. Forced expiratory peak flow rate (PEFR) readings showed striking falls 24 hours before menses, with the peak flows dropping from a baseline of 350 L/min to 200 L/min. The patient received 10 mg prednisolone daily which was increased to 40 mg prednisolone in the menstrual week in an attempt to maintain a normal peak flow. Daily peak flow readings and every other day hormonal studies of progesterone and estrogen both demonstrated a positive correlation between the serum progesterone and the peak flow readings. The addition of intramuscular progesterone (75 mg daily) to the bronchodilators eliminated the premenstrual dips in peak flow, and daily doses of prednisolone were reduced to 5-10 mg. We suggest that a rapid fall in serum progesterone may play an important role in the pathogenesis of premenstrual asthma.
A generalized allergic reaction to or anaphylaxis from honeybee sting may involve the skin with erythema, puritus, urticaria, or angioedema; the respiratory tract with laryngeal edema, and brochospasm; the cardiovascular system with myocardial depression, hypotension, and shock; and the gastrointestinal system with nausea, vomiting, and incontinence. Acute pulmonary hemorrhage following a honeybee sting has never been reported. We describe a previously healthy 14-year-old girl who developed acute pulmonary hemorrhage, hypotension, and generalized skin rash after a single honeybee sting on her right fourth finger. Her serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) was high (360 IU/mL). Chest X-ray revealed perihilar alveolar infiltrative lesions. Metabolic acidosis and hypoxemia were also found. After treatment with antihistamines, dopamine, corticosteroids, bronchodilaters, fluid replacement, and mechanical ventilation, her condition improved dramatically. A hypersensitivity reaction to honeybee venom is the most likely explanation for this unusual case of acute pulmonary hemorrhage.
A polyclonal antibody has been prepared against a synthetic peptide derived from the C-terminal tail of the cloned rat AT2 angiotensin receptor, corresponding to amino acid residue 341-351. The antibody was of high titer and displayed monospecific activity toward the synthetic peptide in the ELISA assay. Western blot analysis indicated that the antiserum recognised only a single protein band with a mean apparent molecular mass of 75.4 kDa in the rat adrenals. Immunohistochemical studies with affinity purified antibody localised immunoreactive AT2 angiotensin receptor in medulla cells of the adrenals. Immunoreactivity was also observed in pyramidal tract, but no specific immunoreactivity can be detected in regions of rat brain that are known to express AT2 angiotensin receptors, including inferior olive, locus coeruleus and cerebellum.
We describe a case of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with a large amount of pericardial effusion with diastolic collapse of right ventricle suggestive of tamponade. Isolates from surgical drainage of pericardial fluid showed Acinetobacter baumannii exhibiting multiple antibiotics resistance. Despite the high frequency of both pericardial involvement and of infection complications in SLE, septic pericarditis and tamponade is considered rare. Most of the reported cases of septic pericarditis in SLE were due to Staphylococcal aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii has never been reported before.
Multiple myeloma has rarely been reported in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. We observed a patient with a 20-year history of ankylosing spondylitis, who subsequently developed IgA myeloma. This association may not be simply coincidental. It has been proposed that the protracted stimulation of immunocytes by inflammatory lesions on the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and biliary tracts, where lymphocytes are already committed to IgA production, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of IgA myeloma in some patients. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, probably resulting from the interaction of a genetic predisposition involving HLA-B27 with an environmental event such as enteric bacterial infection. We propose that ankylosing spondylitis and IgA myeloma occurring concomitantly in our patient implies a possible pathogenetic relationship. In ankylosing spondylitis, persistent reticuloendothelial stimulation, due to chronic subclinical gastrointestinal infection, may lead to IgA-producing plasma cell activation and proliferation, and subsequent IgA myeloma development.
BACKGROUND: Correction of chin underprojection has a significant effect on facial symmetry. Alloplastic chin implants and sliding genioplasty represent the accepted methods of chin augmentation. While both procedures may be used for retrognathia or microgenia, the sliding genioplasty may also be used in chin asymmetry, prognathia, and vertical height discrepancies. We report our finding from a 5-year review of our experience with sliding genioplasty. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of sliding genioplasties performed by residents and private practitioners, to illustrate the versatility and ease of this procedure, and to confirm the excellent clinical results obtained with minimal complications. DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: University center and private practice. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients, aged 16 to 52 years (mean age, 21 years), underwent sliding genioplasty alone (8 patients) or with concomitant orthognathic surgery (35 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient satisfaction, physician satisfaction, chin movement, bone resorption, and other complications. RESULTS: Mean value of chin advancement was 8 mm in cases of isolated sliding genioplasty and 4 mm when performed with orthognathic surgery. Average setback for prognathic correction (6 patients) was 2 mm. Less than 0.5 mm of bone resorption was encountered. Temporary unilateral mental nerve paresthesia was noted in 1 patient. Thermal injury to the lower lip occurred in 1 patient. Thirty-seven of 43 patients were extremely satisfied with their cosmetic result; 5 patients were very satisfied; and 1 patient was dissatisfied because of the resultant occlusion. Physician satisfaction correlated closely with that of the patients. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5 years, with an average follow-up of 2.3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate excellent esthetic results with minimal complications. Unlike alloplastic chin implants, sliding genioplasty allows correction of many chin abnormalities, including underprojection, overprojection, chin asymmetries, and/or vertical-height abnormalities. This underused technique is simple and effective and should be included in the options of the facial plastic surgeon.