Prophylaxis of hookworm anemia-deficiency disease

1. In individuals severely infested with Ancylostoma or Necator, it is possible tomaintain the normality of blood value by the administration of a sufficient dose ofan iron salt.

2. The minimum dose necessary to maintain normality of the blood in an individual weighing 45 kilograms, with 1051 helminths, was 0.2. Gm. daily of ferrous sulfate, administered in mixture with manioc flour.

3. The patient observed became clinically normal two weeks after the beginningof blood regeneration up to the end of the trial period one year later. In this period,with the various doses of iron tried, hemoglobin varied from 8.0 to 11.0 per 100ml. of blood.

Note: ACKNOWLEDGMENTWe owe thanks to the kindness of our colleague, Dr. Genard Nobrega, for the case report and electrocardiographic study of the patient.

     

Heat and moisture exchangers as a treatment option in the post-operative rehabilitation of laryngectomized patients

A multi-institutional, prospective clinical study was undertaken to investigate whether the use of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) in the period following total laryngectomy could prevent the development or reduce the severity of respiratory symptoms. Fifty-nine patients from three hospitals were provided with HMEs, either immediately post-surgery or, in the case of post-surgical radiotherapy, upon completion of the radiotherapy. For the total sample (n= 59) statistically significant improvements over time (between 3 and 6 months) could be found in forced expectoration (P < 0.05), in the perceived voice quality (P < 0.001), social anxiety (P < 0.001), social interactions (P < 0.001) and in feelings of anxiety and depression (P < 0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated statistically significant group differences over time in forced expectoration and stoma cleaning (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences over time were noted between the regular and non(regular) HME user groups in voice quality or in various aspects of daily living.     

Trauma in patients with temporomandibular disorders: frequency and treatment outcome

summary Controversy exists on the aetiological importance and the effect of jaw macrotrauma (fractures excluded) on the occurrence of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of jaw injury in TMD patients and to compare the severity of the symptoms, the clinical characteristics and the treatment outcome in TMD patients with or without a history of trauma to the head and neck region directly linked to the onset of symptoms. The study sample included 400 consecutive TMD clinical patients. In 24.5% of patients the onset of the pain and dysfunction could be linked directly to the trauma, mainly whiplash accidents. No significant differences could be found between the two groups in daily recurrent headache, dizziness, neck pain, joint crepitation and pain in the joints. Maximal mouth opening was less than 20 mm in 14.3% of patients with a history of trauma and in 4.1% of those without such a history. According to the Helkimo dysfunction index (DI), more trauma than non-trauma TMD patients belonged to the severe dysfunction groups (DI 4 and 5) at first examination. The outcome of a conservative treatment procedure (counselling, occlusal splint, physiotherapy, occasionally occlusal therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs was not different between the two groups at the 1 year evaluation. The degree of maximal opening was similar: less than 20 mm in 3.7% and 2.2% in trauma and non-trauma patients respectively. Forty percent and 41% respectively were symptom free or had DI = 1. The results suggest that external trauma to the joint or to the jaw in general is an important initiating factor in the aetiology of TMD but also that the prognosis is favourable.     

Lateral Skull Base Surgery: The Otology Group Experience

Lateral skull base surgery has remained the surgical frontier of new developments in the treatment of lesions heretofore difficult to access. Examination of surgical results stimulates technical innovation and provides an intervention risk-benefit ratio assessment for particular lesions useful in management planning. With this in mind, we report the updated collective experience with lateral skull base surgery at the Otology Group over the past 20 years. Two hundred ninety-eight patients underwent surgical intervention for lateral skull base lesions. In 81 patients these lesions were malignant; in 217, benign. Of the benign lesions, 165 were glomus tumors: 139 glomus jugulare, 19 glomus vagale, and 7 glomus tympanicum. The remainder comprised 21 menigniomas, 14 neuromas, two neurofibromas, and a small group of much rarer entities. The philosophy of surgical approach, results, and follow-up are discussed.