ADAM33 polymorphisms and susceptibility to allergic rhinitis: a meta-analysis

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Several polymorphisms in a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 (ADAM33) have been implicated in susceptibility to allergic rhinitis (AR), but the...     

Severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUNDGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that typically presents with ascending weakness, pain, paraesthesias, and numbness, which mimic the findings in lumbar spinal stenosis. Here, we report a case of severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with GBS.CASE SUMMARYA 70-year-old man with a history of lumbar spinal stenosis presented to our emergency department with severe lower back pain and lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of severe lumbar spinal stenosis. However, his symptoms did not improve postoperatively and he developed dysphagia and upper extremity numbness. An electromyogram was performed. Based on his symptoms, physical examination, and electromyogram, he was diagnosed with GBS. After 5 d of intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 d) therapy, he gained 4/5 of strength in his upper and lower extremities and denied paraesthesias. He had regained 5/5 of strength in his extremities when he was discharged and had no symptoms during follow-up.CONCLUSIONGBS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal disorder, even though magnetic resonance imaging shows severe lumbar spinal stenosis. This case highlights the importance of a careful diagnosis when a patient has a history of a disease and comes to the hospital with the same or similar symptoms.     

Importance of serum phosphate in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Metabolic disturbances including changes in serum calcium,magnesium or phosphate(P) influence the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM).We assessed the importance of serum P in elderly patients with type 2 DM vs nondiabetes mellitus(non-DM) in relation to renal function.AIM To determine the association between serum P and serum glucose or insulin resistance in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.METHODS One hundred-ten subjects with a mean age of 69.02±14.3 years were enrolled.Twenty-nine of the participants had type 2 DM(26.4%).The incidence of hypertension,smoking and receiving vitamin D(vitD) derivates were recorded.The participants were classified by both estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) and albuminuria categories according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes 2012 criteria.RESULTS We divided the patients in two groups according to the P cut-off point related to DM value.A comparison between high and low P showed that body mass index30.2±6.3 vs 28.1±4.6(P=0.04),mean glucose 63.6 vs 50.2(P=0.03),uric acid 6.7±1.6 vs 6.09±1.7(P=0.05),mean intact-parathyroid hormone 68.06 vs 47.4(P=0.001),systolic blood pressure 147.4±16.7 vs 140..2±16.1(P=0.02),mean albuminuria 63.2 vs 50.6(P=0.04) and eGFR 45.6±22.1 vs 55.4±21.5(P=0.02)were significantly different.χ~2 tests showed a significant association between high P and DM,hypertension,receiving vitD,smoking and eGFR stage(χ~2=6.3,P=0.01,χ~2=3.9,P=0.03,χ~2=6.9,P=0.009,χ~2=7.04,P=0.01 and χ~2=7.36,P=0.04,respectively).The adjusted model showed that older age,female gender and increased body mass index were significant predictors of type 2 DM when entering the covariates.CONCLUSION High serum P contributes to vascular and metabolic disturbances in elderly patients with type 2 DM and renal impairment.     

Biomedical microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS): Revolution in drug delivery and analytical techniques

Advancement in microelectromechanical system has facilitated the microfabrication of polymeric substrates and the development of the novel class of controlled drug delivery devices. These vehicles have specifically tailored three dimensional physical and chemical features which together, provide the capacity to target cell, stimulate unidirectional controlled release of therapeutics and augment permeation across the barriers. Apart from drug delivery devices microfabrication technology’s offer exciting prospects to generate biomimetic gastrointestinal tract models. BioMEMS are capable of analysing biochemical liquid sample like solution of metabolites, macromolecules, proteins, nucleic acid, cells and viruses. This review summarized multidisciplinary application of biomedical microelectromechanical systems in drug delivery and its potential in analytical procedures.     

Rapid Increase in Neural Conduction Time in the Adult Human Auditory Brainstem Following Sudden Unilateral Deafness

Individuals with sudden unilateral deafness offer a unique opportunity to study plasticity of the binaural auditory system in adult humans. Stimulation of the intact ear results in increased activity in the auditory cortex. However, there are no reports of changes at sub-cortical levels in humans. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate changes in sub-cortical activity immediately before and after the onset of surgically induced unilateral deafness in adult humans. Click-evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to stimulation of the healthy ear were recorded from ten adults during the course of translabyrinthine surgery for the removal of a unilateral acoustic neuroma. This surgical technique always results in abrupt deafferentation of the affected ear. The results revealed a rapid (within minutes) reduction in latency of wave V (mean pre = 6.55 ms; mean post = 6.15 ms; p < 0.001). A latency reduction was also observed for wave III (mean pre = 4.40 ms; mean post = 4.13 ms; p < 0.001). These reductions in response latency are consistent with functional changes including disinhibition or/and more rapid intra-cellular signalling affecting binaurally sensitive neurons in the central auditory system. The results are highly relevant for improved understanding of putative physiological mechanisms underlying perceptual disorders such as tinnitus and hyperacusis.     

Dynamic LVOT Obstruction and Aortic Stenosis in the Same Patient: A Case of Challenging Doppler Hemodynamics

We present a patient with both dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and valvular aortic stenosis. The aortic valve was calcified, and velocities and gradients measured by continuous‐wave Doppler met standard criteria for severe aortic stenosis. The increased subvalvular velocities invalidated assumptions of the simplified Bernoulli equation; correction using the longer form of the Bernoulli equation suggested a lower but still significant gradient. The complex shape of the subvalvular spectral Doppler envelope indicated supranormal systolic function and dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction. Left heart catheterization with an end‐hole catheter was required to determine the subvalvular and valvular components of the obstruction.