The effect of acidic fibroblast growth factor and live yeast cell derivative on tympanic membrane regeneration in a rat model

The current treatment of choice for chronic tympanic membrane perforations is surgery. Recent studies using various polypeptide growth factors to accelerate closure of tympanic membrane perforations in model systems have produced mixed results. This study evaluates the effect of acidic fibroblast growth factor (AFGF) and live yeast cell derivative (LYCD) on the rate of healing of acute tympanic membrane perforations in a rat model. Thirty-seven rats had both ears separately randomized in a blinded fashion to receive AFGF in one of three concentrations, LYCD, or a control solution. The rats initially underwent subtotal removal of the tympanic membranes bilaterally. Solutions were applied to the randomized ears daily for 3 days, starting at the time of the surgical perforation. The ears were photographed every 3 to 8 days for 35 days. The photographs were digitally scanned and a computer analysis was used to calculate the percentage of residual perforation. No significant difference in the rate of healing was observed for ears treated with AFGF or LYCD versus the controls. Given the potential advantages of medical treatment of tympanic membrane perforations and the established efficacy of growth factors in other model systems, however, further research is warranted. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;117:616-21.)     

HIV risk of transmission behaviour amongst HIV-infected prisoners and its correlates

Thirty-eight from a total of 42 known HIV-positive prisoners in the Irish prison system voluntarily cooperated in a survey of psychological attitudes, knowledge of risk behaviour, intentions with respect to future risk behaviour, and actual past risk behaviour Of this group, 65% reported that they had put others at risk of HIV, since they became aware of their own HIV + status. Only 16% stated that they would definitely not share their drug-taking equipment in the future and 32% that they would always use a condom in sexual intercourse. In general, psychological and biographical variables were not strongly related to whether or not the respondents had put others at risk of HIV. Nor were there any significant differences in knowledge of at risk behaviour between those who had and those who had not put others at risk. However, there was some evidence for considerable independence between risk-taking behaviour in the sexual and in the drug-taking domains, in that risk-taking in one area was not highly predictive of risk-taking in the other.     

Acoustic rhinometry: validation of volume changes following intra-nasal polypectomy

Acoustic rhinometry measures nasal cavity geometry by analysis of reflected acoustic impulses. Previously, the technique has been applied to normals, patients with septal deviations and rhinitis and to monitor the medical treatment of nasal polyps. To date, no study has been published to validate the application of this technique where nasal polyps are present. In this study, acoustic rhinometry has been used to assess the change in nasal cavity volume following intra-nasal polypectomy in 20 subjects. The volumes of the polyps removed surgically were measured by displacement and compared with the volume change recorded by acoustic rhinometry. A correlation of r = 0.59 (P= <0.01) has been obtained. Therefore, it is possible to apply acoustic rhinometry as a method of assessing non-surgical treatment of nasal polyps given certain conditions.