Chronic laryngitis in adults

BACKGROUND: Chronic laryngitis is a lingering inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa, caused by specific aetiology and often irritative factors. AIM: To discuss clinic and therapeutic aspects of the pathology. METHODS: We report a retrospective stuy about 25 patients treated and followed for non specific chronic laryngitis over a period of 11 years (1994-2004). RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 54.2 years. Tobacco intoxication was noted in 72.7 of cases and Gastroesophageal reflux in 2 cases. The endoscopic examination of laryngeal lesions, realised in all cases, notes laryngeal keratosis in 88% of cases and congestive laryngitis in 12%. Histological analysis of the lesions reveals a dysplasia in 44% of cases. Clinical and endoscopic follow up of the patients discover malignant development in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: The treatment of chronic laryngitis is based on the suppression of etiologic factors and on laryngeal microsurgery with micro instruments and with laser techniques.     

Clonidine does not improve quality of ropivacaine axillary brachial plexus block in children

Background: The addition of clonidine to peripheral nerve blocks is controversial in children. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of clonidine added to ropivacaine in pediatric axillary brachial plexus block (ABPB). Methods: Children aged 1–6 years, scheduled to undergo forearm or hand surgery, were recruited into this prospective, double‐blind controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated to receive an ABPB either with ropivacaine 0.2% 0.4 ml·kg^?1 plus saline in 1 ml (RS) or ropivacaine 0.2% 0.4 ml·kg^?1 plus clonidine 1 μg·kg^?1 in 1 ml (RC). Primary endpoints were quality of postoperative analgesia as assessed by pain scores and total 24‐h postoperative analgesia requirements. Secondary outcomes were time to first analgesia request and duration of motor blockade. Results: Sixty patients were recruited (n = 30 per group) into the study. Pain scores were comparable throughout the first 24 h between the two groups. Ten children in the (RS) and six in (RC) groups required supplementary analgesia during the first 24 h (P = 0.24). Children who required further analgesia did so after 288 ± 94 min in the (RS) and 437 ± 204 min in the (RC) group (P = 0.06). There was no difference in the duration of motor block [186 ± 71 and 154 ± 56 min, P = 0.12 for (RS) and (RC), respectively]. Conclusion: Ropivacaine (0.2% 0.4 ml·kg^?1) for ABPB provides sufficient postoperative analgesia in children scheduled for forearm or hand surgery. The addition of clonidine to ABPB does not improve overall postoperative analgesia but may increase the time to first analgesia request.     

Quantum dot nanoparticles affect the reproductive system of Caenorhabditis elegans

Quantum dots (QDs) are an increasingly important class of nanoparticle, but little ecotoxicological data for QDs has been published to date. The effects of mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA)-capped QDs (QDs-MSA) and equivalent concentrations of cadmium (Cd) from cadmium chloride on growth and reproduction of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditidae) were assessed in laboratory experiments. Growth from larvae to adults of C. elegans was unaffected by exposure to 1?μM fluorescent QDs-MSA, but adults produced more embryos and laid them prematurely. Furthermore, C. elegans exposed to QDs-MSA (1?μM) showed a high percentage of embryo mortality (19.2?±?0.5, p?相似文献   

Antioxidant supplementations in vitro improve rat sperm parameters and enhance antioxidant enzyme activities against dimethoate-induced sperm damages

Organophosphorus compounds are currently among the most frequently used pesticides worldwide, and therefore, the potential for human exposure to man is considerable. Their toxicity results in negative effects on many organs and systems such as the male reproductive system. So, vitamins that can offer spermatozoa protection are of great importance. This study was designed to investigate (i) the possibility of dimethoate, an organophosphate insecticide, to induce oxidative stress response in rat spermatozoa in vitro and its effect on antioxidant defence system and (ii) the role of vitamin C and vitamin E in alleviating the cytotoxic effects of dimethoate Epididymal spermatozoa were incubated for 3 h at 37 °C with different concentrations of dimethoate (50, 100 and 200 μm) without vitamins or pre-incubated with 20 mm of vitamin C or 2 mm of vitamin E. Sperm parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were performed. Dimethoate caused a significant induction of oxidative damage in spermatozoa at different concentrations as evidenced by increased MDA levels. However, a significant decrease in sperm mobility, viability and activities SOD, CAT and GPx was observed. Vitamins pre-treated spermatozoa showed a significant protection against the cytotoxic effects induced by dimethoate on studied parameters.     

Symptomatic Chikungunya Virus Infection and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Nested Case-Control Study in French Guiana

During the Chikungunya epidemic in the Caribbean and Latin America, pregnant women were affected by the virus in French Guiana. The question of the impact of the virus on pregnancy was raised because of the lack of scientific consensus and published data in the region. Thus, during the Chikungunya outbreak in French Guiana, a comparative study was set up using a cohort of pregnant women. The objective was to compare pregnancy and neonatal outcomes between pregnant women with Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection and pregnant women without CHIKV. Of 653 mothers included in the cohort, 246 mothers were included in the case-control study: 73 had CHIKV fever during pregnancy and 173 had neither fever nor CHIKV during pregnancy. The study did not observe any severe clinical presentation of CHIKV in the participating women. There were no intensive care unit admissions. In addition, the study showed no significant difference between the two groups with regard to pregnancy complications. However, the results showed a potential excess risk of neonatal ICU admission of the newborn when the maternal infection occurred within 7 days before delivery. These results suggest that special attention should be paid to neonates whose mothers were infected with CHIKV shortly before delivery.