Cough: neurophysiology, methods of research, pharmacological therapy and phonoaudiology.

Introduction:  The cough is the more common respiratory symptom in children and adults.

Objective:  To present a revision on the neurophysiology and the methods for study of the consequence of the cough, as well as the pharmacotherapy and phonoaudiology therapy of the cough, based on the works published between 2005 and 2010 and indexed in the bases Medline, Lilacs and Library Cochrane under them to keywords "cough" or "anti-cough". Synthesis of the data: The consequence of the cough involves activation of receiving multiples becomes vacant in the aerial ways and of neural projections of the nucleus of the solitary treatment for other structures of the central nervous system.

Pharyngotonsillitis in children: view from a sample of pediatricians and otorhinolaryngologists.

Unlabelled: Acute pharyngotonsillitis is a common upper airway infection in children.

Aim: To analyze opinions and practices of pediatricians and otorhinolaryngologists from Sao Paulo State, Brazil, concerning diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pharyngotonsillitis and their complications in children.

Methods: We randomly selected 1,370 pediatricians and 1,000 otolaryngologists from Sao Paulo State, Brazil.

Patents of drugs extracted from Brazilian medicinal plants.

Background: Plants synthesise a vast repertoire of chemicals with various biological activities. Brazilian enormous botanical diversity facilitates the development of novel ethical drugs for the treatment of diseases in humans.

Objective: To present therapeutic patent applications comprising Brazilian native plants published in the 2003-2008 period in light of legal aspects of patentability of biodiversity and public health concerns.

Mobile phones: influence on auditory and vestibular systems.

Unlabelled: Telecommunications systems emit radiofrequency, which is an invisible electromagnetic radiation. Mobile phones operate with microwaves (450900 MHz in the analog service, and 1,82,2 GHz in the digital service) very close to the users ear. The skin, inner ear, cochlear nerve and the temporal lobe surface absorb the radiofrequency energy.

Pharmaceutical excipients and the information on drug labels.

Aim: to evaluate the presence of preservatives, dyes, sweeteners and flavouring substances in 73 pharmaceutical preparations of 35 medicines for oral administration, according to drug labeling information about the excipients.

Methods: 35 medications were selected, both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, marketed in Brazil. The sample included: analgesic/antipyretic, antimicrobial, mucoregulatory, cough and cold, decongestant, antihistamine, bronchodilator, corticosteroid, antiinflammatory and vitamin medications.

Smoking, smoking cessation and otorhinolaryngologists in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Unlabelled: Otorhinolaryngologists are directly involved in the diagnosis and management of smoking related diseases, including upper airway malignancy. It is important that the specialists have skills to treat smoking and nicotine dependence. It is also known that there are smokers amongst doctors.

Methods for smoking cessation and treatment of nicotine dependence.

Smoking is related to 30% of cancer deaths. It is a risk factor for respiratory tract, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, uterine cervix, kidney and bladder carcinomas. Nicotine induces tolerance and addiction by acting on the central dopaminergic pathways, thus leading to pleasure and reward sensations within the limbic system.

Update in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.

The prevalence of OSAS in children is 0.7-3%, with peak incidence in pre-schoolers. It is characterised by partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, causing intermittent hypoxia.

[Pediatricians and sleep-disordered breathing in the child].

Objectives: Assessment of opinions and practices of pediatricians concerning sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children.

Methods: Randomly 516 pediatricians were selected in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A survey mailed to them included questions regarding: their professional profile, knowledge about SDB in childhood, opinions and practices for diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

[Retrospective analysis of toxicity of eardrops, topical nasal and oropharyngeal medicines, documented in São Paulo, Brazil].

Background: Retrospective analysis of human toxicity files involving topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases (eardrops, topical nasal medicines, lozenges, drops and sprays for oropharyngeal affections).

Methods: Thirty-four brands of eardrops, 48 of topical nasal medicines and 22 of tablets, lozenges and sprays for oropharyngeal affections were selected, from a total of 104 products available in Brazil. We analyzed the registries in the electronic database from the Poison Control Centre of São Paulo (CCI-Jabaquara), Brazil, for the period from January 1996 through December 2000.

[Impact of otitis media on language acquisition in children].

Objective: To review the literature concerning the impact of otitis media on language acquisitions in children.

Sources Of Data: Medline. The following keywords were used for searching: otitis media, hearing, language and children.