PARENTAL AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF FOREIGN BODY INHALATION IN CHILDREN.

Background: The presence of a foreign body in the airways is a life-threatening condition and thus a medical emergency that requires timely diagnosis and treatment. If not recognized, it can lead to a number of serious complications. It is of the utmost importance to raise public awareness and educate parents and other caregivers on all aspects of this topic.

IMPACT OF WEARING HEARING AIDS ON COGNITIVE ABILITIES AND SUBJECTIVE TINNITUS IN PATIENTS WITH SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS: A PILOT STUDY.

There is an increased number of people with hearing impairment and decreased cognitive abilities among the elderly population. Due to the fact that the auditory system and central nervous system are connected, pathological changes associated with aging occur on both levels. With the development of hearing aid technology, the quality of life of these patients can be improved.

A systematic review of common landmarks in navigated endoscopic sinus surgery (NESS).

Background: Navigation brought about a tremendous improvement in functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). When upgraded accordingly, FESS becomes navigated endoscopic sinus surgery (NESS). Indications for intraoperative use of navigation can be broadened to almost any FESS case.

Effect of Tribulus Terrestris in the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction and Clitoral Vascularization. Results of a Randomized Study Comparing Two Different Dosage Regimes.

We evaluated the efficacy of in two different dosage regimes for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in pre and postmenopausal women and its effect on the vascular resistance of the clitoral artery using Power Doppler. A total of 104 women were randomly assigned to receive 94mg, three times/day (TT3) or 280mg once/day for 90 days (TT1). Evaluation was performed using FSFI and QS-F questionnaires, serum levels of prolactin, TSH, total testosterone and SHBG, and clitoral artery assessment with Power Doppler ultrasound.

Ovarian response after random-start controlled ovarian stimulation to cryopreserve oocytes in cancer patients.

Objective: To evaluate COS and oocyte retrieval results in ART treatment cycles initiated at any stage of the menstrual cycle (random start) in cancer patients, who could not postpone the onset of cancer treatment.

Methods: Prospective observational study of 26 women with cancer, with an indication to start cancer treatment within the next 20 days and wishing to preserve their fertility. Ovarian stimulation started immediately with FSH followed by GnRH antagonist for pituitary suppression and GnRH agonist for oocyte maturation.

Females have stronger neurogenic response than males after non-specific nasal challenge in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Epidemiological studies show female predominance in the prevalence of non- allergic rhinitis (NAR) and local allergic rhinitis (LAR). Experimental studies show female patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) demonstrate higher levels of sensitivity to irritants and airway hyperresponsiveness than males. Bronchial asthma shows female predominance in post-puberty patients, and gender interaction with severe asthma endotypes.

Radiotherapy-induced hearing loss in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a hypothesized correlation of development of a sensorineural hearing loss and radiotherapy in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. This prospective study included a total of 50 patients, which after strict exclusion critera (audiologic problems before RT primary tumors of the auditory system, spread of the primary tumor to any part of the auditory system) resulted in 23 analyzed patients, ranging between 50 and 76 years of age, with a mean age of 60. Audiometry measuring frequency-specific thresholds was performed in three time points: one month before radiotherapy, one and six months after radiotherapy.

Birth of a normal child after in vitro fertilization treatment followed by dengue fever.

Purpose: Dengue is a serious public health issue due to its escalating aspect. It is also not yet established whether dengue has any impact on the outcome of assisted reproductive technique for infertility treatments. To our knowledge there are no published data in this subject.

An approach to assessing multicity implementation of healthful food access policy, systems, and environmental changes.

Local governments play an increasingly important role in improving residents' access to healthful food and beverages to reduce obesity and chronic disease. Cities can use multiple strategies to improve community health through, for example, land use and zoning policies, city contracting and procurement practices, sponsorship of farmers markets and community gardens, and vending and concession practices in parks and recreation facilities. With 41 cities in the Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department jurisdiction, the county undertook to measure the extent to which cities were engaged in making policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes to increase residents' access to healthful food.

Algorithm for navigated ESS.

ENT navigation has given new opportunities in performing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS) and improving surgical outcome of the patients` treatment. ESS assisted by a navigation system could be called Navigated Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (NESS). As it is generally accepted that the NESS should be performed only in cases of complex anatomy and pathology, it has not yet been established as a state-of-the-art procedure and thus not used on a daily basis.

Local IgE and inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis of asthmatics and non-asthmatics.

The aim of the study was to show the difference in the pattern of inflammation, and Th1/Th2 polarization between asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients with CRS, specifically eosinophil activation, local IgE levels in the sinus fluid and tissue, and the severity of inflammation were measured. The maxillary sinus lavages, mucosal biopsies and bacteriological swabs were taken in 17 asthmatic and 36 non-asthmatic adult patients with CRS. The concentrations of IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and tryptase were analyzed and IgE+ cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells were counted.

Correlation of histopathology and symptoms in allergic and non-allergic patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare some histopathologic predictors of efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in allergic and non-allergic patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Symptomatology was rated in 50 allergic and 50 non-allergic patients prior to as well as 12 and 24 months after surgery. Specimens taken during the procedure were scored for goblet cells, subepithelial thickening, mast cells and eosinophils.

Histopathologic parameters as predictors of response to endoscopic sinus surgery in nonallergic patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: To estimate the predictable value of histopathologic parameters in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) for response to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Study Design: Symptomatology was rated in 100 patients prior to as well as 12 and 24 months after surgery. Specimens taken during the procedure were examined and scored for goblet cells, subepithelial thickening, mast cells, and eosinophils.

Short tandem repeat (STR) variation in eight village populations of the island of Korcula (Croatia).

The aim of this study was to analyse short tandem repeat (STR) variation using the data on nine loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, THO1, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820) in the populations from eight villages on the island of Korcula, Croatia, in order to analyse its genetic and population structure. The analysis of STR data in this study indicated an appreciable degree of genetic homogeneity among the studied village populations on the island, even though a so-called 'east-west dichotomy' and differentiation between the inhabitants of the most recent settlement and the remaining ones was indicated with respect to the loci CSF1PO and TPOX, respectively. The validity of STR markers in assessing genetic structure of small populations and especially in determining the relationships among geographically closely related but reproductively isolated groups remains to be further evaluated, especially in terms of a larger number of studied loci in order to possibly find specific markers useful for resolving genetic patterns of variability at regional levels.

Barriers to health care for street youth.

This study investigates the barriers to health care faced by runaway adolescents. A convenience sample of 89 street youth located through community agencies was surveyed to elicit their perceptions of barriers to care. Results indicated that these youth experience a wide range of barriers to health care, both objective and subjective.

Preventing mental health problems in children with chronic illness or disability.

Children with special health needs have an added risk for mental health problems. These problems may be preventable in many cases by focusing on the development of competence in children and their family members in adapting to the chronic condition demands. Five strategies for developing competence are discussed: (a) encourage normal life experience, (b)increase coping skills, (c) increase use of social support, (d) coordinate the delivery of care, and (e) empower families.

Family functioning of adolescents who parent and place for adoption.

While an extensive body of knowledge on adolescent sexual behavior and outcome has developed, current sociological and psychological studies of adolescents who place their babies for adoption are scant, often with inconclusive results. The level of family of origin functioning of adolescent parents and placers is even less frequently studied. This cross-sectional study of 84 adolescents attending an alternative high school for pregnant girls who recently made a placement or parenting decision assesses the family environment of teenagers in order to provide a broader understanding of these characteristics, which would assist practitioners in provision of services to this population.

Heterochromatin composition and nucleolus organizer activity in four canid species.

Sequential staining with a counterstain-contrasted fluorescent banding technique (chromomycin A3-distamycin A-DAPI) revealed the occurrence of distamycin A-4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DA-DAPI) staining heterochromatin in the centromeric regions of chromosomes 33, 36, 37, and 38 in the wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and of chromosomes 13, 16, and 23 in the blue fox (Alopex lagopus). The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) lacked such regions. Staining with DAPI--actinomycin D produced a QFH-type banding pattern with clearcut differences in the staining behaviour of DA-DAPI positive regions between these three canid species.

NOR activity, heterochromatin differentiation, and the Robertsonian polymorphism in Sus scrofa L.

The karyotype of the European wild pig (Sus scrofa scrofa L.) was analysed by means of silver-staining and the chromomycin A3/distamycin A/DAPI fluorescent banding technique to locate active NORs and to differentiate types of C-bands. The ribosomal RNA genes are localized at the secondary constrictions of chromosomes 8 and 10.