Health literacy in cancer care: A systematic review.

Purpose: Health literacy (HL) is a set of knowledge and skills that enables individuals to interpret and act upon health information, which is essential for health equity. There is a growing body of evidence in the field of HL in cancer care but there is, to our knowledge, no systematic review that explores the association between sociodemographic factors and HL among patients with cancer. The aim of this study was therefore to conduct a systematic review of the existing literature that assesses HL levels and the relationship between HL and sociodemographic factors in an adult cancer population.

Qualitative and quantitative comparison of allergen component-specific to birch and grass analyzed by ImmunoCAP assay and Euroline immunoblot test.

In the diagnostic work up of allergy, determining allergen component-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) is important for diagnosis, prognosis and choice of treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the immunoblotting assay (Euroline) in detection of IgE antibodies against timothy grass and birch pollen allergen components compared to fluorescent enzyme assay (ImmunoCAP, Phadia 250).  A total of 128 serum samples from patients allergic to timothy grass and birch pollen were analysed.

Pre-treatment allergen-specific IgE analysis and outcomes of allergen immunotherapy.

Patients show varied results to allergen immunotherapy (AIT. The reason for this variability is unclear. To describe the relationship between AIT efficacy and demographic characteristics, as well as pre-treatment plasma levels of specific IgE-antibodies to grass and birch pollen.

Long-Term Sinonasal Carriage of and Anti-Staphylococcal Humoral Immune Response in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

We investigated diversity, genetic factors, and humoral immune responses against antigens via genome analysis of isolates from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients in a long-term follow-up. Of the 42 patients who provided isolates and serum for a previous study, 34 could be included for follow-up after a decade. Clinical examinations were performed and bacterial samples were collected from the maxillary sinus and nares.

Long-Term Clinical Follow-Up of Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Objective: This study comprised a long-term follow-up of a cohort of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) regarding clinical features and symptomatology.

Methods: Data from 42 patients with CRS were available from a previous study. Forty of these patients were alive and were contacted for inclusion after approximately 10 years.

in chronic rhinosinusitis: the effect on the epithelial chloride channel (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR) and the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) physiology.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease of the nose and the paranasal sinuses, often associated with an infection by . Disturbance in the function of ion channels is regarded as an etiological factor for pathogenesis of CRS. The study aims to measure the mRNA expression of the ENaC and CFTR ion channels in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) and to investigate the effect of both the budesonide and on these ion channels.

Comparison of Clinical Factors Between Patients With Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor-Induced Angioedema and Cough.

Background: Angioedema is a rare and serious adverse drug reaction (ADR) to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor treatment. Dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors and has been identified as a possible risk factor for angioedema.

Objective: We compared characteristics between patients with ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema and cough with the aim of identifying risk factors that differ between these adverse events.

Bacterial findings in optimised sampling and characterisation of S. aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis.

The bacterial spectrum in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is clinically relevant. This study aimed to compare two sampling techniques and to characterise Staphylococcus aureus isolated from CRS patients. Bacterial specimens were collected from the nares and maxillary sinus in 42 CRS patients and from the nares in 57 healthy controls.

Molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus associated with chronic rhinosinusitis.

The anterior nares have been regarded as the major carriage site of Staphylococcus aureus. From here, the organism can spread to other parts of the body where it might act as harmless commensal or cause mild to severe infections. Nasal sinuses are normally sterile, but in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the finding of S.

Phenotype standardization of angioedema in the head and neck region caused by agents acting on the angiotensin system.

Angioedema is a potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. To study the genetic etiology of this rare adverse event, international consortia and multicenter recruitment of patients are needed. To reduce patient heterogeneity, we have standardized the phenotype.

Isolation and culture of primary human nasal epithelial cells from anesthetized nasal epithelia.

Conclusion: Using a local anesthetic agent before obtaining nasal biopsies by nasal brushing makes the sampling procedure smooth, avoids lacrimation, nasal itching/irritation, and/or sneezing and provides enough viable cells to establish primary cultures.

Objectives: To examine the use of local anesthesia to avoid the irritation experienced by the subject when nasal biopsies are obtained by nasal brushing in order to culture viable nasal epithelial cells.

Methods: Nasal epithelial cells were collected from the mid-part of the inferior turbinate of healthy volunteers by brushing with interdental brushes, after spraying a topical anesthetic on the nasal mucosa.

Anterior rhinoscopy and middle meatal culture in acute rhinosinusitis.

Objective: To assess the use of bacterial culture findings for middle meatal samples obtained via anterior rhinoscopy, in the diagnosis of adults with acute rhinosinusitis.

Materials And Methods: Microbial cultures were prepared for 30 adult patients with acute rhinosinusitis and suspected bacterial involvement, using samples from the nasopharynx, and from the nasal middle meatus obtained via anterior rhinoscopy. Findings for the ipsilateral maxillary antrum were used as a reference.

Acute epiglottitis: epidemiology and Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution in adults.

Objectives: We studied the incidence and bacterial epidemiology of acute epiglottitis presenting in the first 16 years following the introduction of general childhood vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b. Our main objectives were to analyse (1) the incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae epiglottitis in adults and (2) the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes involved.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of patients with acute epiglottitis (International Classification of Disease code J05.

Peritonsillar abscess and cellulitis and their relation to a positive antigen detection test for streptococcal infection.

The microbiological cause of peritonsillar abscess and the role of group A β-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) are unclear. We performed a retrospective study at the ear, nose and throat clinic (ENT) of Orebro University Hospital, Sweden, and included 376 events of peritonsillitis between 2002 and 2004. We determined if the patients had visited a primary healthcare centre (PHCC) within 30 days prior to inclusion.

Incidence of peritonsillar abscess and relationship to age and gender: retrospective study.

The incidence of peritonsillitis is not very well known. A retrospective study was performed at the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic (ENT) at the University Hospital of Orebro Sweden. We studied every case from 2002 to 2004 and related it to a well-defined catchment area of 179,200 inhabitants.

Long-term follow-up of children with bacterial meningitis with emphasis on behavioural characteristics.

Unlabelled: The sequelae and behaviour in children several years after an episode of bacterial meningitis were studied. All children in Sweden aged 0-4 years with bacterial meningitis between 1987 and 1989 caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis were identified. After exclusion of 16 children who died, 12 with severe concomitant diseases, ten with severe neurological damage obvious already at discharge from hospital and 34 with unknown address, questionnaires were sent to the parents of the remaining 463 children The nearest-age siblings were used as a comparison group.

Invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b during the first six years of general vaccination of Swedish children.

Since 1992-93 vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) has been included in the general Swedish childhood vaccination programme. The aim of the present study is to describe the epidemiology, identify and describe vaccine failures and calculate vaccine effectiveness during the first 6 y after introduction of vaccination against Hib. Laboratory reports of blood and cerebrospinal isolates to the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control were used as the source for identifying the patients.

Epiglottitis in Sweden before and after introduction of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Background: Acute epiglottitis is an important manifestation of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection. In 1992 and 1993 Hib vaccination was introduced in the general childhood vaccination program in Sweden. The aim of the present investigation was to study the impact of Hib vaccination on the diagnosis of epiglottitis in Sweden in children as well as adults.

Glycosphingolipid binding specificities of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae: detection, isolation, and characterization of a binding-active glycosphingolipid from human oropharyngeal epithelium.

The glycosphingolipid binding specificities of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis were investigated as to the binding of radiolabeled bacteria to glycosphingolipids on thin-layer chromatograms. Thereby, similar binding profiles, for the binding of the two bacteria to lactosylceramide, isoglobotriaosylceramide, gangliotriaosylceramide, gangliotetraosylceramide, lactotetraosylceramide, neolactotetraosylceramide, and sialylneolactohexaosylceramide, were obtained. On a closer view the binding preferences of the bacteria could be differentiated into three groups.

Audiovestibular and neuropsychological outcome of adults who had recovered from childhood bacterial meningitis.

A sample of 22 subjects was studied from a population of adults who had suffered from bacterial meningitis in childhood. Audiovestibular, oculomotor and neuropsychological investigations were performed and quality of life was assessed. An age-matched control group of 20 subjects was recruited.

Aetiology of acute epiglottitis in adults.

In order to determine the aetiology of acute epiglottitis in adults, blood cultures, paired sera and a urine sample were obtained from 54 patients with fever and epiglottitis visualized by indirect laryngoscopy or by direct fibreoptic nasolaryngoscopy. Antibodies were determined against the capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), 3 pneumococcal antigens (a mixture of 23 capsular polysaccharides, C-polysaccharide and pneumolysin) and antistreptolysin O. Acute sera were examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA of Hib and pneumococci.

Protective effect of breastfeeding on invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection: a case-control study in Swedish preschool children.

Background: In Orebro County a 2.5-fold increase in the incidence of Haemophilus influenzae (HI) meningitis was found between 1970 and 1980, an observation that initiated the present study.

Materials And Methods: In order to search for associations between morbidity in invasive HI infection and possible risk factors, a case-control study was conducted over a 6-year period from 1987 to 1992, before general Hib vaccination was introduced in Sweden.