Impaired redox status and cytochrome c oxidase deficiency in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: To evaluate redox status and muscular mitochondrial abnormalities in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Methods: Prospective evaluation of deltoid muscle biopsy in 15 patients with PMR. Fifteen subjects matched for age and sex, with histologically normal muscle and without clinical evidence of myopathy, were used as controls.

Zidovudine-induced mitochondrial disorder with massive liver steatosis, myopathy, lactic acidosis, and mitochondrial DNA depletion.

Zidovudine is known to be responsible for a mitochondrial myopathy with ragged-red fibres and mitochondrial DNA depletion in muscle. Lactic acidosis alone or associated with hepatic abnormalities has also been reported. A single report mentioned the concomitant occurrence of muscular and hepatic disturbances and lactic acidosis in a patient receiving zidovudine, but muscle and liver tissues were not studied.

Effects of different mechanical treatments on nasal resistance assessed by rhinometry.

The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three treatments aiming to reduce nasal airflow resistance (NR): an external nasal strip device (Respir+), an internal nasal mechanical dilator (Nozovent), and a topical decongestant (Pernazène). NR was estimated by active posterior rhinometry at both a 0.5 L/s flow (NRF) and a 1 cm H2O pressure (NRP), under four conditions: in the basal state, with Respir+, with Nozovent, and after treatment with Pernazène.

Nasal airflow resistance measurement: forced oscillation technique versus posterior rhinomanometry.

This study was designed to determine whether nasal airflow resistance (Rn) which is nonlinear during tidal breathing, can be assessed by the forced oscillation (FO) technique. Rn values obtained by the FO technique and extrapolated to 0 Hz (Rn,FO) were compared to those assessed by posterior rhinomanometry at maximal tidal inspiratory flow (Rn,m), at a 0.5 L x s(-1) flow (Rn,F), and at a 1 hPa transnasal pressure (Rn,P).