Upregulation of inflammatory genes in the nasal mucosa of patients undergoing endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

Background: Epiphora is a common complaint of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) in adults. The precise pathogenesis of NLDO is still unknown, but inflammatory processes are believed to be predisposing factors. Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) is an effective surgical technique for treating symptomatic NLDO.

Symptom score questionnaire for nasolacrimal duct obstruction in adults--a novel tool to assess the outcome after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

Background: The incidence of nasolacrimal pathway obstruction increases with age, and dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a commonly applied surgical technique to treat severe cases. However, no disease-specific tools to assess the symptoms and the subjective outcome after DCR have been established. We have developed a specific Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Symptom Score (NLDO-SS) questionnaire to evaluate the outcome, and tested it in a prospective clinical trial.

Strong expression of HSP47 in metaplastic nasal mucosa may predict a poor outcome after primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: a prospective study.

Purpose: Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is an effective and safe procedure for patients with post-saccal obstruction of the nasolacrimal pathway. The aim of DCR is to relieve symptoms by creating a bypass between the lacrimal sac and the nasal cavity. The most common reason for failure is stenosis caused by a fibrotic process at the rhinostomy site.

Repeated early debridement does not provide significant symptomatic benefit after ESS.

Objective: Postoperative debridement is considered essential after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), however, its effect on postoperative symptoms is largely unexplored.

Methods: In the present study 90 patients undergoing ESS were randomized to debridement of the nasal cavities either three times during the first postoperative week (intervention group), or once on the 7th postoperative day (control group). Postoperative saline douching was used in both groups.

Cutaneous electrical stimulation treatment in unresolved facial nerve paralysis: an exploratory study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess clinical and neurophysiological changes after 6 mos of transcutaneous electrical stimulation in patients with unresolved facial nerve paralysis.

Design: A pilot case series of 10 consecutive patients with chronic facial nerve paralysis either of idiopathic origin or because of herpes zoster oticus participated in this open study. All patients received below sensory threshold transcutaneous electrical stimulation for 6 mos for their facial nerve paralysis.

Silicone tubing is not necessary after primary endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: a prospective randomized study.

Background: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) is an effective procedure when treating saccal and postsaccal obstructions of the nasolacrimal pathway. The benefit of silicone tubing after DCR is still controversial. We conducted a prospective, randomized study to evaluate the necessity of bicanalicular silicone tubes after primary EN-DCR.

Pain treatment and recovery after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objectives/hypothesis: Early recovery and pain management after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are largely unexplored regardless of the large number of ESSs performed by otorhinolaryngologists. In the present study, we evaluated whether scheduled administration of acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain management after ESS would allow faster recovery to normal daily activities compared with acetaminophen administered on an as needed basis.

Study Design: Open, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups.

Silicone tubing after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: is it necessary?

Background: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) is increasing in popularity as a treatment of nasolacrimal obstructions because it has proven to be an effective and safe procedure. In this study the success of EN-DCR combined with or without bicanalicular silicone stents was evaluated in patients with nasolacrimal obstructions.

Methods: Forty-two consecutive EN-DCR procedures were performed in 36 patients during 2000-2004.

Acetaminophen is highly effective in pain treatment after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objectives/hypothesis: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is increasingly performed by otorhinolaryngologists. However, the early recovery and pain management after ESS is still largely unexplored. In the present study, we have evaluated the incidence and severity of pain and the efficacy and safety of acetaminophen (paracetamol) for pain management in patients undergoing ESS.

High stromal versican expression predicts unfavourable outcome in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Versican, an extracellular matrix proteoglycan, has been noted to be expressed in several malignant tumours and has been suggested to play an important role in cancer development and tumour growth.

Aims: To investigate whether the versican expression level in the peritumoural stromal tissue of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) predicts relapse-free or disease-specific survival. Also, to study the associations between versican expression and several other clinicopathological variables, as well as tumour cell proliferation.

Occupational sensitization to storage mites in the personnel of a water-damaged grocery store.

Objectives: To investigate the occupational exposure and sensitization to storage mites (SM) in sales staff working in a moisture-damaged and three healthy reference buildings.

Methods: The study population consisted of the entire personnel (n=12) in the moisture-damaged grocery store. They all suffered from persistent upper respiratory tract symptoms.

A 14-year prospective follow-up study of children treated early in life with tympanostomy tubes: Part 2: Hearing outcomes.

Objective: To determine hearing outcomes in young children receiving early and repeated tympanostomy tube insertion for recurrent acute otitis media or otitis media with effusion.

Design: Prospective 14-year follow-up.

Setting: Central Hospital of Central Finland, a tertiary care hospital.

A 14-year prospective follow-up study of children treated early in life with tympanostomy tubes: Part 1: Clinical outcomes.

Objective: To determine 14-year otological outcomes in young children treated with early insertion of ventilation tubes (VTs) for recurrent acute otitis media or otitis media with effusion (OME).

Design: Prospective 14-year follow-up.

Setting: Central Hospital of Central Finland, a tertiary care hospital.

Development of mastoid air cell system in children treated with ventilation tubes for early-onset otitis media: a prospective radiographic 5-year follow-up study.

Objectives/hypothesis: Although most studies have agreed that small mastoid air cell systems correlate with long-standing otitis media, the extent to which the environmental factors affect the development of MACS remains undetermined. We investigated the radiographic development of mastoid air cell systems in children with recurrent acute otitis media or otitis media with effusion who were treated with ventilation tubes early in life.

Study Design: Prospective follow-up.

A rapidly progressing periorbital mass in an infant: fasciitis nodularis.

Nodular fasciitis is a benign, rapidly growing proliferation of fibroblasts, which is histologically difficult to distinguish from neoplasms. In several reports, as many as half of all cases have been initially misdiagnosed as a fibrosarcoma or some other malignancy. Although the head and neck is a region of predilection in infants and children, only eight periocular lesions have previously been reported in paediatric patients.

Nasal symptoms among residents in moldy housing.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether mold allergy mediated through immunoglobulin E (IgE) was responsible for the chronic nasal symptoms experienced by residents of moldy dwellings. A secondary aim was to investigate whether nasal mucosal findings were a possible reflection of other pathological mechanisms of chronic rhinitis.

Methods: Sixteen adults living in moldy housing and complaining of chronic rhinitis were compared with sixteen healthy referents without any known mold exposure.

Postoperative behavioral changes in children after adenoidectomy.

Background: Pain is a common complaint after adenoidectomy. Behavioral changes after adenoidectomy in children have been reported, and it has been concluded that postoperative pain significantly affects the occurrence of behavioral changes. Behavioral changes, when a proactive pain treatment has been used, have not been systematically studied.

Nuclear and cytoplasmic p53 expression in pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic implications.

Background: The role of p53 expression in human neoplasms is still controversial, and it has been associated with both favorable and unfavorable outcome of the patients. Also cytoplasmic expression of p53 protein has been reported to affect survival in some cancers. Furthermore, an association between p53 and beta-catenin expression has been demonstrated.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: relation to p53 expression, clinicopathological data, and survival.

Objective: To investigate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and its relation to p53 expression, histologic differentiation, clinical data, and prognosis.

Study Design: A retrospective survey.

Methods: Primary tumors for analyses were obtained from 118 patients diagnosed with SCC of the oropharynx or hypopharynx between 1975 and 1998 in eastern Finland.

Otological and audiological outcomes five years after tympanostomy in early childhood.

Objective: Ventilation tubes in the treatment of otitis media in young children remain controversial. Despite abundant research, few prospective long-term follow-up studies have included even a minority of patients under 1 year old. We investigated long-term otological and audiological outcomes in children with recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion, who were treated early with ventilation tubes.

Recovery after tonsillectomy in adults: a three-week follow-up study.

Objective: To evaluate recovery after tonsillectomy and safety and efficacy of ketoprofen in pain treatment after discharge.

Study Design: A prospective, longitudinal study of 102 patients undergoing tonsillectomy.

Methods: All patients underwent tonsillectomy (or adenotonsillectomy) under general anesthesia.

The effect of ketoprofen on recovery after tonsillectomy in children: a 3-week follow-up study.

Objective: To evaluate recovery after tonsillectomy in children, and to determine the safety and efficacy of ketoprofen in pain treatment after discharge.

Study Design: A prospective, longitudinal study in 102 children undergoing tonsillectomy.

Methods: All children underwent tonsillectomy under a same general anesthesia.