Blood Biomarkers as Outcome Measures in Inflammatory Neurologic Diseases.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Only a few biomarkers are available in MS clinical practice, such as cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands and immunoglobulin index, serum anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies, and serum anti-John Cunningham virus antibodies. Thus, there is a significant unmet need for biomarkers to assess prognosis, response to therapy, or potential treatment complications.

Retinal measures correlate with cognitive and physical disability in early multiple sclerosis.

Further studies are needed to determine the role of retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) in non-optic neuritis (ON) eyes of patients with early MS. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between retinal layers' thickness and cognitive as well as physical disability in patients with the early RRMS. Participants in this cross-sectional study were adults with early RRMS, stable on interferon beta-1a, or fingolimod therapy, and without a history of ON in one or both eyes.

Prevalence of Clostridium difficile toxinotypes in infected patients at a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

Introduction: Due to the increase in the incidence of Clostridium difficile associated diseases at a tertiary care center in Lebanon, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalent C. difficile toxinotypes.

Methodology: The immunocard method was used to test for toxins A and B in 88 collected stool samples, followed with API 20A to confirm for C.

The growing epidemic of water pipe smoking: health effects and future needs.

Water pipe smoking (WPS), an old method of tobacco smoking, is re-gaining widespread popularity all over the world and among various populations. Smoking machine studies have shown that the water pipe (WP) mainstream smoke (MSS) contains a wide array of chemical substances, many of which are highly toxic and carcinogenic for humans. The concentrations of some substances exceed those present in MSS of cigarettes.

Microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy: short- and long-term outcomes.

Microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy has gained popularity in recent years. However, no prospective long-term follow-up exists in the literature and the risk of increase in tonsillitis is still a concern. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study to assess the short-term benefits of microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy (group 1) compared to electrocautery-assisted total tonsillectomy (group 2), to monitor the durability of the improvement and watch for any change in the rate of tonsillitis.

Can zinc be an adjuvant therapy for juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis?

Objectives: To report a severe case of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) controlled by zinc replacement therapy. To review the contemporary adjuvant therapies used in JORRP.

Methods: The trial of zinc was described in terms of its effect on the inter-surgical interval, site score and clinical symptoms.