Efficacy of esketamine nasal spray over quetiapine extended release over the short and long term: sensitivity analyses of ESCAPE-TRD, a randomised phase IIIb clinical trial.

Background: In patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD), the ESCAPE-TRD study showed esketamine nasal spray was superior to quetiapine extended release.

Aims: To determine the robustness of the ESCAPE-TRD results and confirm the superiority of esketamine nasal spray over quetiapine extended release.

Method: ESCAPE-TRD was a randomised, open-label, rater-blinded, active-controlled phase IIIb trial.

Women suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis in Norway are more likely to take sick leave.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) decreases the quality of life and affects the working life of sufferers. There is a scarcity of studies of how CRS affects sick leave at the population level, particularly for women.

Materials And Methods: Data from questionnaires were collected in Telemark, Norway in 2013 (N = 15,484) and again in 2018 (N = 13,966).

On the outcome of septoplasty.

In 2019 and 2023, two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of septoplasty were published (1,2). Part of the rationale for both studies was that the value of septoplasty had been questioned by policymakers, health insurance carriers and health care providers. The results of both studies showed that patients undergoing septoplasty had a better outcome than patients in the control group.

Upper Respiratory Microbiota in Relation to Ear and Nose Health Among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children.

Background: We explored the nasal microbiota in Indigenous Australian children in relation to ear and nasal health.

Methods: In total, 103 Indigenous Australian children aged 2-7 years (mean 4.7 years) were recruited from 2 Queensland communities.

Inflammatory Mediator Profiles in Secretory in Relationship to Viable Bacterial Pathogens and Bacterial and Viral Nucleic Acids.

Secretory (SOM) is characterized by persistence of fluid in the middle ear, often following an episode of acute . Our hypothesis is that failure to eliminate bacterial or viral pathogens may result in persistent low-grade inflammation. In this study, we analyzed inflammatory mediators in middle ear fluids from 67 children with SOM.

The choice between surgical scrubbing and sterile covering before or after induction of anaesthesia: A prospective study.

: Day surgery is increasing, and safe and effective logistics are sought. One part of the in-theatre logistics commonly discussed is whether surgical scrub and sterile covering should be done before or after induction of anaesthesia. The aim of the present study was to compare the impact of surgical scrub and sterile covering before vs.

Pelvic organ prolapse surgery: changes in perioperative management improving hospital pathway.

Background: There is growing interest in improving operating theatre efficacy and shortening stay in hospital. We made a retrospective patient record review looking at changes in the perioperative management of pelvic organ prolapse surgery during the period 2012 to 2014 in four hospitals in the Gothenburg area in Sweden.

Methods: We studied 440 pelvic organ prolapse surgery records; procedures performed during 2012, 2013 and 2014.

High Cytokine Levels in Tonsillitis Secretions Regardless of Presence of Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci.

Acute pharyngotonsillitis denotes tonsillar inflammation caused by bacteria or viruses. Here, we investigated if beta-hemolytic streptococci (β-HS) tonsillitis would differ in inflammatory mediator response from tonsillitis of other causes. Tonsillar secretions were obtained from 36 acute pharyngotonsillitis patients and 16 controls.

Increased cardiovascular risk without generalized arterial dilating diathesis in persons who do not have abdominal aortic aneurysm but who are first-degree relatives of abdominal aortic aneurysm patients.

There is a strong genetic predisposition towards abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but it is unknown whether persons without AAA but with first-degree relatives who are AAA patients have a generalized dilating diathesis, defect arterial wall mechanics, or increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of the study was to investigate arterial diameters and wall mechanics at multiple arterial sites in these subjects and compare them with controls without a family history of AAA. This study included 118 first-degree relatives of patients with AAA and 66 controls (age: 40-80 years).

Low wall stress in the popliteal artery: Other mechanisms responsible for the predilection of aneurysmal dilatation?

The popliteal artery (PA) is, after aorta, the most common site for aneurysm formation. Why the PA is more susceptible than other peripheral muscular arteries is unknown. We hypothesized that the wall composition, which in turn affects wall properties, as well as the circumferential wall stress (WS) imposed on the arterial wall, might differ compared to other muscular arteries.

Allergic rhinitis and the common cold--high cost to society.

Unlabelled: The common cold and allergic rhinitis constitute a global health problem that affects social life, sleep, school and work performance and is likely to impose a substantial economic burden on society because of absence from work and reduced working capacity. This study assesses the loss of productivity as a result of both allergic rhinitis and the common cold in the Swedish working population.

Methods: Four thousand questionnaires were sent to a randomized adult population, aged 18-65 years, in Sweden, stratified by gender and area of residence (metropolitan area vs rest of the country).

Occupational rhinosinusitis.

In contrast to most allergic rhinitis and nasal hyperresponsiveness, occupational rhinosinusitis offers a unique and effective measure-control of exposure-to reduce its medical impact on patients. Prospective data from adolescents introduced to the work environment show that working in high-risk environments results in a higher incidence of rhinitis compared with those not employed in such settings. Data also show that the highest incidence of occupational rhinosinusitis is found during the first months of exposure to irritants and sensitizers, emphasizing the importance of early prevention.

Quality of life in nonallergic rhinitis.

Health-related quality-of-life questionnaires are instruments to assess the burden of a disease as perceived by the patient. Few data are available on the health-related quality of life of patients with nonallergic rhinitis, but data from studies of patients with allergic rhinitis show that rhinitis predominantly affects mental quality of life. This burden of rhinitis is associated with impaired sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, concentration problems, and increased irritability.

Perennial non-infectious rhinitis--an independent risk factor for sleep disturbances in Asthma.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate if perennial non-infectious rhinitis is associated with sleep disturbances in asthma.

Materials And Methods: This is a questionnaire based study in a random population sample from Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden aged 30-54yr. A total of 1127 individuals reporting asthma from an original random population sample of 16,191 were analysed regarding their quality of sleep in relation to perennial non-infectious rhinitis.

Clinical and bacteriological efficacy of 5-day telithromycin in acute maxillary sinusitis: a pooled analysis.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of a 5-day course of telithromycin (800 mg once daily) with a 10-day course of telithromycin or standard comparators (amoxicillin-clavulanate 500/125 mg three times daily or cefuroxime axetil 250 mg twice daily) in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS).

Methods: Data from three randomised double blind studies were pooled. The studies included patients with clinical symptoms of AMS and sinus X-ray findings of total opacity, air-fluid levels or mucosal thickening.

Quality of life in non-infectious rhinitis and asthma.

In this study we evaluated how the quality of life in subjects with asthma was affected by a history of non-infectious rhinitis. The study comprised 180 persons with asthma and 156 controls, who answered the Short Form 36 quality of life questionnaire. Both the asthma subjects and the controls were stratified according to a history of non-infectious rhinitis (NIR).

Five-year results of curettage-cryosurgery for 100 consecutive auricular non-melanoma skin cancers.

Large excisions or Mohs' micrographic surgery (MMS) are often the suggested treatments for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) of the external ear. This five-year follow-up attempts to evaluate whether curettage-cryosurgery could be an alternative therapy for selected auricular NMSCs. One hundred auricular NMSCs, selected at a skin tumour clinic, were treated by a thorough curettage, with different-sized curettes, followed by cryosurgery in a double freeze-thaw cycle.

The Use of Probiotics in Head and Neck Infections.

Recurrent episodes of infections in the upper respiratory tract are very common. The pathogenesis behind these recurrences is still not well understood, but much attention has been paid to the adherence of the microorganisms to epithelial structures and to the protective function of the normal bacterial flora (bacterial interference). Thus, in vitro as well as in vivo studies have shown that both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria of the normal flora in the upper respiratory tract can hinder the growth of pathogens and the establishment of a renewed infection.

Efficacy and tolerability of once-daily therapy with telithromycin for 5 or 10 days for the treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis.

Background: The efficacy and tolerability of oral telithromycin 800 mg once daily for 5 vs. 10 days were assessed in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis (AMS).

Methods: Adults (n = 341) with confirmed AMS diagnosed on clinical signs and symptoms and sinus X-ray showing total opacity or air-fluid level were randomized to receive oral telithromycin for 5 days (followed by placebo for 5 days; n = 170) or 10 days (n = 171).

Effect of recolonisation with "interfering" alpha streptococci on recurrences of acute and secretory otitis media in children: randomised placebo controlled trial.

Objective: To study the effect of recolonisation with alpha streptococci with the ability to inhibit the growth of otopathogens ("interfering" activity) on the recurrence of acute otitis media in susceptible children and the effect on the frequency of secretory otitis media.

Design: Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled study.

Setting: Ear, nose, and throat clinic with three doctors.

Efficacy of ceftibuten in 5 versus 10 days treatment of recurrent acute otitis media in children.

Objective: in recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) several alternative treatments are suggested, e.g. cephalosporins.

Food induced stimulation of the antisecretory factor can improve symptoms in human inflammatory bowel disease: a study of a concept.

Background: Antisecretory factor (AF), a 41 kDa cloned and sequenced protein, suppresses intestinal inflammation and hypersecretion in animals. Endogenous AF production can be induced by dietary modifications in several animal species, and this feed has been shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease in weaning piglets. The role of AF in intestinal disease in humans is not known.

Atopic dermatitis and melanocytic naevi.

A study was performed to test the clinical impression that adults with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) have a low number of common naevi (CN). The number of CN > or = 2 mm was investigated in 51 Caucasian patients aged 20-63 years with severe AD since early childhood. The control group consisted of 379 randomly selected subjects, aged 30-50 years, investigated in an earlier study.

Helicobacter pylori culture from a positive, liquid-based urease test for routine clinical use: a cost-effective approach.

Background: The aim of our study was to test the feasibility of culturing Helicobacter pylori directly from biopsies aimed for rapid urease test in routine clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: In 260 consecutive patients referred for gastroscopy because of dyspepsia one antral biopsy was routinely used for our "in house" rapid urease test (RUT). Positive biopsies were placed in a transport medium and sent to the laboratory.