Rhinoscintigraphic analysis of nasal mucociliary function in patients with Bell's palsy

OBJECTIVE

Mucociliary transport (MCT) is an important defense mechanism of the respiratory tract. One of the major factors determining MCT is the ciliary activity of the respiratory epithelium. Rhinoscintigraphy is the most commonly used method for the analysis of mucociliary activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of facial paralysis on the nasal mucociliary clearance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 38 Bell's palsy patients as the study group and 10 subjects without any history of paranasal sinus disease or facial paralysis as the control group. A drop of technetium 99m-labeled macroaggregated albumin (Tc-99m MAA) was placed posterior to the head of the inferior turbinate and followed with a gamma camera. MCT rate was measured as the velocity of Tc-99m MAA drop.

RESULTS

The mean MCT rate was 4.27 ± 0.76 millimeters per minute (mm/min) on 20 sides of 10 healthy controls, 4.11 ± 2.91 mm/min on the affected sides of the patients with Bell's palsy, and 6.03 ± 3.13 mm/min on the nonparalyzed sides of the patients. MCT rate was statistically significantly faster in the nonparalyzed side when compared to the paralyzed side in Bell's palsy patients (P = 0.001). MCT rates were not significantly different in the control group and paralyzed sides of the Bell's palsy patients (P = 0.810). The MCT rate was statistically significantly faster in the nonparalyzed sides of Bell's palsy patients when compared to the controls (P = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

This study showed a faster MCT rate on the nonparalyzed side in Bell's palsy patients when compared to the paralyzed side and the control subjects. A compensatory mechanism could be the underlying reason for faster MCT on the nonparalyzed side. Further studies on larger patient groups are needed to investigate the effect of facial paralysis on the MCT and changes of facial nerve function on the opposite, nonparalyzed side of the face.

Snakebite during pregnancy

Little is known about snakebites during pregnancy and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. The fact that venomous snakebites during pregnancy result in high fetal wastage and may cause maternal mortality makes this an important, albeit, uncommonly encountered entity in emergency medicine. In this paper, we report on the successful treatment of three cases of snakebite in pregnancy.

Acute-phase reactants and cytokines in ischemic stroke: do they have any relationship with short-term mortality?

BACKGROUND

Many unknown risk factors play a role in the etiopathogenesis of stroke. The appearance of inflammatory cells within the damaged tissue after cerebral ischemia suggests that an inflammatory response may play a role in stroke pathogenesis. In our study, we examined whether an association exists between the acute-phase reactants and the levels of cytokines, the volume and diameter of the stroke, and short-term mortality in patients who were diagnosed as acute ischemic a stroke after admission to the Emergency Department.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 50 consecutive patients who applied to the Emergency Service with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study. Their stroke volume were calculated and serum samples were obtained as soon as they arrived into the Emergency Service. The patients were evaluated according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).

RESULTS

There was no significant correlations between stroke volume and levels of cytokine and acute-phase reactants in dead patient group or in living patient group. A correlation and statistical significance was found between stroke volume and hospital stay time in living patient group. In addition, GCS and NIHSS scores were correlated with stroke volume and was found a significant statistically.

CONCLUSIONS

Scales such as GKS and NIHHS, which evaluate the functional state of patients, are the best indicators for defining prognosis in our daily practices. In addition, we found a positive correlation between levels of CRP (C reactive protein) and prognosis. However, we did not observe a statistically significant correlation between prognosis and other acute-phase reactants such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, fibrinogen, and leukocytes.

PTEN, Akt, MAPK, p53 and p95 expression to predict trastuzumab resistance in HER2 positive breast cancer

PURPOSE

Mutations that activate the PIK3CA oncogene and inhibit the tumor suppressor gene PTEN action are commonly found in breast tumors. Akt is a key activator of cell survival. p53 is frequently found mutated in human tumors, and mutant p53 protein actively contributes to tumorigenesis. In selected cases of breast cancer, trastuzumab (TZMB) is incorporated in the primary treatment in the adjuvant and metastatic settings. Many studies have reported that selected patients are resistant to TZMB due to the presence of p95 HER2 fragments. To address this, we analysed PTEN, Akt, MAPK, p53 and p95 expression in breast cancer patients treated with TZMB.

METHODS

Out of 90 patients histologically diagnosed with breast cancer between 2004 and 2011, analysed were 25 patients with HER2 positive, and estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) negative, metastatic or locally advanced disease. All 25 patients were treated with TZMB and resistance to TZMB was assessed. All patients were on anthracycline-and taxane-containing regimens. Tissue samples were obtained from paraffin blocks and evaluated immunohistochemically for PTEN, Akt, MAPK, p53, and p95 expression.

RESULTS

TZMB resistance was detected in 5 (20%) patients. Akt expression was positive in 2 patients (8%) and MAPK, p95, and p53 expression was positive in 1 patient (4%); PTEN expression was negative in 3 patients (12%). No significant differences were found between TZMB resistance and PTEN, Akt, MAPK, p53, and p95 expression. Subgroup analysis was carried out in the neoadjuvant treatment group. Complete pathologic response was detected in 3 patients (21.4%). Statistically significant differences were not found between the complete response rate and PTEN, Akt, MAPK, and p95 expression. There was a statistically significant correlation between p53 expression and complete pathologic response (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant correlation between TZMB resistance and the expression of these biomarkers was noted. In patients with HER2-positive breast cancer that were treated with 4 dose-dense sequential cycles of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by TZMB and paclitaxel combination therapy in the neodjuvant setting, p53 expression could predict complete response to chemotherapy.