Prospective assessment of the diagnostic utility of esophageal brushings in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis

Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) undergo multiple endoscopies with biopsy for both diagnosis and assessment of treatment response, which is inconvenient and costly. Brush cytology has been examined in Barrett's esophagus to reduce the need for repeated endoscopic biopsies. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the ability of brush cytology to detect mucosal eosinophilia in patients with EoE. This prospective study included adults with untreated and treated esophageal eosinophilia undergoing endoscopy at a tertiary care center. Patients received paired brushings and biopsies at the proximal and distal esophagus. A blinded pathologist quantified the number of eosinophils and epithelial cells per high-power field (hpf) on the cytology slides. The ratio of eosinophils/epithelial cells was used to normalize the cytology specimens for density of cells collected. The main outcome measures were sensitivity and specificity of brush cytology, and correlation between cytology and histology. Twenty-eight patients enrolled. The average age of the cohort was 37.7 ± 10.4 years; 75% of subjects were male. The sensitivity of cytology was 67-69% at the proximal esophagus and 70-72% at the distal esophagus. The specificity was 61-67% proximally and 70-75% distally. Histology was not significantly correlated with the max ratio of eosinophils/epithelial cells per hpf or the absolute number of eosinophils on cytology slides. Cytology using esophageal brushing has limited sensitivity and specificity for the detection of esophageal mucosal eosinophilia. The presence of exudates on endoscopy increased the detection of eosinophilia, which could make cytology useful in pediatric EoE, which often has a more exudative presentation. Diagnostic yield may improve with alternative acquisition techniques or the incorporation of eosinophil degranulation proteins.

Managing turbinate hypertrophy: coblation vs. radiofrequency treatment

The role of inferior turbinate hypertrophy in the reduction of nasal airflow is well established. Although chronic nasal obstruction is not life- threatening, it significantly impairs patients' quality of life, affecting many aspects of daily activities; therefore, patients seek medical intervention. 40 patients were selected (27 males and 13 females) between 27 and 64 years of age with a symptom of nasal obstruction. The patients were divided in two groups: Group 1: coblation, 25 patients (18 males and 7 females); Group 2: radiofrequency, 15 patients (7 males and 6 females). These 40 patients were followed for 3 years. Patients were analyzed using both subjective and objective methods. The visual analog scale (VAS) subjective data and objective data including both active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry were recorded and analyzed. Data were collected pre-operatively and at 1 and 3 years post-operatively. According to our data, both coblation and radiofrequency turbinate reduction benefit patients with good results. The complications, found during the follow-up, are limited to minimal bleeding and crusting. Coblation and radiofrequency were significantly less painful than others procedures during the early post-operative period. In our study, both coblation and radiofrequency provide an improvement in nasal airflow with a reduction in nasal obstructive symptoms in the short term, but their efficacy tended to decrease within 3 years.

The adult eosinophilic oesophagitis quality of life questionnaire: a new measure of health-related quality of life

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoO) is a chronic disease characterised by significant symptoms and challenging treatment regimens. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a useful way to direct patient care. EoO symptoms and treatment may impact patient HRQOL. Currently, there is no reliable and valid measure of adult EoO patient HRQOL.

AIM

To validate the Adult Eosinophilic Oesophagitis Quality of Life (EoO-QOL-A) questionnaire as a measure of HRQOL in this population.

METHODS

The EoO patients aged 18-70 recruited via an out-patient GI clinic and two EoO advocacy groups completed the preliminary EoO-QOL-A, demographic and clinical information, and measures of general HRQOL, psychological distress and EoO symptom severity. A subset of patients completed test-retest assessments. Scale reliability, internal consistency, factor structure, concurrent and convergent validity were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 201 patients have participated. The study sample was primarily Caucasian, college-educated, and evenly split by gender. The average duration of disease was 7 years with duration of symptoms of 26 months prior to diagnosis. Patients reported were using both pharmacological and dietary treatments. Factor analysis yielded a 37-item, 5-factor structure: Eating/Diet Impact, Social Impact, Emotional Impact, Disease Anxiety and Choking Anxiety. The EoO-QOL-A demonstrated excellent internal consistency, split-half and test-retest reliability. Concurrent and convergent validity were supported by moderate correlations with established HRQOL measures, psychological distress and oesophageal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The EoO-QOL-A is a valid and reliable disease-specific HRQOL measure for adult EoO patients. Developing the Adult Eosinophilic Oesophagitis Quality of Life is an important step in guiding treatment practices, improving disease education and standardising research protocols.

Evaluation of antioxidant healing formulations in topical therapy of experimental cutaneous and genital herpes simplex virus infections

A genital HSV-2 infection of guinea pigs and a cutaneous HSV-1 infection in mice were used to examine the ability of antioxidant components CRT1 to reduce lesion development, duration, and severity. CRT is a patented antioxidant formulation developed by Warner-Lambert Worldwide Consumer Healthcare R. and D. CRT contains three components that work synergistically: vitamin E, sodium pyruvate and membrane stabilizing fatty acids. The MS strain of HSV-2 was utilized for intravaginal inoculation of guinea pigs with approximately 1.2 x 10(5) plaque forming units. The guinea pigs were treated on the external genital skin four times daily for 10 days beginning 48 h post viral inoculation. This study was designed to optimize the CRT formulations that would be used to quantify the synergistic effect of the CRT components. SKH-1 male hairless mice were inoculated with 1 x 10(7) HSV-1 (McIntyre strain) on the dorsal surface of the mouse and treated with CRT formulations starting on the afternoon of the day of infection, and treated for the following 14 days. In the guinea pig model, the CRT formula that contained all three CRT components, worked synergistically to reduce lesion development, duration and severity scores significantly compared to vehicle control or acyclovir. Acyclovir was the only compound that reduced viral titers, but in contrast to CRT, acyclovir did not reduce lesion development, duration or severity. The quantitative effect of the three CRT components was demonstrated in the mouse model.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine plus behavior modification in the treatment of obese binge-eaters and non-binge-eaters

To determine whether fluoxetine is effective in the long-term treatment of obesity and whether it is particularly useful in the treatment of obese binge-eaters, the authors randomly assigned 45 obese subjects (22 with binge-eating problems and 23 without binge-eating) to fluoxetine (60 mg/day) or placebo in a 52-week double-blind trial. The 21 subjects who completed the trial made 13 clinic visits and were taught basic behavior modification strategies. Patients treated with fluoxetine plus behavior modification lost significantly more weight than those treated with placebo plus behavior modification. However, the drug did not appear to have a differential benefit for binge-eaters.

Encephalopathy and vestibulopathy following short-term hydrocarbon exposure

Dizziness, headaches, and weakness occurred among three men after short-term hydrocarbon exposure during improper welding procedures in a closed container. Symptoms were related to objective evidence of vestibular and cognitive dysfunction. Symptoms and abnormal test results persisted for 6 to 18 months. Simulation of the accident failed to demonstrate likely exposures except aliphatic hydrocarbons, well within the permissible exposure levels. Short-term exposures to neurotoxins may lead to long-term central nervous system abnormalities.

[Combination therapy of obesity with a reducing diet and physical training. Cardiovascular and metabolic effects]

Twenty obese patients were either given a caloric restricted diet (300 kcal/d) over 4 weeks alone or underwent an additional ergometer exercise programme for up to 2 hours daily. Combination therapy resulted in an improvement of physical performance by 26% despite weight loss of 11 kg. Blood pressure could be reduced both at rest and on exercise. Blood pressure regulation and heart rate under orthostatic conditions remained unchanged for both therapeutical approaches. The effect on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was also more favorable in patients on combination therapy than in those given a reduction diet alone. Combination of reduction diet and physical exercise is therefore superior to caloric restriction alone with regard to cardiovascular and metabolic considerations.

[Histologic studies in the course of programmed peritoneal lavage]

A programmed peritoneal lavage was done in 20 patients. During this lavage, tissue samples were withdrawn for histological control. During the therapeutical lavage, the morphological signs of inflammation decreased. For the sanitation of peritonitis, the cause of the disease must be eliminated. The morphological signs of healing start during the first three days postoperatively. Peritoneal repair prevails after the second or third postoperative day. Peritonitis will be lethal without focus sanitation and with microorganisms resisting any therapy, although lavage having been done.

[Acute cholecystitis--early cholecystectomy?]

Some controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that early or immediate operation for acute cholecystitis produces better results than delayed operation or conservative treatment. From 1969 to 1983, 397 patients have been operated for acute cholecystitis at the Surgical University Hospital Würzburg, the results are discussed here.

[Psychiatric stress tolerance of acute and chronic surgical patients]

The surgical patient is subjected to psychological stress through fear of pain, operation, anesthesia and finally death. The exact definition of psychic stress and the patient's resistance to it is even more problematic than the definition of somatic stress. It is the doctor's task to alleviate the psychic stress of the patient, to instill confidence and to recognise the limits of his resistance and finally to take all this into consideration in planning his treatment.

[Suture insufficiency of enteroanastomoses: overview paper]

Anastomotic dehiscence has become rarer, but as it still occurs in every patient group, it is vital that it be considered. Factors for anastomotic healing are discussed. The submucosa is the most important layer for a patent anastomosis. Single-layer anastomosis using only the submucosa gives excellent results. If precautionary drainage is desired, there should be no direct contact between anastomosis and drain. For treatment of severe peritonitis serial peritoneal lavage has recently been used at the Wuerzburg University Hospital.

[Malignant soft tissue tumors - problems of combined therapy. Surgery and after care]

Based on our own experience of 158 soft tissue sarcomas and an inquiry at 10 German clinics, the problems of these malignancies are discussed. Each soft tissue tumor must be totally excised for histological examination. It has to be considered a malignancy until the opposite has been proved. Uninterrupted postoperative control is of paramount importance. Extended radical surgery is controversial; today plastic and reconstructive operations are preferred. In inoperable neoplasms surgical reduction of the tumor mass is recommended. The combination of surgical, radiological and chemotherapeutic treatment is superior to surgery alone.

[Mesenteric plication by the Childs-Phillips method for the prevention and therapy of small intestine obstructions. Experiences in 148 cases]

Transmesenteric small bowel plication (Childs-Phillips) was performed in 148 patients (99 adults, 49 children) at the University Clinic of Würzburg over a 10-year period. Of a total of 31 reinterventions, only 4 were caused by the method; recurrent intestinal obstruction occurred in 6.1%. In a total of 51 patients peritonitis was present at the time of mesenteric plication, which is not considered a contraindication for the method. Early postoperative mortality was 38.5%, but in none of these 57 cases was it due to the method itself.

Incidental splenectomy: early and late postoperative complications

Of 542 splenectomies performed from 1964 to 1977, 242 were incidental to gastrointestinal surgery. The highest rate of complications was observed in these patients as opposed to those who underwent splenectomy for trauma or Hodgkin's disease. Eighteen laboratory studies did not show significant changes 1.5 to 10 years postoperatively in 96 patients. Ninety-three patients questioned because of late symptoms had the highest rate of complaints after incidental splenectomy.