Summary
Pruritus (or itch) is a common and distressing symptom of many skin diseases, systemic illnesses and psychological disorders. Itch is perhaps the commonest presenting symptom of skin ...disorders. In any two week period, 8 to 9% of the population suffer from significant pruritus. The focus of this guideline is not itchy rashes, but rather the situation where itch is present without rash. The guidelines also do not cover itch in children, in pregnancy, nor do they detail the science of the cause of itch. The study group consist mostly of dermatologists (skin specialists) from a number of hospitals in the U.K., but a number of other hospital doctors, a nurse and a general practitioner (GP) are also part of the team. There may be an underlying cause of pruritus, such as blood disorders, iron deficiency or excess, kidney problems, liver problems, cancer, infections, medications, behavioural factors, dry skin or any combination of these with old age. This can be significant in 20 to 30% of cases of itchy skin without rash. There remain a small number of individuals with itch and no apparent underlying cause or rash. It is always important to look for an underlying causative condition, as the most effective management of pruritus without rash depends on the treatment of any underlying disease. The management of itch appears to be very situation specific, even if the underlying cause cannot be treated. The management of true pruritus of unknown cause is different again.
Linked Article: Millington et al. Br J Dermatol 2018; 178:34–60
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Hypothesis Fungi have been increasingly recognized as important pathogens in sinusitis. However, detection of fungus with conventional culture techniques is insensitive and unreliable. Polymerase ...chain reaction (PCR) is an exquisitely sensitive assay that can detect the DNA of 10 or less fungal elements. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of conventional culture techniques using PCR analysis.
Methods Nasal swabs and DNA samples were collected from the nasal cavities of control subjects and patients with chronic sinusitis. Fungal‐specific PCR analysis and standard cultures were performed on every sample. χ2 analysis was used to test for statistical differences between groups.
Results PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 42% and 40% of control subjects and patients with chronic sinusitis while standard cultures were positive in 7% and 0%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of fungi in the normal volunteers and patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
Conclusion PCR is significantly more sensitive than nasal swab cultures in detecting the presence of fungi in nasal mucosa. In addition, our study suggests that the presence of fungi alone is insufficient to implicate it as the pathogen in chronic sinusitis.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Objectives/Hypothesis Routine bacterial and viral cultures of middle ear fluid are often negative, suggesting that other infectious agents may be involved. Because of the similarities between the ...paranasal sinuses and middle ear space and the recent recognition of fungi as important pathogens in inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, we investigated the potential role of fungi in acute otitis media and serous otitis media using culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques.
Study Design Prospective study.
Methods Middle ear effusions of 29 patients who underwent myringotomy and pressure equalization tube placement for persistent serous otitis media or recurrent acute otitis media were collected. Fungal culture of the effusion samples was performed on potato flake agar. DNA from the effusion was isolated using standard techniques. Polymerase chain reaction, using radiolabeled universal fungus primer for internal transcribed spacer of 5.8s ribosomal DNA, was performed to detect the presence of any fungal DNA in the samples.
Results Culture of middle ear effusions showed no evidence of fungal growth. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was able to detect the constituent ribosomal DNA of a single fungal genome. Fungal DNA was present in 34% of middle ear effusion samples.
Conclusions Fungal DNA is present in recurrent acute otitis media and serous otitis media suggesting that it may play an etiological role in serous otitis media and acute otitis media. However, additional studies are necessary to delineate the role of fungi in the pathogenesis of otitis media.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) can be treated surgically with various operations. This article describes the use of a superiorly based folded pharyngeal flap for posterior wall augmentation to ...treat VPI. This is a retrospective study indicating that a folded flap to augment the posterior wall is likely to be as effective as other surgical techniques to treat small velopharyngeal gaps. Patients selected for this procedure had very good velar motion. Postoperative nasometric zoo passage scores improved by an average of 18 over preoperative scores. Additionally, a correlation was found between age and nasometry improvement after surgery. Younger patients did better. Patients in whom VPI was caused by adenoidectomy did well. The 2 syndromic patients did not do as well when treated with this type of operation.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
9.
The CAEME Center for Multimedia Education Iskander, M.F.; Catten, J.C.
Proceedings of IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium and URSI National Radio Science Meeting,
1994, Volume:
1
Conference Proceeding
Briefly reviews the activities of the CAEME Center for Multimedia Education. Emphases is placed on (1) the contents of the CAEME Software Book, Vol. II; (2) the interdisciplinary engineering software ...published in the journal, Computer Applications in Engineering Education (CAE); and (3) the multimedia science and math lessons published by CAEME. Besides a description of the CAEME activities, the developed software and multimedia products are demonstrated.< >
Interactive multimedia lessons for education Iskander, M.F.; Catten, J.C.; Jones, A. ...
Proceedings of 1995 SBMO/IEEE MTT-S International Microwave and Optoelectronics Conference,
1995, Volume:
2
Conference Proceeding
The development of interactive multimedia modules for education presents a significant opportunity to modernize engineering, science and math curricula and improve the effectiveness of teaching and ...learning of these subjects. We review the various hardware and software components required to develop multimedia lessons and discuss the role of each component in the structure of the multimedia module. Several examples of multimedia products available from the CAEME Center are demonstrated. This includes the extensive electromagnetics software published in Volumes I and II of the CAEME books, the Calculus Castle, the Physics Museum; and interactive multimedia games such as "Tic-Tac-Toe" in calculus and "Frantic Physics", a space-invaders-type review game in physics. It is shown that although extensive resources and expertise are often needed to develop these modules, the technology is readily available and educators are encouraged to take advantage of these available opportunities to reform engineering, science, and math education.
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