Víctor Manuel Velasco-Rodríguez

Eustachian tube dysfunction in allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: To assess eustachian tube function in patients with allergic rhinitis and compare them with a control group. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Tympanometry was performed in 130 patients (260 ears), divided into 2 groups: 80 cases with allergic rhinitis and 50 healthy controls. Cases underwent skin hypersensitivity tests. RESULTS: Cases, age 21.1 ± 14.9; Controls, age 23.9 ± 15.6. Most frequent skin hypersensitivity: Dermatophagoides pt (62%), Zea Maiz (44%), and Cockroach (37%). Tympanometry of cases showed negative values of peak tympanometric pressure in both children and adults (P ≤ 0.05). Among children under 11 years of age, 15.5% tympanograms showed abnormal curves (13% C curves and 3% B curves); among the control group only normal curves were found (type A). CONCLUSION: Allergic rhinitis patients have a higher risk of eustachian tube dysfunction, particularly during childhood. Tympanometry is a noninvasive, readily available procedure that may be useful in these patients to prevent chronic middle-ear disease.

Immunochromatographic Monoclonal Test for Detection of Helicobacter pylori Antigen in Stool is Useful in Children from High‐Prevalence Developing Country

Background:  Tests to detect Helicobacter pylori antigens in feces for diagnosis of infection in children demonstrate controversial results. One novel and fast monoclonal test improves diagnostic accuracy in adults, but clinical evidence of its usefulness at pediatric age is insufficient to date. The objective of this work was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of this test in a sample of Mexican children.

Disfuncion cócleo-vestibular en pacientes con diabetes mellitus, hipertensión arterial sistémica y dislipidemia

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Polygenic or multifactorial inheritance of chronic disorders (MICD) contribute to irreversible cochleovestibular impairment. Our aim was to determine the type and degree of cochleovestibular dysfunction (CVD) in patients with MICD. METHODS Cross-sectional. We studied 385 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia who were referred to Otorhinolaryngology Unit with hearing and vestibular symptoms. The auditory function was evaluated using conventional tonal audiometry and the vestibular function by electronystagmography. Duration of the disease and number of comorbidities, hearing thresholds at 125-8000 Hz pure tones, speech audiometry, oculomotor evaluation and thermal caloric tests were also analysed. RESULTS A total of 66.7% (95% CI, 61.8-73.4) of patients had 1 comorbidity; 27.7% (95% CI, 23.3-32.5) had 2 and 5.4% (95% CI, 3.4-8.2) had systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. The mean age was 62 years (SD 12.9) and 57.1% were women. The majority showed obesity, physical inactivity and smoking (77.4%; 95% CI, 72.8-81.4). Cochlear dysfunction was more common than CVD (98.9%; 95% CI, 97.3-99.7 versus 36.1%; 95%CI, 31.2-41.1; P=.001). However, the presence of CVD was significant in patients over 60 years (χ(2)(tend), P≤.001, odds ratio: 6.43) and with MICD ≥11 years old (χ(2)(tend), P≤.001, odds ratio: 4.57). CONCLUSIONS Cochlear dysfunction occurs in patients with MICD and the impact is greater than that of vestibular dysfunction. However, the age factor, duration and number of MICDs contribute to CVD. It is necessary to act on the MICDs and lifestyles to improve CVD.

Chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori in Mexican children: histopathological patterns.

The objective of this study was to analyze the histopathological patterns of inflammation, distribution, severity, and degree of gastric mucosa of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)–infected children in Northern Mexico, as well as the correlation between colonization density and inflammation intensity. We carried out a cross-sectional study of gastric biopsies performed on children ranging from 2 to 17 years of age who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diverse gastroduodenal disorders. This study includes only children who were found to be Hp carriers, with positive results for tests of Hp antigens in feces and in gastric biopsy studies. We studied 107 patients (age 8.2 ± 3.7 years). In 47.7% of patients, the density of Hp colonization was low; only 21.5% had a marked density. Mononuclear leukocyte infiltration showed a similar distribution. Thirty-seven percent of patients had follicular gastritis. An acute inflammatory response was absent in 65% and mild in 20.6% of patients. When inflammation was present, it was primarily located in the antrum (79%). There were no cases of intestinal metaplasia or atrophy. A link was found between Hp density and age, infiltration by mononuclear cells, the presence of follicular gastritis, and the level of neutrophil infiltration (P = 0.001). Despite the high rates of Hp infection in the region, the histopathological findings in these children were mild and were limited primarily to the antral mucosa. These data indicate the need to study the behavior of this disease in children in diverse study populations to provide localized prevention and treatment strategies.

Survival After Bronchial Artery Embolization in Massive Hemoptysis: Experience in 24 Cases

Abstract:Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening event that requires emergency treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of bronchial artery embolization on survival in cases of massive hemoptysis. This prospective study included 24 consecutive patients with massive hemoptysis who