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Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine Nov 2023A young woman was buried in a sitting position in sandy soil in a shallow grave. PMCT showed filling of the upper airways with radio-opaque material consistent with...
A young woman was buried in a sitting position in sandy soil in a shallow grave. PMCT showed filling of the upper airways with radio-opaque material consistent with soil, with autopsy dissection confirming the presence of soil in the mouth, pharynx, upper oesophagus, larynx, trachea and main bronchi. Death was due to upper airway occlusion by soil. Live burial as a type of homicide is extremely rare. Issues that need to be clarified include whether the victim was alive at the time of burial, the level of consciousness/awareness of the process, whether restraints or drugs were used and the speed with which death occurred. Possible mechanisms of death include smothering, choking and positional/compression asphyxia.
Topics: Female; Humans; Forensic Medicine; Larynx; Autopsy; Homicide; Mouth; Asphyxia; Soil; Burial
PubMed: 37950991
DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2023.102617 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Nov 2023Acute haematoma on the neck can cause potentially life-threatening compression of the upper airways. Such patients must therefore be examined quickly and carefully...
BACKGROUND
Acute haematoma on the neck can cause potentially life-threatening compression of the upper airways. Such patients must therefore be examined quickly and carefully observed with regard to compromised airways.
CASE PRESENTATION
An elderly male patient with obesity, known obstructive sleep apnoea and heart failure, non-severe chronic renal failure, and anticoagulation treatment presented with an acute subcutaneous haematoma of the neck. The patient had recently started an NSAID therapy regime for acute back pain. As part of the ENT examination endoscopy was performed. The airways were open and the patient had no respiratory distress. A CT scan confirmed open airways but revealed an additional circumferential haematoma in the pharynx of the patient. Blood work showed no anaemia or obvious infectious process.
INTERPRETATION
The unfortunate combination of the patient's regular medications and recent acute analgesic therapy with simultaneous renal failure was likely to have contributed to the development of an acute haematoma. Acute pharyngeal haematoma has been described in the literature in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy and one or more of the above-mentioned conditions that this patient had. The haematoma was controlled and resolved without further intervention.
Topics: Humans; Male; Aged; Neck; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Hematoma
PubMed: 37987073
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.23.0141 -
Anales de Pediatria Nov 2023
Topics: Humans; Palatine Tonsil; Lymphangioma
PubMed: 37798221
DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2023.09.010 -
European Archives of... Oct 2023Adenoid hypertrophy is one of the main causes of nasal obstruction in 'children. Adenoid hypertrophy can be approached either with nasal corticosteroids, or surgically... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Adenoid hypertrophy is one of the main causes of nasal obstruction in 'children. Adenoid hypertrophy can be approached either with nasal corticosteroids, or surgically when medical treatment fails. Different adenoidectomy techniques have been proposed to reduce morbidity and surgical risks, with a consequent marked increase in the use of new surgical procedures in recent years, with a progressive increase in the use of coblation. This state-of-the-art review aims to systematically review the current literature on the role of coblation in adenoidectomy.
METHODS
The selection criteria included children submitted to adenoidectomy with coblator vs other techniques. 11 research questions were defined. 4 databases were explored by four authors: PubMed (Medline), the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and SciELO. The level of evidence and quality of the selected articles were assessed according to assessed according to the Quality Assessment Checklist of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
RESULTS
20 studies met the inclusion criteria: 2 metanalysis, 12 randomized clinical trial, 2 non-randomized clinical trial, 1 prospective cohort study, and 3 retrospective cohort study. It encompassed a total population of 8375 participants. Regarding the different surgical techniques, 18 studies (excluding metanalysis) performed coblation (n = 1550), 6 microdebridement (n = 883), 15 curettage (n = 4016), and 1 suction coagulation (n = 1926).
CONCLUSION
Coblator adenoidectomy appears to offer better adenoid control compared to curettage, with a possible, although not confirmed lower rate of revision surgery. Similarly, this greater resection of adenoid tissue seems to be related to a greater reduction of nasal obstruction. The advantages of this technique are mainly less surgical bleeding-although it is not clear this is a clinically relevant difference, and less postoperative pain compared to cold curettage. The difference in pain is small, as adenoidectomy is not a painful surgery in general. There is little evidence on the control of OME and comparison with other techniques such as microdebrider adenoidectomy.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adenoidectomy; Adenoids; Hypertrophy; Nasal Obstruction; Pain, Postoperative; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37493842
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08094-7 -
DEN Open Apr 2024Individual treatment strategies for esophageal cancer have been investigated based on the anatomical subsite classification. Accurate subsite classification based on...
OBJECTIVES
Individual treatment strategies for esophageal cancer have been investigated based on the anatomical subsite classification. Accurate subsite classification based on these anatomical landmarks is thus important. We investigated the suitability of the existing endoscopic classification and explored alternative landmarks for esophageal subsite classification.
METHODS
Patients who received endoscopic ultrasonography (and computed tomography scans for surveillance of esophageal cancer treatment or esophageal submucosal tumors were included. Distances between anatomical landmarks, including the inferior cricoid cartilage border, superior border of the sternum, and tracheal bifurcation, were measured using a combination of endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, and other information.
RESULTS
The mean (standard deviation) distances from the superior incisor dentition to the pharynx-esophagus, cervical-upper thoracic esophagus, and upper-middle thoracic esophagus boundaries were 16.9 (1.7), 21.7 (1.9), and 29.0 (1.9) cm, respectively. However, variances in the differences between the mean and individual distances were large (2.8, 3.4, and 3.7, respectively), mainly because of differences in body height. However, variances in the differences between individual distances and novel endoscopic landmarks, including the lower end of the pyriform sinus and lower end of compression of the left main bronchus, were lower (1.7, 1.2, and 0.6, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Existing indicators of esophageal subsite boundaries were not consistent with anatomical boundaries. Modification of the distance from the superior incisor dentition based on average distances from anatomical landmarks or the use of alternative endoscopic landmarks is recommended to provide more suitable anatomical boundaries.
PubMed: 37469667
DOI: 10.1002/deo2.273 -
Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Malnutrition in esophageal and pharyngeal cancer patients constitutes a common and serious concern, which significantly reduces patients' prognoses. Cancers of the... (Review)
Review
May Nutritional Status Positively Affect Disease Progression and Prognosis in Patients with Esophageal and Pharyngeal Cancers? A Scoping Review of the Current Clinical Studies.
BACKGROUND
Malnutrition in esophageal and pharyngeal cancer patients constitutes a common and serious concern, which significantly reduces patients' prognoses. Cancers of the esophagus and the pharynx can considerably impair feeding in patients, resulting in severe undernutrition. This is a scoping review that intends to critically analyze the most well-designed clinical studies investigating the potential beneficial impact of diverse nutritional assessment tools on the prognosis of patients with esophageal and pharyngeal cancers.
METHODS
The most accurate and remarkable scientific databases were comprehensively explored utilizing relative keywords to detect clinical studies that investigate whether nutritional status may affect disease prognosis.
RESULTS
Several assessment tools have evaluated and highlighted the potential beneficial impact of nutritional status on disease progression and patients' prognosis in both esophageal and pharyngeal cancers. Regarding esophageal cancer, CONUT, PNI, PG-SGA, and NRS-2002 are more commonly used, while albumin is also frequently evaluated. Regarding pharyngeal cancers, fewer studies are currently available. PNI has been evaluated, and its significance as a factor for shorter survival' times has been highlighted. The Comprehensive Nutritional Index has also been evaluated with positive results, as well as NRS 2002, GPS, and body-weight status. However, there is currently a lack of studies with an adequate number of women with cancer. An international literature gap was identified concerning follow-up studies with adequate methodology.
CONCLUSIONS
Nutritional status may significantly affect disease progression and patients' survival, highlighting the significance of a great nutritional status in individuals with esophageal and pharyngeal cancers. Further large-scale and well-designed prospective surveys should be performed to verify the potential beneficial effects of adequate nourishment in people suffering from cancer of the esophagus and pharynx.
Topics: Humans; Female; Nutritional Status; Prospective Studies; Prognosis; Disease Progression; Esophageal Neoplasms; Pharyngeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37873749
DOI: 10.3390/medsci11040064 -
Cureus Aug 2023Herpes simplex virus (HSV) belongs to the family and is divided into two subtypes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. It is known that herpesviruses lie dormant in neural ganglion cells... (Review)
Review
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) belongs to the family and is divided into two subtypes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. It is known that herpesviruses lie dormant in neural ganglion cells and are reactivated during times of stress, trauma, fever, and immunosuppression. While HSV primarily causes mucosal infections such as cold sores or upper respiratory tract manifestations, it can also lead to serious, life-threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Although HSV is occasionally detected in airway samples from critically ill patients, true HSV pneumonia is rare. HSV pneumonia is thought to result from the aspiration of salivary secretions that can travel from the pharynx and tracheobronchial areas to the lungs. It can be difficult to diagnose, and the presence of HSV in respiratory specimens does not necessarily indicate true infection. Treatment with antiviral drugs such as acyclovir should be considered based on the clinical presentation, corroborative findings, and the presence of cytopathological changes in the bronchoalveolar specimen. The prognosis of HSV pneumonia is generally poor and early detection is critical for better outcomes. This review discusses the risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HSV pneumonia and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between true infection and carrier status.
PubMed: 37692679
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43224 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023HIV-infected patients are at higher risk of developing oral mucosal infection and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B cell malignancies. However, the potential role of...
HIV-infected patients are at higher risk of developing oral mucosal infection and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B cell malignancies. However, the potential role of oral immunity in the pathogenesis of oral lesions is unknown. Tonsils are oral-pharyngeal mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues that play an important role in oral mucosal immunity. In this study, we investigated the changes of innate and adaptive immune cells in macaque tonsils during chronic SIV infection. We found significantly higher frequencies of classical monocytes, CD3+CD56+ (NKT-like) cells, CD3CD4CD8 (DP), and CD161 CD4 T cells in tonsils from chronic infected compared to naïve animals. On the contrary, intermediate monocytes and CD3CD4CD8 (DN) cells were lower in chronic SIV-infected macaques. We further confirmed a recently described small B-cell subset, NKB cells, were higher during chronic infection. Furthermore, both adaptive and innate cells showed significantly higher TNF-α and cytotoxic marker CD107a, while IL-22 production was significantly reduced in innate and adaptive immune cells in chronic SIV-infected animals. A dramatic reduction of IFN-γ production by innate immune cells might indicate enhanced susceptibility to EBV infection and potential transformation of B cells in the tonsils. In summary, our observation shows that the SIV-associated immune responses are distinct in the tonsils compared to other mucosal tissues. Our data extends our understanding of the oral innate immune system during SIV infection and could aid future studies in evaluating the role of tonsillar immune cells during HIV-associated oral mucosal infections.
Topics: Animals; Persistent Infection; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Mouth Mucosa; Palatine Tonsil
PubMed: 37671159
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1201677 -
Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular... Dec 2023Ingested sharp foreign bodies rarely migrate extraluminally into adjacent organs such as the pharynx, lungs, and liver. Herein, we report a case of fish bone ingestion...
Ingested sharp foreign bodies rarely migrate extraluminally into adjacent organs such as the pharynx, lungs, and liver. Herein, we report a case of fish bone ingestion where the foreign body followed a unique migration trajectory. Computed tomography revealed a fish bone extraluminally located in the aortopulmonary space in the left mediastinum and peri-esophageal pneumomediastinum. Endoscopic examination indicated no injury to the esophageal mucosa but showed mucosal lacerations in the left hypopharynx. Accordingly, we reasoned that the fish bone penetrated the laryngopharynx and then descended in the mediastinum.
Topics: Animals; Mediastinum; Treatment Outcome; Esophagus; Foreign Bodies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 35527003
DOI: 10.5761/atcs.cr.22-00042