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Biomedical subjects

B Petruson

Publications and source records attributed to B Petruson.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Is high blood pressure an aetiological factor in epistaxis?

In the present investigation, 391 men born in 1913 were examined. The blood pressure was registered in a standardized way and the subjects were questioned about epistaxis. The aim of the investigation was to analyze whether habitual nose-bleeders or subjects with recent bleedings had higher blood pressure than the other subjects in the population study. All attempts to find a correlation between epistaxis and elevated (or high) blood pressure were unsuccessful. When high blood pressure is found in a patient with nose-bleeds it is probably an incidental finding and not an aetiological factor.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

The frequency of epistaxis in a male population sample.

In a population sample consisting of 507 males aged between 50 and 60 years and 120 thirty-year-old sons of these males the frequency of epistaxis and predisposing factors of epistaxis were studied. Only one-third of the subjects had never had epistaxis. One out of ten subjects had been treated for epistaxis by a doctor at least once in his life. About 3 per cent had had nose-bleeds during the previous week. Statistically it was shown that a history of upper respiratory infection and intake of acetylsalicylic acid separately might predispose to expistaxis.

Adult↗

Effect of local tranexamic acid gel in the treatment of epistaxis.

In patients with nosebleedings, the hemostatic effect of local application of tranexamic acid gel or placebo was compared in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial with parallel groups. The times needed to arrest the initial bleeding were recorded, as well as any rebleedings within 10 days. The results showed no significant differences in any of the efficacy variables. Tranexamic acid was no better than placebo in the early treatment of nose bleedings, but the gel itself seemed to have a beneficial effect. The gel preparations were easy to insert into the nasal cavity and caused no discomfort to the patients.

Adult↗

Function and structure of the nasal mucosa after 6 weeks' use of nose-drops.

The nasal mucosa of 20 healthy subjects were examined before, during and after 6 weeks of regular use of xylometazoline nose-drops (1 mg/ml) 0.15 ml three times daily. The subjects, except those affected by common colds, did not suffer any diminished mucociliar function during or after the trial. The surface structures were not found to have changed when examined with scanning electron microscopy. No morphological changes were observed in the intercellular space, basal membrane or tunica propria when using transmission electron microscopy. During the test period 5 of the subjects developed upper respiratory infections which temporarily prolonged the mucociliar transport time tested with small particles of saccharin. In some of these subjects a reduction in the number of ciliated cells was observed as well as an inflammatory reaction close to the epithelial cells. It is concluded that the use of xylometazoline over a 6-week period does not provoke any major functional or structural changes in a normal nasal mucosa.

Adult↗

Formation of new blood vessels in the nose after exposure to dicumylperoxide at a chemical plant.

Eighteen workers exposed to dicumylperoxide in a chemical plant were subjected to examination of the nose by rhinoscopy, mucociliary function test and rhinomanometry. Eight other workers at the plant and 20 hospital workers were used as controls. The mucociliary function and nasal air flow were the same in subjects exposed and those not exposed to peroxide. Nine of the workers exposed to dicumylperoxide had visible blood vessels in the mucosa on the anterior part of the nasal septum. Only 2 persons in the other groups had visible blood vessels. Both had a common cold at the time of the examination. The possibility that dicumylperoxide may initiate formation of new blood vessels is discussed. To test this hypothesis, experiments on laboratory animals will be done with airborne dust containing peroxides.

Adult↗

The nasal mucosa in immunodeficiency. Surface morphology, mucociliary function and bacteriological findings in adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency or selective IgA deficiency.

Twenty-two adult patients suffering from common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and sixteen patients with selective IgA deficiency were examined with regard to the mucocilliary function of the nose. The surface structures of the nasal mucosa, e.g. cell distribution and degree of destruction and metaplasia, were judged from scanning electron microscopy of nasal biopsies. Bacteria were isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs. The results of the clinical and morphological investigations were analysed with regard to the duration of the disease and possible benefit of adequate prophylaxis with immunoglobulin. It was found that patients with CVID had a slower mucociliary transport rate and more extensive mucosal damages than patients with selective IgA deficiency. Most likely these alterations were due to repeated infections as patients who had had few infections or adequate immunoglobulin prophylaxis (CVID patients) had better mucociliary function and showed less extensive mucosal changes. Potentially pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx were found in equal numbers in both patient groups.

Adolescent↗

Nasal mucosa changes after acute and long-term exposure to dicumylperoxide. An experimental study on animals.

Workers exposed to dicumylperoxide at a chemical plant had crusting and increased occurrence of visible superficial mucosal vessels in the anterior part of the nasal septum. To elucidate the pathogenesis of their symptoms we examined rabbits after acute and long-term experimental airway exposure to dicumylperoxide. An increased amount of mucus containing red blood cells were seen after one hour exposure, as were many club-shaped or distorted cilia. Areas lacking cilia but still covered with microvilli and with goblet cells appeared after a week. After one month's exposure scattered islands with metaplastic, non-ciliated cells were observed and many of the ciliated and microvilli-covered cells, not only the cilia per se, appeared distorted. Goblet cells, scarce in the controls, were observed in increased frequency. Blood vessels with thick, non-fenestrated endothelium were observed in increased frequency and remained two months after the exposure. Free radical scavengers seem to reduce the extent of damage supporting our hypothesis of peroxides as damaging agent.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Changes in the nasal mucosa of habitual nose-bleeders.

121 habitual nose-bleeders were investigated. In all but one, local changes were found in the nasal mucosa. Abnormal vessels (varicose vessels, telangioma, or a network of small vessels) were found in 102 (84%), and 18 (15%) had mucosal atrophy (rhinitis anterior sicca or septal perforation) without abnormal vessels. The occurrence of abnormal vessels was significantly increased when the bleeders were compared with subjects in a control group. Mucosal atrophy was also significantly more common in the habitual nose-bleeders but only in association with abnormal vessels. Varicose vessels were the most frequent abnormality in both the habitual nose-bleeders and the control group. Telangiomas were only present in the habitual nose-bleeders. Heredity seems to be important in explaining the occurrence of varicose vessels as well as telangiomas in habitual nose-bleeders.

Adolescent↗

Insulin-like growth factor I is a possible pathogenic mechanism in nasal polyps.

High concentrations of the trophic peptide insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; somatomedin C; SmC) were demonstrated immunocytochemically in all nasal polyps examined, except in areas with necrosis or tissue defects. Most epithelial cells, activated macrophages, and proliferating blood vessels, proved positive, contrasting with the low degree of cellular staining in adjacent normal nasal mucosa. It is proposed that nasal mucosal inflammatory reactions induce local formation and accumulation of IGF-I, which may eventually result in very high IGF-I concentrations in the paranasal sinuses due to the tendency these have to be enclosed, i.e. producing reduced drainage. Assuming that IGF-I constitutes the pathogenic factor, appropriate treatment should be given to reduce the inflammatory reactions and improve drainage.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. A report of eighteen cases.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a disease afflicting mainly adolescent males. The lesion is benign but characterized by local aggressive growth. In advanced cases the tumour may extend intracranially. In this study 18 cases of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were investigated. Tumour extension was assessed with the use of angiograms and CT and the individual cases staged in four different categories on the basis of tumour extension. Two cases were staged as I (tumour confined to the nasopharynx), 7 cases as II (tumour extending into nasal cavity and/or sphenoid sinus), 8 as III (tumour extending into one or more of the following: antrum, ethmoid sinus, pterygomaxillary and infratemporal fossae, orbit and/or cheek) and one as IV (tumour extending into the cranial cavity). Preoperative arterial embolization was performed in 8 cases. All patients underwent surgery; none received irradiation. The follow-up period was 6 yrs 4 mo (6 months-17 years). In one case of intracranial extension, tumour recurrence occurred. It is concluded that with the aid of CT and arteriograms to evaluate the extension of the tumour and preoperative embolization, this lesion can be cured in the vast majority of cases, with surgery as the method of choice.

Adolescent↗

The importance of nose-breathing for the systolic blood pressure rise during exercise.

The effect of nose breathing on the systolic blood pressure was examined in ten healthy men. Nose breathing was increased above normal by exercise and tested by maximum bicycle ergometry. When the anterior part of the nose was dilated with Nozovent the nasal airflow increased by on average 29%. In this condition, all ten men could cycle at maximum load without mouth breathing and there was a significantly lower increase (13 mmHg) in the systolic blood pressure than when the nasal dilator was not used. The reason for this lower blood pressure increase is unknown. The hypothesis is put forward, however, that facilitated nose breathing decreases the respiratory work, which in turn lowers the systolic blood pressure during exercise.

Adult↗