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Olfactory disorders have a significant impact on patients' quality of life but are often underestimated in clinical practice. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are a common cause of olfactory loss. While most cases of olfactory loss due to URTIs are conductive and reversible, post-viral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) persists despite symptom improvement. PVOD is attributed to damage to the olfactory epithelium and nerves or central olfactory pathway lesions. The Alcohol Sniff Test (AST) has been proposed as a tool to assess olfactory function in the acute phase and aid in differentiating PVOD from conductive disorders. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the AST as a predictor of post-viral olfactory loss in patients with flu-like syndrome. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among employees with flu-like syndrome at a tertiary hospital. Three groups were formed: flu-like syndrome with conductive disorder without COVID-19 (PVOD-), flu-like syndrome with neurosensory and/or central disorder due to COVID-19 (PVOD +), and an asymptomatic control group. The Alcohol Sniff Test was performed to assess olfactory function. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the AST's performance. For a cut off of 10 cm, 88.57% of PVOD + patients and 60.53% of PVOD - patients showed AST alteration, respectively ( p  = 0.013, OR = 5.05, 95% CI [1.48-17.25]). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean distance between the PVOD + group (4.35 ± 4.1 cm) and the control group (20 ± 4.33 cm) ( p  < 0.05). This relationship was also observed between the PVOD + and PVOD- groups (9 cm ± 7.5) ( p  < 0.05) and between the PVOD- and control groups ( p  < 0.05). For a cut off of 10 cm, the AST showed a sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 41%, resulting in an Odds Ratio of 9.7 (95% CI 3.3-28.1) ( p  < 0.001) and a Positive Predictive Value of 69.4% for PVOD. PVOD, including cases associated with COVID-19, is a prevalent cause of olfactory loss. The Alcohol Sniff Test demonstrated promising results in identifying PVOD in patients with flu-like syndrome. The test's simplicity and accessibility make it a valuable tool for early screening and identifying individuals who may benefit from prompt treatment. The Alcohol Sniff Test (AST) shows potential as an effective tool for screening post-viral olfactory loss in patients with flu-like syndrome. It can aid in early identification of PVOD cases and facilitate timely interventions to reduce the likelihood of persistent hyposmia., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThere are no conflicts of interest to declare., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: The implications of ligating the native ureter without ipsilateral nephrectomy after primary kidney transplant pyeloureterostomy (PU) have been described previously. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study including 4,215 kidney transplants performed between February 2010 and December 2014, analyzed urological complications following primary (P-PU) and secondary (S-PU) pyeloureterostomy used to treat urological leaks (UL-PU) and ureteral stenosis (US-PU) without concomitant ipsilateral nephrectomy, in a large cohort of patients. Results: There were 495 (11.7%) pyeloureterostomy with native ureter ligation without nephrectomy, 409 P-PU (82.6%) and 86 S-PU (17.4%), of which 76 were UL-PU and 10 were US-PU. The median follow-up was 33.8 months. The incidence of native ipsilateral kidney complications requiring nephrectomy was 2.02% (n = 10). Urinary leak was diagnosed in 3.6% of patients after P-UP and 9.2% after UL-PU. Ureteral stenosis was diagnosed in 1.7% of patients after P-UP, 3.9% after UL-PU and 10% after US-PU. Conclusion: This cohort analysis suggests that native ureter ligation during pyeloureterostomy without native nephrectomy is associated with low incidence of clinically indicated ipsilateral native nephrectomy. Caution and awareness should be emphasized in patients with history of ADPKD and neurogenic augmented bladders., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Neto, Tedesco Silva Junior, Pestana, Foresto and Aguiar.)

Background: Histoplasmosis, caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, represents an important public health problem, especially in urban environments where bats and humans cohabit indoors., Aims: To detect the presence of H. capsulatum indoors, using samples of bat droppings collected in roost sites inside houses., Methods: A Real-Time TaqMan PCR assay targeting the ITS1 region of the ribosomal DNA of H. capsulatum was carried out., Results: Fifty-nine sampling points in the municipality of São Paulo were inspected, all of them located at inhabited places. H. capsulatum was isolated from nine samples., Conclusions: The rapid identification and monitoring of sites where the fungus is present may contribute to make a more reliable database of H. capsulatum distribution., (Copyright © 2019 Asociación Española de Micología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To establish prevalence, sequelae and documentation of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in older hospital in-patients., Methods: Notes of all patients ≥65 years old, admitted to our tertiary teaching hospital (January 2013), were retrospectively reviewed, and the Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions applied., Results: Amongst 534 patients, 54.8% (284) were on ≥1 PIM at admission, 26.8% on multiple; 60.8% were discharged on a PIM. Six percent of all admissions were potentially attributable to a PIM; falls associated with risk therapies were commonest (23/30), and often (65.2%) associated with serious injury. Pre-specified subgroup analysis (n = 100) identified 101 PIMs-at-discharge amongst 47 patients. In 82.2%, a clinical rationale for continued prescription was documented, with this communicated to the GP by letter in 71.1%., Conclusion: PIMs were common, and contributed to admission and injury. Hospitalisation provides an opportunity for medication rationalisation, and documentation of rationale for any PIM use., (© 2016 AJA Inc.)

Objective: To analyze the biomechanical and tomographic effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on femurs from rats subjected to induced menopause., Methods: Forty-five adult Wistar rats were divided equally into three groups. The first and second groups consisted of rats subjected to oophorectomy, and the third was the control group, consisting of nonoophorectomized rates. After verifying that hormone failure had occurred (exfoliative cytological test), only the first group received HRT, over a two-month period. After this period, the femurs were disarticulated and subjected to biomechanical tests in a universal testing machine to evaluate their strength, and were subjected to tomographic evaluation to determine the bone mineral density., Results: The exfoliative cytological test showed that hormone failure was induced in all the oophorectomized animals. A significant difference (p = 0.030) in maximum strength measurements was observed between the groups (higher in the group with HRT). Greater bone fragility was observed in the oophorectomized animals without HRT than in those with HRT (p = 0.010), in relation to the control group (p = 0.0107). There was greater bone strength in the oophorectomized rats with HRT than in those without HRT, and these values were similar to those of the control group (p = 0.179). In the tomographic evaluation, no significant differences were found between the groups (p = 0.625)., Conclusion: A significant increase in bone strength was observed with the use of HRT. However, treatment with HRT did not show any significant change in bone mineral density.

Background: In São Paulo city, rodent infestation is considered to be a serious public health problem and is the object of a municipal rodent control programme. One of the most important routine methods involves baiting in sewers, using bromadiolone block bait in a pulsed baiting strategy. It has been observed that, after each pulse, bait is not always consumed, and its appearance is altered, which has led to concerns about efficacy. We assessed whether exposure to sewer conditions influences the palatability and efficacy of rodenticide baits to Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Baits containing bromadiolone as active ingredient were placed in sewers, removed after 30 days and offered to rats in a two-choice food trial and a no-choice food trial., Results: The appearance of the rodenticide baits changed after 30 days exposure to sewer conditions, but they continued to be palatable and effective against rats. The level of mortality was considered to be satisfactory, 75% in the two-choice food trial and 100% in the no-choice food trial., Conclusion: Results support the reuse of rodenticide block bait in rodent control. It seems to be justified to continue using/reuse baits even when their appearance has changed after 30 days exposure in sewer systems., (© 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objective: This open, randomized and blinded parallel-group multicenter study evaluated the efficacy of Actonel(®) (35 mg) plus calcium/vitamin D versus calcium/vitamin D alone for preserving bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with Colles fractures., Methods: Patients with a Colles fracture for seven days were randomized to receive either Actonel(®) (35 mg) once a week plus calcium/vitamin D (ACD group) or calcium/vitamin D alone (CD group). The patients were evaluated after 90 and 180 days of treatment., Results: 59 ACD patients and 56 CD patients completed all the evaluations. At the end of the study, the BMD of the radius at the fracture location showed a negative change in the CD group (32.8%). The loss of BMD in the ACD group (20.8%) was slightly less than that in the CD group. There was a difference in the proportions of patients with BMD losses at the end of the study period in the two treatment groups, in favor of the ACD group, although this was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in radiological identification of callus formation between the treatment groups. In the majority of the patients, the callus could be radiologically identified after 90 days., Conclusion: Postmenopausal women with Colles fractures who received risedronate sodium plus calcium/vitamin D did not show any significant difference in BMD loss in forearm fractures, in comparison with those who received calcium/vitamin D alone. Risedronate presented a tendency toward a protective effect regarding BMD loss due to immobilization. The time taken for fracture consolidation to be achieved was unaffected.

Background: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a systemic noninflammatory disease characterized by ossification of the entheses., Methods: This paper reviews the etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical features, differential diagnosis, and treatment of DISH, based on current available literature., Results: Exact prevalence and incidence of DISH remains undetermined. Many external and genetic factors have been reported as being contributors to the pathogenesis of DISH. Current theories focus on the pathologic calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine as the main physiopathological mechanism of disease. Clinical features are variable from monoarticular sinovitis to airway obstruction, and can be associated to systemic conditions. Comorbidities include obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia according to a number of reports., Conclusions: DISH is a disease which involves the calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine and can be associated with numerous clinical presentations and comorbidities.

Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS) is a rare, complex disease characterized by unilateral hyperlucent lung or lobe owing to loss of pulmonary vasculature and alveolar hyperdistention. Treatment is generally conservative, and surgical management is rare. In fact, only 4 reports on surgically treated children with SJMS are available in the literature. We describe an 8-year-old patient with a history of recurrent respiratory infections since 2 months old. The patient presented with cough and dyspnea on effort. Chest radiograph showed hyperlucency and reduction of the right lung. Computed tomography revealed reduced volume and vasculature in the right lung, whereas pulmonary scintigraphy showed that 85% of ventilation and perfusion occurred in the left lung. Pulmonary function tests showed a forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 0.85 L (56% of expected value) and a forced vital capacity of 1.20 L (70% of expected value). The child underwent right pneumonectomy because of severe compromise of pulmonary function and recurrent respiratory infections. Histologic examination revealed panacinar emphysema and chronic bronchitis/bronchiolitis. At 6-month follow-up, the child showed improved symptoms and a forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 1.15 L (77% of expected value) and a forced vital capacity of 1.4 L (83% of expected value). This report shows that although rarely indicated, surgical treatment can improve quality of life and pulmonary function in SJMS., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) are commonly administered to critically ill children in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in the USA and Europe. Although NMBA are frequently used in PICU patients, their role in the PICU setting has not yet been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to describe the sustained administration of NMBA and its impact on outcome of PICU patients., Methods: A 3-year retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare mechanically-ventilated patients who received NMBA for at least 12 h with patients who did not (control group)., Results: A total of 317 consecutive patients were ventilated over 3473 days. Patients were similar in age, weight and severity scores. Thirty-four children (10.7%) received NMBA. Compared with controls, the neuromuscular blockade (NMB) group had a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (13.7 vs 5.5 days, P= 0.000), longer PICU stay (20 vs 11 days, P= 0.000) and increased occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (6.6 vs 4.1/1000 ventilator days, P= 0.010). The NMB use was not associated with higher mortality (8.8% vs 17.6%, P= 0.287) or longer hospital stay (30.5 vs 23 days, P= 0.117)., Conclusion: Although the use of NMBA was not associated with greater mortality, we found that sustained use of NMBA is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer PICU stay and higher incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia when compared with controls. Larger studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Unplanned tracheal extubation is an important quality issue in current medical practice as it is a common occurrence in paediatric intensive care units. We have assessed the effectiveness of a continuous quality improvement programme in reducing the incidence of unplanned extubation over a 5-year period. After a 2-year baseline period, we developed action plans to address the issues identified. Following implementation of the programme, the overall incidence of unplanned extubation decreased from 2.9 unplanned extubations per 100 intubated patient days in the first year to 0.6 in the last year (p = 0.0001). This reduction was the result of a decrease in unplanned extubation in children younger than 2 years of age. Although mortality was similar to that of children who did not experience an unplanned extubation, those with an unplanned extubation had a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation, longer stay in the intensive care unit, and longer hospital stay. We found that the implementation of a continuous quality improvement programme is effective in reducing the overall incidence of unplanned extubations.