Acta oto-laryngologica
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Acta oto-laryngologica · Sep 2006
Case ReportsMucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient: follow-up of 1 year after treatment.
Mucormycosis is a rare acute fatal fungal infection. It is typically observed in diabetic or immunocompromised patients but not in systemically healthy individuals. ⋯ He was treated by surgery and removal of the necrotic bone and amphotericin B medication. At 1-year follow-up he shows complete recovery.
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Acta oto-laryngologica · Sep 2006
Life events and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: a case-controlled study.
Within the poorly understood mechanisms implicated in the aetiology of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the results of this trial provide clinical evidence of a potential role of emotional stress connected to adverse life events as a trigger of otoconial dysfunction. High levels of anxiety, depression and somatization were recorded and considered psychogenic precursors of BPPV, thus emphasizing the role of psychological distress in precipitating peripheral vestibular disorders. Therefore, appraisal of life stress and psychological attitudes may have potential implications in the clinical assessment of this labyrinthine vertigo and its frequent relapses. ⋯ Patients with BPPV reported significantly more life events than control subjects in the year preceding the onset of vertigo (p<0.005). Negative life events, objective negative impact and a poor degree of control were also significantly more frequent in patients compared with controls (p<0.005). There were no significant differences between groups concerning positive life events (p>0.05). Psychometric questionnaires recorded significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression and somatization in the pathological sample (p<0.005), as well as an increased obsessive-compulsive attitude (p<0.05).
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Acta oto-laryngologica · Sep 2006
Palliative care for head and neck cancer patients in general practice.
The findings of this study justify the goals of the Expert Centre such as the improvement of somatic and psychosocial care and consultation. ⋯ The response rate was 75%. The palliative stage lasted approximately 4 months. The GPs felt that symptom control was generally not sufficient. Also improvements were necessary in psychosocial care and in the communication between first- and third-line care providers. They also experienced gaps in their knowledge of specific head and neck oncologic palliative care.