OBJECTIVE Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) involvement is the most prevalent manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) and correlates with permanent damage and decreased quality of life. Although prior studies have evaluated the efficacy of rituximab (RTX) for granulomatous features of GPA, none have evaluated its efficacy solely for ENT manifestations. We compared the effe...

1Department of ENT, Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, Puducherry, India 2Department of ENT, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 3Department of ENT, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education, Pondicherry, Puducherry, India 4Department of ENT, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, Puducherry...

Enterotoxin-positive (Ent+) and enterotoxin-negative (Ent-) strains of Clostridium perfringens were cultured in Duncan-Strong sporulation medium containing starch at 37 and 46 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, all strains degraded starch and sporulated well. However, only Ent- strains could hydrolyze starch, grow extensively, and sporulate at 46 degrees C. Growth, sporulation, and starch hydrolysis b...

Regulatory agencies are interested in a fecal indicator bacterium with a host range limited to humans because human fecal contamination represents the greatest hazard to humans, yet is a relatively easy nonpoint source to remedy. Watersheds with human fecal contamination could be given first priority for cleanup. A fecal indicator bacterium with a host range limited to humans and a few other wa...

Endoscopes have become an indispensable instrument in the ENT department, but their use has introduced potential health risks such as the infection transmission. Numerous guidelines have been issued for both digestive and respiratory endoscopes, while to date specific references to ENT endoscopes do not exist. The diagnostic ENT endoscope does not generally have an operative channel, it is shor...

BACKGROUND A 2009 survey of ENT, audiology, and speech therapy services and training opportunities in 18 Sub-Saharan African countries reported that the availability of services was extremely poor, the distribution of services was very inequitable, and training opportunities were limited. ​​Objective: We conducted a new survey to determine the current status of ear, nose, and throat (ENT), audi...

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are nearly ubiquitous in California (CA) beach sands. Sands were collected from 55 beaches along the CA coast. Ninety-one percent of the beaches had detectable enterococci (ENT) while 62% had detectable E. coli (EC) in their sands. The presence of a putative bacterial source (such as a river), the degree of wave shelter, and surrounding land use explained a signif...