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A letter to the editor is presented regarding the standardised anaesthetic protocol of the Royal London Hospital on determining patients suitable for day-case paediatric microlaryngobronchoscopy.

A letter to the editor is presented which describes the method of using a post-operative nasopharyngeal prong airway after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

The article focuses on a study on the treatment of children with first branchial cleft anomalies, conducted at the Paediatric Otolaryngology Department at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, England. It discusses the method of the examination performed for the patients as well as highlights the cause of such defect. It provides details on the surgical operation performed for the patients, treated by surgical excision through superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve identification.

The article discusses the prospective study on intra-operative hyperkalemia as a serious complication of renal parathyroidectomy. It mentions that the study had included 29 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who had undergone parathyroidectomy at Hull Royal Infirmary in Great Britain. It stresses that hyperkalemia could occur in patients with CRF.

Objective: To study the causes and prevalence of sensorineural deafness in Bangladeshi children resident in East London. Methods: This was a cross sectional survey of children of Bangladeshi origin living in East London with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of 40 db HL or more. In this study, 134 patients were included. The study looked primarily at the causes of sensorineural hearing loss in this population. Results: The prevalence of deafness in Bangladeshi children in East London is approximately 3.86 per 1000 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.20, 4.65] which is significantly greater than the average UK prevalence of 1.65 per 1000. The prevalence of deafness in these Bangladeshi children belonging to non-consanguineous families only, the prevalence falls to 2.73 per 1000 (95% CI 2.19, 3.41). In 60% cases the cause of deafness was genetic. The single most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss in this population was mutations in the GJB2 gene (Connexin 26) in 20 of these patients (17%). Parents were consanguineous in 33% of the families. Conclusion: This study concludes that prevalence of sensorineural deafness in Bangladeshi children is at least 2.3 times the national average. This study also concludes that genetic causes are the common cause of deafness in this ethnic group, with nearly 30% of children with non-syndromic deafness having mutations in GJB2. Although parental consanguinity was very high in this population it did not account for the whole increase in prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mutations in Gap Junction Beta 2 ( GJB2) (the gene encoding the protein Connexin 26) have been found to be a major cause of non-syndromic sensorineural recessive deafness. The mutations in GJB2 causing hearing impairment vary in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and spectrum of GJB2 mutations in prelingual deafness in a population of Bangladeshi origin in the UK. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Community based audiology clinic and tertiary level genetics department. Methods: Fifty-three families (67 patients) with sensorineural hearing loss of unknown cause were included in the study. Detailed history and examination excluded syndromic and environmental causes of hearing loss in the subjects as far as possible. Genetic analysis was performed, specifically looking for mutations in the GJB2 gene. Results: Of the 53 families, 14 were confirmed to have biallelic pathogenic mutations in GJB2 (26%). The most common mutations of GJB2 in this population were W24X, IVS1+1, M1V, W77X and Q124X, W24X being the most common mutation seen in 57% of patients. Conclusion: Mutations in GJB2 are responsible for over one quarter of non-syndromic sensorineural deafness in the British Bangladeshi population. It is recommended that all Bangladeshi patients with non-syndromic hearing loss should be first tested for GJB2 mutations before requesting other aetiological investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keypoints • Bilateral microtia is a challenging problem as these patients require both reconstruction of the auricle and rehabilitation of hearing. • Our aim was to find the optimal position for bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) in patients requiring reconstruction of the auricle on the same side. • From an analysis of five such operated patients, it was found that siting a BAHA 6.5–7.0 cm from the position of the external auditory meatus is probably the correct distance to facilitate optimal auricular reconstruction. • Using these criteria, a group of another five patients with BAHA awaiting auricular reconstruction were reviewed. Of these only three (60%) have been satisfactorily sited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell suspensions of carrot, Datura, tobacco and soybean subjected to -20°C, -70°C and -196°C in the presence of a suitable cryoprotective agent, and stored for various lengths of time have been revived. After revival these cells divided to form callus masses. Direct immersion in liquid nitrogen invariably killed the cells, whereas cooling at the rate of 1 or 2°C/min, or pre-freezing briefly at -20 and -70°C, followed by freezing at -196°C retained the viability. Depending on the plant species up to 70% of the cell clumps could withstand ultra-cooling. Tobacco and Datura cell suspensions were more sensitive to cold treatment than were those of carrot. Actively growing cell-suspensions containing small cell clumps revived rapidly, while filtered cell-suspensions of free cells only occasionally survived. Calli of tobacco and carrot obtained from frozen suspensions have been regenerated into plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphogenesis has been induced in excised organs and callus tissue cultures obtained from various parts of the seedling and mature plants of pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). Vigorously growing cell cultures capable of being periodically subcultured have been established in liquid as well as on the agar‐solidified Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 2,4‐D (0.1 mg/1) + kinetin (0.1 mg/l) + coconut milk (10%). The callus tissue obtained from excised hypocotyl segments is white, soft, friable and fast growing, and has been subcultured over a period of two years without showing any sign of decline in growth. The optimum conditions for growth are at pH 5.9, temperature 27°C, and with 4% sucrose as the carbon source. Under appropriate nutritional supply these cultures can be manipulated to induce rhizogenesis in the suspension cultures, and buds and “embryo‐like” structures on agar‐solidified media. The excised leaves, hypocotyl and stem segments regenerate buds. Of the cytokinins used, 6‐(y,y‐dimethylallylamino)‐purine proved to be the best for the number of cultures producing buds, as well as for the number of buds per culture. Anatomical studies revealed that buds arise from the epidermal and subepidermal layers of leaves and hypocotyl; these buds form shoots which eventually develop into plantlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uptake of micronutrient zinc by intact leaves, enzymically isolated leaf cells, leaf disks, excised roots, and stem-callus tissue of two field bean cultivars 'Saginaw' and 'Sanilac') was studied using radio-isotope tracer technique. Radio-phosphorus absorption by these tissues was also followed under comparable experimental conditions. A rapid absorption of the micronutrient and strong dependency on external zinc concentration and pH were revealed. Absorption of zinc was not inhibited by respiratory inhibitors (dinitrophenol, azide, cyanide, and amytal), and was not light or temperature dependent. Q10 values for zinc uptake ranged between 1 and 1.2. Uptake of phosphate, on the other hand, was temperature and light dependent and drastically reduced by the presence of metabolic inhibitors. Differences in responses to respiratory inhibitors, temperature, pH, light and darkness, and kinetic data, strongly suggest that zinc uptake in bean tissues occurs primarily by a passive mechanism, involving possibly a physical or physiochemical binding of the micronutrient ions to the cell wall and free space components, and a passive diffusion into the interior of the cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato root tips were grown in cultures and the effect of blue, red, and white light on chlorophyll formation was studied. The roots grown in white light turned green in 4-6 weeks, whereas in blue or red light, green colour occasionally appeared at Places. The chlorophyll contents, as determined by the spectrophotometeric method, were found to be maximum in unfiltered light followed by blue and red light. In white and blue light treatments chlorophyll α contents were higher than chlorophyll b, however in red light this was reversed. The results are compared with earlier experiments on chlorophyll formation in excised roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about a study assessing the impact of communicating the results of routine medical tests to patients by letter, which is a measure to improve access to outpatient services.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article by Loock and Naude regarding the comparison of preparation of temporalis fascia on the outcome of myringoplasty.

A letter to the editor is presented regarding an ideal clinic letter for general practitioners.

A letter to the editor is presented about the use of camera mobile phone to assess emergency otolaryngology radiological investigations.