<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Cough is one of the most common symptoms encountered by clinicians. Attempts to measure cough date back to early 1950s and since then, significant progress has been made in understanding cough and many methods have been developed. Methods for cough measurement can be divided into subjective and objective methods and further according to the aspect of cough they assess. Subjective methods for cough assessment provide us with information about patient’s personal experiences of cough and about psychosocial aspect of cough. Most widely used subjective methods include cough severity visual analogue scale, cough severity diaries, and various quality of life questionnaires. Objective methods for cough assessment focus mainly on cough frequency and on cough reflex sensitivity. Most widely used methods from this group include cough monitors and cough inhalation challenges. This review focuses on the most widely used cough measurement methods and points out their advantages and limitations for use in research and clinical practice. The ability to measure cough in clinical and research conditions could be used to determine treatment outcomes, to test new therapies, and to further study pathophysiology and physiology of cough.</p>
</abstract>

Methods of Objectifying Cough

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Nasal nitric oxide (nNO), discovered in exhaled air in 1991, is produced in the nose and paranasal sinuses. This small gaseous molecule plays various roles in the organism, e.g. the first line defense through its antiviral and antimicrobial activity, stimulation of ciliary motility, regulation of pulmonary function. The measurement of nNO has become a diagnostic tool in various diagnoses, such as primary ciliary dyskinesia, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and others. In this article, we discuss the potential benefit of nNO measurement in diagnosis and monitoring of various respiratory diseases.</p>
</abstract>

Is Nasal Nitric Oxide Measurement an Useful Diagnostic Tool in Respiratory Diseases?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is clinically manifested by motor and non-motor symptoms. At the early stage of the disease, it can be misdiagnosed with some neurologic disorders due to overlapping or similar clinical features. In addition, the pathogenesis of this disease is initiated several years prior to the appearance of classical motor symptoms. This latent phase of neurodegeneration in PD characterised at cellular level by preservation of significant fraction of dopaminergic neurones is of particular interest with respect to the development of disease-modifying or neuroprotective therapies which would require intervention at the earliest stages of disease with an aim to slow down or reverse the disease progression. Therefore, huge effort was performed in order to find and validate a biomarker that would reliably differentiate PD from other neurologic diseases as well as a biomarker that would reveal preclinical/prodromal stage of PD. This short review summarises a recent progress in validation of molecular biomarkers of PD, distinct from genetic markers of PD, with some focus on new analysed tissues and new methods.</p>
</abstract>

Search for Molecular Biomarkers of Parkinson’s Disease. New Tissues and Methods

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Direct oral anticoagulants represent a significant group of drugs used in the prevention or treatment of venous thromboembolic events and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Although routine therapy monitoring is not required, there is an increasing evidence that plasma levels may vary between individuals, suggesting the benefit of plasma levels measurement in some situations. Therapeutic drug monitoring is becoming more popular and accessible to the broader population. Introducing microsampling techniques for the quantitative collection of blood samples has arisen nowadays. The volumetric absorptive microsampling approach using a commercially available device such as a Mitra stick overcomes the hematocrit effect present in the dry blood spot technique. This review discusses the possible application of the volumetric absorptive microsampling approach in monitoring direct oral anticoagulant therapy efficacy.</p>
</abstract>

Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling Technique in the LC-MS Determination of Direct Oral Anticoagulants

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec>
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>Pancytopenia is a manifestation of other underlying conditions, commonly associated with multiple benign and malignant conditions. Any patient presenting with pancytopenia requires a thorough evaluation to identify the underlying aetiology.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Aim</h3>
<p>This current evaluates various hematological parameters including bone marrow aspiration (where ever feasible) in pancytopenia in adult group. Study also correlates clinico-haematological profile.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Method</h3>
<p>Fifty patients with a hematological diagnosis of pancytopenia were studied during the period August 2020 to August 2022. The study included adult patients of both sexes having the age of 18 years and above. Tests for complete blood count, reticulocyte count, peripheral smear, bone marrow aspiration, and trephine biopsy were done.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Various etiological factors were identified in which majority were of megaloblastic anaemia (48.9%), followed by mixed nutritional anaemia (22.2%), hypersplenism (13.3%), aplastic anaemia (8.9%), malignant conditions (6.7%), myelodysplastic syndromes (2%), and others (4%) respectively. Megaloblastic anaemia cases observed in the age group of 31–50 years with male preponderance. Hemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranged from 2 g% - 10g%, 500–4000 cells/cumm, 24,000–1.5 lakh cells/cumm, and 0.1% – 2%. MCV was higher than 100 fl in 57.5% of cases. Majority of the patients had macrocytic and dimorphic anaemia. Hypersegmented neutrophils were present in all the patients. Bone marrow of Megaloblastic anaemia was hypercellular. Megaloblastic erythropoiesis with giant meta- myelocytes and band forms were seen. Nutritional anaemia seen in the age group of 51-60 years. Haemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 2.3 g%–7.8 g%, 1000–4000 cells/cumm, 5000–1.4 lakh cells/cumm, and 0.1–8%. Two cases had microcytic hypochromic anaemia in Nutritional anaemia. Bone marrow was hypercellular with a reversal of M:E ratio in 93.8% of cases. In hypersplenism seen in the age group of 51–60 years. Haemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 3.8 g% – 10 g%, 1700–3800 cells/cumm, 26000-1.4 lakh cells/cumm, and 0.6–2% respectilvey in hypersplenism. 40% of hypersplenism patients had microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Bone marrow was hypercellular with a reversal of M:E ratio in 70% of hypersplenism cases. Aplastic anaemia seen in the age group of 41–50 years. Haemoglobin, TLC, Platelet count, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 3.1–10 g%, 1100–4000 cells/cumm, 51000–1.5lakh cells/cumm, and 0.2%–1.8%. Aplastic anaemia (35.8%) cases showed macrocytosis. Bone marrow was hypocellular with an increase in marrow fat and Lymphocytes and plasma cells were prominent in Aplastic anaemia cases. Leukaemia commonly seen in the age group of 31–40 years with male predominance. Hemoglobin, TLC, and Reticulocyte count ranges from 5.1–9.8%, 1100–4000 cells/cumm, and 0.6–2% respectively. Bone marrow was hypercellular with a reversal of M:E ratio in 80%.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Megaloblastic anaemia was the commonest cause of pancytopenia. Most other studies have reported aplastic anaemia as the commonest cause. This seems to reflect the higher prevalence of nutritional anaemia in the Indian subjects. The haematological parameters and bone marrow morphological features in patients with megaloblastic anaemia, aplastic anaemia, and malignant diseases including MDS in the present study were comparable to the findings by other authors. Uncommon etiological factors like dengue fever and hemolytic anaemia were identified in this study. A comprehensive clinical, haematological, and bone marrow study of patients with pancytopenia usually helps in identification of the underlying cause. However, in view of a wide array of etiological factors, pancytopenia continues to be a challenge for hematologists.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Clinico-Etiological and Clinico-Haematological Study of Patients with Pancytopenia in Rural Area

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>In this work, we describe the case of a 68-year-old female patient with an injury to the back wall of the pharynx by a foreign body and its atypical placement in the retropharyngeal space, causing a retropharyngeal abscess. The foreign body was extracted during a transorally direct pharyngolaryngoscopy under general anesthesia. The symptomatology, diagnosis, and therapy of retropharyngeal abscess are the topics of discussion. We emphasize the necessity of timely and thorough localization of the foreign body and its extraction.</p>
</abstract>

Fish Bone as a Cause of Retropharyngeal Abscess

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Acta Medica Martiniana

 Acta Medica Martiniana is a medical scientific journal, first published in print form in December 2001. It is a continuation of the journal / almanac Folia Medica Martiniana (1971 - 1996). The journal‘s owner is the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Slovakia. The aims and scope of the AMM:   Dissemination of research results and scientific knowledge from all areas of medicine and nursing.  Stimulation, facilitation and supporting of publication activity for the young medical research and clinical generation. The contributions of young novice authors (PhD students and post-doctorials) are particularly welcome.   Acta Medica Martiniana (AMM) publishes, and here only in English, high quality original papers (in extenso and short-rapid communications), case reports as well as review articles.  Acta Medica Martiniana is an open-access journal, with a periodicity of publishing three times per year (Apr/Aug/Dec). It covers a wide range of basic medical disciplines, such as anatomy, histology, biochemistry, human physiology, pharmacology, etc., as well as all clinical areas incl. preventive medicine, public health and nursing. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manuscripts, including papers from all areas of biomedical research, are welcome.  All articles are submitted to a peer-review process. They are peer-reviewed anonymously (double blind) by external experts pursuant to the standard evaluation criteria. Based on the reviewers opinions, the Editorial Board will decide whether a paper is to be included in the journal.  Rejection Rate:   15-30%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Acta Medica Martiniana

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 1 (April 2023)

Review Article

Methods of Objectifying Cough

Is Nasal Nitric Oxide Measurement an Useful Diagnostic Tool in Respiratory Diseases?

Search for Molecular Biomarkers of Parkinson’s Disease. New Tissues and Methods

Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling Technique in the LC-MS Determination of Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Original Research Article

Clinico-Etiological and Clinico-Haematological Study of Patients with Pancytopenia in Rural Area

Case Report

Fish Bone as a Cause of Retropharyngeal Abscess

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