|
||
Otolaryngology, ENT & Sinus News Provided by the California Sinus CentersThe Bradford Hill Criteria and Zinc-Induced Anosmia: A Causality Analysis [Original Article]July 1, 2010, 12:00 pm by Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck SurgeryObjective To apply the Bradford Hill criteria, which are widely used to establish causality between an environmental agent and disease, to evaluate the relationship between over-the-counter intranasal zinc gluconate therapy and anosmia. Design Patient and literature review applying the Bradford Hill criteria on causation. Setting University of California, San Diego, Nasal Dysfunction Clinic. Patients The study included 25 patients who presented to the University of California, San Diego, Nasal Dysfunction Clinic complaining of acute-onset anosmia after intranasal application of homeopathic zinc gluconate gel. Main Outcome Measures Each of the 9 Bradford Hill criteria—strength of association, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient (dose-response), biological plausibility, biological coherence, experimental evidence, and analogy—was applied to intranasal zinc gluconate therapy and olfactory dysfunction using published, peer-reviewed medical literature and reported clinical experiences. Results Clinical, biological, and experimental data support the Bradford Hill criteria to demonstrate that intranasal zinc gluconate therapy causes hyposmia and anosmia. Conclusions The Bradford Hill criteria represent an important tool for scientifically determining cause between environmental exposure and disease. Increased Food and Drug Administration oversight of homeopathic medications is needed to monitor the safety of these popular remedies.
More from Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Long-term Health-Related Quality of Life in Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer [Original Article] Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery: January 16, 2012, 12:00 pm Objective To examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) reported by 5-year head and neck cancer survivors and factors that predicted these long-term scores. Design Prospective, observational outcomes study. Setting Tertiary care institution. Patients A total Sequential Bilateral Cochlear Implantation in Children: Quality of Life [Original Article] Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery: January 16, 2012, 12:00 pm Objective To assess the effect of sequential bilateral cochlear implantation in children on their quality of life (QoL). Design Prospective cohort-control study. Setting Tertiary academic referral center. Patients Thirty children with prelingual deafness underwent sequential Disinfection of Flexible Fiberoptic Laryngoscopes After In Vitro Contamination With Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans [Original Article] Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery: January 16, 2012, 12:00 pm Objective To determine the efficacy of various cleaning and disinfective methods in reducing bacterial and fungal load on flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes (FFLs). Design In vitro model. Subjects Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus Winter scene, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [About the Cover] Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery: January 1, 2012, 12:00 pm About This Journal [About This Journal] Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery: January 1, 2012, 12:00 pm
|
