The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (SIT) is the most cited olfactory test in the literature because it is easy to perform and there is high test-retest reliability. There were no standardized olfaction values in a normal Brazilian population. Aim: To measure the SIT score in a group of Brazilians, and to assess the level of difficulty when implementing the test. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: The SIT was applied in 25 Brazilian volunteers of various income levels who presented no olfactory complaints. Following the test, subjects answered a questionnaire with a visual analog scale (VAS) for the level of difficulty. Results: The mean in the sample of Brazilians was 32.5 (SD: 3.48) our of 40; this is below what is considered normal for US citizens. The level of difficulty was on average 26 mm (SD: 24.68) in the VAS, but it trended towards easy; 4(16%) participants did not recognize some of the odors under 'alternatives'. Conclusion: In this pilot study, there was evidence of good test applicability; the score of the sample of Brazilians was just below normosmia. Further studies are needed to confirm the existence of differences between people of different income levels. ORIGINAL ARTICLE Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2010;76(6):695-9. BJORL

BackgroundUniversal goniometer (UG) is commonly used as a standard method to evaluate range of motion (ROM) as part of joint motions. It has some restrictions, such as involvement of both hands of the physician, leads to instability of hands and error. Nowadays smartphones usage has been increasing due to its easy application.ObjectivesThe study was designed to compare the smartphone inclinometer-based app and UG in evaluation of ROM of elbow.Materials and MethodsThe maximum ROM of elbow in position of flexion and pronation and supination of forearm were examined in 60 healthy volunteers with UG and smartphone. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver. 16) software and appropriate statistical tests were applied, such as paired t-test, ICC and Bland Altman curves.ResultsThe results of this study showed high reliability and validity of smartphone in regarding UG with ICC > 0.95. The highest reliability for both methods was in elbow supination and the lowest was in the elbow flexion (0.84).ConclusionsSmartphones due to ease of access and usage for the physician and the patient, may be good alternatives for UG.

Introduction: Suicidal poisoning with organophosphorus (OP) pesticides is common, particularly from rural areas. This highlights the importance of determining an OP poisoning prognosis to decide how aggressive treatment should be. There are reports suggesting a relationship between prolonged corrected QT (QTC) interval and the severity of poisoning. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of this clinical tool in OP poisoning (OPP) patients.Methods: Patients with the primary diagnosis of OPP who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Loghman-Hakim Hospital Poison Centre (LHHPC) were the subjects of this prospective study. Cholinesterase (CE) activity and the QTC interval was determined for each patient using the Bazett formula and considering <440 msec as normal. Comparative outcomes of the study were duration of both hospitalization and mechanical ventilation, serum CE activity on admission and its daily level, total amount of atropine administered, analysis of the QT and QTC intervals in the primary ECG on admission and at the end of hospitalization, and rate of mortality.Results: The study included 42 patients with a diagnosis of OPP. The mean age of the patients was 32, ranged from 12 to 81 years old. The mortality rate was 37.5%. There was no significant difference between two groups (prolonged and normal QTC intervals) according to gender and age (p = .491 and p = .133, respectively). The CE level for long and normal QTC interval groups was 3.90 Ϯ 0.33 kU/L vs. 4.41 Ϯ 0.23 kU/L, respectively. The mortality rate in the long QTC group was significantly higher than that of the normal QTC group (p = .044). Moreover, the average period of hospitalization in patients with prolonged QTC interval was higher than the other group (p = .02). The average atropine required to control the muscarinic signs and symptoms such as salivation, bronchorrehea, and miosis in patients with prolonged QTC interval was 38.60 mg; in patients with normal QTC interval it was 20.02 mg (p = .013).Conclusion: QTC interval prolongation may have prognostic value in OPP.

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