The affect of radiotherapy on oropharyngeal bacterial flora was studied in the hope that this might help in controlling post-operative infections in previously irradiated patients. Eighty patients were included from whom swabs were taken before and at the end of irradiation, Swabs were also taken two weeks after treatment in the last 40 patients. Thirty healthy controls were included.It was found that coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, β-haemolytic streptococci, Candida albicans, B. proteus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were significantly increased at the end of irradiation, while Klebsiella was increased significantly in the period after irradiation. Culture and sensitivity was performed for the organisms isolated in the last 40 patients.From this study it is evident that irradiation has a significant effect on oropharyngeal flora.

This study explored the prevalence and predictors of renal artery stenosis in a cohort of 525 hypertensive patients referred for elective coronary procedures. Patients underwent coronary and renal arteriography. The study defined renal artery stenosis as ≥60% luminal obstruction (physiologic or hemodynamic significance was not tested). Patients were classified into groups of those with normal renal arteries, those with insignificant renal artery stenosis, and individuals with significant renal artery stenosis. The mean age was 52.6±8.5 years, and 403 (76.8%) were males. Significant renal artery stenosis was found in 3.6%. It correlated significantly with hypertension duration (P=.005), history of cerebrovascular stroke (P=.01), history of angioplasty to >1 coronary vessel (P=.003), and 3‐vessel coronary disease (P=.0003). Multivariate regression analysis identified 2‐vessel and 3‐vessel coronary artery disease as independent predictors of renal artery stenosis, with odds ratios of 4.9 and 12.1, respectively. It was concluded that invasive screening for renal artery stenosis was probably warranted only in hypertensive patients with multivessel coronary disease referred for elective coronary procedures.