The effects of meteorological factors and air pollution on prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Aim: To evaluate the effect of air pollution parameters and meteorological factors on the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Methods: 40 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL who were treated in our clinic between 2015 and 2018 were examined retrospectively. Meteorological data including average temperature (Tmean), maximum and minimum temperature (Tmax and Tmin), relative humidity, and air pollution parameters including sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM 10). Data of 10 days prior to the disease and 14 days after the treatment were analyzed. Results: When the distribution of patients according to the seasons were examined, it was found that 12 (30%) of the patients were seen in autumn, 11 (27.5%) in spring, 9 (22.5%) in winter, and 8 (20%) in summer. When the Tmax, Tmin, Tmean values obtained as of the initiation of the treatment were compared, it was found that the values of the group without recovery were significantly lower. Relative humidity values were significantly lower in the group without recovery in pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements. No significant difference was found between the recovery groups in SO2 and PM10 values in pre-treatment and post-treatment measurements. Conclusion: It was observed that relative humidity, Tmax, Tmin, Tmean values may affect prognosis in ISSNHL patients in our study. In addition, SO2 and PM10 were not associated with ISSNHL recovery rates. Our study is the first in the literature in terms of evaluating the relationship between air pollution parameters and ISSNHL prognosis

Evaluation and Management of Antrochoanal Polyps

Antrochoanal polyps (ACPs) are benign polypoid lesions arising from the maxillary antrum and they extend into the choana. They occur more commonly in children and young adults, and they are almost always unilateral. The etiopathogenesis of ACPs is not clear. Nasal obstruction and nasal drainage are the most common presenting symptoms. The differential diagnosis should include the causes of unilateral nasal obstruction. Nasal endoscopy and computed tomography scans are the main diagnostic techniques, and the treatment of ACPs is always surgical. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and powered instrumentation during FESS for complete removal of ACPs are extremely safe and effective procedures. Physicians should focus on detecting the exact origin and extent of the polyp to prevent recurrence

Cochlear implantation and electro-acoustic stimulation: Current status and developments

The number of people with hearing loss constitutes approximately 6.5% of the world population. Hearing loss leads to alienation from social environments and deterioration in quality of life in adults. Children with hearing loss, on the other hand, have lower literacy and lower educational attainments. There are auditory prostheses, called cochlear implant (CI) devices, which are designed using a special speech coding strategy to convert acoustic information into electrical stimulation for patients with inadequate traditional hearing aids used for rehabilitation of hearing loss. These devices are surgically implanted and cause direct stimulation of primary afferent neurons in the inner ear. The auditory nerve is stimulated by the electrodes placed on the cochlea, and thus the auditory message can be sent up to the auditory cortex. With CI, increases in speaking, language and comprehension skills can be achieved

Assessment of auditory brainstem responses in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

WOS: 000435652100011Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of thyroid hormone changes on hearing pathways by assessing audiometry and auditory brainstem responses of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients and to determine whether hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism patients are at risk for hearing loss. Material and Method: Between June 2008-July 2009, 25 hyperthyroidism (Graves, Multinodular Goitre) and 25 hypothyroidism (Hashimato hypothyroidism) patients who were newly diagnosed in the endocrinology clinic of Duzce University Medical Faculty between the ages of 20-50 were taken into study. Audiometry and Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements were performed for each patient. Results: In audiometry findings of hyperthyroid patients, a sensorineural hearing loss was detected especially at high frequency when compared to normal control group. There was no significant difference in the ABR results when compared with the control group. When audiometric findings were interpreted in hypothyroid patients, a sensorineural hearing loss was detected especially at high frequencies when compared to the control group. When the ABR measurements of the control group were compared with the hypothyroid group, the wave latencies I., III., V. and I-III, I-V interpeak latencies were higher in the hypothyroid group, but the difference between the first wave latency and III-V and I-V interpeak latencies was not statistically significant (p>0,05), but the difference between III., V. wave lattices and I-III interpeak latency was statistically significant (p < 0.05). These changes in ABR waves suggest that there are retrocochlear problems in hypothyroid patients. Discussion: The results of our study suggest that both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism may have an impact on the hearing pathways

Congenital unilateral intranasal membranous septa with choanal atresia dividing the nasal cavity into two blind pouch: A case report

Congenital nasal anomalies are rare disorders. An 11-year-old girl presented to our clinic with a left sided nasal obstruction and chronic nasal discharge since birth. Clinical evaluation revealed membranous septa which divided the left nasal cavity into two blind pouch and left sided choanal atresia with alar cartilage asymmetry. This congenital anomaly was not defined in the English literature. The membranous septa in the left nasal cavity were excised, alar reconstruction were performed and the choanal atresia were repaired by a transnasal endoscopic approach. In this article we reported a case of membranous septa which divided the left nasal cavity into two blind pouch associated with unilateral choanal atresia and alar cartilage asymmetry. Also the nasal anomalies and associated disorders in the literature were reviewed. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Plasmodium falciparum Malaria of Foreign-Origin in Kocaeli Province: Assessment of 16 Cases

WOS: 000389267200008Objective: This paper intends to underline that malaria should be borne in mind in the differential diagnosis of patients with history of visiting endemic regions and of malaria prophylaxis for those intending to travel to these regions. Methods: 16 cases of P. falciparum malaria that were followed in the clinic between 2009 and 2015 were included in our study. Diagnosis was based on plasmodia seen under light microscope in thick and thin smears prepared from peripheral blood samples obtained from febrile patients and stained with Giemsa method. Results: Out of 16 patients, one was female and 15 were males. 14 of these patients, whose average age was 32 years, did not receive prophylaxis. Complaints of all patients were fever with chills, rigor, weakness, and anorexia; other accompanying complaints were headache, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough and sore throat. Body temperatures over 38 degrees C were detected in all patients. 11 patients were treated with artemether-lumefantrin and 5 patients treated with combination of quinine and doxycycline. Ertapenem was added in the treatment of a patient due to Serratia marcescens isolation in his blood culture obtained during his febrile period. Acute hepatitis A as a co-infection was detected in a patient and he was followed with symptomatic treatment. Somnolence, bleeding, bilateral pleural effusion and pulmonary infiltrates were observed in two patients diagnosed as severe malaria. Conclusions: Malaria chemoprophylaxis for the people intending to travel endemic regions is crucial