Comparing OAE and ABR Tests in Tinnitus Patients with and without Hearing Loss

Background: Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of any external stimulus. It may be generated by abnormalities in both peripheral or central auditory system. The auditory tests are useful tools for the evaluation of tinnitus origin.Purpose: In this study, we compared the results of OAE( Otoacoustic Emissions) and ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) hearing tests among patients with tinnitus without hearing loss and patients with tinnitus and hearing loss.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients with tinnitus were enrolled and were divided into two groups; a group without hearing loss and other group with hearing loss. DPOAE (Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions) TEOAE (Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions), and ABR were performed for all patients with tinnitus referring to ENT clinic of Taleghani Hospital during 2014.Results: In the present study, 60 patients with a mean age of 52.76±15.69,  including 37 (61.7%) male and 23 (38.3%) female, were studied. Patients without hearing loss were younger than those with hearing loss (P=0.001). The mean Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) in the group without hearing loss in both ears  was significantly lower than patients with hearing loss (P=0.001). The difference between two groups regarding ABR in right ear in waves I, V, and I-V was statistically significant (P<0.05).  In patients without hearing loss there was a significant difference between two age groups (>55 and ≤55 years) in wave III of ABR in left ear (P=0.03).Conclusion: We revealed that SRT and ABR in waves I, V, and I-V in the group with hearing loss were higher than patients without hearing loss

Hypochondriasis in Patients Seeking Revision Rhinoplasty

AbstractBackground: Revision rhinoplasty is one of the most complicated surgeries. However, there exists a lack of information about the psychological status of the non-traumatic revision rhinoplasty candidates.Purpose: The purpose of the present research is to investigate the frequency of hypochondria among these patients.  Methods: The current study was designed prospectively with 57 patients seeking revision rhinoplasty from June 2015 to July 2016 in two university hospitals. There were 57 candidates of revision rhinoplasty and 47 participants in the control group, from which 33 (32.4%) were male and 69 (67.6%) were female. The control group was selected randomly from patients visiting the otolaryngology clinic who had no previous type of cosmetic surgery. The data were analysed using the software program SPSS, performing a MANOVA test.Results: Among 102 participants in our study, 57 (55.88%) were candidates of revision rhinoplasty with 11 (19.25%) male and 46 (80.70%) female patients.  The average age was 25.56±6.52 years old among the patients. Most of the patients (78.94%) were between the age of 19 and 34. There was a significant difference between the  group seeking revision rhinoplasty and the control group in the total score of hypochondria, appearance-related mind’s preoccupation and fear/worry sub-scale (P<0.0001).Conclusion: Our results indicated a high prevalence of appearance-related mind’s preoccupation, fear/worry and hypochondria among revision rhinoplasty candidates. Our data showed that decision on seeking revision rhinoplasty is a personal opinion, which may not be affected by friends and family.

Dyslipidemia Prevalence among Tinnitus Patients of a Referral ENT Clinic in Tehran, Iran, 2018

Background: Tinnitus is a common neurosensory disorder that can bring many problems such as stress and sleep disorders to the patients and affect their quality of life. Unfortunately, its pathophysiology has not been exactly discovered yet, but there have been some studies executed about the possibility of dyslipidemia causing tinnitus. Studying more on this subject and especially on the Iranian population in order to provide us with evidence-based information, can help us find the optimal method to control and treat this disorder.Methods: In this study, 76 patients that have had complaints of tinnitus in the ENT (ears, nose, and throat) clinic of Taleghani hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, in the year 2018, were selected. Also, after taking a history about the severity and the onset of their problem, they were examined and also blood samples were taken to check their lipid profiles. Finally, the results of the lab tests, the severity and the onset of their disorder and also their age and sex were statistically analyzed.Results: The study showed that the prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with tinnitus is not significantly greater than its prevalence in the general population. Furthermore despite the relationship between dyslipidemia and the onset and severity of the tinnitus is not significant, the effect of dyslipidemia on tinnitus shows itself after about one year and a half (P=0.000), it means dyslipidemia does not cause the tinnitus but affects in its duration. It also indicated the most common type of dyslipidemia among the patients that we studied, was Hypercholesterolemia with the prevalence of 23.68%.Conclusion: The Study suggests that despite the Hypercholesterolemia prevalence of 23.68% among these patients, dyslipidemia does not have a significant relationship with the severity of the neuro-sensory disorder “tinnitus’ overall, but dyslipidemia affects tinnitus after suffering for about one year and a half. Therefore there will not be a need to use blood tests in order to measure the lipid profile factors at the beginning and the first months of the patients’ tinnitus.

The Protective Role of Zinc Sulfate in Temporary Noise-induced Threshold Shift: a Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Background: Exposure to excessive sound leads to hearing loss. Temporary threshold shifts are defined as threshold shifts that return to baseline levels in the hours to weeks after excessive sound exposure. Aim: This study aimed to examine the zinc sulfate protective effect following noise exposure. Methods: Fifty-two participants with normal audiograms at baseline were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. First, a distortion product otoacoustic emission test (DPOAEs) was carried out as the baseline assessment, then the intervention group received zinc sulfate supplement capsules for one month and placebo capsules were given to controls. To induce a transient hearing shift, an ABR test was performed. The ABR test was done with 90 dB of sound stimuli for each ear. This input stimulus was a noise exposure that induces a temporary reduction in hearing, in fact, a transient hearing shift has occurred. Then, both groups had a DPOAE test and a follow-up assessment. Signal/noise ratio and DP (distortion product) levels were measured to evaluate the effect of zinc supplement use on transient hearing shift. Results: Comparing the results of the distortion product otoacoustic emission test before and after the auditory brainstem response testing showed significant differences between intervention and control groups (p <0.05). Moreover, the differences in signal/noise ratio between the intervention group before and after ABR testing and also in the control group were significant (p <0.05). Conclusion: Daily zinc sulfate supplement might protect against the transient hearing shift

Evaluation of the relashionship between clinical findings before tympanoplasty and ossicular discontinuity and erosion in patients with chronic otitis media

Background: Chronic Otitis Media (COM) is a relatively common condition and the occurrence of hearing loss is probable. COM may lead to ossicular discontinuity, and unless the operation is performed, it won't be determined. Identifying possible cases of erosion and discontinuity of ossicles is helpful in surgical planning and in anticipation of the probable need for procuring ossicular prosthesis.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between preoperative clinical findings and intraoperative findings.Methods: This is a cross sectional study carried out in 2012 in two tertiary referral hospitals of Tehran, (the Loghman and the Taleghani hospitals). The sample under study consisted of COM patients who referred to the otolaryngology clinics and were tymponoplasty candidates. Two hundred and seven  patients with the mean age of 36.2±13.9 (ranging from 9-67 years) were enrolled in the study. Pre-surgical findings were investigated and the relationship between ossicular discontinuity and pre-surgical findings were evaluated.Results: Incus-Stapes discontinuity (IS Discontinuity) and Incus-Malleus discontinuity (IM Discontinuity) were seen in 60 (29%) and 25 (12.1%) patients, respectively. We found IS Discontinuity in 38 (24.1%) patients with central perforation and 22 (48.9%) cases of marginal perforations (P=0.005). IM Discontinuity was observed in 14 (8.9%) cases with central perforation, while this was seen in 11 (22.4%) cases with marginal perforations (P=0.011). On the other hand, 34 (42%) patients with otorrhea had IS Discontinuity whereas 26 (20.6%) cases of dry ears showed this type of ossicular problem (P<0.001). IM Discontinuity was detected in 13 (16%) and 12 (9.5%) cases with and without otorrhea, respectively (P=0.011). IS Discontinuity and IM Discontinuity were significantly more common in the patients with Air Bone Gap of more than 40 db.Conclusion: Our finding showed that surgical results may be unpleasant in the patients with marginal perforation, otorrhea and ABG>40 db

Short-Term Effect of Gabapentin on Subjective Tinnitus in Acoustic Trauma Patients

Introduction:Although several treatment approaches have been proposed for tinnitus, there are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agents available to treat this condition. In this study, we evaluated the effect of gabapentin on the sensation of subjective tinnitus in patients with acoustic trauma referring to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic of Taleghani Hospital during 2014. Materials and Methods:In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 103 patients with tinnitus due to acoustic trauma who were referred to the ENT clinic of Taleghani Hospital during 2014 were randomized to the gabapentin (300 mg bid, n=55) or control (n=48) groups. The two groups were then compared before and after 6 weeks of treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS). At least a 30% reduction in VAS was considered a response to treatment. Results:Differences between the two groups regarding sex, age, duration of disease, and audiometry results was not significant (P>0.05). After 6 weeks’ treatment, the VAS significantly decreased in both groups (

Otological Findings Ten Years after Myringotomy with Tympanostomy Tube Insertion

Introduction: To study the long-term complications of tympanostomy tube insertion in young children 10 years after surgery.   Materials and Methods: In September 2011, the medical records of all patients who had undergone myringotomy with tympanostomy tube insertion between February 2000 and March 2001 at the two general hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were studied. Of the 98 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 82 patients agreed to participate and were enrolled in the study. The complications of the operation were evaluated in these patients.   Results: Of the 164 ears that were operated on, myringosclerosis was found in 17.1%, atrophy of the tympanic membrane in 1.2%, permanent perforation of the tympanic membrane in 0.6% and tympanic membrane atelectasis in 0.6%. None of the patients developed cholesteatoma as a complication of tympanostomy tube insertion.   Conclusion:  Considering the low risk of serious complications after 10 years, tympanostomy tube insertion is a safe and effective treatment option in the treatment of otitis media with effusion

Otological Findings Ten Years after Myringotomy with Tympanostomy Tube Insertion

Abstract Introduction: To study the long-term complications of tympanostomy tube insertion in young children 10 years after surgery

Long-term Evaluation of the Effect of Platelet-rich Fibrin on Cartilage Tissue Regeneration: An Animal Model Study

Introduction: Autologous cartilage graft in rhinoplasty is associated with common challenges, such as resorption, inflammation, and bone metaplasia.  This study aimed to assess platelet-rich fibrin's long-term effect, as a superphysiological source of biomolecules, on cartilage regeneration in an animal model. Material and Methods: Cartilage and fascia were excised autologously from the ear and leg of thirty-three Wistar rats. They then transplanted with cartilage alone (control group), cartilage wrapped with fascia (fascia group), and cartilage wrapped with PRF (fibrin group) autologously and subcutaneously. Result: The histological results demonstrated no significant difference in chondrocyte viability, fibrosis, and resorption between three groups after six months. However, other parameters, including calcification, bone metaplasia, infection, and basophilia, were lower in the fibrin group.   Conclusion: This study concluded that PRF could be an appropriate autologous cell source for cartilage regeneration and nasal augmentation in the long term