Radical mastoidectomy cavity myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica

In this article, a Wohlfahrtia magnifica otomyiasis case, a 31-year-old, non-mentally retarded patient who had undergone radical mastoidectomy previously is presented. Maggots in the radical mastoidectomy cavity were removed then topical treatment was applied. The maggots were identified as W. magnifica. In cases of myiasis, identification of larvae following direct extraction and application of preventative methods is essential

A study on the prevalence of accessory auricle anomaly in Turkey

Objective: Accessory auricular anomaly is a small elevation of skin containing a bar of elastic cartilage localized most commonly just anterior to the tragus or ascending crus of the helix. The anomaly may exist isolated or may be associated with other congenital anomalies of the first arch. The purpose in this study is to detect prevalence of accessory auricle in Turkey and find out whether it is associated with other craniofacial anomalies or hearing loss. Methods: The study was performed on 850 children from the age of 7 to 9 during a screening program in primary schools. Complete otolaryngologic examination and acoustic reflectometry measurements were performed on all the children. Full physical examination, tympanometric and audiometric evaluation and EEG measurements were added to the cases with accessory auricle anomaly. Results: Among 850 children examined, four had accessory auricle anomaly and prevalence of the anomaly was calculated as 0.47% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.13-1.20%). Children were developmentally normal, and no other congenital craniofacial or systemic anomaly was detected in any of the cases. Further, tympanometric, audiometric evaluations and EEG tests were in normal limits. Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence rate of the condition was calculated as 0.47%. Although one study from China reported this prevalence as 0.22%, the difference between the reported prevalances was not statistically significant. Further, although external ear anomalies may present together with cranifacial anomalies and neurologic disorders like epilepsy, neuromotor retardation and EEG disorders, in our cases, mental and motor development was normal and epilepsy history or abnormal EEG patterns do not exist. On the other hand, no hearing loss was found to be associated with accessory auricles. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd

Traditional tonsillectomy versus radiofrequency dissection tonsillectomy in adults

Purpose: To compare traditional dissection tonsillectomy (TRT) with radiofrequency dissection tonsillectomy (RFT) in terms of postoperative pain, intraoperative blood loss, and operation time. Methods: Thirty patients underwent elective tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. RFT was performed in 15 and TRT was performed in the remaining. A radiofrequency surgical unit (Surgitron FFPF 140 watt machine, Ellman Corporation, Hewlett New York) equipped with a needle electrode on pure cut and coagulate setting of about '3.5' (17 watts) was used for cold dissection of the tonsils in the RFT group. Postoperative pain was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). The VAS scores were recorded every hour in the first 24 hours and daily until the 10th day. The operation time was regarded as the period between the first incision and extubation. The amount of blood in the suction container was considered the amount of intraoperative bleeding. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding VAS scores, intraoperative bleeding, or operation time (p>0.05, c2 test). Conclusion: Both TRT and RFT techniques are safe and similar in terms of postoperative pain, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss. RFT does not have any significant advantage over the traditional technique

Classification of the inferior turbinate bones: A computed tomography study

Background: There are only few reports describing the texture of the inferior turbinate bone in normal and pathologic conditions. In this study, different types of human inferior turbinate bones were classified and radiological features of each type were defined. Methods: The shape, structure and density of the inferior turbinate bones were evaluated using paranasal sinus computed tomography images of 283 patients. The cross-sectional areas of the bony part of the inferior turbinate were measured in bone windows. Results: Human inferior turbinate bones were classified into four groups on the basis of different shape and structure as: Type I, lamellar; Type II, compact; Type III, combined type (compact with spongious component); Type IV, bullous. The distribution was as follows: 352 (62.19%) lamellar, 50 (8.83%) compact, 162 (28.63%) combined, and 2(0.35%) bullous type. Conclusion: Inferior turbinate bone is not in a uniform shape and structure. These diversities should be taken into consideration in radiological and clinical evaluation. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Enlargement of the bone component in different parts of compensatorily hypertrophied inferior turbinate

Background: To evaluate the unilateral compensatorily hypertrophied inferior turbinate (CHIT) by computed tomography (CT) and determine the enlargement of the bone component in different parts of the CHIT. Methods: Patients were studied in three groups: those with a straight or nearly straight septum (n = 143), with mild deviation (n = 42), and with moderate to severe deviation (n = 99). The cross sectional area (CSA) of the inferior turbinate (IT) bone and the whole turbinate were measured at anterior, middle, and posterior thirds of the IT in coronal sections. The ratio of CSA of the IT bone on two sides of the septum (interturbinate ratio) and the ratio of the CSA of the overall turbinate to the IT bone (intraturbinate ratio) were calculated. Results: The interturbinate ratio of the bony turbinate CSA for the severe deviation group was significantly higher compared with other groups in anterior and middle segments (p < 0.0001). The intraturbinate ratio was highest in the posterior segment and lowest in the middle segments in compensatorily hypertrophied sides for all groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Skeletal enlargement is prominent in anterior and middle thirds of CHIT in patients with pronounced septal deviation. Copyright © 2004, OceanSide Publications, Inc

The allure of technology: How France and California promoted electric and hybrid vehicles to reduce urban air pollution

All advanced industrialized societies face the problem of air pollution produced by motor vehicles. In spite of striking improvements in internal combustion engine technology, air pollution in most urban areas is still measured at levels determined to be harmful to human health. Throughout the 1990s and beyond, California and France both chose to improve air quality by means of technological innovation, adopting legislation that promoted clean vehicles, prominently among them, electric vehicles (EVs). In California, policymakers chose a technology-forcing approach, setting ambitious goals (e.g., zero emission vehicles), establishing strict deadlines and issuing penalties for non-compliance. The policy process in California called for substantial participation from the public, the media, the academic community and the interest groups affected by the regulation. The automobile and oil industries bitterly contested the regulation, in public and in the courts. In contrast, in France the policy process was non-adversarial, with minimal public participation and negligible debate in academic circles. We argue that California's stringent regulation spurred the development of innovative hybrid and fuel cell vehicles more effectively than the French approach. However, in spite of the differences, both California and France have been unable to put a substantial number of EVs on the road. Our comparison offers some broad lessons about how policy developments within a culture influence both the development of technology and the impact of humans on the environment. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLP 2007Environmental policy, Technology policy, Policy styles, Air pollution, Sustainable transport, Electric and hybrid vehicles,