The effectiveness of repairment of traumatic tympanic membrane perforations with cigarette paper

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of repairment of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation (TTMP) with cigarette paper patch (CPP) on perforation closure and hearing functions.

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation was made of 67 ears of 61 patients diagnosed with TTMP and treated with CPP in our clinic between January 2015 and 2019. In the classification of TTMP size, the entire tympanic membrane was evaluated as 100%, perforation of <25% was considered small, perforation of between 25% and 50% was considered medium and perforation of ≥50% was considered large. Audiological examination was performed before and at 3 months after the CPP procedure. Air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) pure tone averages (PTAs) and air-bone gap (ABG) at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 khz frequencies were compared.

RESULTS

Perforations were small in 20 (29.9%) of 67 ears, medium in 27 (40.2%), and large in 20 ears (29.9%). AC PTA before CPP was found to be 28.26±5.63 dB hearing level (HL), BC PTA was 8.80±4.35 dB HL and ABG was 19.26±5.80 dB HL. After CPP, the AC PTA was found to be 11.90±6.59 dB HL, BC PTA was 8.29±4.05 dB HL, and ABG was 14.10±4.66 dB HL. TTMP was determined to have improved in 61 ears (91%) in the 1st month after CPP application. There was no statistically significant difference between perforation size and improvement rates (p>0.05). AC PTA values after CPP application were determined to be significantly lower than AC PTA values before CPP application at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 khz (p<0.001). The ABG values measured at 0.5 khz after CPP were significantly higher than the values measured at 2 khz. and 4 khz. (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). The amount of decrease in PTA value after CPP was found to be significantly greater at 0.5 khz than at 2 khz and 4 khz (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

In the treatment of TTMP, early application of CPP is an effective treatment method in terms of both perforation closure and hearing gain.

The Effect of Curcumin on the Prevention of Myringosclerosis in Rats

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the preventative effect of oral curcumin (CMN) on myringosclerosis (MS) in an experimental rat model.

METHODS

The study included 21 female Wistar albino rats randomly separated into three groups. Group 1 was given no treatment (control group). In Group 2 and Group 3, the tympanic membrane (TM) was perforated using a sterile ear pick. The rats in Group 3 were administered oral CMN 200 mg/kg/day. All rats were sacrificed after 16 days. Otomicroscopic and histopathologic examinations were performed on the tympanic membranes.

RESULTS

Histopathologic examinations revealed that there were statistically significant differences between Group 2 and Group 3 in terms of MS degrees (p<0.001) and mean thicknesses of TMs (p<0.001), but there were no differences between Group 1 and Group 3. In respect of MS detected by otomicroscopy, a statistically significant difference was determined between Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001) and between Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3 (p=0.575).

CONCLUSION

Orally administered CMN can prevent myringosclerosis formation in experimentally induced myringotomies.

Association Between Nasal Obstruction Symptoms and Anxiety

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between nasal function assessment and anxiety scales.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients with the complaint of nasal obstruction were classified as nasal septum deviation group (DNS) and no nasal pathology group (NON). A control group was formed of 57 healthy participants. Nasal obstruction severity was assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, nasal resistance level with rhinomanometry and anxiety levels with the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ), and the Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ).

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference between both the DNS and the NON groups and control group in terms of NOSE scale, ACQ, and BSQ (P < .001). The total nasal resistance values were higher in the DNS group compared to both the NON and control groups (P < .001), although the difference between the NON group and control group was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that patients with nasal breathing complaints, but no organic pathology, had the same level of nasal obstruction symptoms as patients with nasal septal deviations. Anxiety levels are elevated in patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction, even when there is lack of organic nasal pathology.

Protective Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Nasal Mucosa of Rats Against the Histopathologic Changes in Cigarette Smoke Exposure

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is a public health problem that has been proven to have adverse effects on human health. Aerobic exercise has positive effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this experimental animal model study was to determine whether regular aerobic exercise has a protective effect against the harmful effects of cigarette smoke on the nasal mucosa of rats.

METHODS

A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into 3 groups of 8: group 1 (cigarette smoking), group 2 (cigarette smoking and exercise), and group 3 (control group). At the end of the experiment period, histopathological (light and electron microscopy) and immunohistochemical (GSTA 1, CYP1A1, and CYP2E1) evaluations were made of the nasal mucosa of the animals.

RESULTS

Goblet cell loss and basal membrane thickening were significantly lower in group 2 and group 3 compared to group 1. In the electron microscope evaluation, the inflammatory expressions of the goblet cells were observed in a very small area in group 2. In group 1, these were distributed over large areas between the mucosal cells. There was seen to be significant swelling of the mitochondria in group 1 compared to the other groups. No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups with respect to GSTA1, CYP2E1, and CYP1A1 scores (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that regular aerobic exercise has a protective effect against the harmful effects of smoking on the nasal mucosa of rats.

Comparison of the Effects of 2 Surgical Techniques Used in the Treatment of Concha Bullosa on Olfactory Functions

INTRODUCTION

Concha bullosa (CB), which is pneumatization of the concha, is one of the most commonly seen anatomic variations of the lateral nasal wall.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects on olfactory function of lateral turbinectomy and crushing methods used in the surgical treatment of CB.

METHODS

The study included a total of 47 patients operated on for a diagnosis of CB and nasal septum deviation. The patients comprised 22 females and 25 males, with bilateral CB in 18 cases and unilateral in 29 cases. Intervention was made to a total of 65 CB. The cases were separated as those applied with septoplasty and lateral turbinectomy in group 1 (n = 34) and those applied with the septoplasty and crushing method in group 2 (n = 31). The olfactory function of the patients was evaluated preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively with the Brief Smell Identification Test.

RESULTS

A statistically significant increase was determined in the postoperative smell test results compared with the preoperative values in both group 1 (P = .021) and group 2 (P = .001). When the change in the smell test results from preoperative to postoperative was compared between the groups, the increase in group 2 was determined to be statistically significantly greater (P = .002).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that the crushing method in surgical treatment of CB increased olfactory functions more than the lateral resection method, and as the improvement in olfactory functions was greater, this demonstrated that only increasing the nasal cavity is not sufficient and the nasal mucosa should be protected as far as possible.

Protective effect of aerobic exercise on the vocal folds against cigarette smoke exposure

PURPOSE

Laryngeal pathologies due to cigarette smoking vary among individuals, whereas some smokers remain disease free. These differences can be explained by multiple factors among individuals. In this context, an animal study was designed to determine if there is any protective effect of aerobic exercise against the detrimental effects of cigarette smoke on laryngeal tissues.

METHODS

A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups of eight animals each: control (no smoke exposure), smoking (smoke exposure), and exercise (smoke exposure and exercise) groups. Histopathological (light and electron microscopy) and immunohistochemical (GSTA1, CYP1A1, CYP2E1) evaluations of the vocal folds were performed at the end of experimental period.

RESULTS

Exercise group revealed statistically significant decrease in edema (p = 0.03) and inflammatory cell infiltration (p = 0.02) compared to smoking group. In electron microscopic evaluation; cytoplasmic vacuoles were also present in exercise group, but were smaller than smoking group. Edema and swollen mitochondria were also less prominent in exercise group. Condensed chromatin material in the periphery of nucleus was observed only in few cells in exercise group, and observed in more cells in smoking group. GSTA1 expression was higher (p = 0.047) and CYP1A1 expression was lower (p = 0.01) in exercise group than smoking group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that aerobic exercise has a protective role on the larynx against the damaging effect of cigarette smoke. Smokers who exercise regularly may be at a lower risk of cigarette smoke-related laryngeal diseases, as compared with those who do not exercise.

Patient Characteristics and Frequent Localizations of Rhinoliths

Objective

A rhinolith is a rare entity affecting all people in all age groups. It is defined as a mineralized foreign body. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the distribution in age and gender and the localization, side, and prominent symptoms of rhinoliths to identify the risk groups and characteristics of the rhinoliths in a large case series.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed from the medical charts of 28 patients who were diagnosed with rhinolith and underwent surgery between May 2011 and January 2015 in Ankara Research and Training Hospital. All data, including age, gender, duration of symptoms, localization of the lesion and accompanying pathologies, were documented.

Results

In total, 28 patients (18 females and 10 males) with a mean age of 26.2±16.6 (5-62) years who were diagnosed with rhinolithiasis were reviewed. Nasal obstruction (71.4%) and nasal discharge (64.3%) were the most common complaints. The rhinolith was located in the right nasal cavity in 24 patients and in the left in four; this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There were 11 accompanying pathologies including nasal septal deviation (n=6), nasal polyposis (n=2), concha bullosa (n=2), and adenoid vegetation (n=1). In 21 (75%) patients, the most common site was the nasal base of the cavity between the inferior turbinate and the nasal septum.

Conclusion

If unilateral right-sided nasal obstruction with foul-smelling purulent discharge is detected in a young adult and a nasal examination reveals a mass in the floor of the cavity, a rhinolith should be strongly considered in the differential diagnosis.