Ali Özdek

A Possible Role of Helicobacter pylori in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Preliminary Report

Objective The objective was to investigate the presence of Helicobacter pylori with polymerase chain reaction in the sinonasal mucosa of patients with or without chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Surgical treatment of cholesteatoma in children.

OBJECTIVESnTo present our experience in the surgical treatment of cholesteatoma in children.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnRetrospective clinical trial.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODnCharts of 114 patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study were examined. Surgical results were compared with respect to applied surgical methods. Cholesteatoma recidivism (CR) and hearing improvement were the main parameters which were examined.nnnRESULTSnThe mean age was 13 years and mean follow-up period was 3.7 years. A total of 200 operations performed on 114 children: 114 children operated at the first stage, 84 children underwent a second surgery, and 2 a third surgery. At initial operation; canal wall-up (CWU) tympanomastoidectomy was the choice of surgical procedure in 35 (31%) patients, and canal wall-down (CWD) tympanomastoidectomy was preferred for the other 79 (69%) patients. At final analysis; 26 of 114 (23%) patients had CWU procedure, 67 patients (59%) had CWD procedure and 21 patients (18%) had radical mastoidectomy. (CR) rate was 26 and 16%, respectively for CWU and CWD procedures for initial surgeries (P = 0.248). Hearing improvement was achieved in 36% of CWU procedures and 38% of CWD procedures (P = 0.957). Hearing deterioration was observed in 36% of CWU procedures and 47% of CWD procedures (P = 0.328).nnnCONCLUSIONnThere was no significant difference between CWU and CWD procedures with respect to CR, hearing improvement, and hearing deterioration. Therefore, choose of surgical procedure should be individualized for each patient. In our opinion; open techniques must be employed in the presence of extensive disease, whereas the closed technique is reserved for those with a more localized problem.

Association of Adenoid Surface Biofilm Formation and Chronic Otitis Media With Effusion

OBJECTIVESnTo investigate bacterial biofilm formation on the adenoid surface of pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy and to reveal whether this formation is associated with chronic otitis media with effusion (COME).nnnDESIGNnProspective, single-blinded study with scanning electron microscopy.nnnSETTINGnDişkapi Yildirim Beyazit Research and Educational Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.nnnPATIENTSnThirty-four children between 4 and 15 years of age (mean age, 7.76 years) who had undergone adenoidectomy from June 1 through December 31, 2007, were divided into 2 groups. The first group (17 children) had undergone adenoidectomy alone, whereas the second group (17 children) had undergone adenoidectomy combined with ventilation tube insertion for COME.nnnMAIN OUTCOME MEASURESnScanning electron microscopy was performed to observe biofilm formation on the surface of adenoid tissues. The biofilm formation was graded according to extension. The roles of adenoid size, age, sex, and duration of COME symptoms were evaluated.nnnRESULTSnBiofilm formation was detected on all samples. Adenoids removed from patients with COME had higher-grade biofilm formation than the other group (P = .001). No correlation was found between adenoid size and biofilm formation.nnnCONCLUSIONnIn pediatric patients, adenoid surface biofilm formation may be associated with COME etiopathogenesis.

Comparison of pure tone audiometry and auditory steady-state responses in subjects with normal hearing and hearing loss

The objective of this study is to compare pure tone audiometry and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) thresholds in normal hearing (NH) subjects and subjects with hearing loss. This study involved 23 NH adults and 38 adults with hearing loss (HI). After detection of behavioral thresholds (BHT) with pure tone audiometry, each subject was tested for ASSR responses in the same day. Only one ear was tested for each subject. The mean pure tone average was 9xa0±xa04xa0dB for NH group and 57xa0±xa014 for HI group. There was a very strong correlation between BHT and ASSR measurements in HI group. However, the correlation was weaker in the NH group. The mean differences of pure tone average of four frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 4xa0kHz) and ASSR threshold average of same frequencies were 13xa0±xa06xa0dB in NH group and 7xa0±xa05xa0dB in HI group and the difference was significant (Pxa0=xa00.01). It was found that 86% of threshold difference values were less than 20xa0dB in NH group and 92% of threshold difference values were less than 20xa0dB in HI group. In conclusion, ASSR thresholds can be used to predict the configuration of pure tone audiometry. Results are more accurate in HI group than NH group. Although ASSR can be used in cochlear implant decision-making process, findings do not permit the utilization of the test for medico-legal reasons.

Antrochoanal polyps in children.

OBJECTIVEnTo evaluate the characteristics of antrochoanal polyps (ACPs) in children.nnnMETHODSn10 children operated for ACP were investigated retrospectively. Demographic characteristics, surgical and histopathological findings were evaluated.nnnRESULTSnThe mean age was 10.2 years. The antral part of ACP was removed through middle meatal antrostomy in four patients, and transcanine sinuscopy was needed in six patients. It was found that the polyp passed through the main ostium in seven patients and accessory ostium in three patients. The antral part of the polyp was found to be cystic in six patients and polypoid in four patients. There was recurrence of polyps during follow-up period in two cases in which antral part of the polyp was seen to be removed through middle meatal antrostomy during primary surgery. In histologic examination, prominent eosinophilia was detected only in one patient and no mucous gland was detected in any patient.nnnCONCLUSIONnEndoscopic surgery through the middle meatal antrostomy combined with transcanine sinuscopy ensures the complete removal of the antral part of ACP in children.

Combined treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss with steroid, dextran and piracetam: experience with 68 cases

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of our combined treatment regimen and to clarify the possible prognostic factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). In a retrospective chart review, the charts of 68 patients who matched the inclusion criteria of this study were evaluated. All patients were treated with a standard regimen including prednisone, dextran and piracetam between January 1998 and December 2001. Initial (at the beginning of therapy) and final (3xa0weeks after the beginning of therapy) audiograms were compared with respect to hearing improvement. Possible prognostic factors were also evaluated. Overall hearing improvement was determined as 54.4%. Sex was the only determined prognostic factor in this study. Females had a better prognosis. Our treatment regimen had no superiority to the reported spontaneous hearing recovery. Females seem to have a better prognosis.

A case presentation of bilateral simultaneous Bell’s palsy

Bilateral simultaneous facial paralysis is an extremely rare clinical entity. Unlike the unilateral form, bilateral facial paralysis seldom falls into Bells category. It is most often a special finding in a symptom complex of a systemic disease; many of them are potentially life-threatening, and therefore the condition warrants urgent medical intervention. Lyme disease, Guillian-Barre syndrome, Bells palsy, leukemia, sarcoidosis, bacterial meningitis, syphilis, leprosy, Moebius syndrome, infectious mononucleosis, and skull fracture are the most common cause of bilateral facial paralysis. Here we present a 16-year-old patient with bilateral simultaneous Bells palsy.

Do palatal implants really reduce snoring in long-term follow-up?

To evaluate the efficacy of palatal implants in primary snoring patients and to determine the long‐term results.

Effect of 23 Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide and Haemophilus influenza Conjugated Vaccines on the Clinical Course of Otitis Media With Effusion

Objective To determine if there is any clinical effect of 23‐valent pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenza type B conjugate vaccine on prognosis of otitis media with effusion.

Is there any correlation between the results of skin-prick test and the severity of symptoms in allergic rhinitis?

Background This study was designed to determine whether there is any correlation between results of the skin-prick test and the severity of symptoms in allergic rhinitis. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 150 patients with persistent or intermittent allergic rhinitis confirmed by positive skin tests and scaled from 1 to 4 according to the size of the wheal. The symptoms including sneezing, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and nasal itching were ranked according to their severity (0 for no symptoms, 1 for mild, 2 for moderate, and 3 for severe). We investigated the correlation between the skin tests’ positivity and symptoms score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaire (RQLQ), and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. Results Of the 150 patients, 98 had persistent and 52 had intermittent allergic rhinitis. Some patient d multiple al en senitivity. Each skin test group was compared with respect to symptom scores, RQLQ, or VAS scores. There was no statistically significant correlation between the size of the wheal and symptoms score, RQLQ, or VAS scores. There was also no correlation between the type of allergen and symptoms score. Conclusion The skin-prick test can be applied to support the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, but one can not predict the severity of illness by stratifying the size of the skin-prick test result.