Genetic polymorphisms affecting antioxidant enzymes are present in tympanosclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated genetic polymorphisms affecting the inducible nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes in chronic otitis media patients with and without tympanosclerosis, and the role of genetic susceptibility in the disease aetiology. METHODS: A total of 162 patients who underwent surgery for chronic otitis media were divided into two study groups: a tympanosclerosis group and a chronic otitis media group. A third, the control, group comprised 188 healthy volunteers. Venous blood samples were evaluated using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in GG genotype distribution of the -277A>G polymorphism in the NOS2 gene between the tympanosclerosis and control groups (p T) polymorphism in the SOD2 gene (p > 0.05). There were significant differences in the TT genotype distribution of the -21A>T polymorphism in the CAT gene between the tympanosclerosis and control groups, and between the chronic otitis media and control groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that genetic predisposition may play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of tympanosclerosis.

The effect of OK-432 (Picibanil) injection on the histopathology of nasal turbinate.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the histopathological effect of OK-432 (Picibanil) on rabbit nasal turbinates. METHODS: A total of 21 rabbits were divided into 3 treatment groups and various parts of both nasal turbinates were injected with 0.5 ml OK-432, 0.2 ml OK-432 or 0.6 ml saline (control). Bilateral nasal turbinates were later excised and studied under light microscopy to assess any histopathological changes. RESULTS: Animals in the 0.2 ml and 0.5 ml OK-432 groups exhibited mild ciliary loss, goblet cell loss and epithelial damage, and a marked increase in inflammatory cell infiltration, submucosal vascularisation and fibrosis. There was a significant difference in histopathological changes between the two OK-432 treated groups. In addition, each OK-432 treated group had significantly more inflammatory cell infiltration, increased submucosal vascularisation and fibrosis compared with controls. CONCLUSION: The marked fibrosis observed in OK-432-injected turbinates may be responsible for a reduction in turbinate size.

Narrowing of airway caused by ingestion of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide.

Although ingestion of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is rare, it carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. This paper reports the first such case from Turkey in which a 70-year-old man unintentionally ingested MEKP in his kitchen. The patient was brought into the emergency department (ED) within 1 hour of ingestion, with the symptoms of sore throat, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting. Visual examination of the oropharynx revealed minor burns and uvular edema. A laryngoscope examination performed in the ED showed superficial mucosal injury with edema of the oropharynx, uvula, posterior pharynx, epiglottis, arytenoids and vocal cords. Lateral cervical radiography revealed a narrowing of airway due to a thickened epiglottis. After the diagnostic evaluation was completed, the patient was admitted to the gastroenterology intensive care unit for monitoring of adverse reactions. During follow-up, the patient made an uneventful recovery. Ingestion of MEKP generally results from accidental ingestion from a container. Therefore, these containers should be kept in safe places. In addition, the priority following the ingestion of MEKP should be given to maintain open and adequate airway in the ED.

Paranasal sinus computed tomography findings in patients treated for lepromatous leprosy.

AIM: Nasal and paranasal sinus involvement is common in lepromatous leprosy and is of considerable epidemiological significance. The aim of this study was to investigate paranasal sinus abnormalities in treated lepromatous leprosy cases and to evaluate the findings in comparison with those of previous studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients who had been treated for lepromatous leprosy were included. All patients had been treated with dapsone and rifampicine for six months, and followed with dapsone, rifampicine and clofamizine for a minimum of two years. All patients received a clinical examination, a coronal computed tomography (CT) examination of the paranasal sinuses and ethmoidal sinus endoscopy, in order to investigate the involvement of the paranasal sinuses in the leprosy. Ethmoidal sinus biopsies were taken in 18 of the 21 cases of ethmoidal sinus involvement noted on CT scan. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had sino-nasal symptoms. Endoscopic examination showed different pathologies in 21 of these patients. Abnormalities in the paranasal CT images were observed in 27 patients. The ethmoidal, maxillary, frontal and sphenoid sinuses were affected in 21, 18, three and two patients, respectively. Various degrees of nasal septum perforation were noted in 18 cases. In six of the 18 patients biopsied, the biopsy specimen showed involvement by lepromatous leprosy. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that although these lepromatous leprosy patients had been treated, persistent infection was still commonly encountered. Paranasal sinus CT examination is a useful method for the evaluation of patient response to treatment and follow up; however, a CT scan alone cannot determine whether the leprosy is active.