Xylitol treats nasal mucosa in rhinitis medicamentosa: an experimental rat model study.

OBJECTIVE: Rhinitis medicamentosa is drug-induced rhinitis which occurs by prolonged and overdose usage of topical nasal decongestants. There is not much of treatment choice rather than nasal steroids. In this pathological study, we have been aimed to represent the healing effects of xylitol on damaged nasal mucosa due to rhinitis medicamentosa. METHOD: 30 Wistar rats were separated into 5 groups. During 2 months, oxymetazoline was given to the first group, and saline was given to second group intranasally. First and second group animals were examined at the end of 2 months and rhinitis medicamentosa was detected. Oxymetazoline was given to the third, fourth, and fifth groups during 2 months. Then xylitol solution, mometasone, and saline were applied, respectively, for 15 days. After the experiment, rats' nasal mucosas were evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: Xylitol and mometasone were found to be more effective than the control group in terms of histopathological changes. Effectivity of xylitol and mometasone was compared and not a significant value was determined. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, xylitol solution is effective as mometasone, usable and well-priced in the treatment of rhinitis medicamentosa. More comprehensive and ultrastructural studies on animals and human studies with rhinometric evaluation should be performed.

Incus augmentation with glass ionomer cement in primary and revision stapes surgery.

In stapedotomy, augmentation of the long process of the incus is necessary when the structure is too short or thin or when the bone has been eroded to the point that it is not possible to satisfactorily attach a piston prosthesis to it. One substance that has been used to augment the long process is glass ionomer cement (GIC). GIC is a dental bone cement that is finding new uses in otologic procedures. We conducted a retrospective study of 10 stapedotomies (6 primary and 4 revision cases) that included the use of GIC to augment an insufficient long process. In all 10 cases, surgery was successful and without complication. A comparison of pre- and postoperative audiometry revealed significant improvements in mean air-conduction threshold and air-bone gap following surgery. Our findings suggest that GIC is safe and effective in augmenting the long process of the incus during both primary and revision stapedotomy.