Effects of Anatolian Propolis and Hypertonic Saline Combination Nasal Spray on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms: A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how Rhinapi nasal spray affects symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational study, 10,000 patients (comprising 5028 males and 4972 females) exhibiting symptoms of allergic rhinitis (namely, nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal itching, and nasal obstruction) from different centers in different regions of Turkey were enrolled in the study between March 2022 and March 2023. All the patients wanted to participate in the study and were administered Rhinapi one puff to each nostril three times a day, for a period of 3 weeks. Total symptom scores, quality of life (QoL) scores, and otolaryngological examination scores were evaluated before and 3 weeks after treatment. Results: The scores for discharge from the nose, sneezing, nasal pruritus, and blockage of the nose all indicated improvement when compared to pre-medication and post-medication. This difference achieved statistical significance (P < .001). The mean total symptom score fell following treatment (P < .001): whilst the score was 11.09 ± 3.41 before administering Rhinapi; after administration, the average score was 6.23 ± 2.41. The mean QoL scores also altered after medication (P < .001), improving from a mean value of 6.44 ± 1.55 to a mean of 7.31 ± 1.24. Significant improvement was also noted in the scores for conchal color and degree of edema after the treatment had been administered (P < .001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that Rhinapi nasal spray decreases total symptom scores, and results in improved QoL and otolaryngological examination scores. Propolis spray may be recommended for patients with allergic rhinitis alongside other treatments.

Can COVID-19 Cause Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy?

The aim of our study is to evaluate the relationship between peripheral facial paralysis and the patients who had a contact with a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient or had COVID-19. Patients with a history of contact with a COVID-19 patient or having COVID-19 disease, who were admitted to the emergency department for peripheral facial paralysis in the last 6 months, were included in the study. Facial paralysis grade at first presentation, treatment modality, treatment duration, post-treatment facial paralysis grade, and additional findings were analyzed. A total of 34 patients, 20 females and 14 males, were included into the study. Nasal-oropharyngeal reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was test taken from patients with a history of contact, and patients having COVID-19 disease were determined as positive in 5 and 3 patients, respectively. Peripheral facial paralysis was detected as an initial finding in 5 of these 8 patients, and paralysis developed in 7-12 days after the diagnosis of the COVID-19 disease in the remaining 3 patients. The grade of first admission paralysis did not change in one patient in the (+) group, while improvement was observed in all patients in the (-) group. Neuroinvasive potential of COVID-19 in the central and peripheral nervous system was reported in current literature. Our study indicates peripheral facial palsy can also be encountered during the clinical course of COVID-19 and should be considered a finding of this disease.