Relationship between otitis media with effusions and pediatric obesity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between obesity and otitis media with effusion. 471 cases with ages between 4 and 12 years were included. Of the 471 cases, 204 cases (97 girls, 107 boys) were diagnosed OME, the study group, 267cases (127 girls, 140 boys) were the control group. Body mass index of the two groups were compared to each other. The average body mass index for girls in all age groups was 17.93 ± 1.92 (n: 97) for cases with OME and 16.67 ± 1.28 (n: 127) for the control group.(p < 0.05). The average BMI for boys in all age groups was 18.25 ± 1.98 (n: 107) for cases with OME and 16.30 ± 1.26 (n: 140) for the control group. (p < 0.05). Children with a BMI greater than or equal to the 85th percentile were considered to be overweight or obese. Regarding the girls, of the 97 cases with OME, 23 cases were overweight, whereas of the 127 control cases, 7 cases were found to be overweight. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Regarding the boys, of the 107 cases with OME, 29 cases were overweight, whereas of the 140 control cases, 13 cases were found to be overweight. This difference was also statistically significant (p < 0.05). It is concluded that childhood obesity and overweight may play a role as a predisposing factor in the development of OME. It is also noted that even if a child is in the normal range of BMI percentile (less than 85th percentile; not obese or overweight), as the BMI increases, the relative risk of developing OME increases.

The relationship between nasal mucociliary clearance time and the degree of smoking dependence in smokers with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMCT), degree of smoking dependence, cumulative smoking burden and OSAS severity in smokers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 123 patients (Group 1) with OSAS and 92 healthy controls (Group 2) were included in the study. Group 1 was divided into smokers (Group 1a) and non-smokers (Group 1b). In Group 1a, cumulative smoking burden and Fagerström nicotine dependence test (FNDT) were questioned. Saccharin test was applied to Groups 1 and 2. Student-t, Mann-Whitney-U, Anova, Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the means. RESULTS: NMCT was higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p = 0.005). The duration of NMCT was higher in Group 1A than Group 1B (p = 0.002). In Group 1a, NMCT values of mild and moderate OSAS patients were longer than in Group 1b (p = 0.02, p = 0.01, respectively). NMCT values of patients with mild dependence were shorter than those with moderate or severe dependence (p = 0.032, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Mucociliary clearance time was higher in smokers with OSAS than non-smokers. While OSAS has a negative effect on mucociliary clearance, smoking also exacerbates the condition.

[Postoperative pain management in clinics of otolaryngology]. / Kulak burun bogaz kliniginde ameliyat sonrasi agri tedavisi.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate pain relieving efficacy of six agents which are used in postoperative pain management after otolaryngologic operations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 120 adult patients (63 females, 57 males; mean age 36; range 18 to 76 years) were included in the study. The same intraoperative anesthesia was applied to all the patients. The following medications were randomly given to the patients who declared pain in the sixth hour after the operation: naproxen sodium, meloxicam, rofecoxib, paracetamol, dipyrone, and etodolac in proper dosage to form groups of 20 for each medication. Before and after the application of pain reliever tablets, visual analog scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS) were used to inquire whether the agents were effective in relieving pain. ANOVA (one way), paired t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Student's t-test were used as statistical methods. p values <0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: All the groups had similar VAS values before medication (p>0.05). When VAS values of each group were assessed after medication, it was recorded that naproxen sodium (p=0.020) and meloxicam (p=0.001) were effective. When the difference of NRS values between "before medication" and "after medication" was compared among the groups, all the agents significantly changed NRS values, but no inter-group differences were found (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In terms of NRS scores, the effectiveness of six different analgesic agents which had been used to reduce postoperative pain was confirmed. Moreover, naproxen sodium and meloxicam were found to be more effective than the other agents when taken in the postoperative period for the adult patients according to VAS values.

Electron microscopy findings in the nasal mucosa of a patient with stenosis of the nasal vestibule.

The nasal mucosa humidifies, warms and filters inspired air before it passes to the lower respiratory tract. In order to maintain the physiological activity of the respiratory epithelium, a certain amount of airflow is required. This report describes electron microscopy findings in the nasal mucosa of a patient who had decreased airflow through the nose due to stenosis of the nasal vestibule. Electron microscopic examination of the nasal mucosa revealed stratified squamous epithelium composed of markedly degenerated cells. The findings of abnormal mucosal structure highlight another negative consequence of nasal obstruction in addition to abnormal physiological function of the nose. The negative impact of diminished airflow on the nasal mucosa should be considered in any case where the patient has a condition that can lead to partial or total loss of airflow through the nose.

[Dysphagia due to a cervical osteophyte: a case report]. / Servikal osteofite bagli disfaji: Olgu sunumu.

Cervical osteophytes and other hypertrophic changes of the cervical spine may lead to dysphagia, odynophagia, otalgia, and sensation of a foreign body in the throat when they protrude from the anterior edge of the cervical vertebrae to the pharynx or upper esophagus. A fifty-three-year-old male patient presented with a complaint of dysphagia. Physical examination showed no abnormality. Barium esophagography revealed osteophytic spurs in the anterior aspect of C4-5 vertebrae, in close approximation to the inlet of esophagus, obstructing the esophagus passage by external compression. Anti-inflammatory therapy administered for three weeks did not provide relief of the patient's complaint. Surgical treatment recommended was refused by the patient.