Hearing loss in Takayasu's arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: Neurosensory hearing loss is well-documented in chronic autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the literature lacks data on the prevalence and characteristics of hearing impairment in Takayasu's arteritis (TAK). In this cross-sectional study, our principal objective was to systematically assess the auditory function of individuals diagnosed with TAK, against SLE patients and healthy controls (HC). METHODS: Age and gender matched TAK and SLE patients followed up in a tertiary centre along with healthy controls were included in a two-phase study. In the first phase, a questionnaire on ENT symptoms was administered to the patient (TAK: n=104 and SLE: n= 151) and HC (n=174) groups. In the second phase, patients (TAK: n=53 and SLE: n=33) and HC (n=45) underwent audiometric tests. RESULTS: The questionnaire survey revealed that both TAK and SLE patients reported hearing loss (27.9%, 25.8%, 7.4%, p<0.001), tinnitus (49%, 35.8%, 13.8%, p<0.001) and vertigo (46.2%, 33.8%, 16.7%, p<0.001) at significantly higher rates than HC. Audiometry results indicated that both TAK (30.2%) and SLE patients (18.2%) had increased hearing loss compared to HC (8.9%), however, only TAK patients were found to have significantly increased risk in age adjusted logistic regression analysis (OR= 3.915, 95%CI: 1.179-12.998, p=0.026). Hearing loss was mainly neurosensory in all groups. TAK patients were affected at both low (<6000 Hz) and high (>6000 Hz) frequencies, whereas SLE patients were affected only at high frequencies. Hearing loss was significantly associated only with older age. No association was observed with the anatomical location of vascular involvement or history of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals an increased prevalence of hearing loss in TAK. Further research is crucial to uncover the underlying causes.

Evaluation of Inflammatory Blood Markers in Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma.

OBJECTIVE: Sinonasal inverted papillomas are benign neoplasms of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. They have characteristic features such as a high risk of recurrence and possible malignant transformation. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between sinonasal inverted papilloma and inflammatory blood markers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients who were diagnosed histologically as having sinonasal inverted papilloma and 65 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Inflammatory blood markers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) of the patient and control groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the patients and controls for white blood cell, platelet, hemoglobin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts (P > .05). No statistically significant difference was found between the patients and controls for NLR, PLR, RDW, MPV, and PDW (P > .05). In the logistic regression analysis model, which was created to investigate the effects of inflammatory blood markers in determining the patient group, the increase in the NLR and decrease in the PLR were found to be statistically significant factors (P = .008, P = .039). CONCLUSION: This is the first study in the literature to investigate the relationship between sinonasal inverted papilloma and inflammatory blood markers, and the results suggest that NLR and PLR may be used to distinguish patients with sinonasal inverted papilloma from controls.

Investigation of Toll-like Receptor-2, -3 and -4 Gene Expressions in Larynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: Despite all the recent advancements, larynx cancer has shown no improvement in survival rates. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, -3, and -4 genes, and determine any relationships with the histopathologic characteristics of the disease. Methods: This retrospective study included 50 subjects who underwent total or partial laryngectomy with an open surgical method for larynx squamous cell carcinoma. Measurements of TLRs-2, -3, and -4 expression values were taken with quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction in normal tissue and tumor tissue samples of the patients. Results: Evaluations were made of TLR-2, -3, and -4 mRNA expressions according to 2-ΔΔCT calculations in 50 subjects with larynx cancer. When the tumor tissue was compared with the healthy tissue from the same subjects, reductions were determined in TLR expression in 86%, 84%, and 82%, respectively. This reduction in each gene expression was statistically significant (p<0.001). No statistically significant correlation was determined between the change in TLR-2, -3, and -4 expression and the histopathologic characteristics of the disease. Conclusion: The data obtained in this study demonstrated that TLR-2, -3, and -4 expressions were reduced in larynx squamous cell cancer. The results of further studies targeting these genes would be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Extra-Cochlear Insertion in Cochlear Implantation: A Potentially Disastrous Condition.

OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implantation is an increasingly used technique for auditory rehabilitation of pediatric and adult population. Safe implantation is achieved in most cases; however, intraoperative complications and misplacement of the electrode are observed in some. The aim of this presentation was to review the characteristics of patients with extra-cochlear electrode insertion, postoperative diagnostic methods, and considerations in revision surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 423 cases of cochlear implantation performed in our clinic between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed and those of extra-cochlear implantation were evaluated. RESULTS: Extra-cochlear insertion was found in 3 patients. The electrode was placed into the internal acoustic canal in the first case, superior semicircular canal in the second case, and internal carotid artery canal in the third case. Cochlear insertion was achieved in all cases with re-implantation, and no complication was observed. CONCLUSION: This case series highlights that rare, but potentially serious, consequences of misplacement of the electrode in cochlear implantation can be successfully avoided and treated via a multidisciplinary approach.

Role of Preoperative Embolization in Surgical Treatment of the Carotid Body Paragangliomas.

In this study, we aimed to show the benefits of preoperative embolization on surgery of carotid body tumors.This is a retrospective study of the medical records of 20 patients who were operated for carotid body paragangliomas during 2011-2017. Computed tomography angiography (BTA) and/or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were performed for the entire patients. Patients were assessed according to the Shamblin classification. All patients were subjected to direct cerebral angiography by the femoral route 24 to 48 hours before the surgery and tumor embolization was performed in the appropriate cases (19 patients). The amount of hemorrhage and transfusion need during surgery has been reported. The ages of the patients ranged from 21 to 66, with an average of 45.65. In 20 patients ascendan pharyngeal artery was found as the main artery of tumor. No complications were seen after the embolization procedure. Tumor sizes ranged from 12 mm to 95 mm diameter (mean: 45, 5 mm). 10 patients (50%) were Shamblin type 1, 6 patients (30%) were Shamblin type 2, 4 patients (20%) were Shamblin type 3. In 5 patients (25%), the nerve (N. vagus or hypoglossus) was sacrificed due to cranial nerve involvement. Vagal and hypoglossal nerve sacrificed together in 4 patients.These patients' tumor sizes were bigger than 70 mm. Only in 1 patient, internal carotid artery injured and reconstructed with saphenous vein graft. Neurological deficit did not develop postoperatively. Bleeding was mean 275 mL (125 mL-700 mL). In conclusion, we believe that preoperative embolization of carotid paraganglioma is an effective procedure that helps surgeon during dissection with minimal blood loss. The embolization is relatively easy procedure without no additional complications.

A Rare Cause of Objective Tinnitus: Jugular Diverticulum.

The jugular bulb is a venous structure linking the sigmoid sinus with the internal jugular vein. Jugular diverticulum is a rare condition characterized by extraluminal outpouching from the jugular bulb. As the patients may be totally asymptomatic, but sensorineural symptoms such as sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo can also occur. Diagnosis of these patients can be made by some radiologic methods such as high-resolution computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or a novel radiologic technique flat panel computed tomography. In this paper we report a 22-year-old female patient with jugular diverticulum presenting with tinnitus complaint.

Downregulation of Rab25 activates Akt1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Several studies have suggested that Ras-associated binding 25 protein (Rab25) is involved in the pathogenesis of human cancer. Although it has been demonstrated that the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the result of an accumulation of multiple sequential genetic and epigenetic alterations in key genes with important functions in cell growth and the cell cycle, recent studies have indicated that HNSCC is a complex and heterogenous disease. To the best of our knowledge, there is no data regarding the regulation of the Rab25 gene at the mRNA or protein level in HNSCC. Furthermore, available data on Rab25 expression in other types of cancer are conflicting. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Rab25 is involved in the development and/or progression of HNSCC, and to analyze the mechanisms underlying its effects in this type of cancer. The expression of Rab25 mRNA in HNSCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissue samples was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, while the level of the Rab25, Akt1 and phosphorylated-Akt1 proteins was measured using western blotting. Expression of Rab25 mRNA and protein was downregulated in 69.1% and 56.1% of tumor tissue samples, respectively. This downregulation was associated with an increase in p-Akt1 expression, in the absence of a change in total Akt1 protein levels, in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. The current findings suggest that Rab25 acts as a tumor suppressor in HNSCC.

CT120A Acts as an Oncogene in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is among the most frequent cancers worldwide. The etiology and pathogenesis of HNSCC are influenced by multiple genetic factors in addition to environmental and lifestyle-related factors. However, the mechanism underlying the HNSCC is still far from clear. The membrane associated gene CT120 was previously identified from chromosome 17p13.3 as a lung cancer-associated gene. Its function as an activator of the Erk and Akt signaling pathways in human lung cancer cell lines suggested that CT120 has an oncogenic function. However, there is no data in the literature on the role of CT120 in any other cancer type. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the expression rate and probable function of CT120 in HNSCC. Tumor tissues from 50 patients were analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR to investigate the expression rate and by direct sequencing to differentiate the CT120A and CT120B variants. CT120 overexpression was observed in 58% of tumors compared to non-cancerous tissue samples and this up-regulation was directly associated with the upregulation of the CT120A variant and with the stage of the disease (p=0.001). Our results indicate that the CT120 gene may function in the development of HNSCC.

DLEC1 is not silenced solely by promoter methylation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Different types of genetic and epigenetic changes are associated with HNSCC. The molecular mechanisms of HNSCC carcinogenesis are still undergoing intensive investigation. The Deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1 (DLEC1) gene is frequently silenced by methylation in various kinds of cancer. However, there is no data in the literature investigating the DLEC1 gene in the HNSCC. Tumor tissues from 97 patients were analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and DLEC1 expression levels were correlated with the methylation of the DLEC1 gene promoter. A statistically significant down-regulation was observed in tumors compared to non-cancerous tissue samples (p = 0.00). However, this down-regulation was not directly associated with hypermethylation of the promoter (p ≥ 0.05). Our results indicate that the DLEC1 gene may play an important role in the development of HNSCC. However, its down-regulation is not associated with the clinicopathological parameters and is not solely under the control of promoter methylation.

Epigenetic and genetic alterations affect the WWOX gene in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Different types of genetic and epigenetic changes are associated with HNSCC. The molecular mechanisms of HNSCC carcinogenesis are still undergoing intensive investigation. WWOX gene expression is altered in many cancers and in a recent work reduced WWOX expression has been associated with miR-134 expression in HNSCC. In this study we investigated the WWOX messenger RNA expression levels in association with the promoter methylation of the WWOX gene and miR-134 expression levels in 80 HNSCC tumor and non-cancerous tissue samples. Our results show that WWOX expression is down-regulated especially in advanced-stage tumor samples or in tumors with SCC. This down-regulation was associated with methylation of the WWOX promoter region but not with miR-134 expression. There was an inverse correlation between the expression level and promoter methylation. We also analyzed whole exons and exon/intron boundries of the WWOX gene by direct sequencing. In our study group we observed 10 different alterations in the coding sequences and 18 different alterations in the non-coding sequences of the WWOX gene in HNSCC tumor samples. These results indicate that the WWOX gene can be functionally inactivated by promoter methylation, epigenetically or by mutations affecting the sequences coding for the enzymatic domain of the gene, functionally. We conclude that inactivation of WWOX gene contributes to the progression of HNSCC.

First imported coccidioidomycosis in Turkey: A potential health risk for laboratory workers outside endemic areas.

Coccidioidomycosis caused by Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii is endemic in arid climate zones in America, travel-related cases have been reported. We report the first documented case of coccidioidomycosis in Turkey, overviewing reported cases in Europe and underlying difficulties of differential diagnosis outside endemic regions. The patient was an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man who travelled endemic areas. Laboratory diagnosis was based on direct microscopy of two subsequent subcutaneous biopsy specimens and culture and confirmed molecularly. Laboratory personnel should become aware that BioSafety Level-3 organisms may become more frequent and widespread.

LKB1 downregulation may be independent of promoter methylation or FOXO3 expression in head and neck cancer.

The serine/threonine kinase liver kinase B 1 (LKB1) is a multifunctional protein and has been associated with various cancer types. Although the tumor suppressor function of LKB1 is attributed mainly to its ability to phosphorylate directly different adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinases, its regulation is still poorly understood. More recently, it has been shown that LKB1 expression can be regulated by forkhead box O transcription factors via cis-acting elements, which are found in the promoter region of the LKB1 gene. In this study, we investigated LKB1 messenger RNA expression levels in association with the promoter methylation of the gene and forkhead box O member 3 (FOXO3) messenger RNA expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor samples. Our results show that LKB1 expression is downregulated, especially in advanced-stage tumor samples, and this downregulation was not the result of promoter methylation or modulation by FOXO3 (P = 0.656). Despite observing a positive association between the LKB1 and FOXO3 expression levels in the tumors, this association was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). Our results indicate that downregulation of LKB1 is independent of FOXO3 and may be implicated in the progression of HNSCC.

Rapidly progressive thyroid mass: amyloid goiter.

Amyloidosis is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by the accumulation of an amorphous proteinaceous material in various organs and tissues of the body. Amyloid goiter is an exceedingly rare pathologic condition due to massive amyloid infiltration of the thyroid tissue. Amyloid goiter occurs in association with both primary and secondary systemic amyloidosis, more commonly in the latter. Preoperatively, it simulates a multinodular goiter, and surgical intervention is often necessary to establish a diagnosis and to relieve compressive symptoms of a neck mass. We present the case of an 85-year-old female patient who presented with a rapidly enlarging goiter. Histologic examination confirmed amyloid goiter.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the parotid gland.

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, previously known as an inflammatory pseudotumor, is an uncommon neoplasm. This tumor, which has characteristic morphologic and immunohistochemical features, is mostly seen in the lung. We present a rare case of an inflammatory myofibroblastic pseudotumor of the parotid gland. A 45-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of a swelling in her right parotid region. A partial parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve branches was performed. The incidence of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the parotid gland is low, and local resection is currently the best treatment. A prolonged postoperative follow-up period is necessary for patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the parotid gland is discussed with a brief literature review.