Evaluation of cochlear nerve size by magnetic resonance imaging in elderly patients with sensorineural hearing loss.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine any differences, if present, between the cross-sectional area of the cochlear nerve (CN) of elderly patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and of young patients with normal hearing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group included ten patients with age-related SNHL. Fourteen volunteer individuals with normal hearing were recruited as the control group. T1-weighted, T2-weighted and parasagittal three-dimensional Fourier transformation constructive interference in steady state (3DFT-CISS) reconstruction images of all cases were evaluated. Images were examined for any abnormality of CN. The data obtained for each ear with clinical, radiological and audiometric examinations were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean CN cross-sectional area was measured as 0.0252 cm(2) in the control group, whereas that in the SNHL group was 0.0232 cm(2). Although speech discrimination scores showed significant differences, no statistically significant difference was observed for the CN cross-sectional area (p=0.0616). Likewise, there was no difference in CN calibre between male and female patients. CONCLUSIONS: The 3DFT-CISS sequence yields superior results in CN imaging. Acquired SNHL may not present with significant changes in CN size on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The association of oxidative stress and nasal polyposis.

Many diseases are linked to damage from reactive oxygen species that occurs from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, a condition called oxidative stress. Nasal polyposis is considered to be an inflammatory condition in nasal and paranasal sinus cavities and its aetiology is still unclear. There are very few data on epithelial changes in nasal polyposis and their relationship with free radical damage. Malondialdehyde as a major end-product of lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide as antioxidants play important roles in oxidative stress. In this study, the concentrations of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide were compared in normal and nasal polyposis-affected tissue samples. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher, and superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide levels were significantly lower in patients with nasal polyposis compared with the control group. This study demonstrates that there is a strong relationship between oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.

Effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in management of sudden hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of sudden hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with sudden hearing loss were divided into study and control groups. The 36 patients in the study group were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to standard medical therapy, whereas the 21 patients in the control group were treated with only standard medical therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Both groups were treated with standard therapy, comprising prednisolone starting at a dose of 1 mg/kg and reducing over three weeks. Patients in the study group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to standard drug therapy. RESULTS: Success rates were 78.95 per cent in the study group and 71.30 per cent in the control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its inconvenience to patients, this treatment should only be considered in patients suffering sudden hearing loss if there are contraindications to standard medical treatment.

Effectiveness of transmeatal low power laser irradiation for chronic tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectiveness of 5 mW laser irradiation in the treatment of chronic tinnitus. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, double-blind study. METHODS: This investigation included 66 ears in 45 patients with chronic unilateral or bilateral tinnitus. A 5 mW laser with a wavelength of 650 nm, or placebo laser, was applied transmeatally for 15 minutes, once daily for a week. A questionnaire was administered which asked patients to score their symptoms on a five-point scale, before and two weeks after laser irradiation. A decrease of one scale point, regarding the loudness, duration and degree of annoyance of tinnitus, was accepted to represent an improvement. RESULTS: The loudness, duration and degree of annoyance of tinnitus were improved, respectively, in up to 48.8, 57.7 and 55.5 per cent of the patients in the active laser group. No significant improvement was observed in the placebo laser group. CONCLUSION: Transmeatal, low power (5 mW) laser irradiation was found to be useful for the treatment of chronic tinnitus.

Iloprost-induced sudden hearing loss.

We report a patient who developed sudden, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss during therapeutic use of iloprost for Raynaud's phenomenon. The sudden hearing loss was attributed to iloprost use and completely reversed in eight days with conservative therapy. Iloprost may be a potentially ototoxic drug, causing sudden hearing loss.

Human papilloma virus prevalence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and type of human papilloma virus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: We analysed the prevalence of human papilloma virus infection in archived paraffin block specimens taken from 99 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma between 1990 and 2005, using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Biopsy specimens from five proven verrucous skin lesions were used as positive controls, and peripheral blood samples from five healthy volunteers were used as negative controls. RESULTS: Four test samples were found to have inadequate deoxyribonucleic acid purity and were therefore excluded from the study. Human papilloma virus deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in seven of 95 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (7.36 per cent). Human papilloma virus genotyping revealed double human papilloma virus infection in three cases and single human papilloma virus infection in the remaining four cases. The human papilloma virus genotypes detected were 6, 11 and 16 (the latter detected in only one case). CONCLUSION: In our series, a very low human papilloma virus prevalence was found among laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cases. The human papilloma virus genotypes detected were mostly 6 and/or 11, and 16 in only one case. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of human papilloma virus prevalence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, based on polymerase chain reaction genotyping in a Turkish population.