Cabazitaxel's ototoxicity: An animal study and histopathologic research.

Introduction: Chemotherapeutic agents can have both serious side effects and ototoxicity, which can be caused by direct toxic effects or by metabolic derangement by the agents. Cabazitaxel (CBZ) is a next-generation semi-synthetic taxane derivative that is effective in both preclinical models of human tumors that are sensitive or resistant to chemotherapy and in patients suffering from progressive prostate cancer despite docetaxel treatment. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the ototoxicity of CBZ in a rat model. Materials and Methods: : A total of 24 adult male Wistar-Albino rats were equally and randomly divided into four groups. CBZ (Jevtana, Sanofi-Aventis USA) was intraperitoneally administered to Groups 2, 3, and 4 at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg/week, respectively, for 4 consecutive weeks; Group 1 received only i.p. saline at the same time. At the end of the study, the animals were sacrificed and their cochlea removed for histopathological examination. Results: : Intraperitoneal administration of CBZ exerted an ototoxic effect on rats, and the histopathological results became worse in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Conclusion: : Our findings suggest that CBZ may be an ototoxic agent and can damage the cochlea. More clinical studies should be conducted to understand its ototoxicity.

Audiometric Evaluation of the Relationship between Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Chronic Glaucoma.

Objectives: To assess hearing function in chronic glaucoma patients in comparison to healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 24 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients (24 ears) and 22 pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEG) patients (22 ears) who were followed for at least 5 years in the Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Ophthalmology Department, as well as 21 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals (21 ears, control group). Following a thorough ophthalmological examination that included visual acuity and intraocular pressure measurements, as well as anterior and posterior slit-lamp biomicroscopy, audiometry was performed in all participants to determine hearing function. Results: Mean ages in the POAG, PEG, and control groups were 64.50±7, 66.90±4.51, and 64.38±4.36 years, respectively. The mean deviation in standard automated perimetry was -14.47±2.89 in the POAG group and -15.02±2.87 in the PEG group (p=0.306). When compared with the control group, the POAG group had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 500 (p=0.011) and 1,000 Hz (p=0.003), while the PEG group had significantly higher hearing thresholds at 250 (p=0.009), 500 (p=0.009), 1,000 (p=0.001), 2,000 (p=0.005), 4,000 (p=0.001), 8000 (p=0.010), and 10,000 Hz (p=0.009). Conclusion: Both glaucoma and hearing loss are common chronic diseases that have an impact on the well-being of older people. Potential hearing problems in chronic glaucoma patients make routine ocular and otolaryngology examinations in older patients critical for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Cochlear and vestibular involvement in children with IgA vasculitis.

In this study, our purpose is to evaluate cochlear and vestibular function in juveniles with IgA vasculitis using audiometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) tests. Forty children diagnosed with IgA vasculitis from the pediatry clinic and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy children were evaluated with distortion product otoacoustic emissions, audiometry, and cVEMP test in a tertiary hospital. The audiometry average values for both ears of the IgA vasculitis group and the control subjects were compared, and as a result, median 4.7-dB sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) was found for the IgA vasculitis group compared to the control group at 250 Hz and it was statistically significant (p < 0.001). An average of 6.4-dB SHL was detected at 8000 Hz (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference among IgA vasculitis and control groups regarding measurement results of average p1-n1 latency time of both ears (0.9 ms (ms) increase, p = 0.035). In IgA vasculitis patients, the median amplitude difference of both ears' average p1 n1 was found to be 5.6 mV, statistically significantly decreased compared to the control group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: This study, firstly in literature, demonstrated that IgA vasculitis may have association with hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in children. We think this might be due to autoimmune mechanisms. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Ig A vasculitis is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis with unknown etiology, involving the skin, joints, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, and rarely other organs. • No study has been reported for the cochlear and vestibular association of Ig A vasculitis in current literature. WHAT IS NEW: • This study demonstrated that Ig A vasculitis may have association with hearing loss in children. • This study also demonstrated that Ig A vasculitis may have association with vestibular dysfunction in children.

Cerebellum Tumor Presenting Itself With Positional Vertigo and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this case is to describe the positional vertigo observed in a patient diagnosed with cerebellar arteriovenous malformation, pay attention to the importance of medical history taking and physical examination in vertigo patients.A 51-year-old patient went to the Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic with a complaint of vertigo. His vertigo was like peripheral vertigo at the beginning. Dizziness was triggered by head movements. He experienced tinnitus in the left ear during vertigo attacks. The patient also had neck pain. In physical examination, natural bilateral tympanic membrane and facial examination were observed. Other physical examinations were normal. In the positional vertigo tests, the right Dix-Hall Pike test was positive and a downbeating geotropic nystagmus was found. The patient was treated with canalith repositioning maneuver (Epley maneuver). Oral medical treatment started and after 4 days, the patient reported that his gait balance was disturbed and his neck pain continued. After that magnetic resonance imaging was requested. Magnetic resonance imaging was consistent with cerebellar arteriovenous malformation. The patient was consulted to the neurology service.Cerebellar arteriovenous malformation had features like to peripheral vertigo, and the correct diagnosis is made due to suspected headache and other neurological symptoms.

Vestibular Function in Psoriasis Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by T-cell-mediated hyperproliferation of the keratinocytes. It develops through immune-mediated mechanisms and is defined as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease. The inner ear is susceptible to inflammatory attacks, and vertigo and dizziness can occur as a complication. There is little information about psoriasis and the vestibular system. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) results of psoriasis patients and the effect of psoriasis on the vestibular system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomly selected and included in the study were patients who had been admitted to the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of the Afyon Kocatepe University Medical Faculty, between November 15, 2017, and March 15, 2018, with the diagnosis of psoriasis, in addition to a healthy control group. This research was designed as cross-sectional study. Ethics committee permission was received. Both cVEMP and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests were administered to all of the participants. Values were compared between the control group and psoriasis patients. RESULTS: The study included 43 psoriasis patients and 40 controls. The duration of treatment of the patients and the drugs that they were using were noted. The psoriasis patients had lower p13-n23 amplitude differences in their cVEMP tests (P < .05). These patients also had lower signal to noise ratio values, at 4 and 6 kHz, on their DPOAE tests (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that can be associated with vestibulocochlear dysfunction.

Can Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) be a prognostic factor of Bell's palsy patients?

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies showed that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and that platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can be used as inflammatory markers in Bell's palsy. In this study, the aim is to investigate a novel inflammatory index, the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), defined as SII = platelets × neutrophils/lymphocytes, in Bell's palsy patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Clinical research center. PATIENTS: The study included 88 Bell's palsy patients and 50 healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS: Patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy from 2010 to 2019 in a university hospital and an age- and sex-matched healthy control group were included in the study retrospectively. A complete blood count was performed for all participants. Magnetic resonance imaging was applied for Bell's palsy patients for the exclusion of other diagnoses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The CBC parameters were analyzed and hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelet counts were measured. The PLR, NLR, and SII values were calculated with the formula. RESULTS: The patient group had higher neutrophil counts and higher SII and NLR values than the control group (p < 0.05). Also, SII value is a prognostic factor in Bell's palsy in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Bell's palsy has an inflammatory component. The SII value can indicate an inflammatory condition in these patients. It may be used as a marker and prognostic indicator in Bell's palsy.

An Otalgia Cause: Temporomandibular Joint Herniation From Foramen of Huschke to External Auditory Canal.

OBJECTIVES: The authors presented a rare case of temporomandibular joint hernation into the external auditory canal. The authors discuss 1 cause of otalgia. CASE REPORT: A 52 year old male patient complained about his left ear otalgia for 3 months. Patient said that it had occurred after a painful mastication. On physical examination he had a rounded expanded mass in left ear external auditory canal that is located at the anterior-inferior wall of EAC When patient open his mouth the mass turn back to original position and mass was disappeared. Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint was revealed. CONCLUSION: Foramen of Huschke a bony defect in tympanic plate that may cause the spontaneous herniation of temporomandibular joint to external auditory canal. This herniation cause otalgia commonly. Opening and closing the mouth and palpation of temporomandibuler joint should be a part of physical examination when finding out non-otological causes of otalgia.

Personality traits in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: This study was planned to investigate the personality traits of cancer patients in different treatment settings, and to correlate the demographics with the personality features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 237 patients referred either to Marmara University School of Medicine (MUSM) Oncology Outpatient Unit or to the private office of the faculty between March 10th and April 22nd, 2010 were enrolled in the study. The Big Five Mini Test was used to evaluate the 40 personality traits of the patients. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 98 males (41.35%) and 139 females (58.65%) with a mean age of 51. Out of the 237, 73.9% had an educational level beyond the junior high school, and 47.3% of all patients reported a positive family history for cancer. A significant difference in terms of reconcilability, extraversion, and responsibility was observed between patients admitting to the university outpatient clinic and the private office (p<0.05). Reconcilability and extraversion were found to differ between genders significantly (p<0.05). The description of the patients by him/herself or by relatives displayed a significant difference in terms of openness (p<0.05). Parameters such as educational level, family history of cancer, age and marital status showed no relevance to their characters. No discordance was observed between the self-analysis of the patient and the patient's relatives. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer are typically highly reconcilable and responsible, moderately stable, open and extraverted.