Effect of thyroidectomy in patients with tracheal compression.

OBJECTIVE: Various therapeutic methods are employed to reduce thyroid gland compression of the trachea. Differences in the amount of shrinkage in the thyroid gland, in the amount of amelioration of tracheal compression, and in the amount of fibrosis after treatment may occur with these different methods. Although the compression of the trachea decreases after thyroidectomy, the number of studies showing the extent of this is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of thyroidectomy performed due to tracheal compression, to reveal the extent of improvement using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to evaluate our results. METHODS: In total, 30 patients, i.e., 24 women and 6 men, with tracheal compression secondary to thyroid gland enlargement and undergoing total thyroidectomy were included in this study. MRI performed before surgery and 6 months after surgery. The amount of deviation from the tracheal midline and the tracheal lateral and anteroposterior (AP) diameters were measured, compared, and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between pre- and postoperative tracheal deviations, and lateral and AP diameters (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.006, respectively). Histopathologically, benign or malignant pathology caused no significant difference in the postoperative improvement of tracheal anatomy (p=0.348 and p=0.148, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Thyroidectomy performed due to tracheal compression provides significant improvement in tracheal anatomy. Due to its rapid and effective results, thyroidectomy should be one of the first options considered in the treatment of thyroid diseases with compression findings.

Protective Effect of Carvacrol against Paclitaxel-Induced Ototoxicity in Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore whether carvacrol (CV) had a protective effect on paclitaxel-induced ototoxicity from biochemical, functional, and histopathological perspectives. METHODS: Forty Wistar albino male rats were randomly separated into five groups of eight rats. Group 1 was the control group, so Paclitaxel or CV was not administered. Group 2 was administered i.p. CV at 25 mg/kg once a week; Group 3, was administered i.p. paclitaxel at 5 mg/kg once a week; Group 4 was administered i.p. paclitaxel at 5 mg/kg followed (30 min later) by CV at 25 mg/kg once a week; and Group 5 was administered i.p. CV at 25 mg/kg followed (1 day later) by paclitaxel at 5 mg/kg. once a week. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally once a week for four consecutive weeks, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) tests were performed at the beginning of the study before the first drug administration and at the end of the study after the last drug administration. All rats were sacrificed, and cochleae were removed for biochemical and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Biochemical data indicated that paclitaxel caused oxidative stress in the cochlea. Histopathological findings revealed the loss of outer hair cells in the organ of Corti (CO) and moderate degenerative changes in the stria vascularis (SV). It was observed that DPOAE measurements were significantly reduced at high frequencies. In groups which CV was administered together with paclitaxel, these biochemical, histopathological, and functional changes were favorably reversed. CONCLUSION: CV may have a protective effect against paclitaxel-induced ototoxicity when given.