Analysis of the Effect of Weight Loss on Eustachian Tube Function by Transnasal Videoendoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery on eustachian tube (ET) function with video endoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted as a prospective cohort and was completed with 19 patients. Three-step tympanometry (basal, Toynbee, Valsalva), dynamic slow-motion video endoscopy, and the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDA-7) were applied to the patients preoperatively before bariatric surgery and in the postoperative 6th month. Dynamic slow-motion video endoscopy was graded between 0 and 3, or classified as patulous, as indicated in the literature. RESULTS: The mean body mass index of 6 male and 13 female patients decreased from 47.3 ±â€Š4.6 to 31.2 ±â€Š5.4. Grade decline (median 2 ±â€Š1) was experienced in all patients in DSVE, and 1 patient resulted as patulous ET. The ETDA-7 scores decreased in11 patients, remained stable in 7 patients, and increased in 1 patient with patulous ET. The statistical analysis of the preoperative and postoperative DSVE grading and ETDA-7 scores, excluding the patulous ET patient, was found to be significant (P  = 0.001 and P  = 0.003, respectively). There was no significant change in any of the tympanometry parameters (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid weight loss with bariatric surgery results in an improvement in both the DSVE images and in the complaints of ET dysfunction in the majority of patients, but in some patients it may result in patulous ET. Therefore, preoperative evaluation of the ET with DSVE and questioning the patient's complaints are important in predicting patients who may develop patulous ET.

Acoustic parameter changes after bariatric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acoustic parameter changes after weight loss in bariatric surgery patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, longitudinal study was conducted with 15 patients with planned bariatric surgery, who were evaluated pre-operatively and at 6 months post-operatively. Fundamental frequency (F0), Formant frequency (F1, F2, F3, and F4), Frequency perturbation (Jitter), Amplitude perturbation (Shimmer) and Noise-to-Harmonics Ratio (NHR) parameters were evaluated for /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/ vowels. Changes in the acoustic analysis parameters for each vowel were compared. The study group was separated into two groups according to whether the Mallampati score had not changed (Group 1) or had decreased (Group 2) and changes in the formant frequencies were compared between these groups. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients with a median age of 40 ± 11 years completed the study. The median weight of the patients was 122 ± 14 kg pre-operatively and 80 ± 15 kg, post-operatively. BMI declined from 46 ± 4 to 31 ± 5 kg/m2. The Mallampati score decreased by one point in six patients and remained stable in nine. Of the acoustic voice analysis parameters of vowels, in general, fundamental frequency tended to decrease, and shimmer and jitter values tended to increase. Some of the formant frequencies were specifically affected by the weight loss and this showed statistical significance between Group 1 and Group 2. CONCLUSION: The present study reveals that some specific voice characteristics might be affected by successful weight loss after bariatric surgery.HighlightsObesity reduces the size of the pharyngeal lumen at different levels.The supralaryngeal vocal tract size and configuration is a determinative factor in the features of the voice.Changes in the length and shape of the vocal tract, or height and position of the tongue can result in changes especially in formant frequencies in acoustic analysis.

Postoperative Audiometric Results of Patients with Otosclerosis in relation with High-resolution Computed Tomography and Intraoperative Macroscopic Findings.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse postoperative audiological findings in fenestral otosclerosis patients treated with stapedotomy, focal location-extensiveness findings on temporal high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and intraoperative macroscopic stapes footplate findings. Moreover, preoperative audiological findings were compared with HRCT and intraoperative macroscopic findings. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Turkey from January 2015 to January 2018. METHODOLOGY: Patients were classified according to the temporal bone HRCT findings into three groups based on otosclerotic focus location and extensiveness. Macroscopic classification was based on the intraoperative findings of blue and white footplate. Patients with obliterative otosclerosis were not included in the study. Preoperative and postoperative audiological findings as well as surgical success were investigated. Findings were compared with HRCT and macroscopic classification groups. RESULTS: Postoperative air bone gap (ABG) increased as HRCT class increased from 0 to 3, meaning a more extensive otosclerotic focus (p=0.002). The comparison of the audiological outcomes, in accordance with the intraoperative findings, revealed that the postoperative air conduction pure-tone averages (AC PTA), ABG and ABG difference were higher in the white footplate group, with statistically significant differences compared to blue footplate group (p = 0.039, p = 0.001 and p=0.029, respectively). CONCLUSION: Postoperative audiological findings were found to be correlated with intraoperative and HRCT findings. A white footplate seen at surgery or a more extensive otosclerotic focus on temporal HRCT indicates a suboptimal audiological outcome. HRCT findings should be taken into account when planning the surgery. Key Words: Otosclerosis, Temporal bone HRCT, Footplate color, Stapedotomy, Audiometry.

Does inferior turbinate outfracture provide additional benefit when combined with inferior turbinate radiofrequency ablation?

PURPOSE: To evaluate, both subjectively and objectively, whether turbinate outfracture provides any additional benefit in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy when combined with radiofrequency ablation. METHODS: The study was conducted on 58 patients diagnosed with inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the treatment they receive. Group A consisted of patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation and Group B included patients undergoing turbinate outfracture in combination with radiofrequency ablation. For the purposes of objective evaluation, all patients underwent acoustic rhinometry and anterior rhinomanometry preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. In addition, for subjective evaluation, the patients completed the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire. Postoperative changes in objective and subjective parameters in both groups versus the preoperative period and their differences were compared statistically. RESULTS: In Group A, mean postoperative minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume (NV) values and NOSE scores were significantly greater compared to those obtained in the preoperative period. Similarly, Group B showed significantly greater mean postoperative MCA, NV and NOSE score values compared to the preoperative period. In Group A and B, mean postoperative total nasal resistance (TNR) value was significantly lower in comparison to the preoperative period. The differences in mean preoperative and postoperative MCA, NV, TNR and NOSE scores were significantly greater in Group B versus Group A. CONCLUSION: The addition of turbinate outfracture to inferior turbinate radiofrequency ablation treatment provides both objective and subjective benefits in the resolution of nasal obstruction.

The effect of chemotherapy on olfactory function and mucociliary clearance.

OBJECTIVES: Olfactory sensory neurons and the olfactory mucosa are both important for optimal olfactory function. The potential nasal mucosal toxicity of chemotherapy regimens has not been assessed yet. The aim of this study was to objectively investigate the effect of chemotherapy on mucociliary clearance and olfactory function and to evaluate whether this effect differs between different chemotherapy regimens and age groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included consecutive patients admitted for the treatment of a variety of primary tumors (except head and neck and brain malignancies). Patients were evaluated for olfaction and mucociliary clearance before and immediately after completing the last session of chemotherapy cycles, according to the therapeutic protocol. For objective evaluation, the saccharine test was used for mucociliary clearance and the Sniffin' Sticks test for olfactory function. Of the 46 initial patients, 30 completed the study. Groups were formed according to the chemotherapy regimen (four groups: CA (doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide), Folfox (oxaliplatin +5-FU + folinic acid), DCF (docetaxel + cisplatin +5-FU), and GC (gemcitabine + cisplatin)) and according to age (two groups: < 55 years and > 55 years). RESULTS: In the overall analyses, significant deterioration was noted in both mucociliary clearance time and smell scores (olfactory threshold (OT), olfactory discrimination (OD), olfactory identification (OI), and the composite threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) score). The changes in these scores showed no significant differences between chemotherapy groups. The decrease in OT and global TDI scores was more severe in the younger age group. CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy impairs both the mucociliary clearance and olfactory function in cancer patients. This might reflect the collective negative effect of chemotherapy on olfactory function, not only through the neurocytotoxic effect but also the cytotoxic effect on the nasal mucosa. In addition, the reduction in olfactory threshold and total olfactory function scores was seen to be more profound in younger patients, which could have been due to higher initial scores.

Impact of Nasal Trauma on Olfactory Function.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of nasal trauma with and without the potential to produce nasal fracture on the olfactory function. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Ear, Nose, Throat Clinic, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara from October 2018 to June 2019. METHODOLOGY: The study included patients with nasal trauma and control subjects. The patients with nasal trauma were divided into two groups as fracture group (Group F, n=83) and non-fracture group (Group Non-F, n=30). The Group F was further divided into two subgroups according the presence as septal fracture as Group SF (patients with septal fracture) and Group Non-SF (patients with non-septal fracture). The smell functions of all participants were evaluated using the Sniffin' Sticks test. The odour scores of Group F and Group Non-F were compared versus control group, using the independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. Percentage of patients with olfactory dysfunction was compared between Group F and Group Non-F and between Group SF and Group Non-SF using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: There were a total of 113 participants with mean age of 35.64±10.44 years. The median TDI score of Group F was significantly lower in comparison to control group, no significant difference was found between Group Non-F and control group in terms of median TDI score. There was a significant difference between Group F and Group Non-F in terms of the percentage of patients with olfactory dysfunction. No significant difference was found between Group F and Group Non-F with respect to the percentage of patients with olfactory dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Nasal trauma can lead to olfactory dysfunction only if it has the potential to produce a nasal fracture. Key Words: Smell disorders, Nasal bone, Bone fractures, Trauma.

The Effect of the Körner's Septum on Graft and Hearing Success after Type 1 Tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Körner's septum (KS) on graft success and hearing in patients who were treated with type 1 tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, from July 2013 to July 2018. METHODOLOGY: Patients undergoing type 1 tympanoplasty were divided into 2 groups as patients with KS and without KS (WKS), according to the findings of high-resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone. Two different grafts (fascia and cartilage) in two groups (KS and WKS) were compared for graft success rate of different graft materials and pre- and postoperative hearing levels. The effect of the presence of KS on hearing was examined. RESULTS: The anatomical graft success rate of type 1 tympanoplasty was 75.9% in the KS group and 88.5% in the WKS group (p = 0.026). In the presence of KS, graft success rate decreased with the use of a fascia graft (p = 0.044). In the presence of KS, the use of cartilage graft did not affect functional hearing; whereas, poor functional outcomes were obtained in ears operated using a temporalis fascia graft in the KS group than in the WKS group (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: KS adversely affects graft success in type 1 tympanoplasty. Cartilage should be preferred as the graft material for patients with KS.

The Voice Performance After Septoplasty With Surgical Efficacy Demonstrated Through Acoustic Rhinometry and Rhinomanometry.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the surgical efficacy of septoplasty using acoustic rhinometry (AR) and anterior rhinomanometry (ARM) and to evaluate the effect of septoplasty on voice performance through subjective voice analysis methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled a total of 62 patients who underwent septoplasty with the diagnosis of deviated nasal septum. Thirteen patients with no postoperative improvement versus preoperative period as shown by AR and/or ARM tests and three patients with postoperative complications and four patients who were lost to follow-up were excluded. As a result, a total of 42 patients were included in the study. Objective tests including AR, ARM, acoustic voice analysis and spectrographic analysis were performed before the surgery and at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery. Subjective measures included the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation questionnaire to evaluate surgical success and Voice Handicap Index-30 tool for assessment of voice performance postoperatively, both completed by all study patients. RESULTS: Among acoustic voice analysis parameters, F0, jitter, Harmonics-to-Noise Ratio values as well as formant frequency (F1-F2-F3-F4) values did not show significant differences postoperatively in comparison to the preoperative period (P > 0.05). Only the shimmer value was statistically significantly reduced at 1 month (P < 0.05) and 3 months postoperatively (P < 0.05) versus baseline. Statistically significant reductions in Voice Handicap Index-30 scores were observed at postoperative 1 month (P < 0.001) and 3 months (P < 0.001) compared to the preoperative period and between postoperative 1 month and 3 months (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, first operative success of septoplasty was demonstrated through objective tests and then objective voice analyses were performed to better evaluate the overall effect of septoplasty on voice performance. Shimmer value was found to be improved in the early and late postoperative periods.

Evaluation of olfactory function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

PURPOSE: To investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on olfactory functions. METHODS: Study subjects consisted of patients with newly diagnosed OSAS divided by polysomnography into subgroups of mild, moderate, and severe disease. Subjects identified as not having OSAS served as controls. All subjects were subjected to the Sniffin' Sticks test to evaluate olfactory functions. Control subjects and subgroups with OSAS were compared for sleep characteristics and olfactory scores. In the patient group, correlations were investigated between olfactory scores and polysomnographic parameters. RESULTS: Of 99 subjects (64 men), there were 20 controls, 23 with mild OSAS, 25 moderate, and 31 severe. There was a decreasing trend from the control group towards the severe subgroup in mean odor threshold, odor discrimination, odor identification, and threshold-discriminationidentification (TDI) scores. In the patient group, there was a strong inverse correlation between AHI and TDI scores (r = - 0.62, p < 0.001). Arousal index and TDI scores had a strong negative correlation (r = - 0.81, p < 0.001). There was a weak positive correlation between the minimum SPO2% and TDI scores (r = 0.34, p = 0.002) and a weak negative correlation between TST <90% and TDI scores (r = - 0.24, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: The finding that arousal index showed a stronger correlation with odor scores than with hypoxemia-related parameters suggests that sleep fragmentation may be a more prominent mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of olfactory malfunction in patients with OSAS.

The Predictive Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Hodgkin's Lymphoma Diagnosis in Patients with Asymptomatic Cervical Lymphadenopathy.

In patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy, the physician often has to choose between evaluation via follow-up or open biopsy. Follow-up evaluation may lead to a delayed diagnosis of lymphoma, while an open biopsy is associated with surgical risks and costs. This dilemma can be avoided using predictive parameters. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a parameter which can be assessed quickly with ease and at low cost, has predictive value for Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy. A total of 46 patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy who underwent open biopsy were included in the study. Based on the biopsy results, the patients were divided into two groups, Hodgkin lymphoma (26 patients) and reactive lymphadenopathy (20 patients). The mean NLR in the groups was calculated and compared based on the results of complete blood count performed before biopsy. We found that mean NLR (P = 0.022) and mean neutrophil count (P = 0.046) were higher and mean lymphocyte count was lower (P = 0.054) in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma compared to those in patients with reactive lymphadenopathy. Our results indicate that a high NLR may have predictive value for Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in patients with asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy.

Evaluation of Liver Functions Based on Serum Aminotransferase Enzyme Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with fatty liver disease. In the present study, relations between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and the severity of OSAS and polysomnography parameters were investigated. The study included 194 patients with OSAS and 114 control patients. The patients underwent an overnight polysomnography (PSG) in the Sleep Laboratory. ALT and AST levels were compared between the patients and the controls and between the subgroups of the patients. ALT and AST levels were also compared with the PSG parameters REM AHI, NREM AHI and minimum O2 saturation separately. The mean ALT was 28.95 in the patients and 17.85 in the controls (p < 0.001) with a statistically significant difference and the mean AST was 23.62 in the patients and 16.53 in the controls with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The patients with OSAS had significantly higher ALT and AST levels. The higher the ALT and AST levels were, the more severe the disease was, though the differences between the subgroups of the patients were not significant.

Is Adenotonsillar Size a Significant Factor on Voice in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adenotonsillar size is a significant determinant of voice in children who have undergone adenotonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Ear Nose Throat Clinic, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from July 2017 to June 2018. METHODOLOGY: A total of 57 patients, who have been diagnosed with chronic adenotonsillitis and operated for obstruction or infection, were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to their palatine tonsil sizes. Each patient performed voice analysis preoperatively and one month postoperatively, recruiting both objective and subjective methods. F0, jitter % and shimmer % values were assessed with objective methods; while subjective methods evaluated pediatric voice handicap index (pVHI) scores. Pre- and post-operative F0, jitter % and shimmer % values and pVHI scores from each study group were compared. RESULTS: In each study group, pre- and post-operative F0, jitter % and shimmer % values were found to be similar. In Group A, postoperative pVHI scores were found to be significantly reduced (p<0.001). In Group B, however, pre- and postoperatively assessed pVHI scores were similar. CONCLUSION: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children, who underwent adenotonsillectomy, seems to be an important and positively effecting factor on the subjective, but not the objective, parameters of voice.

Does Tonsillectomy Affect Voice in Early or Late Postoperative Periods in Adults?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of tonsillectomy on voice performance in adults. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted between January 2013 and June 2015. A total of 26 adults who had tonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis or recurrent acute tonsillitis were included in the study. The voice performances of the participants were analyzed with objective and subjective methods before surgery, and 1 and 3 months after surgery. An acoustic voice analysis (fundamental frequency [F0], jitter %, shimmer %) was performed for objective analysis, and Voice Handicap Index survey was used for subjective analysis of the voice. Preoperative F0, jitter %, shimmer %, and Voice Handicap Index values were compared with the values obtained 1 and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Impairment of voice performance was determined when preoperative and postoperative first month F0, jitter %, and shimmer % values were compared. Three months after surgery, those values were found similar to the preoperative values. CONCLUSION: Tonsillectomy affects voice performance negatively in adults in short term; however, it does not affect voice performance in long term after surgery.

A Comparison of Cartilage Palisades and Temporal Fascia in Type 1 Tympanoplasty for Bilateral Tympanic Membrane Perforations in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the graft success rates and audiological outcomes of bilaterally performed type 1 tympanoplasty using cartilage palisades or temporal fascia in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent type 1 tympanoplasty at Medical Park Hospital between May 2007 and February 2013. 27 patients (54 ears) were enrolled in the study: 15 (30 ears) in the palisade cartilage group and 12 (24 ears) in the fascia group. RESULTS: The graft success rate for the fascia group was 79.2%, and that for the cartilage group was 96.7%. The difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.078). Audiological improvements were seen in both groups, and the difference was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: The use of temporalis fascia grafting has similar outcomes to palisade cartilage tympanoplasty for both success rate and audiological values in children who have bilateral disease.

Comparison of Hyaluronic Acid Fat Graft Myringoplasty, Fat Graft Myringoplasty and Temporal Fascia Techniques for the Closure of Different Sizes and Sites of Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of three different myringoplasty techniques, namely hyaluronic acid fat graft myringoplasty (HAFGM), fat graft myringoplasty (FGM), and temporal fascia for the closure of different sizes and sites of tympanic membrane perforations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who had undergone a type 1 tympanoplasty operation at our clinic between May 2007 and February 2013. The patients were divided into three groups depending on the patient's choice of technique as follows: Fat Graft Myringoplasty (FGM) (Group I), Hyaluronic Acid Fat Graft Myringoplasty (HAFGM) (Group II), and Temporalis Fascia (TF) (Group III). A total of 136 patients were included in the study, split in to the FGM (57 patients; 56.1% female; median age: 30 years), HAFGM (31 patients; 54.8 female; median age: 25 years), and TF (48 patients; 58.3% females; median age: 33 years) surgery technique groups. RESULTS: The patients were further divided into two groups, depending on the size of the perforation (small and large), and into three groups, depending on its location (anterior, inferior, and central). None of techniques provided a significantly better success rate in terms of perforation location (p>0.05). Also, none of the techniques provided a significantly better success rate in terms of perforation size (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We propose using HAFGM for large perforations and FGM alone for small perforations. The TF technique is a successful and well-defined technique for tympanic membrane perforations; however, in our opinion, its technical difficulties make it a secondary choice, particularly for small-sized perforations.

Relationship Between Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) give information about many diseases. An increase in inflammation markers occurs in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between OSAS and NLR and PLR values. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred eighty four patients with complaints of snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness were included in the study. Polysomnography had been performed on all patients and the control group. Fourty eight of these patients with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) less than 5 (pure snoring) were included in the control group, 67 patients with AHI between 5 and 14.9 in the mild OSAS group, 61 patients with AHI between 15 and 29.9 in the moderate OSAS group and 108 patients with AHI more than 30 in the severe OSAS group. NLR and PLR values were calculated from the complete blood count (CBC) analysis of the patients and control group. The OSAS and control groups were compared by age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and PSG parameters as well as NLR and PLR values. RESULTS: The PLR value in the OSAS group was found to be less than in the control group (p=0.006). As the non-REM AHI increased, the value of PLR decreased. As the nocturnal time spent with arterial oxygen saturation<90% increased, the value of NLR was determined to increase. CONCLUSIONS: NLR and PLR values can give valuable information in OSAS.

New Predictive Parameters of Bell's Palsy: Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio.

BACKGROUND: Bell's palsy is the most frequent cause of unilateral facial paralysis. Inflammation is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Bell's palsy. AIMS: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are simple and inexpensive tests which are indicative of inflammation and can be calculated by all physicians. The aim of this study was to reveal correlations of Bell's palsy and degree of paralysis with NLR and PLR. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: The retrospective study was performed January 2010 and December 2013. Ninety-nine patients diagnosed as Bell's palsy were included in the Bell's palsy group and ninety-nine healthy individuals with the same demographic characteristics as the Bell's palsy group were included in the control group. As a result of analyses, NLR and PLR were calculated. RESULTS: The mean NLR was 4.37 in the Bell's palsy group and 1.89 in the control group with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). The mean PLR was 137.5 in the Bell's palsy group and 113.75 in the control group with a statistically significant difference (p=0.008). No statistically significant relation was detected between the degree of facial paralysis and NLR and PLR. CONCLUSION: The NLR and the PLR were significantly higher in patients with Bell's palsy. This is the first study to reveal a relation between Bell's palsy and PLR. NLR and PLR can be used as auxiliary parameters in the diagnosis of Bell's palsy.

[New predictive parameters of nasal polyposis: neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio]. / Nazal polipte yeni öngörücü parametreler: Nötrofil lenfosit orani ve trombosit lenfosit orani.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the correlations between nasal polyposis (NP) and NP density with neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 105 patients (72 males, 33 females; mean age 41.33±12.85 years; range 16 to 63 years) diagnosed as NP (NP group) and 83 healthy individuals (54 males, 29 females; mean age 44.01±8.50 years; range 18 to 62 years) (control group). Nasal polyposis density score was calculated with preoperative Lund-Mackay computed tomography grading system. Neutrophil to lymphocyte and PLR ratio values of NP and control groups were calculated and statistically compared. Neutrophil to lymphocyte and PLR values were statistically compared in terms of NP density in the NP group. RESULTS: Mean NLR value was 2.26 in the NP group and 1.75 in the control group with a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). Mean PLR value was 120.79 in the NP group and 109.84 in the control group with a statistically insignificant difference (p=0.073). CONCLUSION: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio value may be used as a novel marker that is easily administered in patients with nasal polyps and obtained with low-cost tests. New studies with larger patient series are needed for the value of PLR.

Evaluation of autoinflammatory disease genes in nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome 1 (CIAS 1) gene polymorphisms that cause autoinflammatory diseases in patients with nasal polyposis (NP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients diagnosed with NP and 30 healthy age-matched individuals as a control group. CIAS1 polymorphisms were assessed by DNA sequence analysis. Patients with nasal polyps and the control group were compared in terms of gene polymorphisms. Each of the 8 polymorphisms of the CIAS1 gene was analyzed separately in the patient group. RESULTS: The most frequently observed polymorphisms in the patient group were c.732G > A in 83%, c.663C > T in 23%, and c.1308C > A in 23% of the patients. c.732G > A polymorphism was evaluated separately. Guanine was transformed to adenine at the 732nd nucleotide position of the CIAS1 gene in the cDNA of chromosome 1. CONCLUSION: The CIAS1 gene c.732G > A polymorphism was thought to be responsible for an increase in disease susceptibility. The frequency of the "A" allele is higher in the patient group compared to the control group. Autoinflammatory diseases seem like a candidate to be one of these factors. This is the first report to define the role of autoinflammatory diseases among these factors.

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and continuous positive airway pressure treatment on voice performance.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may affect voice performance due to alterations that occur in the upper respiratory tract. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of OSAS and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on voice performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with moderate to severe OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index ≥15/h) who underwent polysomnographic examination and 28 age- and gender-matched normal control subjects were enrolled in the study. The patients and the control subjects completed Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaires, and their acoustic voice analyses were performed. Fundamental frequency (F0), jitter %, and shimmer % parameters were statistically compared. Acoustic analyses were performed again 1 month after regular CPAP use in OSAS patients, and the parameters before and after the treatment were compared. RESULTS: F0 was 160.82 Hz, jitter was 0.70%, shimmer was 1.05%, and VHI was 1.18 in the control group. In OSAS patients before CPAP treatment, F0 was 157.04 Hz, jitter was 0.82%, shimmer was 1.33%, and VHI was 13.11. These results showed that shimmer and VHI parameters were significantly worse in OSAS patients. After CPAP treatment, F0 was 169.19 Hz, jitter was 0.62%, shimmer was 0.93% and VHI was 5.00. The differences were statistically significant in all parameters. CONCLUSION: The acoustic parameters of OSAS patients differed from those of the normal control subjects. The patients' voice performance improved after a regular use of CPAP treatment for 1 month.