Allergic rhinitis in Covid-19 patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19) is transmitted by respiratory droplets and causes upper respiratory tract symptoms. These features of Covid-19 are essential regarding its potential association with allergic rhinitis (AR). Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Covid-19 and AR and the effects of Covid-19 in patients with AR. Patients And Methods: Between April 2020 and June 2020, in Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Training and Research Hospital, 322 patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab samples and with AR in their medical history were detected using the hospital's automation system. Demographic data including age, gender, and additional data such as main complaints, physical examination findings, duration of inpatient floor, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were recorded. The medical history of the patients was reviewed and patients with previously diagnosed AR were identified. These patients were called by phone and their AR diagnoses were confirmed by performing the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire. Results: The study population consisted of 322 patients aged between 18 and 85. Among these patients, 186 (57.8%) were male and 136 (42.2%) were female. Nineteen (5.9%) of these patients had a history of AR. There was no difference between the patients with and without a history of AR concerning age, gender distribution, type of presentation, ICU referral rate, duration of inpatient floor, and ICU stay (P > 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that the prognosis of Covid-19 was similar between patients with and without AR. The incidence of AR was relatively lower among patients with Covid-19.

Mortality and risk factor analysis for Candida blood stream infection: A three-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible risk factors for mortality in adult patients with candidemia by investigating the causative agents, underlying conditions and predisposing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data including causative Candida species, predisposing factors, and underlying conditions of candidemia patients between the years 2015-2017 were collected and the impact of these factors on mortality was evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups as died (died patients within 30 days of the onset of candidemia) and survived and risk factors were evaluated for each group. RESULTS: We found 163 adult candidemia cases during the study period. Overall 30-day mortality was 40.5%. Candida parapsilosis was the most frequent causative agent (49.1%). C. parapsilosis candidemia was more common in the survived group compared with the died group (n: 49 (61.3%) vs. n: 31 (38.8%), P=0.888). Mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with dialysis (n: 27 (69.2%) vs. n: 12 (30.8%), P<0.00) and concurrent bacteremia (n: 20 (57.1%) vs. n: 15 (42.9%), P=0.024). Survival rates were significantly higher in patients with follow-up blood cultures (n: 75 (65.8%) vs. n: 39 (34.2%), P=0.013). The most important source of candidemia was catheter (49.7%), and C. parapsilosis was the most common causative agent (58%). The catheter was removed in 96.3% of these patients and the mortality rate was 38.5%. All of the patients received antifungal therapy and there was no significant difference between the effects of antifungals on mortality (n: 65 (39.9%) vs. 98 (60.1%), P=0.607). CONCLUSIONS: Dialysis and concurrent bacteremia are strong predictors of mortality in 30 days within patients with candidemia, whereas follow-up blood cultures have a protective role with lower mortality rates. In our study, the most important source of candidemia was catheter, and C. parapsilosis was the most common causative agent. The catheter was removed in almost all patients and the mortality rate was almost one third among these patients.

HPV genotype distribution among women with normal and abnormal cervical cytology in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution and to investigate the relationship between HPV genotypes and cervical cytology in women with HPV infection. METHODS: In this study, 493 women who were admitted to the obstetrics clinic between 2007 and 2015 years and had HPV positivity were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age of women included in the study was 37.3 ±10.6. The positivity of single and multiple HPV genotypes was 64.1% and 35.9%, respectively. HPV16 was the most common genotype in women with normal and abnormal cytology. The incidence of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (chi-square:8.32 p=0.04) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (chi-square:13.75 p<0.001) with HPV16 was significantly higher than in other HPV genotypes. In additional, abnormal cytology results in the group 1 (includ-ed HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59) and group 4 (included HPV40, 42, 54, 55, 61, 62, 81, 83, 84) were significantly higher than other groups (chi-square:23.15 p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Group 1 genotype ratios were found to be quite high among women with abnormal cytology and women with normal cytology. For this reason, close follow-up is very important in addition to cytological findings along with genotyping, especially from an early age. We were found that multiple HPV infection was not related to the grades of cytological abnormalities. Although abnormal cytology results in group 4 were significantly higher than the other groups, it was not possible to comment on the relationship between these genotypes and cervical cancer since more than one HPV genotype was found in most of these women.

Role of T-helper 17 cell related cytokines in laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of T-helper 17 cells and their cascade in the pathogenesis of laryngeal cancer. METHODS: Prospectively, 110 consecutive patients with a suspicious laryngeal lesion were evaluated for serum levels of T-helper 17 cell related interleukins, including interleukins 23, 17A and 22, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The patients were divided into 2 groups after pathological evaluation: 49 patients with malignancy and 61 with benign pathology. Associations between interleukin levels and malignancy were determined via correlation analyses. RESULTS: Interleukin 17A and 22 levels were significantly higher in the malignancy group than the benign lesion group. Pearson correlation analysis showed that interleukins 17A and 22 acted in a cascade, but interleukin 23 did not. According to predictive values, interleukin 17A levels were 3.87 times and interleukin 22 levels were 1.09 times more likely to be associated with laryngeal cancer. The cut-off values for predicting laryngeal cancer were 3.55 pg/ml for interleukin 17A and 119.82 pg/ml for interleukin 22. CONCLUSION: T-helper 17 cell related interleukins are potential biomarkers that may be helpful in diagnosing laryngeal cancer. Moreover, these data may support neutralisation of T-helper 17 cell related cytokine activity, which could be an attractive strategy for treating laryngeal cancer.

Thiol/disulphide homeostasis in Bell's palsy as a novel pathogenetic marker.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Bell's palsy and a novel oxidative stress parameter, thiol/disulphide homeostasis. DESIGN: A prospective study evaluating oxidative stress in Bell's palsy. SETTING: This research took place in the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 77 patients with Bell's palsy and 38 healthy controls were included in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The blood levels of total and native thiol and disulphide activity were assessed, and their levels were compared in the patients and controls. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the patients and controls regarding thiol/disulphide parameters. The mean native thiol and total thiol were significantly lower and disulphide levels were higher in the Bell's palsy than controls. On binary logistic regression analysis, the created model showed 45.3% variation. The cut-off value was 18.95 for disulphides. CONCLUSION: Native and total thiol levels were low in the Bell's palsy. This metabolic disturbance may have a role in the pathogenesis of Bell's palsy.

Topographic relationship; sinusitis and paranasal sinus computed tomography.

Topographic relationship; sinusitis and paranasal sinus computed tomography. BACKGROUND: The association between the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and computed tomography (CT) findings is controversial, especially the topography of the symptoms and CT findings. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between topographic and overall paranasal CT findings with topographic and overall symptoms. METHODS: This was a two-center study comprising 166 patients diagnosed with chronic sinusitis. All patients underwent CT scans and completed a questionnaire. The symptom scores and CT findings were compared. RESULTS: A correlation between anterior ethmoid sinusitis and hyposmia was found. Blockage of the osteomeatal complex and posterior ethmoid sinusitis was associated with halitosis. There were also correlations between maxillary and sphenoid sinusitis and tooth pain. The total visual scale score was not associated with any of the symptoms. No association was seen between facial pain or facial pressure and paranasal sinus CT scores. No correlation was found between the topographic correlation of sinus pain and topographic paranasal sinus CT findings. CONCLUSIONS: No relationship exists between symptoms and paranasal sinus CT findings in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Prognostic value of mean platelet volume on tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether there was any relationship between tinnitus and mean platelet volume. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2013 and January 2014 in Ankara Atatürk Hospital and Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital, Turkey, on a study group of 86 patients with tinnitus and a control group of 84 healthy subjects. Mean platelet volume was recorded and comparisons were made between the two groups. RESULTS: Mean (± standard deviation) platelet volume was 7.67 ± 0.83 µm(3) in the study group and 7.28 ± 0.56 µm(3) in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in mean platelet volume between the tinnitus patients and the healthy subjects (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical findings indicated that tinnitus patients had a higher mean platelet volume than the healthy control subjects; however, the pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear.

Children's quality of life after adenotonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Although adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the pediatric population, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) has not been well established. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of adenotonsillectomy on children's HRQL. METHODS: Parents of the children who underwent adenotonsillectomy were invited to our clinic approximately one year after the surgery for a face-to-face survey to evaluate their child's HRQL. In total, 119 parents of children who underwent adenotonsillectomy for different reasons were interviewed. To quantify the benefit of the operation, the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) was used. RESULTS: The mean GCBI score was 58 +/- 17.5 (minimum -22.9, maximum 79.2), indicating an increase in overall HRQL. Gender had no influence on the GCBI scores (p > 0.05). Satisfaction scores of the children aged 2-6 years were significantly higher than those of other age groups. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of chronic adenotonsillar disease has a positive impact on children's HRQL. Although surgery is highly effective in all age groups, in terms of children's quality of life, better results can be obtained if the operation is done in the earliest years of life.

Cytokine levels in patients with Epstein-Barr virus associated laryngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Some researchers have suggested that Epstein-Barr virus may play a role in the pathogenesis of laryngeal malignancies. In order to clarify the role of cytokines in this disease context, the current study aimed to determine the serum levels of cytokines in Epstein-Barr virus DNA positive patients with laryngeal carcinoma. SUBJECTS: The study included 10 patients with diagnosed laryngeal carcinoma and Epstein-Barr virus DNA positive tumour tissue samples. The control group comprised 10 Epstein-Barr virus DNA negative patients diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma, 10 patients with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection and 10 healthy individuals. METHOD: Serum cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The Epstein-Barr virus DNA positive and negative laryngeal carcinoma patients showed no differences regarding serum levels of the following cytokines: interleukins 1beta, 2, 6 and 12, tumour necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma. However, serum levels of interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor beta1 were significantly higher in Epstein-Barr virus DNA positive laryngeal carcinoma patients compared with Epstein-Barr virus DNA negative laryngeal carcinoma patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the cytokines interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor beta1 may act as growth factors in Epstein-Barr virus related laryngeal carcinoma. These cytokines may thus represent potential targets for molecular therapeutic treatment for laryngeal carcinoma; they may also be useful as indicators of disease prognosis.