Polysomnographic findings in persistent allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: Persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) is characterized by a chronic, eosinophilic inflammation with nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. Nasal congestion can constitute to sleep-disordered breathing problems that range from simple snoring to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PAR on sleep quality and severity of OSAS. METHODS: The study included 150 patients presenting with typical symptoms of sleep apnea. Fifty-five patients were diagnosed as PAR (group-1) and were compared with age and body mass index matched 95 individuals (group-2) without any nasal disease. Skin prick tests and polysomnography were performed in all patients. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups for polysomnographic findings including sleep architecture, arousal and respiratory index, and mean and minimal oxygen saturations. Simple snoring was determined in 41.8 % allergic and 32.6 % non-allergic patients. Mild OSAS was determined in 32.7 % allergic and 29.4 % non-allergic patients. Moderate OSAS was determined in 9 % allergic and 17.8 % non-allergic patients. Severe OSAS was determined in 16.3 % allergic and 20 % non-allergic patients. Their entire Epworth sleepiness scale index was also found similar. CONCLUSIONS: Our data pointed out that in patients with sleep-related breathing disorders symptoms, presence of PAR does not affect polysomnographic parameters compared with other patients without any nasal inflammation. Besides, prevalence of OSAS was similar between groups.

Effects of a topical hemostatic agent on an epistaxis model in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Ankaferd BloodStopper (ABS) is a standardized herbal compound consisting of 5 different plant extracts. ABS, as a topical medicinal product, has been approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health for the management of dermal, external postsurgical and postdental surgery bleedings. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the hemostatic effect of ABS in an experimental epistaxis model. METHODS: Adult female New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. Standardized full-thickness mucosal wounds were created to provide bleeding on the right and left side of the nasal septum of rabbits with a 3-mm surgical punch. To stop bleeding, the wounds were treated with topical ABS on one side and with topical isotonic saline solution as a control on the other side of the nasal septum. Investigators were blinded to treatment. The duration of bleeding was measured in order to compare the hemo-static effect with ABS or topical isotonic saline solution. The wounds were observed for the duration of bleeding in order to compare the hemostatic effect of ABS with isotonic saline solution and acute adverse effects (AEs) for 30 minutes by a researcher blinded to treatment groups. RESULTS: Six rabbits (mean weight, 2.6 kg [range, 2.3-3.1 kg]) were used in this study. Mean (SD) bleeding time in the wounds administered ABS (98 [17] sec) was significantly less than that of the controls (266 [36] sec; P = 0.004). No AEs were observed up to 30 minutes after study initiation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that ABS may be more effective in reducing time to hemostasis when compared with isotonic saline solution in this epistaxis model in rabbits.