Astaxanthin protects against hearing impairment in diabetic rats

Abstract Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) causes an increase in oxidative stress that leads to deterioration in auditory functions. Astaxanthine (AST) is known to have strong antioxidant effects. In this study, the aim is to investigate the effect of AST against hearing loss that is due to DM. Methods: This study is an experimental animal study. The study was designed in four groups with 8 animals (n = 8) in each group. The groups were as follows; Control Group (CNT), Diabetic Group (DM), AST applied diabetic group (DM+AST), and AST applied non-diabetic group (AST). Streptozotocin was applied in rats to induce DM. AST was administered by oral gavage. Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) tests were performed on several days of the study. At the end of the study, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were analyzed in cochlear tissue samples, and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Results: When the findings obtained in the ABR and DPOAE tests in the DM group, it was observed that there was a significant deterioration in the hearing sense. This deterioration was not observed in the DM+AST group. In the DM group, GPx, SOD and CAT levels decreased and MDA levels increased in blood and cochlear tissue. Compared to the DM group, it was noted that antioxidant enzyme levels increased and MDA levels decreased in the DM+AST group. Cochlear tissue pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, which increased with DM, were significantly decreased in the DM+AST group. Conclusion: Even though the effects of AST were investigated in a diabetic experimental animal model, if this molecule is proven to be effective in diabetic humans, it can be considered an adjunct therapeutic option with its antioxidant effects. Level of evidence: The level of evidence of this article is 5. This article is an experimental animal and laboratory study.

Retrospective Analysis of 136 Patients Operated for a Parotid Global Tumor.

Background: While salivary gland tumors constitute 5-6% of all head and neck tumors, they constitute 2-3% of all trunk tumors. About 3.8 per 100,000 of parotid tumors are diagnosed in the US each year, about 1300 to 1600 cases. The salivary gland cancer rate is 0.9 per 10000. The frequency of salivary gland tumors varies according to localization. Objective: In our study, we aimed to evaluate retrospectively the histopathological results, incidence, surgical treatment modalities and complications of parotid tumors operated in our clinic. Methods: We examined the patients who were operated for parotid gland tumor. The files of 136 patients who were admitted to the Otorhinolaryngology department of Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital between January 2010 and April 2020 due to a parotid mass and underwent parotidectomy and whose pathology results were reported as benign or malignant parotid tumors were retrospectively scanned and included in the study. Patients' age, gender, FNAB cytology result, type of surgery, histopathological results after surgery and complications after surgical treatment were recorded. Results: A total of 136 patients, 73 (53.7%) male and 63 (46.3%) female, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 48.26±17.37 (min=14, max=83) years. Superficial parotidectomy was performed in 108 (79.4%) patients and total parotidectomy was performed in 28 (20.6%) patients. According to the histopathological results after surgery, 108 (79.4%) benign tumors and 28 (20.6%) malignant tumors were diagnosed. Accordingly, pleomorphic adenoma (47.8%) was the second most common with 65 patients, followed by Whartin tumor (25.7%) with 35 patients. The sensitivity (sensitivity) of FNAB was 85.2%, and the specificity (specificity) was 96.2%. The accuracy of FNAB was found to be 94.0%. Conclusion: Good identification of the parotid mass preoperatively, together with both FNAB and radiological imaging methods, gains much more value in differentiating malignant and benign pathologies. While superficial parotidectomy is mostly sufficient in benign tumors, total parotidectomy-radical parotidectomy in malignant tumors and neck dissection should be considered in high-grade tumors even if there is no neck metastasis. Patients should be evaluated for RT and CT according to the tumor type after surgery.

Astaxanthin protects against hearing impairment in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) causes an increase in oxidative stress that leads to deterioration in auditory functions. Astaxanthine (AST) is known to have strong antioxidant effects. In this study, the aim is to investigate the effect of AST against hearing loss that is due to DM. METHODS: This study is an experimental animal study. The study was designed in four groups with 8 animals (n = 8) in each group. The groups were as follows; Control Group (CNT), Diabetic Group (DM), AST applied diabetic group (DM+AST), and AST applied non-diabetic group (AST). Streptozotocin was applied in rats to induce DM. AST was administered by oral gavage. Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) tests were performed on several days of the study. At the end of the study, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were analyzed in cochlear tissue samples, and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. RESULTS: When the findings obtained in the ABR and DPOAE tests in the DM group, it was observed that there was a significant deterioration in the hearing sense. This deterioration was not observed in the DM+AST group. In the DM group, GPx, SOD and CAT levels decreased and MDA levels increased in blood and cochlear tissue. Compared to the DM group, it was noted that antioxidant enzyme levels increased and MDA levels decreased in the DM+AST group. Cochlear tissue pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, which increased with DM, were significantly decreased in the DM+AST group. CONCLUSION: Even though the effects of AST were investigated in a diabetic experimental animal model, if this molecule is proven to be effective in diabetic humans, it can be considered an adjunct therapeutic option with its antioxidant effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: The level of evidence of this article is 5. This article is an experimental animal and laboratory study.

The Diagnostic Value of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Parotid Tumors.

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy rates of the patients who underwent an operation for parotid mass, by comparing their fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology results with the final pathology. A total of 136 patient files of those who applied to Otorhinolaryngology clinic due to parotid mass and underwent parotidectomy procedure between 2010 and 2020 at a tertiary center were scanned retrospectively. Database on patient age, gender, preoperative FNAB results, and final surgical histopathology results was created. The mean age of the patients was 48.26 ± 17.37 Superficial parotidectomy was performed to 108 (79.4%) and total parotidectomy to 28 (20.6%) of the patients. The sensitivity of FNAB was found as 85.2%, specificity as 96.2%, positive predictive value as 85.2%, negative predictive value as 96.2% and accuracy as 94.0%. It is found that FNAB has the high specificity and high negative predictive value with high diagnostic accuracy on detecting preoperative malignancy in parotid gland. We think that FNAB is a significant, necessary and safe method in the diagnosis of parotid lesions in preoperative sense.

The effects of ethyl pyruvate against experimentally induced cisplatin ototoxicity in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Cisplatin (CDDP) is a widely used antineoplastic drug. However, its use is limited due to the ototoxic side effects. In this study, the effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP), known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, against CDDP ototoxicity were investigated. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar albino rats (n:8) were used in this study. CDDP was administered i.p. as a single dose of 15 mg/kg/day in order to cause ototoxicity. EP was applied i.p. at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 7 days. RESULTS: When the Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) tests carried out in the pre-treatment and post-treatment periods were examined, it was observed that the hearing functions were significantly impaired with the CDDP application, while a significant improvement was observed in the CDDP + EP group. Compared to the control group, the CDDP group had significantly higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and significantly lower glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. In the CDDP + EP group, there was no deterioration in MDA, SOD and CAT levels that was observed in the CDDP group. The increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) levels caused by CDDP administration was observed to be significantly decreased in the CDDP + EP group. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing tests and biochemical results show that ethyl pyruvate is protective against cisplatin ototoxicity with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Dermoscopy of oral mucocele: three types of extravasation mucoceles

Background/aim: Dermoscopy is a diagnostic tool that assists in imaging the epidermis and dermis. Although it has also started to be used to diagnose nonmelanocytic lesions recently, it has not been tested much on oral mucosal masses, such as oral mucoceles. This study aimed to investigate whether dermoscopy is a valuable tool in diagnosing oral mucoceles. Materials and methods: In this study, the clinical and dermoscopic features of 21 oral mucocele lesions of 21 patients (11 females, 10 males) aged between 6 and 38 years who were confirmed histopathologically were evaluated. Results: Of the lesions studied, 95.2% (20) were extravasation and 4.8% (1) were retention mucoceles. The nonvascular structures were determined as white areas (61.9%, 13), erythema (57.1%, 12), purplish-gray background (52.3%, 11), ulcer (30%, 8), yellowish- orange areas (23.8%, 5), crust (14.2%, 3), starburst pattern (0.95%, 2), and bleeding (0.47%, 1). Dermoscopically, 40% of extravasation mucoceles were classified as type 1 (8 patients), 25% as type 2 (5 patients), and 35% as type 3 (7 patients). Conclusion: We concluded that there are 3 types of extravasation mucoceles dermoscopically and clinically, and these types may be stages of transition between each other.