Barcoll hardness of different resin-based composites cured by halogen or light emitting diode (LED).

The clinical performance of light curing resin composites is greatly influenced by the quality of the light-curing unit (LCU). Halogen LCUs are commonly used for curing composite materials. However, they have some drawbacks. The development of new, blue, super bright light emitting diodes (LED LCU) of 470-nm wavelength with high light irradiance comes as an alternative to standard halogen LCUs of 450-470-nm wavelengths. This study evaluated the surface hardness of the different resin-based composites (flowable, hybrid and packable resin composites) cured by LED LCU or halogen LCU. A Teflon mold 10-mm in diameter and 2-mm in depth was made to obtain five disk-shaped specimens for each experimental group. Then, the specimens were cured by an LED LCU or halogen LCU for 40 seconds. The hardness of the upper and lower surfaces was measured with a Barcoll hardness-measuring instrument. The statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan test at a p=0.05 significance level. The results of the hardness test indicated that the hardness of resin composites cured by an LED LCU were greater than those cured by a halogen LCU. Additionally, for all resin-based composites, the hardness values for the upper surfaces were higher than the lower surfaces. However, for both results no statistically significant differences were observed (p>0.05).

Histopathological changes of chorda tympani in chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether histopathological changes of chorda tympani might exist in patients with chronic otitis media without facial paralysis. STUDY DESIGN: The study was designed as a prospective trial. METHODS: Twenty of 107 patients with chronic otitis media, in whom the chorda tympani were injured inadvertently during middle ear surgery, were enrolled into the study. The cases were divided into two groups based on the activity of chronic infection at the time of surgery. Twelve cases with suppurative disease were included in group I, and 8 cases with dry ear in group II. RESULTS: Histopathological examinations of the specimens revealed findings such as thickening of perineural and epineural connective tissue, vacuolar degeneration of Schwann cells, and proliferation of fibroblasts in endoneurium. Disorganization of the axons of some nerve fibers was also determined. CONCLUSION: Based on the histopathological changes of chorda tympani in chronic middle ear disease, it is postulated that chronic otitis media may give rise to functional loss of the nerve.

Improvement in bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes of bone conduction threshold impairment associated with middle ear pathoses and the factors influencing improvement in bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The records of 98 consecutive patients with unilateral chronic otitis media who underwent tympanoplasty were reviewed. Pre-operatively, 15 dB or more depression of bone conduction threshold at least in 2 frequencies between 500 and 6000 Hz was considered to be significant. Similarly in the postoperative period, 15 dB or more improvement of bone conduction threshold at least in 2 frequencies between 500 and 6000 Hz was regarded as significant. RESULTS: Twelve (12.5%) of 98 cases were found to have depressed bone conduction threshold; 6 of 12 cases had improved bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty. CONCLUSION: In cases with cholesteatoma and extensive middle ear disease, successful results could be achieved after tympanoplasty disregarding the air-bone gap and deteriorated bone conduction threshold. SIGNIFICANCE: Bone conduction threshold may improve after tympanoplasty.

Free radical damage in nasal polyp tissue.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the free radical injury in nasal polyp tissue exists or not. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study in patients with nasal polyps. METHODS: Polyp specimens were obtained from 19 patients. Control specimens were acquired from 16 patients who underwent partial turbinectomy with concha bullosa free of rhinitis, sinusitis, and allergy, confirmed by endoscopic nasal examination, coronal paranasal sinus CT scan, and prick test. MDA levels of nasal polyps and control specimens were measured by using the method of Knudsen et al. RESULTS: The mean MDA levels of nasal polyps and control specimens were 38.2 +/- 5.1 (33.3-52.2) and 33.9 +/- 1.6 (32.6-37.4), respectively. MDA levels in NP were significantly higher compared with control specimens (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: High level of MDA in nasal polyp tissue that represents FR increase supports the existence of cell injury in nasal polyp tissue. FRs should be considered in the development and life cycles of NP which is thought to have multifactorial pathogenesis.

Chondrosarcoma of the thyroid cartilage.

Sarcomas of the larynx are extremely rare neoplasms that account for approximately one per cent of all tumours of this organ. We present a case of laryngeal chondrosarcoma originating from thyroid cartilage, characterized by an unusual long clinical course over 15 years without laryngeal symptoms or duplication of metastases, treated at the Süleyman Demirel University Medical Faculty, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department.

[Prolonged pharmacologic sleep in the complex treatment of patients with severe forms of alcoholic delirium]. / Prodlennyí medikamentoznyí son v komplekse lecheniia tiazhelykh form alkogol'nogo deliriia.

Results of treating 235 patients suffering from grave alcohol delirium complicated with somatic pathology are presented. Use was made of various methods of inducing prolonged drug sleep: by neuroleptics, barbiturates with analgesics sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate alone or in combination with barbiturates or viadril. The method of using the combination of sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate with barbiturates or viadril G appeared to be the most effective. It use resulted in a rapid elimination of psychomotor excitation, quick induction of deep sleep, considerable shortening of the psychotic period, rapid normalization of vitally important body functions, and shortening of the duration of the post-delirium asthenization.

Polymorphic variants of MnSOD Val16Ala, CAT-262 C < T and GPx1 Pro198Leu genotypes and the risk of laryngeal cancer in a smoking population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between development of laryngeal cancer and the presence of polymorphisms of the MnSOD Val16Ala, CAT-262 C < T and GPx1 Pro198Leu genes in a smoking population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms were determined in DNA from the peripheral blood erythrocytes of 48 heavy smokers (25 patients with laryngeal cancer and 23 cancer-free controls), using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, smoking duration or smoking intensity, comparing the two groups. The homozygous AA genotype of MnSOD Val16Ala was significantly more prevalent in the cancer group than the control group (92 vs 13 per cent, respectively), while the heterozygous AV genotype of MnSOD Val16Ala was more prevalent in the control group than the cancer group (87 vs 8 per cent, respectively) (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the cancer and control groups regarding GPx1 Pro198Leu or CAT-262 C < T polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of the MnSOD Val16Ala gene may contribute to susceptibility to laryngeal cancer among smokers.

Incus and stapes necrosis associated with diabetes mellitus.

Chronic otitis media is often associated with ossicular defects, the most frequent being necrosis of the long process of incus. Except for infection and cholesteatoma; trauma and local pressure by chorda tympani are uncommon causes leading to incus erosion. In the literature, no case of incus necrosis has been reported associated with type II diabetes mellitus (DM). A patient is presented in this report with incus and stapes suprastructure necrosis and associated type II DM who was admitted to the out-patient clinic with complaints of conductive hearing loss.

The effect of replacement fluids and normovolaemic haemodilution on the survival of dorsal skin flaps in rats.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of normovolaemic haemodilution (anaemia), haemoglobin level and replacement fluids on the survival of local flaps in rats. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into four study groups and one control group (10 rats for each). In the study groups, 20% or 30% of blood was withdrawn and replaced by either Gelofusine or saline (0.9%). Single 1.5 cm x 3 cm cranially based dorsal random skin flaps consisting of skin and panniculus carnosus were elevated in all rats. No difference was determined between the control and 20% exsanguinated groups regarding flap survival area. There was a statistically significant difference between the flap survival areas of 20% exsanguinated groups and 30% exsanguinated groups. If the blood loss exceeds 30% of total volume and/or haemoglobin (Hb) level is lower than 10.72 g/dL, the risk of flap necrosis increases significantly.

Transient locked-in syndrome resulting from stellate ganglion block in the treatment of patients with sudden hearing loss.

Stellate ganglion blockage (SGB) is a local anesthetic procedure intended to block the lower cervical and upper thoracic sympathetic chain and is one of the treatment modalities for a wide range of disorders such as sudden hearing loss, Menier's disease, stroke, sudden blindness, shoulder/hand syndrome and vascular headache. The complications of SGB are recurrent laryngeal or phrenic nerve block, pneumothorax, unconsciousness, respiratory paralysis, convulsions and sometimes severe arterial hypotension. We present a case with transient locked-in syndrome following SGB for the management of sudden hearing loss. The risk of an intra-arterial injection can be eliminated by rotating the needle, as is described in this report.