Direct calibration of laser intensity via Ramsey interferometry for cold atom imaging.

A majority of ultracold atom experiments utilize resonant absorption imaging techniques to obtain the atomic density. To make well-controlled quantitative measurements, the optical intensity of the probe beam must be precisely calibrated in units of the atomic saturation intensity Isat. In quantum gas experiments, the atomic sample is enclosed in an ultra-high vacuum system that introduces loss and limits optical access; this precludes a direct determination of the intensity. Here, we use quantum coherence to create a robust technique for measuring the probe beam intensity in units of Isat via Ramsey interferometry. Our technique characterizes the ac Stark shift of the atomic levels due to an off-resonant probe beam. Furthermore, this technique gives access to the spatial variation of the probe intensity at the location of the atomic cloud. By directly measuring the probe intensity just before the imaging sensor our method in addition yields a direct calibration of imaging system losses as well as the quantum efficiency of the sensor.

Fragmented QRS as a predictor of hypertensive crisis in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension: 4-year follow-up data.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive crisis (HC) is a life-threatening condition in patients with hypertension (HT). However, there is no electrocardiography (ECG) marker that can predict which hypertensive patient may develop HC. The fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex is an important prognostic marker in ECG that might be predict cardiovascular events and mortality. Our study aimed to investigate whether fQRS can predict the development of HC in patients with HT, within 4 years of follow-up. METHODS: Newly diagnosed patients with essential HT were recruited for the study from an outpatient clinic. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of HC: HC (+) and HC (-). During follow-up, the relationship between fQRS and HC was evaluated. RESULTS: The study group included 504 patients with newly diagnosed HT. During the follow-up period, HC occurred in 98 of the patients. In 57 (11.30%) patients, fQRS was observed on ECG; fQRS was detected in the ECG of 19 (19.38%) of the HC (+) patients (p = 0.008). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that fQRS (p < 0.001) was as independent predictor for HC development. Kaplan-Meier analysis further demonstrated that the presence of fQRS affects the development of hypertensive urgency in hypertensive patients (log-rank p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with newly diagnosed HT, the presence of fQRS was found to be an independent predictor of HC.

Assessment of mucociliary clearance as an indicator of nasal function in patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: We assessed the effects of COVID-19 infection on nasal mucociliary activity. METHODS: The study was conducted in the pandemic wards of Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital during April and May 2020. All patients admitted to the COVID-19 pandemic wards during the study period were invited to participate in the study. The study included 40 adults who agreed to participate and underwent a mucociliary clearance test successfully. The primary outcome was mucociliary clearance time and the secondary variables of interest were age, sex, and sino-nasal outcome test-22 scores. The control group included 40 concomitant healthy patients who visited the outpatient ear, nose and throat clinic with non-nasal symptoms. RESULTS: The study included 40 COVID-19-positive patients and 40 healthy controls. The mean mucociliary clearance times of the study (15.53 ± 5.57 min) and control (9.50 ± 3.70 min) groups were significantly different (Z = 4.675, p < 0.001). However, the mucociliary clearance time was not significantly different between males and females (t = 0.590, p = 0.558). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal mucociliary clearance time was prolonged in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. Thus, we conclude that smell and taste are crucial symptoms that should not be overlooked in patients suspected of COVID-19 disease.

Olfactory Function in Depressed Adolescents.

Some researchers have suggested that olfactory deficits might be a sensitive marker for depression in adults. However, olfactory function has not been well studied in relation to depression among children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of depression on olfactory function of adolescents. The olfactory threshold, odor identification, and discrimination abilities of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (43 adolescents with major depressive disorder and 43 healthy controls) alongside their sum were evaluated using the Sniffin' Sticks extended test. Olfactory scores were similar between the groups. However, depressed adolescents perceived their own olfactory function scores significantly lower than the measured values. No correlation was found between olfactory scores and age, sex, severity of depression, and duration of depression. This study conducted with a small sample size revealed that olfactory function of the adolescents with depression was similar to olfactory function of the healthy adolescents. It is required to conduct further adequately powered, longitudinal studies in order to verify these results.

Demonstration of a Sensitive Method to Measure Nuclear-Spin-Dependent Parity Violation.

Nuclear-spin-dependent parity violation (NSD-PV) effects in atoms and molecules arise from Z^{0} boson exchange between electrons and the nucleus, and from the magnetic interaction between electrons and the parity-violating nuclear anapole moment. We demonstrate measurements of NSD-PV that use an enhancement of the effect in diatomic molecules, here using the test system ^{138}Ba^{19}F. Our sensitivity surpasses that of any previous atomic parity violation measurement. We show that systematic errors can be suppressed to at least the level of the present statistical sensitivity. We measure the matrix element W of the NSD-PV interaction with total uncertainty δW/(2π)<0.7 Hz, for each of two configurations where W must have different signs. This sensitivity would be sufficient to measure NSD-PV effects of the size anticipated across a wide range of nuclei including ^{137}Ba in ^{137}BaF, where |W|/(2π)≈5 Hz is expected.

The reduction in inflammation and impairment in wound healing by using strontium chloride hexahydrate.

BACKGROUND: Numerous growth factors, cytokine, mitogen and chemotactic factors are involved in wound healing. Even though inflammation is important for the stimulation of proliferative phase, excessive inflammation also causes impairment in wound healing. Strontium salts suppress keratinocyte-induced TNF-alpha and interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 in in vitro cultures. This study was conducted to determine the effects of administration of topical strontium chloride hexahydrate on wound healing through TNF-alpha and TGF-beta in surgical wound healing model of in-vivo rat skin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four rats were used in the study. After approximately 2 cm cutaneous-subcutaneous incision was horizontally carried out on the mid-neckline of the rats, the incision was again closed using 2.0 vicryl. The rats were assigned into three groups including eight rats in each group. Placebo emollient ointment and also the ointments, which were containing 5% and 10% strontium chloride hexahydrate and were prepared at the same base with placebo ointment, were administered to the groups by a blind executor twice a day for a week. At the end of seventh day, the rats were sacrificed and cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of their wound site was resected for histopathological examination. Scoring of histopathological wound healing and scoring of tissue TNF-alpha and TGF-beta level with immunohistochemical staining were performed. RESULTS: The groups, to which both 5% and 10% strontium chloride hexahydrate was administered, had lower immunohistochemical TNF-alpha levels and histopathological wound scores compared to controls, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Strontium chloride hexahydrate can lead to impairment in wound healing by suppressing inflammation through TNF-alpha.

Determination of nasal mucociliary clearance time and nasal symptom in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important health problem in Turkey. Number of studies on symptoms of ear nose throat system and indicating whether or not the organs are affected in patients with CCHF is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CCHF infections caused any change in nasal physiology in adult patients or not by using saccharin transit time (STT) and nasal symptom scoring. Twenty subjects with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of CCHF and 28 healthy control subjects were included in the present study. A saccharin test was used to evaluate nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMCT) and the nasal symptom scoring used in allergic rhinitis was modified and used to examine the symptoms of the patients. The average STT of CCHF and control groups were 472.70 ± 151.58 and 276.07 ± 89.65 sec, respectively. The difference between them was statistically significant (P = 0.00, P < 0.05). When those in CCHF group were classified according to timing of the test, STT average of those undergoing the test on the 1st-3rd days (n = 10) and 4th-6th (n = 10) days was 547.00 ± 154.37 and 398.40 ± 111.39 sec, respectively. The difference between them was statistically significant (P = 0.024; P < 0.05). The results of the present study showed that NMCT prolonged in adult patients with CCHF compared to those in the control group despite the fact that it was within normal limits. For these reasons, clinicians should follow-up CCHF patients more closely for respiratory tract diseases and sinonasal and middle ear infections. J. Med. Virol. 89:960-965, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Strontium chloride hexahydrate as a candidate molecule for long-term treatment of allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Neurogenic inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis (AR). Strontium salts are highly effective in reducing the sensory irritation. This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of strontium chloride (SC) on AR symptoms based on the duration of SC use before the symptoms begin. METHODS: Wistar albino rats (n=18) were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1, received 1µg mometasone furoate (MF); Group 2, three per cent SC; and Group 3 received five per cent SC (2 µl/site). Drugs were administered to the each nasal cavity for three weeks every morning. On the days 7, 14 and 21, histamine dihydrochloride (HD) 5 µmol (2 µl/site) was administered and the frequencies of nasal rubbing and sneezing were counted for 15 min. RESULTS: After 7, 14 and 21 day medication period, the groups were compared in terms of the frequency of sneezing and nasal rubbing following HD. There was a significant difference among the groups in terms of the frequency of sneezing on the day 7 (PPInterpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that three and five per cent SC were less effective than MF for sneezing during the first week, but the efficiency was equal to that of MF after the first 14 days. Long-term use of SC was as effective as MF on nasal rubbing. SC can be as effective as MF on both sneezing and nasal rubbing on regular use over three weeks.

Assessment of Hematological Factors Involved in Development and Prognosis of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of routine hematological parameters on the development and prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients applying to our clinic. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective clinical study. SETTING: One academic health center from 2008 to 2014. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: One hundred forty patients with sudden hearing loss and 132 healthy controls were included in the present study. RESULTS: Patients having idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were divided into 2 subgroups based on whether they recovered (complete, partial, and slight recovery) (Group 1; n = 83, 59.3%) or not (Group 2; n = 57, 40.7%) during the follow-up term. Group 1, Group 2, and the controls differed statistically significantly in terms of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.001), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.001), lymphocytes % (P = 0.001), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P = 0.019), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.015), platelet (P  = 0.001), mean platelet volume (P = 0.001), platelet distribution width (P = 0.009), and glucose (P = 0.001). The study groups and the controls did not have any significant difference in terms of other laboratory parameters affecting the prognosis of Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: The results the authors obtained showed that laboratory parameters such as lymphocyte, lymphocyte%, platelet, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration may be indicative for prognosis and treatment success in groups of patients suffering idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in whose etiology many factors play a role.

Biocompatibility evaluation of cigarette and carbon papers used in repair of traumatic tympanic membrane perforations: experimental study.

The purposes of this study were to investigate the biocompatibility of two different paper patches (carbon and cigarette papers) and compare the adhesion and proliferation features of L929 fibroblast cells by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT Test) test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this study, time-dependent cytotoxic effects of cigarette and carbon papers used in repairing small traumatic TM perforations were investigated in vitro by using MTT test. And also adhesion and spreading of cells over disk surface were observed by SEM. Cytotoxicity test carried out by MTT analysis on leakage products collected from two types of paper patches at the end of 24 and 48 h revealed no cytotoxicity (P > 0.05). In SEM studies, it was observed that cells started to proliferate over disk surface as a result of 48-h incubation, and SEM revealed that the cell proliferation over cigarette paper was more compared to the one over carbon paper. We believe that this is the first study where biocompatibility and adhesion features of carbon and cigarette paper have been studied by using L929 fibroblast cell culture. As a result, biocompatibility of cigarette paper and also whether cigarette paper was superior to carbon paper in cell attachment and biocompatibility were studied. It was found, by MTT test and SEM test, that cigarette paper had a higher biocompatibility and cell attachment, and thus cigarette paper should be the patch to be preferred in cases where TM perforations are repaired by paper-patch method.

Anterior rhinomanometry and determination of nasal mucociliary clearance time with the saccharin test in children with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

OBJECTIVES: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), like other viral infections, may prolong mucociliary clearance time and increase nasal resistance in children. The aim of the present prospective case-control study was to study, using saccharin and anterior rhinomanometry tests, whether CCHF infections caused any change in nasal physiology. METHODS: Overall, 40 subjects, 20 of whom had CCHF (group 1) and 20 of whom were healthy controls (group 2), were enrolled in this study. The definitive diagnosis of CCHF infection was made based on typical clinical and epidemiological findings and detection of CCHF virus-specific IgM by ELISA or of genomic segments of the CCHF virus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Anterior rhinomanometry was performed in all participants according to current recommendations of the Committee Report on Standardization of Rhinomanometry. A saccharin test was used to evaluate mucociliary clearance, and nasal mucociliary clearance time was assessed with the saccharin test as described previously. RESULTS: In our patients, the mean time from the application of saccharin crystals to the first feeling of a sweet taste was 6.77 ± 3.25 minutes (range 2-16 min). In terms of the mean time from the application of saccharin crystals to the first feeling of a sweet taste, there was no difference between two groups. The mean total air flow was 637.60 ± 76.18 mL/s (range 490-760 mL/s). The mean total nasal airway resistance was 0.24 ± 0.03 Pa/mL s (range 0.20-0.31 Pa/mL s). In terms of the degree of nasal air flow and nasal airway resistance and the total air flow and total nasal airway resistance of each nostril, there was no difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in anterior rhinomanometry and saccharin test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between CCHF (+) patients and controls. These results suggest us that CCHF virus infection does not affect nasal physiology. However, this is the first study performed on this issue and further studies on larger series need to be performed.

Effects of topical sprays on allergy-induced nasal obstruction in children.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mometasone furoate nasal spray, intranasal azelastine, and isotonic sea water nasal spray in the management of allergy-induced nasal obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2007 and August 2008 60 patients (37 males, 23 females; mean age 9.8±2.6 years; range 7 to 16 years) with a history of allergic rhinitis were included in the study. Laboratory assays including the skin prick test, nasal smear, phadiatop, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and complete blood count test were performed. The patients were classified into three groups including 20 in each, according to the topical treatment administered. Patients in group 1 received azelastine, group 2 received mometasone furoate nasal spray, and group 3 received isotonic sea water nasal spray. Nasal passage volume was calculated using an acoustic rhinometry device. RESULTS: Azelastine and mometasone furoate decreased nasal congestion and increased nasal cavity volume more effectively, compared to isotonic sea water nasal spray. CONCLUSION: Mometasone furoate and azelastine which decrease nasal congestion and increase nasal volume are effective in the management of allergic rhinitis in children.

Weak-measurement-induced heating in Bose-Einstein condensates.

Ultracold atoms are an ideal platform for understanding system-reservoir dynamics of many-body systems. Here, we study quantum back-action in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, weakly interacting with a far-from resonant, i.e., dispersively interacting, probe laser beam. The light scattered by the atoms can be considered as a part of quantum measurement process, whereby the change in the system state derives from measurement back-action. We experimentally quantify the resulting back-action in terms of the deposited energy. We model the interaction of the system and environment with a generalized measurement process, leading to a Markovian reservoir. Further, we identify two systematic sources of heating and loss: a stray optical lattice and probe-induced light-assisted collisions (an intrinsic atomic process). The observed heating and loss rates are larger for blue detuning than for red detuning, where they are oscillatory functions of detuning with increased loss at molecular resonances and reduced loss between molecular resonances.

Changing face of pulmonary embolism with COVID-19.

AIM: This study aimed to describe the baseline characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with pulmonary embolism, and to examine the Geneva score, pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI), radiological and biochemical findings. METHODS: From March 2020 to June 2021, the files of 41 COVID-19 patients with pulmonary embolism were accessed. RESULTS: Mean D-dimer value was 6.04 mg/dl and 61% of the patients received at least one dose of anticoagulant treatment. In patients receiving deep venous thrombosis prophlaxis, an optimal D-dimer cut-off point was calculated as 5.69 mg/dl. The area under the curve was 0.753 (p = 0.007; sensivity 64%; specificity 62.5%). The mean Geneva score was 4.31, mean PESI was 72.48 and mean Qanadli score was 11.29. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, traditional clinical predictive scores had little discriminatory power in these patients, and a higher D-dimer cut-off value should be considered to better diagnose patients for pulmonary embolism.

Relationship Between Atrial Fibrillation and Controlling Nutritional Status Score in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between nutritional status evaluated via the COntrolling NUTritional Status (CONUT) score and in-hospital mortality in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Cardiology, University of Health Sciences, Sancaktepe Sehit Prof. Ilhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, between September 2019 and January 2022. METHODOLOGY: Four hundred and seventy-one consecutive patients with AIS (age 18-90 years) were retrospectively enrolled. Exclusion criteria were age under 18 years, changes in inflammatory or immune markers other than a cerebrovascular event (e.g., autoimmune diseases, sepsis, trauma, recent major surgery, active malignancy), glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min, severe hepatic failure, receiving thrombolytic therapy, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), and pregnancy. After the exclusion of patients, 400 of cases were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: CONUT <2, group 1 included 262 patients; CONUT ≥2, group 2 included 138 patients. The presence of chronic AF and its relationship with CONUT were also evaluated. RESULTS: Group 2 (18, 12.3%) exhibited higher in-hospital mortality than group 1 (12, 4.7%), (p=0.006). In addition, group 2 had higher chronic AF rates. Chronic AF was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in group 2 (p= 0.026). CONCLUSION: AIS patients with CONUT score>2 may have a greater in-hospital mortality. Chronic AF may be used as one of the predictors of in-hospital mortality in AIS patients with higher CONUT. KEY WORDS: Malnutrition, Atrial fibrillation, Stroke.

Comparison of serum lipoprotein(a) levels in young and middle-aged patients presenting for the first time with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a single-centre study.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a) ] is associated with coronary artery disease due to its atherogenic and thrombogenic nature. In this study, we aimed to compare the level of Lp(a) in young and middle-aged patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: This retrospective study included 287 patients aged 20-65 years who presented to the emergency department for the first time due to STEMI. The patients were divided into two groups: 20-45 years (young group, n = 111) and 46-65 years (middle-aged group, n = 176). The groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, co-morbidities and laboratory findings. RESULTS: In the young group, smoking (99, 89.2% vs 130, 73.9%; p = 0.001), family history of coronary artery disease (75, 67.6% vs 80, 45.5; p < 0.001), serum Lp(a) level [38.1 ± 27.9 (93 ± 68) vs 23.5 ± 23.2 mg/dl (57 ± 56 nmol/l); p < 0.001], triglyceride level [219.1 ± 231.9 (2.48 ± 2.62) vs 170.2 ± 105.6 mg/dl (1.92 ± 1.19 mmol/l); p = 0.018), ejection fraction (52.4 ± 6.1 vs 47.2 ± 7.7%; p = 0.004) and single-vessel disease (83, 74.8% vs 110, 62.5%; p = 0.031) were higher than in the middle-aged group. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, family history (OR: 2.073, 95% CI: 1.210-3.549; p = 0.008), low high-density lipoprotin cholesterol level (OR: 1.032, 95% CI: 1.003-1.062; p = 0.029) and Lp(a) elevation (OR: 1.981, 95% CI: 1.871-3.991; p < 0.001) were possible independent risk factors for STEMI in young patients. CONCLUSION: Lp(a) level was found to be a higher and a possible independent risk factor in young patients who presented with STEMI for the first time, compared to the middle-aged patient group. Lp(a) is a highly atherogenic molecule and it has been associated with stroke, heart failure, aortic stenosis, as well as coronary artery disease. Measurement of Lp(a) levels may be recommended in young patients with high cardiovascular risk.

Systemic immune-inflammation index, and neutrophilto-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios can predict clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory mechanisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. The clinical and prognostic importance of inflammatory parameters, such as neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratios (PLR) in complete blood counts in acute myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases has been demonstrated. However, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) calculated from neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets in the complete blood cell count has not been studied sufficiently and is thought to provide a better prediction. This study investigated whether haematological parameters such as SII, NLR and PLR were associated with clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. METHODS: We included 1 103 patients who underwent coronary angiography for ACS between January 2017 and December 2021. The association between major adverse cardiac events (MACE) that developed in hospital and at 50 months of follow up and SII, NLR and PLR was compared. Long-term MACE were defined as mortality, re-infarction and target-vessel revascularisation. SII was calculated using the formula: NLR × total platelet count in the peripheral blood (per mm3). RESULTS: Of the 1 103 patients, 403 were diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 700 with non-STelevation myocardial infarction. The patients were divided into a MACE and a non-MACE group. In hospital and during the 50-month follow up, 195 MACE were observed. SII, PLR and NLR were found to be statistically significantly higher in the MACE group (p < 0.001). SII, C-reactive protein level, age and white blood cell count were independent predictors of MACE in ACS patients. CONCLUSIONS: SII was found to be a strong independent predictor of poor outcomes in ACS patients. This predictive power was greater than that of PLR and NLR.

The Effect of Methylphenidate Treatment on Olfactory Function in Children and Adolescents With ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to research whether there is an olfactory disorder in ADHD, and if so, what is the effect of methylphenidate on this condition. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study aiming to evaluate olfactory threshold, identification, discrimination and threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) scores in 109 children and adolescents, 33 of whom have ADHD without medication, 29 with ADHD with medication and 47 control groups. RESULT: In the post hoc tests, the mean odor discrimination test, the mean odor identification test, and the mean TDI scores of the unmedicated ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the other two groups, and that the mean odor threshold test scores of the medicated ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the control and unmedicated groups. CONCLUSION: Olfactory function could be a useful tool to monitor treatment effects and may be a promising candidate as a biomarker in ADHD.

Audio-vestibular evaluation in patients with essential tremor.

The aim of this study was to investigate audio-vestibular function in patients with essential tremor. Twenty-three patients with essential tremor (46 ears) and 21 health control subjects (42 ears) were included in the present study. Patients and comparison subjects were matched for age and gender. All patient and control subjects underwent pure tone audiometric test, tympanogram, transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response. Vestibular system was evaluated by bitermal caloric test. Comparison of variables between the groups was performed. Investigation of the relationship between parameters about ET disease and hearing levels were also studied. Pure tone thresholds significantly differed between patients and controls in 250 and 500 Hz frequencies (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 6,000 Hz frequencies in essential tremor patients in comparison to the control subjects. A correlation between tremor severity and audiometric scores in low frequencies was not found. In addition, statistical analysis did not demonstrate a correlation between audiometric scores and tremor duration. The otoacoustic emission responses were found significantly different in patient and control group. The latencies of waves I, V and I-V inter-peak latencies on the ABR were not different between the groups. Our findings indicated that, abnormalities are due to cochlea rather than the retro cochlear pathology which is responsible for hearing loss associated with essential tremor.

Effect of extracorporeal shock waves on subcondylar mandibular fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on healing of subcondylar mandibular fracture in rats. METHODS: Unilateral subcondylar fracture in 20 Wistar albino rats was used as a fracture model. Each rat was anesthetized 1 day after surgery, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy was performed. On the 21st day after surgery, animals were killed. Mandibles were dissected, all soft tissues were removed after sacrifice, and fractured and nonfractured hemimandibles were obtained from each rat. Histologic analyses were performed by a single pathologist blinded to the samples. RESULTS: The specimens' mean score in bone fracture healing was 7 (1.09) (range, 6-9) in group 1 and 2.57 (1.62) (range, 1-6) in group 2. With respect to the specimens' bone fracture healing score, there was a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, our study showed that extracorporeal shock wave therapy accelerated the improvement of fractures in experimentally induced subcondylar mandibular fracture in the rat mandible. We believe that reducing the duration of improvement in subcondylar mandibular fractures by intermaxillary fixation along with extracorporeal shock wave theraphy would contribute to preventing complications such as ankylosis, fibrosis, and hypomobility occuring because of prolonged fixation.