Comparative executive function analysis: Cochlear implants and normal hearing in 7- to 11-year-old children from Iran.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares executive functioning in deaf children with cochlear implants and those with normal hearing. Individuals who lacked auditory stimulation during their early years might experience cognitive challenges that extend beyond just speech and language abilities. METHODS: The executive functioning abilities of a group of 32 children who were born deaf and received cochlear implants before the age of 7 were contrasted with those of 30 children with normal hearing. Both sets of children underwent assessments using the Tower of London, BRIEF, and Stroop tests. RESULTS: The average score on the Tower of London task reveals that children who received cochlear implants (4.03 ± 2.53) achieved lower scores than typically hearing children (8.37 ± 2.79). This group also exhibited higher errors in the Stroop test and slightly longer response times Additionally, in terms of emotional control assessed by the BRIEF, a higher score was recorded. Notably, significant differences between the two groups were identified for organizing materials (t(62) = -4.204, p = 0.00). The tests measuring phonemic fluency, categorical fluency, and working memory also revealed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The significant differences in data between both groups suggest the influence of cochlear implantation on cognitive functions. This emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to supporting the overall development of these children.

Effect of rhinoplasty on changing body images in candidates for surgery.

Background: According to statistics, the number of rhinoplasty applicants is increasing. Rhinoplasty is performed to improve the nose shape fit into the face. Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of rhinoplasty on changing body images in rhinoplasty candidates. Methods: The statistical population of the present prospective study, including those referring to the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (Iran) with complaints of dissatisfaction with the appearance of the nose and demand for rhinoplasty, completed Body Image Concern (BIC) Inventory and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) before and 6 months after surgery at the clinic. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 16 using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results: In total, 95 subjects were examined, of which 85 (89.5%) were women and 57 (60%) were single. There was no difference in the mean scores of BIC and Y-BOCS between women and men as well as between single and married subjects (p < 0.05). The Wilcoxon test results showed that the mean score of post-operative Y-BOCS was significantly increased in the rhinoplasty subjects (p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean score of post-operative BIC was significantly decreased in the rhinoplasty subjects (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that the rhinoplasty could improve the body image status and increase the obsessive thoughts and actions in an individual. Therefore, psychological primary care for avoiding pointless surgical plan and pre-operative psychological counselling, is suggested to examine the individual's psychological status and to assess the individual's expectations of surgery along with the necessary explanations.

Prevalence of hearing loss among patients with type 2 diabetes.

The auditory pathway is the main target for high levels of blood sugar. Increased glucose in diabetic patients can disrupt the auditory system physiologically and anatomically. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 94 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged from 40 to 80 years, were selected randomly in the present descriptive cross-sectional study for pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech discrimination score (SDS), and speech reception threshold (SRT) tests. Accordingly, patients with a hearing threshold larger than or equal to 25 dB were considered hearing-impaired according to the PTA test. In addition, the patients' speech discrimination score was measured using a list of monosyllabic words with an intensity of 40 dB or more than the SDS test. However, in the SRT test, the patients' superficial speech comprehension threshold was measured using a list of two-syllable words. Most diabetic patients had hearing loss in both right and left ears based on the PTA and SRT tests. However, they did not have hearing loss in both ears according to the SDS test. There was no correlation between the PTA, SRT, and SDS tests and blood creatinine levels in both ears (p>0.05). Nevertheless, the right ear had a positive correlation with systolic blood pressure only in the PTA test (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups of men and women with type 2 diabetes in the hearing level in the right and left ears was not statistically significant. Hearing loss is a common deficiency in diabetic patients. In addition, it seems that diabetes is an independent risk factor for the hearing loss level.

Long-term impacts of tonsillectomy on children's immune functions.

BACKGROUND: There exist a wide level of discrepancy regarding the role of tonsils and its indication among pediatricians and ENT specialists. This fact sometimes causes confusion and delay in making the right decisions by parents and specialists for appropriate treatment of patients. OBJECTIVES: Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term tonsillectomy on the immune system of patients. METHODS: In this case-control study we measured the status of immune system in 34 children (aged 9-15 years) following 4 to 6 years of tonsillectomy. We have also enrolled 30 healthy children with similar age group. Venous blood samples were taken and the serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were detected along with expression of CD4, CD8, CD10 and CD56. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18 software and a P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: We found that the mean serum levels IgM, IgA, and IgG in the case group was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower than the control group. Whereby, the CD4, CD8 and CD56 expressions was examined, there was no significant difference in both groups while only CD10 expression was lower in tonssiloctomized patients (P = 0.108). CONCLUSION: Overall, according to these findings, CD10 as a marker of B lymphocytes in children undergoing tonsillectomy was significantly less than those healthy children. This may indicate a decrease in B cells and further reduced antibody production in these patients.

Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study is planned to obtain a better understanding of the correlation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and cardiopulmonary bypass. There are many causes for sudden hearing loss which include infectious, circulatory, inner ear problems like meniere's disease, neoplastic, traumatic, metabolic, neurologic, immunologic, toxic, cochlear, idiopathic (unknown cause) and other causes. One of the less common cause is surgery include cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a self controlled clinical trial on 105 patients that was carried out in chamran Hospital, Esfahan, Iran. Participants were including all those patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery in the hospital who fell under the criteria for inclusion. Patients underwent audiometric testing at our hospital on three or two different occasions during the course of this study, Initially before the procedure to test the baseline hearing capacity; then two week after the procedure to assess any changes in hearing ability following the surgery. Data analysis performed by co-variance analysis. RESULTS: In our study the changes in the threshold of hearing in frequency of 1000 in right ear and in frequencies of 2000 and 4000 in left ear were significant, but this changes were about 2-3 db and were not noticeable. The difference in degree of SNHL, before and after surgery in different frequencies were been shown. CONCLUSION: As loss of the patients with symptomatic sensory neural hearing loss in this study, It isn't commanded the routin auditory assessment pre and post surgery was been done.