These preliminary results suggest that the degree of damage to the lateral cochlear wall may play an important role in influencing the amount of new tissue formation following cochlear implantation. Intracochlear new tissue does not appear to be an important determinant of performance as measured by word recognition scores or the total number of remaining spiral ganglion cells.

The formation of new bone and fibrous tissue in the human inner ear following cochlear implantation was evaluated by computer-assisted 3-D reconstruction. Seven temporal bones from patients who in life had undergone cochlear implantation were prepared for histological study with the implant in situ. The specimens were sectioned in the axial plane at a thickness of 20 µm. At least every tenth section was digitally reconstructed in three dimensions and volumes of new bone and fibrous tissue were calculated per millimeter length of the cochlea. New bone and fibrous tissue were found in all seven specimens, particularly at the cochleostomy site. In addition, new bone and fibrous tissue had extended to variable lengths along the track of the cochlear implant and in some cases extended beyond the distal end of the implanted electrode. This methodology provides a quantitative tool for evaluation of new bone and fibrous tissue in the inner ear following implantation. This should assist in correlating psychophysical and speech perception tests with intracochlear pathology, evaluating both electrode design and the techniques of preserving residual auditory function.

Patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis spreading outside the sinonasal cavity have a poor prognosis.

Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a very common cause of recurrent and chronic nasal obstruction. Chronic nasal obstruction leads to increased upper respiratory tract resistance, and also upper respiratory tract resistance leads to chronic hypoxia and hypercarbic because of alveolar hypoventilation. Chronic hypoxia and hypercarbia show tendency for hypercoagulopathy.Mean platelet volume (MPV), the most commonly used measure of platelet size, is a potential marker of platelet reactivity. Large platelets that contain more dense granules are enzymatically and metabolically more active and have greater prothrombotic potential. In previous studies, increased MPV was demonstrated in hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, stroke, and obstructive sleep apnea.We aimed to determine whether MPV levels are elevated in patients with marked NSD (MNSD) compared with healthy controls. In addition, we tried to find out the effect of nasal septoplasty on MPV levels. We found that the MPV levels were significantly higher in the MNSD group than in the control healthy group, and also we found that MPV levels were significantly decreased in the MNSD group after septoplasty operation.In conclusion, in our knowledge, this is the first study investigating MPV levels in patients with MNSD. Increased platelet activation may be related to increase the cardiovascular risk in patients with MNSD. Our results suggest that MPV, a determinant of platelet activation, is elevated in patients with MNSD, and the increase in MPV levels of the cases with MNSD could be treated by septoplasty.

The present study suggests that intraperitoneal aminoglycoside and vancomycin administration in CAPD patients may cause low- and high-frequency hearing loss, and this ototoxic effect is related to the dose given. It was found that when the antioxidant NAC is administered alone, it prevents ototoxicity, associated with intraperitoneal amikacin and vancomycin in patients with CAPD peritonitis. In addition, it was revealed that NAC may also have a curative effect on impaired high-frequency hearing functions.

No abstract

We aimed to investigate the role of preoperative single dose of pregabalin for attenuating postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing septoplasty. One hundred forty-three patients with ASA physical status I who underwent elective septoplasty were included in this prospective, randomized, and controlled study. Subjects were randomized to receive pregabalin 75 mg, pregabalin 150 mg, and control group. All the medications were administered orally 1 hour before surgery. A standard septoplasty technique was used for all patients. Postoperative pain intensity was evaluated by a 0- to 100-mm horizontal visual analog scale (VAS) (0, no pain; 100, worst imaginable pain). Total analgesic consumption 1 to 24 h after operation was also recorded.Visual analog scale scores in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th, and 24th hour were significantly decreased in 75 and 150 mg pregabalin group compared with the control group, and VAS scores in the 12th and 24th hour were significantly decreased in pregabalin 150 mg compared with 75 mg. The 24th total analgesic consumption was significantly decreased in pregabalin 75 mg and 150 mg groups compared with the control group.In conclusion, a single preoperative oral dose pregabalin 75 or 150 mg is an effective method for reducing postoperative pain and total analgesic consumption in patients undergoing septoplasty.

Mean platelet volume, a determinant of platelet activation, is elevated in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating mean platelet volume levels in such patients. Our findings indirectly support the hypothesis of vascular impairment as a pathogenetic factor in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.