No abstract

The results of this study show that, although patients with nasal polyposis frequently have allergies, the presence of allergy does not correlate with polyp size, symptom scores or rate of recurrence.

Fluctuations in atmospheric temperature, humidity, and air pollution are associated with the incidence of epistaxis. To date, no study in the literature has evaluated the effect of air pollution and meteorologic conditions on the pediatric population. We aimed to evaluate the effect of meteorologic factors and air pollution on the frequency of epistaxis in children. Children presenting to an outpatient clinical setting at a tertiary care hospital during a 5-year period (July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2014) and diagnosed with epistaxis formed the study population. Daily temperature and humidity parameters and average daily atmospheric water vapor pressure, average daily concentration of particulate matter <10 µm in diameter, and sulfur dioxide readings were obtained. The distribution of daily parameters was analyzed. Of the 1,559 children with the primary diagnosis of epistaxis, data from 1,330 children were analyzed after excluding patients with coexisting pathologies. Positive correlations were found between the frequency of epistaxis and both the average daily temperature and the difference between the maximum and minimum daily temperature. There was a negative correlation between the epistaxis frequency and the average daily humidity, the difference between the maximum and minimum daily humidity, the average daily concentration of particulate matter, and the sulfur dioxide levels. Our findings suggest that epistaxis in children is related to high temperatures and low humidity.

In NP, ECP levels detected in NAL fluid were significantly high and were correlated with the severity of the disease. Moreover, the severity of oxidative stress, in the forms of TAS and NO, is significantly correlated with the severity of the nasal obstruction and congestion, respectively.

BackgroundSchwannomas are uncommon benign tumors of the external auditory canal. The clinical features, the differential diagnosis, and the surgical treatment of these lesions are discussed.Case presentationA 51-year-old patient presented with a mass obliterating the external auditory meatus. Excisional biopsy was performed. Diagnosis was reported to be schwannoma by histopathologic examination.ConclusionSchwannoma, rarely seen in the external auditory canal, can be managed by a precise excision of the tumor via transmeatal approach.

This study suggests that the increased expression of ADAM-33 protein may have a role in the pathogenesis of NP.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic disease characterized by chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functions of the cochlea and the vestibular system in patients with AS. The study group consisted of 32 patients with AS and 30 healthy volunteers as a control group. Otorhinolaryngologic examinations were performed in all patients together with pure-tone audiometry, speech tests, impedancemetry, transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and electronystagmography (ENG). A significant difference was found between the 2 groups with regard to pure-tone averages at high frequencies in each ear (p < 0.05). The rates of reproducibility in TEOAE testing were significantly lower in patients with AS (p = 0.03). The signal-to-noise rates of the response values were lower at all frequencies in patients with AS, but a statistically significant difference was only observed at 2, 3 and 4 Hz (p < 0.05). ENG revealed pathologies in 11 patients with AS (34%), 8 of which were central (25%) and 3 of which were peripheral (9%). No correlation was found between cochleovestibular dysfunction and age, sex, disease duration, activity and medication taken. This study demonstrated that there is an association between AS and cochleovestibular dysfunction.

Pulsatile tinnitus (PT), a rare otologic symptom, is frequently associated with identifiable and treatable causes. We report two cases of subjective PT due to extensive pneumatization of temporal bone around the internal carotid artery.