Reconstruction of the Long Process of the Incus by Use of Glass Ionomer Cement: Our Experience

Abstract Introduction Chronic suppurative otitis media is one of the most common causes of reversible conductive hearing loss which can lead to necrosis of the ossicles. The incus, especially its long process, is the most common ossicle affected. Objectives The present study aims to assess the use of glass ionomer cement for the reconstruction of the long process of the incus. Methods The present study was conducted on 27 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media with central perforation with dry and quiescent ears with an eroded long process of the incus submitted to tympanoplasty. The audiological evaluations were done on all patients, including preoperative and postoperative evaluation of the airbone gap; the average pure tone threshold was done 6 months postoperatively. Results The average air pure tone threshold was 42.8 dB preoperatively and 22.5 dB postoperatively. The postoperative air pure tone thresholds were significantly smaller than the preoperative values (p < 0.01). The air-bone gap was 30.5 dB at 500 Hz, 31.6 dB at 1 KHz, and 24.1 dB at 2 kHz preoperatively, and 7.7 dB at 500 Hz, 7.2 dB at 1 KHz, and 7.1 dB at 2 kHz postoperatively at the end of 6 months of follow-up. There were significant hearing gains in the air-bone gap (p < 0.001). Conclusion Glass ionomer cement is a useful and effective material for bridging the defect of the long process of the incus.

Effect of auricular acupuncture on weight reduction in a sample of obese children

Introduction: Growing evidence that obese children are at greater risk for several metabolic disturbances, including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, the metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, as well as for cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. There are numerous therapies for obesity, including pharmacotherapy, acupuncture therapy, dietary therapy, exercise therapy, and surgical therapy. The auricular acupuncture therapy is one of the regional acupuncture therapies which have treated various diseases through a needle insertion on the auricle. Its effects can be explained by a relationship between the original functions of nerves distributed on the auricle and internal organs. Recent studies have indicated that acupuncture can reduce body weight in patients with simple obesity, as well as lower their Body Mass Index [BMI] and waist-to-hip ratio

Objective: The objective of this study is to study the effect of auricular acupuncture on weight reduction, BMI, BMIP, lipid profile, fasting insulin and lepin levels, in a sample of obese children

Sample: The study was conducted on 34 obese children [6-12] years attending the outpatient-s clinics of the National Research Center, these subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups Group A, were subjected to auricular acupuncture, balanced low caloric diet. Group B, were subjected to sham auricular acupuncture, balanced low caloric diet. In both groups, acupuncture and sham acupuncture were given twice weekly over the course of 12 weeks

Results: There were significant reductions in weight, BMI, HC, WC, Cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and insulin resistance in group A after treatment and they were more than reduction in group B [p value < 0.001]. There were significant reduction in insulin and leptin in group A after treatment and they were more than reduction in group B [p value 0.005], [p value 0.09] respectively. So acupuncture therapy in combination with diet restriction was found to be effective for weight loss and also reduction of the obesity- associated risks factors, such as dyslipidemia

Seroprevalance of helicobacter pylori among Egyptian pastients with hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious complication of end stage liver disease [ESLD], several theories for etiopathogenesis have been suggested, recently Helicobacter pylon [H. pylon] have been hypothesized to be correlated with the severity of hepatic encephaloptahy. Is to assess for the prevalence of H. pylon in patients with hepatic encephalopathy and to study its correlation with severity of illness. 75 patients with ESLD were evaluated; 50 patients with hepatic encephalopathy and 25 patients without encephalopathy. In addition to 25 healthy subjects served as a control. Demographic data of studied patients were collected and staging of encephalopathy was done according to West Haven classification system. Seropevalence of H. pylon was evaluated by ELISA. Seroprevalence of H. pylon infection was 74% in encephalopathy group while it was 64% and 44% in patients without encephalopthy and healthy subjects respectively. Prevalence and titre of H. pylon were found significantly increasing with the severity of hepatic encephalopathy. There is a significant association between FT. pylon and patients of liver disease with hepatic encephalopathy. There may be a role of anti-H. Pylon therapy in patients of hepatic encephalopathy and should be investigated further