Historical applications of Nigella sativa L. [black cumin] in the treatment of Zokam and Nazleh in Persian medicine

Using Nigella sativa L. [Black cumin], in traditional medicine, dates back to Tutankhamen, the pharaoh of Egypt. There are aboundant historical and religious evidence implying the importance of these curative seeds. Traditionally, they have been used for various therapeutic purposes. Zokam and Nazleh [ZaN] are two nasal diseases used to be treated by these medicinal seeds. Traditional Persian Medicine [TPM] classifies each of these diseases into warm and cold types. Comparing symptoms, Warm ZaN resembles Allergic rhinitis and cold ZaN is similar to Rhinosinusitis. Many documents have been found in TPM references that explain different ways for preparing Black cumin seeds for the treatment of cold ZaN, but there is no evidence for treating warm ZaN. In recent years, many original articles have been written to explain the therapeutic qualities of these curative seeds. They exhibit that Black cumin seeds, in addition to increasing the mucociliary clearance, histamine release inhibition and antihistaminic effects, have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antibacterial biofilm formation. Consequently, they confirm the application of Black cumin in the treatment of rhinosinusitis or cold ZaN

Tinnitus: an epidemiologic study in Iranian population

A wide range of population, 4% to 30%, suffers from tinnitus that is defined as perception of sound without apparent acoustic stimulus. We conducted the present study to determine the prevalence of tinnitus in Iranian population; Tehran province. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2009 to December 2009, recruiting 3207 individuals [age range, 7-98] who were residing in Tehran province, Iran. Participants were asked to fill two questionnaires; the validated Persian version of Tinnitus Questionnaire [TQ] and another one that was specifically designed for this study. Prevalence of tinnitus and its association factors were evaluated. 3207 participants enrolled into our study comprising 1429 [44.7%] male and 1765 [55.3%] female with mean age of 55.01 +/- 17.85. Of total of 3207 participants, 146 [4.6%] had tinnitus consisting of 80 male [54.8%] and 66 [45.2%] female participants. It showed a rising trend with increasing age that was especially significant after the sixth decade of life [P=0.001]. The analysis showed mean TQ global score of 35.96 +/- 25.52 that was significantly different between male and female participants [P=0.051] and had no significant correlation with increasing age [Spearman's r=0.1, P=0.10]. The tinnitus intensity was moderate to very severe in 95 [56.1%] of the participants. Its severity level was not significantly different between men and women [P=0.09]. Tinnitus intensity had no significant association with increasing age [Spearman's r=0.1, P=0.31]. Patients with higher TQ global score had higher tinnitus intensities [P=0.001]. The annoyance level was significantly different between men and women [P=0.04] and its impact on the participants daily routine functions were significantly higher in men [P=0.003]. Given the results of the study, demonstrating that prevalence of tinnitus in Iranian population [Tehran province] was lower than the other countries and had a direct correlation with increasing age only after the sixth decade. TQ global score had significant correlation with tinnitus intensity, annoyance and impact on the participants' daily routine functions. However, none of the above had correlation with increasing age. Tinnitus TQ global score and intensity were not different between men and women; however annoyance of tinnitus and its impact on participants' daily routine functions were significantly higher in men

Middle Turbinate Osteoma

Osteoma is the most common benign tumor of the paranasal sinuses. Turbinate osteomas are very rare and only four middle turbinate, one superior turbinate and one inferior turbinate osteoma cases have been reported. We present a rare case of osteoma of the left middle turbinate in a patient presented with unilateral nasal obstruction and epiphora that was removed endoscopically, and conduct a literature review on turbinate osteomas arising from different turbinates, their symptoms and management.