[Evaluation of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine on tinnitus]

Due to multiplicity of tinnitus etiologies and the lack of accurate knowledge about its exact mechanism, it is still a challenge to find an effective treatment. The objective of this study was an evaluation of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine effect on tinnitus in patients' reffered to Amiralmomenin Hospital Rasht-Iran. In a randomized double-blind clinical trial, a total of 57 patients [23 to 71 years old] with chronic nonpulsatile tinnitus were treated in three separate groups with carbamazepine [300-600mg], oxcarbazepine [450-900 mg] and placebo for 12 weeks. In the early stages of the study, physical examination and nessecary laboratory tests, audiometry tests, complementation of Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] and Tinnitus Severity Index [TSI] were performed. At the end of 8[th] and 12[th] weeks, VAS and TSI questionnaire were completed again. Among 51 patients [28 male, 23 female] who completed the trial course, according to VAS, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and placebo decreased severity of tinnitus in 56.6%, 46.2% and 38.5% of cases respectively. Decrement in tinnitus severity on the basis of TSI in the three mentioned groups were 61.1%, 58.8% and 50% respectively. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were not more effective than placebo in subsiding tinnitus on the basis of VAS and TSI. Carbamazepine and its analouge, oxcarbazepine are effective in decreasing tinnitus severity, but they are not significantly more effective than placebo

Otoacoustic emissions in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: changes of measures with treatment

To identify changes in OAEs parameters in treatment course of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss [iSSNHL]. In aprospective study from August 2005 to January 2009, 26 patients with iSSNHL underwent conventional audiometry/tympanometry and two types of OAEs [TEOAEs and DPOAEs] before and after the completion of standard drug therapy. The changes in pre- and posttreatment parameters were compared with each other and with normal-contralateral ears. In TEOAEs, the mean overall correlation [reproducibility] and the mean overall strength in involved ears were 10.96 +/- 23.36 and 0.99 +/- 3.45 dB, respectively, before the treatment, which reached 22.88 +/- 36.55 and 1.85 +/- 5.3, respectively, after the treatment [P>0.05]. Significant difference between "correlation score" [average of correlations at 3-4 involved frequencies] before and after treatment was found: 6.52 +/- 18.19 vs. 21.67 +/- 37.8 [P<0.034]. The difference between pre- and post-treatment overall correlation and correlation score in the "response group" were significant [P<0.031]. In DPOAEs of the involved ears, the mean DP1 level and the DP1 signal-to-noiseratio changes were not significant with the treatment [P>0.05]. Evoked OAEs, especially TEOAEs, are objective, rapid, and sensitive tools in the treatment course of iSSNHL

Comparison of preoperative computerized tomography scan imaging of temporal bone with the intra-operative findings in patients undergoing mastoidectomy

To compare the consistency rates of pre- and intra-operative radiological findings in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media CSOM. In a cross-sectional study, 80 patients with CSOM underwent pre-operative CT scanning and we compared the results with intra-operative clinical findings during mastoidectomy from 2000-2004 in the Otology Department, Amiralmomenin Hospital of Guilan Medical University, Rasht, Iran. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of CT scan in tympanic and mastoid cholesteatoma, ossicular chain erosion, tegmen tympani erosion, dehiscence of facial canal, lateral semicircular canal LSCC fistula were assessed. Then, correlation between radiological findings and intra-operative findings were calculated. The mean age of the patients was 27.9 +/- 16.3 years. Mostly were males n = 57 [71.3%]. Correlation of preoperative radiological images with intra-operative clinical findings were moderate to good on tympanic cholesteatoma, mastoid cholesteatoma and ossicular chain erosion, but weak and insignificant in cases of tegmen tympani erosion, facial canal dehiscence and LSCC fistulae. Preoperative CT scan may be helpful in decision-making for surgery in cases of cholesteatoma and ossicular erosion. Despite of limitations radiological scanning is a useful adjunct to management of CSOM