Relation between glaucoma and sensor1neural hearing loss

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world. Some studies have suggested a relationship between glaucoma and sensorineural hearing loss, while others have found no evidence of an association. We performed a study to determine whether there is a significant difference in hearing of patients with glaucoma and a match control population. In this cross-sectional study, from February, 2005 till April, 2006, 44 patients with glaucoma were studied. The age range was between 15 to 60 years. After taking a complete medical history, those suffering from presbycusis, history of exposure to ototoxic drugs and substances and history of ear surgery were excluded from the study. All of the patients were cases of open-angle glaucoma, and were surveyed separately for normal-pressure glaucoma. Then complete audiometric tests [PTA, SDS, SRT, Impedance] were conducted for all of them, and the results compared with a control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the case group and control group in PTA, SDS, and SRT, except for Normal Tension Glaucoma [NTG]. There wasn't any statistically significant difference between two groups with respect to age, gender, and history of diseases. In the NTG group, significant difference was seen only in high frequencies. As mentioned, there was a statistically significant difference between NTG group and control group. It is therefore recommended to conduct complete audiometric tests and histopathologic examinations in this group for early detection of hearing loss and application of rehabilitative measures

[Assessment of the effecctiveness of sucralfate in reducing pain of tonsillectomy patients]

Pain is one of the serious complications in patients after tonsillectomy. It is essential to use a medication which reduces the pain with least side effects, cost, and availability. The purpose of this study was to study the effectiveness of sucralfate in reduction of pain and dosage of acetaminophen post tonsillectomy. This was an analytic study performed as a clinical trial. In this study, 60 patients [older than 7 years] admitted to Shaheed Sadoughi hospital, Yazd undergoing tonsillectomies were chosen randomly and divided into two groups; case and control. Both groups received 40 mg/kg/day Amoxicillin and 10 mg/kg/dose Acetaminophen syrup. The case group was administered 1 gr/ 10 cc sucralfate, while the control group was given 10 cc dimethicone every six hours. The severity of sore throat was assessed using a visual analog scale [from 0 to 5] and the frequency of acetaminophen use on the first, second and third day, post operatively. For statistical analysis of results, t.test and alpha =95% with P value <0.05 was used and analyzed by SPSS. The difference between the intensity of sore throat in the two groups was significant. [P.value <0.0001]. The difference in the mean amount of acetaminophen consumed was also significant [P.value <0.0001]. The results of the study were in line with other similar studies which prove that sucralfate by coating the tonsillar bed sore acts as an effective analgesic. Considering the efficacy of sucralfate in reduction of post tonsillectomy pain and its few side effects including cost effectiveness and availability, sucralfate usage is recommended in tonsillectomy patients, post operatively

Protective effect of silbum marianum [L.] gaertn seeds extract and silymarine against cisplatin induced acute nephrotoxicity in rats

Cisplatin is an important anticancer drug, can be used in the treatment of several kinds of tumor. But its severe adverse effect i.e. kidney toxicity limited its uses. The present study undertaken to find out the protective effect of methanolic extract of Silybum marianum seeds [MES] and standard silymarin against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. 48 male 10-8 week old wistar rats randomly divided into 6 group. They caged in same environmental condition. First group kept as control received saline, and second group received cisplantin [3 mg/kg] by single intraperitoneal injection. 3rd and 4th groups received silymarin and MES 2 hour before cisplatin administration. 5th and 6th group received silymarin and MES 2 hour after cisplatin administration. Over five days, cisplatin treated rats showed kidney tubular necrosis and elevation in blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and serum creatinine [Scr] Pretreatment of animals with silymarin [50 mg/kg] and MES [600 mg/kg] 2h before cisplatin administration reduced BUN and Scr as well as prevent the kidney tubular damage significantly. Rats treated with silymarin and MES 2h after cisplatin administration had BUN lower but mild to moderate kidney tubular necrosis was observed. These results suggested that silymarin as well as MES may protect kidney against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity and might serve as a novel combination agent with cisplatin to limit renal injury if clinical study proved its efficacy