A Rare Laryngeal Foreign Body Case: Postcricoid Total Dental Prosthesis.

In this case report, 60-year-old patient who aspirated total dental prosthesis into the postcricoid region was presented with patient's history, clinical findings, radiologic examinations and surgical treatment with comparison of literature data. To our literature knowledge, this is the first total dental prosthesis detected in postcricoid region. This was unusual because it did not cause any respiratory disorders such as laryngospasm and asphyxia, although it led to mucosal abrasions in a wide area of esophageus. Laryngoscope, 134:2331-2334, 2024.

Effects of nasal septum deviation and concha bullosa surgery on the frequency and financial burden of acute rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Nasal septum deviation/concha bullosa (DNS)/(CB) are known to be predisposing factors in the pathophysiology of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). However, the effects of surgical treatment of these pathologies on ARS have not been adequately investigated. AIMS: To reveal the effects of the surgical treatment of DNS and CB on the frequency of the ARS, the use of antibiotics (ABs), and the direct cost incurred. METHODS: Medical records of the patients who had undergone successful surgery for DNS/CB and were diagnosed with ARS in the preoperative and postoperative 3-year period were retrospectively analyzed. The average annual number of ARS examinations of the patients, the number of ABs prescribed, and prescription, examination, and total health system costs were compared. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (33 men (62%) and 20 women (38%)) were included in the study. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean annual number of examinations for ARS, the number of ABs prescribed, prescription, examination, and total health system costs (p < 0.05) in the postoperative period compared with the preoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: The present study determined that successful surgeries performed in patients with DNS/CB resulted in a significant decrease in the average annual number of examinations performed for ARS, number of AB prescriptions, and prescription, examination, and total health system costs. With these results, it seems beneficial to direct patients to surgery within the framework of the health policies of countries to reduce the frequency and financial burden of ARS in DNS/CB patients.

Effect of Education and Social Anxiety on Acoustic, Perceptual and Aerodynamic Parameters of Adult Females.

In this study, we hypothesized that social anxiety disorder would be more common in women with lower education levels and that this could have a negative effect on acoustic parameters. A total of eighty-eight (88) healthy female volunteers were enrolled into the study. These volunteers were divided into two groups, which were categorized as those with graduation from elementary school or below (Group A, n = 42) and those with graduation from high school or above (Group B, n = 46). Personal anxiety and avoidance for all participants were evaluated using The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. All subjects also underwent acoustic and aerodynamic voice analysis for evaluation of their objective voice quality and function. Additionally, the GRBAS scale was used for perceptual analysis. Social anxiety scores were higher in group A than group B (p < 0.05). In aerodynamic sound analysis, maximal phonation time was lower in group A than group B (p < 0.05). In perceptual sound analysis, the mean values of the GRBAS parameters for group B were lower than group A (p < 0.05). Mean F0 of Group-B was higher than Group-A in acoustic analysis (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in jitter, shimmer, NHR and HNR between the groups (p > 0.05). In this study, social anxiety and education has been shown to have an effect on voice in women. As the level of education increases, social anxiety decreases, and both maximum phonation time and fundamental frequency increase.

Evaluation of the intranasal steroid treatment outcomes in adenoid tissue hypertrophy with or without allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: To compare the intranasal steroid (INS) treatment outcomes in patients with adenoid tissue hypertrophy (ATH) with or without allergic rhinitis (AR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 96 children diagnosed with ATH were retrospectively examined. The pediatric version of the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire was used to determine the AR status of the patients and classify them. The children were divided into two groups based on the questionnaire: Group 1, low probability of AR (SFAR<9); and Group 2, high probability of AR (SFAR≥9). Intranasal mometasone furoate (100 µg/mL) was used to treat ATH for at least 3 months. The severity of nasal obstruction and snoring was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) score, the adenoid/choana (A/C) ratios before and after treatment were compared, and the rate of patient referral to surgery was recorded among groups. RESULTS: The change in the A/C ratio within the group between before and after treatment was significant (both P < 0.001). However, the reduction in the adenoid size was more significant in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P = 0.025). A significant improvement in the VAS scores was observed between before and after treatment in both groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the rate of surgical referral of Group 1 was significantly lower than that of Group 2 (P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: INS treatment was found more successful for reducing A/C ratio in ATH without AR. Related with this, when considering the INS treatment for ATH, AR status should be kept in mind for predicting the treatment success.

Effect of Body Mass Index on Auricular Morphology and Auditory Functions.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the morphometric properties of auricula and its acoustic gain characteristics. A total of 45 participants between 18 and 45 years of age were enrolled into the study. Participants' height and weight measurements were recorded for the BMI calculation. On both sides, the morphometric properties of the auricula were measured and recorded. Additionally, the participants were subjected to multidirectional dynamic real ear measurements (REMs) to specify the intensity and frequency values of the maximum hearing gain. Participants consisted of 24 women and 21 men. The mean BMI was 23.42. The mean auricular area was 22.70 cm2. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between the auricular area and BMI (r = 0.427, P = .03). The mean postauricular sulcus angle was 20.99°. The mastoid-helix distance was 16.07 mm. There was no statistically significant correlation between BMI level and postauricular sulcus angle and mastoid-helix distance (P > .05). The mean dynamic REM measurement was evaluated. The maximum acoustic gain at anterior, lateral, and posterior vectorial stimulation was calculated as 20.9, 24.2, and 20.7 dB Sound Presure Level (SPL), respectively. Statistically significant negative correlation was found between the three directions acoustic gain level and BMI in the statistical examination (r = -0.365, r = -0.386, r = -0.453, respectively, and P < .05 for all). The results of acoustic gain frequency were 2967.4, 2963, and 2934 Hz, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between acoustic gain frequency and BMI (P > .05). When participants were grouped according to their BMI, participants with a BMI >25 had a statistically significantly bigger auricular area and lower maximum acoustic gain when compared with those with BMI <25 (P < .05). We found that the auricular area increased with BMI. We think that this is related to soft tissue thickening of the auricula related to high BMI. In addition, we found that the acoustic gain level decreased inversely with BMI. We believe that the decrease in acoustic gain is due to the increase of acoustic resistance after the increase of soft tissue thickness. In conclusion, we think that BMI has a negative effect on auditory function according to findings in our study.

Evaluation of the Effect of Topical Application of Nigella sativa on Acute Radiation-Induced Nasal Mucositis.

The goal of this study was to demonstrate the effect of radiotherapy (RT) on nasal mucosa in rats and to evaluate the radioprotective effects of the topical application of black seed oil (Nigella sativa [NS]) to treat acute radiation-induced nasal mucositis.A total of 18 rats were randomized into 3 groups, with 6 animals per group. The rats in group 1 were topically administered saline in the nasal cavity after sham irradiation. Group 2 received saline at the same dose after irradiation. Group 3 was given NS after irradiation. The rats in groups 2 and 3 were irradiated with a single dose of 40 Gy to the nasal and paranasal area. Only one drop of saline (0.05 mL) was applied to each nostril in the first, second, and third days after RT in groups 1 and 2. One drop of cold press NS (0.05 mL) was applied to each nostril in group 3. Fourteen days after irradiation, the nasal mucosal tissues were excised for histopathological evaluation. Vascular dilatation, inflammatory cell infiltration, superficial erosion, and formation of exudates were classified according to the severity.No evidence of mucositis was observed in group 1. Of all the parameters the only statistically significant difference between groups 2 and 3 were observed for "superficial erosion' (P < 0.05). Overall microscopic observations in the NS-treated group were better than in group 2.The preliminary results of our study have shown that local application of NS to the nasal mucosa may be an effective treatment of acute nasal mucositis due to RT.