Type D personality, anxiety, depression and personality traits in patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated type D personality, anxiety, depression and personality traits in patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal. METHOD: A hundred consecutive out-patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal and 100 controls were enrolled in the study. The Type D Scale, the abbreviated form of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used for data collection. Patients were also evaluated using the Modified Itch Severity Scale. RESULTS: In all, 43 per cent of patients and 15 per cent of controls met the criteria for a type D personality. Patients with a type D personality had higher anxiety and itching severity but lower extraversion compared with those without a type D personality. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that extraversion and type D personality were independently associated with itch severity. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that clinicians should consider psychological and personality features when evaluating and treating patients with isolated itching of the external auditory canal.

Long term effects of palatal implant method in adult patients with simple snoring and obstructive sleep-apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long term effect and reliability of palatal implant surgery, which is a minimally invasive technique, used in simple snoring and obstructive sleep-apnea syndrome types based on objective and subjective data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients were included prospectively in this study. It has been possible to obtain preoperative and postoperative polysomnography results in 59 patients. The cases were followed-up for 8 months on average. Considering the apnea index and AHI values, the patients were divided into 5 groups, namely simple snoring (n=13), mild OSAS (n=21), moderate OSAS (n=17), severe OSAS (n=8), and the group on which polysomnography could not be performed, the no-polysomnography group (n=19). The cases were evaluated based on polysomnography and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and visual analog scale filled by relatives or friends of the patients. RESULTS: The AHI of 46 patients diagnosed with OSAS decreased from 14.9 to 10.14 (31% decline) (p=0.279). The AHI of 13 patients with simple snoring diagnosis reduced from 3.09 to 2.02 (p=0.033). A 40% improvement was observed in VAS of all cases. Implant rejection occurred in 7 of our cases and 3 patients experienced ecchymosis. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that palatal implant procedure is a good option for appropriate cases, it is equivalent to other methods in terms of treatment efficacy and that is more advantageous than other techniques in that it can be applied in office settings with low morbidity, is minimally invasive and brings about higher patient compliance.

The investigation of the prognostic value of mean platelet volume in patients with sudden hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed to observe the changes in mean platelet volume in patients with sudden hearing loss, taking the close relationship of vascular reasons and sudden hearing loss into account. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were admitted and treated with sudden hearing loss in the study. The control group was made up of healthy people. The hemoglobin values, mean platelet volumes, platelet counts of the groups were recorded. RESULTS: Forty sixth patients in the sudden hearing loss group and 45 patients in the control group were evaluated. No statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding mean platelet volume values and platelet counts were found. There was also no significant difference between the high mean platelet volumes and hearing loss levels. CONCLUSIONS: We think it would be beneficial to examine the mean platelet volume values in further studies with more patient series on patients with sudden hearing loss.

The need for mentoplasty following rhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Rhinoplasty is the most common facial plastic surgery procedure. The appearance of the face must be considered as a whole to achieve the best results, but assessment of the chin is often overlooked. The aim of this paper was to determine the need for mentoplasty after rhinoplasty. METHODS: Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA) was used to analyze 200 consecutive rhinoplasty patients, 170 of whom were included in this study. We used Silver and Agarwal's method for assessment of the chin. RESULTS: A total of 170 profile photographs were analyzed. Of these patients, 58.2% (n = 99) had normal chins, 40% (n = 68) had small chins (microgenia), and 1.8% (n = 3) had over-projection. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women. CONCLUSION: Chin projection is an important component of facial euphony. Approximately half of the rhinoplasty patients we assessed would also benefit from mentoplasty. Surgeons that perform rhinoplasty should discuss mentoplasty with their patients to achieve the best results.

Otitis media with effusion in primary schools in Princes' Islands, Istanbul: prevalence and risk factors.

The prevalence of otitis media with effusion (OME) and environmental risk factors were investigated in 423 children aged 7-12 years at three primary schools in Princes' Islands, Istanbul, Turkey. An ear, nose and throat examination, including tympanometry, was performed in April (end of the school year) and the families completed a questionnaire about potential risk factors. Type B or C2 tympanograms were taken as indicating OME. The overall prevalence of OME was 16%. OME was significantly associated with numbers of episodes of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and acute otitis media (AOM) during the previous year, class size and snoring, but not with allergic symptoms, kindergarten years, breast-feeding duration, parental smoking, domestic animals at home, numbers of siblings and family members, type of home heating, parents' educational level or monthly income. Four or more URTIs and two or more AOM episodes in a year, snoring and class size larger than 20 were risk factors for OME.