The impact of dysmenorrhea on pulmonary functions.

BACKGROUND: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by symptoms including sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremulousness, usually begins adolescence, those can be associated with autonomic dysfunction affecting pulmonary functions. AIM: The aim of the present study is to investigate the impacts of PD on pulmonary function tests. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional design was selected. All subjects were invited to admit to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient unit for venous blood test detecting the levels of estrogen and progesterone during the follicular and luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. After drawing blood, women were taken to the pulmonary function tests laboratory to perform the test. The comparisons between Group PD and Group Control were performed by the independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Intragroup comparisons were completed by paired samples t-test. Results: The comparisons between Group PD and Group Control among estrogen and progesterone in follicular and luteal phase, pulmonary function test results did not show any significance (P > 0.05). The intragroup comparisons of estrogen and progesterone levels, and pulmonary functions test results revealed no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that PD does not influence the spirometric measurements and also respiratory functions are not impaired by the different phases of menstrual cycle.

Incus and stapes necrosis associated with diabetes mellitus.

Chronic otitis media is often associated with ossicular defects, the most frequent being necrosis of the long process of incus. Except for infection and cholesteatoma; trauma and local pressure by chorda tympani are uncommon causes leading to incus erosion. In the literature, no case of incus necrosis has been reported associated with type II diabetes mellitus (DM). A patient is presented in this report with incus and stapes suprastructure necrosis and associated type II DM who was admitted to the out-patient clinic with complaints of conductive hearing loss.

The effect of replacement fluids and normovolaemic haemodilution on the survival of dorsal skin flaps in rats.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of normovolaemic haemodilution (anaemia), haemoglobin level and replacement fluids on the survival of local flaps in rats. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into four study groups and one control group (10 rats for each). In the study groups, 20% or 30% of blood was withdrawn and replaced by either Gelofusine or saline (0.9%). Single 1.5 cm x 3 cm cranially based dorsal random skin flaps consisting of skin and panniculus carnosus were elevated in all rats. No difference was determined between the control and 20% exsanguinated groups regarding flap survival area. There was a statistically significant difference between the flap survival areas of 20% exsanguinated groups and 30% exsanguinated groups. If the blood loss exceeds 30% of total volume and/or haemoglobin (Hb) level is lower than 10.72 g/dL, the risk of flap necrosis increases significantly.

Chondrosarcoma of the thyroid cartilage.

Sarcomas of the larynx are extremely rare neoplasms that account for approximately one per cent of all tumours of this organ. We present a case of laryngeal chondrosarcoma originating from thyroid cartilage, characterized by an unusual long clinical course over 15 years without laryngeal symptoms or duplication of metastases, treated at the Süleyman Demirel University Medical Faculty, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department.

Free radical damage in nasal polyp tissue.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the free radical injury in nasal polyp tissue exists or not. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study in patients with nasal polyps. METHODS: Polyp specimens were obtained from 19 patients. Control specimens were acquired from 16 patients who underwent partial turbinectomy with concha bullosa free of rhinitis, sinusitis, and allergy, confirmed by endoscopic nasal examination, coronal paranasal sinus CT scan, and prick test. MDA levels of nasal polyps and control specimens were measured by using the method of Knudsen et al. RESULTS: The mean MDA levels of nasal polyps and control specimens were 38.2 +/- 5.1 (33.3-52.2) and 33.9 +/- 1.6 (32.6-37.4), respectively. MDA levels in NP were significantly higher compared with control specimens (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: High level of MDA in nasal polyp tissue that represents FR increase supports the existence of cell injury in nasal polyp tissue. FRs should be considered in the development and life cycles of NP which is thought to have multifactorial pathogenesis.

Histopathological changes of chorda tympani in chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether histopathological changes of chorda tympani might exist in patients with chronic otitis media without facial paralysis. STUDY DESIGN: The study was designed as a prospective trial. METHODS: Twenty of 107 patients with chronic otitis media, in whom the chorda tympani were injured inadvertently during middle ear surgery, were enrolled into the study. The cases were divided into two groups based on the activity of chronic infection at the time of surgery. Twelve cases with suppurative disease were included in group I, and 8 cases with dry ear in group II. RESULTS: Histopathological examinations of the specimens revealed findings such as thickening of perineural and epineural connective tissue, vacuolar degeneration of Schwann cells, and proliferation of fibroblasts in endoneurium. Disorganization of the axons of some nerve fibers was also determined. CONCLUSION: Based on the histopathological changes of chorda tympani in chronic middle ear disease, it is postulated that chronic otitis media may give rise to functional loss of the nerve.

Improvement in bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes of bone conduction threshold impairment associated with middle ear pathoses and the factors influencing improvement in bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The records of 98 consecutive patients with unilateral chronic otitis media who underwent tympanoplasty were reviewed. Pre-operatively, 15 dB or more depression of bone conduction threshold at least in 2 frequencies between 500 and 6000 Hz was considered to be significant. Similarly in the postoperative period, 15 dB or more improvement of bone conduction threshold at least in 2 frequencies between 500 and 6000 Hz was regarded as significant. RESULTS: Twelve (12.5%) of 98 cases were found to have depressed bone conduction threshold; 6 of 12 cases had improved bone conduction threshold after tympanoplasty. CONCLUSION: In cases with cholesteatoma and extensive middle ear disease, successful results could be achieved after tympanoplasty disregarding the air-bone gap and deteriorated bone conduction threshold. SIGNIFICANCE: Bone conduction threshold may improve after tympanoplasty.

Malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity in experimental maxillary sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute maxillary sinusitis is one of the most common diseases in human. Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) produced also physiologically in the body, are normally neutralised by antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). Infection is one of the causes of increased ROMs production. The most important mechanism of tissue damage produced by ROMs is the peroxidation of lipids found in cell membranes and it may be estimated by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The purpose of this study, is to investigate tissue damage caused by ROMs in maxillary sinusitis in 24 rabbits. METHODS: Experimental sinusitis was induced by blocking the right nose and inoculating Staphylococcus aureus into the right maxillary sinuses. Left maxillary sinuses were the control group. Animals were divided into three groups and killed at 3, 5 and 7 days. Mucosas of each maxillary sinus were examined histopathologically and MDA levels were determined. Blood samples were obtained preoperatively (control blood) and on killing days (experimental blood). Serum MDA levels and erythrocyte SOD activities were determined. RESULTS: All the infected sinuses displayed signs of the inflammation. MDA levels and SOD activities in the experimental blood samples were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Mucosal MDA levels in the experimental group were significantly higher than the controls (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In maxillary sinusitis caused by S. aureus an increased ROMs production was observed and it may contribute to tissue damage of sinusitis.