Intratympanic Injection of Dexamethasone and Electrocochleographic Data in Cases of Definite One Sided Refractory Meniere's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Meniere's disease (MD) is a disease of the inner ear that presents itself with repeated episodes of vertigo (96.2%), tinnitus (91.1%), and sensorineural hearing loss (87.7 %). In this article we sought to assess the effects of intratympanic (IT) injections of dexamethasone on definite cases of MD using electrocochleography (ECOG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this hospital-based case series in 36 patients, we measured audiometric values and ECOG in all patients before, 1 month and 6 months after 4-mg/mL IT injections of dexamethasone. RESULTS: Four patients (11%) had improved hearing following the intervention. No difference in pure tone audiometry (PTA) was observed following IT injections (P=0.492), while speech discrimination score (SDS) was significantly improved (P=0.008). There was a significant improvement in vertigo 1 month after IT injections (P<0.001), although this effect did not last for 6 months. No significant change in ECOG was observed between before and after treatment (P=0.052). CONCLUSION: IT dexamethasone injections can improve vertigo in definite cases of MD, although it seems that the effect is only temporary.

Evaluation of the Correlation between CD44, Tumor Prognosis and the 5-Year Survival Rate in Patients with Oral Tongue SCC.

INTRODUCTION: 90% of the tumors in the head and neck are squamous-cell carcinomas (HNSCC), which have overall 5- year survival rate between 50% -60%. CD44 has been shown to be associated with the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsy specimens of 51 patients with oral tongue SCC were evaluated by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the CD44 antibody. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between CD44 and survival (P=0.77), age (P=0.4), CD44 and lymph node metastasis (P=0.87), sex (P=0.947), smoking (P=0.287) and tumor size (P=0.813). However, there was significant correlation between smoking and survival. CONCLUSION: There are widespread discrepancies among the findings in the literature regarding the prognosis of CD44 expression in OCSCC. Our study shows that the expression of CD44 is not a marker of aggressive behavior in oral tongue SCC. Consequently, CD44 cannot be considered as handy tool to establish the tumor behavior, prognosis and 5- year survival rate of these tumors.

Protective effects of Tribulus terrestris L extract against acute kidney injury induced by reperfusion injury in rats.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of aerial parts of the Tribulus terrestris L extract on acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by ischemia for 30 minutes and reperfusion for 24 hours in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats in the AKI and 10 in the Tribulus terrestris groups received the extract solvent and extract of the plant (11 mg/kg), respectively, for 13 days (oral administration). On day 14, ischemia for 30 minutes and reperfusion for 24 hours were induced on the rats. In the last 6 hours of the reperfusion period (24 hours), urine samples were collected in metabolic cages. At the end of this period, blood samples were also taken to determine plasma urea nitrogen, creatinine, and electrolyte concentrations. The kidney tissues were collected for measuring the level of oxidative stress and histological studies. They were compared with the sham operation group and a control group with normal diet and no operation. RESULTS: In the Tribulus terrestris group, the increase in plasma creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations was significantly less following reperfusion, and their values reached the same level as that in the sham group. Creatinine clearance and urine osmolarity in the Tribulus terrestris group was higher in comparison with the AKI group, whereas sodium absolute excretion, fractional excretion of potassium, oxidative stress, and cellular damages were less. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of Tribulus terrestris extract for 2 weeks can decrease kidney functional disturbance, oxidative stress, and cellular damages following reperfusion injury in rats.

Grape seed extract for reduction of renal disturbances following reperfusion in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Proanthocyanidines in grape seed extract (GSE) possess a wide array of pharmacological and biological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and vasodilatory properties as well as inhibition of phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, and lipooxygenase enzymes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the oral administration of GSE on renal disturbances due to reperfusion injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups. They received a standard diet for two eeks. During this period, one group also received normal saline and GSE (50 mg/kg) daily. At the beginning of day 14, the rats in 2 groups underwent surgery and bilateral renal ischemia, and one group had sham operation. Urine and blood samples were taken and the kidneys were removed for histologic and enzyme studies. The control group did not receive any solutions and did not have surgery. RESULTS: The increased amount of plasma creatinine concentration induced by reperfusion injury was improved by GSE administration. In addition, urine osmolality increased in the GSE group in comparison with the reperfusion injury only group. The degrees of histological damages and oxidative stress that had increased following reperfusion injury were also significantly lower with GSE administration. CONCLUSIONS: Oral supplementation of GSE for 2 weeks may decrease histologic damages and oxidative stress, and as a result, may reduce kidney function disturbances following reperfusion injury.