Sertaconazole versus Clotrimazole and Miconazole Creams in the Treatment of Otomycosis: A Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Fungal otitis extern or otomycosis, is common worldwide, and resistance of fungal organisms to antifungal drugs has been reported in otomycosis and other fungal infections. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of sertaconazole versus placebo, as well as miconazole and clotrimazole topical creams in otomycosis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this double-blinded clinical trial, 138 otomycosis patients (230 ears) were evaluated in four groups. After the first session of the ear canal debridement and irrigation with acetic acid 2% solution, the patients were treated with either A) sertaconazole 2% cream, B) miconazole 2% cream, C) clotrimazole 2% cream, or D) placebo. The results of clinical evaluations and response to treatment (complete, partial, and no response) were recorded at the time of the first visit and by the end of the first, second, and fourth weeks of treatment. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Response results to treatments, ear itching, aural fullness, otalgia, and otorrhea revealed significant differences in either group A or groups B and C, compared to the placebo group (P<0.05). Considering both complete and partial responses together, the sertaconazole group showed a 96.43% response rate. For complete response, miconazole revealed better results, compared to the other two creams; however, the differences for the therapeutic outcomes were not statistically significant. No adverse reactions were observed in the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Sertaconazole had comparable results with miconazole and clotrimazole in the treatment of otomycosis, and especially if complete and partial responses were considered together, it was more efficacious than miconazole and clotrimazole creams.

The Impact of Betahistine versus Dimenhydrinate in the Resolution of Residual Dizziness in Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of betahistine with dimenhydrinate on the resolution of residual dizziness (RD) of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after successful Epley maneuver. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, patients with posterior semicircular canal type of BPPV were included. After execution of the Epley maneuver, patients were assigned randomly to one group for 1 week: betahistine, dimenhydrinate or placebo. The primary outcomes were scores of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and the modified Berg balance scale (mBBS). All patients were asked to describe the characteristics of their subjective residual symptoms. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the predictors of improved RD. All analyses were conducted using SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: In total, 117 patients (age range: 20-65 years) participated in this study. After the Epley maneuver, 88 participants had RD. After the intervention, 38 patients exhibited an improved RD. Less than 50% of participants in the three groups showed mild to moderate dizziness handicap. However, there was no significant difference between mBBS scores of groups before or after the intervention. Logistic regression was shown that patients with receiving betahistine were 3.18 times more likely to have no RD than the placebo group. Increasing age was associated with a decreased likelihood of improving RD (P = .05). CONCLUSION: The analysis of data showed that the use of betahistine had more effect on improving RD symptoms. We recommended future studies using objective indicators of residual dizziness.

Frequency of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis and related risk factors in patients with the head-and-neck cancers: A survey in the North of Iran.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed at evaluating the frequency of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis (CIM, RIM) and its related risk factors in patients with the head-and-neck cancers (HNCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional prospective descriptive study, we evaluated a total of 54 HNCs patients referred to the Oncology Chemoradiotherapy Department of Razi and Amiralmomenin University Hospitals of Rasht, for site and grade (WHO classification) of CIM/RIM, based on their demographic features and possible risk factors. SPSS software version 18 and statistical tests (i.e., Fisher's exact test) were used, and the level of significance was considered as P < 0.05. RESULTS: Finally, patients enrolled in the study were 34 men and 20 women (40-72-year-old), of which 43 cases (79.6%) showed signs and symptoms of CIM/RIM (mostly aged 60-69-year-old). Grade 2 mucositis was the most frequent type (18 cases: 33.3%) and mouth floor was the most common site of CIM/RIM (15 patients: 34.9%). Age (P = 0.023), gender (P = 0.012), and the severity of pain (P = 0.018) were significantly related to mucositis in patients with HNCs who underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Mucositis, especially in the oral cavity, is a common complication of chemoradiotherapy in HNCs patients. Age, gender, and the severity of pain are significantly associated with the frequency of CIM/RIM.

Olfactory Identification among Various Subtypes of Parkinson Disease.

INTRODUCTION: This study is aimed at investigating the olfactory function among different subtypes of Parkinson disease (PD) and the impact of sex on smell identification test. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used Iran-smell identification test (Iran-SIT). PD severity was determined using a Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale. We used analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare the olfactory function among different PD subtypes. All analyses were performed using SPSS software version 16.0. RESULTS: In total, 66 males and 38 females participated in this study. The most common PD subtype was postural instability and gait difficulty (38.5%). Severe hyposmia and anosmia were found in 44.6 and 19.6% of participants, respectively. Women had a higher score in olfactory function than men (p = 0.44). The score of subjects with stage 1 in the H&Y scale was about 3 points higher than the score with stage 4. The ANCOVA showed a statistically significant effect of subtypes PD on Iran-SIT score after controlling for the effects of covariates (p = 0.03). There is a significant difference between tremor-dominant Parkinson disease (TDPD) and other subtypes of PD (p < 0.05). However, Iran-SIT scores failed to show a significant difference between men and women (p = 0.13). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed that PD is heterogeneous and there is significant variability in odor identification ability in these patients. We observed more olfactory impairment in TDPD, and subjects with higher H&Y stage. We recommended future studies with repeated measurements of different aspects of smell function to characterize the temporal relationship of olfactory dysfunction with PD.

Serum 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with and Without Nasal Polyposis: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with and without nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sinuses and nasal mucosa. Recent evidence has indicated a relationship between serum 25-hydroxyl vitamin D (OH-VitD) deficiency and CRS. Regarding this, the present study aimed to compare the serum level of 25-OH-VitD in CRS patients with and without nasal polyposis and control groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 117 adult subjects in three groups of CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP; n=32), CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP; n=35), and healthy controls (n=50). The mean level of serum 25-OH-VitD in the three groups was measured by means of enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). RESULTS: Mean serum levels of 25-OH-VitD in CRSwNP, CRSsNP, and control groups were 12.52, 15.54, and 22.04 ng/ml, respectively. There was a significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of 25-OH-VitD level (P=0.0001). However, no significant difference was observed between the CRSwNP and CRSsNP groups in this regard (P=0.464). The women had a VitD deficiency odds ratio (OR) of 2.47, compared with men (OR=2.47, 95% CI=1.04-5.86). The OR of VitD deficiency with aging was obtained as 0.957 (95% CI=0.925-0.989). In this regard, older patients had a lower probability of VitD deficiency, compared to younger patients. CONCLUSION: As the findings indicated, serum 25-OH-VitD was significantly lower in CRS patients, compared with that in the non-CRS subjects.

Balance performance in older adults and its relationship with falling.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A normal consequence of aging is a general deterioration in a number of musculoskeletal and sensory systems that affect postural control and balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate history of falls among active older individuals in Iran, and estimate the risk factors for falls among this population. METHODS: A total of 448 active older subjects from rural region of Rasht city, Iran, were included. They were divided into three groups depending on their age: young-old (n = 266); middle-old (n = 154) and oldest-old (n = 28). We assessed balance performance by One-Leg Balance (OLB), Functional Reach (FR), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Romberg tests. RESULTS: The fall rate (>2 in the last year) was 27.0 %. The cut-off point 13.75 s for TUG test showed 84.7 % sensitivity and 56 % specificity. Also the best cut-off point for OLB test was 12.7 s (63 % sensitivity and 83.5 % specificity). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, BMI, diabetes, and failure in OLB, FR, and Romberg tests predicted fall risk. The decision tree classification of older individuals showed three categorical variables, which in their order of importance included diabetes, Romberg test, and OLB test. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the value of history taking about diabetes as a predictor for existing falling. Decision tree technique showed that Romberg and OLB tests help in identifying older adults with balance problems. Given the incidence and consequences of falls among older adults, large-scale prospective studies on older individuals to identify those prone to falls are warranted.

The effects of oropharyngeal-lingual exercises in patients with primary snoring.

Primary snoring (PS) is one of the sleep breathing disorders with suboptimal results of treatment. It is recommended that Oropharyngeal exercises can be a therapeutic choice for the patients with mild to moderate degrees of PS. We assessed the effects of oropharyngeal-lingual (OPL) exercises on patients with primary snoring (PS) referred to Amiralmomenin University Hospital, Rasht, Iran in 2012. Fifty-three patients with PS underwent the sets of OPL exercises for 3 months, 5 days a week, and 30 min a day under the supervision of a speech therapist. Severity of the snoring was assessed by use of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Snoring Scale Score (SSS) criteria before and after the exercises, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Mean SSS before the study was 7.01 ± 1.72, while it was 3.09 ± 2.7 after the study; and the mean VAS scores were 8.54 ± 1.89 and 4.69 ± 2.94 before and after the study, respectively (P = 0.0001). There was a significant relationship between having conflicts with roommates (P = 0.0001), duration of snoring occurrence (P = 0.0001), severity of snoring (P = 0.0001) before and after the intervention. In conclusion, doing the OPL exercises significantly decreases the severity of PS.

Assessment of olfactory threshold in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies.

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy is a common treatment modality for patients with head and neck malignancies. As the nose lies within the field of radiotherapy of the head and neck, the olfactory fibers and olfactory receptors may be affected by radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in olfactory threshold in patients with head and neck malignancies who have received radiation to the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The olfactory threshold of patients with head and neck malignancies was assessed prospectively before radiation therapy and serially for up to 6 months after radiotherapy using sniff bottles. In vivo dosimetry was performed using 82 LiF (MCP) chips and a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) system. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were recruited before radiotherapy was commenced. Seven patients did not return for evaluation after radiation. Fifty-four patients were available for follow-up assessment (28 women, 26 men; age, 22-86 years; median, 49 years). Total radiation dose was 50.1 Gy (range, 30-66 Gy). Mean olfactory threshold scores were found to deteriorate significantly at various timepoints after radiotherapy (11.7 before radiotherapy versus 4.0 at Month 6, general linear model, P<0.0001). With in vivo dosimetry, we found that the median measured dose to the olfactory area was 334 µC. We also identified a cutoff point according to the dose to the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory threshold was significantly decreased 2-6 weeks after initiation of therapy, with cumulative local radiation >135 µC (Mann-Whitney U test, P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Deterioration in olfactory threshold scores was found at 6 months after initiation of radiation therapy. Provided that these results are reproducible, an evaluation of olfactory functioning in patients with head and neck malignancies using in vivo dosimetry may be useful for determining the optimal dose for patients treated with conformal radiotherapy techniques while avoiding the side effects of radiation.

Hepatitis C virus in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in Iran: is there any relation?

Recently, some studies have noticed a large number of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HCV in these patients in our population. Patients with SCCHN in four tertiary centers in different regions of Iran were checked for HCV. The prevalence of HCV in 107 patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was 0.9%, which has no significant difference with its prevalence in normal population. It seems that HCV at least in Iran could not be considered as a risk factor for SCCHN.

Effects of oxcarbazepine versus carbamazepine on tinnitus: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It is still a challenge to find an effective treatment for tinnitus. The aim of this study was the evaluation of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine effects on tinnitus. METHODS: In a randomized double-blind clinical trial, 57 patients who were visited in a university hospital due to chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus, were randomized in three groups and treated with carbamazepine (300-600 mg/day), oxcarbazepine (450-900 mg/day) and placebo for 12 weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and tinnitus severity index (TSI) were measured in all subjects in the beginning and at the end of the 8(th) and 12(th) weeks of the trial. Data was analyzed by repeated measure analysis, paired and independent t-test. RESULTS: Among 51 participants who completed the trial course (28 men, 23 women), carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine and placebo decreased tinnitus severity in 56.6%, 46.2% and 38.5% of patients according to VAS, and in 61.1%, 58.8% and 50% of patients according to TSI, respectively. The effects of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were better in the first 8 weeks of treatment. However, their effect on tinnitus did not show any statistical difference in comparison with placebo (P = 0.34, P = 0.28). CONCLUSION: Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine are not more effective than placebo in decreasing tinnitus severity.

Brain single photon emission computed tomography in anosmic subjects after closed head trauma.

Anosmia following head trauma is relatively common and in many cases is persistent and irreversible. The ability to objectively measure such a decline in smelling, for both clinical and medicolegal goals, is very important. The aim of this study was to find results of brain Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in anosmic subjects after closed head trauma. This case-control cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary referral University Hospital. The brain perfusion state of nineteen anosmic patients and thirteen normal controls was evaluated by means of the SPECT with 99mtc- ECD infusion- before and after olfactory stimulation. The orbitofrontal lobe of the brain was assumed as the region of interest and changes in perfusion of this area before and after the stimulations were compared in two groups. The mean of brain perfusion in controls before and after the stimulation was 8.26% ± 0.19% and 9.89% ± 0.54%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Among patients group, these quantities were 7.97% ± 1.05% and 8.49% ± 1.5%, respectively (P < 0.004). The difference between all the measures in cases and controls were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There were no differences in age and sex between two groups. The brain SPECT is an objective technique suitable for evaluating anosmia following the head trauma and it may be used with other diagnostic modalities.

Comparison of preoperative computerized tomography scan imaging of temporal bone with the intra-operative findings in patients undergoing mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the consistency rates of pre- and intra-operative radiological findings in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 80 patients with CSOM underwent pre-operative CT scanning and we compared the results with intra-operative clinical findings during mastoidectomy from 2000-2004 in the Otology Department, Amiralmomenin Hospital of Guilan Medical University, Rasht, Iran. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of CT scan in tympanic and mastoid cholesteatoma, ossicular chain erosion, tegmen tympani erosion, dehiscence of facial canal, lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) fistula were assessed. Then, correlation between radiological findings and intra-operative findings were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 27.9 +/- 16.3 years. Mostly were males (n=57 [71.3%]). Correlation of preoperative radiological images with intra-operative clinical findings were moderate to good on tympanic cholesteatoma, mastoid cholesteatoma and ossicular chain erosion, but weak and insignificant in cases of tegmen tympani erosion, facial canal dehiscence and LSCC fistulae. CONCLUSION: Preoperative CT scan may be helpful in decision-making for surgery in cases of cholesteatoma and ossicular erosion. Despite of limitations radiological scanning is a useful adjunct to management of CSOM.