Evaluation of the mir-126, mir-182, and mir-486-5p Expression Signature of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Lung Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Although squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) originating from different anatomic localizations display a similar histological appearance under light microscopy, they may differ in terms of epigenetic and genetic features. The aim of this study was to analyze mir-126, mir-182, and mir-486-5p expression levels in head and neck SCCs and lung SCCs, and to identify localization-specific miRNA expression profiles. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The expression levels of mir-126, mir-182, and mir-486-5p were analyzed in lung, oral cavity, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal SCCs in 40 patients, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The findings showed that lung, oral cavity, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal SCCs have distinct mir-126 and mir-486-5p expression profiles. It was also observed that mir-126 and mir-486-5p expression levels were highly specific to the tumor localization. CONCLUSION: These findings highlighted that SCCs originating from different anatomic localizations have different miRNA expression profiles. miRNA expression analysis can be used to predict the primary localizations of those SCCs.

Laryngeal cytology: A cytological, histological, P16 and human papillomavirus study.

BACKGROUND: Invasive diagnostic methods, such as punch biopsies, have a potential to produce undesirable side effects in the larynx, such as scarring and vocal dysfunction. This study is an attempt to assess the diagnostic potential of cytology to efficiently diagnose premalignant and malignant laryngeal lesions, while sparing patients the risk of complications of punch biopsies. METHODS: Laryngeal smears, using endocervical-type brushes, and punch biopsies were procured from each patient. Smears were prepared and the brush was cut and put in Surepath preservative solution for cytological analysis and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing. A Real-TM Quant kit that detects 14 HPV types was used for genotyping. Immunohistochemical staining for p16 was performed on cytological and histological specimens. RESULTS: Cytological diagnosis was correct in 84.6%, 100% and 100% of cases with a histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinomas, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and benign lesions, respectively. However, cytological interpretation was correct only in 25% of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. HPV DNA test was positive in only one case, which was a laryngeal polyp. Testing for p16 was negative in all the cytological and histological material. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal cytology is a useful diagnostic tool in establishing the diagnosis of high-grade squamous epithelial cell abnormalities. Recognition of low-grade lesions, however, is challenging. HPV genotyping and p16 staining do not seem to be helpful ancillary techniques in cytological material procured from the larynx.

Long-Term Outcomes of Sialendoscopy in the Management of Sialolithiasis and Idiopathic Chronic Sialadenitis with Ductal Scars.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to present the long-term outcomes and sialendoscopic findings in only patients with sialolithiasis and ductal scars in idiopathic chronic recurrent sialadenitis who experienced unsuccessful results with conservative treatment and were treated with sialendoscopy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the patients with a diagnosis of only sialolithiasis and ductal scars in chronic recurrent sialadenitis who underwent sialendoscopy between January 2011 and June 2016. We collected clinical and intraoperative data including patient age, sex, date of the procedure, the involved gland, operative findings and complications. Follow-up data included whether the symptoms were resolved or recurred and whether any further procedures were performed. RESULTS: Of a total of 38 patients, 16 were excluded from the study due to missing clinical or follow-up data, and analysis was conducted on 22 patients. Twelve were diagnosed with sialolithiasis, while the remaining 10 were diagnosed with idiopathic chronic sialadenitis and had ductal scars. Stone sizes ranged from 2 mm to 10 mm. Mean follow-up time was 39.5 months. The final success rate was 100%. Of the 10 patients with ductal scarring, five had scar in the parotid gland duct, and five in the submandibular gland duct. The mean follow-up time of all ductal scar patients was 47.1 months. The final success rate was 70%. CONCLUSION: Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive method for the diagnosis and treatment of sialolithiasis and ductal scars of the salivary glands after failure of conservative treatments in adults.

Ototoxicity of boric acid powder in a rat animal model / Ototoxicidade de ácido bórico em pó em um modelo animal de rato

Abstract Introduction: Boric acid, which has antiseptic and acidic properties, is used to treat external and middle ear infections. However, we have not found any literature about the effect of boric acid powder on middle ear mucosa and inner ear. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate possible ototoxic effects of boric acid powder on cochlear outer hair cell function and histological changes in middle ear mucosa in a rat animal model. Methods: Twenty healthy, mature Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, each of which consisted of 10 rats. Initially, the animals in each group underwent distortion product otoacoustic emissions testing of their right and left ears. After the first distortion product otoacoustic emissions test, a surgical microscope was used to make a small perforation in both ears of the rats in each group, and a second distortion product otoacoustic emissions test was used to measure both ears in all of the rats. Boric acid powder was applied to the right middle ear of the rats using tympanic membrane perforation, and the distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured immediately after the boric acid powder application. The histological changes and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were evaluated three days later in Group A and 40 days later in Group B. Results: No significant differences were found at all of the distortion product otoacoustic emissions frequencies. In Group A, mild inflammation of the middle ear mucosa was found on the third day after boric acid powder application. In Group B, boric acid powder caused mild inflammatory changes on the 40th day, which declined over time. Those changes did not lead to significant fibrosis within the mucosa. Conclusion: In rats, boric acid powder causes mild inflammation in middle ear mucosa and it has no ototoxic effects on cochlear outer hair cell function in the inner ear of rats.

Resumo Introdução: O ácido bórico, que tem propriedades antissépticas e ácidas, é usado para tratar infecções de orelha externa e média. No entanto, não encontramos literatura sobre o efeito do ácido bórico em pó sobre a mucosa da orelha interna e da orelha média. Objetivo: Investigar possíveis efeitos ototóxicos do ácido bórico em pó sobre a função das células ciliadas externas cocleares e alterações histológicas na mucosa da orelha média em um modelo animal de rato. Método: Vinte ratos Wistar albinos maduros e saudáveis foram usados neste estudo. Os ratos foram divididos em dois grupos, Grupo A e Grupo B, cada um dos quais com 10 ratos. Inicialmente, os animais de cada grupo foram submetidos a testes de emissões otoacústicas - produto de distorção, nas orelhas direita e esquerda. Após o primeiro teste de emissões otoacústicas - produto de distorção, utilizou-se um microscópio cirúrgico para fazer uma pequena perfuração em ambas as orelhas dos ratos em cada grupo, e um segundo teste de emissões otoacústicas - produto de distorção foi utilizado para medir e avaliar as orelhas em todos os ratos. O ácido bórico em pó foi aplicado na orelha média direita dos ratos utilizando perfuração da membrana timpânica e as emissões otoacústicas - produto de distorção foram medidas imediatamente após a aplicação de ácido bórico em pó. As alterações histológicas e emissões otoacústicas - produto de distorção foram avaliadas três dias depois no Grupo A e 40 dias depois no Grupo B. Resultados: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas em todas as frequências da emissões otoacústicas - produto de distorção. No Grupo A, foi observada uma ligeira inflamação da mucosa da orelha média no terceiro dia após a aplicação de ácido bórico em pó. No Grupo B, o ácido bórico em pó causou leves alterações inflamatórias após 40 dias, que diminuíram ao longo do tempo. Essas alterações não levaram à fibrose significativa da mucosa. Conclusão: Em ratos, o ácido bórico em pó causa inflamação leve na mucosa da orelha média e não tem efeitos ototóxicos na função das células ciliadas externas da cóclea na orelha interna.

Ototoxicity of boric acid powder in a rat animal model.

INTRODUCTION: Boric acid, which has antiseptic and acidic properties, is used to treat external and middle ear infections. However, we have not found any literature about the effect of boric acid powder on middle ear mucosa and inner ear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate possible ototoxic effects of boric acid powder on cochlear outer hair cell function and histological changes in middle ear mucosa in a rat animal model. METHODS: Twenty healthy, mature Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, each of which consisted of 10 rats. Initially, the animals in each group underwent distortion product otoacoustic emissions testing of their right and left ears. After the first distortion product otoacoustic emissions test, a surgical microscope was used to make a small perforation in both ears of the rats in each group, and a second distortion product otoacoustic emissions test was used to measure both ears in all of the rats. Boric acid powder was applied to the right middle ear of the rats using tympanic membrane perforation, and the distortion product otoacoustic emissions were measured immediately after the boric acid powder application. The histological changes and distortion product otoacoustic emissions were evaluated three days later in Group A and 40 days later in Group B. RESULTS: No significant differences were found at all of the distortion product otoacoustic emissions frequencies. In Group A, mild inflammation of the middle ear mucosa was found on the third day after boric acid powder application. In Group B, boric acid powder caused mild inflammatory changes on the 40th day, which declined over time. Those changes did not lead to significant fibrosis within the mucosa. CONCLUSION: In rats, boric acid powder causes mild inflammation in middle ear mucosa and it has no ototoxic effects on cochlear outer hair cell function in the inner ear of rats.

The presence and prognostic significance of human papillomavirus in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of HPV in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and correlate it with patients' clinicopathological data. In total, 78 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients enrolled in this study. The presence of genotype-specific HPV DNA was evaluated using Genotyping Assay in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue which was diagnosed between 2005 and 2015. All samples were also evaluated for p16 immunohistochemical staining. HPV DNA and p16 status were assessed in terms of location, smoking, alcohol consumption, lymph node status, tumor stage, overall survival, disease-free survival, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion retrospectively. Five test samples were excluded from the study due to inadequate deoxyribonucleic acid purity. HPV DNA was detected in 19 of 73 (26.02%) in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Human papilloma virus genotyping revealed double human papilloma virus in one case (types 16 and 59) and HPV 16 in the remaining cases. Although HPV-positive cases showed slightly better 3 years survival than HPV-negative ones, this finding was not statistically significant (overall survival p = 0.417, HPV positive: 92.3%, HPV negative: 81.4%, and disease-free survival p = 0.526, HPV positive: 93.8%, HPV negative: 80.9%). The presence of HPV DNA was not significantly associated with any clinicopathological features (p > 0.05). Among 73 patients, only 4 had an immunohistochemical staining of p16 and these patients were also HPV DNA 16 positive. Although our study results revealed a slightly better survival in patients with HPV DNA positivity for HPV 16 compared to the negative ones, the difference was not statistically significant. However, an increasing rate in especially high-risk-type HPV-16 prevalence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by RT-PCR method was observed compared to our previous study. Although the presence of HPV in laryngeal SCCs seems to be associated with slightly better prognosis, additional studies may be needed, since our results were not statistically significant. We believed that HPV is not an adequate biomarker for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

MicroRNA-21 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Diagnostic and prognostic features.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to determine the microRNA-21 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and assess the association between the disease and clinical characteristics of patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2005 to May 2011, in a tertiary hospital following tumor resection in 72 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (study group) and adjacent nontumor tissues (control group) for microRNA-21 expressions, and we successfully extracted microRNAs detectable by real-time polymerase chain reaction. All patients were evaluated separately, and the study and control groups were compared. The study group was assessed in terms of localization, smoking, alcohol consumption, lymph node staging, tumor stage, overall survival, disease-free survival, perineural, and vascular invasion. RESULTS: All patients were male, and the average age of patients was 64.2 ± 10.3 years. MicroRNA-21 was upregulated in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas compared to adjacent nontumor tissues (P = .005). However, the microRNA-21 did not differ significantly according to any clinicopathological features (P > .05). MicroRNA-21 has been found to be expressed at lower levels in early stage (stages 1 and 2) compared with advanced stage (stages 3 and 4), but this was not statistically significant (P = .455). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the microRNA-21 level may play an important role in diagnosis and serve as a potential biomarker; such measurement thus has clinical applications. However, any possible prognostic associations with microRNA-21 levels should be re-evaluated in future studies on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma samples amenable to retrospective analysis. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 2016 127:E62-E66, 2017.

The protective effects of different treatments on rat salivary glands after radiotherapy.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of treatment modalities for minimizing salivary gland damage caused by radiotherapy. Forty rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 had no irradiation or any treatment. Group 2 underwent only 15 Gy single dose radiotherapy. N-acetylcysteine, dexamethasone, hyperbaric oxygen treatment were given, respectively to the group 3, 4 and 5 for 5 days. 15 Gy single dose radiotherapy was applied to the group 3, 4 and 5 on the second day. Pyknosis, lysis, and vacuolization were examined in ductal cells and pyknosis, lysis, vacuolization, inflammation and collective duct damage in acinar cells. Dexamethasone and hyperbaric oxygen did not prove to have a positive effect on acinar and ductal cell. N-acetylcysteine-applied group had statistically significantly lower amount of damage. We determined that the decrease of ductal and acinar cell damage in parotid glands of N-acetylcysteine-applied rats was more distinct and statistically.

Investigating the Effects of Smoking on Young Adult Male Voice by Using Multidimensional Methods.

OBJECTIVES: Smoking is one of the most common harmful habits in the world, especially common among young adult male population in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking on the young adults' male voice using multidimensional voice assessment methods. STUDY DESIGN: This is a case-control study. METHODS: The study included 109 young adult men, 51 nonsmokers and 58 smokers between the ages of 20 and 34 years. The voice evaluation protocol consisted of voice handicap index (VHI), maximum phonation time (MPT), and perceptual, acoustic, and videostroboscopic analyses. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase for physical, physiological, and total scores of VHI was found in smokers group (P < 0.05). MPT showed significantly lower values among smokers (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in perceptual analysis of voice samples between smoker and nonsmoker groups. There were no significant changes in any of the acoustic parameters between smoker and nonsmoker groups. Results of videostroboscopic analysis showed significant relationships between smoking and increased vocal fold erythema (P < 0.05). In addition, significantly asymmetry, amplitude, and periodicity abnormality of vocal fold movements were observed in smoker group during phonation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that observable signs of laryngeal irritation and disturbed phonatory physiology occur even in young adults with relatively brief smoking habits. Subjective symptoms of smoking on voice appear to occur earlier than objective findings.

TRAIL and TRAIL receptors in patients with laryngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-related associated-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a death ligand currently under clinical trials for laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissues from 40 patients with laryngeal carcinoma and 20 patients with benign laryngeal pathologies were retrospectively analyzed using immunohistochemistry in terms of distribution and intensity, and for final analysis of immunoreactivity of receptors, H-score was used. The study group was assessed in terms of localization, lymph node staging, tumor stage, overall survival, disease-free survival, locoregional control, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion. RESULTS: The H-score of decoy-R2 (DcR2) staining were increased significantly in tumor tissue (p = .04). A significantly greater increase in terms of H-score of DR5 receptor staining (p = .06) was detected in tumor tissue. CONCLUSION: TRAIL-mediated gene therapy may not be effective. Indeed, the findings may indicate treatment resistance. TRAIL and TRAIL receptor levels were not associated with prognosis © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E535-E541, 2016.

Evaluation of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 Levels of the Patients with Nasal Polyposis After Corticosteroid Therapies.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of intrapolyp, systemic and local corticosteroid treatment modalities on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 level in polyp tissues. This study included 71 patients and five groups. Group A treated with oral methylprednisolone, Group B, treated with topical steroid spray, Group C treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide, Group D patients with nasal polyposis who has not given any medication, Group E had surgery for concha bullosa without nasal polyp disease. Samples from group A were collected endoscopically 1 day after treatment was stopped. Group B samples were collected at the end of the first month. Video guided sample collection from Group C was also performed on the 7th day after treatment. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. When we compared the MMP-9 levels of all groups, there were no significant differences. There was significant difference of TIMP-1 level between Groups C and E (pC-E = 0.0019), however there was no difference among the level of the other groups. When MMP-9/TIMP1 rates of all groups were compared, there were significant difference between Group A and D (pA-D = 0.005) and between Group A and E, also between Group C and E. Our study is the first study to evaluate the effects of different corticosteroid treatment modalities on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in nasal polyps and concluded that corticosteroid did not do a significant impact on this pathway.

The effects of systemic, topical, and intralesional steroid treatments on apoptosis level of nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the apoptotic responses to systemic, topical, and intrapolyp injection of glucocorticoid with no treatment in nasal polyps. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled study. SETTING: Tertiary training hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 48 patients with nasal polyposis in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology between 2008 and 2009. Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 groups of 12 patients. Group A was treated with oral methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/d, and the dose was tapered gradually. Group B received 0.3 mL triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL), which was injected into polyp tissue. Group C was treated with topical 55 µg triamcinolone acetonide 2 times daily for 1 month. Group D received no medication. Samples were collected endoscopically after the seventh day for groups A and B, the first month for group C, and the first visit for group D. Apoptotic indexes were determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling method. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in apoptotic index were found between each steroid-medicated group and the control group (P (D-A) = .0001; P (D-B) = .003; P (D-C) = .026) and between groups A and C (P (A-C) = .012). Group B did not differ significantly from either group A or C (P (A-B) = .11; P (B-C) = .75). CONCLUSIONS: The apoptotic index in nasal polyps treated with systemic, topical, and intrapolyp injection forms of glucocorticoids was higher than that in the control group. Systemic steroid treatment induced the most apoptosis.

The association between Helicobacter pylori and laryngopharyngeal reflux in laryngeal pathologies.

We conducted a study to determine the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in 43 previously untreated patients who had presented with a laryngeal lesion. Our aim was to determine if there was any association among H pylori, LPR, and laryngeal lesions. H pylori status was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of biopsy tissue obtained during direct laryngoscopy. The presence or absence of LPR was determined on the basis of patients' reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS), which were based on their questionnaire responses and findings on endoscopic examination of the larynx, respectively. Patients with an RSI of 14 or more and/or an RFS of 8 or more were considered to have LPR. H pylori was present in 24 patients (55.8%) and absent in 19 (44.2%)-not a statistically significant difference. The prevalence of LPR was higher than the prevalence of H pylori; it was present in 30 patients (69.8%) and absent in 13 (30.2%). The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). We found no association between H pylori status and LPR status. Additionally, we analyzed two subgroups based on whether their lesions were benign or malignant/premalignant and found a significant relationship between LPR positivity and the presence of malignant/premalignant laryngeal lesions (p = 0.03). We found no association between H pylori status and either of the two subgroup categories.

Hydroxyproline levels in nasal polyps.

The aim of this study was to evaluate hydroxyproline levels in nasal specimens from patients with nasal polyps, and to examine hydroxyproline levels after nasal steroid spray and oral steroid treatments. This study was performed on 41 patients. The subjects were divided into four groups: no medication group (group A, n 11), oral methylprednisolone group (group B, n 8), topical steroid spray group (group C, n 8) and control group (group D, n 14). Nasal polyp samples were collected endoscopically. Healthy subjects were studied as a control group, and their nasal samples were taken during turbine reduction surgery. All samples were analyzed using the immunocytochemistry method. Hydroxyproline levels were investigated and compared with the control group. Mean hydroxyproline levels in groups A-D were 98.48, 24.20, 8.97 and 4.52, respectively. The hydroxyproline levels were significantly higher in group A compared with that of group D. The treatment that revealed significant decreases in hydroxyproline levels was group C. Although there was also a noticeable reduction in group B, there were no statistically significant differences between group B and group A. Our study revealed a significant correlation between nasal polyp and hydroxyproline levels. The hydroxyproline levels were significantly higher in nasal polyps. Both oral and topical steroid treatments decrease hydroxyproline levels in nasal polyps. Thus, in theory, steroid treatment can directly decrease hydroxyproline levels by inhibiting proline hydroxylase and indirectly by lowering the inflammatory process.

Primary malignant melanoma of the trachea: case report.

A 22-year-old man was admitted with complaints of dyspnea and hoarseness. Laryngoscopy and computed tomography of the neck revealed a 1.5 x 2-cm solid mass obstructing the trachea. The black, pedunculated mass was completely removed through a tracheal incision, and a paratracheal lymph node dissection was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed nodular-type mucosal malignant melanoma. Cranial and thoracic computed tomography, abdominal ultrasonography, and histopathologic examination of the paratracheal lymph nodes showed no metastases. No recurrence has been noted in more than 3 years of follow-up.

Efficacy of topical halofuginone in myringotomy patency.

The objective of the study is to determine whether topical halofuginone (HF) application has an impact on prolonging the time for healing of myringotomy incision, and to investigate histopathologic effects of HF on tympanic membrane (TM) in rat model. Forty rats with normal eardrums were involved in this study. The study group and control group consisted of 30 and 10 rats, respectively. A posterior incision 1 mm in diameter was made on healthy eardrums of the rats. Following incision, gelfoam soaked with HF hydrobromide of 30 mg/dl was applied on the perforation in study group, whereas gelfoam soaked with isotonic saline was applied on the perforation in control group. On days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27, and 30, otoendoscopic evaluation of eardrums under general anesthesia was conducted and perforations were screened. A rat of each group was killed in control days and TMs were dissected to evaluate histopathological changes. The average times for patency of perforation in study and control groups were 21.43 and 7.50 days, respectively. The difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Histopathological evaluation revealed that HF reduces hyalinisation and fibrosis in eardrum, when compared with the control group. In conclusion, HF significantly delays closure time of myringotomies in rat model. However, this delay may not be enough for recovery of otitis media with effusion.

Comparison of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and uvulopalatal flap in Turkish military personnel with primary snoring.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical results of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and uvulopalatal flap (UPF) procedures in the treatment of primary snoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two study groups were formed and UPPP and UPF procedures were performed. All patients were stratified according to the modified Friedman staging system. Patients with tonsil size 2-4, palatal position scale grade 2, and body mass index lower than 30 were enrolled in the study. The success of surgical procedures was evaluated by applying a snoring questionnaire and Epworth sleepiness scale preoperatively and 90 days after the operation. Patients were followed for postoperative pain and other complications. RESULTS: Snoring was relieved in 85% of UPPP and in 83.3% of UPF patients 90 days after the operation. Postoperative pain complaint was more prominent in the UPPP group and mean duration of pain was significantly longer compared with the UPF group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar success rates in the short-term, we can say that the UPF procedure is more practical and comfortable when compared to the UPPP in the military setting.

Real-time PCR detection of Helicobacter pylori and virulence-associated cagA in nasal polyps and laryngeal disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To identify Helicobacter pylori and major virulence factor, cagA, in patients with laryngeal diseases and nasal polyps. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with planned data collection. SETTING: The study was performed on fresh tissue samples from patients with 32 nasal polyps, 29 normal nasal mucosa, and 27 laryngeal diseases presenting to the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery department of a major military hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Tissue specimens were evaluated by in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR for bacterial DNA and by real-time PCR for cagA. The impact of commercial and in-house DNA extraction methods was also evaluated. RESULTS: H pylori DNA was detected only by real-time PCR in 59.4 percent of nasal polyps, 70.4 percent of nasal mucosa samples, and 58.6 percent of larynx samples. cagA was identified in 78.9, 89.5, and 82.4 percent of positive polyp, nasal mucosa, and larynx samples, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups. DNA purification methods were equally effective. CONCLUSION: H pylori DNA is present in nasal polyp and larynx tissues as well as normal nasal mucosa, as detected by a sensitive real-time PCR assay. cagA-positive strains dominate in all groups.

Effectiveness of topically applied halofuginone in management of subglottic stenosis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to ascertain the antifibrotic effect of topically applied halofuginone after acute subglottic injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After standardized trauma to subglottic area, rats were divided into two groups: the study group that received treatment and the control group that did not. The subjects were treated with topical application of cottonoid soaked in 30 mg/dL halofuginone solution for 5 minutes after subglottic trauma. The larynx specimens were examined histopathologically by light microscopy to assess fibrosis, epithelialization, inflammation, and necrosis. RESULTS: The fibrosis indexes of the treated group were significantly less than those of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Topically applied halofuginone hydrobromide decreases fibrosis/scar tissue formation secondary to experimentally induced acute subglottic trauma.

Histologic analysis of the effects of three different support materials within rat middle ear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate histologic changes in the mucosa of rat middle ear after implantation of three different support materials. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, controlled animal study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three types of absorbable materials were implanted into the middle ear cavity of rats: (1) Gelfoam (purified gelatin) (Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, New York, NY), (2) Sepragel (viscoelastic gel composed of cross-linked polymers of hyaluronan) (GENZYME Corp, Ridgefield, NJ), and (3) Nasopore (a biodegradable/fragmentable, synthetic polyurethane foam) (Polyganics, Groningen, The Netherlands). Rats were sacrificed after 3 and 20 days to ascertain early and late histologic changes. The bulla of each rat was excised and prepared for microscopic examination. The histologic changes were evaluated by observation of the middle ear cavity and mucosa in terms of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL), macrophages, giant cells, fibroblasts and other cells, fibrosis, and remnant materials. RESULTS: The histologic appearance of gelfoam-treated middle ears was characterized by more severe acute inflammation in the short-term and prominent fibrosis in the long-term in comparison with sepragel- and nasopore-treated groups. Nasopore appeared to be prone to remnant formation and reorganization by means of fibroblastic activity. CONCLUSION: Compared with gelfoam, both sepragel and nasopore caused less histologic alterations.