Protective effect of creatine on amikacin-induced ototoxicity.

INTRODUCTION: Aminoglycosides are widely known for their ototoxic side effects. Nevertheless, they are potent antibiotics used in the treatment of life-threatening conditions because of the current concern for antibiotic resistance. We hypothesized that creatine supplements which are believed to improve mitochondrial antioxidant defense system and maintain optimal energy homeostasis may improve the ototoxic side effects. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of creatine monohydrate against ototoxicity induced by amikacin in rats in an experimental animal model, using distortion product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response. METHODS: Twenty healthy rats were assigned to four groups (5 rats in each): the control group, the creatine monohydrate group, the amikacin group and the amikacin+creatine monohydrate group. The creatine monohydrate group received creatine at a dose of 2g/kg once daily via gastric gavage for 21 days. The amikacin group received amikacin at a dose of 600mg/kg by intramuscular injections once daily for 21 days. The amikacin+creatine monohydrate group received intramuscular injections of amikacin (600mg/kg) once daily for 21 days and creatine monohydrate (2g/kg) once daily via gastric gavage for 21 days. The control group received nothing. The distortion product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response measurements were performed on all rats on days 0, 7, 21. RESULTS: Regarding auditory brainstem response values, a significant increase in the auditory threshold was observed in the amikacin group on day 21 (p< 0.001). The amikacin+creatine monohydrate group showed significantly lower levels of auditory brainstem response auditory thresholds on day 21 in comparison to the amikacin group (p< 0.001). Additionally, the control group and the amikacin+creatine monohydrate group did not differ significantly with respect to auditory brainstem response thresholds on treatment day 21 (p> 0.05). When we compare distortion product otoacoustic emissions values, there was no significant difference between the amikacin and amikacin+creatine monohydrate groups on day 7 (p> 0.05), However significantly greater distortion product otoacoustic emissions values were observed in the amikacin+creatine monohydrate group on day 21 compared to the amikacin group (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that creatine treatment protects against amikacin ototoxicity when given at a sufficient dose and for an adequate time period.

A Noteworthy Pathology in Children with Learning Disabilities: Late Latency Response Failure in Central Auditory Processing.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the cortical auditory pathways in children with and without learning disability (LD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, controlled clinical study was conducted on patients diagnosed with LD and was followed-up for a minimum period of 6 months in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry were included as study group. The control group comprised of age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. After otolaryngological and psychiatric examination, all participants were tested using pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex, and cortical auditory evoked potentials. Test results were evaluated and compared for each group. RESULTS: The study included a total of 60 children (30 children with LD as study group and 30 healthy children as control group) who met the inclusion criteria. When event-related potentials were taken into consideration, P2 and P300 mean amplitudes for right ears and N1 and P300 mean amplitudes for left ears were significantly lower in study group than those in the control group. Likewise, P2 and P300 mean latency in right ears and P1, N1, and P300 mean latency in left ears were prolonged in study group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with LD may have disorders of the cortical auditory processing even if they have normal hearing screening tests. Pathologies in late-latency evoked potentials may have a role in the etiology of these patients.

Method of the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy for physicians: adenoid-nasopharynx ratio.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the feasibility of a prediction of adenoid hypertrophy by pediatricians for diagnostic accuracy of nasopharyngeal x-ray in a pediatric unit. METHODS: Forty-six patients with a history of probable adenoid hypertrophy between January 2013 and August 2013 were included in the study. Participants were excluded from the study if they had previous adenoidectomy; anatomic anomaly in the nose, palate, or nasopharynx; and acute infection. Nasal endoscopy was performed and evaluated adenoid size (choanal obstruction ratio) in all patients by an otorhinolaryngologist who was blinded to the information of other data. Lateral nasopharyngeal x-ray graphs of all patients were evaluated by pediatricians with adenoid-nasopharynx (A-N) ratio, who were blinded to the information of other data. The A-N ratio was calculated by Fujioka method. The A-N ratio of each patient was compared with the choanal obstruction ratio that was determined in the nasal endoscopic examination. Spearman correlation test was used for statistical analysis, and P < 0.05 was described as significant. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were included in this study. The study sample consisted of 25 male (54.3%) and 21 female (45.7%) patients. The mean age of the patients was 6.17 years (range, 2-14 y). In the nasal endoscopic examination, the mean (SD) choanal obstruction ratio was 64.6% (19.5%) (range, 12.5%-90%). Mean (SD) A-N ratio was found to be 16.7 (14.4). The A-N ratio correlated with nasal endoscopic examination findings (r = 0.334, P = 0.023) CONCLUSIONS: The A-N ratio was found to be a useful, tolerable, and confident diagnostic method in pediatric patients for adenoid hypertrophy. Pediatricians can confidently use this method for decision after follow-up or operation.

Epistaxis in geriatric patients.

AIM: Epistaxis is a common emergency in otolaryngology. The aim of this study is to analyze the etiology, management, and accompanying disorders of epistaxis in geriatric patients by reviewing the literature MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 117 patients 65 years old and older who presented to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology with active epistaxis between 2004 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Records were evaluated for age, sex, accompanying disorders, drug medication, detailed otorhinolaryngological findings, and management of epistaxis. RESULTS: There were 67 women (57.26%) and 50 men (42.74%) with a mean age of 73.51 years (range: 65-90). Ninety-four (80.34%) patients had accompanying disorders such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, sinusitis, chronic obstructive lung disease, nasal polyp, and drug treatment. The bleeding site was anterior in 90 patients (76.92%) and posterior in 16 (13.67%). In 11 patients (9.4%), the bleeding site was not identified. Fifty-seven patients (48.71%) were treated with cauterization, 17 patients (14.52%) with nasal packing, 12 patients (10.25%) with medical treatment, 1 patient (0.85%) with mass excision and nasal packing, and 19 patients (16.23%) with more than 1 treatment method. Six patients (5.12%) were untreated because of the unidentified bleeding point. Bleeding control was performed under local anesthesia in 113 patients (96.58%) and under general anesthesia in 4 patients (3.41%). Twenty-one patients (17.94%) were hospitalized and 3 patients (2.56%) required a blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: Epistaxis is the most common otorhinolaryngological emergency. It must be evaluated carefully to avoid the potential complications resulting from both epistaxis and its associated disorders, especially in geriatric patients.