ABSTRACT
Introduction It is unclear how effective is the intratympanic (IT) steroid treatment on organ of Corti type 1 spiral ganglion, its optimal dosage and frequency of administration. The effect of dexamethasone on cochlear functions in individuals with a normal hearing ability is also unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate, at the electrophysiological and ultrastructural levels, the effect of IT dexamethasone administration in guinea pigs with normal hearing on organ of Corti type 1 spiral ganglion. Methods A total of 20 guinea pigs ( n = 40 ears) whose hearing was detected to be normal by electrophysiological tests were included in the study and randomly divided into 6 groups. Four groups were considered study groups, while 2 groups were considered control groups. Dexamethasone was administered intratympanically in doses of 2 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL in the guinea pigs in the study groups. The animals in the control groups received physiological saline in equal doses as the study groups. All interventions were performed under general anesthesia, and the electrophysiological tests were repeated following the IT injections. Results No statistically significant differences were found among the groups when the IT injections were evaluated in terms of the electrophysiological measurements ( p > 0.05). The ultrastructural evaluation showed a cellular mitochondrial increase in the spiral ganglions of the cochlea in the groups in which dexamethasone was administered in a dose of 4 mg/mL. Conclusion According to the findings of this study, it can be suggested that the IT injection of dexamethasone is safe, and when applied in a dose of 4 mg/mL, it increases metabolic activity at the cellular level.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a condition in which fluid is retained in the middle ear cavity. The association between endocrine disorders and OME has not yet been determined. This study aimed to investigate the presence of OME in children diagnosed with an endocrine disease and the relationship between these two conditions. METHODS: The study was conducted on 918 pediatric patients (440 boys, 478 girls; mean age: 8.40, range 3-15 years) and 158 healthy controls (76 boys, 79 girls; mean age: 8.31, range 3-15 years). All children underwent an ear examination and a tympanometry performed by an otorhinolaryngologist. Tympanometry results were used to diagnose OME. RESULTS: OME was detected in 205 (22.3%) of 918 patients and in 19 (12.0%) of 158 subjects in the control group. The difference in frequency of OME between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The results of the study reveal that there may be a tendency towards the occurrence of OME in pediatric endocrinology patients.
