ENT symptoms of mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the otorhinolaryngological problems caused by mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era. METHODS: A survey with 26 questions was sent by e-mail to 576 individuals. RESULTS: The most frequently worn masks were three-layer surgical ear loop masks (n = 434, 80.1 per cent), followed by N95 or filtering facepiece code 2 masks (n = 58, 10.7 per cent), and cloth masks (n = 50, 9.2 per cent). The most bothersome symptoms caused by mask-wearing were difficulty in nasal breathing (n = 227, 41.8 per cent), nasal itching and pain (n = 93, 17.2 per cent), earache (n = 88, 16.2 per cent), difficulty in expressing oneself (n = 73, 13.5 per cent), difficulty in understanding speech (n = 56, 10.3 per cent), and ear itching (n = 5, 0.9 per cent). CONCLUSION: The problems associated with mask-wearing may result in avoidance of wearing them. Thus, there is a need for new methods that will reduce the problems related to mask-wearing, to increase their use in the community.

Different Radiologic Appearances of Giant Epidermoid Cysts at the Floor of the Mouth: Three Case Reports

ABSTRACT Epidermoid and dermoid cysts are benign lesions, which may occur anywhere on the body. Approximately 7% of these lesions occur in the head and neck region and 1.6% in the oral cavity. We present three cases of giant epidermoid cysts located on the floor of the mouth. Case 1 was a 22-year-old man referred to our clinic with a 10-year history of a submental mass, which began growing and causing pain in the throat. His physical examination revealed masses in both the submental and the sublingual regions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast revealed a well-circumscribed isohypointense cystic mass with a 'sack of mar- bles' appearance. Case 2 involved a 23-year-old female referred to our clinic with difficulty in chewing and swallowing solid food for 1 week previously. Her physical examination revealed a sublingual mass displacing the tongue upward. Her MRI revealed a heterogeneous hyperin- tense cystic mass in the sublingual region. Case 3 was a 28-year-old man referred to our clinic with submental swelling, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, decreased tongue movements and snoring. His computerized tomography indicated a homogenous cystic mass in the sub- mental region. The excision of the masses with an extraoral approach was performed in all the three cases. His histopathological examination revealed epidermoid cyst. In summary, epider- moid cysts may assume various appearances at radiological imaging.

An Atypical Presentation of Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest diseases of human, remains a global health problem especially in developing countries. Tuberculosis is classified as pulmonary or extrapulmonary. Tuberculosis lymphadenitis is the most common form of extrapulmonary TB. In this report, we present a patient with TB lymphadenitis who had atypical multiple lymph node involvement similar to malignancies without symptoms of lung disease. An 81-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of a growing swelling in the cervical region. In the month prior to presentation another swelling developed in the right axillary region. Physical examination revealed multiple lymphadenopathies in the cervical and axillary regions. A computerized tomography revealed lymphadenopathy at right axillary region 5 × 2 cm in diameter, a cystic mass or abscess at right posterior cervical region 3 × 2 cm in diameter and multiple lymphadenopathies in the cervical regions. Thoracic tomography revealed fibro-atelectasis, thick fibrotic bands and increased reticulonodular density in both lungs which were reported as reactivation of TB. An excisional biopsy was performed which revealed granulomatous inflammatory process with caseous necrosis. Acid-resistant bacteria were detected from microbiological assessment of both the pus of the mass and the nodular lesion via polymerase chain reaction. The diagnosis was reactivated TB lymphadenitis. Although multiple lymphadenopathies accompanied with weight loss suggest malignancies, TB must also be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Traumatic Displacement of Maxillary Teeth into the Nasal Cavity: A Diagnosis Delayed for 15 Years

ABSTRACT Intrusion is defined as displacement of a tooth into the alveolar bone. In this report, we presented a patient with 15 years of delayed diagnosis of maxillary teeth intrusion into the nasal cavity. A 30-year-old male presented to our clinic with nasal discharge. He had been in a traffic accident 15 years ago. Radiographic examination revealed intrusion of two anterior teeth into the nasal cavity. In patients with maxillofacial trauma, the possibility of having an accompanying dentoalveolar trauma must always be kept in mind. While a computerized tomography (CT) scan is useful in diagnosis of such traumas, it must be performed in all patients with maxillofacial trauma to avoid misdiagnosis.

Comparison of the bacterial flora of the nasal vestibule and cavity in haemodialysis patients.

Staphylococcal infections are the major causes of morbidity in haemodialysis patients. The source of the staphylococci is the anterior nares. Elimination of nasal carriage of staphylococci could result in a remarkable decrease in the infection rate. The aim of this study was to investigate if there was a difference in the bacterial flora between the nasal vestibule and cavity as well as their antibiotic susceptibility in haemodialysis. Swab samples obtained from 35 haemodialysis patients were subjected to conventional microbiological methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed for Staphylococcus spp. using cephazolin, cephaclor, trimetoprim + sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, oxacillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ampicillin + sulbactam and amoxicillin + clavulanic acid. Staphylococcus spp. was found more often in the vestibule than in the cavity (88.5 vs. 77.1%). The effectiveness of clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline was particularly striking for the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci isolates. In conclusion, existence of difference in bacterial flora between the nasal cavity and vestibule and their responsiveness to antibacterial agents may require reconsideration of elimination of secondary infections in haemodialysis patients.

Effect of dantrolene on lipid peroxidation, lutathione and glutathione-dependent enzyme activities in experimental otitis media with effusion in guinea pigs.

The aims of our study were to assess whether the increased oxidative stress in experimental otitis media with effusion (OME) induced by histamine was reflected erythrocytes and middle ear effusion fluid by lipid peroxidation; to survey the alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental OME; and to determine the effect of dantrolene on this oxidative stress. Erythrocyte and middle ear effusion malondialdehyde (MDA) level, erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GRD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were measured in three groups of seven guinea pigs, 3 hours after injection of 0.1 mL of histamine (or saline) into the middle ear in guinea pigs with OME (experimental group), in a dantrolene sodium group and in a control group. Erythrocyte and effusion MDA levels in the dantrolene group were significantly lower than those of the experimental group. Erythrocyte GSH-Px, GST, GRD activities, and GSH levels were significantly higher in the dantrolene group than in the experimental group. Dantrolene sodium decreased the erythrocyte and effusion MDA levels, on the other hand, it increased the GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes. These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in histamine-induced OME. Pre-treatment with dantrolene sodium increases antioxidant enzymes activities and decreases formation of MDA, the indicator of lipid peroxidation, in histamine-induced OME.

Comparative cochlear toxicities of streptomycin, gentamicin, amikacin and netilmicin in guinea-pigs.

All the aminoglycoside antibiotics now in clinical use are ototoxic. This study was designed to compare the toxic effects of four aminoglycoside antibiotics, streptomycin, gentamicin, amikacin and netilmicin, administered to guinea-pigs systemically (at respective doses of 125 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg or 37.5 mg/kg, twice daily for 1 week) or topically via the transtympanic route (0.25 ml/kg in 4% saline, twice daily for 1 week). Chosen doses were 10-20 times higher than the recommended human dosage. Cochlear damage was observed in all animals that were given systemic and local aminoglycosides. The severity of the cochlear damage was in the order gentamicin, amikacin, streptomycin, netilmicin, with gentamicin being the most toxic. No statistically significant difference between the severity of cochlear damage resulting from the systemic and topical applications was detected.

The association of secondary tonsillar and laryngeal tuberculosis: a case report and literature review.

Tonsillar and laryngeal tuberculosis are rare diseases. We report a case with a tonsillar and laryngeal lesion. Histopathological and bacteriological examinations established the diagnosis of tonsillar and laryngeal tuberculosis associated with asymptomatic pulmonary focus.