Effects of Anatolian Propolis and Hypertonic Saline Combination Nasal Spray on Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms: A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how Rhinapi nasal spray affects symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational study, 10,000 patients (comprising 5028 males and 4972 females) exhibiting symptoms of allergic rhinitis (namely, nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal itching, and nasal obstruction) from different centers in different regions of Turkey were enrolled in the study between March 2022 and March 2023. All the patients wanted to participate in the study and were administered Rhinapi one puff to each nostril three times a day, for a period of 3 weeks. Total symptom scores, quality of life (QoL) scores, and otolaryngological examination scores were evaluated before and 3 weeks after treatment. Results: The scores for discharge from the nose, sneezing, nasal pruritus, and blockage of the nose all indicated improvement when compared to pre-medication and post-medication. This difference achieved statistical significance (P < .001). The mean total symptom score fell following treatment (P < .001): whilst the score was 11.09 ± 3.41 before administering Rhinapi; after administration, the average score was 6.23 ± 2.41. The mean QoL scores also altered after medication (P < .001), improving from a mean value of 6.44 ± 1.55 to a mean of 7.31 ± 1.24. Significant improvement was also noted in the scores for conchal color and degree of edema after the treatment had been administered (P < .001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that Rhinapi nasal spray decreases total symptom scores, and results in improved QoL and otolaryngological examination scores. Propolis spray may be recommended for patients with allergic rhinitis alongside other treatments.

Olfactory Bulb Volume and Morphology Changes in COVID-19 Patients With Olfactory Disorders Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study are to explore the morphological changes of olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory sulcus in COVID-19 patients with associated olfactory dysfunction (OD) by measuring the OB volume (OBV) and olfactory sulcus depth (OSD) and to compare the measurement values with those of healthy individuals. METHODS: Between March 2020 and January 2022, 31 consecutive hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 with anosmia and hyposmia who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and 35 normosmic control individuals were retrospectively included in the study. Bilateral OBV and OSD were measured and shape of the OB was determined based on the consensus by a neuroradiologist and an otorrhynolaryngologist. RESULTS: The mean measurements for the right and the left sides for OBV (38 ± 8.5 and 37.1 ± 8.4, respectively) and OSD (7.4 ± 0.1 and 7.4 ± 1.0 mm, respectively) were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients with OD than those in control group (for the right and the left sides mean OBV 56.3 ± 17.1 and 49.1 ± 13.5, respectively, and mean OSD 9.6 ± 0.8 and 9.4 ± 0.8 mm, respectively). Abnormally shaped OB (lobulated, rectangular, or atrophic) were higher in patient group than those of controls.For the optimal cutoff values, OBV showed sensitivity and specificity values of 90.32% and, 57.14%, for the right, and 87.1% and 62.86% for the left side, respectively (area under the curve, 0.819 and 0.780). Olfactory sulcus depth showed sensitivity and specificity values of 90.32% and 94.29%, for the right, and 96.77% and 85.71%, for the left side, respectively (area under the curve, 0.960 and 0.944). CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in OBV and OSD measurements in COVID-19 patients with OD at the early chronic stage of the disease supports direct damage to olfactory neuronal pathways and may be used to monitor olfactory nerve renewal while returning back to normal function.

Serum hepcidin and paraoxonase levels in patients with severe, moderate, and mild obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAS): A comparison between OSAS patients and simple snoring patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the importance of hepcidin and paraoxonase in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with sleep disorders were included and divided into four groups: simple snoring (SS), mild, moderate, and severe OSAS. All patients underwent polysomnography. The hepcidin and paraoxonase levels were examined and compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the four groups in terms of paraoxonase levels. In the SS group, the paraoxonase value was significantly higher than in the other three groups. In the analysis, Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was negatively correlated with paraoxonase levels. CONCLUSION: A significant difference was found between the OSAS groups with respect to paraoxonase enzyme, and a negative correlation with AHI was observed. Paraoxonase level could be used as a biomarker in OSAS. No significant data was found for hepcidin levels; therefore, hepcidin cannot be used as a biomarker in OSAS.

Reliability of CIR-S using the subperiosteal pocket technique under 2 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: It is aimed in this study to investigate the reliability of the cochlear implant receiver-stimulator (CIR-S) placement using unfixed subperiosteal tight pocket technique and the postoperative soft tissue changes that occur around the CIR-S, in toddlers under 2 years of age. METHODS: Nonsyndromic toddlers with normal radiological findings and who were planned to have cochlear implantation were included in the study. Preoperative and postoperative complications, device migration, and postoperative soft tissue changes occurred around the CIR were analyzed using objective methods. RESULTS: Twenty-six toddlers aged between 12 and 24 months who met the study criteria were followed up for a mean follow-up duration of 18 months. No intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications and device migration were observed in any of the cases included in the study. CONCLUSION: It was concluded as a result of this study that cochlear implant receiver-stimulator placement using the subperiosteal pocket technique is reliable in toddlers under 2 years of age, provided that the small incision tight subperiostal pocket technique is performed meticulously without fixation and well drilling, and that device-protective changes occur in the tissues around the CIR-S over time with the use of the device and as the child skull develops.

Assessment of medical students' attitudes on social media use in medicine: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Social media has created a revolution in health services. Information available on the Internet and via social media is now being used as reference guides for sensitive health issues by nonprofessionals, physicians, and medical students. When used by physicians and medical students, social media has the potential to raise issues such as the blurring of the line between professional and private lives, patient relations, and medical ethics. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the use of social media and attitudes toward its use in medicine among medical students. METHODS: Medical students from Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine (Afyonkarahisar, Turkey) were asked to participate in a survey consisting of two sections, the first containing questions assessing the frequency of social media use and the second regarding attitudes toward the use of social media in medicine. RESULTS: Survey responses indicated that 93.4% of medical students used social media and 89.3% used social media for professional purposes. Factor analysis showed that attitudes toward social media are based on five factors: professional usefulness, popularity, ethics, barriers, and innovativeness. A structural equation model revealed the highest positive correlation between usefulness and innovativeness; ethics had a low but positive correlation with other factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although social media is being used extensively by medical students, they appear unaware of possible ethical issues. Therefore, social media guidelines should be developed.