Background: We evaluated the long-term recovery rate of coronavirus disease 2019-related olfactory disorders.
Methods: Patients who had been diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and had olfactory disorders due to
coronavirus disease 2019 were included in the study. The odor threshold was tested using a modification of the
Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center olfactory function test. Patients who had anosmia or hyposmia
during the illness were summoned to the hospital to undergo the second odor threshold test, 6 months after the first
diagnosis date.
Results: Thirty-five patients (21 females and 14 males) participated in this study. The mean age was 52.83 ± 16.40 years.
The mean odor threshold results for the first day and sixth month were 2.46±1.62 and 4.74±0.78, respectively. The
mean odor gain score was 2.29±1.5. Gender, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results, and the presence
of pneumonia were compared according to their average olfactory gain, and no statistically significant difference
was found. The olfactory gain score was higher in those without cough complaints (P = .039) and those with
taste loss complaints (P = .044). Other complaints (odor loss, fever, headache, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, myalgia,
palpitation, joint pain, and back pain) had no effect on the olfactory gain score. No significant correlation was found
between olfactory gain and age (P = .755).
Conclusions: Few patients with odor dysfunction returned to the “normal” limits. The remainder of the group performed
better in odor function; none of the patients had ongoing anosmia.
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Background: Anatomical variations and pathologies in the sinonasal region are a known principal cause or trigger
of headaches. The purpose of the present study was to determine the frequency of sinonasal pathologies in patients
with tension-type headache and their association with the disease.
Methods: Patients presenting to the Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital Neurology Clinic between 2019 and
2021 and diagnosed with a tension-type headache based on the International Headache Society 2018 classification
were investigated retrospectively. Patients were examined in terms of cranial magnetic resonance imaging sinonasal
anomalies, and the findings were recorded. Sinonasal lesions were classified as septal deviation, inferior turbinate
hypertrophy, concha bullosa, and sinus retention cyst.
Results: The incidence of septal deviation was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group
(P = .019). The incidence of tension-type headache was 2.2-fold higher among individuals with septal deviation compared
to those with no such deviation (95% CI: 1.13-4.39). Comorbid septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy
were observed in 18.1% of the patients in the study, septal deviation and concha bullosa in 1.6%, and septal
deviation and sinus retention cyst in 2.1%, but no significant difference was determined in distributions between the
patient and control groups.
Conclusion: It should be remembered that an accompanying pathology in patients with tension-type headache
can further exacerbate existing symptoms or else can be the primary cause of headache. Patients must undergo a
detailed ear, nose, and throat examination in terms of identifying mucosal contact points and sinonasal pathologies.
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Background: To determine the effectiveness of the Eustachian tube balloon dilatation procedure by comparing tympanometry,
audiometry, Visual Analog Scale, mucosal inflammation score, and related otoscopy findings in patients
who were given nasal steroid spray
Methods: The patients were divided into 2 groups that included 20 patients each: as the groups undergoing
Eustachian tube balloon dilation and that using nasal decongestant with nasal steroid spray.
Results: All cases were successfully dilated without major complications. There was a significant difference in the
Visual Analog Scale score, third-month pain, and membrane findings. No significant difference was found in the
mucosal inflammation score, air-bone gap improvement, intranasal volume values, and computed tomography
findings.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that balloon dilation of the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube was
more effective than nasal steroid treatment without significant complications.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a serious problem adversely affecting public health. The present
study has been conducted in an attempt to evaluate the nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus before and during
the pandemic.
Methods: In this study, the results of nasal cultures taken from patients who applied to our hospital for screening
before and during the pandemic were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: In total, 2707 patients participated in the study. Out of these patients, 1602 were admitted to our hospital
in 2019 and 1105 in 2020. According to the results of the study, the detection rates of Staphylococcus aureus
were found to be 5.1% and 0.8% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Such a decrease occurring during the time of the
Covid-19 pandemic period was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 36.61; P = .000). On the other hand, an increase
was detected in the rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus during the pandemic. It was determined to be
17.3% in 2019 whereas it was 55.6% in 2020. This was found to be statistically significant (χ2 = 7.12; P = .008).
Conclusions: According to this study, there was a sharp decrease in Staphylococcus aureus carriage during the pandemic
period compared to pre-pandemic, while methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates increased more
than 3 folds. This increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates may be due to the increasing trend of
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in recent years or may indicate that it depends on the measures associated
with the pandemic. Further research in this area is essential.
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Objective: Epistaxis is one of the common complications after septoplasty. The type of packs more effective in preventing bleeding after the surgery is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of airway Doyle Silicone pack, Merocel pack, and the combination of Merocel and silicone packs on pain, bleeding, and mucociliary clearance after septoplasty.Material and Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study. A total of 75 patients who underwent septoplasty were divided into 3 groups: silicone pack was applied to the first group (termed group S), Merocel pack was applied to the second group (termed group M), and a combination of Merocel and silicone packs was applied to the third group (termed group M+S). The amount of bleeding, the intensity of pain, and mucociliary clearance duration were compared.Results: The amount of bleeding in group M+Swas significantly lower than that in group S (p<.001). The amount of bleeding in group M+Swas significantly lower than that in group M (P=.003). Pain was significantly lower in group S than in groups M and M+S (p<.001 and p=.024).Conclusion: It was determined that combined use of silicone and Merocel packs after septoplasty caused less bleeding than the useof silicone pack or Merocel pack alone. The combined use of Merocel and silicone packs can be a good alternative packing method because it reduces nasal bleeding after septoplasty.
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Objective: This study aimed to determine the age groups at risk of nasal cavity foreign bodies, investigate the types of materials that might pose a danger and the measures that can be taken to avoid them, as well as to evaluate these measures in the light of the literature.Material and Methods: The files of patients diagnosed with foreign body in the nose who were admitted to the Emergency Service or Ear-Nose-Throat Clinic in our hospital between January and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Various parameters such as the variety and frequency of foreign bodies, the nostril in which they were placed, the foreign body observed as per the age group, and gender were recorded. Patients who were admitted and completed their treatment in the pediatric clinic were excluded from the study. Clinical symptoms and treatment protocols were investigated and these cases were discussed in the light of the literature.Results: A total of 120 patients applied to our hospital during the study period. Seventy-nine of them (65.8%) were male and 41 (34.2%) were female patients. The average age was 4.25 years (13 months to 74 years). Endoscopic nasal examination was performed in the outpatient clinic. Foreign bodies were removed from the right nasal passage in 70 (58.3%), left nasal passage in 47 (39.2%), and both nasal passages in three (2.5%) cases. Treatment of 113 patients (94.2%) was successfully completed in the outpatient clinic. In the remaining seven patients (5.8%), foreign bodies were removed under sedation in the operating room. Five of the patients who underwent sedation were children and two were adult patients. Smelly rhinolith fragments could be removed from adult patients by breaking them. The limestone plaques formed around it caused bleeding. After the procedure, merocele tampon was placed. Most of the patients were between 0–5 years old in the pre-school group (n=94, 78.3%). This was followed by the school age group of children aged 6-15 years (n=17, 14.2%). The lowest proportion was the group consisting of adults aged 16 years and above (n=9, 7.5). The most common foreign bodies were small pieces of plastic toys (n=37, 30.8%). The most common age group in which the plastic toy parts were encountered was the 0–5 years age group (n=29, 78.4%). The second most common foreign bodies (n=23, 19.2%) were granular foods such as roasted chickpeas, hazelnuts, corn, and pomegranate seeds. The most common age group in which the granular foods were encountered was the pre-school age group with children aged 0–5 years (n=19, 82.6%).Conclusion: The presence of foreign bodies in the nasal cavity is a common problem in otolaryngology, especially in the pediatric age group. It can cause serious side effects such as aspiration and obstruction; therefore, immediate intervention is required. Parents should be informed about this issue. Warning notices should be written especially on plastic toys that they may be dangerous for younger age groups.
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Objective: The variations of the nasal turbinates have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis. Accordingly, this study aimed at elucidating the variations of the nasal turbinates in adults.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Radiology Department of a teaching hospital. Following ethical approval, brain CT scan images of 336 patients aged 20-99 years were used to study the nasal turbinates. Datawere analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 (IBM SPSS Corp.; Armonk, NY, USA)and summarized in frequencies. Chi-square test was used to evaluate for gender and side differences in the frequencies of the variants. A P-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Concha bullosa (CB) was the commonest variant (28.6%) followed by the paradoxically curved middle turbinate (PMT) (14.3%) and inferior turbinate hypertrophy (14.3%). The least prevalent variants were pneumatized superiorturbinate (6.5%) and hypoplastic inferior turbinate (4.5%). None of the variants showed a statistically significant genderdifference (P > .05). Both CB and PMT showed a statistically significant side difference (P ¼ .001).Conclusion: The presence of the variants of the nasal turbinates in this study emphasizes on the need for preoperative imaging prior to functional endoscopic sinus surgery, which is becoming popular among otolaryngologists. Thiswill ensure the successful restoration of sinus ventilation and drainage and minimize complications.
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Background and Aim: There are various studies on the inflammatory pathogenesis of nasal polyposis (NP). It hasbeen suggested that discoidin domain receptor-1 (DDR1) and collagen type 4A (COL4A) have a role in formation ofinflammatory responses in the tissue microenvironment. The aim of the study was to study the expressions of DDR1and COL4A in NP, and nasal mucosa.Materials and Methods: This randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study was conducted on 17 patients’ NPtissue and 24 subjects’ inferior nasal turbinate. DDR1 and COL4A expressions were determined by quantitative realtime PCR. Histopathologic examinations were also carried out. Protein levels of the samples were determined usingELISA. The associations between the parameters were explored.Results: DDR1 and COL4A transcripts were found at similar levels in all of the samples. There were correlationsbetween DDR1 and COL4A mRNA levels in both the NP and control groups. There was also a negative correlationbetween extracellular edema and COL4A protein levels in NP.Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report DDR1 expression in NP tissue. We did not find any significant differences between NP and inferior nasal turbinate in terms of expressions of DDR1 and COL4A. Prospectivestudies with large populations should be planned for understanding DDR1 role in NP.
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