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OBJECTIVES: Nasal polyposis (NP) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Honey has several anti-microbial, anti-oxidants, healing, and anti-inflammatory properties which may reduce the need for steroids in this situation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to show the effect of standardized honey on mucosal healing of the nose and paranasal sinuses after polypectomy. DESIGN AND METHOD: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 28 patients with nasal polyposis underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Besides common post-op medications, normal saline (as a placebo) and diluted processed honey were used separately in the two nostrils of each patient. Two endoscopic follow-ups using the Philppot-Javer (P-J) scoring system were performed to assess the healing and recurrence of polyps on either side. The secondary outcome measure was the patients' satisfaction rate. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 38.03±11.9 years. 15(57.7%) had a positive prick test and also 15(57.7%) had dense eosinophilic infiltration in their surgical specimens. In the first and second follow-up sessions, total P-J scores showed better results for honey in comparison to the normal saline side but that results were not significantly different (P=0.93, P=0.07); whereas it is fair to say that in the second follow-up, the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses demonstrated a greater difference compared to the other sites based on their averages but there were not significantly meaningful (P=0.05, P=0.06). The total score also showed better results for honey in comparison to the normal saline side but was statistically insignificant (P=0.07). CONCLUSION: Diluted honey seems to have certain positive effects in reducing post-operative edema and the recurrence of nasal polyps in at least the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses; although this positive effect did not result in significant changes. (www.actabiomedica.it).

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BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common allergic diseases and characterised by sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion and nasopharyngeal itching. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for specific allergens is an effective treatment and induces the inhibitory effect of T regulatory lymphocytes and decreases clinical symptoms in allergic rhinitis. AIM: In this study effect of subcutaneous immunotherapy with specific allergens on clinical symptoms and T regulatory and T Helper cells cytokines, in patients with allergic rhinitis are evaluated. METHODS: In this study, 30 patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis according to clinical criteria and positive skin prick test for aeroallergens were selected and treated by SCIT. Clinical symptoms and T cells cytokines IL4, IL17, IFN gamma, TGF beta, GITR, FOXP3 and IL-10 (by RT-PCR) were evaluated before and one year after initiation of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty (30) patients with allergic rhinitis at age range 15-45 years old were treated by SCIT, and 23 (14 female, 9 male) patients continued the study, and 7 patients did not continue treatment. After immunotherapy, clinical symptoms decreased significantly. The specific cytokines TGF beta and IL10 levels increased and changes were statistically significant. (Respectively P = 0.013 and P = 0.05) The IL17 level was also increased, but not statistically significant. (P = 0.8) IFN gamma, IL4, GITR, FOXP3, all decreased, but the changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous Immunotherapy for specific allergens decreases clinical symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis and induces tolerance in T lymphocytes, especially by increasing T regulatory cells cytokines, TGF beta and IL10.

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INTRODUCTION: The coexistence of asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is more common than expected given their individual prevalence in the general population and may affect patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma in chronic rhinosinusitis in Mashhad, Northeast Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed in two university hospital from November 2012 for 12 months. In total, 153 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were enrolled and referred to a particular pulmonologist for asthma evaluation. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 40.54±13.11 years, and 41.8% were male. In total, 63.4% of patients had the polypoid form of CRS. The proportion of patients in this study with asthma was 41.8%, compared with a general asthma prevalence in this region of 13.5%. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of asthma among patients with CRS, but it often remains undiagnosed. Asthma in CRS patients should be diagnosed and treated in order to improve patient's quality of life. We recommend an evaluation of the lower airways in all of these patients as well as further studies in this field.

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OBJECTIVE: Distorted anatomy in laryngotracheal pathologies expresses the need to determine a quantitative mean of the distance between the anterior commissure of true vocal folds and the first tracheal ring to better define whether a lesion is in the subglottis or has extended toward the trachea. STUDY DESIGN: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: In 40 cadavers, the larynx was exposed with an apron cut. The laryngofissure cut opened the larynx via the lateral aspect so that the anterior commissure was exposed. A needle was passed through the thyroid cartilage to reach the anterior commissure. The second needle was crossed over the first tracheal ring. The distance between the two needles was measured. RESULTS: The mean distance between the anterior commissure of true vocal folds and the first tracheal ring was 26.82 ± 4.28 mm (21.3-42.5 mm) in our subjects. This distance was 27.27 ± 4.45 and 25.05 ± 3.2 mm, in men and women, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between this distance with body mass index (BMI), age, and sex. CONCLUSIONS: The distance between the anterior commissure and the first tracheal ring in patients with laryngotracheal pathologies helps in determining the best therapeutic plan for patients.

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Nasal airway patency has long been considered a major factor in ear health. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sinonasal polyposis on middle ear and eustachian tube (ET) functionality. Forty-four individuals with polyposis, 23 with non-polyposis nasal obstruction, and 23 healthy controls were enrolled. Demographic, clinical and imaging data of all participants were collected and ET function tests and audiologic tests were performed. Hearing loss (p = 0.02), flat tympanogram (p = 0.02), disturbed Toynbee and Valsalva tests (p = 0.01), and the prevalence of allergy (p = 0.04) and purulent nasal discharge (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the polyposis group than the other groups. Regression analysis revealed that infection and allergy have more important roles in ET function than the nasal obstruction. Polyposis could impede ET function; however, it is probably not because of its obstructive nature, but because of the associated increased risk of infection.

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Acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion (OME) are the main causes of hearing impairment in children which require proper treatment, mainly antibiotic therapy. Patients whom were appropriate candidates for adenoidectomy were divided into two groups regarding the presence of middle ear effusion. Adenoid tissue specimens were cultured in both groups and the bacterial flora and anti-microbial resistance pattern were determined. 72 patients were studied, 42 % had OME while 58 % did not. The following bacteria were isolated and cultured from both groups with no meaningful difference in prevalence: Streptococcus viridans (p = 0.265), Staphylococcus aureus (p = 0.72), H. influenza (p = 0.806), Entrococcus. spp (0.391), Streptococcus pneumonia (p = 0.391), nonhemolytic Streptococcus (p = 0.230). Bacterial sensitivity was similar for Amoxicillin-clavulanate (p = 0.935), Amoxicillin (p = 0.935), Cephalexin (p = 0.806), Cefixime (p = 0.391) and Azithromycin in both groups. The two groups showed no meaningful difference considering the bacterial flora of nasopharynx and their sensitivity. Bacteria in both groups were sensitive to Amoxicillin and Amoxicillin-clavulanate and resistant to Azithromycin, Cefixime and Cephalexin.

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Turner syndrome (TS) is one of the most frequently encountered sex-linked chromosomal abnormalities, occurring in one per 2,000 female births. These patients present with short stature and failure to begin puberty. In this syndrome, there are multiple organ abnormalities, including auditory disorders. TS patients were referred to the ENT clinic by a pediatric endocrinologist. A questionnaire was filled out and the patients went through a complete otologic examination. They were then referred to the audiology clinic to undergo audiologic test battery plus high-frequency pure tone audiometry. From a total of 48 ears examined, 11 (22.9 %) had a normal audiometry. Mid-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), high-frequency SNHL, combined and mixed hearing loss were diagnosed in 6 (12/5 %), 20 (41/7 %), 6 (12/5 %) and 1 (2/1 %) ear, respectively. Tympanogram results showed normal compliance (A, As, Ad) in the majority of cases. B and C patterns were found in a few cases. Speech discrimination score was normal in all patients whereas speech reception threshold was normal in 92 % of the ears. Audiometry abnormality especially SNHL is common in TS patients, with the high-frequency pattern being the most frequent.

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INTRODUCTION: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide infection. Because of the vast array of manifestations of AIDS and its many atypical presentations, it is becoming increasingly challenging for clinicians to accurately diagnose new lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from 2007 to 2010, 50 patients with a proven human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were evaluated. Based on the findings of a physical examination and paraclinic tests, HIV signs and symptoms were recorded. RESULTS: The mean (range) age of the patients was 35.45 ±5.24 (5-55) years. Forty-two (84%) cases were male and eight were female. The mean duration of carrying the virus was 4.51 ±1.03 years. Oral manifestations were the most common (94%), followed by rhinologic (88%), otologic (66%), and finally neck (44%) manifestations. CONCLUSION: Head and neck presentations are very common in HIV patients; therefore otolaryngologists, as the first physicians who may encounter such patients, should be aware of this condition.