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Purpose: This study explores the changes in hearing thresholds in pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective hospital-based observational study was performed with a total of 69 patients in the age-group of 18 to 40 years. Patients underwent hearing assessment twice during the study period. Conventional pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry were performed, first during the antepartum period (28-32 weeks of gestational age) and second time during the postpartum period (6 weeks postpartum). Results: Significant difference was seen between the average of air conduction threshold values at speech frequencies when antepartum values were compared with postpartum values. Conclusion: The alterations in hearing sensitivity in pregnant females which improved during the postpartum period can be attributed to pregnancy.

Objectives:To study the presence of biofilms in patients of chronic otitis media (COM)-active squamosal disease and to evaluate the microflora and clinical impact of biofilms.Methods:A total of 35 patients suffering from COM – active squamosal disease was studied. Cholesteatoma sample was collected at the time of mastoid surgery and the same was used to image for biofilms by scanning electron microscope. The said sample was also analyzed microbiologically.Results:Biofilms were present in 25 (72%) patients including 6 cases of fungal biofilms (24%). Biofilms were detected irrespective of the micro-organism growth. No statistically significant relationship was observed between biofilms and discharging ear and complications of COM. Though univariate analysis of our data found some correlation between duration of disease, the extent of cholesteatoma and ossicular necrosis but multivariate analysis revealed no such associations, thereby implying a doubtful association between these factors and biofilm.Conclusions:Biofilms are an integral part of cholesteatoma ear disease and sometimes harbors fungal isolates.

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