It was detected that RFTA has no adverse effect on mucociliary activity in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and this method is notably effective in relieving the nasal obstruction caused by inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

We present a case with laryngeal melanosis and discuss the clinical significance of this condition. A 58-year-old male patient was referred to the otolaryngology department with a 2-month history of hoarseness. He had a history of smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 40 years. Videolaryngosgopic examination showed chronic laryngitis findings with multifocal pigmented pachydermic areas. Multiple biopsies were performed by laryngomicrosurgery. Pathological examination revealed laryngeal melanosis. As the number is not much enough, the association of laryngeal melanosis and carcinogenesis seems to be controversial. In the point of management, we have to be aware of the risks of laryngeal melanosis, such as developing neoplasm, and monitor the patients closely by periodical examinations and biopsies and advise the patients to stop smoking.

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The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of caspofungin and voriconazole in the treatment of experimental Aspergillus otitis media in an experimental rabbit model. A total of 30 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four treatment groups and one control group. The rabbits were immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide and triamcinolone acetonide. The right ear of each rabbit was infected by an injection of the inoculum of 0.1 ml (8.6 x 103 CFU/0.1 ml) of Aspergillus fumigatus into the middle ear cavity. At 72 h after the inoculation, amphotericin B 1 mg/kg per day (n = 6), itraconazole 10 mg/kg per day (n = 6), voriconazole 10 mg/kg per day (n = 6) and caspofungin 5 mg/kg per day (n = 6) were injected to each treatment group. No antifungal drug was administered to the control group (n = 6). Clinical and histopathological examination scores and microbiological analysis of middle ear mucosa were compared.There was statistically significant difference in the clinical scores, histopathological scores, and mean CFU/g between the treatment and control groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among the treatment groups in the clinical and histopathological scores, whereas there was statistically significant difference in the mean CFU/g (P < 0.05). The mean CFU/g of amphotericin B and caspofungin groups were similar and both were lower than the itraconazole and voriconazole groups. Also, the mean CFU/g of voriconazole group was lower than the itraconazole group (P < 0.05). Caspofungin and voriconazole were demonstrated at least as effective as amphotericin B and itraconazole. We suggest that caspofungin and voriconazole may be considered for the treatment of fungal infection of the ear.

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