No abstract

Species of Aspergillus (A.) niger complex and A. flavus complex are predominant molds that are causative agents of otomycoses. The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedure, and appearance of relapse in patients with Aspergillus-otomycosis, as well as to determine the biofilm production ability of species isolated in relapse. Thirty patients with laboratory evidenced Aspergillus-otomycosis followed by two check-ups (30 and 60 days after initiation of treatment with antimycotics for local application) were included in the study. For isolation and identification of Aspergillus spp. the standard mycological procedure was applied. Results showed very high sensitivity of microscopy, but 16.7% Aspergillus species required the optimal temperature of 27–28 °C for cultivation. Applied statistical cluster analysis showed a defined specific cluster/group of patients with A. niger complex-otomycosis. Sixty days after diagnosis and treatment initiation, six patients had a relapse, with the same species of Aspergillus genus being the cause. To establish the ability of biofilm production, the modified method described by Pierce and Kvasničková was performed, and all six species isolated in the relapse episode had the ability to produce biofilm. Official criteria and recommendations are needed due to the possibility of misdiagnosis, which leads to the prolongation and complication of the disease.

Background and Objectives: The relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) has been analysed for over four decades. However, this relationship has remained controversial. Numerous observational and longitudinal studies have shown an inverse association between the two diseases and a protective effect of one against the other. On the other hand, some studies show that patients with OA have impaired bone strength and are more prone to fractures. The study’s main objective was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and hip (femoral neck) of postmenopausal women of different ages, with radiologically determined OA of the hip and knee, as well as to determine the correlation between BMD values and age in the experimental group. Materials and Methods: The retrospective cohort study included 7018 patients with osteoarthritis of peripheral joints and the spine, examined by a rheumatologist in an outpatient rheumatology clinic at the Institute for Treatment and Rehabilitation, Niška Banja from July 2019 to March 2021. A nested anamnestic study was conducted within the cohort study of patients, and it included two groups: an experimental group composed of 60 postmenopausal women, and a control group composed of the same number of women. Out of 120 patients, 24 did not meet the criteria for the continuation of the study (due to technical errors—radiographic and/or densitometry artefacts). Fifty-six postmenopausal women (aged 45–77 years) with hip and knee radiological OA were examined as an experimental group. The participants were divided into two subgroups according to age (45–60 years and over 61 years). The control group included 40 healthy postmenopausal women of the same age range, without radiological OA, with normal BMD of the hip and spine. All patients with OA met the American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria. OA of the hip and knee was determined radiologically according to Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) classification, and patients were included in the study if a K&L grade of at least ≥ 2 was present. Hip and spine BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Compared to the control group, we found statistically significantly lower BMD and T-scores of the spine in older postmenopausal women: BMD (g/cm2), p = 0.014; T-score, p = 0.007, as well as of the hip: BMD (g/cm2), p = 0.024; T-score p < 0.001. The values of BMD and T-score of the spine and hip are lower in more severe forms of OA (X-ray stage 3 and 4, according to K&L), p < 0.001. We found negative correlation between BMD and T-score and age only for the hip: BMD (g/cm2), ρ = 0.378, p = 0.005; T-score ρ = −0.349, p = 0.010. Conclusions: Older postmenopausal women with radiographic hip and knee OA had significantly lower BMD of the hip and spine as compared to the control group without OA, pointing to the need for the prevention and treatment of OA, as well as early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of low bone mineral density.

We hypothesized that some characteristics of beta-blockers, including negative inotropic, peripheral vasoconstrictor, and antiangiogenic effects, might be potentially useful in treating children with epistaxis. From June 2010 to March 2012, a total of seven children with recurrent primary epistaxis resistant to conventional management were observed at our institution. An overall effectiveness of propranolol was noted in all seven children when given a dose of 1.5–2 mg/kg/day (divided into three doses) as a second line therapy for terminating epistaxis. Based on our first experience, we believe that propranolol could be a favorable treatment option for patients with primary epistaxis.

Background. The incidence of hearing loss is constantly increasing and according to the World Health Organization, by 2050, 900 million people will suffer from hearing loss. The main Objective of the study was to determine the differences between the severity of the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in participants with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional aim was to examine the extent and manner in which protective face masks impact the communication of people with hearing loss. Matrials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 160 patients (81 men and 79 women) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The patients’ age range was 50 to 80 years. Depending on the degree of hearing loss or pure-tone threshold, the participants were divided into four groups: mild hearing loss, moderate hearing loss, severe hearing loss and profound hearing loss. The research used the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and a questionnaire in which the participants reported whether surgical face masks (medical three-layer masks) worn by speakers makes communication difficult, to what extent and in what way. Results: The average age of the patients was 67.97 ± 8.16. A significant correlation was found between the degree of hearing loss and communication difficulties caused by the use of protective face masks (p < 0.001). For patients with severe and profound hearing loss, communication is significantly more difficult (50.0% and 45.0% respectively) when the interlocutor wears a face mask. There is a significant correlation between the degree of hearing loss and the way in which communication is made more difficult when the interlocutor wears a face mask (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was determined between the degrees of hearing loss in all measured subscales: stress (p = 0.024), anxiety (p = 0.026) and depression (p = 0.016). Conclusions: We have determined that face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly hamper communication among the study groups (p = 0.007) and there is a significant correlation between the degree of sensorineural hearing loss and the presence of symptoms in all three DASS-21 subscales, meaning that the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression were more intense in severe and profound hearing loss.