<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The aim of the study was to discern the patterns in microbial diversity and the resistogram among the patients suffering from CSOM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A total number of 100 ear swabs were investigated for the present study. Their gram staining, direct microscopy with KOH, culture sensitivity, and biochemical tests were carried out to identify the organisms and to know their sensitivity pattern. All the swabs were collected from clinically diagnosed cases of chronic suppurative otitis media visiting otolaryngology outpatient department of tertiary care hospital. The study period was one year, from January 2016 to December 2017.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of total 100 cases, 90 were culture<strong> </strong>positives, 6 showed no growth and 4 were<strong> </strong>skin contaminants (mirococci). Out of 90 culture positives, fungal culture was positive in 5 (5.5%) while combined bacteria and fungi obtained in 18 (20%) cases and only bacteria in 67 (74.4%) cases. Among the aerobic bacterial isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacteria isolated from the bacterial culture (n=36; 34.95%) followed by <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>(n=28; 27.18%) and <em>Proteus</em> (n=13; 12.62%). Among the fungal isolates,<strong> </strong><em>Aspergillus niger </em>was predominant followed<strong> </strong>by Candida <em>albicans </em>&amp; <em>Aspergillus flavus.</em> Amikacin and imipenem were found to be the most effective antibiotics with low resistance rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The present study gave an insight into the bacteriological profile of the cases of CSOM and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. This in turn will ensure rational and judicious use of antibiotics and thus prevent emergence of resistant bugs and also the complications associated with CSOM.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Vocal cord paralysis is a clinical sign caused by paralysis of intrinsic muscles of larynx due to dysfunction of recurrent laryngeal nerve or injury to the vagus nerve. One of the common and effective methods of medialization is by using silicone implants. This study was aimed at prospectively assessing and analysing the vocal outcomes and quality of life of patients in type 1 medialization thyroplasty using silicone implants.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Prospective study of 18 months was done on 17 patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Surgical procedure for the patients was standardized by using silicon implant to medialize the cord. The parameters used for the pre and post treatment objective analysis were stroboscopic analysis, psychoacoustic evaluation, maximum phonation time (MPT) and patient’s self-assessment.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In our study all 17 patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis who were subjected to vocal cord medialization using silicone implant showed a statistically highly significant improvement in all the parameters of assessment. The mean preoperative MPT was 7.260 and post-operative MPT showed significant improvement and was 17.428 seconds. mean preoperative GRBAS score was 11.695 and post-operative was 3.826. Similarly, pre op vocal handicap index was 31.173 which decreased significantly after the procedure was 7.695.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In the present study, we obtained favourable results of medialization thyroplasty as expressed by objective analysis of voice including GRABS score and acoustic analysis as well as maximum phonation time apart from traditional voice recording.</p><p> </p>

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> We sought to evaluate the combination of high-dose prebreakfast proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (40 mg pantoprazole) and a bedtime high-dose ranitidine (300 mg) dosing as a surrogate and rational regimen for LPR.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 60 subjects that presented to ENT and HNS OPD with symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) were prospectively evaluated and underwent a comprehensive otolaryngological examination. All subjects were treated sequentially and outcomes recorded using reflux finding score (RFS) and reflux symptom index (RSI).  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The mean age of the cohort was 35±06.51 (age range, 8-55). Mean RSI of all patients was 24.8 before treatment with combination of PPIs and H2 receptor antagonists. Significant change in RSI were observed after the first 8 weeks of therapy and no further significant changes were observed over the next 16 weeks. Mean RFS of the patients was 12 before starting the treatment and there was a significant response in mean RFS at 16 weeks of therapy.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A surrogate high-dose prebreakfast PPI (40 mg pantoprazole) and a bedtime high-dose ranitidine (300 mg) dosing regimen is effective in improving RSI and RFS in majority of cases who present with LPR.</p><p class="abstract"> </p>

Hearing impairment is the most common form of sensory disorder in humans.Audiological profile of neonates born at a tertiary care centre in Kashmir was conducted to calculate the prevalence of hearing impairment in the study population. Out of 1800 neonates 962 (53.4%) were females rest being males with a sex ratio of 1.15:1.On initial screening 91.2% (n=1642) of subjects had bilaterally present OAE (B/L PASS).The prevalence of hearing loss in not at risk was 2.97 per 1000 and in high risk was 8.04 per 1000.The combined overall prevalence was found to be 4.07 per 1000.Radiological imaging was the next mode of evaluation in these subjects and included HRCT temporal bone and MRI brain and inner ear.