The aims of this study were to evaluate serum vitamin D levels in cases of recurrent otitis media and investigate the effect of vitamin D therapy on the risk of re-occurrence of the disease. This prospective study was performed by comparing serum vitamin D levels in children with recurrent otitis media and healthy children. Eighty-four children between 1 and 5 years of age and diagnosed with recurrent otitis media were enrolled as the study group. One hundred-and-eight healthy children with similar demographic characteristics were enrolled as the control group. Patients were divided into groups according to their serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels. In patients with low initial serum vitamin D levels, vitamin D therapy was administered in addition to conventional treatment for otitis media. Mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D level in the study group was 11.4 ± 9.8 ng/mL Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were below 20 ng/mL in 69 % (n = 58) of cases in this group. In the control group, mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D level was 29.2 ± 13.9 ng/mL and was below 20 ng/mL in 30 % (n = 32) of cases. Comparison of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels and PTH in the study and control groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Treatment was initiated in cases diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, and patients were followed up in due course. The only episodes detected over the course of 1-year follow-up were one attack in five patients and two attacks in two. We believe that co-administration of supplementary vitamin D together with conventional treatments is appropriate in the management of upper respiratory infections such as otitis media.

We determined that laryngeal cancer was associated with oxidative stress, which may be quantified by measuring 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. For a patient with a suspicious laryngeal lesion, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in blood and urine can provide advance information about the likely diagnosis.

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The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of otologic complaints in patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) closed lock (CL), and to evaluate the efficacy of arthrocentesis in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with otologic symptoms. Fifty-seven patients with TMJ CL were included in this study. The pre-treatment evaluations included assessment of the maximum mouth opening (MMO); pain level in palpation of the affected TMJ; pain level with function; and otologic complaints, including otalgia, tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss. Arthrocentesis treatment was performed for all the patients, and post-treatment data were recorded 1 month later. Before arthrocentesis and lavage, the mean MMO was 24.67 ± 4.61 mm; the mean tenderness score was 7.02 ± 1.09; and the mean score for pain in function was 6.86 ± 1.31. Following TMJ arthrocentesis and lavage, the mean MMO was 39.81 mm ± 4.56 mm; the mean tenderness score was 2.37 ± 0.65; and the mean score for pain in function was 2.45 ± 0.69. Seventeen (29.82%) patients reported at least 1 otologic complaint, 17 (29.82%) patients reported otalgia, and 8 (14.04%) patients reported tinnitus. Vertigo was noted in 5 (8.77%) patients. Complaints of hearing loss were not noted in any of the patients. After treatment, 14 patients no longer complained of otalgia, 5 patients no longer complained of tinnitus, and 2 patients no longer complained of vertigo. This represented a significant improvement in the patients' condition, especially in patients with otalgia (P < 0.0006). As evident from the results of this study, arthrocentesis procedures reduce both TMD symptoms and otologic complaints.

Mucoceles