Background:Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the health problems in the world. It is necessary to develop new treatment procedure for control of this disease. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Zofa (Nepeta bracteata Benth) on AR patients.Materials and Methods:In this double-blind randomized clinical trial study, 71 patients (37 patients in treatment and 34 in placebo group) participated. In treatment group, N. bracteata syrup (NBS) was used for 4 weeks as three times a day. The efficacy of the drug regarding AR symptoms (rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal obstruction, itchy nose, and ocular symptoms) were evaluated through a visual analog scale (VAS) by 0–10 before administration and at the end of the whole treatment period. The collected information was entered in the SPSS software (version 18) and was analyzed using the Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and paired sample test.Results:The improvement of AR symptoms in the group receiving NBS was significantly higher compared to control group (4.73 ± 1.84 vs. 0.38 ± 2.06; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the mean of total VAS before and after the treatment (in case group) was 7.10 ± 1.92 and 2.37 ± 1.76, respectively (P < 0.001).Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that N. bracteata has significant effects on improving the symptoms of AR. Hence, it can be a good alternative to AR symptoms relief.

Background and Objectives: External dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the method of choice to treat nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction and the other approaches are compared with it, with a failure rate of 4% to 13%. The current study aimed to assess the causes of failure in external DCR by postoperative endoscopic and pathological evaluation. Methods: The current retrospective cross sectional study followed-up113 patients with external DCR and silicone intubation for three months. Silicone tubes were removed after the third months. Failure was confirmed based on the clinical findings and irrigation test. Paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scanning, and endoscopic and pathological evaluations were performed in the failed cases. Results: Totally, 113 patients underwent external DCR. The patients included 71 females and 42 males. The mean age of the patients was 55.91 years; ranged from 18 to 86. Epiphora was the most common complaint before surgery (90.3%). Clinically, epiphora continued in 17 cases (15%), of which 94.11% had at least one sinus CT abnormality and 82.35% had at least one endoscopic abnormality. The most common endoscopic findings were deviated septum (70.6%), scar tissue (52.94%), concha bullosa (46.9%), septal adhesion (47.05%), enlarged middle turbinate (41.2%), and sump syndrome (11.7%). The failure was significantly associated with the chronicity of the initial symptoms (P-value=0.00). Pathologically, there were significant relationship amongst the failure rate, scar formation, and allergic rhinitis (P-values =0.00 and <0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Preoperative endonasal evaluation and consultation with an otolaryngologist can improve surgical outcomes and help to have a better conscious to intranasal abnormalities before external DCR surgery.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of a teamwork revision endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in eyes with previously failed external DCR.Methods:This retrospective study was performed on 50 failed external DCR subjects who underwent a teamwork revision endoscopic DCR by an ophthalmologist and an otolaryngologist. Paranasal sinus CT scanning was performed for each patient before the revision surgery. During surgery, any abnormal tissue noticed before silicone intubation was sent for pathological evaluation.Results:Endoscopic revision DCR was performed on 50 failed external DCR subjects with one-year follow-up. Of these, 31 were female (62%). The age range of the subjects was 18-88 years (mean: 59.98 years). Sinus CT showed at least one abnormality in 94% of cases. Revision endoscopy showed septal deviation (66%), scar formation (32%), ostium problems (28%), and sump syndrome (6%). Pathologic and clinical findings showed that chronic inflammation had a significant association with scar tissue and septal synechia (P = 0.001 and 0.008, respectively). At the final follow-up, anatomical and functional success was achieved in 45 out of 50 (90%) of subjects.Conclusion:Endoscopic revision DCR when performed as cooperation of otolaryngologists and ophthalmologists may help resolve the endonasal problems and increase the success rate.

Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common complications of tonsillectomy in children. Administration of supplemental 80 % oxygen during surgery reduces the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. We aimed to test the efficacy of supplemental 80 % oxygen during tonsillectomy on postoperative nausea and vomiting. In a randomized controlled trial in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, 102 children scheduled for tonsillectomy (± adenoidectomy) under general anesthesia were divided randomly in two groups according to percent of administered oxygen (group 1:30 % oxygen, group 2:80 % oxygen). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were assessed and compared in 0-2, 2-6 and 6-24 h after surgery. Incidence of post-tonsillectomy nausea and vomiting after 2, 2-6, and 6-24 h was 13.72, 1.96 and 1.96 % for group 1 and 3.92, 0 and 1.96 % in group 2, respectively. We found no statistically significant difference between two groups (P = 0.08) but 80 % oxygen was beneficial for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in the first 2 h after surgery in group 2.

Background: Otitis media is an important health care problem in school-age children. Moreover, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, a major and common cause of otitis media, is increasing among children. Recurrent otitis media may occur without any noticeable symptoms and affect the auditory threshold (AT). Only a few decibles increase in hearing loss does not have the same effect on the hearing ability of individuals with different degrees of hearing loss. With this background in mind, in this study, we aimed to determine whether diagnosis and medical treatment of overlooked recurrent otitis media are associated with the educational achievement of students with sensorineural hearing impairment. Methods: The present study with a pretest-posttest design was conducted on 30 students (aged 12 -20 years) with bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment, AT above 30 dB HL in the better ear, and recurrent (2 episodes) middle ear infection over 9 months during 2012 -2014. The participants were examined regularly and received medical treatment when indicated. The mean scores of total average, Persian literature (eg, reading, writing, and spelling), and mathematics were measured to assess the subjects' educational achievement. Results: Based on the findings, the total average scores significantly changed from 16.2 to 17.2. Also, the students' Persian literature (from 16.8 to 18) and mathematics (from 13.8 to 16.7) scores were significantly improved. In addition, AT considerably decreased after