ObjectivePerforations of the tympanic membrane are treated with various surgical techniques and materials. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma during underlay myringoplasty.MethodsThe study included 40 patients. Autologous platelet-rich plasma was applied in-between temporalis fascia graft and tympanic membrane remnant during underlay myringoplasty in group 1 (n = 20). The outcome was evaluated after three months and compared with group 2 (n = 20), a control group that underwent routine underlay tympanoplasty.ResultsAfter three months’ follow up, graft uptake was 95 per cent in group 1 and 85 per cent in group 2 (p < 0.03). Mean hearing threshold gain was 18.62 dB in group 1 and 13.15 dB in group 2. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01).ConclusionPlatelet-rich plasma, with its ease of preparation technique, availability, low cost, autologous nature and good graft uptake rate, justifies its use in tympanoplasty type I procedures.

Nasal mucociliary clearance is a primary physiological defense mechanism of upper as well as lower respiratory tract, and thus maintains the state of health of the respiratory tract. Any disturbance in number or movement of cilia and change in character or amount of mucus production leads to an altered nasal mucociliary clearance. The present study was undertaken to study the effect of aging on nasal mucociliary clearance.Nasal mucociliary clearance time was assessed in 240 normal subjects, 120 males and 120 females, which were divided in six groups, each comprising of one decade starting from 11 to 20 years. The mean nasal mucociliary clearance time ranged 7.34 to 14.48 minutes in males and 7.36 to 15.38 minutes in females in different groups (A-F). There was no statistical difference between males and females in each group (p > 0.05). The nasal mucociliary clearance time was not found to be increased till 5th decade (p = 0.05). However, the nasal mucociliary clearance time was found to be increased in 6th and 7th decades (group E&F) significantly (p ≤ 0.001), which was more marked in group F. This may explain the increased susceptibility of elderly to sinusitis chronic bronchitis, deep lung infections and increased incidence of pneumonia.

The nasal mucociliary clearance time was studied using Andersen saccharin method in 50 normal children and 50 age and sex matched patients of adenotonsillar hypertrophy, which was repeated one month after adenotonsillectomy. The normal mucociliary clearance time in healthy children was found to be 8.55 +/- 2.11 minutes. A significant impairment in nasal mucociliary clearance time was noted in children suffering with adenotonsillar hypertrophy which was 16.97 +/- 3.1 minutes, and early adenotonsillectomy restored the mucociliary clearance to a normal 8.7 +/- 2.14 minutes.

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Introduction:Occupational noise induced hearing loss causes sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in industrial workers who are continuously exposed to high frequency noise due to degeneration in hair cells and associated nerve fibers. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 100 industrial male workers, including officials, machinery operators, and helpers. ENT and audiometry examination were done and noise level was measured. The age, noise level, duration of exposure, type of activity, and measurement of hearing loss were co-related. Results: The workers who worked in machinery area were affected more when compared to official and helpers. The age group 36-40 was affected more when compared to other age groups. Conclusions: Chronic exposure to noise is common hazard in industrial workers that affect bilateral cochlea and causes high frequency SNHL with 4 kHz notch. We observed 39% industrial workers who were exposed to noise level >87.3 dBA, for 8-12 h/day in textile and hard strip rolling mills in spite of noise free machine are recommended suffered from SNHL.