Introduction Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the common disorders of the peripheral vestibular system. The prevalence of BPPV is found to be higher among middle-aged women. Objectives To estimate the serum levels of calcium and vitamin D in patients with BPPV, and to study their association. Methods The present is a hospital-based prospective case-control study. Venous blood samples of the 49 patients with BPPV and an equal number of age- and gender-matched individuals were recruited and submitted to an analysis of the serum levels of calcium and vitamin D. Results Among the cases, 67.3% were found to be females, and 32.7% were males. Most of the 30 cases (61.3%) were aged > 40 years. The mean age of the cases was 44.39 years. The mean serum level of vitamin D in the cases was of 21.26 ng/ml compared with 17.59 ng/ml in the controls. The mean serum level of calcium was of 9.33 mg/dl in the cases, compared with 8.95 mg/dl in the controls. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of vitamin D and calcium between cases and controls. Conclusion We could not establish any correlation between the serum levels of calcium and vitamin D with BPPV. However, a negative relationship was found between the serum levels of vitamin D and the number of episodes of BPPV (p = 0.012).

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The objectives of the study were to document the presentation of laryngeal tuberculosis, response to anti-tubercular treatment and objective evaluation of larynx during and post anti-tubercular treatment.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A before and after treatment study including 15 subjects with laryngeal tuberculosis treated in our tertiary health care centre during a three year study period. Clinical presentation, management, subjective self-assessment of voice and objective assessment of larynx by videostroboscopy at the beginning, at two months and at six months of anti-tubercular treatment were documented.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Two patients had primary laryngeal tuberculosis and thirteen patients had laryngeal tuberculosis associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Only one patient was immuno-compromised. Most common presenting symptom was hoarseness (93%). Ulcerative lesions were the most common clinical finding (87%) with the vocal cords being the commonest site involved (80%). All patients responded well to anti-tubercular treatment. Videostroboscopy showed an improvement in vocal cord lesions during treatment. Subjective assessment of voice after two months of anti-tubercular treatment showed marked improvement in voice. At completion of treatment, voice was better but all patients had complaints of residual hoarseness.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Primary laryngeal tuberculosis is less common in comparison to laryngeal tuberculosis secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. With early diagnosis, the response to treatment is satisfactory. Videostroboscopy can be used as an effective tool in monitoring vocal cord changes during the follow- up period.</p>

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a spectrum which includes primary snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome, obstructive hypoventilation and obstructive sleep apnoea. Sleep disordered breathing  (SDB) is characterized by snoring, witnessed apnoea, frequent arousal, mouth breathing, restless sleep, irritability, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections etc. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">This was a prospective observational study which included 20 children who presented to the otorhinolaryngology, pulmonary medicine, paediatric, oral and maxillofacial department were included in the study with clinical symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea.  </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> 20 children, 13 (65%) males and 7 (35%) females were included. Snoring was the most common complaint.15 (75%) were obese, 5 had adenotonsillar hypertrophy(25%) as the risk factor for OSA. 15 out of the 20 children were graded under mallampati class 1(75%), 4  class 2(20%), 1under class 3(5%). There was no significant association in severity of OSA between 2 genders (p=0.82). <span lang="EN-IN">Positive correlation (r=0.52) was found between AHI and BMI and is found to be statistically significant (p=0.02), which suggests that degree of obesity does predict the severity of OSA. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Obesity is the most significant risk factor among them followed by adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Hence children who snore should undergo polysomnography and necessary corrective measures should be prescribed.</span></p>

Extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMPs) are localized plasma cell neoplasms that occur within the soft tissue. Solitary plasmacytoma of the head and neck is a rare disease entity. They account for 1-2% of all plasma cell growths and have a great predilection for the upper respiratory tract. Males are more frequently affected during the fifth and sixth decades of life. We report a case of maxillary sinus plasmacytoma in an elderly man. Complete resolution of the tumour was seen with radiotherapy.