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Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the hearing thresholds and outer hair cell functions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) with healthy individuals and to investigate the ototoxic effects of acitretin treatment (AT) in patients with PV. Materials and Methods: This study included 23 patients with PV who required treatment with acitretin as well as 23 healthy individuals. Conventional and extended high-frequency pure-tone audiometry and transient-evoked otoacoustic emission tests were performed at regular intervals during the 24 weeks of acitretin treatment. Results: During the acitretin treatment for the PV group, the hearing thresholds of 4,000 Hz (right ear, p=0.004) presented a significant difference that did not have a worsening effect. The signal-to-noise ratios of TEOAE did not show a significant difference. At 24 weeks of AT, the changes in the hearing thresholds (4,000 Hz) and TEOAE signal-to-noise ratios did not indicate any worsening owing to acitretin. According to the ASHA criteria, there was no significant evidence of ototoxicity related to acitretin. According to the TUNE ototoxicity grading system, it was seen that at 24 weeks of AT, all the patients with psoriasis were scored as grade 0 (no hearing loss). Conclusion: This study showed that acitretin does not have an ototoxic effect when it is used to treat PV in the recommended treatment doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate clinical musical perception, analyze the relationship between speech recognition and music perception, and investigate the effects of a three-month musical perception activities on these parameters in adult cochlear implant (CI) users with postlingual hearing loss. Methods: Free-field hearing and speech tests in a quiet environment, the Turkish matrix test, and the Turkish version of the clinical assessment of musical perception test were performed on 18 adult unilateral CI users before and after the three-month music training. Results were compared with those of 18 healthy controls. Results: Prior to the musical perception activities, word recognition scores, Turkish matrix test results, and 500, 1000, and 6000 Hz free-field hearing thresholds were significantly correlated with the clinical assessment of musical perception test scores in the CI group (p<0.047). Timbre recognition scores (p=0.019) had improved significantly in the CI group after the three-month musical perception activities. On the other hand, timbre recognition scores had significantly affected the Turkish matrix test results (R2adjusted=0.56). Conclusion: Our study showed that speech perception in noise and clinical musical perception measurements affected each other in CI users. The inclusion of musical perception activities to support an auditory rehabilitation program may contribute to increased speech recognition skills in noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate clinical musical perception, analyze the relationship between speech recognition and music perception, and investigate the effects of a three-month musical perception activities on these parameters in adult cochlear implant (CI) users with postlingual hearing loss. Methods: Free-field hearing and speech tests in a quiet environment, the Turkish matrix test, and the Turkish version of the clinical assessment of musical perception test were performed on 18 adult unilateral CI users before and after the three-month music training. Results were compared with those of 18 healthy controls. Results: Prior to the musical perception activities, word recognition scores, Turkish matrix test results, and 500, 1000, and 6000 Hz free-field hearing thresholds were significantly correlated with the clinical assessment of musical perception test scores in the CI group (p<0.047). Timbre recognition scores (p=0.019) had improved significantly in the CI group after the three-month musical perception activities. On the other hand, timbre recognition scores had significantly affected the Turkish matrix test results (R2adjusted=0.56). Conclusion: Our study showed that speech perception in noise and clinical musical perception measurements affected each other in CI users. The inclusion of musical perception activities to support an auditory rehabilitation program may contribute to increased speech recognition skills in noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe hearing health care and education experiences of children with cochlear implants (CIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential psychosocial effects of the pandemic on these children and their parents/family members. Method: The study used a cross-sectional survey design. The study sample comprised two groups, namely, parents/family members of children with CIs (study group, n = 70, Mage = 44.6 ± 12.4 years) and parents/family members of children with normal hearing (control group, n = 58, Mage = 43.8 ± 11.5 years). Parents/family members completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), and the Family Perspective Profile form, as well as the Demographic Information form. Results: The PSS scores of the study group were higher than those of the control group (p = .001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between groups in the CAS scores (p = .896). According to the Family Perspective Profile form, almost half of the parents/family members of children with CIs reported that their children experienced difficulties in education and hearing health care services during the pandemic and showed some changes in their attitudes and behaviors. Conclusions: During the pandemic, the stress levels of parents/family members of children with CIs were higher than parents/family members of children with normal hearing. In addition to the challenges posed by the pandemic, the difficulties that parents/family members of children with CIs experience in meeting their children's additional needs related to accessing education and hearing health care services may have contributed to increased stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of different types of convergent strabismus on horizontal eye movements and compare data with healthy control subjects. Materials and methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 38 patients with convergent strabismus (16 fully accommodative, 13 partially accommodative and 9 non-accommodative esotropia) and 19 age-matched control subjects. All of the participants had a detailed ophthalmological examination including visual acuity assessment, cover-uncover prism test, slit lamp, and indirect ophthalmoscopy examination. Videonystagmography (VNG) was used for the evaluation of horizontal eye movements such as saccadic accuracy, velocity, latency, and smooth pursuit velocity gain. Results: The saccadic accuracy in the rightward direction was lower in the fully accommodative esotropia group compared to the partially accommodative esotropia group in the right eye (p = 0.002). The saccadic latency in the rightward direction was longer in the fully accommodative esotropia group compared to the control group (p = 0.008) and smooth pursuit velocity gain in the leftward direction was lower in the partially and non-accommodative esotropia group compared to the control group in binocular recording (p = 0.004, p = 0.001, respectively). There was no difference in the saccadic velocity among the study groups (p > 0.05). Finally, asymmetry of saccadic velocity and latency was observed between right- and leftward directions in the partially accommodative esotropia group in the right eye (p = 0.003, p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that horizontal eye movements may vary in different types of convergent strabismus. VNG may be an auxiliary tool to the clinical examination in differentiating fully or non-accommodative esotropia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: No data have yet been published revealing the composition and the diversity of fungal communities (mycobiome) in the human middle ear cavity. The presented study investigated the mycobiome in the middle ear cavities of individuals with healthy middle ears and patients with otitis media with effusion. Methods: A total of 77 middle ear and four adenoid samples were collected from 47 individuals (35 children and 12 adults) in Group 1 and from 20 children in Group 2. The mycobiome profile was analyzed with nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) based metabarcoding using an Illumina MiSeq metagenomics kit. Results: ITS2-based metabarcoding detected 14 different genera and 17 different species with a mean relative abundance of ≥1% in the samples analyzed. Mycobiome profile was similar between the adenoid tissue and the middle ear cavity, between Groups 1 and Group 2, and between children and adults. Fusarium, Stemphylium, Candida, and Cladosporium were the most abundant genera detected in all samples. The mean relative abundances of the genera Candida and Fusarium were remarkably higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. Conclusion: The species Candida glaebosa, Candida cretensis, Aspergillus ruber, Penicillium desertorum, and Rhizopus arrhizus were significantly more abundant in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME), raising the possibility that they affect the pathogenesis of OME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: No data have yet been published revealing the composition and the diversity of fungal communities (mycobiome) in the human middle ear cavity. The presented study investigated the mycobiome in the middle ear cavities of individuals with healthy middle ears and patients with otitis media with effusion. Methods: A total of 77 middle ear and four adenoid samples were collected from 47 individuals (35 children and 12 adults) in Group 1 and from 20 children in Group 2. The mycobiome profile was analyzed with nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) based metabarcoding using an Illumina MiSeq metagenomics kit. Results: ITS2-based metabarcoding detected 14 different genera and 17 different species with a mean relative abundance of ≥1% in the samples analyzed. Mycobiome profile was similar between the adenoid tissue and the middle ear cavity, between Groups 1 and Group 2, and between children and adults. Fusarium, Stemphylium, Candida, and Cladosporium were the most abundant genera detected in all samples. The mean relative abundances of the genera Candida and Fusarium were remarkably higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. Conclusion: The species Candida glaebosa, Candida cretensis, Aspergillus ruber, Penicillium desertorum, and Rhizopus arrhizus were significantly more abundant in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME), raising the possibility that they affect the pathogenesis of OME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the histopathologic effect of Nigella Sativa oil (NSO) on cisplatin (Cis) induced oral mucositis (OM) in rats. Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four equal groups. The animals in Group 1 and Group 2 were given 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) Cis systemically on the 1st, 3rd and 5th days of the study. Additionally, 15 mL NSO were given to the rats in Group 2, with gavage feeding on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The animals in Group 3 were given per oral 15 ml NSO on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. As the control group, Group 4 received a total of 15 mL 0.9% saline solution divided into 5 doses on days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 by oral gavage. On the 14th day, animals were euthanized and buccal mucosa from both sides, including submucosal tissues, were excised and taken to histopathological examination. Results: The mean mucosal thicknesses of the groups were 224.58 µm, 276.1 µm, 323.33 µm, and 331.33 µm, respectively for Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 (p<0.05). When the degree of mucosal inflammation was examined, the most intense inflammation was detected in Group 1 and the least intense inflammation was in Group 4 p<0.01). The degree of inflammation in Group 2 and Group 3 were similar to Group 4 (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, NSO, for which anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been shown in previous studies, may also be effective in preventing Cis-induced OM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a very common multifactorial disease in childhood. Because its symptoms are insidious and therefore diagnosis is often delayed, OME causes conductive hearing loss and adversely affects academic performance. Despite all the advancements, OME still remains a major health problem all over the world. Research on the prevalence of OME consist only of studies carried out in several different countries, in different seasons and focused on different etiologic factors. The aim of our study was to contribute to the literature with a study on the prevalence of OME in the 4-7 age group through a survey inquiring about the many associated factors along with otoscopic examination, tympanometric examination and acoustic reflex test and by also considering the possible influence of the altitude and the latitude of the study centers. The study was conducted in the same season in countries located on different geographical latitudes and at different altitudes. Methods: The study was planned with the participation of centers from 18 cities in 16 countries spanning the Balkans and the Caspian Basin. The target age group was 4-7 years. After receiving the ethics committee approvals, children of the families who have filled-out and signed the informed consent form and completed the questionnaire were included in the study. The results of the survey, which included the possible factors deemed to be involved in the etiology of OME, were evaluated together with otoscopic examination, tympanometry and acoustic reflex results. Results: Of the 18 planned centers, 10 received the legal permission and launched the study. In these 10 centers, a total of 4,768 children were evaluated together with their examination findings, and tympanometry and survey results. Although OME prevalence based on oto-scopic examination varied among the centers, in overall, bilateral prevalence was 12%, unilateral was 10.36% and total was 20.08%. When this overall prevalence, which is based only on the otoscopic diagnosis results, are analyzed together with the results of Type B tympanometry, overall prevalence decreased to 13.74%. And when the presence of negative acoustic reflex was also considered the overall prevalence was found 5.58%. Major factors that were found to have statistically significant effect on OME prevalence were identified as: mother's education at high school or a lower level (p=0.016), child's age of less than 7 years (p=0.006), history of one or more URTI incidences in the past one year (p=0.001), smoking father (p=0.011), stay-at-home or blue-collar-worker mother (p=0.013), vaccinations (p=0.002), history of allergies (p=0.001), presence of allergic symptom (p=0.019), and history of asthma (p=0.044). Conclusion: This unique multi-center study that was conducted in a wide geography from the Balkans to the Caspian Basin has provided access to important information about the prevalence and factors affecting OME. Clinical examination and tympanometry may give different results. Therefore, all components should be considered for diagnosis. Focusing on the factors that increase the incidence of OME and addressing the preventable factors like smoking, education, combat with allergies may reduce the incidence of this public health issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the content and the diversity of the tympanic effusion (TE) bacteriome and the adenoid specimens bacteriome in pediatric otitis media with effusion (OME) patients. Methods: After receiving approval from the ethics committee, samples were collected from children with adenoid vegetation and OME. The new generation sequence analysis was performed. Seventeen adenoids and 42 tympanic effusion samples taken from 25 children with OME were evaluated. Microbiome analysis was performed with Ion 16S rRNA metagenomics kit. Results: In total 22 different bacterial species were identified in the analyzed samples. Bacteriomes in the adenoid and TE samples showed differences in terms of prevalence and density. While the TE microbiome predominantly showed Alloicoccus otitis (44%), Turicella otitidis (6%), and Staphylococcus auricularis (3%), adenoid samples contained significantly higher levels of Rothia mucilaginosa (39%), Rothia dentocariosa (11%), Staphylococcus aureus (5%), Veillonella rogosae (2%), Granulicatella elegans (2%), Granulicatella adiacens (2%), Eikenella corrodens (1%) and Prevotella nanceiensis (1%). Conclusion: Whereas Alloicoccus otitis was predominant in TE bacteriome, presence of other bacteria at lower levels suggests that OME could be a polymicrobial process. Despite the similarities, the significant difference in the density of some of the predominant species in the TE bacteriome and the adenoid bacteriome raises questions about the theory that OME in children is caused by adenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]