No abstract available.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Hypertension, Portal*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Infeared tympanic membrane thermometer (ITMT) provides an accurate estimate of tympanic membrane temperature in healthy children and may accurately reflect core body temperature. This study was undertaken to determine if temperature readings using this newly designed ITMT are affected by the presence of acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM) in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty children with unilateral acute suppurative otitis media were enrolled in the study. Temperature of ASOM was measured in both ears using ITMT and compared to 20 normal children. RESULTS: In acute suppurative otitis media, the mean temperature in infected ears was 1.28t higher than that in uninfected ears (p(0.05). The mean temperature of normal children was 36.34C and there was statistically significant difference between normal and unilateral acute otitis media. CONCLUSION: The ITMT was found to be accurate, rapidly responding and easy to use. It may help to diagnose acute unilateral suppurative otitis media combined with pneumatic otoscopy md tympanogram.
Body Temperature ; Child ; Ear ; Humans ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative* ; Otoscopy ; Reading ; Thermometers ; Tympanic Membrane*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perinatal meconium aspiration and prolonged membrane rupture are correlated with a higher incidence of otitis media. Contamination of the ammniotic fluid with meconium presumably increases the concentration of desquamated epithelial cells. Therefore, more of these cells might be expected to be found in the middle ear and mastoid cavities of neonates born through meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether postmorterm findings of meconium aspiration syndrome might correlate with the amount of amniotic fluid cellular content in the middle ear. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We compared temporal bones of 14 patients born through MSAF with those of 15 patients born through clear amniotic fluid. The volume of contaminant was measured for each patient. RESULTS: Patients with larger volumes of contaminant in the middle ear were born through thick MSAF. Conversely, patients with lesser volumes of contaminant in the middle ear were born through unstained amniotic fluid. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients born through thick, MSAF may be at greater risk of sequelae such as otitis media from foreign body inflammatory reaction.
Amniotic Fluid ; Ear, Middle* ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mastoid ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Meconium* ; Membranes ; Otitis Media ; Rupture ; Temporal Bone

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The peak resonance corresponds to the fundamental frequency whose wavelength is approxi-mately four times the canal length and is between 2 and 3 kHz in a normal ear canal. The possibility that creation of an open cavity mastoid alters the acoustical characteristics of the external ear has been suggested. The aim of this study was to ascertain the acoustical changes in the external auditory canal occasioned by the open cavity mastoidectomy, and compare it with the mastoid obliteration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the external ear resonance (EER) characteristics in 40 normal ears, 20 ears with open cavity mastoid and 40 ears with obliterated mastoids. The EER characteristics were measured using 6500 hearing aid test system. RESULTS: The means of the peak resonant frequency and the peak amplitude at open cavity mastoids (2350 Hz, 18.5 dB) showed significant differences (p<0.1) when compared with those at normal mastoids. However, the means at obliterated mastoids (2850 Hz, 20.5 dB) recovered to the near normal state. CONCLUSION: While the open cavity mastoidectomy can affect the resonance frequency, the mastoid obliteration may help anatomical reconstruction as well as acoustical recovery.
Acoustics* ; Ear ; Ear Canal ; Ear, External* ; Hearing Aids ; Mastoid

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Earlier studies documented the presence of several cytokines in middlle ear effusions (MEEs) of humans and experimental animals. Some of these studies reported association between cytokine levels and certain clinical factors. Rut studies on association between cytokine levels and allergy in MEE are very rare. To acertain the role of allergy in the pathogenesis of recurrent otitis media with effusion(ROME) through the characterization of cytokines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEE samples were collected from patients with allergy (20 ears) and without allergy (15 ears). They were assayed for interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) using sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The levels of IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the allergy group were statistically higher than in the nonallergy group. The level of IL-2 in the allergy group was slightly higher than in the nonallergy group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Elevation of Th2 driven cytokines and TNF-alpha in MEEs suggests that ROME may be a sign of allergic inflammation in the middle ear.
Animals ; Cytokines* ; Ear ; Ear, Middle ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Necrosis ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric atlectasis of the pars tensa occurs fairly commonly in patients with previous ear disease, especially otitis media with effusion. The atelectatic ears have been classified into four grades. For grades 3 and 4 atlectasis, for which it is difficult to manage by conservative treatment, some surgeons suggest fascia and perichondrium grafts to reinforce thin atrophic tympanic membranes. In such situations, fascia and perichondrium are often shown to undergo atrophy and subsequent failure in the postoperative period. In this study, we attempted to assess the efficacy of cartilage-perichondrium tympanoplasty for pediatric atelectatic. We used cartilage-perichondrium for graft because it was more rigid and it tended to resist resorption and retraction even in the face of continued eustachian tube dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty one patients who underwent cartilage-perichondrium tympanoplasty were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: The atelectatic ears were elevated and everted in all patients. The air-bone gap was less than 10 dB in 57%, and less than 20 dB in 33% of the patients observed. The postoperative CT showed a well placed graft with good ventilated middle ear cavity and mastoid cavity. CONCLUSION: It can be suggested from this study that the cartilage-perichondrium tympanoplasty offers the possibility of rigorous drum reconstruction with excellent postoperative hearing results.
Atrophy ; Ear Diseases ; Ear* ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Fascia ; Hearing ; Humans ; Mastoid ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants ; Tympanic Membrane ; Tympanoplasty*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Allergy may play a role in pediatric chronic otitis media with effusion (COME). It is generally accepted that selective recruitment of eosinophils is important in the pathogenesis of the allergic rhinitis and asthma. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is an identifiable mediator in additional target organs involved in allergic reactions. This study was designed to discover the relationship of ECP and positive allergy in persistent COME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with persistent COME were evaluated for ECP. Fifteen of these patients were confirmed allergy positive by MAST (multiple allergosorbent test). ECP in the middle ear effusions were measured using FEIA (fluoro-enzyme-immunoassay). RESULTS: The ECP level was statistically higher in the positive MAST group than in the negative MAST group (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between ECP from middle ear effusion indeed was correlate with the patient having allergy, as confirmed by MAST.
Asthma ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Rhinitis

While intradermal nevi are common benign pigmented skin tumors, their occurrence within the external auditory canal(EAC) is uncommon. We experienced a case of huge intradermal nevus which almost completely obstructed EAC without accompanying conductive hearing loss. It originated in the anterior wall of cartilaginous portion of EAC. It was treated by en bloc excision with split skin graft. The clinical and pathologic features of the intradermal nevus arising within the external auditory canal are presented, and the literatures were reviewed.
Ear Canal* ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Nevus, Intradermal* ; Skin ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: During the last decade, the surgical use of alloplasts has become more and more widespread among otologists. But extrusion has been the general problem associated in using alloplasts. This study analyzes the change of' surface and microcomponent of the extruded Polycel prosthesis following a long-term middle ear implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine extruded Polycel prosthesis were investigated using scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). RESULTS: They all showed a severe resorption of fibrous encapsulation and partial resorption of the shaft which faced stapes and footplate. The carbon component decreased and nitrogen and oxide increased more than the original Polycel due to microdegradation. CONCLUSION: Consistent microdegradation and resorption may be one of the factors causing extrusion of Polycel.
Carbon ; Nitrogen ; Ossicular Prosthesis* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Stapes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mast cells are localized in the middle ear and Eustachian tube. They play a prominent role in the inflammatory and allergic conditions. The purpose of this study is to investigate if different inflammatory reactions depend on whether patients are allergic or not by measuring concentration of the mast cell tryptase that reflects the mast cell activity. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty-five patients with chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) were studied. Thirteen patients were confirmed allergy positive by multiallergosorbent test. Mast cell tryptase in the middle ear effusions was measured using western blotting. RESULTS: Mast cell tryptase was more strongly expressed in the effusions with allergy positive than in the allergy negative (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between mast cell tryptase from MEE and allergy, so we conclude that allergy plays a role in the pathogenesis of COME.
Blotting, Western ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mast Cells* ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Tryptases*