OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the internal auditory canal (IAC) and the nerves inside it to define possible structural differences in cases with subjective tinnitus of unknown origin. METHODS: Cases applying to the ear, nose and throat department with the complaint of tinnitus with unknown origin and having normal physical examination and test results were included in the study (n=78). Patients admitted to the radiology clinic for routine cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whose MRI findings revealed no pathologies were enrolled as the control group (n=79). Data for the control group were obtained from the radiology department and informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Diameters of the IAC and the nerves inside it were measured through enhanced images obtained by routine temporal bone MRIs in all cases. Statistical evaluations were performed using Student t-test and statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS: Measurements of IAC diameters revealed statistically significant differences between the controls and the tinnitus group (P<0.05). Regarding the diameters of the cochlear nerve, facial nerve, inferior vestibular nerve, superior vestibular nerve, and total vestibular nerve, no statistically significant difference was found between the controls and the tinnitus group. CONCLUSION: Narrowed IAC has to be assessed as an etiological factor in cases with subjective tinnitus of unknown origin.
Cochlear Nerve ; Ear ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nose ; Pathology ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Temporal Bone ; Tinnitus* ; Vestibular Nerve

INTRODUCTIONThe morphology of the proximal femur has often been investigated in the literature, but the normal population ranges and standard deviations have still not been determined for this area. This study aimed to determine the age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)-related changes in the femoral neck, especially on the neck-shaft angle, by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements.

METHODSRetrospective analyses of DXA images of the proximal femur from 18,943 individuals aged 20-108 years were performed. The age, gender, weight and height of each individual were obtained at the time of bone measurement. Data on theta angle were obtained from DXA measurements. Simple linear regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to investigate the relationships between theta and age, gender and BMI.

RESULTSThere was a significant correlation between theta and age (p < 0.001). We also found a significant difference between the various age groups using analysis of variance (p < 0.001), but there was no meaningful correlation between theta and BMI (p = 0.377) and the BMI groups (p = 0.180). There were small but statistically significant differences in the neck-shaft angle between males and females (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn this study, DXA-based measurements were used and many parameters of proximal femur geometry were calculated with limited radiation exposure. We have demonstrated that the mean neck-shaft angle is greater in males than in females, and that theta increases with age. We also found a significant difference between different age groups, but no meaningful correlation between theta and BMI.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Femur Neck ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Standards ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution

AIMErectile dysfunction may be observed in up to 80% of patients with Peyronie's disease. An objective evaluation of the erectile function is attempted to work out in patients with Peyronie's disease.

METHODSPenile deformity, sexual function and penile vascular status were analyzed in 123 patients with Peyronie's disease, who had not received any pertinent treatment.

RESULTSPenile deformity, palpable plaque and pain on erection were seen in 112 (91%), 97 (78.8%) and 27 (21.9%) of the 123 patients, respectively. Of the 76 patients evaluated by color Doppler ultrasounography, veno-occlusive dysfunction as the vascular component for erectile dysfunction was found in 17 (22.3%), arterial insufficiency in 10 (13.1%) and a mixed picture in 23 (30.2%).

CONCLUSIONThe documentation of penile erectile function and the determination of the vascular status using color Doppler ultrasonography can guide the appropriate therapeutic choice.

Adult ; Aged ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Colchicine ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Gout Suppressants ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Induration ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Penis ; blood supply ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use