Odontogenic Sinusitis Index (OSI)

The criteria for «odontogenic sinusitis» (OS) with the highest values of specificity and sensitivity were identified. An integral odontogenicity sinusitis index (OSI) was developed based on the identified criteria. To measure the sensitivity and specificity of the criteria, a group of 261 patients was selected (113 women (43.29%), 148 men (56.70%), the average age of the patients was 36 years), consisting of 150 known to have OS and 111 patients who were known to be without OS. As a result of data analysis, the values of sensitivity and specificity were obtained for all 13 criteria. Based on the sensitivity and specificity values, all criteria were combined into an odontogenicity sinusitis index (OSI) and divided into «minor» and «major». The “large” criteria were assigned a significance point of 2, and for the “small” criteria, a significance point of 1. The determination of the odontogenic nature of sinusitis was carried out by a simple summation of the points assigned to patients during the survey, examination, and analysis of CT criteria. An odontogenic cause of sinusitis is recognized if there is a minimum of 4 points of significance, for example, one “large” (2 points) and two “small” (1 point each) criteria. The general sensitivity of the integral OSI index was 93%, the general specificity was 94%. These rates are high enough that OSI can be used to determine the «odontogenic» nature of sinusitis.

Exposure of weak magnetic fields on auditory nerve of patients with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss

The article shows that one of the alternative methods of treating moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss can be the use of an external weak magnetic field. The proposed method is based on the coincidence of the effects caused by the exposure of an external electromagnetic field of certain parameters on the auditory nerve, and natural acoustic exposure. The similarity of reaction allows using of external magnetic fields as an artificial stimulator of the auditory system’s neural part. Induction of applied magnetic fields does not exceed 300 µT, which means that under the current legislation such fields are classified as posing no health hazard. This method was tested at Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose, and Speech based on relevant Ethics Committee approval and complied with informed consent standards of volunteers. 15 patients aged 18 to 45 with III and IV levels of sensorineural deafness without concomitant pathologies were tested. Threshold pure-tone audiometry was performed on each patient at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz before and after the procedure. The results of the experiments showed that electromagnetic stimulation of auditory neurons allows increasing hearing sensitivity. The proposed procedure may not yield a tangible result in patients with auditory deprivation. Patients with hearing aids showed the most significant results. At the same time, the measurements have shown that the sound thresholds among them became 10 dB lower on the average. The non-invasiveness of the exposure provided additional comfort for the patient.

Prevalence and classification of asymmetric forms of sensorineural hearing loss in older age group

The significance of asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) is due to a special approach to diagnosis, followed by the process of hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation. Currently, there is no standard audiometric criterion for determining the forms of asymmetry, which significantly affects the assessment of the prevalence of ASNHL. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and classification of ASNHL forms in the older age group using two methods of calculation: 1) the difference in the average hearing threshold at speech frequencies (in the range of 0,5–4 kHz) ≥15 dB was detected in 14,14% of cases; 2) the different degree of hearing loss, according to the International classification, in the right and left ear was 35,98%. In most cases, asymmetry was manifested by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of varying severity, prevailing in the group of long-livers – 82,6%. Given the potentially high prevalence of asymmetry depending on the audiological criterion, the results of the work are a reason for further research in the development of a unified method for verifying a clinically significant form of ASNHL.

Etiopathogenetic aspects of otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is one of the most common causes of progressive hearing loss, in particular in people of working age. The effectiveness of stapedial surgery largely determines the interest in studying the problems and prospects for the development of technologies, namely, the improvement of prostheses, surgical techniques, and assistance during interventions. It is worth noting that the main attention in the scientific literature is paid to the description of the clinic, the diagnosis of otosclerosis, as well as the methods of stapedoplasty. However, the question of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease remains relevant and open for discussion, despite the many domestic and foreign works in this field. The emergence of new research methods, including molecular-genetic ones, contributed to the transition of research to a new level and the development of several new theories. Modern understanding of the pathogenesis of otosclerosis considers this disease as a multifactorial condition, in which many processes are involved, for example, genetic, hormonal, biochemical, and immunological. Likely, further study of the theory and hypothesis of the development of otosclerosis will find their justification, which will help answer many questions. The purpose of this article is to analyze and systematize data concerning various theories of the etiopathogenesis of the otosclerosis process, based on the study of modern domestic and foreign literature.

Method of surgical treatment of the saddle nose deformity

Saddle deformity of the external nose, which is a consequence of trauma, is usually combined with a nasal septal deviation and is quite widespread in the population. The problem of surgical treatment of this group of patients lies not only in the technical complexity, trauma of the proposed methods but also in the need to carry out significant interventions under general anesthesia, which limits the use of available techniques by a wide number of ENT surgeons, increases the duration of the operation, recovery time and temporary disability of the patient. The invention aims to improve surgical treatment of patients with saddle nasal deformity by providing stable cosmetic and functional results. Materials and methods: The proposed method of surgical treatment of saddle deformity of nasal dorsum includes several stages. Cartilage autograft taken from nasal septum during septoplasty is milled to 0,5–1,0 mm, mixed with 0,5 ml of latex tissue glue (LTG) having hemostatic and antiseptic properties due to aminocaproic acid and dioxidine content, respectively. This mixture is kept for 5 minutes and delivered to the pocket formed under the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer in the soft tissues of the dorsum of the external nose, after which the final shape of the nose is simulated and fixed with a plaster splint for a week. Results: Based on the department of otolaryngology of Semashko Ryazan Regional Clinical Hospital, for the period from 2012 to 2019, 17 patients were treated with a diagnosis: saddle deformity of the external nose and nasal septum deviation. All patients underwent rhinoseptoplasty under local anesthesia using LTG as described above. No complications were observed in the postoperative period. During follow-up from 7 to 24 months, patients retain constant functional and cosmetic results. Conclusions. This method is a simple, low-traumatic one of surgical treatment of saddle deformity of the nasal dorsum, which allows reducing the operation time, performing it under local anesthesia and obtaining good cosmetic and functional results. The technical simplicity and accessibility of the method make it possible to use it in hospitals engaged in the surgical treatment of nasal diseases.

Ototoxic effect of cytostatic platinum-based drug

Ototoxicity refers to the hearing impairment that results from the temporary or permanent inner ear dysfunction after treatment with an ototoxic drug. Other drug classes known to have ototoxic properties include aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, quinine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiretroviral therapy. Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs are effective drugs used to treat many types of malignant neoplasms. However, its ototoxic potential puts cancer patients at risk of hearing loss. This, in turn, negatively affects the patient’s quality of life. It is essential for clinicians working with these patients to be aware of the ototoxic properties of platinum preparations and the clinical signs in order to identify patients at risk of developing hearing loss. The review identified peer-reviewed articles available from January 1975 to July 2019 on the monitoring of cytotopic toxicity and ototoxicity associated with cisplatin, and included only articles in English. The same researcher conducted a literature search and reviewed abstracts and articles for inclusion in the study. The studies were identified using a MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) keyword and term search in electronic databases. A manual search for relevant authors and journals was also completed. The links cited by each publication, review, or book chapter were reviewed to find additional potential publications. This article provides an updated review of the ototoxicity associated with platinum-based chemotherapy drugs.

Endogenous intoxication in chronic pathology of pharynx in children

A review of scientific Russian and foreign articles devoted to the development of endogenous intoxication in chronic inflammatory pathology of the lymphoepithelial pharyngeal ring is carried out. Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis in children are one of the unsolved issues in otorhinolaryngology. Chronic tonsillitis is a chronic inflammation of the palatine tonsils characterized by recurrent exacerbations in the form of tonsillitis and a general toxic-allergic reaction. Adenoid vegetation is a pathological hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil. Chronic adenoiditis is a chronic polyetiologic disease, which is based on a violation of the physiological immune processes of the pharyngeal tonsil. In children, one cannot talk about an isolated inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil, since as a result of exposure to antigens, an immune response arises, which involves all structures of the lymphoepithelial pharyngeal ring in the process, therefore some authors distinguish the term «adenotonsillitis». With pronounced activation of microflora in the nasopharynx and oropharynx, the body’s resistance to pathogenic microorganisms decreases, as a result of which decay products and toxins damage the vascular endothelium, disrupt their permeability and, penetrating through the epithelial barrier, contribute to the development of chronic intoxication and sensitization of the body. Endogenous intoxication is a polyetiologic and polypathogenetic syndrome characterized by the accumulation of endogenous toxins in tissues and biological fluids. Diagnostics of the endogenous intoxication severity includes a number of clinical and laboratory indicators and immunological markers. But, despite the constant improvement of the research methods, the issue of endotoxicosis diagnosis in chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis remains insufficiently studied. As a result of the inadequate diagnosis, there is often a simultaneous removal of the pharyngeal and palatine tonsils, which in turn can lead to irreversible consequences.

Development of the Russian language version of the ESIT-SQ diagnostic questionnaire

To date, an otorhinolaryngologist has no single Russian language screening questionnaire for patients with complaints of tinnitus in the practice. At the same time, it is important to describe its qualitative characteristics in the diagnosis of tinnitus, including monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, which is impossible when using existing score questionnaires. The aim of the work was the translation, adaptation, and validation of the Russian language version of the questionnaire of The European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research Screening Questionnaire (ESIT-SQ) for the diagnosis of hearing loss in patients of different age groups. After cultural and linguistic adaptation, the ESIT-S was validated by the test-retest method among patients of two groups: Group I – persons with tinnitus and normal hearing (77 people), group II – persons with tinnitus and hearing loss from mild to profound (79 people). The results of the study demonstrated the reliability of the questionnaire, as well as clinical validity in the study groups. The assessment of the qualitative characteristics of hearing using the Russian version of the ESIT-SQ before and after complex treatment of tinnitus confirmed the sensitivity of the questionnaire. Thus, the Russian language version of the ESIT-SQ can be used in the practice of an otorhinolaryngologist as an additional diagnostic tool for subjective ear noise.

Speech intelligibility in patients of different ages with chronic sensorineural hearing loss

Deterioration in speech intelligibility, the most common complaint of people with hearing loss, leads to social isolation and dramatically reduces the quality of life. The correction of peripheral hearing loss by hearing aid fitting does not always solve this problem in patients with chronic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). That is why in the process of audiological examination of patients with complaints of hearing loss, it is necessary to include methods of speech audiometry, which make it possible to comprehensively assess the functioning of the auditory system. The aim of the study: assessment of speech intelligibility in patients of different ages with SNHL. 94 people from 20 to 74 years of age were examined: 54 patients with SNHL (14 young and 40 elderly) and 40 people with normal hearing thresholds (20 young and 20 elderly). Besides the standard audiological examination, speech audiometry testing was conducted: evaluation of monosyllabic words intelligibility in quiet, binaural rapidly alternating speech test, dichotic digits test, Russian matrix sentence test (RuMatrix). Results: Speech intelligibility in elderly patients with SNHL was shown to be significantly worse than in young patients with a similar degree of hearing loss. The RuMatrix test in noise was proved to be the most sensitive test for comprehensive evaluation of the hearing system functioning.

Clinical efficacy of the drug 200 mg silver proteinate in the complex therapy of acute infectious rhinitis in children, which occurred as part of an acute respiratory infection

The effectiveness of pharmacotherapy of acute infectious rhinitis in children by means of drugs from the list of medicines of the J00 Standard and in addition to this pharmacotherapy with the drug silver proteinate – 200 mg nasal spray Sialor® (manufacturer of JSC «Production Pharmaceutical Company “Obnovlenie”, Russia) was evaluated in a multicenter randomized comparative study. A higher quality of treatment was demonstrated when using 200 mg silver proteinate (Sialor®) in the form of a nasal spray in complex therapy. The article presents evidence of the feasibility of including the drug 200 mg silver proteinate in the list of medicines of the J00 Standard.