Intratympanic aberrant and hypoplastic carotid artery

Intratympanically aberrant internal carotid artery(ICA) is a rarely seen vascular abnormality. We present here the combination of aberration and prominent hypoplasia of the ICA in a case. Intratympanic aberrant ICA, which is rarely cited as a cause of tinnitus and hearing loss, should be known as a reason to be kept in mind as it may lead to life-threatening complications. Generally, it has been defined upon massive bleeding during myringotomy, ear surgery or biopsy procedure. In this article, the audiological and radiological studies confirmed with CT and MR angiography conducted on an aberrant and hypoplastic internal carotid artery that was identified under the manubrium mallei in a 28-year-old, young male patient who presented with complaints about hearing loss and fullness in the left ear were presented along with a literature review.     

Influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D gene polymorphism on the right ventricular myocardial performance index in patients with a first acute anterior myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The genetic influence on the myocardial performance index is uncertain, so the aim of the present study was to determine the effects of polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene on the right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) after a first acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS AND RESULTS: The subjects were 116 patients with a first acute anterior MI. Based on the polymorphism of the ACE gene, they were classified into 3 groups: deletion/deletion (DD) genotype (group 1, n=45), insertion/deletion (ID) genotype (group 2, n=58), insertion/insertion (II) genotype (group 3, n=13). Echocardiograms were used to determine the RVMPI, left ventricular myocardial performance index (LVMPI), tricuspid E/A, tricuspid deceleration time and the left ventricular diameter diastolic and diameter systolic (LVDd and LVDs). RVMPI and LVMPI were significantly higher in the ACE DD group. Tricuspid E/A, DT, LVDd and LVDs showed no differences among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: The ID polymorphism of the ACE gene may affect RVMPI and LVMPI after a first acute anterior MI.     

Bacterial change in external auditory canal upon antisepsis with povidone-iodine during tympanoplasty

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - The aim of this single-arm prospective study was to determine the flora of the external auditory canal (EAC) in inactive chronic otitis media and...     

The association of serum prolidase activity with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVES: Prolidase is a cytosolic exopeptidase that cleaves iminodipeptides with carboxy-terminal proline or hydroxyproline and plays major role in collagen turnover. Collagen is the essential content in atherosclerotic plaque playing a key role in the stability/instability of and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Consequently, in this study we sought to determine serum prolidase activity and markers of oxidative stress such as lipid hydroperoxide and total free sulfhydryl in CAD. DESIGN AND METHODS: We have evaluated 199 patients with CAD and 122 control cases with clinical, electrocardiographic, and laboratory investigation. We have measured serum prolidase activity and serum total free sulfhydryl levels spectrophotometrically. Serum lipid hydroperoxide levels were determined with ferrous ion oxidation-xylenol orange method. We assessed the association of serum prolidase activity with the presence and severity of CAD and clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Serum prolidase activity (52.5+/-5.6 vs. 46.7+/-5.1 U/l, respectively, P<0.001) and serum lipid hydroperoxide levels were significantly increased in patients with CAD compared with control cases whereas, serum total free sulfhydryl levels were significantly decreased in patients with CAD compared with control cases. Serum prolidase activity and total free sulfhydryl levels were independent predictors of the presence of CAD [(chi=75.532, ss=0.212, P=0.003) and (chi=25.969, ss=-30.486, P=0.019), respectively] and Gensini score [(beta=0.276, P<0.001) and (beta=-0.274, P<0.001), respectively]. Independent predictors of serum prolidase activity were serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (beta=-0.138, P=0.023) and urea levels (beta=0.146, P=0.036), and Gensini score (beta=0.317, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Findings of this study have shown that serum prolidase activity is significantly associated with the presence and severity of CAD, and elevated serum prolidase activity might be an independent predictor of coronary atherosclerosis.