Evaluation of therapeutic laser influences on the healing of third-degree burns in rats according to different wavelengths

Introduction: One of the most important innovative methods for tissue repair promotion is therapeutic lasers with photobiomodulution effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four different wavelengths of therapeutic laser (405, 532, 660 and 810 nm) on healing of third-degree burns from both clinical and pathological standpoints in rats. Materials and methods: 60 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were anesthetized and dorsal hairs were shaved and third-degree skin burns were created by use of a 95°C copper stamp. Lesions were irradiated with 1.5 J/cm² energy densities and 200 mW/cm² power densities. Results: Statistical analyses of the “wound contraction” changes between five groups during the study showed more reduction in wound size in all laser groups in comparison with the control group; but these differences were not statistically significant except between red and blue lasers on the last day of experiment. Discussion: Results of our study showed that using therapeutic lasers with green, blue, red, and infrared wavelengths may accelerate healing process. This trend is more obvious in red and infrared groups especially after acute phase, however, this effect was neither statistically nor clinically significant.     

Auditory-evoked brain-stem responses and auditory disorders in patients with Bell's palsy

Summary Out of 121 patients examined with acute unilateral facial paralysis, 93 were determined to have idiopathic facial palsy (Bell's palsy). The examination included pure-tone and speech audiometry, stapedial reflex recordings, temporal bone radiography and auditory-evoked brain-stem response testing (ABR). If a retrocochlear lesion was suspected, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Patients with sensorineural hearing loss affecting all frequencies were compared to one group with hearing loss affecting only high frequencies and to another group with ABR findings suggesting a cochlear lesion. No association could be made between the etiology of these pathological results and the concurrent facial paresis. Most of them were probably caused by unrelated disorders of the auditory system. In cases with prolonged inter-peak latencies representing brain-stem responses, abnormal ABRs could be caused by the same pathology as the paralysis. This might well suggest the presence of a neuropathy in both the central auditory system and the facial tracts.     

Cartilage palisade tympanoplasty

Recurrent tympanic membrane perforations are usually caused by underlying conditions such as an adhesive process with a poorly aerated middle ear space, a thermal perforation, infection, or technical error at the time of graft placement. Despite surgical treatment these reperforations pose a significant otologic problem that may lead to the development of chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma. The purpose of this study is to detail the use of a new cartilage palisade tympanoplasty technique that has yielded a 100% tympanic membrane closure rate without recurrent perforations in 52 operated ears over a 2-year period. The acoustic properties of the rebuilt tympanic membrane were analyzed for types I, II, and III tympanoplasty and revealed a significant improvement in the postoperative air bone gap.     

Acute renal failure in a neonate due to pelviureteric candidal bezoars successfully treated with long-term systemic fluconazole

Systemic candidiasis with renal involvement is a rare but well-recognized complication during intensive care treatment in very-low-birth-weight infants. We report a term neonate who developed anuria associated with bilateral bezoar formation in the renal pelvis and candidemia. The treatment consisted of placement of a nephrostomy tube in the left kidney, short-term irrigation with amphotericin B and iv, and later, oral administration of fluconazole.