Identification of bacteria isolated from nasal polyps and their ability to produce superantigens and biofilms in Lebanese patients.

Staphylococcus aureus superantigens and bacterial biofilms have been implicated in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps. We conducted a study of 32 Lebanese patients-21 males and 11 females, aged 15 to 71 years (mean: 39)-to identify bacteria isolated from nasal polyps and to determine if these bacteria produced superantigens and biofilms. Polyps were surgically removed, homogenized, and subjected to bacteriologic studies.

Quality of life of patients following stages III-IV vestibular schwannoma surgery using the retrosigmoid and translabyrinthine approaches.

Objective: Surgery is an unquestionable treatment for stages III and IV vestibular schwannomas. The postoperative quality of life (QOL) remains the main issue of concern. In this study, we have evaluated the postoperative QOL of these patients operated by two surgical approaches, the retrosigmoid approach (RSA) and the translabyrinthine approach (TLA).

A middle ear implant with a titanium canal wall prosthesis for a case of an open mastoid cavity.

Objective: Open mastoid cavity rehabilitation should focus on both anatomical and functional aspects. We hereby report the technique and results of a combined strategy to reconstruct the external ear canal using a titanium wall implant and the middle ear using a fully implantable active middle ear device.

Methods: A fully implantable active middle ear implant was used to rehabilitate the mixed hearing loss of a 63-year-old woman, and a titanium posterior canal wall prosthesis was used to reconstruct the external ear canal during the same procedure.

Accidental Removal of a Carotid Endovascular Stent during Oropharyngeal Mass Biopsy.

A 54-year-old male patient, with a history of a right mandibular adenocarcinoma, previously excised, and treated with post operative chemo- and radio-therapy, presented with a right oropharyngeal necrotic mass of several months duration. His history is pertinent for a right internal carotid endovascular stenting 2 years prior to presentation. During biopsy of his oropharyngeal lesion, a specimen of tissue was retrieved, with the carotid stent within.

Rehabilitation of canal wall down mastoidectomy using a titanium ear canal implant.

Objective: To describe the rehabilitation of canal wall down mastoidectomy cavities using a custom-made titanium wall implant and to analyze the benefits and the long-term functional results.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Mastoid hyperpneumatization with atlantoaxial fistulization presenting as head rotation-induced aural fullness.

Objective: To describe a unique presentation of mastoid hyperpneumatization with atlantoaxial air fistulization.

Patients: Case report, 30-year-old male patient.

Interventions: Descriptive case report.

Leishmaniasis of the auricle mimicking carcinoma.

Leishmaniasis of the auricle has been rarely reported in our region of the world, where it is labeled as "Old World Leishmaniasis." It may mimic other pathologies, such as malignancies or other infectious processes. We present a case of an auricular Leishmania lesion which was first suspected to be a carcinoma.

Vocal changes following radiotherapy to the head and neck for non-laryngeal tumors.

To investigate vocal changes in patients following the neck irradiation for non-laryngeal tumors sparing the glottic region. Fifteen patients were enrolled for the study. Phonatory effort and voice evaluation were reported.

Formant frequencies in Middle Eastern singers.

Purpose: This work was conducted to describe the formant frequencies in a group of Middle Eastern singers and to look for the presence of the singer's formant described in operatic singers.

Material: A total of 13 Middle Eastern singers were enrolled in this study. There were 5 men and 8 women.

Vocal characteristics in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The aim of this study was to evaluate vocal changes in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nineteen children diagnosed to have ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria and 19 controls were enrolled in this study. They underwent vocal perceptual evaluation and acoustic analysis.

Microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy: short- and long-term outcomes.

Microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy has gained popularity in recent years. However, no prospective long-term follow-up exists in the literature and the risk of increase in tonsillitis is still a concern. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study to assess the short-term benefits of microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy (group 1) compared to electrocautery-assisted total tonsillectomy (group 2), to monitor the durability of the improvement and watch for any change in the rate of tonsillitis.

Status of the remaining parotid duct and gland following superficial parotidectomy.

The changes in Stensen's duct and remaining parotid tissue following superficial parotidectomy have not been studied previously. The aim of this clinical case control study is to describe these changes using sialography and CT-sialography techniques. Fourteen superficial parotidectomy cases underwent parotid sialography bilaterally.

Recurrent facial nerve paralysis: an unusual presentation of fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone.

Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) is a rare occurrence in fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the temporal bone (FDTB). Eight such cases have been described in the literature. In none of these cases was the FNP the presenting symptom, and in all, a direct etiology for the paralysis was identified.

Persistant dysphonia following endotracheal intubation.

Voice production is a complex process that involves more than one system, yet most causes of dysphonia are attributed to disturbances in the laryngeal structures and little attention is paid to extralaryngeal factors. Persistent dysphonia after general anesthesia is a challenge to both anesthesiologists and otolaryngologists. The etiology is often multivariable and necessitates a team approach for proper diagnosis.

Intraglandular toxoplasmosis of the parotid gland pre- or postoperative diagnosis?

Toxoplasmosis is an ubiquitous protozoan infection, caused by the coccidian Toxoplasma gondii. It usually presents clinically with lymphadenopathy, mainly in the head and neck region. However, in the English literature, very scarce cases of intraparotid Toxoplasma exist, none having been diagnosed preoperatively.

Giant midesophageal diverticulum presenting as food impaction: case report and review of the literature.

A giant midesophageal diverticulum is a medical rarity that is usually asymptomatic, and discovered incidentally. We report a case of a giant midesophageal diverticulum that revealed itself secondary to food impaction. A literature review on epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, investigations, and management of giant midesophageal diverticula will be highlighted.

Short-term effects of endotracheal intubation on voice.

The objective of this study was to examine the vocal symptoms and acoustic changes perceived in the short period after endotracheal intubation, and to find the association between these changes and the endotracheal tube parameters. A total of 35 subjects were included. They were examined preoperatively, and 2 and 24 hours postoperatively.

Effect of fasting on voice in women.

Objective/hypothesis: To study the effect of fasting on voice in women: abstinence from food and water intake between 14 and 18 hours.

Study Design: A prospective study on female subjects.

Material And Method: A total of 28 female subjects were included in this study.