Balance Impairment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Background: Balance weaknesses related to mobility and fall risk in patients with rheumatic diseases are well-known. Vestibular dysfunction could negatively contribute to the balance ability of this patient population. This study aims to investigate the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), among the most common rheumatic diseases, on postural balance related to vestibular function.

Regional differences of Turkey in risk factors of newborn hearing loss.

Objective: The aim of this study was to discover Turkish regional differences in the risk factors of newborn hearing loss.

Method: A multi-centered retrospective design was used. A total of 443 children, registered to the national newborn hearing screening programme, with bilateral hearing loss, from five different regions of Turkey, were evaluated in terms of the types of hearing loss, the degree of hearing loss, the types of risk factors, parental consanguinity, age at diagnosis and age of auditory intervention, respectively.

Genotypic-phenotypic features and enzyme replacement therapy outcome in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis VI from Turkey.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) characterized by a chronic, progressive course with multiorgan involvement. In our study, clinical, biochemical, molecular findings, and response to enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for at least 6 months were evaluated in 20 patients with MPS VI. Treatment effects on clinical findings such as liver and spleen sizes, cardiac and respiratory parameters, visual and auditory changes, joints' range of motions, endurance tests and changes in urinary glycosaminoglycan excretions, before and after ERT were analyzed.

Auditory evoked potentials in a newborn Wistar rat model of hyperbilirubinemia.

Introduction: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common health problem in newborns. Its effects can be different according to the level and duration of the hyperbilirubinemia. The toxic effect of bilirubin on the auditory system can be seen as a sensory neural hearing loss or auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD).

Mucopolysaccharidosis: Otolaryngologic findings, obstructive sleep apnea and accumulation of glucosaminoglycans in lymphatic tissue of the upper airway.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate otolaryngologic problems (upper airway obstruction, obstructive sleep apnea, restriction of mouth opening, middle ear effusion, hearing and breathing problems) and their treatments on mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) patients and to investigate accumulation of glucosaminoglycans (GAG) in the upper airway biochemically and pathologically.

Methods: 76 MPS patients were evaluated. Forty-two MPS patients underwent polysomnography (PSG) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Postnatal risk factors associated with hearing loss among high-risk preterm infants: tertiary center results from Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the postnatal risk factors associated with hearing loss as well as the prevalence of hearing loss among high-risk preterm infants in newborn hearing screening (NHS). We performed a retrospective study of high-risk preterm infants born with a gestational age ≤32 weeks and/or a birth weight ≤1,500 g. A NHS procedure was performed by automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) and automated evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE).

Is it possible to predict diffuse obliterative otosclerosis preoperatively by audiologic examination.

Patients with diffuse obliterative otosclerosis have more extensive footplate pathology than annular cases. As a result of this more skill is required for diffuse otosclerosis cases, and postoperative hearing results are usually worse than annular cases. In this retrospective study we compared the preoperative audiological features of annular and diffuse otosclerosis patients.