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Objectives: In this study, we aimed to assess whether outer hair cell function in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) was affected or not., Patients and Methods: Thirty-two patients (21 males, 11 females; mean age 69.8+/-9.3 years; range 49 to 86 years) with the diagnosis of PES and 23 healthy subjects (12 males, 11 females; mean age 65.3+/-9.1 year; range 51 to 79 years) as control group were included in the study. All of the subjects were evaluated with pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, and transient otoacoustic emission tests., Results: Sensorineural hearing loss was present in 28 patients with PES and in 13 healthy subjects (p<0.05). Transient otoacoustic emissions were present in 42 ears of patients with PES and in 32 ears of healthy subjects and there was no statistically significant difference between these two groups (p>0.05). Signal to noise ratios for PES and control groups were 5.1+/-4.4 dB and 5.2+/-4.2 dB, respectively (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Our results confirmed the presence of sensorineural hearing loss in PES patients. However, we failed to show a difference in outer hair cell functions of this group. Further postmortem histopathologic studies are needed to delineate the causes of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with PES.

Objectives: Research on the role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis (NP) is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking on NP., Patients and Methods: A total of 125 patients (80 men, 45 women; mean age 44+/-12 years; range 19 to 78 years) with NP were evaluated with regard to the presence or absence of smoking, polyp stage, paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) score, total IgE level, blood eosinophil count, and symptom scores., Results: The rate of smoking in NP patients was 16.8% (21 patients), being significantly low (p<0.001) compared to the general rate of smoking previously reported in the study area (34.2%). There was no association between smoking and polyp size, paranasal sinus CT score, total IgE level, and blood eosinophil count (p>0.05). The frequencies of allergy, asthma, and aspirin allergy were not different between smokers and nonsmokers (p>0.05). Symptom scores did not differ significantly between smokers and nonsmokers, except for nasal obstruction score, which was significantly low in nonsmokers (p=0.034)., Conclusion: Our results showed that the rate of smoking in patients with NP and the severity of nasal obstruction in smokers compared to nonsmokers were significantly low. Tissue studies in patients with NP may provide useful data on the relationship between smoking and NP.

Objectives: We investigated epidemiological characteristics, distribution of allergens, and symptom severity of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), living in Konya region., Patients and Methods: The study included 165 adult patients (89 females, 76 males; mean age 34.5+/-10.7 years; range 18 to 68 years) diagnosed as having PAR based on clinical symptoms and skin prick test (SPT) results. Total IgE levels, distribution of allergens in SPT, and symptom severity were determined., Results: The most frequent allergens were house dust mites (84.9%), followed by pollen mixture (42.8%), fungi (38.6%), and animal dander (36.7%). Serum total IgE levels were higher than normal in 30.3%. Age at onset of symptoms was = or <25 years in 45.2% of the patients. Patients with a university degree accounted for 46.5%. Urban and rural residents accounted for 66.2% and 33.8%, respectively. Coexisting asthma and aspirin allergy were detected in 2.9% and 2.2%, respectively. A family history of allergy was present in 22.3%. The most common nasal symptom was itching, but blocked nose had the highest severity score., Conclusion: In our region, house dust mites were the most frequent allergens, itchy nose was the most common symptom, and blocked nose had the highest symptom severity score in patients with PAR.

Objectives: Fungi, by systemic or local allergic effect, may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We investigated the incidence of fungal allergy in patients with CRS and its effect on the clinical characteristics of the disease., Patients and Methods: The study included 127 patients, aged 18 years or over, with CRS (42 females, 85 males; mean age 43+/-12 years; range 19 to 78 years). Fungal allergy was determined by skin prick test and its effect was analyzed on blood eosinophil and total immunoglobulin E levels, the presence of polyps, and paranasal sinus computed tomography scores., Results: Eighty-five patients (66.9%) were found to have allergy. The incidence of allergy did not differ between patients with and without polyps (p>0.05). House dust mites (62.2%) were the most frequent allergens. The incidence of fungal allergy was 38.8% in allergic patients. Isolated fungal allergy was detected in two patients (1.6%). The most frequent fungal allergens were Aspergillus, followed by Alternaria, and Penicillium. No association was found between fungal allergy and blood eosinophil and total immunoglobulin E levels, presence of polyps, or paranasal sinus computed tomography scores (p>0.05)., Conclusion: The incidence of fungal allergy in patients with CRS was found to be high in this study. Tissue culture studies are required to determine the definitive relationship between fungal allergy and clinical features of CRS.