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The dominance of English in scientific papers and the use of English in locally funded research may hinder local comprehension and raise concerns about transitioning from vernacular languages to a universal language in scholarly journals. Additionally, the impact of publication language on journal sustainability is an intriguing area requiring further investigation. This study investigated how the publication languages of 42 Turkish psychiatric journals published between 2010-2023 impact journal sustainability. It examined the effect of publication languages and language changes on sustainability by analyzing information from the DergiPark platform, TR Index, and journal websites. Among the analyzed journals, 8 have ceased publication, while 34 continue. The terminated journals include 3 with Turkish articles, 2 with English articles, and 3 with both Turkish and English articles. Among the 34 ongoing journals in 2023, 3 only accepts Turkish publications, 8 only accept English publications, 22 accept both Turkish and English publications, and 1 accepts both Turkish and English versions of each article. The Turkish-only journal is not indexed by any major indexes. Of the eight English-only journals, one is SCI-Expanded and TR Index, three are indexed by TR Index and DOAJ, three are indexed by TR Index and one is not indexed by any major index. Among the 22 journals publishing in both languages, one is indexed by all the major indexes, four by TR Index and DOAJ, two by DOAJ and six by TR Index only, nine are not indexed by any major index. The use of the local language in journal publications may adversely affect the journal's sustainability, but it is not solely determined by indexing and citation in major index. Furthermore, publishing in English does not guarantee citations from international journals or ensure the long-term viability of the journal.

Background: Although Turkey publishes more than 3000 peer-reviewed scientific journals, fewer than 5% of them are covered by major indexing databases, and only 1 of the 10 scientific journals published by Trakya University (Turkey) is among those quality journals. In November 2017, Trakya University organized a workshop titled ‘Increasing the quality of academic journals at Trakya University’, the ultimate goal of which was to bring together all stakeholders in the process of academic publishing, to review the criteria of publishing quality, and to recommend measures to enhance the quality of academic journals published from Turkey. Objectives: To review the current status of academic journals published by Trakya University in terms of international publishing standards, to devise measures to enhance their quality, and also to help other journals do the same. Methods: Information was collected from the websites of 10 academic journals pub-lished by Trakya University in the fields of natural, medical, and social sciences to assess the extent to which each journal met a set of criteria defining quality academic publishing. These journals were then compared in terms of their success in meeting those criteria.Results: No single measure can improve the quality of all the ten journals published by Trakya University. Balkan Medical Journal topped the list in that it satisfied nearly all the criteria whereas the journals that met the fewest criteria were Trakya University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty, Trakya University Journal of Faculty of Letters, and Journal of Balkan Libraries Union. Timeliness in ensuring ethical standards was the criterion most often met by the journals, but all 10 failed to meet the criteria related to data accessibility and good reporting guidelines. Of the 8 crite-ria related to fairness of the blind-review processes, all 10 met 6 but none met all 8. In terms of transparency and implementation of best practices, the highest compliance was in terms of the criteria related to the name of the journal, its governing body, and archiving, but no journal made any effort to market itself, that is, to expand its circulation.Conclusions: The strengths and weaknesses of each journal with reference to the quality of academic publishing were highlighted. The method described in the paper can also be used for evaluating other journals.

Background: Published reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are not compliant with the CONSORT checklist as much as they should.Objective: To assess the quality, in terms of the level to which they are compliant with the CONSORT checklist, of abstracts of RCTs published in general medical journals in the Balkan region.Methods: Two observers assessed the abstracts of RCTs published in five general medical journals of the Balkan region between 2012 and 2018 to determine the level to which the abstracts were compliant with the 16-item CONSORT abstracts checklist.Results: Of the 183 studies that were identified for evaluation, 124 (67.8%) were excluded from the evaluation. The average compliance level was 44.5% (95% CI: 41.9%–47.1%), the lowest being that for randomization (1.7%), funding (1.7%),numbers analysed (11.0%), blinding (13.6%), and trial registration (18.6%). However, the compliance level was very high for conclusions (99.2%), objectives (96.6%), interventions (95.8%), and primary outcomes (83.9%). The length of the abstract (word count) and the level of compliance were positively correlated (rs = 0.43; p = 0.001). Abstracts of trials published in journals that endorse CONSORT in their publication policies were more compliant than those published in other journals (47.5 ± 10.4 versus 40.8 ± 8.0, p = 0.024).Conclusion: The overall level of compliance with the CONSORT checklist was below 50%. To improve the quality of abstracts of RCTs, authors should be encouraged to use the CONSORT checklist, and editors should check compliance with the CONSORT guidelines as part the publishing workflow.

Aim:Cochlear implants (CIs) aid in language and speech development through improved hearing in patients with bilateral severe or profound hearing loss. In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of our patients undergoing CI surgery.Materials and Methods:Preoperative, perioperative and postoperative clinical and audiological findings, hearing loss etiology, surgical approach techniques, and complications were evaluated retrospectively in 31 patients (35 ears) undergoing CI surgery.Results:Thirty one patients (13 adults and 18 children) were included in the study. After posterior tympanotomy following cortical mastoidectomy, electrodes were introduced through the round window in 21 ears and via cochleostomy in 14 ears. CIs with different number of electrodes (22, 16, 12) from 3 different companies were used. No postoperative complications were observed in any of the patients. The mean free field audiogram (FFA) was 95.2±19.13 dB preoperatively and 37.8±8.46 dB postoperatively in 24 patients who attended the control visits. Postoperative hearing gains were significantly different from the preoperative values (p

Objective: The aim is to investigate whether noise is effective on hearing screening tests of neonates born to mothers exposed to noise during pregnancy. Material and Method: Screening results of 2653 infants from the period of January 2013–May 2017 were evaluated. Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) were used. Infants of 65 mothers exposed to noise (LAeq 80–85 dBA/8 hours/day) during pregnancy (Week ± SD; 32.58 ± 2.71) comprised the study group while the control group consisted of infants of 2588 mothers without noise exposure. Results: Among the 65 infants, 23 (35.4%) passed screening at the first emission test (OAE1); 34 (52.3%) at the second emission test (OAE2); 7 (10.8%) at the ABR stage, 1 (1.5%) infant was referred to a tertiary center. In the control group, 458 (17.7%) infants passed at OAE1; 1822 (70.4%) at OAE2; 289 (11.2%) at ABR stages, 19 (0.7%) infants were referred to a tertiary center. The rate of infants that passed screening at OAE1 in the study group was high (P = 0.00001). Sixty-four (98.46%) infants in the study group and 2569 (99.26%) infants in the control group passed the tests. The difference between the two groups was not significant, indicating that exposure to noise during pregnancy had no unfavorable effects on auditory functions (P = 0.392). Conclusion: Unfavorable effect of noise exposure during pregnancy was not observed on auditory functions of the infants. The higher rate of infants that passed the screening test at OAE1 stage in the study group raised the question, “Does the exposure of the noise at exposure action levels (80–85 dB A) during pregnancy contribute to auditory maturation of fetus?”

Objective: To evaluate functional and oncological results of patients who were treated with frontal anterior laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction (Tucker’s operation).Material and Methods: From September 1985 to November 2009, 58 patients whose early glottic carcinomas were operated on with Tucker’s operation. The time of decannulation, nasogastric tube removal, hospitalization and oncological results were analyzed. Acoustic analysis and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) were used to evaluate vocal function.Results: The mean time for decannulation and nasogastric tube removal were 11.8±7.6 and 15.4±4.4 days, respectively. The mean duration of hospital stay was 19.3±6.1 days. It was found that early decannulation significantly reduced patient decannulation and hospitalization time. The 5-year overall and cause-specific actuarial survival rates were 81.5% and 96.9%, respectively. The 10-year overall and cause-specific survival rates were 67% and 92.3%, respectively. The 5-year local and nodal control rates were 95.4% and 95.2%, respectively. The mean values for jitter, shimmer and noise-to-harmonic ratio were 8.10±5.59%, 16.60±5.81% and 0.51±0.23, respectively, and these scores showed a significant increase. Total VHI score and subscale scores except VHI-emotional noted that patients had a mild level of vocal disability. Conclusion: Tucker’s operation is one of the preferred techniques in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma with its high oncologic success rate and satisfactory functional results.

Primary chondroid tumors of the larynx represent less than 1% of all laryngeal tumors. Most of them are chondromas and they often involve to the cricoid cartilage. A 31-year-old male patient applied to the oto-laryngology service with a history of dysphonia and dyspnea. Microlaryngoscopy revealed 2 cm sized, ill-defined, covered with regular mucosa, porous, and hard mass on posterior surface of crycoid cartilage in subglottic area. Following the excision of the lesion, histopathologic examination revealed as chondroma. Two years later, local recurrence was detected and the diagnosis was again chondroma. There was no complaint of the patient in last 3 and half years of follow-up. Chondroma should carefully be differentiated from chondrosarcoma and the patients should be followed for possible recurrences.

This aim of this study was to determine the effect of anaesthetic agents on stapedius reflex (SR) thresholds and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). Fifty patients who were scheduled for operation and who had normal hearing were included in the study. All were given midazolam for premedication and propofol for induction. Anaesthesia was maintained in five different ways in each group of 10 patients. Groups I–IV received inhalational anaesthesia: group I received 70 per cent N2O plus 30 per cent O2, group II sevoflurane, group III desflurane and group IV halothane. Group V received total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol plus sufentanil. The SR and TEOAE of the patients were measured four times: on the day before surgery (first measurement), after premedication (second measurement), after induction of anaesthesia (third measurement) and during maintenance of anaesthesia (fourth measurement). Midazolam significantly increased ipsilateral and contralateral SR thresholds and decreased TEOAE wave reproducibility. Propofol significantly increased only the SR thresholds. The other anaesthetic agents significantly increased only the contralateral reflex thresholds. Of these, the highest increase was seen after sevoflurane and the lowest after halothane. The changes in TEOAE wave reproducibility due to anaesthetic agents used for maintenance were not significant. We concluded that midazolam premedication may affect audiological evaluation with SR and TEOAE tests, and sevoflurane should not be used when it is necessary to measure SR under general anaesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of swallowing type (dry versus wet) on the outcome of a nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric Eustachian tube function (ETF) test in healthy adults.Fourteen normal healthy volunteers, between 19 and 28 years of age, were included in the study. The nine-step test was performed in two different test procedures: (1) test with dry swallows (dry test procedure) and (2) test with liquid swallows (wet test procedure). If the equilibration of middle-ear (ME) pressure was successful in all the steps of the nine-step test, ETF was considered 'Good'. Otherwise, the test was considered 'Poor', and the test was repeated at a second session.In the dry test procedure, ETF was 'Good' in 21 ears at the first session and in 24 ears after the second session (p > 0.05). However, in the wet test procedure, ETF was 'Good' in 13 ears at the first session and in 21 ears after the second session (p < 0.05).At the first session, ETF was 'Good' in 21 and 13 ears in the dry and wet test procedures, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, after the second session, the overall number of ears with 'Good' tubal function was almost the same in both test procedures (24 ears at dry test procedures versus 21 ears at wet test procedures;p > 0.05).Dry swallowing seems to be more effective for the equilibration of ME pressure. Thus, a single-session dependent evaluation of ETF may be efficient for the dry test procedure of the nine-step test. Swallowing with water may be easier for subjects, but a repetition of the test at a second session may be necessary when the test result is 'Poor'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined Heermann and Tos (CHAT) technique is the combination of Heermann''s ''cartilage palisade tympanoplasty'' and Tos''s ''modified combined approach tympanoplasty = modified intact canal wall mastoidectomy''. The first author (Cem Uzun) performed the CHAT technique as a one-stage operation in 15 ears of 15 patients with cholesteatoma. Two patients (one with a follow up of less than six months and one who did not show up at the final re-evaluation) were excluded from the study. Median age in the remaining 13 patients was 37 years (range: 1457 years). Cholesteatoma type was attic, sinus (Tos tensa type 1) and tensa retraction (Tos tensa type 2) in six, five and two ears, respectively. Cholesteatoma stage was Saleh and Mills stage 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in one, three, four, four and one ear, respectively. The eustachian tube was not involved with cholesteatoma in any ear. After drilling of the superoposterior bony annulus, transcanal atticotomy with preservation of thin bridge and cortical mastoidectomy with intact canal wall, the cholesteatoma was removed, and the eardrum and atticotomy were reconstructed with palisades of auricular cartilage. Type I tympanoplasty was performed in two ears, type II in nine ears and type III (stapes absent) in two ears, with either autologous incus (eight cases), cortical bone (two) or auricular cartilage (one). No complication occurred before, during or after surgery. Oto-microscopy and audiometry were done before and at a median of 13 months after surgery (mean 14 months, range 730 months). There was no sign of residual or recurrent cholesteatoma in any patient during the follow-up period. At the final examination, all ears were dry and had an intact eardrum except one with a small, central hole, which had been seen since the early post-operative period. Clean and stable attic retraction with a wide access was observed in two ears. Post-operative hearing at the final evaluation was better (change > 10 dB) than the pre-operative one in nine ears and did not change in the remaining four. Pre- and post-operative mean hearing values were, pure-tone average 47 and 35 dB (p = 0.01) and air-bone gap 30 and 20 dB (p = 0.02), respectively. With the CHAT technique, cholesteatoma can be completely and safely removed from the middle ear, and a durable and resistant reconstruction of the middle ear with reasonable hearing can be achieved. However, a further study should analyse long-term results of a larger patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixty-eight patients who presented with glottic and glottosupraglottic squamous cell carcinoma and who were managed in this department with supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) with either cricohyoidoepiglottopexy (CHEP) or cricohyoidopexy (CHP), were retrospectively reviewed. The authors analysed the functional and oncological results of the patients. The median follow-up period was 62 months. The average times until decannulation and nasogastric feeding tube removal were 27.7 and 26.4 days, respectively. All patients were successfully decannulated. All patients were able to swallow, but one patient was unable to swallow and had recurrent aspiration. Better functional results were achieved in patients managed with CHEP procedure than the patients managed with CHP procedure. The five-year absolute and cause-specific actuarial survival rates (Kaplan-Meier method) were 78.6 per cent and 93.9 per cent, respectively. The five-year actuarial local control and nodal control rates were 89.5 per cent and 90.4 per cent, respectively. Local recurrence was statistically more likely in patients with positive resection margins (p <0.006). Overall, local control and laryngeal preservation were achieved in 95.6 per cent and 89.7 per cent, respectively. Supracricoid partial laryngectomy procedures (CHEP and CHP) are possible alternatives to total laryngectomy in the treatment of selected advanced glottic and glottosupraglottic carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the eustachian tube function and the incidence of alternobaric vertigo (AV) in 29 sport self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers with, or without, some possible risk factors for AV. The divers had normal audiological and otoscopic findings at the pre-dive examination. We used the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test and Toynbee test for evaluation of eustachian tube function, and the Valsalva manoeuvre for patency. Information on divers, their history, and their otolaryngologic examination were obtained in the pre-dive examination. Divers performed 1086 dives (mean 37, range: 3-100) during the observation period. Four divers (14 per cent) experienced AV during five dives (0.46 per cent), (one diver experienced AV two times). It was found that having an otitis media history or eustachian tube dysfunction determined with the nine-step inflation/deflation tympanometric test before diving, or difficulty in clearing ears during diving could be important risk factors for AV in sport SCUBA divers (p <.05). Divers with such findings seem to be more prone to AV and should pay rigorous attention to the precautions for prevention of AV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study is to compare the tympanometric and functional findings of cartilage palisade tympanoplasty with those of tympanoplasty with temporalis fascia grafting after one-stage surgery in children with tensa cholesteatoma.STUDY DESIGN In children aged 5 to 15 years (mean, 9.5 years) with tensa cholesteatoma, cartilage palisade tympanoplasty was performed in 32 ears and fascia tympanoplasty in 29 ears. Tympanometry was performed in 31 ears with cartilage palisade tympanoplasty (the palisade group) and 28 ears with fascia tympanoplasty (the fascia group) at follow-up a median of 48 months after surgical removal of the cholesteatoma (range, 3-75 months).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Postoperative perforations, tympanometric parameters (tympanogram type, compliance, tympanometric width), and hearing.RESULTS All postoperative re-perforations occurred in the fascia group. However, there was no difference between the palisade group and the fascia group in terms of tympanometric parameters, nor between the two groups when dividing into tensa retraction and sinus cholesteatoma subgroups. When comparing the types of tympanoplasty, the type II group reconstructed with cartilage palisades contained a higher number of ears with a normal compliance (0.2-1.6 mL) but a higher number of ears with a tympanometric width of more than 150 mmH2O. Regarding the number of ears with normal tympanometries, there was no significant difference between the palisade and the fascia group. The late functional hearing results were better in ears reconstructed with cartilage palisades, with functional success in 71%, compared with 54% in the group with fascia grafting. This difference in functional results was particularly pronounced in ears with an abnormal tympanogram (68% vs. 29%).CONCLUSION Compared to fascia grafting, the present study showed better late functional hearing results after drum reconstruction using cartilage palisades, despite comparable tympanometric findings. Cartilage palisade reconstruction seems to provide better functional results, especially in ears with a poor tubal function, which is the common situation after cholesteatoma surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible cochlear toxicity of topically applied povidone-iodine solution was investigated in guinea pigs by measuring transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Seven adult pigmented guinea pigs (14 ears) with a normal acoustic pinna reflex were used. After the baseline TEOAE measurements, 0.1.mL of povidone-iodine solution was applied transtympanically into the middle ear in the study group. Saline solution and gentamicin were used as negative and positive control, respectively. TEOAE measurements were repeated on the 10th day, and four weeks after the first application. Tympanometric measurements were also carried out for both ears of all animals at the end of the study. Responses in all ears, which had povidone-iodine applied to them, disappeared in a way similar to those recorded in gentamicin-treated ears. Tympanometric measurements at the end of the study showed 'type A' tympanograms in all ears of all animals. The present study showed that povidone-iodine could have a cochleotoxic effect in guinea pigs. A study in humans with TEOAE before and after middle-ear surgery, where povidone-iodine can reach into the middle-ear cavity, may be useful for evaluating this result for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taste disturbance is an unusual complication of tonsillectomy of which there are very few reports in the literature. The possible causes of this rare complication are: (1) direct or indirect damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve or its lingual branch (LBGN), (2) lack of dietary zinc, and (3) habitual drug intake. We report a 41-year-old man, who complained of taste disturbance following tonsillectomy that was performed for chronic tonsillitis and unilateral (left) tonsillar hypertrophy. During surgery, hypertrophic tonsils were found to be sited deeply into the tonsillar bed, especially at the lower pole of the left tonsil. Pathologic examination following tonsillectomy revealed a keratinous cyst and chronic infection at the left tonsil, and lymphoid hyperplasia and chronic infection at the right tonsil. Although his complaint had been getting better, qualitative examination of his taste function revealed bilateral impairment of the sense of sweet taste on the base of his tongue two months after the surgery, and a taste disturbance of sweet taste on the left side persisted the 10th month after the surgery. His serum zinc value was normal, and he did not take any drug that could affect his sense of taste. Depending on the literature data, possible indirect damage to the LBGN was suspected as the cause of the taste disturbance. This symptom may be reversible within two years after tonsillectomy, but it can also be irreversible. Therefore, tonsillectomy should be performed with minimal trauma to the tonsillar bed, especially when there is an additional pathology extending into the lower pole, and such a patient should be informed of the risk of post-operative taste disturbance after tonsillectomy as being one of the rare complications of this surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]