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Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of electrical safety results of a prototype electromagnetic ear stimulation device in patients with tinnitus. Material and methods: The electrical safety tests of the prototype device for electro- and magnetostimulation of the hearing organ were carried out at the Center for Attestation and Certification Tests in Gliwice. The tests concerned selected parameters including the PN-EN standard. Results: Safety studies of the prototype electrical stimulation device for the ear in patients with tinnitus were necessary to perform the planned further preclinical studies. Obtained results regarding: identification and labeling of the device; protection against electric shock; checking protective earthing, functional earthing and potential equalization; checking the leakage current and auxiliary currents of the patient; checking the distances through the solid insulation and the use of thin insulating spacers; checking the electrical strength of the device insulation; checking protection against mechanical hazards of the device; checking the risk associated with surfaces, corners and edges, and checking the protection against excessive temperatures and other threats comply with the standard PN-EN. Conclusions: No risk to the patient and medical staff. Tests of protection against mechanical hazards of the device have shown that the only movable part whose contact with the patient could cause an unacceptable risk is the fan installed inside the housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of electromagnetic compatibility of a prototype device for ear stimulation in patients with tinnitus. Material and methods: The electromagnetic compatibility tests of the prototype device for electro- and magnetostimulation of the hearing organ were carried out at the Center for Attestation and Certification Tests OBAC Sp. z o. o. in Gliwice in 2020. The following product standards were used: PN-EN 60601-1-2:2015-11 -- medical electrical equipment (general requirements for basic safety and essential functioning; PN-EN 55011:2012 - industrial, scientific and medical equipment [characteristics of radio frequency disturbances] ) PN-EN 61000-3-2:2014-10 -- electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), permissible levels of harmonic current emissions (phase load current ≤ 16 A). Results: The level of expanded uncertainty in the measurement of conducted disturbances in the range of 0.150--30MHz does not exceed the level specified in the PN-EN-55016-4-2:2011 standard. In the study of the emission of radiated disturbances up to 1GHz in the frequency range of 30--1000MHz (PN-EN 55011:2012 standard), it was found that the setting of the EUT during the tests was in accordance with the requirements of the standard. The level of expanded uncertainty in the measurement of radiated disturbances in the 30--1000MHz range does not exceed the level specified in the PN-EN 55016--4-2:2011 standard. The measured current harmonic levels (phase power supply current ≤16A) with a frequency range of 50Hz--2kHz do not exceed the permissible levels specified in the PN-EN 61000-3-2:2014-10 standard. The test of resistance to the magnetic field at the frequency of the power grid (PN-EN 61000-4-8: 2010 standard also showed that the setting of the EUT during the tests was in accordance with the requirements of the standard and the result was positive. Conclusions: Testing of immunity to radiated radio frequency electromagnetic field (PN-EN 61000-4-3:2007 +A1:2008+A2:2011 standard) and testing of resistance to magnetic field at power frequency (PN-EN 61000-4-8 standard :2010) did not exceed the level specified in the standard and showed a positive result. The measured harmonic levels of the network current (phase supply current ≤16A) with the frequency range 50Hz--2kHz do not exceed the permissible levels specified in the PN-EN 61000- 3-2:2014-10 standard for a class A device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim: The aim of the study was the analysis of etiology and treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis in our own material. Material and methods: The study was performed on 520 women aged 18-87 and 789 men aged 19-85, diagnosed and treated for chronic rhinosinusitis between 2016 and 2020. The analysis was based on the medical records, taking into account: gender; age; type of symptoms; allergy tests; probable cause of inflammation; type of anatomical anomalies; assessment of the stage based on the Lund-Mackay score for CT scans; number of operations; pathology report; postoperative complications. Results: The study showed that the hospitalized patients were most often aged 41-50, 51-60, and 31-40 for women and 51-60, 41-50, and 31-40 for men, respectively. The results of allergy tests in chronic rhinosinusitis patients showed that women were most often allergic to Pyralgin + Ketonal + paracetamol + ibuprofen in 4.50%, to penicillins in 1.07%, and to house dust mites in 0.92%, while in men positive reactions were found in 3.36% for Pyralgin + Ketonal + paracetamol + ibuprofen, 0.99% for house dust mites and 0.92% for cat and dog hair, respectively. Absence of anatomical anomalies was found in 20.75% of women and 26.36% of men, but most often they occurred in the form of deviated nasal septum and enlarged middle nasal concha. The pathology reports revealed the following: chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis, chronic cystic rhinosinusitis, and chronic allergic rhinosinusitis. Conclusions: The main symptoms in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis included: nasal congestion + rhinorrhea, nasal congestion + nasal discharge + olfactory impairment, and nasal congestion + nasal discharge + headache. The most common probable causes of chronic rhinosinusitis in the studied patients included: anatomical anomalies, allergies, and irritants including tobacco smoke. Depending on the assessment of the stage based on the Lund-Mackay score for CT scans, it appears that moderate to severe inflammation prevailed in the studied patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the causes behind the development and the results of the treatment of sudden hearing loss/deafness in own study material. Material and methods: The study was carried in 64 women aged 10--89 years and 70 men aged 18-85 years who had been treated for sudden hearing loss/deafness at the Department of Otolaryngology in years 2011-2020. A retrospective analysis was carried out on the basis of the data contained in the medical documentation, including information on patients' gender, age, type of symptoms, the circumstances and possible causes of the symptoms, audiological and imaging exam summaries, the cause of sudden hearing loss/deafness, and treatment delivered. Results: As shown by the study results, sudden hearing loss/deafness was most common among female and male patients within the age groups of 51-60 years and 61-70 years. Sudden hearing loss/deafness was accompanied by tinnitus in 48.4% and 74.3% of female and male patients, respectively, tinnitus and vertigo in 28.1% and 14.3% of female and male patients, respectively, and vertigo in 6.3% and 1.4% of female and male patients, respectively. In our own study material, the most common causes of sudden hearing loss/deafness included idiopathic origin in 43.8% and 40.0% of female and male patients, respectively, infection in 18.8% of female patients, vascular disorders in 12.4% and 12.9% of female and male patients, respectively, and neurovascular conflict (considered as a separate cause) in 12.4% and 12.9% of female and male patients, respectively. Acoustic trauma was also a common cause of sudden hearing loss/deafness in males (18.5%). Best results (i.e. complete resolution of symptoms) of the treatment of sudden hearing loss/deafness as measured using a three-tiered scale against the method of treatment delivered, were obtained for vascular drugs with steroid therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy -- 25.0% and 22.9% in female and male patients, respectively. Partial resolution of symptoms was observed following vascular treatment with steroid therapy in 28.1% and 37.2% of female and male patients, respectively. Conclusions: Sudden hearing loss/deafness in both female and male patients was accompanied by tinnitus, vertigo, or tinnitus and vertigo at the same time. In the own study material, the most common etiologies of sudden hearing loss/deafness in female and male patients included idiopathic origin as well as background infection, vascular disorder and/or neurovascular conflict. Best results (i.e. complete resolution of symptoms) of the treatment of sudden hearing loss/deafness as measured using a three--tiered scale against the method of treatment delivered, were obtained for vascular drugs and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dizziness and imbalance occur in 20--30% of adults, which is a significant health problem. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the value of the VHIT test against the background of other diagnostic tests, including videonystagmographic (VNG) examination, Dix-Hallpike maneuver, VHIT test, posturographic examination, which are possible to perform in a patient with dizziness. Material and methods: The study was performed in 200 patients aged 18--78 years, who were divided into two groups: I study -- 100 patients with mixed dizziness, aged 18--78 years, II (reference group) -- 100 healthy patients (students of the Faculty of Mili- tary and Medical University of Lodz and patients of the Clinic, without anamnesis of body imbalances (preventive examination), aged 20--60 years. After performing an otorynolaryngological subjective and physical examination, each patient was subjected to a caloric test according to Fitzgerald-Hallpike in the VNG test using a water calorimeter. Then the Dix-Hallpike maneuver was performed, while the activity of semicircular canals in the VHIT test was determined on the basis of the GAIN value. In randomly selected patients, posturographic examinations were additionally carried out. Results: Based on the positive Dix-Hallpike maneuver, damage in the posterior semicircular canal in group I was found in 9 women (9.0%) and 4 men (4.0%), while a negative maneuver was noted in all people in group II. In group I in the VHIT study, damage to the semicircular canals most often concerned the following parts: anterior in 29 women (44.60%) and in 15 men (42.85%); posterior, in 19 (29.23%) and 8 (22.85%), respectively; lateral, in 3 (4.61%) and 3 (8.57%), respectively. Conclusions: The VHIT study in detail assesses the labyrinth canal deficit in all cases of peripheral and mixed dizziness, including otolithic origin, but does not allow for evident differentiation of BPPV with mixed dizziness of other origin. The VHIT test is a recommended diagnostic tool in BPPV in combination with other positional tests that allow to determine otolithiasis, such as: Hallpike test for the posterior semicircular canal. The VHIT test should be analyzed against the background of other diagnostic tests that can be performed in a patient with dizziness and balance disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]