Sudden hearing loss is a significant otologic emergency. Previous studies have revealed a coexistence of sudden hearing loss with chronic inflammation. The predictive importance of C-reactive protein/albumin values as a prognostic factor has been shown in various inflammatory and tumoral conditions. The aim of this study was to determine whether the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio in sudden hearing loss can be used for prognostic purposes and whether there is a relationship between the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio. A retrospective examination was made of 40 patients diagnosed with idiopathic sudden hearing loss and a control group of 45 healthy subjects. The pure tone averages of all the patients were determined on first presentation and repeated at 3 months after the treatment. The patients were separated into 2 groups according to the response to treatment. The neutrophil/lynphocyte ratio and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratios were calculated from the laboratory tests. The patients included 16 females and 24 males with a mean age of 44.1±14.2 years and the control group was composed of 23 females and 22 males with a mean age of 42.2±13.8 years. The mean C-reactive protein/albumin ratio was 0.95±0.47 in the patient group and 0.74±0.13 in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.009). The mean C-reactive protein/albumin ratio was 0.79±0.12 in the response to treatment group and 1.27±0.72 in the non-response group, with no significant difference determined between the groups (p=0.418). The mean neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was 3.52±3.00 in the response to treatment group and 4.90±4.60 in the non-response group, with no statistically significant difference determined between the groups (p=0.261). C-reactive/albumin ratio was significantly higher in patients with sudden hearing loss than in the control group. Although C-reactive protein/albumin ratio was found to be lower in sudden hearing loss patients who responded to treatment compared to those who did not, the difference between two groups was not statistically significant.

ChatGPT and other large language models have emerged as new tools for patient education, yet their clinical safety and reliability remain unclear. To assess the accuracy and safety of ChatGPT-4o's responses to common postoperative questions following rhinoplasty. Ten consensus-based postoperative questions were identified via a modified Delphi process. ChatGPT-4o responses were generated and evaluated by three independent otolaryngologists using a 10-point Likert scale. Reviewers also assessed the presence of critical errors. The average Likert score across responses was 8.87 (95% CI, 8.39 to 9.34), No critical errors were detected. Inter-rater reliability was high (ICC(2,k) = 0.876). ChatGPT-4o provided clinically accurate and safe answers to common rhinoplasty postoperative questions. These findings suggest that ChatGPT-4o may serve as a useful adjunct for postoperative patient counseling in structured settings, particularly when physician access is limited.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that oral montelukast treatment could inhibit cholesteatoma formation in an experimental animal model. Background: Inflammation and excessive proliferation have been described in the histopathology of cholesteatoma. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral montelukast on cholesteatoma development. Methods: Eighteen healthy female Wistar albino rats weighing 250 g were chosen for the study. The animals were divided into two groups: group 1 received montelukast and group 2 was the control group. Intratympanic propylene glycol injection was administered into the left ears and physiologic serum was instilled into the right ears of the animals on the first, eighth, and fifteenth days. The effects of montelukast administration were evaluated by histological examination of the tympanic membrane and middle ear. Results: Group 1 (montelukast group) showed significant differences in terms of cholesteatoma formation, granulation, epithelial invagination, and inflammation. Cholesteatoma formation in the left ear was observed in 2 (22%) and 8 (89%) rats in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Development of cholesteatoma and inflammation was significantly lower in the montelukast-administered group. Thus, oral montelukast was found effective in preventing cholesteatoma formation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the preventative effect of oral curcumin (CMN) on myringosclerosis (MS) in an experimental rat model. The study included 21 female Wistar albino rats randomly separated into three groups. Group 1 was given no treatment (control group). In Group 2 and Group 3, the tympanic membrane (TM) was perforated using a sterile ear pick. The rats in Group 3 were administered oral CMN 200 mg/kg/day. All rats were sacrificed after 16 days. Otomicroscopic and histopathologic examinations were performed on the tympanic membranes. Histopathologic examinations revealed that there were statistically significant differences between Group 2 and Group 3 in terms of MS degrees (p<0.001) and mean thicknesses of TMs (p<0.001), but there were no differences between Group 1 and Group 3. In respect of MS detected by otomicroscopy, a statistically significant difference was determined between Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001) and between Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3 (p=0.575). Orally administered CMN can prevent myringosclerosis formation in experimentally induced myringotomies.