Several studies have looked at systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (neutrophil x platelet x lymphocyte) values, which have been shown to be useful in determining tumor aggressivity and prognosis, as well as predicting recurrence risk, particularly in cancer cases. The purpose of the current study was to determine SII values in patients with parotid masses and investigate their utility in distinguishing between malignant and benign parotid tumors. This retrospective study included 237 adult patients-112 women and 125 men-who were followed up on and treated for parotid mass between 2015 and 2021. The SII values determined were compared between the groups. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.001). In addition, SII values were higher in malignant tumors with perineural and lymphovascular invasion compared to other malignant tumors, although the difference was not statistically significant. Although SII values yielded significant results in differentiating malignant from benign parotid tumors, since no significant cut-off value was determined, we do not think that they represent an effective marker capable of being used to distinguish between these tumors in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: Noise-induced hearing loss is a preventable form of hearing loss that has serious social and economic impacts. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of berberine, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, against Noise-induced hearing loss.METHODS:After applying distortion product otoacoustic emission, 28 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 was designated as acoustic trauma group, and rats in this group were exposed to white noise for 12 h at an intensity of 4 kHz 110 dB sound pressure level. Group 2 was the control group. Group 3 was designated as the berberine group, and 100 mg/kg of berberine was administered to rats in this group by intragastric lavage for five consecutive days. Group 4 was designated as the acoustic trauma+berberine group. distortion product otoacoustic emission was repeated on the 6th day of the study and cochlear tissues of rats were dissected for histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses after sacrificing rats.RESULTS: The distortion product otoacoustic emission results showed a significant decrease in signal-noise ratio values at higher frequencies in rats of the trauma group compared to those in other groups. Acoustic trauma caused severe histopathological impairment at cochlear structures together with severe 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine expression. Rats in the acoustic trauma+berberine group showed mild histopathological changes with mild 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine expression and better signal-noise ratio values. CONCLUSION: The histopathological and audiological findings of this experimental study showed that berberine provides protection in Noise -induced hearing loss and may have the potential for use in acoustic trauma-related hearing losses.

Introduction: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the Gram-negative coccobacillus Francisella tularensis. It is frequently overlooked in the differential diagnosis of neck masses because of its rarity. The purpose of this study is to report cases diagnosed with tularemia among patients presenting to our clinic with neck masses and to share our experience. Methodology: Patients presented to our hospital with cervical masses and diagnosed with tularemia were included in this retrospective study. Medical files of all patients were evaluated, and physical examination findings, titration values, date of diagnosis, location of the abscess or mass, place of residence, occupation, drinking water sources, sedimentation (SED), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) values were recorded. Results: Seventy-six patients were included in the study. Forty patients (52.6%) were living in rural villages and 36 (47.4%) in urban areas. Thirty-one (40.8%) were engaged in animal husbandry and 29 (38.2%) in agriculture. In terms of drinking water sources, 59 patients (73.6%) obtained water from the mains, while 10 (13.32%) used well water. The most frequently observed clinical findings were swelling in the neck, sore throat, lethargy, and fever. Neck swelling frequently occurred in levels II and III. Conclusions: Since tularemia is rare and there are no specific clinical findings, diagnosis may be problematic. Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists should be familiar with the clinical symptoms of tularemia in the head and neck region and should consider a preliminary diagnosis of tularemia in the differential diagnosis of persistent neck masses.

OBJECTIVE: A significant proportion of patients may experience moderate pain requiring treatment in the postoperative first 24 h following thyroidectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the evaluation of postoperative patient-reported pain from intraoperative intravenous infusion of lidocaine in patients undergoing thyroidectomy surgery.METHODS: A total of 40 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classifications I and II, aged 18-65 years, who were scheduled for elective thyroidectomy with the same indications under general anesthesia at the Ataturk University Medical Faculty's Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic between November 2019 and February 2020, were divided into two equal groups as randomized and double-blind. Before induction of anesthesia, patients in the lidocaine group were given 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine IV bolus infusion during the operation and until the end of the first postoperative hour, followed by a continuous infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/h. Patients in the control group were given 0.9% isotonic solution according to the same protocol. In the postoperative period, 50 mg of dexketoprofen trometamol was administered and repeated every 12 h. Postoperative pain scores, additional analgesia, and side effects were recorded.RESULTS: Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the lidocaine group (n=20) compared to the control group (n=20) at 30 min and 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th h postoperatively (p < 0.05). Additional analgesia requirements were also significantly lower in the lidocaine group than in the control group (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: We recommended the use of intravenous lidocaine infusion intraoperatively in thyroidectomy surgery as it reduces pain scores.