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Objective: Applying occupational health as a part of primary health care (PHC) and enacting laws in regard to workers health providing cause general practitioners to be known as one of the most essential service providers. This study was done to determine the knowledge level and encountering of general practitioners (GPs) regarding the occupational health in Babol (1999). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all of GPs during second six month of year. The data were gathered by questionnaires and visiting GPs and them analyzed by using of descriptive statistics. Findings: In this study, from 183 GPs, 149 persons participated and the others refused or didn’t participate because of higher education. Among physicians, 69% were familiar with occupational health science, 79.6% were asked by their patients about complications that are caused by working and 85% faced with patients who had occupational diseases. 10% of physicians cooperated with industries in providing health of workers. Conclusion: According to the results, for orienting medical students, revision of occupational health education on the basis of the community requirement is necessary.

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Background and Objective: There are many causes in acute gastroenteritis that result convulsion such as fever, electrolyte imbalances, meningitis and sometimes toxins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the convulsion causes in these patients. Methods: This prospective and descriptive study was performed on 34 patients with acute gastroenteritis and convulsion admitted in Amirkola children hospital during may 2002 to November 2002 on the basis of questionable titles. The patients were assessed according to fever, electrolyte imbalances, stool smear and culture. Findings: In this study, 34 patients between 7 months to 10 years were assessed that 22 cases were male and 12 were female. 97% of the patients were febrile and the most of them had temperature below 39°C (70.5%). 11.7% had hyponatremic electrolyte imbalances that were equal in both sexes. The convulsion was more common in males than females (1.83 fold), exclusively generalized form and frequently in 2-3 years old (26.4%). 56% had lethargic decreasing level of consciousness, 79.4% of them hadn’t past history and 70% hadn’t familial history of convulsion. 53% had positive stool smear and 11.76% had positive stool culture (Stool culture was exclusively shigellosis) and one case had positive blood culture (G+ bacillus). Conclusion: The findings show that fever and electrolyte imbalances are 2 important factors of causing convulsion in the patients with acute gastroenteritis. Thus, management of these noting factors is important in prevention of convulsion.

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Background and Objective: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). VSD was recognized by color Doppler echocardiography. The aim of this report was early diagnosis of this complication after AMI with echocardiography and its relation with thrombolytic therapy. Case: The first patient was a 54 year old man who presented to emergency ward with chest pain and he was admitted to CCU with diagnosis of acute anterior AMI and received streptokinase therapy (SK), he had a systolic murmur with thrill in LSB (Left sternal border) and had moderate size muscular VSD with echocardiography. Second patient was 66 year old women who presented which chest pain and she was admitted to CCU with diagnosis of inferior MI and anterior ischemia at distance. She had pansystolic murmur with thrill at LSB and had muscular type VSD with echocardiography. 3rd and 4th and 5th patients who were 75, 80 and 52 years old, respectively were referred with chest pain and with diagnosis of AMI, they had systolic murmur with thrill at LSB, diagnosis of VSD after AMI was confirmed with echocardiography and 5th patient received SK. Selective coronary angiography, cardiac catheterization and oxymetry were done. Conclusion: VSD is one of important complication of AMI. They were recognized with physical examination and echocardiography. Thrombolytic therapy accelerates the time from AMI to VSD formation.

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Background and objective: With regard to the extensive use of digoxin in patients with heart disease and its high prevalence of toxicity, this study was done to measure the digoxin serum level (DSL) in patients with or without symptoms of poisoning and determine its relation with age. Methods: This study was performed on 441 patients who used digoxin in Babol Shahid Beheshti hospital in 1999-2003. Digoxin has been used for a long time by these patients and the cause of hospitalization was symptoms related to digoxin and primary disease. DSL was measured after history taking and information about the presence of poisoning symptoms. Finding: From 441 patients, 63 cases were toxic and 378 cases were non-toxic. Among 63 toxic cases, DSL in 27 cases was more than 2 ng/dl in serum that 82% of them were under 70 years old and DSL in 36 cases was less than 2 ng/dl in serum that 95% of them were over 70 years. From 378 non-toxic cases, 42 cases (11%) were over 70 years that DSL in all of them was less than 2 ng/dl and 336 (89%) were under 70 years that DSL in 3 (4%) and 323 (96%) was more and less than 2 ng/dl, respectively. Conclusion: Although, the most DSL in non-toxic patients was more than 2 ng/dl but DSL less than 2 ng/dl can also cause digoxin toxicity (Especially in patients more than 70 years).

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Changes in the copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations have been reported previously in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP). Due to controversial results, the aim of this study was to determine the Cu and Zn concentrations of ISCMP and to evaluate the probable role of these elements in patients with ICMP.
METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 30 ICMP patients and 27 healthy volunteers. ICMP was diagnosed with a history of myocardial infarction and also vascular diseases confirmed by angiography. Exclusion criteria were renal or hepatic insufficiency, alcohol usage and intake of supplements containing Cu or Zn within one week ago. 15 ml of vein blood has been taken from patients and healthy volunteers. Samples were centrifuged, and separated serums were kept at 20 oC. Cu and Zn levels were assayed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. T-test was used to compare the levels of Cu and Zn between ICMP and normal subjects.
FINDINGS: The mean Cu level of ISCMP group (1.5±0.5 mg/Lit) was significantly more than Cu levels of healthy volunteers (1.3±0.2 mg/Lit) (p= 0.048). The mean Zn levels for ISCMP and healthy volunteers were 1.1±0.3 mg/Lit, and 1.1±0.4 mg/Lit, respectively, that no significant difference was seen.
CONCLUSION: Considering the results of this study, Cu may have a role in the development of ICMP. Interventions such as administration of Cu chelators to relieve the symptoms or to decrease the progress of ISCMP would need to be examined in large clinical trials. This study indicated that Zn may not have any role in the development of ICMP.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance is a risk for many cardiovascular diseases that the effect of it on prognosis and etiology is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the association of admission insulin resistance index (AIRI) with prognosis in non diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
METHODS: This analytical study was done on 90 non diabetic patients with ACS in three groups including UA (unstable angina), STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) and NSTEMI (Non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction) in CCU ward of Shahid Beheshti hospital, Babol, Iran. The diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was based on clinical criteria, elevation of cardiac enzyme and ECG (Electrocardiogram) changes. All of patients followed for complications and ejection fraction within 15 days after admission. 5 cc blood was obtained form all patients and insulin level and fasting blood sugar were measured after admission. Other data including history of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, family history, sex and age were recorded for all patients.
FINDINGS: The mean age, sex distribution and distribution of cardiac risk factor (smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and family history) did not show significant difference between three groups. The mean of AIRI for NSTEMI, STEMI and UA was 6.9±6.6, 10.5±10.8 and 8.6±8.8, respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean AIRI in patients with complication (7.9±9.1) and without complication (8.7±8.8).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that AIRI does not seem suitable for detection of non diabetic ACS patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Inactivity is an important cause of chronic diseases. The level of ones physical activity depends on his or her age, sex, education, job, smoking and etc. This study was performed to assess the physical activity level and its relation to demographic characteristics in population of in Babol, Iran.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 2500 people in Babol, in 2007. In this multi stage sampling there were 20 clusters, each cluster contained 125 persons aged 20-65 years old. In each cluster data was gathered by convenience sampling by means of International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) contains information about level of physical activity in three levels (severe, moderate and light).
FINDINGS: Mean hours of physical activity per week were 3.22±7.38 for severe, 5.7±8.5 for moderate, 1.7±2.47 for light physical activity and 36.1±17.45 for sedentary activities. Men had significantly more physical activities in every levels than women (p=0.000, p=0.000 and p=0.05). There were also significant differences between job and amounts of physical activities in every three levels (p=0.000). Illiterate persons and persons with elementary education had severe physical activity (p=0.000).
CONCLUSION: This study showed that the level of sedentary activity was more than other activities that can result in many chronic diseases. So it is recommended to consider the public educational programs in order to encourage people to have regular physical activity and make it as a good habit during their life.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hospital wastewater quantity and quality is important for promotion of human and environmental health, because it contains many microbial and chemical pollutants. This study was performed to study the quantity and quality of wastewater in hospitals of Babol medical University and its effects on human and environmental health.
METHODS: This cross sectional study was performed on wastewater quantity and quality of 3 teaching hospitals in Babol (Shahid Beheshti, Yahyanejad and Amirkola hospitals). Water consumption rate was identified using issued receipts and wastewater production per bed by water to wastewater ratio. Seventy two mixed samples were obtained, collected and sent to the laboratory for identifying of PH, BOD₅, COD, TSS and TC based on standard methods.
FINDINGS: Average daily water consumption and wastewater production were 614±74 and 474±73 liter per bed and water-to-wastewater ratio was 79.77%. Mean values of PH was 7.53±0.58. Mean values of BOD₅, COD, TSS and TC in raw wastewaters were 400±96 mg/L, 616±166 mg/L, 282±81 mg/L and more than 2400 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Annually total of wastewater volume and loading rate was 100524 m3 and 40210 Kg, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Considering the results of the quantity and quality of hospital wastewater and its effects on the environment health, it is necessary to give special attention to the management of wastewater production, construction, upgrading, and good operation of wastewater treatment systems in these hospitals.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lack of mental health will prevent the progress and promotion of people and their responsibilities that due to educational drop out. Since educational drop out is one of the most important problems in the universities, so the present study was conducted to determine the association between mental health and other related factors with educational success.
METHODS: This cross sectional study was performed in the 3^rd semester of 2008 on 304 medical and non-medical students of Arak with two-stage sampling method. Students were divided into two groups of successful students with average grade above 15 and unsuccessful students with average grade below 15. Data was gathered with GHQ-28 questionnaire in four areas physical health, anxiety, social practice and depression. Total score of each participant varied from 0-84. Demographic data was collected by the questionnaire and then analyzed.
FINDINGS: The mean score of general health of participants in the study was equal to 26.46±11.43. The results showed that a significant correlation between general health, physical health and depression scores with educational success (p<0.05) but there wasn’t any significant correlation between anxiety and social practice scores with educational success.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that physical, mental and general health is effective on educational success, so the family, university and community should provide the comprehensive polices for the promotion of these factors.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Caries is a multifactorial disease with a microbial nature. Thus, more concentration on its operative treatment will lead to failure in annihilating its origin. On the other hand, because of known side effects of antibiotics and world attraction to traditional treatment and importance of drug extraction of natural material and plants, this study was done to compare the antibacterial effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Salvia officinalis, Pimpinella anisum, Mentha longifolia and Achillea millefolium against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Actinomyces viscosus with two in vitro methods.
METHODS: In this experimental study, hydroalcoholic extracts have been prepared from Salvia officinalis, Pimpinella anisum, Mentha longifolia and Achillea millefolium with maceration method. Their antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Actinomyces viscosus have been evaluated with Broth macrodilution (the method in which amounts of antimicrobial agents is diluted in broth environment serially) (0.18-200 µg/ml) and Agar diffusion (the method in which antimicrobial effect is assessed in solid environment) (0.78-400 µg/ml) methods.
FINDINGS: In Broth macrodilution method MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) for Pimpinella anisum, Salvia officinalis, Mentha longifolia and Achillea millefolium for Streptococcus mutans were respectively 12.5, 6.25, 12.5 and 50 µg/ml, for Lactobacillus rhamnosus 12.5,1.56, 3.12 and 12.5 µg/ml and for Actinomyces viscosus 50, 12.5, 100 and 50 µg/ml. In Agar diffusion method Pimpinella anisum and Salvia officinalis against Streptococcus mutans, Pimpinella anisum against Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Mentha longifolia against Actinomyces viscosus had antibacterial effect.
CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, four extracts had growth inhibitory effect on all three bacteria. Salvia officinalis had greater effect on inhibition of growth of all three bacteria. All of the extracts had bactericidal effect in the range of concentration.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neuroectodermal diseases are rare disorders which their main characteristic is cutaneous and neurologic symptoms but other organs may also be involved according the type of disease. One of the common neurologic problems of these diseases is seizure, which is the main leading factor for hospitalization. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and main clinical manifestation of the tuberous sclerosis complex, sturge-weber syndrome and neurofibromatosis.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on the hospital dossier of the patients admitted in clinic and ward of neurology of Amirkola children hospital of Babol between years of 2001-2007. After achieving of the number of total admitted patients, we studied patients hospital dossier and registered their information in a data sheet.
FINDINGS: Of 2564 admitted patients, 23 patients (0.9%) had TSC disease. The age of these patients was between
1-17 years old and all of them suffer from seizure and also had hypopigmented patch in their skin, 3 patients (13.4%) had heart disease, 6 patients (26.8%) had kidney disease and 8 patients (34.8%) had retinal involvement. Of 2564 admitted patients, 11 patients (0.4%) had SWS disease. All of them suffer from seizure and also had Port Wine Stain nevus in the distribution of frontal branch of fifth cerebral nerve. Eye disease was seen in 4 patients (36.4%). From all admitted patients, 6 patients (0.23%) had NF disease. One of them suffers from seizure and all of them had Cafe-au-Iait spots in their skin. Two patients had lisch nodule in their iris and one patient had retinal hamartoma.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that one of the most common clinical manifestations of these diseases was seizure. Consequently the 100% prevalence of seizure can be due to a systematic error such as selection bias.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Congenital hearing loss is the most common sensorineural defect in human. The most common genetic mutations in this disease are GJB2 mutations which are followed by SLC26A4 mutations. Following a report for the first time in the world insist on CABP2 gene interference in hearing loss production, the present study was launched to analyze this mutation in Iranian patients with hereditary hearing loss.
METHODS: This is a cross sectional study. Among samples with autosomal recessive familial hearing loss pattern, regarding pedigree and audiometric data 253 patients with moderate to profound hearing loss were selected and studied. The mutation c. 637+1G>T was investigated using PCR-RFLP method.
FINDINGS: PCR-RFLP findings revealed that c.637+1G>T mutation was absent in the deaf subjects with hereditary moderate to profound hearing loss in analyzed provinces.
CONCLUSION: The mutation c.637+1G>T in CABP2 gene does not play any role in the investigated Iranian subjects with hereditary hearing loss.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Passive smokers are those who are exposed to cigarette smoke at home or outside of the home. Children are the most vulnerable group of passive smokers. Cigarette smoke in passive smokers is as harmful as in smokers. The aim of this study was to assess the cotinine level in children aged 12-15 years old in Babol, Iran.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, samples of saliva were collected from 200 school children aged 12-15 years, in Babol, Iran and cotinine level has been measured with ELIZA.
FINDINGS: Of 49 (24.5%) passive smokers, 20 were girls and 29 were boys. There was no significant correlation between sex and cotinine level. There was a correlation between cotinine level and smoking in parents or the other family members. (p<0.05)
CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that a quarter of school children aged 12-15 years in Babol were passive smokers. So, health authorities are recommended to implement public training program to train the families not to smoke around children.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Coronary heart disease (CHD) has a high rate of mortality in industrial countries. The progress of this disease is closely related to patients’ perception of the social support and their ability to regulate feelings. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the effect of dialectical behavior therapy on emotion regulation and perceived social support in patients with CHD..

METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on three patients with CHD, who referred to Fateme Zahra Cardiovascular Hospital of Sari, in the second half of the year 2013. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of test and control (n=15 for each). At the beginning of the pre-test stage, both groups filled-out Fischer and Corcoran’s perceived social support questionnaire and revised emotional processing scale of Weems and Pina. Then, the participants of the test group received six weeks of dialectical behavior therapy, once a week, for 60-90 minutes. The control group received no specific interventions. Eventually, both groups completed the questionnaires again at the post-test stage, and the results were compared afterwards.

FINDINGS: The mean scores of cognitive emotion regulation components of the test and control groups in the pre-test stage were 112.7±2.5 and 113.2±2.2, respectively, and in the post-test stage they were 39.07±1.9 and 107±2.9, respectively. The mean score of perceived social support in the test and control groups, in the pre-test stage, were 24.6±4.6 and 24.7±3.5, respectively, and in the post-test stage they were 5.7±3.9 and 39±6.3, respectively. After the intervention, the mean cognitive emotion regulation score in the test group significantly reduced, as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that dialectical behavior therapy can affect CHD patients’ perception of social support and their regulation of emotions.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute chest pain is caused by different reasons and about 20% of them are caused by myocardial ischemia. Since the number of patients with chest pain admitted to emergency wards is daily increasing, the present study was conducted to compare the exercise test results with coronary angiography in patients with atypical chest pain.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with acute chest pain in Babol from 2007 to 2009. Exercise tests were run for patients and if the result was positive, coronary angiography was performed and they were compared.

FINDINGS: 779 patients (394 males, 385 females) over 45 years with atypical chest pain underwent exercise test and the result was positive for 256 patients. 105 females and 151 males with positive exercise test results as well as patients with negative exercise test results underwent coronary angiography. Of 580 patients who underwent coronary angiography (256 patients with positive exercise test results and 324 patients with negative exercise test results), 276 patients (47.5%) suffered from coronary artery disease (CAD) and the prevalence of  coronary artery disease (CAD) was 77% in patients with positive exercise test results and it was 24% in patients with negative exercise test results.

CONCLUSION: Considering the high prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with positive exercise test results, this test is recommended as a primary detection method for patients with atypical chest pain.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In the medical world one of the most interaction between body and mind are related to coronary heart disease and it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. For this reason, identifying psychological risk factors in this context is necessary. In this regard, this study was performed with aimed to coping styles and quality of life in CHD patients and healthy individuals.

METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional performed on 100 patients with coronary heart disease and 100 healthy subjects. Data was collected through Lazarus and Folkman coping styles questionnaires that included four problematic coping and  four emotion-focused coping style and quality of life of the World Health Organization in four aspects of  physical, psychological, environmental and social relationship with demographic characteristics were collected and compared.

FINDINGS: The mean of direct confrontive coping style in patients (8.75±2.81) were significantly more than healthy individuals (7.95±2.86) (p=0.036), the mean of escape-avoidance coping style in patients (9.80±4.59) were significantly more than healthy individuals (8.38±4.25) (p=0.045), and was not found significant difference between two groups in Problem-focused coping style, Also there was a significant difference in quality of life between two groups, in the physical health domain (p=0.000), psychological domain(p=0.001), social relationship domain (p=0.007) and environmental domain (p=0.003).

CONCLUSION: Result showed that the quality of life in CHD patients were lower than healthy individuals and CHD patients used direct confrontive coping style and escape-avoidance coping style, more than healthy individuals. Therefore this two styles can be considered as risk factors for CHD.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spiritual health is the basis of family and community health. In marital relationships, several factors led to the satisfaction of wives from each other. In the meantime, the role of spirituality is crucial from surrounded on all aspects of human life. This study was performed with aim of analyzing the relationship between spiritual health with marital satisfaction and Comparison of them between men and women.

METHODS: The sectional study was conducted on 341 married students of Medical Sciences in Azad University, Sari branch.  Criterion variable (spiritual health) and predictor variable (marital satisfaction) were measured by standard questionnaires including Paloutzian & Ellison (1982) and Enrich(2000)  with 5-item Likert scale with a minimum score of 1 (very low) to maximum score of 5 (very high) and also two groups of men and women were compared.

FINDINGS: Spiritual health had direct and meaningful relationship with marital satisfaction (CI-95% R= 0.009).There was no difference of marital satisfaction in men with average of 3.36±0.35 and women with average of 3.44±0.43 (p=0.342) but, the spiritual health in men with average of 2.7±0.25 was more than women with average of 2.6±0.14 (p=0.000).

CONCLUSION: According the results, there was no difference of marital satisfaction in man and woman but, the spiritual health in men was more than women. Marital satisfaction had increased by increasing spiritual health in men and women students. 

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The expression of most genes that produce Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors is controlled and regulated by a gene system called quorum sensing (QS) system. Quorum sensing is a cell to cell communication system through small signaling molecules in single-celled organisms. This study aims to investigate the frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lasB, rhlR, rhlI, lasR, lasI, apr and rhlAB genes isolated from clinical samples using multiplex-PCR method and determining the antibiotic resistance profile.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 60 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from patients admitted to Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran. The antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates against ceftazidime, cefotaxime, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, gentamicin, imipenem, cefepime, ticarcillin and piperacillin was determined using disk diffusion method. After culturing and final confirmation using biochemical and specific tests, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex PCR) was performed to track the intended genes.

FINDINGS: In this study, highest susceptibility was observed to be against ciprofloxacin (81.66%) and ceftazidime (65%). Multiplex PCR demonstrated that the frequency of rhlR, lasR and lasI genes was 5%, 48.3% and 60%, respectively, while rhlI, lasB, apr and rhlAB genes could not be identified in any of the strains.

CONCLUSION: Resistance to antibiotics is increasing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which requires continuous monitoring. QS System plays a key role in pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Identification of these genes enables us to track and identify this bacterium quickly. 

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is one of the leading causes of chronic otitis media and pneumatization of mastoid air cells. In this study, the effect of NSD on pneumatization of mastoid cells and the relationship between NSD and chronic otitis media were investigated using CT scan.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 75 paranasal sinus CT scans with NSD and mastoid view were investigated. Patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of NSD: mild (deviation less than 9 degrees, 25 patients), moderate (deviation from 9 to 15 degrees, 25 patients) and severe (deviation equal to or greater than 15 degrees, 25 patients). Chronic otitis media is defined as the presence of bone destruction or sclerosis accompanied by mass fluid or structural changes in temporal bone air cells. The pneumatization of mastoid cells was determined visually and as formation of mastoid air cells.
FINDINGS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of pneumatization of mastoid cells between mild (25 patients, 100%), moderate (25 patients, 100%) and severe (23 patients, 92%) nasal septum deviation (p = 0.128). However, the prevalence of chronic otitis media was significantly higher in severe NSD (13 patients, 52%) compared to mild (4 patients, 16%) and moderate (9 patients, 36%) NSD (p = 0.028)
CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that the severity of NSD does not have an effect on pneumatization of mastoid cells, but severe NSD increases the frequency of otitis mediaBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is one of the leading causes of chronic otitis media and pneumatization of mastoid air cells. In this study, the effect of NSD on pneumatization of mastoid cells and the relationship between NSD and chronic otitis media were investigated using CT scan.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 75 paranasal sinus CT scans with NSD and mastoid view were investigated. Patients were divided into three groups based on the severity of NSD: mild (deviation less than 9 degrees, 25 patients), moderate (deviation from 9 to 15 degrees, 25 patients) and severe (deviation equal to or greater than 15 degrees, 25 patients). Chronic otitis media is defined as the presence of bone destruction or sclerosis accompanied by mass fluid or structural changes in temporal bone air cells. The pneumatization of mastoid cells was determined visually and as formation of mastoid air cells.
FINDINGS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of pneumatization of mastoid cells between mild (25 patients, 100%), moderate (25 patients, 100%) and severe (23 patients, 92%) nasal septum deviation (p = 0.128). However, the prevalence of chronic otitis media was significantly higher in severe NSD (13 patients, 52%) compared to mild (4 patients, 16%) and moderate (9 patients, 36%) NSD (p = 0.028)
CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that the severity of NSD does not have an effect on pneumatization of mastoid cells, but severe NSD increases the frequency of otitis media.