Background & Objective: Chronic otitis media infection exists among 1.5-2 percent of people and its purulent discharges can create some difficulties for the patients. Chronic otitis media is mainly due to pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aurous. Severe and irreversible damages should be expected unless follow up treatments are exactly performed in such patients. This study was conducted to determine the most prevalent microorganisms involved in otitis infection and their sensitivity to antibiotics.

 Methods: This is a descriptive study in which 60 patients who referred to nose and throat clinics of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (2000-2001) were selected. Using applicator, some samples were taken from suppurative discharges of middle ear. These samples were then cultured in lactose broth and Nutrient broth. In order to isolate pathogenic microorganism, samples were also cultured in blood agar. Sensitivity of isolated pathogenic microorganism was determined against some antibiotics. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software.

 Results: 56 out of 60 patients were culture positive. Microorganisms isolated from suppurative otitis media were Staphylococcus areus (31.6%), pseudomonas aeuroginosa (26.6%), proteus (20%), candida albicans (6.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (4.6%), aeuromonas (1.6%) and others (6.4%) respectively. Sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics was found to be Ciprofloxacin (94.6%), Co-trimoxazole (66.3%), Cloxacilin (64.3%), Chloramphenicol (64.3%),Cephalexin (64.3%), Erythromycin (60.7%), Amikacin (44.6%), Streptomycin (39.3%), Penicillin (5.4%) respectively.

 Conclusions: Since staphylococcus areus was�the most prevalent micro-organism in otitis media infection, and isolated microorganisms were more sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, antibiogram test is necessary prior to the treatment of otitis media.

  Background & Objective : Swallowing foreign bodies and their impaction in esophagus is common among children and proper diagnosis and treatment of this problem will decrease its complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate esophageal foreign bodies.

  Methods : 62 patients with complaining about foreign body ingestion were studied and factors such as age, sex, the kind of foreign body, the treatment done, its complications and the length of hospitalization were considered.

  Results : Of sixty- two patients, 30 were male and 32 were female. Coin was the most common foreign body in children (24 cases) while in adults bone (chicken or fish) was more common (19 cases). In the patients most of the foreign bodies were impacted in the upper esophagus at the cricopharengeal junction. In all patients except one case (in which endoscopic forceps was used to remove the foreign body) esophagoscopy was performed under general anesthesia to remove the impacted foreign bodies. Complication was seen in one case as bleeding.

 Conclusions: Since the esophageal foreign body is prevalent among children it is necessary to prevent it through offering adequate to parents.

  Background & Objectives: The hearing organ has a special role in establishing communication among people and their education. Hearing loss causes disorders in communication between human and environment. In growing ages, hearing loss may lead to general educational failure . T his study was conducted in order to determine the relationship between hearing loss and educational failurs.

  Methods: In this case control study 110 failed students in 5^th grade elementary school (case) and 110 other ones (control) were selected by systematic random sampling. Both groups underwent the audiometric tests. The Data were analyzed by EPI 2000 software.

  Results: The results of this study showed that 9.1% of cases and 0.9% of controls needed sonic energy more than 30db in left ear to hear. The difference was significant (P<0.05) whereas there was no significant relationship between hearing loss and educational failure in rigth and left ear in both groups when the sonic energy used is more than 20db.

  Conclusion: The failed students are strongly recommended to be annually examined and evaluted by a specialist and if necessary be treated.

  Background and objectives : Voice problem is the most common problem in singers and the prevention of this problem and clearance of voice is the cause of voice quality improvement in these people. So this study was carried out to" determine the traditional methods for prevention of voice problem in religions singers at Ardabil city".

  Methods: This survey was a descriptive (cross-sectional) study. In this study 43 religious signers were selected. Then singers completed a questionnaire that consisted of data about age, sex, duration of singing, history of Voice problem and the prevention methods that they used. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and descriptive statistics.

  Results: The findings showed all of samples were male. Most of them were 24-44 years old. All of them used their voice in Moharram and 15 persons (34.4%) in Ramadan and 8 cases (18.6%) sang in other months. Clearance of voice was often seen in summer (79%) and Voice problem often was seen in winter (67.4%). 36 singers (83.7%) experienced Voice problem that in most of them (32.6%) its duration is 2 days. Resting and well nutrition were the common methods for prevention of voice problem. Most of singers used corticosteroids and changed singing method to a treble voice.

  Conclusions: The rate of voice problem in religious singers was higher than that of the general population, and it was often seen in special months. Duration of voice problem was low in most of them. Change of singing method and corticosteroid therapy was the common way of its treatment.

  Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is regarded as an otologic emergency of which bilateral involvement is rare and simultaneous bilateral involvement is very rare. In most cases the cause is idiopathic and in 30 to 65% of cases recovery happens spontaneously during two weeks period.

  In this paper we present, a patient with simultaneous bilateral sudden deafness. After complete diagnostic assessment and standard treatment, she was candidated for cochlear implantation as the only remedy, after one year. But, after 15 month she suddenly noticed normal hearing in left ear. This was documented by paraclinical assessment.

  This case is idiopathic with unfavourable prognosis and we couldn't find any similar report.

  Background & Objectives: Consumption of ω3 fatty acids supplementation inhibits oxidative stress injury, increases activity of antioxidant enzymes and decreases lipid peroxidation in gastric cancer patients. In this study, we examined effects of ω-3 fatty acid intakes on oxidative stress in gastric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

  Methods: This double blind clinical trial study was conducted on 30 adult patients (15 cases and 15 controls) with gastric cancer during chemotherapy in Ardabil city in 2010. Case and control groups were selected by randomized allocation. Three grams ω -3 fatty acid supplementation (1.8 g EPA & 1.2 g DHA in 10 g fish oil) and placebo were given case and control groups for 45 days, respectively. Anthropometric indices (weight, height & BMI) were measured. Blood samples were taken and then biochemical factors including triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, MDA, and total antioxidants were evaluated at the beginning, middle and end of the study . The data were analyzed by using Paired sample t-test, Independent sample t-test and repeated measures test.

  Results: MDA, Weight and BMI of omega group after intervention were significantly more than control group at the end of the study (p<0.05). Weight and BMI were decreased but serum MDA was significantly increased in control group during the study (p<0.05). Weight, BMI , and total antioxidants were significantly increased in omega group during day 30-45, (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in other biochemical factors at the end of study.

  Conclusion: The present investigation shows administration of ω3 fatty acid supplements to gastric cancer patients during chemotherapy increases the total antioxidants capacity and prevents the enhancement of oxidative stress.

  Extramedullary plasmacytomas are rare solitary soft tissue tumors that arise from proliferations of malignant transformed monoclonal plasma cell. Though they are closely related to multiple myelomas, they have better prognosis. The tumor is eradicated by surgery or local radiation therapy. This is a case-report study of solitary plasmacytoma tumor which involved left side maxillary sinus and underwent excisional biopsy confirmed by IHC.

  Background & Objectives: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the three causes of mortality made by cardiovascular disease and pulmonary embolism is the most common preventable causes of mortality among hospitalized patients. Considering high prevalence, the importance of etiologic studies of diseases and different previous reports regarding the role of blood groups on occurrence of diseases such as VTE, this study was carried out to determine the blood groups of the hospitalized patients with diagnosis of VTE.

  Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in Imam, Fatemi and Alavi hospitals in Ardebil. The final diagnosis was made by c olour D oppler ultrasound and pulmonary CT angiography and blood groups and risk factors were determined. Results of this study analysed along with the previous epidemiologic reports related with blood groups in Ardebil and Iran population using chi-square and t-test and SPSS software.

  Results: Of 200 patients with VTE, 140 patients were affected with DVT and 60 patients with PE. In this study, 92 patients were males and 108 were females. The mean age of patients was 52 ± 19 years. The most prevalent blood group was type A with a rate of 47.5%. There was no correlation between the diseases namely DVT or PE and blood groups (P=0.55). Frequency of type A ( OR: 2.914) and B ( OR: 1.608) in patients with VTE was more than Ardebil and Iran population but the type O (OR: 0.632) was less than those population. These differences were statistically significant. The frequency of type AB was similar in all groups.

  Conclusion: The Correlation between blood groups and venous thromboembolism, which have been discussed in many studies, have been investigated in Iran and at medical centres of Ardebil University of Medical Science for first time. It seems the type of blood groups (A and B) is effective in frequency of VTE. More studies are needed on the correlation between blood groups and VTE.