This study aimed to record recent changes in the incidence and clinical and histopathological patterns of rhinoscleroma in the middle of Nile Delta in Egypt.

Twenty-eight patients with rhinoscleroma were included in this study. Patients who were attending the Department of Otolaryngology at Tanta University Hospitals from January 2014 to January 2019 were included. Cases were diagnosed by clinical, bacteriological and histopathological data. Nasal biopsies were taken for histopathological and electron microscopy studies. All patients received a twelve-week course of 500 mg ciprofloxacin tablets twice daily.

The rate of rhinoscleroma was shown to be decreasing compared with previous studies. In this study, the disease mainly affected the nose without involvement of the palate, lips, Eustachian tube or bronchi. Histopathological and electron microscopy analyses showed that most cases were in the atrophic and fibrotic stages rather than the granulomatous stage of disease.

The incidence of rhinoscleroma in Egypt is decreasing and its clinical and histopathological patterns are changing to less advanced forms. This may be explained by the improvement in socioeconomic conditions and methods of treatment.

To demonstrate that patients who have been intubated for prolonged periods of time will have an increased likelihood of developing bacterial biofilm on their endotracheal tubes.

We collected endotracheal tubes from patients at the time of extubation, and analysed representative sections with scanning electron microscopy for morphologic evidence of biofilms.

From September 2007 to September 2008, 32 endotracheal tubes were analysed with electron microscopy. Patients who had been intubated for 6 days or longer had a significantly higher percentage of endotracheal tubes that exhibited bacterial biofilms, compared with patients intubated for less than 6 days (88.9 versus 57.1 per cent, p = 0.0439).

Longer duration of intubation is associated with a higher incidence of bacterial biofilm. Further research is needed to link the presence of bacterial biofilms to acquired laryngotracheal damage.

High sodium salicylate doses can cause reversible hearing loss and tinnitus, possibly due to reduced outer hair cell electromotility. Sodium salicylate is known to alter outer hair cell structure and function. This study determined the reversibility and cochlear recovery time after administration of an ototoxic sodium salicylate dose to guinea pigs with normal cochlear function.

Prospective experimental investigation.

All animals received a single 500 mg sodium salicylate dose, but with different durations of action. Function was evaluated before drug administration and immediately before sacrifice. Cochleae were processed and viewed using scanning electron microscopy.

Changes in outer hair cell function were observed to be present 2 hours after drug administration, with recovery of normal anatomy beginning after 24 hours. Subsequently, derangement and distortion of cilia reduced, with effects predominantly in row three. At 168 hours, cilia were near-normal but with mild distortions which interfered with normal cochlear physiology.

Ciliary changes persisted for up to 168 hours after ototoxic sodium salicylate administration.