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Vestibular compensation is the natural process of recovery that occurs with acute peripheral vestibular lesion. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying vestibular compensation, focusing on the role of the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN), the central hub of the vestibular system, and its associated neural networks. The disruption of neural activity balance between the bilateral MVNs underlies the vestibular symptoms after unilateral vestibular damage, and this balance disruption can be partially reversed by the mutual inhibitory projections between the bilateral MVNs, and their top‐down regulation by other brain regions via different neurotransmitters. However, the detailed mechanism of how MVN is involved in vestibular compensation and regulated remains largely unknown. A deeper understanding of the vestibular neural network and the neurotransmitter systems involved in vestibular compensation holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and developing more effective interventions for vestibular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study is aim to explore the causal relationship between anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and Meniere's disease (MD). Study Design: Two‐sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Setting: IEU, FinnGen, CTG, and UKB databases. Methods: The genome‐wide association studies data for anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and MD involved over 357,957 participants. MR was performed to explore relationships between anxiety, depression, neuroticism, and MD. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the MR results. Reverse MR was used to exclude the possibility of reverse causality. Finally, multivariate MR was performed to explore the collinear relationships between neuroticism subclusters. Results: MR results showed that anxiety and depression are not causes of MD, nor does MD cause anxiety and depression. Elevated neuroticism sum score is a cause of anxiety, depression, and MD, but MD does not lead to an increase in the level of neuroticism sum score. Further analysis showed that the 5 subclusters of neuroticism often feel lonely, mood often goes up and down, often feel fed‐up, feelings easily hurt, and sensitivity to environmental stress and adversity are causes of MD. Multivariate MR analysis results suggested that the 5 neuroticism subclusters have a collinear relationship. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression are not causative factors of MD, and vice versa. Elevated neuroticism levels serve as a shared causative factor for anxiety, depression, and MD. Identification and effective management of neuroticism is a potential target for preventing and treating MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to create a nomogram for accurately predicting the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and provide a reference for clinical treatment. Methods: Three hundred and twenty-three patients with ISSNHL were admitted from September 2014 to November 2020. The clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. Prognostic factors for ISSNHL were assessed based on univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and used to create a nomogram. Nomogram performance in terms of predictive and discriminatory ability was evaluated by calculating the concordance index (C-index) and generating calibration plots. Results: The overall hearing improvement rate was 41.4%, comprising complete recovery (13.3%), marked recovery (17.0%), and slight recovery (11.1%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, symptoms of vertigo, interval between onset and treatment, low-density lipoprotein, and type of hearing loss were independent predictors of ISSNHL. A nomogram based on these 5 factors had a C index of 0.798 (95% confidence interval 0.750-0.845). Conclusions: Age, vertigo, interval between onset and treatment, low-density lipoprotein level, and type of hearing loss are closely associated with hearing recovery. The nomogram may enable prediction of the prognosis of ISSNHL and facilitate clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report an interstitial deletion of Xq21.1 in chromosome X in a boy with congenital deafness. Methods: The proband underwent a thorough physical examination and a detailed audiological and temporal bone computed tomography (CT) scan. Cochlear implantation was performed on the proband, and follow‐up was conducted. High throughput sequencing and copy number analysis was made of peripheral blood samples from the proband, family members, and control subjects. Results: Sensorineural hearing loss was present in the boy and temporal bone CT scan showed a bilateral incomplete partition type III anomaly (IP‐III). Q21.1 (79.40–83.32 Mb) of chromosome X in the proband had a copy number deletion with a fragment size of about 3.92 Mb. Categories of auditory performance scores and SIR scores of the cochlea in this child improved after surgery. Conclusion: Through the analysis of POU3F4, a novel mutation site with potentially pathogenic significance was found. Level of Evidence: 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with atherosclerosis. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis in lower extremity arteries. No systematic review addressing the relationship between PAD and SDB was found. We performed this study aimed to summarize the relationship between SDB and PAD described in current clinical studies. Material and Methods: PubMed and Embase electronic databases were searched for clinical articles (published before 3 April, 2019) describing studies that evaluated the association between SDB and PAD. We showed the results involved in the association in clinical studies. Results: In total, 8 clinical studies have been included, and most of them were cross-sectional studies. Six articles demonstrated the coexistence of SDB and PAD, evidenced by high prevalence of SDB in patients with PAD and vice versa. Meanwhile, the included studies exhibited independent positive associations between SDB or sleep parameters and PAD after adjusting for multiple confounders. Conclusion: From present clinical prospective, positive association between SDB and PAD was shown. More prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to establish the cause–effect relationships involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Conclusion: Neonatal olfactory ensheathing cells conditioned medium (OEC-CM) can promote growth and proliferation of neonatal spiral ganglion cells (SGCs), as well as protecting them from apoptosis. Objective: To investigate the effects of neonatal OEC-CM on the survival, apoptosis, and proliferation of spiral ganglion. Methods: SGCs were cultured with OEC-CM, the conditioned medium from olfactory nerve fibroblasts (ONF-CM) or control medium containing 10% serum (DF12-10S). After different periods of culture, the cell types present were identified by immunofluorescent confocal imaging analysis, cell proliferation was determined by BrdU incorporation, and apoptosis was detected with the double-labeled NeuroTACS in situ Apoptosis Detection Kit. Results: SGCs cultured with regular control medium died off via apoptosis. Culturing cells with ONF-CM had no significant effects on the natural process of survival and apoptosis of SGCs. However, culture with OEC-CM significantly increased survival and decreased the apoptotic percentage of SGCs. In addition, OEC-CM temporarily stimulated the proliferative capacity of SGCs on the third day of culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion. Endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs) are locally invasive, osteolytic, and hypervascular tumors. If the labyrinth has not been invaded, the hearing should be preserved in operation. Objective. To summarize three cases of ELST and discuss whether to keep hearing in the surgical treatment of ELST. Subjects and methods. Complete otorhinolaryngological examinations with audiologic, vestibular, and neurologic evaluations were performed. CT and MRI scans were carried out before operation and in the course of follow-up. The patients underwent radical removal of the tumor through a transmastoid approach and accepted postoperative radiotherapy. In two of them, the structure of the labyrinth and facial nerve were preserved in operation. Results. Histopathologic examinations agreed with features of an ELST. Patients suffered transitory vertigo shortly after operation, and so far, they are alive and well without further cranial nerve involvement. Case 3 patient has good hearing and facial nerve function now. No residual or recurrent tumor was detected on the postoperative MRI images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleifera L. (MO), known for its nutritional and medicinal value, has strong anti-proliferative effects on various types of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties of MO extracts using head and neck cancer (HNC) cell lines, CNE-1 and CAL27. Sixteen MO extracts from seeds, roots, stems, and leaves were prepared with water and different concentration of ethanol (50, 70 and 90%). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC, TFC) and the antioxidant activity of these extracts were analyzed. The results showed that the aqueous extracts (MOL) had the highest antioxidant activities in leaf, while 70% ethanol extracts (MOS, MOR, MOSt) had the highest antioxidant values in other parts (seeds, roots, and stems). Furthermore, all MO extracts had significant anti-cancer effects on HNC cells. The corresponding IC 50 values of MOSt, MOL, MOR, MOS were 0.135, 0.298, 1.07, and 1.10 mg/mL in CNE-1 cells and 0.163, 0.251, 1.19, and 1.22 mg/mL in CAL27 cells, respectively. MO extracts inhibited the proliferation of HNC cells by inducing apoptosis. Particularly, MOSt had the strongest apoptotic induction, followed by MOL. These results indicated that MO extracts have a potential antioxidant capacity and may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of HNC. • Compared antioxidant activity of various aqueous ethanol extracts from 4 MO parts. • Anti-proliferative abilities of different parts of MO were compared. • Ethanol (70%) can be a suitable solvent for extracting the bioactive compounds. • The MO extracts inhibited proliferation by inducing apoptosis in HNC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate macrophage polarization during the early stages of secondary Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (E. granulosus s.l.) infection. We observed an early initial increase in inflammatory genes (peaking at 5‐10 days) and a later rise in M (IL‐4)‐like genes (still rising by day 15). In addition, we showed that the induction of M (IL‐4)‐like genes was paralleled by an increase in expression of the transcription factor KLF4. Most of the changes observed in vivo were reproduced in vitro upon the culture of normal peritoneal macrophages with live E. granulosus s.l. protoscoleces (PSC), and that knockdown of KLF4 in this system attenuates M (IL‐4) differentiation. Our results suggest that KLF4 pathway contributes to the differentiation of macrophages towards M (IL‐4)‐like phenotype during early stages of secondary E. granulosus s.l. infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This case series report aimed to present three surgical approaches used for the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea, providing less invasive surgical options for managing this condition. Methods: Clinical data of 26 patients with CSF otorrhea, who underwent treatment using three surgical methods between June 2012 and June 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The study collected information on patients' basic demographic characteristics, chief complaints, location of the defect, results of otorrhea endoscopic examination, findings from skull base thin-slice computed tomography (CT) examination, and causes of CSF otorrhea. Postoperative outcomes of CSF otorrhea were followed up. Results: Among the 26 cases of CSF otorrhea, there were 13 (50%) males and 13 (50%) females who underwent treatment using the three surgical methods. The etiology of CSF otorrhea included 10 (38%) cases of spontaneous CSF otorrhea, including 2 (8%) cases of congenital inner ear deformity and 8 (31%) cases without obvious inducement. Additionally, there were 5 (19%) cases of trauma, 6 (23%) cases of cholesteatoma complications, 3 (12%) cases of postoperative complications of brain tumor, 1 (4%) case of radiotherapy, and 1 (4%) case of a malignant tumor. A total of 12 (46%) cases of CSF otorrhea were treated by local repair of the defect. Furthermore, 3 (12%) cases underwent local repair of the defect combined with sealing of the tympanic sinus entrance, while 11 (42%) cases underwent local repair of the defect combined with sealing of the eustachian tube and the external auditory canal. No recurrence of CSF otorrhea was observed during the 6-month to 10-year follow-up period after surgery. Conclusion: The three methods for CSF otorrhea, including local defect repair, local defect repair combined with sealing of the tympanic sinus entrance, and sealing of the eustachian tube and the external auditory canal, demonstrated successful outcomes in appropriately selected patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background and Purpose: The pathogenesis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is still unclear, and there is no targeted treatment. This research aimed to verify the role of oxidative stress in ISSNHL and explore whether melatonin has a protective effect on hearing., Materials and Methods: A total of 43 patients with ISSNHL and 15 healthy controls were recruited to detect the level of melatonin, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the blood and compared before and after treatment. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to assess the factors relevant to the occurrence and improvement of ISSNHL., Results: The patients with ISSNHL showed significantly higher ROS levels than controls (4.42 ± 4.40 vs. 2.30 ± 0.59; p = 0.031). The levels of basal melatonin were higher (1400.83 ± 784.89 vs. 1095.97 ± 689.08; p = 0.046) and ROS levels were lower (3.05 ± 1.81 vs. 5.62 ± 5.56; p = 0.042) in the effective group as compared with the ineffective group. Logistic regression analysis showed that melatonin (OR = 0.999, 95% CI 0.997-1.000, p = 0.049), ROS (OR = 1.154, 95% CI 1.025-2.236, p = 0.037), and vertigo (OR = 3.011, 95% CI 1.339-26.983, p = 0.019) were independent factors associated with hearing improvement. Besides, the level of melatonin (OR = 0.999, 95% CI 0.998-1.000, p = 0.023) and ROS (OR = 3.248, 95% CI 1.109-9.516, p = 0.032) were associated with the occurrence of ISSNHL., Conclusion: Our findings may suggest oxidative stress involvement in ISSNHL etiopathogenesis. The level of melatonin and ROS, and vertigo appear to be predictive of the effectiveness of hearing improvement following ISSNHL treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Song, Ouyang, Xiong, Luo, Jiang, Fan and Zhang.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of cochlear implants in deaf patients with TMPRSS3 gene pathogenic variations., Methods: Variations of deafness genes were detected in 2 patients with profound hearing loss. Both received unilateral cochlear implantation. Hearing and speech abilities were evaluated and analyzed before and 3 and 6 months after surgery. The analysis included post-surgery evaluation of auditory behavior (Categories of Performance [CAP]) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR)., Results: In the 2 patients, 3 pathogenic single nucleotide variations (SNVs) of TMPRSS3 gene and a large deletion in 21q22.3 were detected. The CAP and SIR grades increased with the recovery time., Conclusion: Cochlear implants have a good effect in patients with TMPRSS3 gene mutation deafness. Preoperative gene testing has a certain reference significance for the prognosis in patients with the deafness gene mutation.

Background: Mutations in PRKAR1A gene can lead to Carney complex (CNC), and most CNC patients develop cardiac and cutaneous myxomas. In particular, cardiac myxomas are a common cause of mortality in CNC patients. Cutaneous myxomas of the external ear are extremely rare, and do not have any specific clinical features Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical and genetic data of the proband and his family and fifty whole blood control samples selected from the molecular genetic database of our hospital. Whole exome DNA sequencing analysis was used to detect the mutation in the peripheral blood samples. Results: The results of the clinical analysis showed the presence of spotty skin pigmentation and external auditory canal myxoma in the proband as well as in his sister and mother. Whole-exome DNA sequencing showed a novel heterozygous mutation in the PRKAR1A gene i.e., c.824_825delAG (p.Gln275Leufs*2), in the proband and his sister and mother. Conclusion: In conclusion, the family members had the same autosomal dominant PRKAR1A mutation. DNA sequencing revealed a novel c.824_825delAG in exon 9 of PRKAR1A. This pathogenic mutation has not been reported previously, and may be related to the occurrence of external auditory canal myxomas and spotty pigmentation. This study broadens the genotypic spectrum of PRKAR1A mutations in CNC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wan, Zeng, Jiang, Xia and Xiong.)

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and determinants of jingle ear orthosis in the correction of infant ear malformation and to evaluate its clinical application value., Methods: In this retrospective study, 156 patients with 233 ears who had used the beautiful ear orthosis system in Jiangxi Province in the last 3 years were included. The patients were grouped according to age at initial correction, sex, and type of deformity, and data on duration and age of orthotic use and complications were obtained., Results: We studied 156 paediatric cases with 233 ear deformities, 79 of which were single-ear deformities. In total, 77 cases had an ear shape deformity, and an implicit ear was the most common deformity. For a good therapeutic effect evaluation standard above 96.57%, the mean duration of follow-up was 1 month. The initial correction age was an important factor in the correction effect while gender had no obvious influence. The difference in the mean wearing time was not statistically significant (p = 0.233, p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the ratio of correcting effects between the 6 types of deformities that were excellent or good (p = 0.086, p > 0.05)., Conclusions: Domestic auricle orthosis is an effective nonsurgical treatment for ear malformation. The correction effect is related to the initial correction age. The younger the child is, the better the treatment effect is, and the shorter the treatment time is. Complications are common in older infants. Therefore, prompt non-surgical correction performed can improve the effective rate of treatment., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with atherosclerosis. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of atherosclerosis in lower extremity arteries. No systematic review addressing the relationship between PAD and SDB was found. We performed this study aimed to summarize the relationship between SDB and PAD described in current clinical studies., Material and Methods: PubMed and Embase electronic databases were searched for clinical articles (published before 3 April, 2019) describing studies that evaluated the association between SDB and PAD. We showed the results involved in the association in clinical studies., Results: In total, 8 clinical studies have been included, and most of them were cross-sectional studies. Six articles demonstrated the coexistence of SDB and PAD, evidenced by high prevalence of SDB in patients with PAD and vice versa. Meanwhile, the included studies exhibited independent positive associations between SDB or sleep parameters and PAD after adjusting for multiple confounders., Conclusion: From present clinical prospective, positive association between SDB and PAD was shown. More prospective, randomized controlled studies are needed to establish the cause-effect relationships involved.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and safety of a novel bougie for the removal of esophageal coins lodged in the proximal esophagus., Subjects and Methods: This was an observational study. Medical records were reviewed of patients who were confirmed with esophageal coins between July 2015 and October 2016 in our department. Sixty-three patients, upper esophageal coins were confirmed by radiographs, were treated by using this novel bougie to remove esophageal coins., Results: A total of 63 children were enrolled in this study. Sixty coins (95%) were removed successfully. The coin was extracted on the first attempt in 56 cases (89%), the second attempt in 3 cases (5%), and the third attempt in 1 case (2%). Two coins retained in the esophagus underwent endoscopy. In the remaining patient, the coin passed into the stomach and was confirmed to be passed in the stool within 48 hours. No serious complications occurred in any subject., Conclusions: Our novel bougie procedure is likely a safe, highly efficient approach to managing esophageal coins given that no serious complications of the 63 patients were reported. This simple technique may provide another valuable option to physicians.

Objective: Stem cell transplantation is an effective method for treating sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), but its safety needs further study. This study aimed to reveal the differentiation outcome of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) after they were transplanted into cochleae., Methods: iPSCs were labelled with CM-Dil and identified by flow cytometry. Twenty 6-8-week-old ICR mice were divided into experimental (A) and control (B) groups. Ten mice were microinjected with CM-Dil-labelled iPSC suspension (group A) or an equal volume DMEM (group B) into the left ear cochlea. The tthresholds of all mice were tested by auditory brainstem response (ABR) at 1 week pre-surgery and 4 weeks post-surgery. Differentiated cells were identified by immunohistochemical staining for neuronal cell markers (nestin, neurofilament-M), and teratoma formation was determined by HE staining., Results: The ABR thresholds in groups A and B at one week pre-surgery (24.50±5.50 vs. 26.00±6.15 dB SPL) and at 4 weeks post-surgery (70.50±4.97 vs. 68.00±5.37 dB SPL) were not significantly different; however, in both groups, the thresholds were lower at pre-surgery than at 4 weeks post-surgery. In group A, CM-Dil-labelled iPSCs were observed in the cochlear perilymph, endolymph, and modiolus, and some red fluorescence-labelled cells expressed neural cell markers. In group B, no fluorescence was observed in the cochleae, but teratomas were observed in some cochleae. A teratoma was observed in each of two cochleae after iPSCs transplantation by HE staining., Conclusion: Mouse iPSCs can differentiate into cells with neuronal cell markers 4 weeks post-cochlear transplantation, and transplanted undifferentiated iPSCs may form teratomas. However, in the short-term, hearing loss in mice caused by cell transplantation through round window pathways cannot be improved by cochlear iPSC transplantation., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

This study was to investigate the differentiation potential of iPSCs into olfactory receptor neurons and mitral/tufted cells in vitro. We extracted mouse embryonic fibroblast and prepared feeding layer, where mouse iPSCs were inoculated on; RT-PCR were used to identify iPSCs pluripotency genes Oct4, Nanog and Sox2. Then, we separated the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb from mice, which contained respectively olfactory receptor neurons and mitral/tufted cells, co-cultured iPSCs with olfactory epithelium cell and olfactory bulb, and identified differentiated cells with the olfactory receptor neurons markers (OMP, GAP43, NCAM), mitral/tufted cells markers (TBX21, Iba1) after 14 days co-culturing by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. We successfully established a stable culture system of mouse iPSCs and RT-PCR showed that pluripotency genes (Oct4, Nanog, Sox2) were expressed in mouse iPSCs. Immunocytochemical analysis or RT-PCR results indicated that the differentiated iPSCs can express olfactory receptor neurons markers (OMP, GAP43, NCAM) and mitral/tufted cells markers (TBX21, Iba1) after being co-culture with olfactory epithelium or olfactory bulb. We conclude that Mouse iPSCs can be differentiated into olfactory receptor neuron-like cells and mitral/tufted-like cells in vitro., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2017.)

Loss of hair cells in mammals including human beings causes permanent hearing loss because the cochlea cannot regenerate hair cells spontaneously. Here we show that the newborn mouse cochleae contain sphere-forming cells that have the capacity for proliferation in culture, differentiating to form cells that express hair cell markers. When treated with epidermal growth factor or basic fibroblast growth factor, the number of spheres formed increases. The sphere cells express genes that are indicative of inner ear progenitor cells. After differentiation, some sphere cells grow a hair cell bundle-like structure that expresses hair cell marker myosin VIIA and espin. The sphere-forming cells being capable of differentiating into hair cell-like cells implies the possibility of using these sphere-forming cells for reconstructing the damaged cochlear hair cells.