Search

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]

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]

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.

Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma, which is rare in the clinical setting, is the most common type of temporal bone malignancy. Its rarity makes the staging, the way of temporal bone resection, the management of parotid gland and cervical lymph node, and the application of radiotherapy and chemotherapy still controversial.There is no unanimous consensus and guideline about it to date at home and abroad.This paper reviewed the recent advance in the diagnosis and treatment of temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma in the hope of providing some help and reference for the management of the disease., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

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.

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.)

Cholesteatoma is a non-neoplastic, keratinizing lesion, characterized by the proliferation of epithelium with aberrant micro-architecture into the middle ear or mastoid cavity. The exact pathogenic molecular mechanisms behind the formation and propagation of cholesteatoma remain unclear. Without timely detection and intervention, cholesteatomas can become dangerous and result in numerous intracranial and extracranial complications. In this review, the current researches about inflammatory mediators, enzymatic activity, growth factors, oxidative stress,infection and genetics in acquired cholesteatoma pathogenesis are discussed.

A 39 years old male patient was admitted with the right of facial abnormalities and gradually protruding in right eye more than 30 years. CT shows high mixed density, clear boundary, and the right eye was crowded to the right. Giant tumor had completely been excised, and the result was fine. The outline figure and function of patients were obviously improved. The pathological examination after resection showed ossifying fibroma.

Myoepithelioma is an uncommon benign tumor that most likely occurs in the salivary gland. Extra-salivary myoepithelioma are sporadic and rare, especially the quantities occur in the sinonasal cavity are fewer in related literature reported. In this paper, we present a rare case of benign myoepithelioma that occurred in the nasal cavity, and the related process of pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are discussed.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the potential of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for use as a source of transplants for the restoration of auditory hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons., Methods: We co-cultured the mouse iPSC with the cells of the cochlear organ of Corti or the modiolus in vitro. The cochlear organ of Corti (which contains cochlear hair cells) and the modiolus (which contains auditory spiral ganglion neurons) were obtained from postnatal day 3 (P3) CD-1 ICR mice. After 18 days of coculture with the cells of newborn mouse cochleae. The expressions of hair cell markers (Myosin VIIa, Math1, Calretinin, Espin) and Spiral ganglion neuron markers [Nestin, Neurofilament-M, β-III Tubulin, Vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGluT1)] were detected by immunocytochemical analysis., Results: Immunocytochemical analysis results indicated that the differentiated iPSC expressed auditory hair cell markers (MyosinVIIa,Math1, Calretinin, Espin ) and spiral ganglion markers (Nestin, Neurofilament-M,β-III Tubulin,VGluT1)., Conclusion: Mouse iPSC in virto cultured could successfully be induced to differentiate into hair cell-like cells and spiral ganglion-like cells with hair cell and spiral ganglion molecular markers.