Earwax MD Now Available Through Oaktree Products

​Eosera (http://eosera.com/) is partnering with Oaktree Products, a wholesale supplier of clinical supplies to hearing health care professionals, to bring Earwax MD to audiologists, otolaryngologists, and hearing instrument specialists. Oaktree Products will carry two versions of Earwax MD—a 2-ounce bottle for in-office use and a smaller one for health care professionals to resell to their patients. Bob Kemp, CEO of Oaktree Products, said they're very excited to represent a groundbreaking product like Earwax MD. "Historically, earwax softening agents have been formulated with carbamide peroxide," Kemp said. "These products, like Debrox, usually require several days to produce results. The ability to soften and remove wax in minutes will make cerumen removal in the clinic so much easier and more efficient."

Earwax MD is also available through other distributors, including Warner Tech and ADCO Hearing, and to patients on Amazon. CVS stores will also begin carrying Earwax MD in August. 

Published: 7/21/2017 8:32:00 AM

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Earwax MD Now Available Through Oaktree Products

​Eosera (http://eosera.com/) is partnering with Oaktree Products, a wholesale supplier of clinical supplies to hearing health care professionals, to bring Earwax MD to audiologists, otolaryngologists, and hearing instrument specialists. Oaktree Products will carry two versions of Earwax MD—a 2-ounce bottle for in-office use and a smaller one for health care professionals to resell to their patients. Bob Kemp, CEO of Oaktree Products, said they're very excited to represent a groundbreaking product like Earwax MD. "Historically, earwax softening agents have been formulated with carbamide peroxide," Kemp said. "These products, like Debrox, usually require several days to produce results. The ability to soften and remove wax in minutes will make cerumen removal in the clinic so much easier and more efficient."

Earwax MD is also available through other distributors, including Warner Tech and ADCO Hearing, and to patients on Amazon. CVS stores will also begin carrying Earwax MD in August. 

Published: 7/21/2017 8:32:00 AM

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Earwax MD Now Available Through Oaktree Products

​Eosera (http://eosera.com/) is partnering with Oaktree Products, a wholesale supplier of clinical supplies to hearing health care professionals, to bring Earwax MD to audiologists, otolaryngologists, and hearing instrument specialists. Oaktree Products will carry two versions of Earwax MD—a 2-ounce bottle for in-office use and a smaller one for health care professionals to resell to their patients. Bob Kemp, CEO of Oaktree Products, said they're very excited to represent a groundbreaking product like Earwax MD. "Historically, earwax softening agents have been formulated with carbamide peroxide," Kemp said. "These products, like Debrox, usually require several days to produce results. The ability to soften and remove wax in minutes will make cerumen removal in the clinic so much easier and more efficient."

Earwax MD is also available through other distributors, including Warner Tech and ADCO Hearing, and to patients on Amazon. CVS stores will also begin carrying Earwax MD in August. 

Published: 7/21/2017 8:32:00 AM

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The Relationship Between Environmental Sound Awareness and Speech Recognition Skills in Experienced Cochlear Implant Users.

Hypothesis: 1) Environmental sound awareness (ESA) and speech recognition skills in experienced, adult cochlear implant (CI) users will be highly correlated, and, 2) ESA skills of CI users will be significantly lower than those of age-matched adults with normal hearing. Background: Enhancement of ESA is often discussed with patients with sensorineural hearing loss as a potential benefit of implantation and, in some cases, ESA may be a major motivating factor. Despite its ecological validity and patients' expectations, ESA remains largely a presumed skill. The relationship between ESA and speech recognition is not well-understood. Methods: ESA was assessed in 35 postlingually deaf, experienced CI users and a control group of 41 age-matched, normal hearing listeners using the validated, computerized familiar environmental sounds test-identification (FEST-I) and a diverse speech recognition battery. Demographic and audiological factors as well as nonverbal intelligence quotient (IQ)/nonverbal reasoning and spectral resolution were assessed. Results: Six of the 35 experienced CI users (17%) demonstrated FEST-I accuracy within the range of the NH controls. Among CI users all correlations between FEST-I accuracy and speech recognition scores were strong. Chronological age at the time of testing, duration of deafness, spectral resolution, and nonverbal IQ/nonverbal reasoning were strongly correlated with FEST-I accuracy. Partial correlation analysis showed that correlations between FEST-I and speech recognition measures remained significant when controlling for the demographic and audiological factors. Conclusion: Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that ESA and speech perception share common underlying processes rather than reflecting truly separate auditory domains. Copyright (C) 2017 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company

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Audiologic Gain of Incus Short Process Vibroplasty With Conventional Incus Long Process Vibroplasty: A Retrospective Analysis of 36 Patients.

Objective: To compare the audiological and non-audiological benefits of incus short process (SP) vibroplasty with those of conventional incus long process (LP) vibroplasty. Study Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Thirty-six patients with sensorineural hearing loss were treated with the semi-implantable middle ear hearing device. Of these, 22 were treated with conventional LP vibroplasty, and 14 were treated with SP vibroplasty using SP couplers. Interventions: Implantation with the semi-implantable middle ear hearing device by different methods. Main Outcome Measures: Pre- and postoperative hearing level, word recognition score, operation time, and duration of hospital stay were compared. We also surveyed a questionnaire to assess postoperative complications. Results: The improvement in hearing gain was comparable between SP vibroplasty and conventional LP vibroplasty, except at 8 kHz, at which LP vibroplasty showed better hearing gain (p

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Resources for LSHSS Authors

Purpose

In this article, the Editor-in-Chief of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (LSHSS) highlights key resources for authors wishing to publish their work in LSHSS.

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Resources for LSHSS Authors

Purpose

In this article, the Editor-in-Chief of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (LSHSS) highlights key resources for authors wishing to publish their work in LSHSS.

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Resources for LSHSS Authors

Purpose

In this article, the Editor-in-Chief of Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools (LSHSS) highlights key resources for authors wishing to publish their work in LSHSS.

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Vocoder Simulations Explain Complex Pitch Perception Limitations Experienced by Cochlear Implant Users

Abstract

Pitch plays a crucial role in speech and music, but is highly degraded for people with cochlear implants, leading to severe communication challenges in noisy environments. Pitch is determined primarily by the first few spectrally resolved harmonics of a tone. In implants, access to this pitch is limited by poor spectral resolution, due to the limited number of channels and interactions between adjacent channels. Here we used noise-vocoder simulations to explore how many channels, and how little channel interaction, are required to elicit pitch. Results suggest that two to four times the number of channels are needed, along with interactions reduced by an order of magnitude, than available in current devices. These new constraints not only provide insights into the basic mechanisms of pitch coding in normal hearing but also suggest that spectrally based complex pitch is unlikely to be generated in implant users without significant changes in the method or site of stimulation.

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The MMN as a viable and objective marker of auditory development in CI users

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Risto Näätänen, Bjørn Petersen, Ritva Torppa, Eila Lonka, Peter Vuust
In the present article, we review the studies on the use of the mismatch negativity (MMN) as a tool for an objective assessment of cochlear-implant (CI) functioning after its implantation and as a function of time of CI use. The MMN indexes discrimination of different sound stimuli with a precision matching with that of behavioral discrimination and can therefore be used as its objective index. Importantly, these measurements can be reliably carried out even in the absence of attention and behavioral responses and therefore they can be extended to populations that are not capable of behaviorally reporting their perception such as infants and different clinical patient groups. In infants and small children with CI, the MMN provides the only means for assessing the adequacy of the CI functioning, its improvement as a function of time of CI use, and the efficiency of different rehabilitation procedures. Therefore, the MMN can also be used as a tool in developing and testing different novel rehabilitation procedures. Importantly, the recently developed multi-feature MMN paradigms permit the objective assessment of discrimination accuracy for all the different auditory dimensions (such as frequency, intensity, and duration) in a short recording time of about 30 min. Most recently, such stimulus paradigms have been successfully developed for an objective assessment of music perception, too.



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The MMN as a viable and objective marker of auditory development in CI users

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Risto Näätänen, Bjørn Petersen, Ritva Torppa, Eila Lonka, Peter Vuust
In the present article, we review the studies on the use of the mismatch negativity (MMN) as a tool for an objective assessment of cochlear-implant (CI) functioning after its implantation and as a function of time of CI use. The MMN indexes discrimination of different sound stimuli with a precision matching with that of behavioral discrimination and can therefore be used as its objective index. Importantly, these measurements can be reliably carried out even in the absence of attention and behavioral responses and therefore they can be extended to populations that are not capable of behaviorally reporting their perception such as infants and different clinical patient groups. In infants and small children with CI, the MMN provides the only means for assessing the adequacy of the CI functioning, its improvement as a function of time of CI use, and the efficiency of different rehabilitation procedures. Therefore, the MMN can also be used as a tool in developing and testing different novel rehabilitation procedures. Importantly, the recently developed multi-feature MMN paradigms permit the objective assessment of discrimination accuracy for all the different auditory dimensions (such as frequency, intensity, and duration) in a short recording time of about 30 min. Most recently, such stimulus paradigms have been successfully developed for an objective assessment of music perception, too.



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Effect of Wii Fit™ exercise therapy on gait parameters in ankle sprain patients: A randomized controlled trial

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 58
Author(s): Ilona M. Punt, Stéphane Armand, Jean-Luc Ziltener, Lara Allet
Ankle sprains are the most common sport related injuries. An alternative to physical therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains is home based exercise therapy.This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Wii Fit™ exercise therapy in ankle sprain patients on temporal-spatial and kinematic gait parameters with a) conventional therapy and b) a control group not receiving exercise therapy.Ninety patients were randomly assigned to a Wii Fit™, physical therapy or control group. Temporal-spatial and kinematic gait parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up.All groups improved gait speed, cadence and step length between baseline and 6-week follow-up (P<0.036). Single support time improved only in the Wii Fit™ group (P<0.001). Symmetry index of the single support time improved in the Wii Fit™ group and physical therapy group (P<0.048). No between-group differences were found for temporal-spatial gait parameters (P>0.050). Maximum plantar flexion improved in the physical therapy and control group between baseline and 6-week follow-up (P<0.035). However, none of the groups improved dorsiflexion (P>0.050).In conclusion, an unsupervised home-based 6-week Wii Fit™ exercise therapy can be applied in ankle sprain patients. However, it was not more effective compared to physical therapy or no exercise therapy at all.



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Shock attenuation characteristics of three different military boots during gait

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 58
Author(s): A.M.S. Muniz, R.R. Bini
Musculoskeletal injuries are related to the cushioning properties of boots in military populations. This study aimed to compare ground reaction force (GRF) and subjective perceived comfort from two different military boots supplied by the Brazilian Army with a commercial boot. Twenty army recruits volunteered for a GRF assessment during walking on a 10-m walkway and a perceived comfort test after 20min walking on a treadmill. Both experiments were conducted with three different military boots: CC10 (styrene-butadiene rubber – SBR – midsole 30mm thickness, 65 Shore A; 631.8g weight; supplied by the Brazilian Army); CC13 (SBR midsole 20.6mm thickness, 66 Shore A; 530.3g weight; supplied by the Brazilian Army) and CAT (polyurethane – PU – midsole 31.7mm thickness, 55 Shore A; 423g weight; commercially available). GRF was analyzed in the time (principal component analysis – PCA) and frequency (Blackman-Tukey) domains. No difference was found for the first and second peak forces or loading rate; however, significant influence from the military boots’ design on GRF was found by PCA and frequency analysis. Loading factor presented higher values at early stance with lower force for CC10 compared to CC13 at these epochs. CC13 also presented higher power spectral density compared to CC10 at higher frequency bands. However, CAT was significantly more comfortable than CC10. These results suggest that the thicker SBR midsole boot was more effective in reducing impact, while the lightest boot with softer midsole hardness made with PU was the most comfortable.



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Contents List

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57





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Editorial Board

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57





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Effect of Wii Fit™ exercise therapy on gait parameters in ankle sprain patients: A randomized controlled trial

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 58
Author(s): Ilona M. Punt, Stéphane Armand, Jean-Luc Ziltener, Lara Allet
Ankle sprains are the most common sport related injuries. An alternative to physical therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains is home based exercise therapy.This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Wii Fit™ exercise therapy in ankle sprain patients on temporal-spatial and kinematic gait parameters with a) conventional therapy and b) a control group not receiving exercise therapy.Ninety patients were randomly assigned to a Wii Fit™, physical therapy or control group. Temporal-spatial and kinematic gait parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up.All groups improved gait speed, cadence and step length between baseline and 6-week follow-up (P<0.036). Single support time improved only in the Wii Fit™ group (P<0.001). Symmetry index of the single support time improved in the Wii Fit™ group and physical therapy group (P<0.048). No between-group differences were found for temporal-spatial gait parameters (P>0.050). Maximum plantar flexion improved in the physical therapy and control group between baseline and 6-week follow-up (P<0.035). However, none of the groups improved dorsiflexion (P>0.050).In conclusion, an unsupervised home-based 6-week Wii Fit™ exercise therapy can be applied in ankle sprain patients. However, it was not more effective compared to physical therapy or no exercise therapy at all.



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Shock attenuation characteristics of three different military boots during gait

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 58
Author(s): A.M.S. Muniz, R.R. Bini
Musculoskeletal injuries are related to the cushioning properties of boots in military populations. This study aimed to compare ground reaction force (GRF) and subjective perceived comfort from two different military boots supplied by the Brazilian Army with a commercial boot. Twenty army recruits volunteered for a GRF assessment during walking on a 10-m walkway and a perceived comfort test after 20min walking on a treadmill. Both experiments were conducted with three different military boots: CC10 (styrene-butadiene rubber – SBR – midsole 30mm thickness, 65 Shore A; 631.8g weight; supplied by the Brazilian Army); CC13 (SBR midsole 20.6mm thickness, 66 Shore A; 530.3g weight; supplied by the Brazilian Army) and CAT (polyurethane – PU – midsole 31.7mm thickness, 55 Shore A; 423g weight; commercially available). GRF was analyzed in the time (principal component analysis – PCA) and frequency (Blackman-Tukey) domains. No difference was found for the first and second peak forces or loading rate; however, significant influence from the military boots’ design on GRF was found by PCA and frequency analysis. Loading factor presented higher values at early stance with lower force for CC10 compared to CC13 at these epochs. CC13 also presented higher power spectral density compared to CC10 at higher frequency bands. However, CAT was significantly more comfortable than CC10. These results suggest that the thicker SBR midsole boot was more effective in reducing impact, while the lightest boot with softer midsole hardness made with PU was the most comfortable.



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Contents List

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57





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Editorial Board

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57





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Effect of Wii Fit™ exercise therapy on gait parameters in ankle sprain patients: A randomized controlled trial

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 58
Author(s): Ilona M. Punt, Stéphane Armand, Jean-Luc Ziltener, Lara Allet
Ankle sprains are the most common sport related injuries. An alternative to physical therapy in the treatment of ankle sprains is home based exercise therapy.This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Wii Fit™ exercise therapy in ankle sprain patients on temporal-spatial and kinematic gait parameters with a) conventional therapy and b) a control group not receiving exercise therapy.Ninety patients were randomly assigned to a Wii Fit™, physical therapy or control group. Temporal-spatial and kinematic gait parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up.All groups improved gait speed, cadence and step length between baseline and 6-week follow-up (P<0.036). Single support time improved only in the Wii Fit™ group (P<0.001). Symmetry index of the single support time improved in the Wii Fit™ group and physical therapy group (P<0.048). No between-group differences were found for temporal-spatial gait parameters (P>0.050). Maximum plantar flexion improved in the physical therapy and control group between baseline and 6-week follow-up (P<0.035). However, none of the groups improved dorsiflexion (P>0.050).In conclusion, an unsupervised home-based 6-week Wii Fit™ exercise therapy can be applied in ankle sprain patients. However, it was not more effective compared to physical therapy or no exercise therapy at all.



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Shock attenuation characteristics of three different military boots during gait

Publication date: October 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 58
Author(s): A.M.S. Muniz, R.R. Bini
Musculoskeletal injuries are related to the cushioning properties of boots in military populations. This study aimed to compare ground reaction force (GRF) and subjective perceived comfort from two different military boots supplied by the Brazilian Army with a commercial boot. Twenty army recruits volunteered for a GRF assessment during walking on a 10-m walkway and a perceived comfort test after 20min walking on a treadmill. Both experiments were conducted with three different military boots: CC10 (styrene-butadiene rubber – SBR – midsole 30mm thickness, 65 Shore A; 631.8g weight; supplied by the Brazilian Army); CC13 (SBR midsole 20.6mm thickness, 66 Shore A; 530.3g weight; supplied by the Brazilian Army) and CAT (polyurethane – PU – midsole 31.7mm thickness, 55 Shore A; 423g weight; commercially available). GRF was analyzed in the time (principal component analysis – PCA) and frequency (Blackman-Tukey) domains. No difference was found for the first and second peak forces or loading rate; however, significant influence from the military boots’ design on GRF was found by PCA and frequency analysis. Loading factor presented higher values at early stance with lower force for CC10 compared to CC13 at these epochs. CC13 also presented higher power spectral density compared to CC10 at higher frequency bands. However, CAT was significantly more comfortable than CC10. These results suggest that the thicker SBR midsole boot was more effective in reducing impact, while the lightest boot with softer midsole hardness made with PU was the most comfortable.



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Contents List

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57





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Editorial Board

Publication date: September 2017
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 57





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The MMN as a viable and objective marker of auditory development in CI users

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Risto Näätänen, Bjørn Petersen, Ritva Torppa, Eila Lonka, Peter Vuust
In the present article, we review the studies on the use of the mismatch negativity (MMN) as a tool for an objective assessment of cochlear-implant (CI) functioning after its implantation and as a function of time of CI use. The MMN indexes discrimination of different sound stimuli with a precision matching with that of behavioral discrimination and can therefore be used as its objective index. Importantly, these measurements can be reliably carried out even in the absence of attention and behavioral responses and therefore they can be extended to populations that are not capable of behaviorally reporting their perception such as infants and different clinical patient groups. In infants and small children with CI, the MMN provides the only means for assessing the adequacy of the CI functioning, its improvement as a function of time of CI use, and the efficiency of different rehabilitation procedures. Therefore, the MMN can also be used as a tool in developing and testing different novel rehabilitation procedures. Importantly, the recently developed multi-feature MMN paradigms permit the objective assessment of discrimination accuracy for all the different auditory dimensions (such as frequency, intensity, and duration) in a short recording time of about 30 min. Most recently, such stimulus paradigms have been successfully developed for an objective assessment of music perception, too.



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The MMN as a viable and objective marker of auditory development in CI users

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Risto Näätänen, Bjørn Petersen, Ritva Torppa, Eila Lonka, Peter Vuust
In the present article, we review the studies on the use of the mismatch negativity (MMN) as a tool for an objective assessment of cochlear-implant (CI) functioning after its implantation and as a function of time of CI use. The MMN indexes discrimination of different sound stimuli with a precision matching with that of behavioral discrimination and can therefore be used as its objective index. Importantly, these measurements can be reliably carried out even in the absence of attention and behavioral responses and therefore they can be extended to populations that are not capable of behaviorally reporting their perception such as infants and different clinical patient groups. In infants and small children with CI, the MMN provides the only means for assessing the adequacy of the CI functioning, its improvement as a function of time of CI use, and the efficiency of different rehabilitation procedures. Therefore, the MMN can also be used as a tool in developing and testing different novel rehabilitation procedures. Importantly, the recently developed multi-feature MMN paradigms permit the objective assessment of discrimination accuracy for all the different auditory dimensions (such as frequency, intensity, and duration) in a short recording time of about 30 min. Most recently, such stimulus paradigms have been successfully developed for an objective assessment of music perception, too.



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The MMN as a viable and objective marker of auditory development in CI users

Publication date: Available online 20 July 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Risto Näätänen, Bjørn Petersen, Ritva Torppa, Eila Lonka, Peter Vuust
In the present article, we review the studies on the use of the mismatch negativity (MMN) as a tool for an objective assessment of cochlear-implant (CI) functioning after its implantation and as a function of time of CI use. The MMN indexes discrimination of different sound stimuli with a precision matching with that of behavioral discrimination and can therefore be used as its objective index. Importantly, these measurements can be reliably carried out even in the absence of attention and behavioral responses and therefore they can be extended to populations that are not capable of behaviorally reporting their perception such as infants and different clinical patient groups. In infants and small children with CI, the MMN provides the only means for assessing the adequacy of the CI functioning, its improvement as a function of time of CI use, and the efficiency of different rehabilitation procedures. Therefore, the MMN can also be used as a tool in developing and testing different novel rehabilitation procedures. Importantly, the recently developed multi-feature MMN paradigms permit the objective assessment of discrimination accuracy for all the different auditory dimensions (such as frequency, intensity, and duration) in a short recording time of about 30 min. Most recently, such stimulus paradigms have been successfully developed for an objective assessment of music perception, too.



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Population-Based Study on the Epidemiology of Ménière's Disease.

Related Articles

Population-Based Study on the Epidemiology of Ménière's Disease.

Audiol Neurootol. 2017 Jul 20;22(2):74-82

Authors: Bruderer SG, Bodmer D, Stohler NA, Jick SS, Meier CR

Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ménière's disease (MD) is a disorder of the inner ear typically showing recurrent acute episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Epidemiologic studies on MD are scarce. We assessed the incidence rates (IRs) of MD and describe the characteristics of MD cases, comparing them to control patients without recorded evidence of MD.
STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective population-based follow-up study and a nested case-control analysis using data from the UK-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink.
METHODS: We identified patients between 18 and 79 years of age with an incident MD diagnosis between January 1993 and December 2014. We assessed the IRs of betahistine-treated MD. In the nested case-control analysis, we matched 4 controls to each MD case on sex, age, general practice, years of active history in the database, and calendar time. We conducted a χ2 test to present p values in order to compare the prevalence of demographics, comorbidities, and co-medication between cases and controls.
RESULTS: We identified 5,508 MD cases and 22,032 MD-free controls (65.4% females). The overall IR for MD in the UK was 13.1 per 100,000 person-years. More cases were female, and the mean age at diagnosis was 55.4 ± 13.7 years. Smoking and alcohol consumption were less prevalent among MD cases. Depression, other affective disorders, sleeping disorders, anxiety, and migraine were more prevalent among MD cases than among controls.
CONCLUSIONS: MD is uncommon in primary care in the UK with a preponderance among females.

PMID: 28723686 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Short Term Results of Intra Tympanic Gentamicin and Dexamethasone on Hearing and Tinnitus in Meniere's disease: A Case Control Study.

Related Articles

Short Term Results of Intra Tympanic Gentamicin and Dexamethasone on Hearing and Tinnitus in Meniere's disease: A Case Control Study.

Int Tinnitus J. 2017 Jun 01;21(1):21-23

Authors: Shamas IU

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The role of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intra tympanic administration of Gentamicin(40 mgs/ml) and Dexamethasone 0.5 ml(4 mgs/ml) on hearing and tinnitus of patients who had recurrent acute attacks of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss.
STUDY DESIGN: 60 consecutive patients of Meniere's disease were randomly divided into 3 groups of twenty patients each. Group A included 20 patients who received intra tympanic gentamicin, Group B included 20 patients who received intra tympanic dexamethasone and Group C included 20 patients who received intra tympanic normal saline 0.5 ml. The mean pure tone thresholds at speech frequencies were noted before treatment and 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after treatment. Tinnitus was surveyed with a set questionnaire (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory).
RESULTS: The mean PTA at speech frequencies for Group A worsened from 50 dB to 62 dB which was statistically significant. Two ears developed profound sensorineural hearing loss. The mean tinnitus handicap inventory grade of group A was 4. Mean was 2 at the end of 6 months which indicates significant reduction of the tinnitus score. Group B patients had a mean PTA at speech frequencies of 42 dB. There was no gain in 12 patients and less than 10 dB in the remaining eight patients and no worsening of hearing was seen. The mean tinnitus handicap inventory grade in Group B was 2.5 and was 2 at 6 months after treatment. Group C patients had a mean PTA of 48 dB before treatment and were same after treatment however the tinnitus handicap grade was 2.5 before the treatment and 2.0 after treatment.
CONCLUSION: Intra tympanic gentamicin is more effective in controlling tinnitus as compared to dexamethasone and placebo and there was no marked difference in control of tinnitus between placebo and steroids. There is significant hearing loss with IT Gentamicin and no marked difference between steroid and placebo on hearing.

PMID: 28723597 [PubMed - in process]

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Whole genome sequencing identifies a novel ALMS1 gene mutation in two Chinese siblings with Alström syndrome.

Related Articles

Whole genome sequencing identifies a novel ALMS1 gene mutation in two Chinese siblings with Alström syndrome.

BMC Med Genet. 2017 Jul 19;18(1):75

Authors: Yang L, Li Z, Mei M, Fan X, Zhan G, Wang H, Huang G, Wang M, Tian W, Zhou W

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Alström syndrome is a rare multi-systemic disorder with a broad spectrum of symptoms. This syndrome is characterized by childhood retinal degeneration; sensorineural hearing loss; obesity; type 2 diabetes mellitus; cardiomyopathy; systemic fibrosis; and pulmonary, hepatic, and renal failure.
CASE PRESENTATION: A Chinese quartet family with two siblings predominantly affected by cone-rod dystrophy and short stature were recruited. The craniofacial dysmorphism and on-set age-of-cone-rod dystrophy in the proband showed a minor intrafamilial variability. Whole genome sequencing was performed to provide the full spectrum of the two siblings' genetic variations. In this study, we present the patients' clinical features and our interpretation of the whole genome sequencing data. After examining the data, we focus on two compound heterozygous mutations, (c.3902C > A, p.S1301X; c.6436C > T, p.R2146X) in ALMS1, which are shared by two siblings.
CONCLUSION: We reported a novel ALMS1 mutation. Whole genome sequencing is a powerful tool to provide the full spectrum of genetic variations for heterogeneous disorders such as Alström syndrome.

PMID: 28724398 [PubMed - in process]

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Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Otitis Media in an Indigenous Filipino Population.

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Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Otitis Media in an Indigenous Filipino Population.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Nov;155(5):856-862

Authors: Santos-Cortez RL, Reyes-Quintos MR, Tantoco ML, Abbe I, Llanes EG, Ajami NJ, Hutchinson DS, Petrosino JF, Padilla CD, Villarta RL, Gloria-Cruz TL, Chan AL, Cutiongco-de la Paz EM, Chiong CM, Leal SM, Abes GT

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify genetic and environmental risk factors for otitis media in an indigenous Filipino population.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: Indigenous Filipino community.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Clinical history and information on breastfeeding, tobacco smoke exposure, and swimming were obtained from community members. Heads of households were interviewed for family history and personal beliefs on ear health. Height and weight were measured. Otoscopic findings were described for the presence and character of perforation or discharge. An A2ML1 duplication variant that confers otitis media susceptibility was Sanger sequenced in all DNA samples. Co-occurrence of middle ear bacteria detected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing was determined according to A2ML1 genotype and social cluster.
RESULTS: The indigenous Filipino population has a ~50% prevalence of otitis media. Young age was associated with otitis media (4 age strata; P = .004); however, age was nonsignificant as a bistratal or continuous variable. There was no association between otitis media and sex, body mass index, breastfeeding, tobacco exposure, or deep swimming. In multivariate analyses, A2ML1 genotype is the strongest predictor of otitis media, with an odds ratio of 3.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.3-10.8; P = .005). When otitis media diagnoses were plotted across ages, otitis media was observed within the first year of life, and chronic otitis media persisted up to adulthood, particularly in A2ML1-variant carriers.
CONCLUSION: Among indigenous Filipinos, A2ML1 genotype is the primary risk factor for otitis media and main determinant of disease progression, although age, the middle ear microbiome, and social clusters might modulate the effect of the A2ML1 genotype.

PMID: 27484237 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Medical Context and Etiology

Objective: Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) is known to impact on school performance and social skills during childhood, but the etiologies remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess various etiologies and to study the clinical contexts in this population. Methods: The study is a retrospective review. Characteristics of hearing loss (HL), audiometric parameters, imaging, and genetic and medical contexts were analyzed. Results: Eighty children were included. USNHL was profound in 68%, could be progressive in 19%, and become bilateral in 7.5% of cases. Inner ear malformations were identified in 41% of cases; cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) was frequent (33%). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and genetic syndromes were confirmed in 10 and 6% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: Long-term hearing follow-up remains useful in USNHL as it can become bilateral. Looking to etiology, MRI should be the gold standard, as CND is frequently observed and screening for CMV infection should be systematic. Genetic etiologies appear to be different compared to bilateral HL. Further genetic research in this domain is needed.
Audiol Neurotol 2017;22:83-88

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