Prospective Cohort Study

Eight patients with worsening neuromyelitis optica were treated with rituximab to achieve B cell depletion. Treatment was well tolerated. Six of eight patients were relapse free and median attack rate declined from 2.6 attacks/patient/year to 0 attacks/patient/year (p = 0.0078). Seven of eight patients experienced substantial recovery of neurologic function over 1 year of average follow-up. The pretreatment median Expanded Disability Status Scale score was 7.5, and at follow-up examination was 5.5 (p = 0.013).

An open label study of the effects of rituximab in neuromyelitis optica

This paper presents diagnostic criteria for Menière's disease jointly formulated by the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society, The Japan Society for Equilibrium Research, the European Academy of Otology and Neurotology (EAONO), the Equilibrium Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) and the Korean Balance Society. The classification includes two categories: definite Menière's disease and probable Menière's disease. The diagnosis of definite Menière's disease is based on clinical criteria and requires the observation of an episodic vertigo syndrome associated with low- to medium-frequency sensorineural hearing loss and fluctuating aural symptoms (hearing, tinnitus and/or fullness) in the affected ear. Duration of vertigo episodes is limited to a period between 20 minutes and 12 hours. Probable Menière's disease is a broader concept defined by episodic vestibular symptoms (vertigo or dizziness) associated with fluctuating aural symptoms occurring in a period from 20 minutes to 24 hours.

Diagnostic Criteria for Meniere's Disease

Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of cancer development Metformin is a well-established, effective agent for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus Epidemiological studies have identified an association between metformin use and a beneficial effect on cancer prevention and treatment, which has led to increasing interest in the potential use of metformin as an anticancer agent Basic science has provided a better understanding of the mechanism of action of metformin and the potential for metformin to modulate molecular pathways involved in cancer cell signaling and metabolism This article outlines the link between metformin and cancer, the potential for metformin in oncology, and limitations of currently available evidence

Metformin in Cancer Treatment and Prevention

The hearing tests for neonates, babies and young children must be adapted to the age of the patient. Neonates and young babies (under 9 months of age) are best examined with non-conditioned reflexes. For young children operant conditioning is the most suited technique. Preventive medicine is very much interested in hearing screening. We insist on a thorough history taking of the parents and on the importance of the high risk register for the early detection of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. We suspect that tympanometric screening of otitis serosa still is in an experimental stage.

Hearing in children.

Metformin, an antidiabetic drug with potent anticancer activity, is known to prevent oxidative stress-induced cell death in several cell types through a mechanism dependent on the mitochondria. In the present study, we investigated the influence of metformin on cisplatin ototoxicity in an auditory cell line. Cell viability was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA) cell proliferation assay. Oxidative stress and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst 33258 staining, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, and western blotting. Intracellular calcium concentration changes were detected using calcium imaging. Pretreatment with 1 mM metformin prior to the application of 20 μM cisplatin significantly decreased the frequency of late apoptosis in HEI-OC1 cells and also significantly attenuated the cisplatin-induced increase in ROS. In addition, metformin inhibited the activation of caspase-3 and levels of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Pretreatment with metformin prevented the cisplatin-induced elevation in intracellular calcium concentrations. We propose that metformin protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity by inhibiting the increase in intracellular calcium levels, preventing apoptosis, and limiting ROS production.

/pdf/protective-effect-of-metformin-against-cisplatin-induced-2gx7rb9iyh.pdf

Protective effect of metformin against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in an auditory cell line.

Protective Role of Antidiabetic Drug Metformin Against Gentamicin Induced Apoptosis in Auditory Cell Line

Objectives 
In the present study, we aimed to determine the effect of both active and passive smoking on the prevalence of the hearing impairment and the hearing thresholds in different age groups through the analysis of data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
Study Design 
Cross-sectional epidemiological study.
Methods 
The KNHANES is an ongoing population study that started in 1998. We included a total of 12,935 participants aged ≥19 years in the KNHANES, from 2010 to 2012, in the present study. Pure-tone audiometric (PTA) testing was conducted and the frequencies tested were 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 kHz. Smoking status was categorized into three groups; current smoking group, passive smoking group and non-smoking group.
Results 
In the current smoking group, the prevalence of speech-frequency bilateral hearing impairment was increased in ages of 40−69, and the rate of high frequency bilateral hearing impairment was elevated in ages of 30−79. When we investigated the impact of smoking on hearing thresholds, we found that the current smoking group had significantly increased hearing thresholds compared to the passive smoking group and non-smoking groups, across all ages in both speech-relevant and high frequencies. The passive smoking group did not have an elevated prevalence of either speech-frequency bilateral hearing impairment or high frequency bilateral hearing impairment, except in ages of 40s. However, the passive smoking group had higher hearing thresholds than the non-smoking group in the 30s and 40s age groups.
Conclusion 
Current smoking was associated with hearing impairment in both speech-relevant frequency and high frequency across all ages. However, except in the ages of 40s, passive smoking was not related to hearing impairment in either speech-relevant or high frequencies.

/pdf/effect-of-cigarette-smoking-and-passive-smoking-on-hearing-5bgsgodxxc.pdf

Effect of Cigarette Smoking and Passive Smoking on Hearing Impairment: Data from a Population-Based Study.

Cisplatin is a very effective anticancer drug and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anions that can deplete antioxidant protective molecules in the cochlea. These processes result in the death of cochlear hair cells by induction of apoptosis. Apocynin, which is used as a specific nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase inhibitor, has a preventive effect for intracellular ROS generation. In this study, the effect of apocynin was investigated in a cochlear organ of Corti-derived cell line, HEI-OC1 cells, and in transgenic zebrafish (Brn3C: EGFP). To investigate the protective effects of apocynin, HEI-OC1 cells were treated with various concentrations of apocynin and a 20 µm concentration of cisplatin, simultaneously. An in vivo study of transgenic zebrafish (Brn3C: EGFP) was used to investigate the protective effects of apocynin on cisplatin-induced hair cell death. In an in vitro study, apocynin appeared to protect against cisplatin-induced apoptotic features on Hoechst 33258 staining in the HEI-OC1 cells. Treatment of the HEI-OC1 cells with 100 µm of apocynin, significantly decreased caspase-3 activity. Treatment of the cells with a 100 µm concentration of apocynin and a 20 µm concentration of cisplatin significantly decreased the intracellular ROS production. In the in vivo study, apocynin significantly decreased the TUNEL reaction and prevented cisplatin-induced hair cell loss of the neuromasts in the transgenic zebrafish at low concentrations (125 and 250 µm). These findings suggest that apocynin has antioxidative effects and prevents cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death in HEI-OC1 cells as well as in zebrafish.

Protective effects of apocynin on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in an auditory cell line and in zebrafish.

Conclusion: The egg shell membrane (ESM) patch may promote tympanic membrane (TM) healing in acute traumatic TM perforation. Objective: To evaluate the use of ESM for treating acute traumatic TM perforation. Methods: We reviewed charts of patients with traumatic TM injury from 2008 to 2011. Treatments were an ESM patch or a perforation edge approximation. We divided patients into two groups according to the treatment used. Each patient was matched by treatment onset and perforation size. We compared healing ratio, healing time, and frequency of otorrhea between the perforation edge approximation group and the ESM patch group. Matched t tests were used for analysis. Results: The healing ratio of the TM showed no significant difference between the two groups, but the time to heal was significantly shorter in the ESM patch group than in the perforation edge approximation group.

Jiwon Chang

Papers

Protective effect of metformin against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in an auditory cell line.

Protective Role of Antidiabetic Drug Metformin Against Gentamicin Induced Apoptosis in Auditory Cell Line

Effect of Cigarette Smoking and Passive Smoking on Hearing Impairment: Data from a Population-Based Study.

Protective effects of apocynin on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in an auditory cell line and in zebrafish.

A new patch material for tympanic membrane perforation by trauma: the membrane of a hen egg shell.