The development and design of the European Board of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Examination (EBEORL-HNS).

The UEMS Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery section is a dedicated body formed to promote the standardisation and harmonisation of European Otorhinolaryngology (ORL). The European Examination Board of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery was created to establish a supranational final exam and accreditation for ORL Surgeons. It is open to candidates both from the European Union and outside the EU.

Preservation of residual hearing with cochlear implantation: how and why.

Conclusions: Hearing may be conserved in adults after implantation with the Nucleus Contour Advance perimodiolar electrode array. The degree of hearing preservation and the maximum insertion depth of the electrode array can vary considerably despite a defined surgical protocol. Residual hearing combined with electrical stimulation in the same ear can provide additional benefits even for conventional candidates for cochlear implantation.

Beta-trace protein test: new guidelines for the reliable diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid fistula.

Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas need to be reliably diagnosed for the optimal management. Recently, in preference to beta2-transferrin, another CSF protein, beta-trace protein (betaTP), is similarly used with a new method for CSF diagnosis. This study evaluates the sensitive interpretation and limits of this new betaTP test for use in routine CSF fistula diagnosis.

The 342-kb deletion in GJB6 is not present in patients with non-syndromic hearing loss from Austria.

Recently, a 342-kb deletion involving GJB6 was associated with autosomal-recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) and in combination with a GJB2 mutation with digenic NSHL. This deletion was the second most common mutation causing prelingual NSHL in Spain, and was frequently observed in patients from France and Israel. We screened 393 patients with NSHL being negative or heterozygous for GJB2 mutations for this GJB6 deletion using a multiplex PCR.

Assessment of auditory skills in 140 cochlear implant children using the EARS protocol.

Auditory performance of cochlear implant (CI) children was assessed with the Listening Progress Profile (LiP) and the Monosyllabic-Trochee-Polysyllabic-Word Test (MTP) following the EARS protocol. Additionally, the 'initial drop' phenomenon, a recently reported decrease of auditory performance occurring immediately after first fitting, was investigated. Patients were 140 prelingually deafened children from various clinics and centers worldwide implanted with a MEDEL COMBI 40/40+.

[How is tinnitus influenced by cochlear implantation?].

Introduction: Tinnitus is one of the most common symptoms in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Cochlear implantation (CI), which has become a standard method to rehabilitate profound SNHL, has been also observed to effect tinnitus in many cases. In the Salzburg Cochlear Implant Center,more than 230 profoundly deaf patients, mainly children,have been provided with CI between 1992 and 2000.

[How is tinnitus influenced by cochlear implantation?].

Introduction: Tinnitus is one of the most common symptoms in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Cochlear implantation (CI), which has become a standard method to rehabilitate profound SNHL, has been also observed to effect tinnitus in many cases. In the Salzburg Cochlear Implant Center,more than 230 profoundly deaf patients, mainly children,have been provided with CI between 1992 and 2000.

Comparison of the TEMPO+ ear-level speech processor and the cis pro+ body-worn processor in adult MED-EL cochlear implant users.

A study was conducted to compare the new MED-EL TEMPO+ ear-level speech processor with the CIS PRO+ body-worn processor in the COMBI 40/COMBI 40+ implant system. Speech tests were performed in 46 experienced subjects in two test sessions approximately 4 weeks apart. Subjects were switched over from the CIS PRO+ to the TEMPO+ in the first session and used only the TEMPO+ in the time between the two sessions.

CGRP and substance P in intraepithelial neuronal structures of the human upper respiratory system.

The distribution of intraepithelial nerve fibres and neuroendocrine cells within the surface and glandular epithelium of human nasal mucosa and larynx was examined using immunohistochemical techniques. Neuronal structures were immunostained for the general neuroendocrine marker protein gene-product (PGP) 9.5, and the two neuropeptides substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) using immunofluorescence and streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (S-ABC) methods.

Assessment of auditory skills in hearing-impaired children: theoretical foundations and a practical approach.

A proposal of a performance profile for the assessment of auditory skills of hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants or hearing-aids is described here. The associated tests have been realized either with conventional material or on the Auditory Visual Test and Therapy System developed by the Aachen research group. Acoustic stimuli and answering tasks have been chosen according to the special needs of hearing-impaired children in the age range of 3-6 years of developmental age.

Distribution of two VIP-related peptides, helospectin and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP), in the human upper respiratory system.

Helospectin (HS) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) are newly discovered peptides isolated from the salivary gland venom of the lizard Heloderma horridum and the ovine hypothalamus, respectively. They show chemical similarities to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), appear to have similar functions and are present in gut, brain, lung, male and female genitourinary tract. In the present study, the distribution of the helospectin and PACAP-27 in the human upper respiratory system was investigated using indirect immunofluorescence and electron-microscopical ABC-pre-embedding methods.

Regulatory peptides in the human soft palate.

The distributions of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide, histidine methionine, helospectin, neuropeptide Y and its C-flanking peptide, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide were studied in the human soft palate using immunocytochemical techniques. Peptide-containing nerve fibers were found to form a dense network around glandular acini, excretory ducts and blood vessels, as well as beneath and within the epithelium. Chromogranin A, bombesin-flanking peptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivities were detected in endocrine-like cells located in excretory ducts.

[Autonomic and peptidergic innervation of the human larynx].

Autonomic and peptidergic innervation of the human larynx (vocal cords, ventricular folds, epiglottis, subglottic region and recurrent nerves) was studied by application of single and double immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. In all tissues investigated, immunoreactivities for a variety of regulatory peptides were detected and included vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine methionine (PHM), helospectin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), C-flanking peptide of NPY (C-PON), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P and neurokinin A. In the recurrent nerves, only a few peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers were found.

Regulatory peptides in the human larynx and recurrent nerves.

We studied the peptide-innervation of the human larynx (vocal cord, ventricular folds, epiglottis, subglottic region and the recurrent nerves) using immunocytochemical and radioimmunological methods. In the tissues of the larynx investigated, the following regulatory peptides were detected: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine methionine (PHM), helospectin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), C-flanking peptide of NPY (C-PON), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P and neurokinin. In the recurrent nerves only small numbers of peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers were found.

Autonomic and peptidergic innervation of human nasal mucosa.

The localization and distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide histidine methionine (PHM), the novel peptide helospectin, neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) and its C-flanking peptide (C-PON), substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were studied in the middle and inferior turbinate of the human nose using sensitive immunocytochemical and radioimmunological methods. For light microscopy, double immunofluorescence and immunogold-silver staining methods were applied. Ultrastructural immunoelectronmicroscopy was performed using a pre-embedding method.

Distribution and co-localization of immunoreactive helospectin with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and peptide histidine methionine in human nasal mucosa, soft palate and larynx.

Regulatory peptide immunoreactivities reported in the upper respiratory system of man include vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine methionine (PHM), which are co-localized in a network of fine varicose nerve fibers. The present study was undertaken to examine the possible occurrence and distribution of the recently described VIP-like peptide helospectin. Double immunofluorescence labelling showed that helospectin is co-localized with VIP and PHM.