Cost-utility of cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine the Incremental Cost-Utility Ratio (ICUR) of cochlear implantation in the treatment of adult patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL).

Methods: This prospective multicenter pragmatic study including a randomized controlled trial (RCT) enrolled 155 subjects with SSD or AHL. Subjects chose a treatment option between: abstention, Contralateral Routing Of the Signal hearing aids, Bone Conduction Device or Cochlear Implant (CI).

Basophil FceRI expression-A management tool in anti-IgE treatment of allergic asthma.

Background: Immune-based therapy targeting immunoglobulin E (IgE), anti-IgE treatment, has emerged as an adjunct treatment for children with severe allergic asthma. After start of anti-IgE treatment, an effect of the treatment cannot be monitored by Total-IgE, because current methods measure both bound and free IgE molecules. Basophil activation test may be very useful for monitoring anti-IgE treatment efficacy.

Simulation-based team training for healthcare professionals in pediatric departments: study protocol for a nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background: Healthcare systems worldwide face challenges related to patient safety, quality of care, and interprofessional collaboration. Simulation-based team training has emerged as a promising approach to address some of these challenges by providing healthcare professionals with a controlled and safe environment to enhance their teamwork and communication skills. The purpose of this study protocol is to describe an intervention using simulation-based team training in pediatric departments.

Cochlear Implantation and Other Treatments in Single-Sided Deafness and Asymmetric Hearing Loss: Results of a National Multicenter Study Including a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Cochlear implantation is a recent approach proposed to treat single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL). Several cohort studies showed its effectiveness on tinnitus and variable results on binaural hearing. The main objective of this study is to assess the outcomes of cochlear implantation and other treatment options in SSD/AHL on quality of life.

Treatment choice in single-sided deafness and asymmetric hearing loss. A prospective, multicentre cohort study on 155 patients.

Objectives: To describe the treatment choice in a cohort of subjects with single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL). To assess the reliability of the treatment trials.

Design: In this national, multicentre, prospective study, the choice of subjects was made after two consecutive trials of Contralateral Routing Of the Signal (CROS) hearing aids and a Bone Conduction Device (BCD) on a headband.

Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome in Children With Acute Postinfectious Cerebellar Ataxia.

Background: Acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia is the most common cause of acute ataxia in childhood. One previous case study has suggested that cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome may be comorbid with acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia, but this was not confirmed by formal assessments.

Methods: Children aged three to 15 years with a confirmed diagnosis of acute postinfectious cerebellar ataxia were invited to participate.

Optimised immunofluorescence method on cleared intact Mongolian gerbil cochlea.

Immunofluorescence on cleared intact cochlea allows detailed analysis of the cochlear ultrastructure, while avoiding the problems of dissection and serial sections. Protocols have been developed for mice and Mongolian gerbils. This technical note proposes a detailed and optimised immunofluorescence protocol in the Mongolian gerbil comprising significant quantitative and qualitative improvements.

Azimuthal sound source localization of various sound stimuli under different conditions.

Aim: To evaluate azimuthal sound-source localization performance under different conditions, with a view to optimizing a routine sound localization protocol.

Material And Method: Two groups of healthy, normal-hearing subjects were tested identically, except that one had to keep their head still while the other was allowed to turn it. Sound localization was tested without and then with a right ear plug (acute auditory asymmetry) for each of the following sound stimuli: pulsed narrow-band centered on 250Hz, continuous narrowband centered on 2000Hz, 4000Hz and 8000Hz, continuous 4000Hz warble, pulsed white noise, and word ("lac" (lake)).

Long-term evaluation of sound localisation in single-sided deaf adults fitted with a BAHA device.

Objective: To perform a long-term evaluation of the localisation capabilities in the horizontal plane of single-sided deaf patients fitted with a BAHA device.

Design: Single-centre retrospective study.

Participants: Twenty-one adults with single-sided deafness (SSD) with normal hearing in the contralateral ear (pure tone average <20 dB, SDS > 90%) rehabilitated with a Cochlear BAHA device from 2003 to 2012 on the deaf side over a median follow-up of 8 years.

Hearing Response Following Internal Auditory Canal Decompression in Neurofibromatosis Type 2.

Background: Hearing response following an osteodural decompression of the internal auditory canal (IAC) is controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the course of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and the early hearing response during the first year following IAC decompression for small to medium-sized vestibular schwannomas occurring in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).

Methods: Retrospective chart review of middle fossa craniotomy for IAC osteodural decompression in NF2-related vestibular schwannomas.

Preoperative Assessment of Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMPs) Help in Predicting Hearing Preservation After Removal of Vestibular Schwannomas Through a Middle Fossa Craniotomy.

Objective: To determine whether cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) are predictive of hearing preservation in patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma removal through middle fossa craniotomy approach.

Study Design: Retrospective case study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Sound source localization.

Sound source localization is paramount for comfort of life, determining the position of a sound source in 3 dimensions: azimuth, height and distance. It is based on 3 types of cue: 2 binaural (interaural time difference and interaural level difference) and 1 monaural spectral cue (head-related transfer function). These are complementary and vary according to the acoustic characteristics of the incident sound.

Progression of vestibular schawnnoma after GammaKnife radiosurgery: A challenge for microsurgical resection.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients who underwent salvage microsurgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS) that failed primary Gammaknife radiosurgery (GKS).

Patients And Methods: Among the 1098 patients who received GKS for the treatment of VS in our center between January 2004 and December 2012, the follow-up was organized in our institution for 290 patients who lived in our recruitment area. Tumor progression was noted in 23 patients.

The efficacy of lapatinib and nilotinib in combination with radiation therapy in a model of NF2 associated peripheral schwannoma.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a neurogenetic condition manifest by peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNST) throughout the neuroaxis for which there are no approved therapies. In vitro and in vivo studies presented here examine agents targeting signaling pathways, angiogenesis, and DNA repair mechanisms. In vitro dose response assays demonstrated potent activity of lapatinib and nilotinib against the mouse schwannoma SC4 (Nf2 ) cell line.

Imaging and cell count in cleared intact cochlea in the Mongolian gerbil using laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Objectives: To draw up a clearing protocol for Mongolian gerbil cochlea, and to assess the feasibility of quantifying and analyzing 3D cell architecture in the transparent cochleae.

Materials And Methods: Freshly dissected inner ears were prepared on a 13-day protocol: fixation, microdissection, post-fixation, decalcification, pretreatment (signal enhancement, permeabilization and blocking), fluorescent labeling (indirect immunolabeling and direct labeling), dehydration, clearing in Spalteholz solution (MSBB: methyl salicylate and benzyl benzoate) and mounting. Image acquisition used laser scanning confocal microscopy.

How to perform 3D reconstruction of skull base tumours.

The surgical management of skull base lesions is difficult due to the complex anatomy of the region and the intimate relations between the lesion and adjacent nerves and vessels. Minimally invasive approaches are increasingly used in skull base surgery to ensure an optimal functional prognosis. Three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) reconstruction facilitates surgical planning by visualizing the anatomical relations of the lesions in all planes (arteries, veins, nerves, inner ear) and simulation of the surgical approach in the operating position.

Pediatric neurofibromatosis type 2: clinical and molecular presentation, management of vestibular schwannomas, and hearing rehabilitation.

Objective: This study aims to describe the clinical and molecular presentation of pediatric neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and the subsequent management of vestibular schwannomas (VS) and hearing rehabilitation.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study of neurofibromatosis type 2 diagnosed before the age of 18 years old from 1997. Natural history of vestibular schwannomas and surgical outcomes were evaluated using volumetric MRI, hearing, and facial nerve assessment.

Technical note for post-auricular route surgery in Mongolian gerbil.

The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) is commonly used in hearing research because the hearing frequency spectrum of the gerbil is rather similar to that of the human being. However, a precise description of the surgical post-auricular route has not been reported. The aim of this technical note is to provide details on the procedure and the surgical anatomy of the post-auricular route in the Mongolian gerbil.

An allograft mouse model for the study of hearing loss secondary to vestibular schwannoma growth.

Vestibular schwannoma is a benign neoplasm arising from the Schwann cell sheath of the auditory-vestibular nerve. It most commonly affects both sides in the genetic condition Neurofibromatosis type 2, causing progressive high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Here, we describe a microsurgical technique and stereotactic coordinates for schwannoma cell grafting in the vestibular nerve region that recapitulates local tumor growth in the cerebellopontine angle and inner auditory canal with resulting hearing loss.

Long-term growth rate of vestibular schwannoma in neurofibromatosis 2: A volumetric consideration.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the long-term growth rate of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients based on volumetric measurements.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans acquired from patients with NF2 from 1999 to 2013.

Management of multiple tumors in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients.

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 2 is characterized by the presence of bilateral vestibular schwannomas. However, other nervous system tumors may also occur. Therefore, the management of NF2 patients is complex and requires a multidisciplinary discussion in a specialized center.