Short-time cold atmospheric pressure plasma exposure can kill all life stages of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, under laboratory conditions.

In the present study, the acaricidal effects of cold atmospheric pressure plasma treatment on poultry red mites of different developmental stages have been investigated under laboratory conditions using a dielectric barrier discharge system. A total of 1890 poultry red mites and 90 mite eggs, respectively, were exposed to the plasma under various parameter settings with a single plasma pulse generated using the gas mixture of the ambient air at atmospheric pressure. The results showed that all developmental stages of the poultry red mite could be killed by cold atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.

Influence of Cochlear Implantation on Postural Control and Risk of Falls.

Background: Cochlear implantation is an important method of hearing rehabilitation. Earlier studies have shown the influence of implantation on the vestibular system. However, until now, the effect of hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implants (CI) on postural control and body stability has not been sufficiently studied.

Identification of risk factors for residual cholesteatoma in children and adults: a retrospective study on 110 cases of revision surgery.

Introduction: Residual disease after cholesteatoma removal is still a challenge for the otorhinolaryngologist. Scheduled "second-look" surgery and, more recently, radiological screenings are used to identify residual cholesteatoma as early as possible. However, these procedures are cost-intensive and are accompanied by discomfort and risks for the patient.

Cochlear Implant Surgery and the Risk of Falls in an Adult Population.

Objective: To determine the effect of cochlear implant surgery on the balance and risk of falls in an adult patient population using a mobile posturograph.

Design: Prospective clinical pilot study.

Setting: Cochlear implant center at a tertiary referral hospital.

Laser-assisted fixation of a nitinol stapes prosthesis.

Background And Objective: Otosclerosis is an inner ear bone disease characterized by fixation of the stapes and consequently progressive hearing loss. One treatment option is the surgical replacement of the stapes by a prosthesis. When so called "smart materials" like nitinol are used, prosthesis fixation can be performed using a laser without manual crimping on the incus.

A Comparison of Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Properties in Ménière's Disease Patients and Normal-Hearing Participants.

Objectives: Postmortem examination of temporal bones of Ménière's disease patients consistently show dilated endolymphatic spaces of the inner ear, for which the term endolymphatic hydrops has been coined. During the past decade, magnetic resonance imaging techniques for the inner ear appeared, advancing the diagnosis of Ménière's disease. They require, however, a field-strength of at least 3 T, are costly and not universally available.

Patient benefit from Cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness: a 1-year follow-up.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the quality of life and benefit in patients with single-side deafness before and 1 year after cochlear implantation. In a prospective observational study design, ten adult patients with single-sided deafness undergoing cochlear implantation were included. All patients had on the implantation side no speech discrimination with normal hearing aids.

Tinnitus in Normal-Hearing Participants after Exposure to Intense Low-Frequency Sound and in Ménière's Disease Patients.

Tinnitus is one of the three classical symptoms of Ménière's disease (MD), an inner ear disease that is often accompanied by endolymphatic hydrops. Previous studies indicate that tinnitus in MD patients is dominated by low frequencies, whereas tinnitus in non-hydropic pathologies is typically higher in frequency. Tinnitus of rather low-frequency (LF) quality was also reported to occur for about 90 s in normal-hearing participants after presentation of intense, LF sound (120 dB SPL, 30 Hz, 90 s).

Effect of Spatial Orientation of the Horizontal Semicircular Canal on the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex.

Objective: To determine if an alignment of the horizontal semi-circular canal (hSCC) with the plane of rotation would enhance the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gain result as it has been previously suggested.

Study Design: Comparative study of a physiological vestibular function test in healthy subjects.

Setting: Tertiary referral center for otology and neurotology.

Aftereffects of Intense Low-Frequency Sound on Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emissions: Effect of Frequency and Level.

The presentation of intense, low-frequency (LF) sound to the human ear can cause very slow, sinusoidal oscillations of cochlear sensitivity after LF sound offset, coined the "Bounce" phenomenon. Changes in level and frequency of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) are a sensitive measure of the Bounce. Here, we investigated the effect of LF sound level and frequency on the Bounce.

Residual Hearing Outcomes After Cochlear Implant Surgery Using Ultra-flexible 28-mm Electrodes.

Objective: To evaluate the preservation of low frequency residual hearing after cochlear implant surgery using an electrode for atraumatic implantation and complete cochlear stimulation.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical record study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Atmospheric Pressure and Onset of Episodes of Menière's Disease - A Repeated Measures Study.

Background: External changes of air pressure are transmitted to the middle and inner ear and may be used therapeutically in Menière's disease, one of the most common vertigo disorders. We analyzed the possible relationship of atmospheric pressure and other meteorological parameters with the onset of MD vertigo episodes in order to determine whether atmospheric pressure changes play a role in the occurrence of MD episodes.

Methods: Patients of a tertiary outpatient dizziness clinic diagnosed with MD were asked to keep a daily vertigo diary to document MD episodes (2004-2009).

Responses of the Human Inner Ear to Low-Frequency Sound.

The perceptual insensitivity to low frequency (LF) sound in humans has led to an underestimation of the physiological impact of LF exposure on the inner ear. It is known, however, that intense, LF sound causes cyclic changes of indicators of inner ear function after LF stimulus offset, for which the term "Bounce" phenomenon has been coined.Here, we show that the mechanical amplification of hair cells (OHCs) is significantly affected after the presentation of LF sound.

Low-frequency sound exposure causes reversible long-term changes of cochlear transfer characteristics.

Intense, low-frequency sound presented to the mammalian cochlea induces temporary changes of cochlear sensitivity, for which the term 'Bounce' phenomenon has been coined. Typical manifestations are slow oscillations of hearing thresholds or the level of otoacoustic emissions. It has been suggested that these alterations are caused by changes of the mechano-electrical transducer transfer function of outer hair cells (OHCs).

Concurrent Acoustic Activation of the Medial Olivocochlear System Modifies the After-Effects of Intense Low-Frequency Sound on the Human Inner Ear.

>Human hearing is rather insensitive for very low frequencies (i.e. below 100 Hz).

Low-frequency sound affects active micromechanics in the human inner ear.

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common auditory pathologies, resulting from overstimulation of the human cochlea, an exquisitely sensitive micromechanical device. At very low frequencies (less than 250 Hz), however, the sensitivity of human hearing, and therefore the perceived loudness is poor. The perceived loudness is mediated by the inner hair cells of the cochlea which are driven very inadequately at low frequencies.

Hearing function after intratympanic application of gadolinium-based contrast agent: A long-term evaluation.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term influence of intratympanic gadolinium-based contrast agent on hearing function in patients with possible Ménière's disease and normal auditory thresholds who were undergoing locally enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Study Design: Prospective observational cohort study in a tertiary referral university hospital ear, nose, and throat department.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2012, 17 patients with possible or probable Ménière's disease and a four-tone pure-tone average baseline of <25 dB were recruited for our study.

Influence of insertion depth in cochlear implantation on vertigo symptoms and vestibular function.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the electrode insertion depth in vestibular function after cochlear implantation.

Material And Methods: In a retrospective observational study design, 41 adult patients who had undergone cochlear implantation between 2006 and 2012 at a tertiary referral university hospital were included. The postoperative performed radiograph images of the petrous bone were acquired according to the Stenvers method.

Cochlear implantation is safe and effective in patients with MYH9-related disease.

Background: MYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) is a rare syndromic disorder deriving from mutations in MYH9, the gene for the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA. Patients present with congenital thrombocytopenia and giant platelets and have a variable risk of developing sensorineural deafness, kidney damage, presenile cataract, and liver abnormalities. Almost all MYH9-RD patients develop the hearing defect, which, in many individuals, progresses to severe to profound deafness with high impact on quality of life.

Longitudinal assessment of endolymphatic hydrops with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the labyrinth.

Objective: To visualize the progression of endolymphatic hydrops in a patient with Ménière's disease.

Patient And Methods: A 53-year-old patient with definite Ménière's disease underwent locally enhanced inner ear magnetic resonance imaging (LEIM) for visualizing endolymphatic hydrops. Two years later, a second magnetic resonance imaging was performed for follow-up.

Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential frequency tuning in certain Menière's disease.

Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) represent extraocular muscle activity in response to vestibular stimulation. To specify the value of oVEMP in the diagnostics of Menière's disease, the amplitude ratio between 500 and 1000 Hz stimuli was investigated. Thirty-nine patients with certain Menière's disease, i.

Value of routine plain x-ray position checks after cochlear implantation.

Objective: To analyze the value of a routine x-ray position check after cochlear implantation and to assess if an increased resistance during electrode insertion is a sufficient predictor of electrode misplacement.

Study Design: Retrospective data collection.

Setting: University hospital.

Endolymphatic hydrops in patients with vestibular migraine and auditory symptoms.

Vertigo patients exhibiting features of vestibular migraine (VM) and Menière's disease (MD) present a difficult diagnostic challenge to the clinician, and the two entities are likely to overlap. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with VM and auditory symptoms. This was an observatory diagnostic study.