Butterfly Cartilage Inlay Technique for Repairing Medium-to-Large-Sized Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

Objective: The butterfly cartilage inlay technique was originally developed for repairing small tympanic membrane (TM) perforations but is now increasingly used for repairing large TM perforations. Although studies have evaluated the effectiveness of butterfly tympanoplasty for repairing medium-to-large-sized TM perforations, no study has compared its effectiveness with that of the conventional underlay cartilage technique. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of butterfly tympanoplasty for repairing medium-to-large-sized TM perforations compared with that of the conventional underlay cartilage.

Comparison of Gait Parameters during Forward Walking under Different Visual Conditions Using Inertial Motion Sensors.

Purpose: Gait evaluation in patients with dizziness is essential during both initial evaluation and vestibular rehabilitation. Inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based gait analysis systems are clinically applicable in patients with dizziness. Since dizzy patients can utilize visual inputs to compensate for vestibular deficits, it is more difficult for them to walk with their eyes closed (EC).

Limitation of Conventional Audiometry in Identifying Hidden Hearing Loss in Acute Noise Exposure.

Purpose: The concept of hidden hearing loss can explain the discrepancy between a listener's perception of hearing ability and hearing evaluation using pure tone audiograms. This study investigated the utility of the suprathreshold auditory brainstem response (ABR) for the evaluation of hidden hearing loss in noise-exposed ear with normal audiograms.

Materials And Methods: A total of 15 patients (24 ears) with normal auditory thresholds and normal distortion product otoacoustic emissions were included in a retrospective analysis of medical records of 80 patients presenting with histories of acute noise exposure.

Audiologic Status of Children with Confirmed Cytomegalovirus Infection: a Case Series.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SHNL) in children. Only about 10% to 15% of children with congenital CMV are symptomatic, and most are not diagnosed at birth. About 7% to 15% of clinically asymptomatic patients may develop later complications, including SNHL, which is the most common sequela in clinically asymptomatic patients.

Unbiased biocatalytic solar-to-chemical conversion by FeOOH/BiVO/perovskite tandem structure.

Redox enzymes catalyze fascinating chemical reactions with excellent regio- and stereo-specificity. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor is essential in numerous redox biocatalytic reactions and needs to be regenerated because it is consumed as an equivalent during the enzymatic turnover. Here we report on unbiased photoelectrochemical tandem assembly of a photoanode (FeOOH/BiVO) and a perovskite photovoltaic to provide sufficient potential for cofactor-dependent biocatalytic reactions.

Prognostic Factors Affecting Surgical Outcomes in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of External Auditory Canal.

Objectives: Carcinomas of the external auditory canal (EAC) are rare, and management remains challenging. Previous studies seeking prognostic factors for EAC cancers included cancers other than carcinomas. In this study, we analyzed the treatment outcomes of, prognostic factors for, and survival rates associated with specifically squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the EAC.

Role of Emotional Distress in Prolongation of Dizziness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Objectives: Dizziness is a common condition in outpatient clinics. Comorbid conditions such as anxiety and/or depression often complicate a patient's ability to cope with dizziness. The purpose of the present study was to explore the extent of psychiatric distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and to compare the results with the subjective severity of dizziness.

Relationship of Vertigo and Postural Instability in Patients With Vestibular Schwannoma.

Objectives: Growth of vestibular schwannomas (VS) causes progressive vestibular symptoms and postural instability. Since the tumor grows slowly, compensation of decaying vestibular input may decrease subjective symptoms of dizziness. This study aims to estimate the relationship of subjective vestibular symptoms and objective postural instability in patients with VS.

Nature-Inspired Synthesis of Nanostructured Electrocatalysts through Mineralization of Calcium Carbonate.

Biomineralization is a biogenic process that produces elaborate inorganic and organic hybrid materials in nature. Inspired by the natural process, this study explored a new mineralization approach to create nanostructured CaCO films composed of amorphous CaCO hemispheres by using catechol-rich polydopamine (PDA) as a biomimetic mediator. The thus synthesized biomimetic CaCO was successfully transformed to nanostructured films of metal-oxide minerals, such as FeOOH, CoCO , NiCO , and MnOOH, through a simple procedure.

Catecholamine-functionalized graphene as a biomimetic redox shuttle for solar water oxidation.

In natural photosynthesis, solar energy is converted to chemical energy through a cascaded, photoinduced charge transfer chain that consists of primary and secondary acceptor quinones (i.e., Q and Q).

Sunlight-assisted, biocatalytic formate synthesis from CO2 and water using silicon-based photoelectrochemical cells.

We report on a silicon-based photoelectrochemical cell that integrates a formate dehydrogenase from Thiobacillus sp. (TsFDH) to convert CO2 to formate using water as an electron donor under visible light irradiation and an applied bias. Our current study suggests that the deliberate integration of biocatalysis to a light-harvesting platform could provide an opportunity to synthesize valuable chemicals with the use of earth-abundant materials and sustainable resources.

Correlation between the dizziness handicap inventory and balance performance during the acute phase of unilateral vestibulopathy.

Purpose: The dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) is widely used to evaluate self-perceived handicap due to dizziness, and is known to correlate with vestibular function tests in chronic dizziness. However, whether DHI reflects subjective symptoms during the acute phase has not been studied. This study aims to investigate the correlations of subjective and objective measurements to highlight parameters that reflect the severity of dizziness during the first week of acute unilateral vestibulopathy.

Long-Term Outcomes of Acute Low-Tone Hearing Loss.

Background And Objectives: Although acute low-tone hearing loss has been associated with cochlear hydrops or early stage Meniere's disease, its prognosis in the short-term has been reported to be better than sudden hearing loss. However, recurrence of hearing loss and possible progression to Meniere's disease remain important concerns in the clinical setting. This study aims to investigate the long-term audiological outcomes of acute low-tone hearing loss.

A Case of Incus Vibroplasty: Postoperative Changes in Residual Hearing.

In patients with mild to severe hearing loss, conventional hearing aids offer limited benefits and several problems with feedback and cosmesis. Middle ear implants are a feasible option for patients with moderate to severe hearing loss who are unable to achieve adequate benefit from or cannot tolerate hearing aids for various reasons. Here we present a case of middle ear implant surgery using Vibrant Soundbridge with incus vibroplasty technique, and describe the hearing changes during postoperative follow-up.

Conserved role of Sonic Hedgehog in tonotopic organization of the avian basilar papilla and mammalian cochlea.

Sound frequency discrimination begins at the organ of Corti in mammals and the basilar papilla in birds. Both of these hearing organs are tonotopically organized such that sensory hair cells at the basal (proximal) end respond to high frequency sound, whereas their counterparts at the apex (distal) respond to low frequencies. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) secreted by the developing notochord and floor plate is required for cochlear formation in both species.

Gadolinium enhanced 3D proton density driven equilibrium MR imaging in the evaluation of cisternal tumor and associated structures: comparison with balanced fast-field-echo sequence.

Objectives: Although Gadolinium enhanced bFFE is commonly used to evaluate cisternal tumors, banding artifact may interrupt interpretation and adjacent nerve and vessels differentiation is known to be difficult. We analyzed the qualities of Gd enhanced 3D PDDE in the evaluation of cisternal tumors, comparing with bFFE.

Material And Methods: Forty five cisternal tumors (33 schwannoma and 12 meningioma) on both bFFE and PDDE were retrospectively reviewed.

Silicon nanowires as a rechargeable template for hydride transfer in redox biocatalysis.

We report a new possible application of hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowires (H-SiNWs) as a rechargeable template for hydride transfer in redox biocatalysis. H-SiNWs transfer hydride efficiently to regenerate NADH by oxidizing Si-H(x) bonds. The oxidized H-SiNWs were readily recharged for the continuous regeneration of NADH and enzymatic reactions.

Nasal Colonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Patients with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media.

Background And Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of major pathogens in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). In addition to intrinsic MRSA infection of the mastoid air cell system, nasal colonization of MRSA, a known predictor of postoperative surgical site infection, may pose increased risk of postoperative complications. The purpose of this study is to describe microbiology of preoperative nasal swab screening and localized middle ear specimens in patients undergoing otologic surgeries.

Spontaneous nystagmus in horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of horizontal semicircular canal (HSC-BPPV) is characterized by either geotropic or apogeotropic nystagmus induced by head roll test. Some patients also present with spontaneous nystagmus. The aim of this study is to examine the clinical manifestation of spontaneous nystagmus in HSC-BPPV and evaluate the effect on the treatment outcome.

Developmental gene expression profiling along the tonotopic axis of the mouse cochlea.

The mammalian cochlear duct is tonotopically organized such that the basal cochlea is tuned to high frequency sounds and the apical cochlea to low frequency sounds. In an effort to understand how this tonotopic organization is established, we searched for genes that are differentially expressed along the tonotopic axis during neonatal development. Cochlear tissues dissected from P0 and P8 mice were divided into three equal pieces, representing the base, middle and apex, and gene expression profiles were determined using the microarray technique.