Associated factors and outcomes for quality of life in children receiving cochlear implantation before seven years of age.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship of cochlear implant-related factors with quality of life (QOL) outcomes in pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) recipients.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, data from 146 children who received CI before 7 years of age were collected. QOL was measured using the Children using Hearing Implants Quality of Life (CuHI-QoL) questionnaire.

Evaluation of the implanted cochlear implant electrode by CT scanning with three-dimensional reconstruction.

Conclusions: Computed tomography (CT) scan with three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the inner ear provides a more accurate image of the relationship of the electrode within the cochlear canal, with direct demonstration of electrode insertion depth in the cochlea in comparison with X-ray plain film.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the value of spiral CT scans with 3D reconstruction in determining the insertion site and depth of implanted cochlear implant electrodes.

Methods: A total of 172 cochlear implant recipients were involved in this study.

Integrated profile to assess auditory nerve-auditory pathway integrity.

Purpose: To evaluate the Integrated Cochlear Profile for Assessing Auditory Nerve-Auditory Pathway Integrity (ICP-API), as proposed by our group, in the selection of cochlear implant candidates.

Procedures: The API of the candidates for cochlear implantation were assessed with the ICP-API, which consists of 5 categories including: audiological testing; radiological imaging study; ear-canal electric response audiometry; response to environmental sounds; speech development level. The auditory rehabilitation effects of the cochlear implantation receivers were evaluated postoperatively.

[Properties of cholinergic receptor-mediated ion channels on type I vestibular hair cells of guinea pigs].

To confirm the existence of cholinergic receptors on type I vestibular hair cells (VHCs I) of guinea pigs and to study the properties of the cholinergic receptor-mediated ion channels on VHCs I, electrophysiological responses of isolated VHCs I to external ACh were examined by means of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. The results showed that 7.5% (21/279) VHCs I were found to be sensitive to ACh (10-1000 μmol/L).

Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha9 in type II vestibular hair cells of rats.

Aim: To explore the cell specific existence of alpha 9 AChR in the vestibular type II hair cells (VHC II) of rats.

Methods: To detect the expression of alpha 9 AChR messenger RNA (mRNA) in the vestibular endorgans and single VHC II of rats by using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and the single cell RT-PCR technique, respectively.

Results: It was shown that alpha 9 AChR mRNA was detected in the vestibular endorgans.

The effect of the mtDNA4834 deletion on hearing.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are associated with diverse pathological states in humans, notably sensorineural deafness. In humans, mtDNA4977 deletion, known as common deletion, is thought to play a critical role in presbyacusis. A similar mtDNA deletion occurs in the naturally aging rats is mtDNA4834 deletion.