Spironolactone Ameliorates Cochlear Implant Induced Endolymphatic Hydrops.

Background: Endolymphatic hydrops (EH) has been observed in both animal and human cochleae following cochlear implant (CI) surgery. We tested whether EH could be eliminated by administration of mineralocorticoid steroid antagonist spironolactone and explored the electrophysiological consequences of this.

Methods: Sixty-four adult guinea pigs underwent cochlear implantation with a dummy electrode.

A Digital Coaching Intervention for Cancer Survivors With Job Loss: Retrospective Study.

Background: Returning to work is a key unmet need for working-age cancer survivors.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate return-to-work outcomes of a multidisciplinary intervention provided as routine employee support.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort analysis, patients with cancer and more than 3 months of absence from work were provided with an intervention consisting of digital resources and calls with a health coach.

Systemic methylprednisolone for hearing preservation during cochlear implant surgery: A double blinded placebo-controlled trial.

Aim: To assess whether a single, peri-operative, high dose of methylprednisolone can improve the preservation of residual acoustic hearing following cochlear implantation (CI).

Methods: This was a double blinded placebo-controlled trial, performed in a tertiary academic centre. The hypothesis was that methylprednisolone would improve the preservation of hearing, and lower electrode impedances.

Nanomechanical mapping reveals localized stiffening of the basilar membrane after cochlear implantation.

Cochlear implantation leads to many structural changes within the cochlea which can impair residual hearing. In patients with preserved low-frequency hearing, a delayed hearing loss can occur weeks-to-years post-implantation. We explore whether stiffening of the basilar membrane (BM) may be a contributory factor in an animal model.

Glucocorticoid for Hearing Preservation After Cochlear Implantation: A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis of Animal Studies.

Objectives: To conduct systematic review and meta-analyses of preclinical studies describing the efficacy of glucocorticoids administered via different routes for hearing preservation after cochlear implantation.

Data Sources: A literature search was performed in PubMed to identify peer-reviewed articles published before December 31, 2017, with no language restrictions. Search components were "Cochlear implant," "Glucocorticoids," and "Hearing preservation.

Intracochlear tPA infusion may reduce fibrosis caused by cochlear implantation surgery.

Background: Experiments show that the extent of ongoing fibrotic change within the cochlea can be determined by the volume and pattern of bleeding within the first 24 h following cochlear implantation. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is effective at reducing thrombus volume when administered both within and external to the systemic circulation.

Aims/objectives: To determine if tPA delivered into the scala tympani immediately following implantation will reduce thrombus volume within the lower basal turn of the cochlea.

The Role of Preoperative Steroids in Atraumatic Cochlear Implantation Surgery.

Hypothesis: Depth of insertion is related to the extent of tissue response and low frequency hearing loss. Intravenous steroids have greatest effect in reducing postimplantation fibrosis and hearing loss in the presence of significant electrode insertion trauma, when compared with saline treatment.

Background: Experiments exploring the enhancement of cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes with glucocorticosteroids have produced mixed results, possibly due to lack of standardization of the CI model.

Defining the Hook Region Anatomy of the Guinea Pig Cochlea for Modeling of Inner Ear Surgery.

Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to describe the hook region anatomy of the guinea pig cochlea to identify the optimal surgical approach for cochlear implantation and to determine what anatomical structures are at risk.

Background: Animal studies investigating hearing loss after cochlear implantation surgery are currently constrained by the lack of a reproducible implantation model.

Methods: Guinea pig cochleae were imaged using thin-sheet laser imaging microscopy.

Perceived barriers to endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm among Australasian vascular surgeons.

Objective: Although endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (EVAR) is widely accepted for elective surgery, the uptake of emergency EVAR for ruptured AAA (REVAR) has trailed behind. This study was intended to identify the barriers to widespread application of REVAR in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of members of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Vascular Surgeons was performed in late 2013.

Australian patterns of prostate cancer care: Are they evolving?

Background: Approaches to prostate cancer (PCa) care have changed in recent years out of concern for overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Despite these changes, many patients continue to undergo some form of curative treatment and with a growing perception among multidisciplinary clinicians that more aggressive treatments are being favored. This study examines patterns of PCa care in Australia, focusing on current rates of screening and aggressive interventions that consist of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).

Draft Genome Sequence of the Arsenate-Respiring Bacterium Chrysiogenes arsenatis Strain DSM 11915.

Here we present the draft genome sequence of Chrysiogenes arsenatis strain DSM 11915, only the second genome sequence from the phylum Chrysiogenetes. This strictly anaerobic organism was isolated from arsenic-contaminated gold mine wastewater and respires arsenate or nitrate instead of oxygen. The assembly contains 2,824,977 bp in 22 scaffolds.

Draft genome sequence of an Actinobacterium, Brachybacterium muris strain UCD-AY4.

Here we present the draft genome of an actinobacterium, Brachybacterium muris UCD-AY4. The assembly contains 3,257,338 bp and has a GC content of 70%. This strain was isolated from a residential bath towel and has a 16S rRNA gene 99.

Site-specific labeling of enveloped viruses with quantum dots for single virus tracking.

This study reports a general method of labeling enveloped viruses with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) for use in single virus trafficking studies. Retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), could be successfully tagged with QDs through the membrane incorporation of a short acceptor peptide (AP) that is susceptible to site-specific biotinylation and attachment of streptavidin-conjugated QDs. It was found that this AP tag-based QD labeling had little effect on the viral infectivity and allowed for the study of the kinetics of the internalization of the recombinant lentivirus enveloped with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) into the early endosomes.