Vestibular Hypofunction Screening in Older Cochlear Implant Candidates.

Objective: Vestibular loss is associated with increasing age and hearing loss. Cochlear implantation (CI) may be performed in these patients; however, CI can induce vestibular hypofunction (VH) postoperatively. If CI is performed in the "better balancing ear," patients may experience vestibulopathy from new bilateral VH.

Impact of superior semicircular canal dehiscence on cochlear implant audiologic outcomes.

Purpose: Determine whether adult cochlear implant users with radiographic superior semicircular canal dehiscence experience clinically significant differences in audiological outcomes when compared to cochlear implant users with normal temporal bone anatomy.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective, single institution review. Adult, post-lingual deaf patients implanted between 2010 and 2020.

Validation of a Dyspnea Visual Analog Scale in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.

A visual analog scale (VAS) is a simple and easily administered tool for measuring the impact of disease; however, little is known about the use of a dyspnea VAS in interstitial lung disease (ILD). To validate the use of a dyspnea VAS in a large and heterogeneous cohort of patients with fibrotic ILD, including its minimal clinically important difference (MCID), responsiveness to change, and prognostic significance. Patients with fibrotic ILD were identified from a large prospective registry.

Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear.

Purpose Of Review: Ménière's disease is a disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and pressure in the ear. Its pathogenesis and optimal management continue to be the subject of ongoing debate. Although it is classically believed to be a primary disorder of the inner ear, some clinicians have hypothesized that it is a form of vestibular migraine.

Isolated Fracture of the Malleus: An Overlooked Cause of Conductive Hearing Loss?

Objective: To report the largest case series of isolated malleus fractures with systematic review to characterize the disease's presentation and natural history, and provide suggestions for management.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library.

Review Methods: Retrospective cohort study was performed on 12 patients with isolated malleus fractures.

Recent Advances in Hydrogels: Ophthalmic Applications in Cell Delivery, Vitreous Substitutes, and Ocular Adhesives.

With the prevalence of eye diseases, such as cataracts, retinal degenerative diseases, and glaucoma, different treatments including lens replacement, vitrectomy, and stem cell transplantation have been developed; however, they are not without their respective shortcomings. For example, current methods to seal corneal incisions induced by cataract surgery, such as suturing and stromal hydration, are less than ideal due to the potential for surgically induced astigmatism or wound leakage. Vitrectomy performed on patients with diabetic retinopathy requires an artificial vitreous substitute, with current offerings having many shortcomings such as retinal toxicity.

Hearing Outcomes After Surgical Manipulation of the Membranous Labyrinth During Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Plugging or Posterior Semicircular Canal Occlusion.

Objective: To analyze audiometric data after surgical manipulation of the membranous labyrinth during plugging of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) or posterior semicircular canal occlusion (PSCO) for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Pre-existing Vestibular Symptoms Are Associated With Acute Vestibular Symptoms After Gamma Knife Therapy for Vestibular Schwannoma.

Objective: To identify pretreatment variables associated with the development of acute vestibular symptoms after Gamma Knife (GK) treatment for Vestibular Schwannoma (VS).

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary neurotology referral center.

Hearing Outcomes With a Novel Total Ossicular Replacement Prosthesis.

Introduction: A total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) is used to reconstruct the ossicular chain in the absence of the stapes suprastructure. The Wildcat prosthesis is a novel TORP that eliminates the need for a separate footplate shoe prosthesis and aims to improve ease-of-use and stability. This study evaluates hearing outcomes using the Wildcat prosthesis.

A Protective Cap: Fundal Fluid Cap Facilitates a Reduction in Inner Ear Radiation Dose in the Radiosurgical Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma.

Objective: Assess inner ear radiation dose magnitude as it relates to fundal cap length and hearing outcomes in the radiosurgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary neurotology referral center.

Exoscope-assisted Otologic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has required careful reconsideration of safe operating room practices. We describe our initial experiences performing otologic surgery with the exoscope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: The exoscope was used for several semiurgent otologic surgeries in combination with complete eye protection, a "tent" drape, a smoke evacuator with ultra-low particulate air filter, and betadine irrigation.

Fundal Fluid Cap Is Associated With Hearing Preservation in the Radiosurgical Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between fundal fluid and hearing outcomes after treatment of vestibular schwannoma (VS) with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS).

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tertiary neurotology referral center.

A Critical Analysis of the Information Available Online for Ménière's Disease.

Objective: Patients increasingly rely on online resources for medical information; however, the Internet is unregulated and prone to misinformation. This study analyzes the reliability, quality, and readability of websites for Ménière's disease.

Study Design: A Google search was performed using keywords .

Validating the Utility of High Frequency Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Testing in the Diagnosis of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence.

Introduction: Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) is a diagnostic test employed in the evaluation of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) syndrome. Previous work showed that the presence of the n10 component of oVEMP at 4000 Hz was diagnostic of SSCD with perfect sensitivity and specificity of 1.0 in a series of 22 patients.

Surgical Explantation of Bone-Anchored Hearing Devices: A 10-year Single Institution Review.

Objective: To identify clinical variables associated with the decision to surgically discontinue bone-anchored hearing device function.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary neurotology referral center.

Incidence of Prolonged Systemic Steroid Treatment after Surgery for Acoustic Neuroma and Its Implications.

 To determine the incidence of prolonged postoperative systemic corticosteroid therapy after surgery for acoustic neuroma as well as the indications and associated risk factors that could lead to prolonged steroid administration, and the incidence of steroid-related adverse effects.  Retrospective chart review.  Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing resection of acoustic neuroma between 2010 and 2017 at two tertiary care medical centers.

Stapes prosthesis length and hearing outcomes.

Objectives: First, to determine if prosthesis length plays a role in optimizing successful hearing outcomes in stapedotomy surgery; and second, to determine if patient factors such as height are correlated with prosthesis length.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing stapedotomy surgeries with adequate follow up.

Stapedotomy With Adipose Tissue Seal: Hearing Outcomes, Incidence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss, and Comparison to Alternative Techniques.

Objective: To evaluate hearing outcomes and incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) after stapedotomy with adipose tissue seal, and to compare adipose tissue sealing with alternative techniques.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

The Tightrope Facial Nerve-An Unsupported Mastoid Segment After Resection of Recidivistic Cholesteatoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: Cholesteatomas are epidermal inclusion cysts containing stratified squamous epithelium that arise in the middle ear and mastoid cavities resulting in a persistent inflammatory state. Complications include chronic otorrhea, granulation tissue, and bony erosion. Cholesteatoma growth patterns predict frequent involvement of the Fallopian canal of the facial nerve.

Does a single cup of caffeinated drink significantly increase blood pressure in young adults? A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Previous studies have shown that the blood pressure elevating effect of acute caffeine consumption was variable because of the heterogeneity of study participants, dosage of caffeine and study designs.

Objective: This research aimed to examine the effect of a single cup of coffee on the blood pressure of young adults.

Methods: Normotensive adults were randomised to receive either a cup of caffeinated drink (intervention group) or a cup of decaffeinated drink (control group).

Dose Response of MARV/Angola Infection in Cynomolgus Macaques following IM or Aerosol Exposure.

Marburg virus infection in humans causes a hemorrhagic disease with a high case fatality rate. Countermeasure development requires the use of well-characterized animal models that mimic human disease. To further characterize the cynomolgus macaque model of MARV/Angola, two independent dose response studies were performed using the intramuscular or aerosol routes of exposure.

Transcriptional Profiling of the Immune Response to Marburg Virus Infection.

Unlabelled: Marburg virus is a genetically simple RNA virus that causes a severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates. The mechanism of pathogenesis of the infection is not well understood, but it is well accepted that pathogenesis is appreciably driven by a hyperactive immune response. To better understand the overall response to Marburg virus challenge, we undertook a transcriptomic analysis of immune cells circulating in the blood following aerosol exposure of rhesus macaques to a lethal dose of Marburg virus.

Temporal Characterization of Marburg Virus Angola Infection following Aerosol Challenge in Rhesus Macaques.

Unlabelled: Marburg virus (MARV) infection is a lethal hemorrhagic fever for which no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are available. Development of appropriate medical countermeasures requires a thorough understanding of the interaction between the host and the pathogen and the resulting disease course. In this study, 15 rhesus macaques were sequentially sacrificed following aerosol exposure to the MARV variant Angola, with longitudinal changes in physiology, immunology, and histopathology used to assess disease progression.