Induction of cell death by sodium hexachloroplatinate (IV) in the HEI-OC1 cell line, primary rat spiral ganglion cells and rat organ of Corti explants.

Although cochlear implants have become a well-established method for patients with sensory neural hearing loss, clinical results indicate that in some cases, corrosion of electrode contacts leads to high impedance that interferes with successful stimulation of the auditory nerve. As it is unclear whether corrosion products induce cell damage, we focused on cell culture models of the organ of Corti cell line (HEI-OC1), rat spiral ganglion cells (SGC) and rat organ of Corti explant (OCex) cultivated from neonatal rat cochleae to characterize the cytotoxicity of sodium hexachloroplatinate (IV) (Na2(PtCl6)). The oxidative activity in HEI-OC1 cells decreased with increasing Na2(PtCl6) concentrations between 8 and 16 ng/μl, and live cell staining with Calcein acetoxymethyl/Ethidium homodimer III revealed an increasing number of cells with disrupted membranes.

In vitro impact of platinum nanoparticles on inner ear related cell culture models.

So far, it was supposed that the increase of electrical impedance following cochlear implant (CI) insertion was due to technical defects of the electrode, inflammatory and/or formation of scar tissue along the electrode. However, it was recently reported that corrosion of the platinum electrode contacts may be the reason for high impedances. It could be shown that platinum particles were stripped from the electrode surfaces.

[Hypertrophy of lingual tonsil following tonsillectomy and correlation with BMI].

Objective: The hyperplasia of the lingual tonsil is a rare and at the same time potentially dangerous change in the area of the upper respiratory tract. The pathogenesis of the lingual tonsillar hyperplasia is still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated if there is a compensatory lingual tonsil hyperplasia after tonsillectomy.

Anti-EGFR-Based Therapy in Recurrent or Metastatic HNSCC - What Difference Does it Make?

Patients with R/M HNSCC treated with palliative first-line therapy at Hannover Medical School between October 2005 and December 2016 have been included to show changes in survival following broad utilization of cetuximab. Treatment periods were defined from 10/2005 to 12/2008 (Period A) and 01/2009 to 12/2016. Overall survival did not improve over time.

Bioinformatic Analysis of the Perilymph Proteome to Generate a Human Protein Atlas.

The high complexity of the cellular architecture of the human inner ear and the inaccessibility for tissue biopsy hampers cellular and molecular analysis of inner ear disease. Sampling and analysis of perilymph may present an opportunity for improved diagnostics and understanding of human inner ear pathology. Analysis of the perilymph proteome from patients undergoing cochlear implantation was carried out revealing a multitude of proteins and patterns of protein composition that may enable characterisation of patients into subgroups.

Moderately Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Without Chemotherapy in Elderly or Frail Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Comorbidity and frailty are relevant limitations of normofractionated combined radiochemotherapy for squamous cell head and neck cancer (HNSCC), especially in elderly patients. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT) without chemotherapy in patients ineligible for concurrent radiochemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Between 2011 and 2018, 51 elderly/frail patients with HNSCC were treated with either definitive (n=23) or adjuvant (n=28) moderate HRT.

Proteome profile of patients with excellent and poor speech intelligibility after cochlear implantation: Can perilymph proteins predict performance?

Modern proteomic analysis and reliable surgical access to gain liquid inner ear biopsies have enabled in depth molecular characterization of the cochlea microenvironment. In order to clarify whether the protein composition of the perilymph can provide new insights into individual hearing performance after cochlear implantation (CI), computational analysis in correlation to clinical performance after CI were performed based on the proteome profile derived from perilymph samples (liquid biopsies). Perilymph samples from cochlear implant recipients have been analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS).

Personalized Proteomics for Precision Diagnostics in Hearing Loss: Disease-Specific Analysis of Human Perilymph by Mass Spectrometry.

Despite a vast amount of data generated by proteomic analysis on cochlear fluid, novel clinically applicable biomarkers of inner ear diseases have not been identified hitherto. The aim of the present study was to analyze the proteome of human perilymph from cochlear implant patients, thereby identifying putative changes of the composition of the cochlear fluid perilymph due to specific diseases. Sampling of human perilymph was performed during cochlear implantation from patients with clinically or radiologically defined inner ear diseases like enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA; = 14), otosclerosis ( = 10), and Ménière's disease ( = 12).

Moderately Hypofractionated Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy With a Simultaneous Integrated Boost for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer - Do Modern Techniques Fulfil Their Promise?

Background: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) and moderate hypofractionation offers an opportunity for defining individual doses and a reduction in overall treatment time in locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNSCC). We present retrospective data on toxicity and locoregional control of a patient cohort treated with an IMRT-SIB concept in comparison to normo-fractionated 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-RT).

Patients And Methods: Between 2012 and 2014, 67 patients with HNSCC (stages III-IVB) were treated with IMRT-SIB either definitively or in the postoperative setting.

Auditory performance in a group of elderly patients after cochlear implantation.

Purpose: The retrospective case review investigated the effect of cochlear implantation in subjects aged 61 years or older with respect to their auditory performance. The study also analysed the effect of age on the performance, and it drew a comparison between the outcomes of older and younger adults.

Methods: The outcome in a group of 446 patients aged 61 to 89 years at the time of unilateral cochlear implantation was compared with the outcome in a group of 110 patients aged 17 to 42 years.

Endogenous α1-antitrypsin levels in the perilymphatic fluid correlates with severity of hearing loss.

Objectives: To determine the levels of endogenous α1-antitrypsin in the perilymph of patients undergoing cochlear implant (CI), and its reverse association with the severity of hearing loss.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Computed Tomography Versus Dacryocystography for the Evaluation of the Nasolacrimal Duct-A Study With 72 Patients.

Objectives: In patients with epiphora, imaging of the nasolacrimal duct is essential not only for differential diagnosis, but also for preoperative planning. Advances in imaging technology and introduction of cone beam computed tomography (CB-CT) enable the combination of contrast agent-based imaging with a three dimensional tomography with low radiation exposure. However, the value of CT/CB-CT as an alternative to conventional dynamic dacryocystography (DCG) has not been evaluated yet.

Detection of BDNF-Related Proteins in Human Perilymph in Patients With Hearing Loss.

The outcome of cochlear implantation depends on multiple variables including the underlying health of the cochlea. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to support spiral ganglion neurons and to improve implant function in animal models. Whether endogenous BDNF or BDNF-regulated proteins can be used as biomarkers to predict cochlear health and implant outcome has not been investigated yet.

Cochlear implantation in children with meningitis related deafness: The influence of electrode impedance and implant charge on auditory performance - A case control study.

Objectives: Bacterial meningitis can cause a labyrinthitis. Consequences often are intracochlear soft tissue neoformation (cochlear obliteration) or intracochlear osteoneogenesis (cochlear ossification) and deafness. Cochlear implantation becomes challenging and hearing rehabilitation is complicated.

Microenvironmental support for cell delivery to the inner ear.

Transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) presents a promising approach not only for the replacement of lost or degenerated cells in diseased organs but also for local drug delivery. It can potentially be used to enhance the safety and efficacy of inner ear surgeries such as cochlear implantation. Options for enhancing the effects of MSC therapy include modulating cell behaviour with customized bio-matrixes or modulating their behaviour by ex vivo transfection of the cells with a variety of genes.

Platinum corrosion products from electrode contacts of human cochlear implants induce cell death in cell culture models.

Despite the technological progress made with cochlear implants (CI), impedances and their diagnosis remain a focus of interest. Increases in impedance have been related to technical defects of the electrode as well as inflammatory and/or fibrosis along the electrode. Recent studies have demonstrated highly increased impedances as the result of corroded platinum (Pt) electrode contacts.

Feasibility of O-water PET studies of auditory system activation during general anesthesia in children.

Background: O-Water positron emission tomography (PET) enables functional imaging of the auditory system during stimulation via a promontory electrode or cochlear implant, which is not possible using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Although PET has been introduced in this context decades ago, its feasibility when performed during general anesthesia has not yet been explored. However, due to a shift to earlier (and bilateral) auditory implantation, the need to study children during general anesthesia appeared, since they are not able to cooperate during scanning.

Heat Shock Proteins in Human Perilymph: Implications for Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: Biomarkers reflecting the etiology and pathophysiology of inner ear diseases are limited. Evaluation of proteins in the perilymph may improve our understanding of inner ear disease. Heat shock proteins (HSP) belong to a superfamily of stress proteins and promote refolding of denatured proteins.

Impact of Time Factors on Outcome in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Treated with Definitive Radio(Chemo)Therapy.

Aim: To evaluate treatment-related factors such as overall treatment time (OTT) and radiation treatment time (RTT) in head-and-neck cancer.

Patients And Methods: A total of 216 patients with locoregionally advanced inoperable head and neck cancer were treated with definitive radio(chemo)therapy. Mean follow-up was 37 months.

Human Plasma Rich in Growth Factors Improves Survival and Neurite Outgrowth of Spiral Ganglion Neurons In Vitro.

Background: Platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma (PRP and PPP) are autologous preparations from peripheral blood and contain several growth factors and cytokines involved in tissue repair. Although their neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties have been already described, little is known about their effects in the inner ear. We, therefore, examined the effects of PRP and PPP on spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) in vitro.

Cochlear implantation in patients with definite Meniere's disease.

The exact pathomechanism of deafening in Meniere's disease (MD) is still unknown; intoxication of hair cells and neural damage from endolymphatic hydrops is discussed. In the literature, there are only a few reports on hearing outcome of MD patients after treatment with cochlear implantation (CI) whereby especially the comparison of MD vs. non-MD patients with CI differs.