On the Nature of Hearing Loss in Méniere's Disease.

Objective: To explain the pathophysiology of the hearing loss in Ménière's disease (MD).

Background: In a previous report, we described a dramatic recovery of hearing in 12/31 patients with MD using antiviral (AV) drugs. The hearing loss in the remaining 19 patients with a longer history of MD remained unchanged or else worsened.

A Novel Molecular Test to Diagnose Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis at the Point of Care.

Dogs are the principal reservoir hosts of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) but current serological methods are not sensitive enough to detect all subclinically infected animals, which is crucial to VL control programs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods have greater sensitivity but require expensive equipment and trained personnel, impairing its implementation in endemic areas. We developed a diagnostic test that uses isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) to detect Leishmania infantum.

Recovery of Hearing in Meniere's Disease after Antiviral Treatment.

Objective: Determine the outcome of hearing in Meniere's Disease (MD) after antiviral treatment.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University Hospital.

A perspective on recurrent vertigo.

The recurrent nature of the 3 most common vestibulopathies suggests a recurrent cause. Histopathology in temporal bones from patients with these syndromes - vestibular neuronitis (VN, n = 7), Ménière's disease (MD, n = 8) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV, n = 5) - shows focal degeneration of vestibular nerve axons and degenerated nearby facial nerve meatal ganglion cells. Transmission electron microscopic confirmation of intracytoplasmic viral particles in surgically excised vestibular nerves from patients with VN and MD support a viral etiology in these vestibulopathies.

Clustering is a feature of the spiral ganglion in the basal turn.

Objective: To demonstrate the organization of the spiral ganglion in the mammalian species.

Methods: Temporal bone (TB) specimens from man (n = 2), monkey (n = 2), lion (n = 2) and cat (n = 20) were stained, decalcified and dissected according to the Sudan black B method of Rasmussen. These TB specimens were examined under a Zeiss operating microscope and photographed with a Canon 100 camera interfaced with the microscope.