Efficacy of Ear Molding in Infants using the EarWell Infant Correction System and Factors Affecting Outcome.

Background: One-third of infants have ear anomalies, and less than one-third self-correct. Correction of ear deformities by molding exploits the plasticity of the auricular cartilage because of circulating maternal estrogen during infancy. In this study, the authors assess the efficacy of the EarWell Infant Correction System in the correction of ear deformities and determine the factors that affect its outcome.

Thrombospondin-4 reduces binding affinity of [(3)H]-gabapentin to calcium-channel α2δ-1-subunit but does not interact with α2δ-1 on the cell-surface when co-expressed.

The α2δ proteins are auxiliary subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels, and influence their trafficking and biophysical properties. The α2δ ligand gabapentin interacts with α2δ-1, and inhibits calcium channel trafficking. However, α2-1 has also been proposed to play a synaptogenic role, independent of calcium channel function.