Endolymphatic hydrops asymmetry distinguishes patients with Meniere's disease from normal controls with high sensitivity and specificity.

Background: Many endolymphatic hydrops (EH) MRI studies in the literature do not include a normal control group. Consequently, it remains unclear which outcome measure in EH MRI can most effectively distinguish between MD patients and normal controls.

Methods: Gadolinium-enhanced EH imaging was performed to quantitatively evaluate the extents of hydrops in MD patients and age-/sex-matched normal controls.

Synaptic Remodeling of the Auditory Cortex Following Bilateral Blindness: Evidence of Cross-modal Plasticity.

We aimed to evaluate structural dynamic changes of neurons in the auditory cortex after visual deprivation. We longitudinally tracked dendritic spines for 3 weeks after visual deprivation in vivo using a two-photon microscope. GFP-labeled dendritic spines in the auditory cortex were serially followed after bilateral enucleation.

Cross-Modal Cortical Activity in the Brain Can Predict Cochlear Implantation Outcome in Adults: A Machine Learning Study.

Objectives: Prediction of cochlear implantation (CI) outcome is often difficult because outcomes vary among patients. Though the brain plasticity across modalities during deafness is associated with individual CI outcomes, longitudinal observations in multiple patients are scarce. Therefore, we sought a prediction system based on cross-modal plasticity in a longitudinal study with multiple patients.

Three-Dimensional Volumetric Measurement of Endolymphatic Hydrops in Meniere's Disease.

We used volumetric three-dimensional (3D) analysis to quantitatively evaluate the extent of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in the entire inner ear. We tested for correlations between the planimetric and volumetric measurements, to identify their advantages and disadvantages. HYDROPS2-Mi2 EH images were acquired for 32 ears (16 patients): 16 ipsilateral ears of MD patients (MD-ears) and 16 contralateral ears.

Effect and Biocompatibility of a Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid and Polylactide--glycolide Microcapsule Vehicle in Intratympanic Drug Delivery for Treating Acute Acoustic Trauma.

The treatment of acute hearing loss is clinically challenging due to the low efficacy of drug delivery into the inner ear. Local intratympanic administration of dexamethasone (D) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) has been proposed for treatment, but they do not persist in the middle ear because they are typically delivered in fluid form. We developed a dual-vehicle drug delivery system consisting of cross-linked hyaluronic acid and polylactide--glycolide microcapsules.

Effect of age on the gap-prepulse inhibition of the cortical N1-P2 complex in humans as a step towards an objective measure of tinnitus.

The gap-prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex has been widely used as a behavioral method for tinnitus screening in animal studies. The cortical-evoked potential gap-induced inhibition has also been investigated in animals as well as in human subjects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of age on the cortical N1-P2 complex in the gap-prepulse inhibition paradigm.

Dual-site rTMS is More Effective than Single-site rTMS in Tinnitus Patients: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as an alternative option for treating tinnitus. rTMS is a noninvasive method in which repetitive magnetic stimulation is applied to the cortex; it is considered a therapeutic strategy that modulates the loudness of tinnitus. In this study, we performed a double-blind randomized clinical trial to compare the outcome of tinnitus treatment among (1) dual-site (auditory + prefrontal) rTMS stimulation, (2) auditory cortex only rTMS stimulation (AC), and (3) sham stimulation.

Biocompatibility and Therapeutic Effect of 3 Intra-Tympanic Drug Delivery Vehicles in Acute Acoustic Trauma.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the biocompatibility of several intra-tympanic (IT) drug delivery vehicles and to compare hearing outcomes.

Materials And Methods: After acute acoustic trauma, rats were treated with IT 10 mg/mL dexamethasone phosphate (D) and divided into the following groups for drug delivery: saline + D (n = 15), hyaluronic acid (HA) + D (n = 17), and methoxy polyethylene glycol-b-polycaprolactone block copolymer (MP) + D (n = 24).

Results: No inflammation was found in the saline + D or HA + D groups.

Treatment Outcome of Auditory and Frontal Dual-Site rTMS in Tinnitus Patients and Changes in Magnetoencephalographic Functional Connectivity after rTMS: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Recently, the role of neural modulation in nonauditory cortices via repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for tinnitus control has been emphasized. It is now more compelling to consider these nonauditory cortices and the whole "tinnitus network" as targets for tinnitus treatment to achieve a better outcome.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of active dual-site rTMS treatment in tinnitus reduction using a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Phantom Perception of Sound and the Abnormal Cortical Inhibition System: An Electroencephalography (EEG) Study.

Objectives: Despite no observable external sound present, a perceived feeling of a recurrent unpleasant sound is a main complaint in the patients with chronic tinnitus. This phantom perception of sound is considered as the auditory equivalent of phantom limb pain, and altered excitability may be involved in its underlying pathology. Tinnitus-related hyper-excitation is suppressed by inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

Comparison of treatment outcomes between 10 and 20 EEG electrode location system-guided and neuronavigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in chronic tinnitus patients and target localization in the Asian brain.

Objective: rTMS is a non-invasive method that applies a brief magnetic pulse to the cortex and is regarded as a possible therapeutic method for tinnitus control. However, it remains unclear whether the rTMS treatment effect would be the same in tinnitus patients receiving the 10-20 EEG-based target localization as in those receiving imaging-based neuronavigation target localization.

Methods: We compared the treatment outcome of the 10-20 EEG-guided rTMS (Group 1) with that of the neuronavigation-guided rTMS (Group 2).

Comparison of Treatment Outcomes Following Either Prefrontal Cortical-only or Dual-site Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Chronic Tinnitus Patients: A Double-blind Randomized Study.

Objectives: We evaluated treatment outcomes following single-site repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and dual-site rTMS in the auditory cortex (AC) and DLPFC (AC + FC).

Study Design And Patients: This prospective randomized double-blind trial initially included 19 patients with chronic tinnitus and 17 of these patients received rTMS on the left AC and left DLPFC or only the left DLPFC. The subjects were randomly allocated to either the dual-site rTMS (AC + FC) protocol (Group 1, n = 9) or the singlesite rTMS (DLPFC) protocol (Group 2, n = 8).

Hepatic FDG uptake is associated with future cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Hepatic F-18 fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the value of hepatic FDG uptake for predicting future cardiovascular events has not been explored.

Methods And Results: Study participants were 815 consecutive asymptomatic participants who underwent a health screening program that included FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), abdominal ultrasonography, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements (age 51.

Carotid FDG Uptake Improves Prediction of Future Cardiovascular Events in Asymptomatic Individuals.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the role of carotid fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake as an independent prognostic indicator and to determine whether its addition improves risk prediction beyond the Framingham risk score (FRS) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

Background: The prognostic value of carotid FDG uptake independent of and incremental to traditional cardiovascular risk factors and CIMT in asymptomatic individuals has not been evaluated.

Methods: We measured carotid FDG uptake and CIMT in 1,089 asymptomatic adults (51.

Difference in Tinnitus Treatment Outcome According to the Pulse Number of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Objective: We aimed to compare the treatment result between 6,000 and 12,000 pulses of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and to evaluate the correct location of rTMS in Korean brains compared with that of Caucasians.

Study Design: Controlled trial.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and carotid artery inflammation evaluated by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

We assessed the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid artery inflammation measured by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Participants were 755 consecutive otherwise healthy adult males who underwent a general health screening program. Carotid FDG uptake, represented as maximum target-to-background ratio, was increased with mild (n = 237; 1.

Hepatic glucose uptake is increased in association with elevated serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and triglyceride.

Background: Subjects with fatty liver disease (FLD) can show increased hepatic 2-deoxy-2-((18)F)fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) uptake, but the role of hepatic inflammation has not been explored.

Aims: We investigated whether hepatic inflammatory response, as implicated by elevated serum markers, is associated with increased liver FDG uptake in FLD.

Methods: Liver sonography and FDG positron emission tomography was performed in 331 asymptomatic men with nonalcoholic FLD (NAFLD), 122 with alcoholic FLD (AFLD), and 349 controls.

Relation of carotid artery 18F-FDG uptake to C-reactive protein and Framingham risk score in a large cohort of asymptomatic adults.

Unlabelled: We investigated the relation of carotid (18)F-FDG uptake to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and Framingham risk score (FRS) in a large cohort of asymptomatic adults.

Methods: Carotid artery (18)F-FDG uptake was measured on the PET/CT scans of 1,181 asymptomatic subjects, and maximum target-to-background ratio (M-TBR) and intima-media thickness (IMT) were compared with clinical risk factors and hsCRP. The estimated 10-y risk for general cardiovascular disease was calculated by FRS.

Effects of coverage extent and slice skipping on mean and maximum arterial 18F-FDG uptake ratios in patients with carotid plaque.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of variable measurement methods on mean and maximum SUV ratios of 18F-FDG uptake in carotid arteries.

Methods: 18F-FDG PET/CT images of 74 subjects with carotid plaque were analyzed for mean and maximum target-to-background ratio (TBR) of uptake. Agreement was analyzed between TBR scores obtained using different vessel coverage and slice skipping.