Serum Fibrinogen Level and Cytokine Production as Prognostic Biomarkers for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Objectives: No clinically useful prognostic factors have been identified for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). The current study therefore sought to identify useful prognostic factors for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss from blood biomarkers while attempting to classify the pathogenic mechanism and formulate treatment strategies based on these results.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Differences in responsiveness of intratympanic steroid injection for intractable vertigo in Meniere's disease.

Objectives: The efficacy of intratympanic steroid (ITS) injection for intractable Meniere's disease has been reported; however, its differences in responsiveness are not fully understood. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of patients who responded to ITS injection treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study included 32 patients with Meniere's disease who were unable to control frequent vertigo attacks despite conservative treatment for at least 3 months.

Mondini dysplasia with recurrent bacterial meningitis caused by three different pathogens.

Mondini dysplasia is rare, but has an important association with recurrent bacterial meningitis. We herein describe the case of a 3-year-old girl with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss who presented with three independent episodes of bacterial meningitis within 8 months. Temporal bone computed tomography indicated the characteristic features of Mondini dysplasia in the right inner ear.

The relevance of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis-related hormones to the cochlear symptoms in Ménière's disease.

Objective: To investigate the association of the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical) axis-related hormones with the progression of cochlear symptoms in patients with Ménière's disease.

Design: Clinical assessments (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory: THI, visual analog scale to rate the degree of the tinnitus: VAS, hearing levels in pure-tone audiometry) were conducted upon entry into the study (baseline) and at 12 weeks follow-up (week 12). Blood sampling to measure HPA axis-related hormones took place between 9:00 and 10:00 a.

Effects of aging on lateral stability in quiet stance.

Background And Aims: Recent studies have demonstrated that assuming the postural corrective torque is regulated by a proportional-integralderivative (PID) controller in the anterior/posterior direction, although few studies have discussed the medial/ lateral (M/L) direction through PID control. Instability in the M/L direction has been reported to be closely related with the risk of falling in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mechanism of postural control in the M/L direction in the elderly.