Do Polymorphisms of the TERT, GSTM1, and GSTT1 Genes Increase Laryngeal Cancer Susceptibility in Smokers of Romanian Descent?

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between smoking status and single-nucleotide polymorphism in candidate genes that had a known association with smoking-related tumors in previous studies and to explore their link to laryngeal cancer risk in a population of northern Romanian descent. The genes selected have key functions in xenobiotic metabolism (GSTs: the glutathione S-transferases family: GSTM1 and GSTT1) and chromosomal management (TERT). Materials and Methods: The genotype frequencies of TERTRs2736100 and the GST subfamilies (GSTM1 and GSTT1) were determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The relationship between the polymorphisms and the risk of laryngeal cancer was analyzed in a retrospective case–control study of 92 laryngeal cancer cases and 101 controls, all of whom were smokers. Results: Subjects presenting the GSTT1-null variant had a two-fold increase in risk (OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.07–3.95, p = 0.02). While no individual risk was observed for the TERTRs2736100 polymorphism, stratification based on gender revealed a nine-fold increase in risk for carriers of the “C” allele in the heterozygote variant who were male (OR = 9, 65% CI = 3.51–26.51, p = 0.0000). Conclusions: The results showed that the GSTT1-null genotype and the mutant heterozygote variant of TERTRs2736100 genes may play a significant role in laryngeal cancer susceptibility in subjects of northern Romanian descent. There may be no association between the susceptibility to laryngeal carcinoma and the GSTM1 polymorphism. The results could not confirm the carcinogenic influence smoking has on laryngeal cancer development for the studied polymorphisms

Assessment on the influence of TLR4 and DNA repair genes in laryngeal cancer susceptibility: a selective examination in a Romanian case control study

Background: Tumor characterization through the study of molecular biology has become an invaluable tool in understanding cancer development and evolution due to its relationship with chromosomal mutations, alterations or aberrations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of genes such as TLR-4 and DNA repair pathways (XRCC1 and XPD) in laryngeal cancer susceptibility in a Romanian population. Method: We performed a case-control study on 157 laryngeal cancer patients and 101 healthy controls. Genetic testing was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Results: We identified the Gln allele of the XPDLys751Gln polymorphism as an individual risk factor in laryngeal cancer development (Gln vs Lys, adjusted OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.13–2.40, P=0.008). Subjects with the mutant homozygote variant (Gln/Gln) had a two fold increase in cancer risk (adjusted OR=2.18, 95%CI=1.06–4.47, p=0.028) when compared to the reference wild type genotype (Lys/Lys). Stratification by sex and age, identified males under 62 years as the most susceptible group with an almost three fold risk (adjusted OR=2.94, 95%CI=1.31–6.59, p=0.007) for the dominant model (Lys/Gln+Gln/Gln). No associations were found for TLR-4Thr399Ile, XRCC1Arg194Trp and XRCC1Arg399Gln. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the XPDLys751Gln polymorphism may be among other independent risk factors for developing laryngeal cancer where as TLR-4Thr399Ile, XRCC1Arg194Trp and XRCC1 Arg399Gln show no such association. However, we consider the relative small number of the subjects selected for this analyses a possible limitation towards the real influence the obtain results may pertain in laryngeal cancer evolution

Vertigo Associated with Otosclerosis and Stapes Surgery—A Narrative Review

Otosclerosis is a pathological condition affecting the temporal bone, and is characterized by remodelling of the labyrinthine bone tissue through a dynamic process of osteolysis and osteogenesis. This condition progressively leads to hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. Stapedotomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of the stapes superstructure and its replacement with a prosthesis, is the treatment of choice to improve hearing in individuals with otosclerosis. However, vestibular dysfunction is a significant complication associated with this procedure, which can occur intraoperatively or postoperatively, ranging from the immediate postoperative period to weeks, months, or even years after surgery. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the most important causes of vertigo associated with otosclerosis and stapes surgery with the goal of minimizing the incidence of this complication. Understanding the underlying factors contributing to vertigo in this context is crucial for the prevention and effective management of vertigo in patients undergoing stapedotomy

The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection on Short Term Vocal Outcomes Following Phonosurgery—A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: The efficiency and optimal voice rest period following phonosurgery remains debatable. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a safe and cheap alternative to many bioactive agents being studied on animal models, and is already in use in many medical areas. We investigate the short-term effects of PRP and voice rest on voice outcomes following phonosurgery as an alternative to voice rest alone. Materials and Methods: A prospective single-blinded pilot study was conducted. Sixteen patients with a diagnosis of vocal fold cyst and polyps were included, forming equal groups (PRP and voice rest vs. voice rest alone). Voice analysis was carried out on the preoperative day, day three, and week three following surgery. The measured parameters were fundamental frequency (F0), noise–signal ratio (NSR), harmonic poverty (HP), attack alteration (AL), pitch instability (PI), and amplitude instability (AI).VHI(Voice Handicap Index)-30 questionnaires were carried out before surgery and three weeks following surgery to assess the impact of subjective voice change on quality of life. PRP was obtained using commercial kits with separator gel. Results: An average 3.68-fold increase in platelets was obtained with PRP. No side effects were noted after injection. All voice parameters improved on day three and week three following surgery. Statistical significance was noted only in the fundamental frequency of male patients (p = 0.048) in favor of the PRP-voice rest group. In addition, the VHI- 30 questionnaire results between preoperative and postoperative assessments showed statistically significant differences in total VHI score (p = 0.02) as well as the physical (p = 0.05) and emotional (p = 0.02) scale in favor of the PRP-voice rest group. Conclusions: PRP presents short term safety in patients who undergo phonosurgery, although long-term outcomes are unknown. PRP and voice rest are superior to voice rest alone when considering subjective assessment of the voice. When analyzing acoustic parameters, PRP and voice rest are not superior to voice rest alone

The Effect of Pluronic-Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Hearing Preservation Following Cochlear Implantation-Pilot Study

Introduction: During cochlear implantation, electrode insertion can cause cochlear damage, inflammation, and apoptosis, which can affect the residual hearing. Nanoparticles are increasingly studied as a way to increase the availability of inner ear protective factors. We studied the effect on rats of Pluronic-coated gold nanoparticles (Plu-AuNPs) containing dexamethasone, which were applied locally in the rat’s middle ear following the implant procedure. Methods: Seven rats were used in the study. The right ear served as a model for the Dex-Plu-AuNP group. Following the intracochlear dummy electrode insertion through the round window, Dex-Plu-AuNPs were placed in the round window niche. In the right ear, following the same insertion procedure, free dexamethasone (Dex) was placed in the same manner. Auditory brainstem response thresholds (click stimulus, pure tones at 8 kHz, 16 kHz, 24 kHz, and 32 kHz) were measured before and one week after the procedure. A two-tailed T-test was used for the variables. Statistical significance was set as p p = 0.048, t-test). For the other frequencies, statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the mean threshold shifts of the two cohorts. Conclusions: The local application of Plu-AuNPs containing dexamethasone following cochlear implantation may better protect the residual hearing than dexamethasone alone, but a larger sample size is needed to reach a possible statistical significance. Dex-Plu-AuNPs do not seem to cause ototoxicity and may be used as a carrier for other agents. In a clinical setting, Dex-Plu-AuNPs may have the effect of protecting lower frequencies in patients with partial deafness who are candidates for electric acoustic stimulation (EAS). If we consider this tendency, Dex-Plu-AuNPs may also be beneficial for patients with Ménière’s disease

Current Concepts and Future Trends in Increasing the Benefits of Cochlear Implantation: A Narrative Review

Hearing loss is the most common neurosensory disorder, and with the constant increase in etiological factors, combined with early detection protocols, numbers will continue to rise. Cochlear implantation has become the gold standard for patients with severe hearing loss, and interest has shifted from implantation principles to the preservation of residual hearing following the procedure itself. As the audiological criteria for cochlear implant eligibility have expanded to include patients with good residual hearing, more attention is focused on complementary development of otoprotective agents, electrode design, and surgical approaches. The focus of this review is current aspects of preserving residual hearing through a summary of recent trends regarding surgical and pharmacological fundamentals. Subsequently, the assessment of new pharmacological options, novel bioactive molecules (neurotrophins, growth factors, etc.), nanoparticles, stem cells, and gene therapy are discussed

Biopolymer Lipid Hybrid Microcarrier for Transmembrane Inner Ear Delivery of Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is one of the most often used corticosteroid drugs for sensorineural hearing loss treatment, and is used either by intratympanic injection or through systemic delivery. In this study, a biopolymer lipid hybrid microcarrier was investigated for enhanced local drug delivery and sustained release at the round window membrane level of the middle ear for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Dexamethasone-loaded and dexamethasone-free microparticles were prepared using biopolymers (polysaccharide and protein, pectin and bovine serum albumin, respectively) combined with lipid components (phosphatidylcholine and Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide) in order to obtain a biopolymer–liposome hybrid system, with a complex structure combining to enhance performance in terms of physical and chemical stability. The structure of the microparticles was evaluated by FTIR, XRD, thermal analysis, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The encapsulation efficiency determination and the in vitro Dexamethasone release study were performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The high value of encapsulation efficiency and the results of the release study indicated six days of sustained release, encouraging us to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Dexamethasone-loaded microparticles and their influence on the cytotoxicity induced by Cisplatin on auditory HEI-OC1 cells. The results show that the new particles are able to protect the inner ear sensory cells