Changes in auditory perceptions and cortex resulting from hearing recovery after extended congenital unilateral hearing loss

Monaural hearing induces auditory system reorganization. Imbalanced input also degrades time-intensity cues for sound localization and signal segregation for listening in noise. While there have been studies of bilateral auditory deprivation and later hearing restoration (e.g. cochlear implants), less is known about unilateral auditory deprivation and subsequent hearing improvement. We investigated effects of long-term congenital unilateral hearing loss on localization, speech understanding, and cortical organization following hearing recovery. Hearing in the congenitally affected ear of a 41 year old female improved significantly after stapedotomy and reconstruction. Pre-operative hearing threshold levels showed unilateral, mixed, moderately-severe to profound hearing loss. The contralateral ear had hearing threshold levels within normal limits. Testing was completed prior to, and three and nine months after surgery. Measurements were of sound localization with intensity-roved stimuli and speech recognition in various noise conditions. We also evoked magnetic resonance signals with monaural stimulation to the unaffected ear. Activation magnitudes were determined in core, belt, and parabelt auditory cortex regions via an interrupted single event design. Hearing improvement following 40 years of congenital unilateral hearing loss resulted in substantially improved sound localization and speech recognition in noise. Auditory cortex also reorganized. Contralateral auditory cortex responses were increased after hearing recovery and the extent of activated cortex was bilateral, including a greater portion of the posterior superior temporal plane. Thus, prolonged predominant monaural stimulation did not prevent auditory system changes consequent to restored binaural hearing. Results support future research of unilateral auditory deprivation effects and plasticity, with consideration for length of deprivation, age at hearing correction, degree and type of hearing loss

Childhood tonsillectomy alters the primary distribution of HPV‐related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

ObjectivesWe investigated how tonsillectomy during childhood may influence the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) positive cancer of the tonsils in adult life using p16 as a surrogate marker for HPV infection.Study DesignRetrospective observational study.MethodsA total of 280 patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and known p16 status were eligible for this study. Each participant was called to obtain the childhood tonsillectomy history. Respondents were subgrouped by p16 status and the primary tumor location. Patient demographic and clinical information was analyzed for association with Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Location of tumor was modeled using univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) logistic regression with associated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsOf the 280 patients, 115 (41%) were respondents: 104 (90.4%) were p16 positive and 11 (9.6%) were p16 negative. For p16 positive patients, we observed a majority (93%) of intact tonsils in those with tonsil cancer, compared to 45% of intact tonsils in patients with p16 positive cancer elsewhere in the oropharynx (P < .001). MVA logistic regression showed that female gender (OR = 4.16, P = .0675), prior smoking history (OR = 2.6, P = .0367), and intact tonsils (OR = 15.2, P < .0001) were associated with tonsillar OPSCC.ConclusionWe found that patients with p16 positive OPSCC at a non‐tonsil site were much more likely to have had prior tonsillectomy vs those with p16 positive OPSCC arising within the tonsil. Nevertheless, we do not advocate tonsillectomies as a public health policy to reduce HPV‐related OPSCC.Level of Evidence6Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154902/1/lio2342_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154902/2/lio2342.pd

Human cloning and embryonic stem cell research after Seoul. [Chole]

11 pages (out of 249 pages)Full text of the congressional hearing discussing the ethical issues raised by stem cell research recently conducted in Seoul, South Korea. Issues include human cloning for the purpose of producing human stem cells. [Opening statements] contains the opening statements of the congressional committee. [Battey] contains the testimony and prepared statement of James F. Battey, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stem Cell Task Force chair. [Schwetz] contains the testimony and prepared statement of Bernard A. Schwetz, director of the Office for Human Research Protections, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [Pascal] contains the testimony and prepared statement of Chris B. Pascal, director of the Office of Research Integrity, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [Panel 1 questioning] contains the questioning of the first panel, consisting of Battey, Schwetz, and Pascal. [Chole] contains the testimony and prepared statement of stem cell researcher Dr. Richard A. Chole. [Norsigian] contains the testimony and prepared statement of Judy Norsigian, co-author of "Our Bodies Ourselves" and women's health advocate. [Brown] contains the testimony and prepared statement of patient advocate Joe Brown. [Beeson] contains the testimony and prepared statement of Diane Beeson, professor at California State University, East Bay. [Doerflinger] contains the testimony and prepared statement of pro-life advocate Richard M. Doerflinger. [Mathews] contains the testimony and prepared statement of Debra Mathews, scientist and bioethics scholar. [Panel 2 questioning] contains the questioning of the second panel, consisting of Chole, Norsigian, Brown, Beeson, Doerflinger, and Mathews. [Additional information (1)] contains additional information submitted. [Follow-up questions] contains follow-up questions for both panels. [Uniform requirements for manuscripts] contains the document "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication." [Hinxton Group] contains a statement from The Hinxton Group, "An International Consortium on Stem Cells, Ethics, and Law." [Values in conflict] contains the document "Values in Conflict: Public Attitudes on Embryonic Stem Cell Research." [Additional information (2)] contains additional information submitted

Role of Electrode Placement as a Contributor to Variability in Cochlear Implant Outcomes

Suboptimal cochlear implant (CI) electrode array placement may reduce presentation of coded information to the central nervous system and consequently limit speech recognition

Zoledronic Acid Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis in Vitro and in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Osteolysis

Sudhoff H, Faddis BT, Jung JY, Hildmann H, Ebmeyer J, Chole RA. Zoledronic Acid Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis in Vitro and in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Osteolysis. Annals of Otology, Rhinology &amp; Laryngology. 2003;112(9):780-786.This study assessed effects of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZLNA) on osteoclastogenesis. To assess the effect of ZLNA on osteoclast formation in vitro, we cultured mouse bone marrow cells under conditions that promote osteoclastogenesis. Administered at concentrations from 10−6 to 10−9 mol/L, ZLNA led to a dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. Combined TUNEL staining and histochemical staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase showed that ZLNA induced apoptosis in osteoclasts and monocytic precursor cells. To study the effects of ZLNA in vivo, we placed keratin particles onto the surface of the parietal bone of mice to induce localized inflammatory bone resorption. Three experimental groups received daily subcutaneous injections of ZLNA (1, 3, or 10 μg/kg body weight) from 4 days before surgery until 5 days after keratin implantation. The ZLNA significantly reduced osteoclast recruitment in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect the degree of inflammation or the mineral apposition rate