Objective To study the middle ear mucosa of guinea pigs with tympanosclerosis by electron microscope and try to obtain some insights into the feature and pathogenesis of tympanosclerosis.Methods Eight healthy variegated guinea pigs were devided into 2 groups.Six(8 ears) guinea pigs were subjected to inoculation of 1×10~8/L of staphylococcus aureus solution 100 μl into the middle ear cavities under the microscope.All the guinea pigs were observed for more than 6 months with no farther treatment.For electron-microscopic studies,the mucosa tissues were taken from the tympanic mucosa in 6 guinea pigs (8 ears) with tympanosclerosis from various sites,while the middle ear mucosa of two healthy guinea pigs (4 ears) were taken as a control.Results Uhrastructural examination of the normal middle ear mucosa revealed a few collagen fibers,normal morphous of fibrocyte,rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria,and there was no lysosome.However,the tympanosclerosis specimens showed that irregular deformation,elongation,and degeneration of fibrocytes and oval nucleus were darkly stained,lots of mitochondria and lysosomes gathered into the cytoplasm around the nuclear and cystic expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum.In the submucosa extracellular matrix,there were a large number of collagen fibers containing lots of amorphous high-density electron-rich body.Conclusion Electron-microscopic studies of the middle ear mucosa of guinea pigs with tympanosclerosis revealed evident proliferation of collagen fibers,and calcifications were seen in the structures such as extracellular matrix vesicle,lysosomes,myelin structures within lipid granules,which mainly in extracellular matrix vesicles.

Objective The light and electron-microscopic examination was utilized to study the tissue from middle ears diagnosed as having tympanosclerosis. The main purpose of this article is to understand the clinicopathologic and electron-microscopic characteristics of 68 patients with tympanosclerosis. Methods The material for histopathologic and electron-microscopic studies were taken from the tympanic mucosa in various localities, especially from the whitish sclerotic masses in the tympanum of the patients with tympanosclerosis, during middle ear surgeries between 2006 and 2008. Specimens were divided into two groups: one group of 68 specimens was fixed and stained for light microscopic study with hematoxylin-eosin; the second group of 12 specimens was viewed in the electron microscope. Results The specimens from tympanic mucosa showed granulation tissue with infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells, and slight fibrosis in the submucosal layer. The histopathology of the plaques after haemaoxylin and eosin staining revealed dense bundles of collagen with hyaline degeneration and scattered areas of calcification. An ultrastructural examination of these specimens revealed fibrocytes that were irregularly shaped, elongated, and degenerating. The osmiophilic cytoplasm contained vesicles and collagen bundles. There were clusters of mitochondria in perinuclear cytoplasm and lots of electron dense calcareous deposits within lysosomes and degenerated mitochondria in fibrocyte cells. Conclusion The histopathologic examinations of tympanosclerosis revealed dense fibrous and collagenous connective tissues, poor in cell, with hyaline degeneration and occasional calcification in the tympanic mucosa. Electron-microscopic studies further revealed marked proliferation of collagen fibers and electron dense calcareous deposits within lysosomes and degenerated mitochondria in fibrocyte cells.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the multi-channel cochlear implantation in patients with Waardenburg syndrome including surgeries, pre and postoperative hearing assessments as well as outcomes of speech recognition. METHOD: Multi-channel cochlear implantation surgeries have been performed in 12 cases with Waardenburg syndrome type II in our department from 2000 to 2008. All the patients received multi-channel cochlear implantation through transmastoid facial recess approach. The postoperative outcomes of 12 cases were compared with 12 cases with no inner ear malformation as a control group. RESULT: The electrodes were totally inserted into the cochlear successfully, there was no facial paralysis and cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred after operation. The hearing threshold in this series were similar to that of the normal cochlear implantation. After more than half a year of speech rehabilitation, the abilities of speech discrimination and spoken language of all the patients were improved compared with that of preoperation. CONCLUSION Multi-channel cochlear implantation could be performed in the cases with Waardenburg syndrome, preoperative hearing and images assessments should be done.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; methods ; Cochlear Implants ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Waardenburg Syndrome ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To explore the disease incidence, clinical symptoms, prevention and treatment measures of the large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). METHOD: Retrospective analyse the medical history, hearing, vestibular function examination and treatment of 76 LVAS patients who were diagnosed in our department of Otolaryngology from 2002 to 2008. RESULT: Most patients (93.4%) showed sensorineural hearing loss. Part of patients (61.8%) showed air-bone conduction gap in low frequency. The hearing loss of 43 ears is > 40-60 dB HL, > 60 -80 dB HL 47 ears, > 80 dB HL 62 ears. Decline curve is the characteristic of the Audiogram. The decline in high-frequency 112 ears, flat curve in 29 ears, island hearing in 11 ears. Forty-six patients were conducted the vestibular function examination, which showed low vestibular function. Tympanogram showed that 141 ears are type A, 11 ears are type C. High-resolution CT scan revealed that vestibular aqueduct minimum diameter is 2.2 mm and the largest is 6.2 mm, with a wide opening and deep narrower, and showed the "triangle" or "flared". Forty-two cases of this group were simple dilatation of the vestibular aqueduct, and no large vestibular semicircular canal malformation or cochlear malformation. There was no intellectual and other development disorders. In accordance with the degree of hearing loss, 20 cases of patients restored hearing after drug treatment. Eleven were cases fit a suitable hearing aid and carried out the language rehabilitation training. Forty-five very severe patients were implanted the cochlear and mapping one month later. CONCLUSION Fluctuative and progressive hearing loss is the main clinical symptoms of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome. The patients should be examined by high resolution CT scan of the temporal bone. There is no precise and effective treatment for the disease. It is very important for the deaf children who have residual hearing to fit hearing aids and carry out the language rehabilitation training as soon as possible. As for the patients who suffer from hearing loss severely and the hearing aid cannot achieve effective compensation, the cochlear implant should be considered.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Syndrome ; Temporal Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA and Fas protein expressions and cochlear ischemia reperfusion injury and investigate the protective mechanism of PPTA against cochlear reperfusion injury.

METHODSSixty-four guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control group, blank control group, ischemia/reperfusion (by clamping the bilateral vertebral artery and right common carotid artery for 1 h) control group, and ischemia/reperfusion with PPTA treatment group. In PPTA group, PPTA was injected via the femoral vein immediately after reperfusion, and ischemia/reperfusion control group received saline injection. In 6 guinea pigs from each group, the cochlear tissues were removed after 24 h of reperfusion for examination of expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA by real-time PCR, and the rest animals were used for immunohistochemical detection of Fas protein.

RESULTSCompared with those of normal group and blank control group, the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-β mRNA increased significantly after cochlear ischemia/reperfusion (P<0.001), but were lowered significantly by PPTA (P<0.001). Positive expression of Fas protein expression was detected in the Corti organ, spiral ganglion and stria vascularis in ischemia/reperfusion control group with significantly higher IOD values than those of the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The IOD value showed no significant difference between PPTA-treated group, normal control group, and blank control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPPTA can suppress the expression of Fas protein and IL-1β and TNF-β mRNAs in the cochlea of guinea pigs with cochlear ischemia/reperfusion. The protective effect of PPTA against cochlear ischemia/reperfusion is mediated probably by inhibition of inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cochlea ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Organ of Corti ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Spiral Ganglion ; metabolism ; Stria Vascularis ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of different malleus treatments on the postoperative efficacy in the tympanosclerosis patients receiving ossicular chain reconstruction. METHOD: Fifty-nine patients (62 ears) with tympanosclerosis were treated by ossicular chain reconstruction. All the patients were divided into three groups, including malleus removal group (A, 24 ears), retaining only the malleus handle group (B, 18 ears) and the intact malleus group (C, 20 ears). All the patients were followed up 3 months pre-operation, 3 months and 1 year post-operation by audiometric measurement (the average hearing threshold at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kHz HI). Tympanic membrane was examined by ear endoscope. RESULT: The pre-operation mean air bone gap (ABG) in these groups were 40.07 +/- 77.56 dB, 37.31 +/- 76.45 dB, and 36.75 +/- 76.72 dB, among which the difference had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). At 3 months after operation, the ABG in all cases was improved at 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz. The difference of ABG improvement among these three groups had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). One year after surgery, the ABG of the three groups were decreased by 17.92 +/- 9.28 dB, 16.76 +/- 5.19 dB and 10.58 +/- 7.38 dB respectively. The hearing improvement in group C is less than the other two groups (P = 0.03, P = 0.016). The difference of hearing improvement between group A and group B had no statistical significance(P > 0.05). Group A and group B each have one case of tympanic membrane perforation and artificial ossicle falling off. CONCLUSION The operating processes of malleus in ossicular chain reconstruction of patients with tympanosclerosis were introduced. In terms of short-term efficacy, the three groups showed no significant difference. However, the long-term efficacy of the patients in the group A and group B were better compared with the group C.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malleus ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Myringosclerosis ; surgery ; Ossicular Replacement ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult