The influence of muscles activation on the dynamical behaviour of the tympano-ossicular system of the middle ear

The human ear is a complex biomechanical system and is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner ear. The middle ear is formed by ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes), ligaments, muscles and tendons, which transfers sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear, linking with mastoid and Eustachian tube. In this work, a finite element modelling of the tympano-ossicular system of the middle ear was developed. A dynamic study based on a structural response to harmonic vibrations, for a sound pressure level (SPL) of 110, 120 and 130 dB SPL applied in the eardrum, is presented. The connection between the ossicles is made using a contact formulation. The model includes the different ligaments considering its hyperelastic behaviour. The activation of the muscles is based on the constitutive model proposed by previous work. The harmonic responses of displacement and pressure obtained on the stapes footplate, for a frequency range between 100 Hz and 10 kHz, are obtained simulating the muscle activation. The results are compared considering the passive and active states. The results are discussed and they are in accordance with audiological data published with reference to the effects of the middle ear muscles contraction.     

Distal NF-kB binding motif functions as an enhancer for nontypeable H. influenzae-induced DEFB4 regulation in epithelial cells

Among the antimicrobial molecules produced by epithelial cells, DEFB4 is inducible in response to proinflammatory signals such as cytokines and bacterial molecules. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an important human pathogen that exacerbates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adult and causes otitis media and sinusitis in children. Previously, we have demonstrated that DEFB4 effectively kills NTHi and is induced by NTHi via TLR2 signaling. The 5′-flanking region of DEFB4 contains several NF-κB binding motifs, but their NTHi-specific activity remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate molecular mechanism involved in DEFB4 regulation, focusing on the role of the distal NF-κB binding motif of DEFB4 responding to NTHi. Here, we show that the human middle ear epithelial cells up-regulate DEFB4 expression in response to NTHi via NF-κB activation mediated by IκKα/β−IκBα signaling. Deletion of the distal NF-κB binding motif led to a significant reduction in NTHi-induced DEFB4 up-regulation. A heterologous construct containing the distal NF-κB binding motif was found to increase the promoter activity in response to NTHi, indicating a NTHi-responding enhancer activity of the distal NF-κB binding motif. Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the p65 domain of NF-κB binds to the distal NF-κB binding motif in response to NTHi. Taken together, our results suggest that NTHi-induced binding of p65 NF-κB to the distal NF-κB binding motif of DEFB4 enhances NTHi-induced DEFB4 regulation in epithelial cells.     

What did Morganucodon hear?

The structure of the middle and inner ear of Morganucodon , one of the oldest known mammals, is reviewed and compared to the structure of the ears of extant mammals, reptiles and birds with known auditory capabilities. Specifically, allometric relationships between ear dimensions (basilar-membrane length, tympanic-membrane area and stapes-footplate area) and specific features of the audiogram are defined in extant ears. These relationships are then used to make several predictions of auditory function in Morganucodon. The results point out that the ear structures of Morganucodon–Art similar in dimensions to ear structures in both extant small mammals–with predominantly high-frequency (10 kHz) auditory capabilities, and reptiles and birds- with better low and middle-frequency hearing (< 5 kHz). Although the allometric analysis cannot by itself determine whether Morganucodon heard more like present-day small mammals, or birds and reptiles, the apparent stiffness of the Morganucodon middle ear is both more consistent with the high-frequency mammalian middle ear and would act to decrease the sensitivity of a bird-reptile middle ear to low-frequency sound. Several likely hearing scenarios for Morganucodon are defined, including a scenario in which these animals had ears like those of modern small mammals that are selectively sensitive to high-frequency sounds, and a second scenario in which the Morganucodon ear was moderately sensitive to sounds of a narrow middle-frequency range (5–7 kHz) and relatively insensitive to sounds of higher or lower frequency. The evidence needed to substantiate either scenario includes some objective measure of the stiffness of the Morganucodon ossicular system, while a key datum needed to distinguish between the two hypotheses includes confirmation of the presence or absence of a cochlear lamina in the Morganucodon inner ear.     

中耳术后并发耳廓软骨膜炎致耳廓畸形——1例病例报告及文献回顾

目的:通过报道1例中耳术后并发耳廓软骨膜炎致耳廓畸形患者的病历资料,以加强临床医师对该疾病的认识与防范。方法:对本例患者的病历资料进行回顾性阐述,结合该患者的临床特点揭示中耳术后并发耳廓软骨膜炎的发生发展过程,并通过文献回顾阐述该疾病的发病原因、病原学特点及治疗方法。结果:耳廓软骨膜炎是耳科手术术后较为棘手但相对少见的并发症,最为常见铜绿假单胞杆菌感染所致。治疗方法视患者病情而定,包括抗菌药物应用、脓肿切开引流、病变软骨切除术。对于合并糖尿病的老年患者中耳术后更易引发耳廓软骨膜炎,且疗程更长、预后更差。结论:中耳术后并发耳廓软骨膜炎临床需警惕,对合并糖尿病的老年患者应多加防范;早诊断,早治疗,避免增加患者痛苦、加重其经济负担,并与患者做好充分沟通,避免医疗纠纷的发生。     

Acoustic communication and burrow acoustics are reflected in the ear morphology of the coruro (Spalacopus cyanus, Octodontidae), a social fossorial rodent

We studied the middle and inner ears of seven adult coruros (Spalacopus cyanus), subterranean and social rodents from central Chile, using free-hand dissection and routine staining techniques. Middle ear parameters that were focused on here (enlarged bullae and eardrums, ossicles of the "freely mobile type") are believed to enhance hearing sensitivity at lower frequencies. The organ of Corti was of a common mammalian type and revealed three peaks of higher inner hair cell densities. Based on a position frequency map, frequencies were assigned to the respective peaks along the basilar membrane. The first peak at around 300-400 Hz is discussed with respect to the burrow acoustics, while the peak around 10-20 kHz is probably a plesiomorphic feature. The most pronounced peak at around 2 kHz reflects the frequency at which the main energy of vocal communication occurs. The morphology of the ear of the coruro corresponds to the typical pattern seen in subterranean rodents (low frequency and low-sensitivity hearers), yet, at the same time, it also deviates from it in several functionally relevant features.     

分泌性中耳炎大鼠咽鼓管鼓室β-防御素的表达

目的检测大鼠β防御素(ratβ-defensin,rBD)在分泌性中耳炎大鼠咽鼓管鼓室的表达,探讨β防御素在分泌性中耳炎发病机制中的作用。方法排除中耳感染的清洁级SD大鼠48只,随机分为4组,前3组36只行颈部切口经右侧听泡注入脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)溶液(1mg/mL)30μL制作分泌性中耳炎动物模型,造模后分别于第1、3、7天断头取咽鼓管鼓室黏膜;对照组12只右侧听泡注入生理盐水30μL,左侧听泡作为正常组,3d后断头取咽鼓管鼓室黏膜。逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测咽鼓管鼓室rBD-1mRNA和rBD-2mRNA的表达。结果正常大鼠咽鼓管鼓室存在rBD-1和rBD-2的表达,且rBD-1的表达较rBD-2强,差异有统计学意义;造模后第1、3、7天,rBD-1表达变化不明显;rBD-2则在造模后第1、3天明显增加,差异有统计学意义,第7天渐回复到正常水平。结论在大鼠,rBD-1可能参与正常咽鼓管鼓室的防御功能,造模后rBD-2的表达增加可能与病原体入侵后的清除相关。     

Effect of Alloiococcus otitidis and three pathogens of otitis media in production of interleukin-12 by human monocyte cell line

Alloiococcus otitidis is detected in middle ear effusion of otitis media with effusion (OME). Only a limited number of studies are available concerning the immunological profile of A. otitidis. We have studied the ability of A. otitidis and three other representative pathogens of otitis media to stimulate the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from a monocytic cell line THP-1. Viable A. otitidis induced the production of IL-12 in THP-1 cells but IL-12 production was reduced if glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria were used as stimulants. When viable bacteria were physically separated from THP-1 cells during the stimulation period, remarkable reductions of IL-12 secretion were shown after challenge with gram-positive bacteria A. otitidis and S. pneumoniae. When stimulated with soluble extracts of A. otitidis, THP-1 secreted IL-12 in a dose-dependent manner. The subfraction with a molecular mass over 100 kDa showed a strong ability to induce IL-12 production. Our results show that A. otitidis has immunostimulatory capacity with regard to IL-12 production. We also show that soluble antigen(s) of A. otitidis can modulate the immune response in OME.     

Atmospheric air vs. normal middle ear gas: Effects on in vitro growth and collagen synthesis in normal middle ear fibroblasts

Summary The present study was undertaken to quantitate the effects of atmospheric air and normal middle ear gas on cultured fibroblasts obtained from normal rabbit middle ear mucosa. The cells were exposed to three different gas compositions: 7% O₂:5% CO₂:88% N₂, 21% O₂:5% CO₂:74% N₂, and 75% O₂:5% CO₂:20% N₂. The growth was monitored by measuring the total content of cell protein, the amount of DNA, and the cell division activity. The activity of the synthetic apparatus was determined by the collagen synthesis. For comparison, rabbit skin fibroblasts were grown under identical conditions. The results demonstrated significantly higher replication rate of middle ear fibroblasts at 7% oxygen than at atmospheric air whereas the collagen synthesis was significantly lower at 7%. Furthermore, the responses varied significantly between rabbit middle ear and rabbit skin fibroblasts. Thus the present study substantiates the hypothesis of an influence of atmospheric air on the middle ear mucosa which might be of importance, e.g., in relation to insertion of ventilation tubes or longstanding perforations of the tympanic membrane in otitis media.     

腺样体手术治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎的临床疗效观察

目的：观察腺样体手术治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎的临床效果。方法：选择分泌性中耳炎合并腺样体肥大患儿80例（160耳）,将其随机分为手术组和对照组,每组40例,手术组患儿给予腺样体消融手术治疗,而对照组患儿进行保守治疗,观察和比较两组治疗1个月后的临床疗效。结果：治疗1个月后,手术组治愈72耳,好转6耳,治疗总有效率为97．5％,而对照组治愈8耳,好转20耳,治疗总有效率为35％,较手术组显著降低（P〈0．05）。结论：腺样体切除是治疗分泌性中耳炎的有效途径,治疗中应尽可能避免并发症的发生,恢复和保护咽鼓管的生理功能。     

腺样体手术治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎的临床疗效观察

目的:观察腺样体手术治疗儿童分泌性中耳炎的临床效果。方法:选择分泌性中耳炎合并腺样体肥大患儿80例(160耳),将其随机分为手术组和对照组,每组40例,手术组患儿给予腺样体消融手术治疗,而对照组患儿进行保守治疗,观察和比较两组治疗1个月后的临床疗效。结果:治疗1个月后,手术组治愈72耳,好转6耳,治疗总有效率为97.5%,而对照组治愈8耳,好转20耳,治疗总有效率为35%,较手术组显著降低(P0.05)。结论:腺样体切除是治疗分泌性中耳炎的有效途径,治疗中应尽可能避免并发症的发生,恢复和保护咽鼓管的生理功能。