The efficacy of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 in patients with tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study in 60 patients with chronic tinnitus aurium was to confirm the efficacy of oral treatment with 2 x 80 mg Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 per day subsequent to 10-day EGb 761 infusion treatment. METHODS: Patients with chronic tinnitus aurium underwent 10 days of in-patient infusion treatment with 200 mg/day EGb 761, after which they were randomized to double-blind, oral out-patient treatment with either 2 x 80 mg/day EGb 761 or placebo, given over a scheduled treatment period of 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the change in tinnitus volume in the more severely affected ear during randomized treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-two of 60 patients (89.7%) completed the infusion treatment; complete sets of data were available for 40 (66.7%), 30 (50.0%) and 22 (36.7%) patients after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of randomized treatment, respectively. For the primary outcome measure, significant superiority of EGb 761 over placebo was demonstrated in the intention-to-treat analysis data set after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of out-patient treatment (p < 0.05, 1-tailed), although the absolute treatment group difference was moderate. The results were supported by the secondary outcome measures for efficacy (e.g. decreased hearing loss, improved self-assessment of subjective impairment). During out-patient treatment, there were no attributable adverse events under EGb 761. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of infusion therapy followed by oral administration of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 appears to be effective and safe in alleviating the symptoms associated with tinnitus aurium.

The efferent innervation of outer hair cells in humans: physiological investigations.

We report on a case of reversible pontine deafness caused by multiple sclerotic lesions in the pons, and describe six experiments in humans, in whom we recorded transient otoacoustic emissions and distortion products. Our findings indicate an inhibitory effect of efferent innervation on the motility of outer hair cells in humans. Otoacoustic emissions increased in patients with unilateral deafness after the central part of the efferent pathway was destroyed (pontine deafness). Otoacoustic emissions also increased in patients with myasthenia gravis after the administration of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. General myotonia (Batter-Curschmann-Steinert Syndrome) resulted in mild sensorineural hearing loss, and in the absence of contralateral inhibition of otoacoustic emissions. Otoacoustic emissions decreased gradually under general anesthesia with muscle relaxation. Contralateral acoustic stimulation was seen during anaesthesia with muscle relaxation.

[Experimental studies on the effect of labyrinth anesthesia]. / Experimentelle Untersuchung über die Wirkung der "Labyrinthanästhesie".

Injection of tetracaine into the tympanic cavity inhibits, independently of histologic lesions of the round window membrane, the active electrogenic pump in the stria vascularis cells. The DC potential in the endolymph is reduced with increasing doses of tetracaine, while the K+-Cl- activity is unchanged for 120 min. This drug does not alter the permeability of Reissner's membrane. Near the stria vascularis area, the oxygen pressure in the endolymph increases significantly after the effects of 4% tetracaine.