Emergence of Salmonella Infantis carrying the pESI megaplasmid in commercial farms of five major integrated broiler operations in Korea.

Considering Salmonella transmission occurs through several routes in integrated broiler operations, control of nontyphoidal Salmonella in commercial farms is essential. This study aimed to compare the distribution of persistent Salmonella serovars in environments and dead chickens between 5 major integrated broiler operations in Korea. The prevalence of Salmonella-positive farms in dust prior to placement by operations was 0 to 25%, but the prevalence in dust and feces at the time of depletion was increased to 16.7 to 41.7% and 16.7 to 66.7%, respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of farms with Salmonella in chickens that died within 1 week old and at 4 to 5 weeks old ranged from 8.3 to 58.3% and 16.7 to 41.7%, respectively. The prevalence of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis-positive farms in dust prior to placement and in chickens that died within 1 week old was 5.2 and 3.4%, respectively, but the prevalence in dust and feces at the time of depletion and in chickens that died at 4 to 5 weeks old was significantly increased to 27.6, 41.4, and 20.7%, respectively (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the plasmid of emerging S. Infantis (pESI) was only identified in S. Infantis, and the prevalence of multidrug-resistance was significantly higher in pESI-positive S. Infantis (99.2%) than in pESI-negative S. Infantis (6.7%) (P < 0.05). The distribution of pulsotypes between pESI-positive and pESI-negative S. Infantis were varied, but a majority of S. Infantis were clustered only 2 pulsotypes. Moreover, pESI-positive S. Infantis harbored more virulence factors than pESI-negative S. Infantis. This study is the first report on characteristics of S. Infantis carrying the pESI plasmid in commercial broiler farms in Korea.

Application of the Barany Society's Presbyvestibulopathy Criteria in Older Adults With Chronic Dizziness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the older adults with chronic dizziness using the Barany Society's presbyvestibulopathy (PVP) diagnostic criteria and to assess the clinical usability of the criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Single tertiary medical center. METHODS: Among a total of 1964 patients aged 60 years or older, 55 patients who had symptoms suitable for the PVP criteria and who underwent all 3 vestibular function tests were analyzed. Of these 55 patients, 13 patients were diagnosed with PVP based on the peripheral vestibular hypofunction criteria; the remaining 42 patients were categorized as patients without PVP. RESULTS: In both patients with PVP and patients without PVP, postural imbalance or unsteadiness was the most frequently reported vestibular symptom. The rotatory chair test contributed the most to the quantitative diagnosis of PVP (6 of 13), followed by the caloric response test (3 of 13) and video head impulse test (vHIT; 2 of 13). When we included the presence of catch-up saccades in addition to the vHIT gain in the diagnostic criteria, 5 patients without PVP were additionally diagnosed with PVP. Furthermore, when accounting for the inclusion of catch-up saccades, patients who experienced recurrent falls demonstrated a significantly higher rate of impairments in the lateral and posterior semicircular canals according to the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Considering the catch-up saccades in addition to vHIT gain seemed to contribute to the diagnosis of PVP and prediction of recurrent fall risks in older adults. Further studies are needed to solidify the diagnostic criteria for PVP.

A Comparative Study Using Vestibular Mapping in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss With and Without Vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impairment patterns in peripheral vestibular organs in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) with and without vertigo. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Single tertiary medical center. METHODS: Data from 165 SSNHL patients in a tertiary referral center from January 2017 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent a video head impulse test, vestibular evoked myogenic potential test, and pure-tone audiometry. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to investigate vestibular impairment patterns. The prognosis of the hearing was determined using American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recommendations. RESULTS: After excluding patients with vestibular schwannoma and Meniere's disease, 152 patients were included in this study. A total of 73 of 152 patients were categorized as SSNHL with vertigo (SSNHL_V) and showed an independent merge of the posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) in cluster analysis. A total of 79 of 152 patients were categorized as SSNHL without vertigo (SSNHL_N) and showed an independent merge of saccule in cluster analysis. The PSCC (56.2%) and saccule (20.3%) were the most frequently impaired vestibular organs in SSNHL_V and SSNHL_N, respectively. In terms of prognosis, 106 of 152 patients had partial/no recovery and showed an independent merge of the PSCC in cluster analysis. A total of 46 of 152 patients had a complete recovery and showed an independent merge of the saccule in cluster analysis. CONCLUSION: A tendency of isolated PSCC dysfunction was seen in SSNHL_V and partial/no recovery. A tendency of isolated saccular dysfunction was seen in SSNHL_N and complete recovery. Different treatments might be needed in SSNHL depending on the presence of vertigo.

Treatment Efficacy of Various Maneuvers for Lateral Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo With Apogeotropic Nystagmus: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the most effective treatment approach by comparing the impacts of various otolith reduction techniques in patients with apogeotropic lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV). METHODS: We performed a multicenter randomized prospective study from January to December 2015, involving 72 consecutive patients with apogeotropic LC-BPPV. The patients were divided into three treatment groups: therapeutic head-shaking (group A), the Gufoni-Appiani maneuver (group B), and the cupulolith repositioning maneuver (CuRM; group C). Each group underwent evaluation and treatment up to the fourth week. Treatment success was defined as the disappearance of positional vertigo and nystagmus. RESULTS: This study included 72 patients (49 male and 23 female), with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 55.4±13.5 years. The mean duration of vertigo experienced prior to treatment was 3.9±4.4 days. The mean latency and duration of nystagmus were 2.7±3.0 seconds and 47.9±15.8 seconds, respectively. The overall treatment frequency was 2.0±0.9. The number of treatments differed significantly among the three groups (P<0.05). After 4 weeks, the success rates for groups A, B, and C were 90.5%, 92.3%, and 100%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the success rate across treatment. METHODS: and periods (P>0.05). However, CuRM was the only method with a 100% treatment success rate. CONCLUSION: While no clear difference was observed among the three treatments for LC-BPPV, CuRM was found to be superior to the other approaches in the long term.

Vestibular mapping in Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

PURPOSE: To observe vestibular impairment patterns in patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome with dizziness (RHS_D) and sudden sensorineural hearing loss with dizziness (SSNHL_D) using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to interpret results with possible mechanisms. METHODS: The data of 30 RHS_D and 81 SSNHL_D patients from January 2017 to August 2022 in a single tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed. Video head impulse test (vHIT) and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) were used for vestibular analysis of peripheral vestibular organs, and the results of vHIT and VEMP were analyzed. HCA was used to analyze vestibular impairment patterns. RESULTS: In RHS_D patients, the lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) was the most impaired semicircular canal (SCC), followed by the anterior semicircular canal (ASCC) and the posterior semicircular canal (PSCC), and the utricle was more impaired than the saccule. In SSNHL_D patients, the PSCC was the most impaired SCC, followed by the LSCC and the ASCC, and the utricle was more impaired than the saccule. In HCA of RHS_D patients, the ASCC and utricle were initially clustered, followed by the LSCC, PSCC and saccule in order. In the HCA of SSNHL_D patients, the PSCC was solely merged and independently clustered. CONCLUSION: There were different patterns of vestibular impairments between RHS_D and SSNHL_D patients. The vestibular analysis and HCA results of SSNHL_D showed tendency of skip lesion, which could be explained by vascular pathophysiology.

Symmetric Bilateral Congenital Middle Ear Cholesteatoma: A Case Report.

Congenital middle ear cholesteatoma (CMEC) accounts for 2%-5% of all cases of middle ear cholesteatoma. CMEC is rare and diagnostically challenging; therefore, only a few cases are reported in the literature, and the pathophysiology of this condition remains largely unclear. Currently, epidermoid formation, amniotic fluid contamination, lack of the tympanic ring, and squamous metaplasia are among the mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of CMEC; however, no single theory satisfactorily explains the pathophysiology of this disorder. We report a case of CMEC in a young male patient, who showed a symmetric, binaural whitish mass posterior to the anterosuperior quadrant of the tympanic membrane. A few reports have described bilateral CMEC; however, no study has reported symmetrical CMEC as observed in this case. Bilateral tympanoplasty concomitant with cholesteatoma removal was performed, and histopathological evaluation of the resected specimen showed closed-type cholesteatoma. In this report, we describe a rare case of symmetric CMEC, which supports the epidermoid formation theory associated with CMEC, together with a literature review.

Bioengineered Co-culture of organoids to recapitulate host-microbe interactions.

The recent spike in the instances of complex physiological host-microbe interactions has raised the demand for developing in vitro models that recapitulate the microbial microenvironment in the human body. Organoids are steadily emerging as an in vitro culture system that closely mimics the structural, functional, and genetic features of complex human organs, particularly for better understanding host-microbe interactions. Recent advances in organoid culture technology have become new avenues for assessing the pathogenesis of symbiotic interactions, pathogen-induced infectious diseases, and various other diseases. The co-cultures of organoids with microbes have shown great promise in simulating host-microbe interactions with a high level of complexity for further advancement in related fields. In this review, we provide an overview of bioengineering approaches for microbe-co-cultured organoids. Latest developments in the applications of microbe-co-cultured organoids to study human physiology and pathophysiology are also highlighted. Further, an outlook on future research on bioengineered organoid co-cultures for various applications is presented.

Effect of Aging and Direction of Impulse in Suppression Head Impulse Test.

OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain value and the peak saccade velocity in the suppression video head impulse test paradigms according to the age of the subject and the direction of the impulse. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS/INTERVENTIONS: Between October 2017 and May 2019, we enrolled subjects who had previous histories of dizziness but no dizziness over the last 1 month. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We conducted cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential and caloric tests, as well as video head impulse tests. We excluded the subjects who had abnormal cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential results (asymmetry ratio of greater than 30%) and abnormal caloric test results (caloric paresis of greater than 25%). RESULTS: We included 647 subjects aged 10 to 87 years. The mean VOR gain and peak saccade velocity were maintained in subjects less than 70 years old (VOR gain, 0.991 ±â€Š0.08, peak saccade velocity, 348.47 ±â€Š142.32). However, the decreases in VOR gain and peak saccade velocity were significant in subjects over 70 years old (VOR gain, 0.928 ±â€Š0.09, peak saccade velocity, 315.51 ±â€Š0.09; p < 0.001). The mean VOR gain of the rightward impulse (1.00 ±â€Š0.09) was higher than the leftward impulse (0.96 ±â€Š0.08, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both the VOR gain and peak saccade velocity of suppression video head impulse test paradigms declined with increasing age over 70 years. In addition, the VOR gain of the rightward impulse was higher than the leftward impulse in the right-eye recordings.

Importance of Video Head Impulse Test Parameters for Recovery of Symptoms in Acute Vestibular Neuritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the importance of video head impulse test parameter for recovery of symptoms in acute vestibular neuritis (AVN). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS/INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-seven patients with AVN were enrolled. We divided patients into two groups according to both dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) score and visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 months: Group F (symptoms free), DHI = 0 and VAS = 0; Group R (symptoms residual), DHI more than zero or VAS more than zero. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All patients underwent video head impulse test paradigm (HIMP), and suppression head impulse test paradigm (SHIMP) initially and at 1 month. Patients were also asked to complete DHI and VAS initially, at 1 month and 6 months. We compared measured parameters between Group F and R. RESULTS: In HIMP, Group F showed higher vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gain, higher occurrence of covert corrective saccade (CS), lower occurrence and peak velocity of overt CS, and lower PR score than Group R at 1 month. In SHIMP, Group F showed higher VOR gain, higher occurrence and peak velocity of anti-CS, and higher PR score than Group R at 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Above parameters of both HIMP and SHIMP at 1 month would be important factors to predict the residual symptoms in chronic phase of AVN.

Vestibular function analysis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss with dizziness.

BACKGROUND: A considerable number of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) have been reported to have dizziness. OBJECTIVE: To analyze vestibular functions and identify the clinical characteristics of SSNHL with dizzinessMETHODS:71 patients with SSNHL who complained of dizziness were investigated retrospectively. The patients underwent vestibular function tests consisting of video-nystagmography, video head impulse test and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. RESULTS: Among 35 patients with spontaneous nystagmus (SN), 21 showed ipsilesional posterior canal gain deficit, 11 showed a gain deficit in the posterior canal only and 9 showed both horizontal and posterior canal gain deficit in video head impulse test. In only one subject with bilateral horizontal canal gain deficit with contralesional SN, AICA infarction was observed.Among 36 patients without SN, 10 were diagnosed as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and 5 had ipsilesional canal paresis in caloric test. Other 21 patients showed no abnormal signs in vestibular function tests. CONCLUSIONS: In VFT analysis of SSNHL with dizziness, diverse patterns were identified. In the absence of SN, no definite vestibular organ involvement was the most frequent. But in the case with SN, posterior canal deficit was most common and cerebellar ischemic stroke was rare.

Chaenomelis fructus inhibits osteoclast differentiation by suppressing NFATc1 expression and prevents ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is related to the number and activity of osteoclasts. The goal of the present study was to demonstrate the effect of Chaenomelis Fructus (CF) on osteoclastogenesis and its mechanism of bone loss prevention in an OVX-induced osteoporosis model. METHODS: Osteoclasts were induced by RANKL in RAW 264.7 cells. TRAP assay was performed to measure the inhibitory effect of CF on osteoclast differentiation. Then, Expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc1), c-Fos which are essential transcription factors in osteoclastogenesis were detected using western blot and RT-PCR. The osteoclast-related markers were measured by RT-PCR. Moreover, the ability of CF to inhibit bone loss was researched by ovariectomized (OVX)-induced osteoporosis. RESULTS: Cell experiments showed that CF inhibited osteoclast differentiation and its function. Immunoblot analyses demonstrated that CF suppressed osteoclastogenesis through the NFATc1 and c-Fos signaling pathways. RT-PCR determined that CF inhibited osteoclast-related markers, such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), cathepsin K (CTK), osteoclast-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (OSCAR), ATPase H+ Transporting V0 Subunit D2 (ATP6v0d2) and carbonic anhydrase II (CA2). In animal experiments, CF showed an inhibitory effect on bone density reduction through OVX. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining analysis data showed that CF inhibited OVX-induced trabecular area loss. TRAP staining and immunohistochemical staining analysis data showed that CF displayed an inhibitory effect on osteoclast differentiation through NFATc1 inhibition in femoral tissue. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of in vivo and in vitro experiments, CF inhibited the RANKL-induced osteoclasts differentiation and its function and effectively ameliorated OVX-induced osteoporosis rats.

Change of VOR gain and pure-tone threshold after single low-dose intratympanic gentamicin injection in Meniere's disease.

Background: Intratympanic gentamicin injection (ITG) is a well-accepted means to treat intractable Meniere's disease (MD).Aims/Objectives: To investigate change of vestibule-ocular reflex (VOR) gain and pure-tone threshold after low-dose ITG for MD.Methods: Sixteen patients with definite MD who were treated by low-dose ITG were retrospectively reviewed. We defined VOR gain difference as an amount of decreased gain in video head impulse test one month after ITG. Patients were classified into two groups: single injection vs. multiple injections. Multiple injections group was composed of patients with poor vertigo control after initial ITG who required second or third ITG later in follow up period.Results: VOR gain differences of both horizontal and posterior canal plane were higher than those of anterior canal plane. Between two groups, mean VOR gain difference of horizontal canal plane in multiple injections group was lower than that in single injection group. Only two patients showed increased pure-tone threshold more than 10 dB.Conclusion and significance: Our results suggest that ITG appears to cause a differential loss of function across three semicircular canals. Furthermore, if VOR gain difference of horizontal canal is relatively low after initial ITG, patient might have poor vertigo control and be required another ITG.

Comparing the Suppression Head Impulse Paradigm and the Head Impulse Paradigm in Vestibular Neuritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) and head impulse paradigm (HIMP) in acute vestibular neuritis (AVN). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary otology clinic. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We tested 21 patients with AVN with the HIMP, SHIMP, and caloric tests, and we analyzed the relationships between the tests' results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For this study, we adopted vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gains in the SHIMP and HIMP, peak saccade velocity (PSV) of SHIMP which is another indicator of residual vestibular function, and canal paresis of caloric test. RESULTS: VOR gains showed significant correlation (R = 0.926, p < 0.001) between the SHIMP and HIMP, but VOR gains were slightly lower in the SHIMP than in the HIMP (mean difference 0.07 ±â€Š0.09, p < 0.001). The difference between the HIMP and SHIMP gains was slightly larger on the affected side (0.10 ±â€Š0.09) than on the healthy side (0.03 ±â€Š0.09). The PSV of SHIMP had significant correlation with HIMP gain and canal paresis. Sixteen of 21 patients showed 100% ipsilesional caloric canal paresis, and eight (50%) of them showed no anti-compensatory saccade (direction toward head rotation) in the SHIMP. However, they showed not extremely low VOR gain but variable VOR gain. CONCLUSION: The new parameters of SHIMP might be used as complement for evaluating vestibular function in AVN. However, the clinical impact of the saccades of SHIMP in AVN has not been revealed clearly yet. This question should be investigated in further studies.

Clinical Characteristics of Acute Vestibular Neuritis According to Involvement Site.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of acute vestibular neuritis (AVN) according to involvement site. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS/INTERVENTIONS: Over a period of 3 years, we reviewed 133 cases of AVN. Patients were classified into three groups: 1) total vestibular neuritis (superior and inferior vestibular nerve involvement [TVN]); 2) superior vestibular neuritis (superior vestibular nerve involvement [SVN]); and 3) inferior vestibular neuritis (inferior vestibular nerve involvement [IVN]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We analyzed the clinical course and results of vestibular function tests (video-nystagmography, video head impulse test [vHIT], caloric test, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential). RESULTS: In the study, there were 39.9% TVN cases, 48.1% SVN cases, and 12% IVN cases. The number of days to spontaneous nystagmus remission, hospital duration, and follow-up period were shorter in the IVN group than in the SVN and TVN groups. The symptom onset period was longer in the IVN group than in the SVN and TVN groups. Spontaneous nystagmus and head shaking nystagmus amplitude were smaller in the IVN group than in the SVN and TVN groups. Concordance of results between the caloric test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, and vHIT was relatively low in the IVN group. CONCLUSION: The IVN group had a shorter clinical course and weaker nystagmus in comparison with the TVN and SVN groups. The use of additional vHIT in the diagnosis of AVN can help provide a more accurate diagnosis of the rare subtype of IVN, which can be confused with various central lesions.

Peripheral Vestibulopathy Presenting as Acute Vertigo and Spontaneous Nystagmus with Negative Video Head Impulse Test.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze acute vertigo showing spontaneous nystagmus with negative video head impulse test (vHIT). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Over 16 months, 155 patients were identified with acute vertigo with spontaneous nystagmus. Of these 155, 30 (19.4%) were enrolled in this study because they did not show gain loss or catch-up saccades in both sides of the horizontal vHIT. Results of vestibular function tests (videonystagmography, horizontal vHIT, caloric test, and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential [cVEMP]) and pure tone audiometry were analyzed. For all cases, magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging was checked. RESULTS: Patients consisted of 17 with Ménière's disease and 7 with sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo (SSNHL_V), and only 3 patients were finally diagnosed as having acute vascular stroke. Except for the loss of hearing on the lesion side, the direction of nystagmus or cVEMP asymmetry showed very different results. All 7 patients with SSNHL_V did not have canal paresis in the caloric test, but cVEMP amplitude was smaller on the lesion side for 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with acute vertigo presenting spontaneous nystagmus with negative horizontal vHIT, it is important not only to focus on the diagnosis of acute vascular stroke but also to evaluate hearing because of the high possibility of Ménière's disease or SSNHL_V.

Effect of intratympanic steroid injection in light cupula.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intratympanic steroid injection (ITS) in light cupula. METHODS: A total of 47 patients showing persistent geotropic direction-changing positional nystagmus with null point (light cupula) were randomly classified into three groups: ITS (n = 15), vestibular suppressant (VS, n = 16) and canalith repositioning procedure (CRP, n = 16). Positional nystagmus and dizziness severity by dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were conducted before and 3 d and 1 week after first treatment to compare the effect of each treatment. RESULTS: DHI and VAS scores had decreased after each treatment; however, there were no differences among the three groups. A week after the first treatment, 7, 6 and 7 patients showed resolution of direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) in the ITS, CRP and VS groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between the three groups. In the ITS group only, however, reversal of the stronger side on head roll test was observed in 6 patients, and 2 of them showed resolution of DCPN at the third day. CONCLUSIONS: ITS was not effective for patients with light cupula at 1-week follow-up. However, some patients in the ITS group showed resolution of DCPN at earlier follow-up.

Comparison of Video Head Impulse Test in the Posterior Semicircular Canal Plane and Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential in Patients With Vestibular Neuritis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the results of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and video head impulse test (p-vHIT) of posterior semicircular canal considered tools of inferior vestibular nerve function in vestibular neuritis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary otology clinic. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Seventy-nine patients with vestibular neuritis participated in this study. We analyzed the interaural amplitude difference in cVEMP with a positive rate of p-vHIT according to gain and corrective saccade in the study population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: To evaluate the concordance rate of both tests, we analyzed Fleiss' Kappa value inter-test agreement of cVEMP with p-vHIT. Finally, we performed detailed analysis of the bilaterally absent response on cVEMP according to the p-vHIT results. RESULTS: The inter-test agreement between cVEMP and p-vHIT was 69.8% as we also considered the lesion side. This result indicated a statistically fair to good agreement in both tests. In mostly elderly patients with a bilaterally absent response (11 patients) on cVEMP, as a result of vHIT, nine patients with a bilaterally negative response on p-vHIT showed only canal paresis. Two patients showed canal paresis and a unilaterally positive response on p-vHIT. CONCLUSIONS: Inter-test agreement between cVEMP and p-vHIT assessed in vestibular neuritis was relatively lower than we had predicted. Probably, p-vHIT can provide additional information on the differential diagnosis of dysfunction of the inferior vestibular nerve which is composed of the saccular nerve and the posterior ampullary nerve.

Clinical effect of intratympanic dexamethasone injection in acute unilateral tinnitus: A prospective, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intratympanic dexamethasone injection (ITDI) in acute tinnitus of presumed cochlear origin. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multicenter study. METHODS: Between August 2013 and December 2015, 54 patients with unilateral tinnitus were enrolled at four different centers. Patients were assigned either to an ITDI (n = 27) or an intratympanic normal saline injection (ITNI; n = 27) group through block randomization. Intratympanic injections were administered four times over 2 weeks. At 4 weeks after initial injection, we analyzed the improvement rates of tinnitus using the tinnitus handicap Inventory (THI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for loudness, awareness, and annoyance. We defined improvement as the reduction of more than 7 points or of more than 20% in the final THI score compared to the initial THI score. RESULTS: The initial mean hearing thresholds and VAS and THI scores of the two groups did not differ significantly. At 4 weeks after initial injection, the mean VAS and THI scores of both groups had significantly reduced. However, the improvement rate did not differ significantly between the groups (ITDI, 51.9%; ITNI, 59.3%). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that ITDI might not be more effective than ITNI for the treatment of acute unilateral tinnitus. Therefore, ITDI should not be considered as the main treatment for patients presenting with acute tinnitus as the primary symptom. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b. Laryngoscope, 128:184-188, 2018.

The Light Cupula: An Emerging New Concept for Positional Vertigo.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of positional vertigo. A canalolithiasis-type of BPPV involving the lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) shows a characteristic direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) which beats towards the lower ear (geotropic) on turning the head to either side in a supine position. Because geotropic DCPN in LSCC canalolithiasis is transient with a latency of a few seconds, the diagnosis can be challenging if geotropic DCPN is persistent without latency. The concept of "light cupula" has been introduced to explain persistent geotropic DCPN, although the mechanism behind it requires further elucidation. In this review, we describe the characteristics of the nystagmic pattern in light cupula and discuss the current evidence for possible mechanisms explaining the phenomenon.