[Two German Birth Cohorts: GINIplus and LISAplus]. / Die zwei deutschen Geburtskohorten GINIplus und LISAplus.

Numerous chronic diseases in childhood and adulthood have their origins in perinatal life and are potentially influenced by trans-generational epigenetic processes. Therefore, prospective birth cohorts can substantially contribute to our knowledge about the etiology of diseases including modifiable risk factors. The two population-based German birth cohorts GINIplus and LISAplus aim to describe the natural course of chronic diseases and intermediate phenotypes in childhood and its determinants, and to identify potential genetic effect modifications. In the mid-1990s, 5,991 (GINIplus) and 3,097 (LISAplus) healthy, term newborns were recruited for long-term follow-up in four regions of Germany. The follow-up rate for the first 10 years was about 55%. We analyzed the growth and development of overweight, infections and allergic diseases, mental and oral health, metabolic and inflammatory parameters and the role of potential risk factors including genetics. The results of these two birth cohorts substantially contribute to the current knowledge about the natural course of these health parameters. These data were included in many international projects and consortia for purposes of international comparisons of prevalence and consistency of findings, and to increase the power of the analyses.

[How is tinnitus influenced by cochlear implantation?]. / Wie wird der Tinnitus durch eine Kochlearimplantation beeinflusst?

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is one of the most common symptoms in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Cochlear implantation (CI), which has become a standard method to rehabilitate profound SNHL, has been also observed to effect tinnitus in many cases. In the Salzburg Cochlear Implant Center,more than 230 profoundly deaf patients, mainly children,have been provided with CI between 1992 and 2000. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In a retrospective study, 39 adult patients were assessed by questionnaire for the frequency of tinnitus, subjective loudness sensitivity, and tinnitus-specific impairment before and after the CI. RESULTS: Before implantation 26 patients had tinnitus, while 24 patients had the same symptoms after the CI. In 13 patients (50%) tinnitus remained unaffected by the operation. Intensity of tinnitus decreased in seven patients (26.7%), and in four patients (15.4%) it completely disappeared after the implantation.However, intensity increased in two patients (7.7%), and in another two patients, who had not experienced tinnitus before, it began first after the implantation. No correlation has been found between the daily using time of CI and the tinnitus impairment.Also no effect of tinnitus was seen on postoperative hearing assessed by Freiburg numbers, monosyllables, and Innsbruck sentence test scores. CONCLUSION: CI significantly reduces the subjectively perceived impairment, although the reduction in the subjectively perceived loudness of the tinnitus is not significant.

[How is tinnitus influenced by cochlear implantation?] / Wie wird der Tinnitus durch eine Kochlearimplantation beeinflusst?

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is one of the most common symptoms in patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Cochlear implantation (CI), which has become a standard method to rehabilitate profound SNHL, has been also observed to effect tinnitus in many cases. In the Salzburg Cochlear Implant Center,more than 230 profoundly deaf patients, mainly children,have been provided with CI between 1992 and 2000. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In a retrospective study, 39 adult patients were assessed by questionnaire for the frequency of tinnitus, subjective loudness sensitivity, and tinnitusspecific impairment before and after the CI. RESULTS: Before implantation 26 patients had tinnitus, while 24 patients had the same symptoms after the CI. In 13 patients (50%) tinnitus remained unaffected by the operation. Intensity of tinnitus decreased in seven patients (26.7%), and in four patients (15.4%) it completely disappeared after the implantation.However, intensity increased in two patients (7.7%), and in another two patients, who had not experienced tinnitus before, it began first after the implantation. No correlation has been found between the daily using time of CI and the tinnitus impairment.Also no effect of tinnitus was seen on postoperative hearing assessed by Freiburg numbers, monosyllables, and Innsbruck sentence test scores. CONCLUSION: CI significantly reduces the subjectively perceived impairment, although the reduction in the subjectively perceived loudness of the tinnitus is not significant.