Can Electrocochleography Help Preserve Hearing After Cochlear Implantation With Full Electrode Insertion?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the utility of intracochlear electrocochleography (ECochG) monitoring during cochlear implant (CI) surgery on postoperative hearing preservation. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Ten high-volume, tertiary care CI centers. PATIENTS: Adult patients with sensorineural hearing loss meeting the CI criteria who selected an Advanced Bionics CI. METHODS: Patients were randomized to CI surgery either with audible ECochG monitoring available to the surgeon during electrode insertion or without ECochG monitoring. Hearing preservation was determined by comparing preoperative unaided low-frequency (125-, 250-, and 500-Hz) pure-tone average (LF-PTA) to postoperative LF-PTA at CI activation. Pre- and post-CI computed tomography was used to determine electrode scalar location and electrode translocation. RESULTS: Eighty-five adult CI candidates were enrolled. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) unaided preoperative LF-PTA across the sample was 54 (17) dB HL. For the whole sample, hearing preservation was "good" (i.e., LF-PTA change 0-15 dB) in 34.5%, "fair" (i.e., LF-PTA change >15-29 dB) in 22.5%, and "poor" (i.e., LF-PTA change ≥30 dB) in 43%. For patients randomized to ECochG "on," mean (SD) LF-PTA change was 27 (20) dB compared with 27 (23) dB for patients randomized to ECochG "off" ( p = 0.89). Seven percent of patients, all of whom were randomized to ECochG off, showed electrode translocation from the scala tympani into the scala vestibuli. CONCLUSIONS: Although intracochlear ECochG during CI surgery has important prognostic utility, our data did not show significantly better hearing preservation in patients randomized to ECochG "on" compared with ECochG "off."

An EMG comparative analysis of quadriceps during isoinertial strength training using nonlinear scaled wavelets.

High-speed resistance training is used to increase power; however, momentum can reduce the effectiveness of high-speed (HS) training when using weight-stack (WS) machines. This study used a non-linear scaled wavelet analysis to assess differences between pneumatic (P) and WS during seven HS or controlled speed (CS) repetitions. Vastus medialis (VM) and lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) EMG data were collected during leg extension exercises performed by five regular weight-trainers (mean age ± SD, 23.2 ± 2.9 years). Data were analyzed using continuous wavelet analysis to assess temporal Intensity distribution across eight frequency bands. Significant differences occurred due to speed for all muscles (p<.0001). P produced higher Intensity than WS for all muscles during HS (p<.0001), and VM and RF during CS (p<.001). The CON phase produced higher Intensity than ECC for the vasti muscles during CS (p<.0003), and VM and RF during HS (p<.0001). Intensity increased across repetitions plateauing earlier for the vasti than RF during CS. Regardless of the machine, Intensity levels peaked between the 25-53 Hz and 46-82 Hz (2nd and 3rd wavelets) bands. The results indicate that when the objective is increasing power through isoinertial training, P machines at HS appear to be the most effective alternative.

Molecular mechanisms involved in cochlear implantation trauma and the protection of hearing and auditory sensory cells by inhibition of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase signaling.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in electrode insertion trauma (EIT) and to test the otoprotective effect of locally delivered AM-111. STUDY DESIGN: An animal model of cochlear implantation. METHODS: Guinea pigs' hearing thresholds were measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) before and after cochlear implantation in four groups: EIT; pretreated with hyaluronate gel 30 minutes before EIT (EIT+Gel); pretreated with hyaluronate gel/AM-111 30 minutes before EIT (EIT+AM-111); and unoperated contralateral ears as controls. Neurofilament, synapsin, and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin staining for hair cell counts were performed at 90 days post-EIT. Immunostaining for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), activated caspase-3, CellROX, and phospho-c-Jun were performed at 24 hours post-EIT. RESULTS: ABR thresholds increased post-EIT in the cochleae of EIT only and EIT+Gel treated animals. There was no significant increase in hearing thresholds in cochleae from either EIT+AM-111 treated or unoperated control ears. AM-111 protection of organ of Corti sensory elements (i.e., hair cells [HCs], supporting cells [SCs], nerve fibers, and synapses) was documented at 3 months post-EIT. Immunostaining of 24-hour post-EIT specimens demonstrated increased levels of HNE in HCs and SCs; increased levels of CellROX and activation of caspase-3 was observed only in SCs, and phosphorylation of c-Jun occurred only in HCs of the EIT-only and EIT+Gel specimens. There was no immunostaining for either HNE, CellROX, caspase-3, or phospho-c-Jun in the organ of Corti specimens from AM-111 treated cochleae. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular mechanisms involved in programmed cell death of HCs are different than the ones involved in programmed cell death of SCs. Local delivery of AM-111 provided a significant level of protection against EIT-induced hearing losses, HC losses, and damage to neural elements.