Photothermal therapy (PTT) using a near-infrared (NIR) heptamethine cyanine fluorophore has emerged as an alternative strategy for targeted cancer therapy. NIR fluorophores showing a high molar extinction coefficient and low fluorescence quantum yield have considerable potential applications in photothermal cancer therapy. In this study, a bifunctional sorbitol–ZW800 conjugate was used as an advanced concept of photothermal therapeutic agents for in vivo cancer imaging and therapy owing to the high tumor targetability of the sorbitol moiety and excellent photothermal property of NIR heptamethine cyanine fluorophore. The sorbitol–ZW800 showed an excellent photothermal effect increased by 58.7 °C after NIR laser irradiation (1.1 W/cm²) for 5 min. The HT-29 tumors targeted by sorbitol–ZW800 showed a significant decrease in tumor volumes for 7 days after photothermal treatment. Therefore, combining the bifunctional sorbitol–ZW800 conjugate and NIR laser irradiation is an alternative way for targeted cancer therapy, and this approach holds great promise as a safe and highly efficient NIR photothermal agent for future clinical applications.

Bisphosphonates (BPs) used for treating skeletal diseases can induce bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). Despite much effort, effective remedies are yet to be established. In the present study, we investigated the feasibility of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) extracted from salmon sperm for the treatment of BRONJ, in a BRONJ-induced rat model. Compared with BRONJ-induced samples, PDRN-treated samples exhibited lower necrotic bone percentages and increased numbers of blood vessels and attached osteoclast production. Moreover, local administration of PDRN at a high concentration (8 mg/kg) remarkably resolved the osteonecrosis. Findings from this study suggest that local administration of PDRN at a specific concentration may be considered clinically for the management of BRONJ.

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity leads to hearing impairment, possibly through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage in cochlear hair cells (HC), although the exact mechanism is unknown. Avenanthramide-C (AVN-C), a natural, potent antioxidant, was evaluated in three study groups of normal adult C57Bl/6 mice (control, cisplatin, and AVN-C+cisplatin) for the prevention of cisplatin-induced hearing loss. Auditory brainstem responses and immunohistochemistry of outer hair cells (OHCs) were ascertained. Cell survival, ROS production, Phospho-H2AX-enabled tracking of DNA damage-repair kinetics, and expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL6, iNOS, and COX2) were assessed using House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1 Cells). In the in vivo mouse model, following cisplatin-induced damage, AVN-C decreased the hearing thresholds and sheltered all cochlear turns’ OHCs. In HEI-OC1 cells, AVN-C preserved cell viability and decreased ROS production, whereas cisplatin enhanced both ROS levels and cell viability. In HEI-OC1 cells, AVN-C downregulated IL6, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX2 production that was upregulated by cisplatin treatment. AVN-C attenuated the cisplatin-enhanced nuclear H2AX activation. AVN-C had a strong protective effect against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity through inhibition of ROS and inflammatory cytokine production and DNA damage and is thus a promising candidate for preventing cisplatin-induced sensorineural hearing loss.

Objectives. To evaluate the results of transcanal endoscopic tympanoplasty for pediatric patients with chronic otitis media (COM) and compare them to that of the previously standard microscopic assisted tympanoplasty technique.Methods. The patients were divided into two groups based on the operative method. Group 1 underwent tympanoplasty with a totally endoscopic assisted technique (n=21, 24 ears), and group 2 underwent tympanoplasty with the conventional microscopic technique (n=14, 15 ears). We used a transcanal approach in group 1 and a postauricular approach in group 2. In group 1, there were 15 cases of simple COM and nine cases of adhesive otitis media. In group 2, only 15 cases of simple COM were present. We analyzed the outcomes in terms of the hearing gain according to the surgical method and COM type, operation time, hospital stay after surgery, and graft success rate.Results. Postoperative hearing gain results including air conduction (AC) thresholds and air-bone gap (ABG) were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). In both the groups, significant improvement in the postoperative AC and ABG was observed compared to the preoperative hearing. The hospital stay after surgery was significantly shorter in group 1 than the group 2: 2.1±0.4 days and 4.8±0.9 days (P0.05). There was neither intra- nor postoperative complications.Conclusion. Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery technique is more conservative than microscopic approach and can be performed in pediatric patients under 15 years of age with COM. Moreover, it offers similar surgical results compared to traditional microscopic technique, and a shorter operative time and hospital stay after surgery are the advantages of this technique.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a well-recognized clinical symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Acute inflammatory demyelination in the cochlear nerve or more central auditory tracts may cause sudden retrocochlear hearing loss. A 28-year-old male patient who was confirmed as having MS presented with suffering from dizziness as well as ongoing right-side hearing loss. We performed audiological tests, such as pure tone audiometry (PTA), otoacoustic emission, auditory brainstem response (ABR), and auditory steady-state response (ASSR). His clinical and audiological abnormalities disappeared with steroid therapy. However, each test showed different time courses of improvement. Although the results of the PTA and ASSR tests improved in exactly 1 month after the first attack, the results of the ABR reached 3 months to return to normal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of the time difference of hearing improvement shown in PTA, ASSR, and ABR tests. Cite this article as: Lee S, Jeon ES, Cho HH. Auditory Evoked Potential Inconsistency in Sudden Unilateral Hearing Loss with Multiple Sclerosis. J Int Adv Otol 2019; 15(1): 160-4.

Objective: Otitis media (OM) is an infectious and inflammatory disease of the middle ear (ME) that often recurs and requires long-term antibiotic treatment. Light emitting diode (LED)-based devices have shown therapeutic efficacy in reducing inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of red and near-infrared (NIR) LED irradiation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced OM in rats, human middle ear epithelial cells (HMEECs), and murine macrophage cells (RAW 264.7).Methods: An animal model was established by LPS injection (2.0 mg/mL) into the ME of rats via the tympanic membrane. A red/NIR LED system was used to irradiate the rats (655/842 nm, intensity: 163.2 W/m², time: 30 min/day for 3 days and cells (653/842 nm, intensity: 19.76 W/m², time: 3 h) after LPS exposure. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to examine pathomorphological changes in the tympanic cavity of the ME of the rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting, and RT-qPCR analyses were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling was examined to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the reduction of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines following LED irradiation.Results: The ME mucosal thickness and inflammatory cell deposits were increased by LPS injection, which were reduced by LED irradiation. The protein expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly reduced in the LED-irradiated OM group. LED irradiation strongly inhibited the production of LPS-stimulated IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in HMEECs and RAW 264.7 cells without cytotoxicity in vitro. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and JNK was inhibited by LED irradiation.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that red/NIR LED irradiation effectively suppressed inflammation caused by OM. Moreover, red/NIR LED irradiation reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in HMEECs and RAW 264.7 cells through the blockade of MAPK signaling.