Objective: Risk factors for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) were not clearly established. The study was to investigate the etiological factors for CSOM from a population of Han adults in China. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Medicine in China. A total of 416 individuals participated in this study, which included 206 cases and 210 controls. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed male (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.21–0.83), BMI increasing (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77–0.93), URTI (OR = 152.85; 95% CI: 34.11–684.93), smoke/passive smoke (OR = 7.11; 95% CI: 3.36–15.07), residential location (urban area) (OR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.13–0.56), serum calcium increasing (OR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01–0.71) were prime risk factors for CSOM. Univariate analysis revealed that low socioeconomic status (OR= 2.33; 95% CI: 1.57–3.45) and hepatitis B (OR = 4.90; 95% CI: 1.82–13.21) were risk factors together with the above variables. Conclusion: This study has identified several variables as risk factors for CSOM, suggesting better healthcare, living condition, as well as better nutrition might decrease the development of CSOM. Further studies are necessary to assess the outcome of CSOM after interventions in the etiological factors.

Inhibitors of differentiation/DNA binding (Id) proteins are crucial for inner ear development, but whether Id mutations affect middle ear function remains unknown. In this study, we obtained Id1^−/−; Id3^+/− mice and Id1^+/−; Id3^−/− mice and carefully examined their middle ear morphology and auditory function. Our study revealed a high incidence (>50%) of middle ear infection in the compound mutant mice. These mutant mice demonstrated hearing impairment starting around 30 days of age, as the mutant mice presented elevated auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds compared to those of the littermate controls. The distortion product of otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) was also used to evaluate the conductive function of the middle ear, and we found much lower DPOAE amplitudes in the mutant mice, suggesting sound transduction in the mutant middle ear is compromised. This is the first study of the middle ears of Id compound mutant mice, and high incidence of middle ear infection determined by otoscopy and histological analysis of middle ear suggests that Id1/Id3 compound mutant mice are a novel model for human otitis media (OM).

Unlike air-conducted sounds (ACS) and bone-conducted vibration (BCV), galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) evokes vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) from the vestibular nerve. Case-control study was conducted in unilateral VS patients pre-operatively. Healthy ears were controls. Patients examined ACS, BCV and GVS ocular VEMP (oVEMP) and cervical VEMP (cVEMP), caloric test, video head impulse test (vHIT), suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) and pure tone audiometry (PTA). Seven (26.9%) tumors affected left ear and 19 (73.1%) on the right(p < .05). Response rates in VS group were statistically lower than control except for ACS-cVEMP (p < .05). Response rates of VEMPs in VS patients decreased with the tumor size grows. But not all BCV and GVS VEMPs disappeared in the largest tumor group. Abnormal rates of caloric test, vHIT gains and SHIMP were found. Response rates of GVS VEMPs decreased with the residual functional nerve fibers. GVS VEMPs help to differentiating labyrinthine and retro-labyrinthine lesions. GVS combined with BCV VEMPs probably reflex the tumor origin from the eighth cranial nerve and/or the remaining vestibular function.

BackgroundABO blood type associated with differentiated onset of infectious diseases.Aims/ObjectiveTo investigate whether people with different blood types were vulnerable in developing chronic otitis media (CSOM) and if the risk and protective factors varied among them.Material and methodsThe study was a case-control study that included 206 participants in the case group and 210 in the control group. Stratified analysis for blood type was adopted.ResultsPatients with different blood types were insignificantly different in the incidence of CSOM. Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI, OR = 21.81, 95% CI: 4.80-99.06), socioeconomic status (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.35-6.74), and were risk factors in blood type A. In blood type B, smoking and urban residence were risk factors. The OR (95% CI) were 11.42 (2.77-47.08), and 0.14 (0.03-0.65). Urban residence, BMI and blood calcium increase, male gender were protective factors for different blood types.Conclusions and significanceOur study identified the risk and protective factors for CSOM among different blood types. The findings might provide new insights into taking precautions against CSOM in people of different blood types. (sic)(sic)ABO (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) (CSOM) (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic) (sic)(sic)(sic)206 (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) 210 (sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)CSOM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(URTI, OR = 21.81, 95% CI: 4.80-99.06)?(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(OR =3.02, 95% CI: 1.35-6.74), (sic) A (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic) B (sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). OR (95% CI) (sic)(sic)(sic) 11.42 (2.77-47.08) (sic) 0.14 (0.03-0.65). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)?BMI?(sic)?(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic) CSOM (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)CSOM(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).