Silicones are widely used medical materials that are also applied for tympanostomy tubes with a trending goal to functionalise the surface of the latter to enhance the healing of ear inflammations and other ear diseases, where such medical care is required. This study focuses on silicone surface treatment with various antimicrobial coatings. Polysaccharide coatings in the form of chitosan nanoparticles alone, or with an embedded drug mixture composed of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (co-amoxiclav) were prepared and applied onto silicone material. Plasma activation was also used as a pre-treatment for activation of the material’s surface for better adhesion of the coatings. The size of the nanoparticles was measured using the DLS method (Dynamic Light Scattering), stability of the dispersion was determined with zeta potential measurements, whilst the physicochemical properties of functionalised silicone materials were examined using the UV-Vis method (Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), XPS (X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). Moreover, in vitro drug release testing was used to follow the desorption kinetics and antimicrobial properties were tested by a bacterial cell count reduction assay using the standard gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The results show silicone materials as suitable materials for tympanostomy tubes, with the coating developed in this study showing excellent antimicrobial and biofilm inhibition properties. This implies a potential for better healing of ear inflammation, making the newly developed approach for the preparation of functionalised tympanostomy tubes promising for further testing towards clinical applications.

ObjectiveA direct acoustic cochlear implant provides its power directly to the inner ear by vibrating the perilymph via a conventional stapes prosthesis. Our experience with a patient with severe mixed hearing loss due to otosclerosis is described.Case reportThe patient, a 47-year-old male, had a pre-operative speech recognition score of 10 per cent and had been treated for many years for schizophrenia, both of which made him a poor candidate for a direct acoustic stimulation device. Nevertheless, the surgery was performed, which preserved the pre-operative bone conduction level and significantly improved hearing. His speech recognition score rose to 100 per cent. He uses the device all day and his auditory hallucinations have subsided. Improvement of schizophrenia symptoms has enabled the patient to reduce his psychiatric medications intake.ConclusionHearing restoration was the main reason for the reduction of auditory hallucinations in our patient. Hearing loss is a potentially reversible risk factor for psychosis, but this association is often overlooked.

Ziel: Die Studie hatte zum Ziel, mithilfe von dreidimensionaler (3D-)Power-Doppler-Sonografie Tumorvolumen und Vaskularisation bei Patienten mit Tumoren des Mundraums zu bestimmen. Material und Methoden: Die 3D-Power-Doppler-Untersuchung wurde bei 49 Patienten mit Tumoren des Mundraums präoperativ durchgeführt. Digital gespeicherte Daten wurden durch eine 3D-View-Programmsoftware analysiert, die unter anderem das „VOCAL-Imaging-Programm” beinhaltet. Durch die Anwendung von VOCAL können die Ränder einer Struktur (Tumor) identifiziert und ihr Volumen bestimmt werden. Die Vaskularisation des Tumors wurde mithilfe von dreidimensionalen farbigen Histogrammen analysiert und dann die Vaskularisationsindizes bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Vaskularisationsindizes VI und VFI waren bei Patienten mit Metastasen im Halsbereich signifikant höher. Die Unterschiede zwischen den Vaskularisationsindizes bei dem N+- und N0-Hals waren statistisch signifikant (p < 0,05). Die Flussindex-Werte (FI) waren zwischen N+- und N0-Hals statistisch nicht signifikant. Schlussfolgerung: Volumen und Vaskularisation von Tumoren im Mundraum konnten durch 3D-Power-Doppler-Ultraschall erfolgreich untersucht werden. Die Tumorvaskularisation ist ausgeprägter bei metastasierenden als bei nicht metastasierenden Tumoren. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the volume and vascularisation of tumours by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound in patients with “tumours of the oral cavity”. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound investigation was performed pre-operatively on 49 patients with carcinomas of the oral cavity. Digitally-stored data were analysed with 3D View program software, a part of which is the “VOCAL-Imaging program”. By using VOCAL, the borders of a structure (tumour) can be determined and its volume calculated. The vascularisation of the tumour was determined by analysing three-dimensional colour histograms, and the vascularisation indices were calculated. Results: Vascularisation indices VI and VFI were significantly higher in patients with neck metastases. The differences between the vascularisation indices in N+ and N0 necks were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The flow index (FI) values between N+ and N0 necks were not statistically different. Conclusion: The volume and vascularisation of tumours of the oral cavity could be determined effectively by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound. Tumour vascularisation is higher in metastatic than in non-metastatic tumours.