INTRODUCTION Different types of prosthesis are available for stapes replacement. Because there has been no published report on the efficacy of the titanium soft-clip vs the fluoroplastic Causse loop Teflon piston, we compared short-term hearing results of both types of prosthesis in patients who underwent stapedotomy due to otosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 57 ears were included ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that an abnormality related to parathyroid hormone (PTH) action is involved in the increased bone turnover observed in otosclerosis. To do so, expression and function of the PTH-PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) receptor were studied in the involved tissue (stapes) and compared with that in control bone sample obtained from the external auditor...

OBJECTIVE Comparing the endoscopic and microscopic approaches in stapes surgery, and establishing the surgical approach that allows better results in terms of visualization of the middle ear structures and aids assistant's training. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one residents from the first to the fifth year of training in Otolaryngology were enrolled in this prospective study. A questionnaire...

The stapes is known in several non-mammaliaform cynodonts, although it has only been cursorily studied. Here we thoroughly analyze the stapedial anatomy of several basal cynodonts in a phylogenetic framework. Our study shows that the stapedial anatomy is more variable than previously thought. The morphological variation of the stapes led to the recognition of 11 phylogenetic characters that wer...

Stapes fractures are usually seen in association with tympanic membrane rupture as a result of direct injury or with major skull trauma. However, barotrauma such as blowing the nose is a rare cause of stapes fractures. Furthermore, fracture of the posterior crus is extremely rare. To our knowledge, the combination of a perilymph fistula and acute mastoiditis has not been previously reported.. W...

A method is described that allows, for the first time, intraoperative vibration modes assessment of the acoustically stimulated stapes by means of scanning laser Doppler interferometry (LDI). The study was designed to answer the following questions: 1) Is LDI practical for taking measurements during surgery? 2) Are the results comparable to the findings in temporal bone preparations? and 3) Do ...

An outstanding flagship species in the plant kingdom is the Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), which produces a fountain-like bloom up to 3 m high. The unique appearance of three simultaneous inflorescences in May 2006 was a chance to analyse the flowering behaviour and thermogenesis of this giant. For the first time, the heating of the central column (spadix) could be documented using a high...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To evaluate the long-term (5-year) results of the shape-memory nitinol stapes piston in the surgical treatment of otosclerosis. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case review in a tertiary referral center. METHODS The patients were adults with clinically proven otosclerosis undergoing stapedotomy. Stapedotomy and ossicular chain reconstruction using a shape-memory nitinol stap...