Bone conducted responses in the neonatal rat auditory cortex

Rats are born deaf and start hearing at the end of the second postnatal week, when the ear canals open and low-intensity sounds start to evoke responses in the auditory cortex. Here, using μECoG electrode arrays and intracortical silicon probe recordings, we found that bone-conducted (BC) sounds evoked biphasic responses in the auditory cortex starting from postnatal day (P) 8. The initial phase of these responses, generated by thalamocortical input, was followed by intracortical propagation within supragranular layers. BC-evoked responses co-localized with the responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the cochlea and the deepest layers of the inferior colliculus prior to onset of low-threshold hearing (P13), as well as with the responses evoked by high-frequency (30 kHz) low-intensity (70 dB) air-conducted sounds after that. Thus, BC signals reach high-frequency processing regions of the auditory cortex well before the onset of low-threshold hearing, reflecting early integrity of the auditory system.

Collaborative Care Improves Treatment Outcomes for Dogs with Chronic Otitis Externa: A Collaborative Care Coalition Study

ABSTRACT The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare outcome measures in dogs treated by a primary care veterinarian (pcDVM) before referral and after seeking collaboration with a board-certified veterinary dermatologist (BCVD) for cases of severe recurrent chronic otitis externa. Medical records of 65 client-owned dogs were retrospectively reviewed, and data were obtained regarding treatment history, referral timeframe, recurrence rate, clinical signs, and resolution of signs. The median number of otitis recurrences while under the care of the pcDVM was 4 (range 1–40) versus collaborative BCVD care of 2 (P < .01). There was a longer median time to otitis recurrence with collaborative care (171 days) compared with dogs managed by the pcDVM before referral (21 days; P > .01). Proliferative changes in the ear canals improved in 41/45 (91%) of cases under BCVD care compared with 6/45 (13%) under care by the pcDVM (P < .01). Dogs with chronic otitis had better long-term outcomes when collaboration with a BCVD was pursued within 6 mo of treatment. Referral or consultation with a BCVD should be considered for cases of chronic canine otitis that are persistent or quickly recurrent (20–30 days) over a 6 mo period.

Description and comparison of the skin and ear canal microbiota of non-allergic and allergic German shepherd dogs using next generation sequencing

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs. Pathogenesis is complex and incompletely understood. Skin colonizing bacteria likely play an important role in the severity of this disease. Studying the canine skin microbiota using traditional microbiological methods has many limitations which can be overcome by molecular procedures. The aim of this study was to describe the bacterial microbiota of the skin and ear canals of healthy non-allergic and allergic German shepherd dogs (GSDs) without acute flare or concurrent skin infection and to compare both. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence data revealed no differences of bacterial community patterns between the different body sites (axilla, front dorsal interdigital skin, groin, and ear canals) in non-allergic dogs. The microbiota at the different body sites of non-allergic GSDs showed no significant differences. Only for the samples obtained from the axilla the bacterial microbiota of allergic dogs was characterized by a lower species richness compared to that of non-allergic dogs and the bacterial community composition of the skin and ear canals of allergic dogs showed body site specific differences compared to non-allergic dogs. Actinobacteria was the most abundant phylum identified from the non-allergic dogs and Proteobacteria from allergic dogs. Macrococcus spp. were more abundant on non-allergic skin while Sphingomonas spp. were more abundant on the allergic skin. Forward step redundancy analysis of metadata indicated that the household the dogs came from had the strongest impact on the composition of the skin microbiome followed by sex, host health status and body site.

Bone-conducted Responses in the Neonatal rat Auditory Cortex

Rats are born deaf and start hearing at the end of the second postnatal week, when the ear canals open and low-intensity sounds start to evoke responses in the auditory cortex. Here, using µECoG electrode arrays and intracortical silicon probe recordings, we found that bone-conducted (BC) sounds evoked biphasic responses in the auditory cortex starting from postnatal day (P) 8. The initial phase of these responses, generated by thalamocortical input, was followed by intracortical propagation within supragranular layers. BC-evoked responses co-localized with the responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the cochlea and the deepest layers of the inferior colliculus prior to onset of low-threshold hearing (P13), as well as with the responses evoked by high-frequency (30 kHz) low-intensity (70 dB) air-conducted sounds after that. Thus, BC signals reach high-frequency processing regions of the auditory cortex well before the onset of low-threshold hearing, reflecting early integrity of the auditory system.

The Bermuda Triangle of d- and f-MRI sailors - software for susceptibility distortions (SDCFlows)

Echo-Planar Imaging (EPI) allows very fast acquisition of whole-brain data, which enables standard functional & diffusion MRI (f/dMRI). However, EPI is notably sensitive to variations in the base B0 field. Small deviations in parts-per-million from the nominal B0 caused by steps in magnetic susceptibility (tissue interfaces) introduce misplacements in the registered location of voxels of up to some cm in standard settings along the phase-encoding direction (PE), apparent as local geometrical distortions of the imaged specimen. In humans, the susceptibility distortion (SD) is prominent starting at the petrous bone and extending towards the ear canals, defining a sort of triangle where signal vanishes (Fig. 1). SD is well-known, but existing solutions require mapping B0 deviations and are sensitive to several imaging parameters. In practice, addressing SDs is error-prone and often overlooked. Here, we introduce SDCFlows (SD Correction Flows), an open-source utility that leverages BIDS1 and several existing software tools to provide standardized, best-effort SD correction.

Efficacy of a novel topical combination of esafoxolaner, eprinomectin and praziquantel against ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infestations in cats

Esafoxolaner, a purified enantiomer of afoxolaner with insecticidal and acaricidal properties, is combined with eprinomectin and praziquantel, nematodicidal and cestodicidal compounds, in NexGard® Combo, a novel topical endectoparasiticide formulation for cats. The efficacy of this formulation was assessed against Otodectes cynotis in two laboratory studies conducted in South Africa and in the USA with local isolates, and in one field trial conducted in Europe. In each study, cats were randomly allocated to a placebo-treated control group and a novel formulation-treated group. In the laboratory studies, cats were treated at the minimum recommended dose; in the field trial, cats were treated at label dose. All included cats were diagnosed positive for O. cynotis prior to treatment by otoscopy. The main variable of efficacy was a comparison of the number of live O. cynotis collected in both ear canals of all cats in the treated and control groups, one month after treatment. Efficacy of the novel topical formulation exceeded 97% in the three studies. These studies demonstrated the high effectiveness of NexGard® Combo in cats for the treatment of O. cynotis infestations. No health abnormalities were attributed to the treatment in any of the studies.

Is Biofeedback through an Intra-Aural Device an Effective Method to Treat Bruxism? Case Series and Initial Experience

Biofeedback was reported as an effective concept for bruxism treatment, through increasing patient’s awareness of the habit. During bruxing both ear canals become tighter, therefore, an in-ear device can provide biofeedback. The in-ear device is fitted to the ear canal in physiological status, during bruxing the ear-canal tightens resulting in stress on the canal walls and unpleasant feeling. Subsequently, patients stop their bruxing habit. The aim of this study is to provide first clinical evidence that in-ear devices have a positive impact on relieving bruxism in patients. Despite the low number of patients, this early study was designed as a controlled prospective study. The trial included seven female patients with a median age of 47.3 years (23–64 years). Only two patients implemented their devices for eight and seven months, respectively. One patient reported a relief in her symptoms, like headaches and pain intensity during the night, by 50% after three month and 80% after six months. Despite the limited number of participants, the study reflects a potential of Intra-aural devices as effective biofeedback devices in treating bruxism.

The effects of bright light treatment via ear canals on quality of sleep and depressive mood among overworked employees: A randomized-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Many overworked employees need tools to improve their depressive mood or sleep disorder. In Finland, a new device of bright light therapy was developed. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of bright light treatment via ear canals on improving the depressive mood and sleep disorder. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled, crossover designed, open-label trial. We examined 27 participants aged 23–52 years, assigned to either Early treatment or Later treatment groups. The Early treatment group used the device on weekdays for the first 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week observation period. The Later treatment group had an observation period for the first 4 weeks, followed by device treatment for the subsequent 4 weeks. Every Friday, the participants were asked to answer questionnaires: A Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), an Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and a Profile of Mood States (POMS) Brief Form. RESULTS: While no significant effect was found on the SDS following treatment (p = 0.16), the AIS showed a significant improvement (p = 0.004), and the scores for the Depression (D) and Vigor (V) of POMs decreased significantly (p = 0.045, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Bright light treatment via ear canals may improve sleep quality and depressive mood.

Case of Candida auris Identified From the External Ear Canal of a Healthy Minnesota Outpatient With Travel to South Korea

Background:Candida auris is a globally emerging, multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that causes healthcare-associated outbreaks and can be misidentified in clinical laboratories. Most US C. auris cases occur in hospitalized or long-term care patients with underlying medical conditions. Also, 4 global phylogenetic C. auris clades largely cluster geographically. Receiving health care abroad is a risk factor for US C. auris cases. In December 2019, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) confirmed Minnesota’s first C. auris case, isolated from the external ear canal of a healthy young adult outpatient with right-sided otitis externa. We describe the investigation and response for this uncommon US presentation of C. auris. Methods: The MDH initiated mandatory reporting and submission of confirmed or possible C. auris isolates in August 2019. The MDH Public Health Laboratory (MDH-PHL) confirmed C. auris by MALDI-TOF (Bruker) from an isolate submitted by a hospital laboratory as C. duobushaemulonii to rule out C. auris. The MDH-PHL performed broth microdilution antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST). The CDC Mycotics Diseases Branch laboratory performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The MDH epidemiologists obtained a patient history through interviews with healthcare staff and the patient, and they collected environmental samples from otoscopes. The MDH-PHL tested environmental samples by C. auris RT-PCR and culture. The MDH recommended disinfection of examination rooms and otoscopes and 3 months of C. auris surveillance for patients evaluated with otoscopes who later returned with otic inflammation. Swabs from the patient’s axilla, groin, and external ear canals were tested for C. auris by PCR at the MDH-PHL. Results: The patient reported recurrent right ear infections in 2016 during a 16-month visit to South Korea, with treatment in multiple ENT clinics. December 2019 otitis resolved after treatment with oral amoxicillin/clavulanate and otic ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone. AFST showed resistance to fluconozale and susceptibility to 8 antifungals, including echinocandins. WGS placed the isolate in the East Asian clade, indicating similarity to isolates from South Korea and Japan. Environmental cultures were negative. The asymptomatic left ear was colonized with C. auris; other sites were negative. As of January29, 2020, no additional cases were detected. Conclusions: We identified prolonged colonization of C. auris in the external ear canals of a healthy patient. WGS and travel in South Korea, including ENT clinic exposure, provide strong evidence of C. auris acquisition in South Korea. No spread has been reported in Minnesota. Deliberate communication with clinical laboratories regarding ruling out C. auris was key to case discovery. Clinicians should be aware of C. auris epidemiology, including healthcare exposure abroad, particularly in young, healthy patients.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None