Ear Auricle Research Articles

Effect of Auriculotherapy on Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Auriculotherapy, a form of therapy that involves stimulating specific points on the ear auricle, has garnered attention for its potential in holistic stress management in adults, aligning with broader patient-centered therapeutic approaches. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of auriculotherapy for stress relief in adults. Methods: A comprehensive search of nine databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, RISS, KMbase, and KISS) was performed, yielding 553 studies. Of these, 12 were selected for meta-analysis based on the inclusion criteria, which considered demographic data, types of auriculotherapy, intervention characteristics, auricular points, and stress-related outcomes. The risk of bias was also evaluated for each selected study. Results: The meta-analysis results (n = 12) indicated that auriculotherapy was significantly superior to the control group in terms of subjective stress index, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and pulse rate, as well as improving low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) heart rate components and their ratio (LF/HF) in adults. Additionally, the subgroup analysis indicated a trend where the effect size of acupressure may be larger than that of acupuncture. Conclusions: Our findings underscore auriculotherapy's efficacy in reducing stress in adults, advocating for its integration into nursing curriculums as a viable clinical intervention for stress management. Promoting its application in clinical environments could complement holistic, patient-centric care paradigms.

Inviscision: A Futuristic Alternative to Endaural Incision for TMJ Surgeries.

As TMJ surgery incisions have evolved, there has been a decrease in facial deformity and adequate surgical access. Even though the traditional preauricular and endaural incisions offer great exposure, they heal with a noticeable scar; in contrast, the Inviscision becomes invisible. To compare and evaluate both the approaches for TMJ surgeries in terms of surgical exposure, VII nerve injury and postoperative aesthetics. 60 TMJ surgery cases were randomly divided into two groups: Group A-30 Inviscision and Group B-30 Endaural incision and assessed for the amount of time from the incision to the exposure, ample access for surgery and postoperative nerve injury, scarring, cartilage injury/necrosis and ear deformity. All the patients were followed up for an average of sixmonths. Surgical exposure time was average 12 and 10min via Inviscision and endaural incision, respectively. In Inviscision, scar becomes invisible after 40days and in endaural incision, scar becomes a thin but visible line after 35days. No cases of hypertrophic scar, keloid formation, cartilage injury/necrosis/ear deformity in either group. Transient temporal branch of VII nerve weakness seen in 33% of Inviscision and 40% of endaural cases which improved after average 3 and 3.4months, respectively. Likert's patient satisfaction score was average 4 and 2, and POSAS score for scarring was 1.5 and 3, in Inviscision and endaural incision, respectively. Inviscision gives adequate exposure, avoids all related anatomic structures, other than causing transient retraction neuropraxia, along with outstanding aesthetic outcomes by hiding the scar in the anatomical folds of the ear auricle. Although, endaural incision provides better surgical time management and equivalent surgical exposure, Inviscision proves to be a better alternative for TMJ surgeries through all other parameters.

Anthropometric Study of the External Ear Among Delta State University Students in Abraka, Nigeria

Context: The morphology of the ear auricle contributes to the important facial features, which influence the facial appearance of an individual. Aim: The aim of this inquiry was to present the anthropometric details of the ear auricle and lobe among Delta State University students in Abraka, Nigeria. Setting and Design: This enquiry adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design and considered both male and female Delta State University Students in Abraka aged between 17 and 31 years. The sample size for this study was 384 (204 males and 180 females), and the simple random sampling technique was used. Data were obtained with the use of Vernier caliper (standard digital sliding Vernier caliper), a tape rule, data collection sheet, and pencil, which were used for measurement and recording. Ethical clearance/approval was secured from the Ethical Board of the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology in the Delta State University in Abraka, Nigeria. The data obtained were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.0. Results: The left and right auricular width and height and lobular width and height were observed to be higher in males when compared with females. There was no significant gender difference in the right ear auricular height, left and right ear lobular height, and left and right ear lobular width (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant gender difference in the left auricular height and left auricular width (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This enquiry provides a template for designers and ergonomists in designing prostheses and manufacturing ear microphone for various age brackets as well as provides a guide for plastic surgeons in construction and determination of the exact auricular framework across various age brackets.

Recurrent Auricular Keloid – Treated by Kshar Sutra (Medicated Seton) Therapy: A Case Report

Auricular keloids may develop either on the helix or anterior and posterior lobes up to several years after piercing, and they do not regress spontaneously. Many techniques have been developed to treat these disfiguring lesions with varying successes. Kshar sutra (medicated seton) is a medicated thread that can be readily ligated at the base of the ear keloid. Due to the high recurrence rate observed in auricular keloids following surgical excision, we opted to employ the Kshar sutra technique for excision with minimum cosmetic deformity of the pinna and evaluate the duration required to excise and the recurrence of ear keloid after a follow up of two years. A 28-year-old female with a recurrent keloid on the left ear auricle was excised with kshar sutra (medicated seton) ligation. The wound heals entirely in the post-operative period. The patient followup was conducted after a month, one year and two years. The duration required to excise the keloid was three days. No recurrence of keloid after Kshar sutra (medicated seton) ligation was noted during the followup period of two years. Kshar sutra (medicated seton) ligation for ear keloid excision is a viable, minimally invasive technique to avoid recurrence and minimize cosmetic deformities of the pinna.

Porcine ear necrosis: characterization of lesions and associated pathogens

Porcine ear necrosis (PEN) is characterized by ulcerative lesions of the ear auricle. To investigate that problem, three farms with PEN in nursery pigs were included, and the study aim was to characterize PEN and the potential role of pathogens and mycotoxins. Within each farm, one batch of weaned piglets was included and the prevalence and severity of PEN were monitored for 6–7 weeks. Within each batch, 30 PEN-affected/non-affected animals were randomly selected. Blood samples were taken from these animals, to assess the systemic presence of pathogens and mycotoxins, as well as punch biopsies from the ear auricle for histopathological examination. From 10 animals, scrapings and swabs from the lesions were subjected to nanopore metagenomic sequencing and bacteriological cultivation, respectively. In all three farms, lesions appeared within 3–4 weeks post-weaning. The prevalence at the end of the nursery was 33%, 24%, and 46% for farms A, B, and C, respectively. Most affected pigs had mild to moderate lesions. Blood samples revealed low to very low levels of pathogens and mycotoxins. Different bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, Mycoplasma, and Clostridium species were identified by sequencing in the scrapings. The first two pathogens were also most often identified in bacterial cultures. Mycoplasma hyopharyngis was only found in PEN-affected pigs. Histopathological changes were primarily observed in the outer layer of the epidermis. The results suggest that PEN lesions develop by damage to the outer part of the skin e.g. by ear suckling or biting, followed by multiplication of opportunistic pathogens.

Linear Morphometric Analysis of Auricular Measurements of a Nigerian Igbo population

The human ear (auricle) is an important body component in biometric studies and forensic identification. The purpose of this study was to evaluate linear auricular morphometric measurements of a Nigerian Igbo population. 300 participants (142 males to 158 females) of at least 16 years of age were randomly recruited from settlements in the South-Eastern states of Nigeria. The participants were made to sit in a Frankfort horizontal position and auricular measurements such as total ear height (TEH), ear width (EW), lobule height (LH) and lobule width (LW) were obtained using a digital vernier caliper (validated by calibrating to 0.01mm). The ear index (EI) and lobule index (LI) were calculated using the measurements. Data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 23.0). The following mean values were recorded for males: TEH [Right (R) = 47.01±6.30, Left (L) = 46.24±5.85], EW (R = 25.06±4.14, L = 24.68±4.32), LH (R = 13.92±2.61, L = 13.99±2.18), LW (R = 12.99±2.30, L = 13.30±1.94), EI (R = 53.47±7.23, L = 53.28±6.69) and LI (R = 95.17±18.12, L = 96.80±18.56); for females, TEH (R = 48.25±6.83, L = 48.25±6.24), EW (R = 25.19±3.93, L = 24.57±4.21), LH (R = 14.44±2.67, L = 14.89±2.55), LW (R = 13.37±2.26, L = 13.78±2.04), EI (R = 52.50±6.85, L = 50.93±7.05) and LI (R = 94.60±19.59, L = 94.30±16.63). Gender differences were highly significant regarding total ear height, lobular length and width, as well as the ear index of the left auricle. This study provides a baseline data for auricular morphometrics of adult Nigerian Igbos and could be used as an ergonomic guide towards the creation of hearing aids in the future and to solve possible forensic issues associated with identification of remains.

The Awareness Among Parents About Cotton Earbud (Q-tips) Use in Children in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and objective The waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of mammals, including humans, is known as ear wax; it is also known by the medical term cerumen. It protects against germs, fungi, and water, helps with cleansingand lubrication, hydrates, and protects the skin of the human ear canal. The purpose of using cotton earbuds (Q-tips) is to clean the ear auricle (external part), relieve itching, and remove any excess water among other things; however, many people have been mistakenly using them for cleaning deeper spots in the ear, leading to some serious complications. Cotton earbud misuse has been documented to be the most common cause of accidental penetrating trauma of the eardrum among children. In this study, we aimed to determinethe level of awareness of parents about the use ofQ-tips amongchildren and its consequences in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 391 participants conducted from February 2023 to April 2023 in the Jazan region. While all parents in the Jazan region were eligible to be included in the study, only those who responded to our surveyquestionnaire were recruited. Since our research focused on parents, participants who were aged less than 18 years and those who had never married were excluded. A validated questionnaire tested for reliability was used in the study. The association between the level of awareness about Q-tips use and the sociodemographic characteristics of the parents was evaluated using the chi-squared test. A p-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Out of the 391 individuals included in the survey, two-thirds (67.5%) were male and 32.5%were female, and most of them were married (89.8%). Regarding the knowledge of cotton bud use among the participants, we found that 12.3% agreed and 34% strongly agreed that cotton buds should be used to clean the ears. Furthermore, 74.9% of the participants knew that cotton buds could cause ear infections, 80.8% knew that cotton buds could cause eardrum perforation, and 79.3% knew that cotton buds could push ear wax deeper into the ear. We found that 152 (57.6%) of the male and 91 (71.7%) of the female participants used cotton buds on their own (p=0.011). Moreover, 176 (66.7%) of the male participants thought that cotton buds can damage their child's ear while 69 (54.3%) of the female participants thought the same (p=0.048). When the participants were asked if they thought that the use of cotton buds caused complications, 155 (58.7%) of the males and 55 (43.3%) of the females said yes (p=0.015). Conclusions The parents in the Jazan region had a relatively good level of knowledge aboutear cleaning using cotton buds among children. Nevertheless, we found a poor level of awareness about using cotton buds as the primary tool for cleaning the ears. Of note, 62.7%of the respondents knew that cotton buds could damage the ear, and 55%of the respondents thought that the use of cotton buds causes complications. However, 62.1%of the respondents still reported using it, and 50.1%of the respondents erroneously believed thatit is beneficial to clean the ears with cotton buds. Otolaryngologists have always warned the public regarding the use of Q-tips and the complications they can cause. However, people are still ignorant as well as careless about these facts.

Https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/jdi/vol30/iss1/6/

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a disease that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is characterized by severe ear pain, auricular vesicular eruptions, and peripheral facial paralysis. Objective: The aim of this case report is to provide information about the clinical findings and treatment process of RHS, which is a rare case and may have oral findings and stress the importance of early diagnosis. Case Report: A 60-year-old male patient had previously consulted an otolaryngologist and a family physician with complaints of vesicular eruptions in the right ear auricle and on the mandible. The patient in whom a diagnosis could not be established presented to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology after exacerbated lesions. White plaque-like and ruptured vesicular lesions were observed in the intraoral examination. All vesicular lesions were on one side of the face, and the patient was referred to the dermatology clinic with the diagnosis of RHS. Facial paralysis fully recovered in a short time after early diagnosis and treatment. It should be kept in mind that there may also be oral findings in RHS, and a patient’s intraoral and extraoral examination findings should be evaluated together. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment are highly important in preventing complications such as permanent facial paralysis, vestibulocochlear dysfunction, and hearing loss

Subepidermal Calcinosis Cutis of Ear: Case Report with Review of Literature.

Subepidermal Calcified Nodule of Ear is an uncommon lesion which is a type of Idiopathic Calcinosis Cutis. It is characterised by calcium deposits in an otherwise normal tissue with no underlying defects in Calcium or phosphorus homeostasis. With an unknown etiopathogenesis, it is usually seen in the paediatric age group. Final diagnosis need a clinicopathological correlation and it underlines the importance of post operative lab investigations which the patient must undergo to rule out any other underlying pathology. We present case of an 8year old girl with subepidermal calcified nodule of left ear auricle which is a rare occurrence.

Measurement of the Fetal Ear Length Has No Clinical Value.

The long-term monitoring of a fetus with genetic and non-genetic anomalies is still a challenge for prenatal medicine. Ultrasound screening must be based on some measurement ranges, which show the trend of development of fetal body parts in a given period of time. One of them is the fetal ear auricle. This study presents an analysis of the fetal ear auricle length in healthy fetuses to establish normal ranges of fetal ear auricle length. The study group included 132 healthy fetuses. The gestational age of healthy fetuses ranged from 17.0 to 39.5 weeks of gestation according to LMP. The range of fetal ear length measurement was 10.00-40.00 mm with an average value of 23.49 mm. In the group of fetuses in the second trimester of pregnancy, the range of fetal ear length measurement was 18.00-28.00 mm, whereas in the group of fetuses in the third trimester of pregnancy, the range was 16.00-40.00 mm. In order to check the usefulness of this parameter, an analysis of this marker in fetuses with extracardiac anomalies, including genetic and non-genetic disorders is shown. The fetal ear measurement can fall within the normal range even if there are some genetic or non-genetic disorders. Therefore, the fetal ear measurement does not provide any diagnostic value in terms of detecting any fetal genetic and non-genetic disorders, which is supported by the analysis of the data provided in this study. Our study has proved that measurement of the fetal ear auricle is possible; however, its clinical usefulness for perinatal management is currently very limited.

A transdermal treatment with MC903 ameliorates diet-induced obesity by reducing visceral fat and increasing myofiber thickness and energy consumption in mice

AimMC903 is a synthetic derivative of vitamin D3 that has been designed to diminish its impact on calcium metabolism and is clinically used as a transdermal reagent for psoriasis. Animal studies showed that an oral or intraperitoneal vitamin D3 treatment prevented the development of obesity. In contrast, the bioavailability of orally administered vitamin D3 is reported to be low in obese patients. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the impact of a transdermal treatment with MC903 in established obese mice. We further studied the underlying mechanisms of MC903-mediated metabolic improvement.Materials and methodsMale C57BL/6 J mice were fed standard chow or a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) for 7 weeks, and a transdermal treatment with MC903 on the ear auricle was initiated thereafter. The metabolic profiles of mice were analyzed during 4 weeks of treatment, and mice were dissected for histological and gene expression analyses. The direct impacts of MC903 and vitamin D3 were investigated using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes in vitro.ResultsHFD-fed mice showed significant increases in body and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) weights with enlarged adipocytes. They exhibited glucose intolerance, decreased oxygen consumption, and chronic inflammation in eWAT. The transdermal treatment with MC903 significantly ameliorated these metabolic abnormalities in HFD-fed mice without affecting food consumption. In accordance with enhanced energy metabolism, myofiber diameters and the expression of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscle were significantly increased in MC903-treated HFD mice. In addition, vitamin D3 and MC903 both suppressed adipogenic differentiation and enhanced lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and increased UCP3 expression in cultured C2C12 myotubes. Furthermore, MC903 increased oxygen consumption and UCP3 knockdown significantly decreased them in C2C12 myotubes.ConclusionsA transdermal treatment with MC903 increased myofiber diameter and energy metabolism and decreased visceral fat accumulation, thereby improving obesity and glucose intolerance in mice.

A Study Of Genetic Endowment Of The Human Ear Lobe Attachment In Selective Sample Of Sriganganagar District, Rajasthan

Introduction- The earlobe is formed by tough areola and adipose tissue, lacking the firmness and elasticity of the rest of the ear auricle. The study of earlobe attachment, as a morphogenetic trait can be used to investigate the diversity that arises within and among different populations due to genetic variations.
 Materials and methods- The present longitudinal randomized study was carried on randomly selected 100 families, residing in Sriganganagar Rajasthan. Digital camera, USB Cable and laptop were used for the study.
 Results- Out of total 158 offspring 86.08% are free and 13.92% are attached. Males and females displayed the highest frequency of free earlobes. There is no significant gender difference in the pattern of earlobe attachment.
 Conclusion- The free earlobe is more predominant than attached earlobe and this study investigated an inheritance pattern of simple dominance recessive pattern where free earlobes are dominant over attached earlobes.

Neuroauriculotherapy: Framework and Remarks for a possible use in Voice Medicine

Aim. Neuroauriculotherapy (NAT) is a branch of medicine, which, thanks to its diagnostic and therapeutic value, is a powerful tool at the service of both physician and patient. In our experience, as it is discussed in this article, neuroauriculotherapy can have successful applications in voice science and in phoniatrics. The aim of this article is to open a discussion about possible applications of neuroauriculotherapy in voice medicine. Introduction. From the diagnostic point of view, it is possible to explore, with a palpeur (i.e., a tool that provides a constant pressure) or a “spot-hunter”, the presence of a perturbation into a particular organ or area, and its return to normal during treatment. Indeed, at the level of the ear auricle, representations of an organ, its innervation, its muscular components, etc., are fixed. These spots or voxels correspond absolutely to the respective sensory, motor, visceral, among other spots. Therefore, if any abnormal potential comes from the periphery, it will illuminate the spots both at the cortical level and in the pavilion —a real display with a constantly active touch screen. The spot can be treated with needles in the context of a neurophysiological strategy to send a message to the brain. Reflection. NAT appears to be a good method to improve the treatment of voice problems, enhancing the results of other therapies based on drugs or rehab and inducing relaxation. In neuroauriculotherapy, the ear is used to give the brain orders in a process which has a logical basis in neurophysiology. Conclusion. Diseases of the vocal tract can be dysfunctional or organic. According to our clinical experience, we can say that neuroauriculotherapy can be used in both cases. Neuroauriculotherapy is also extremely effective in voice therapy, both alone and in combination with other therapies, as there is no conflict among them.

Isolated sensory impairment of the ear auricle in a patient with cerebral infarction localized to the postcentral gyrus

AbstractPure sensory stroke, a well‐defined clinical entity characterized by sensory symptoms, sometimes causes atypical distributions of sensory impairment. We herein report an 85‐year‐old man presenting with isolated sensory impairment of the right‐sided ear auricle due to postcentral gyrus infarction. The somatotopic representation in the human primary somatosensory cortex that corresponds to the ear has not been elucidated. This case suggests the possible cortical area for the ear.

Naturally Oxidized Olive Oil Promotes Active Cutaneous Anaphylaxis and Th2 Cytokine Production.

The excessive ingestion of oxidized dietary oils may exacerbate some allergic diseases. We previously reported that oxidized olive oil exacerbates active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA), one of the immediate allergic reactions. This study was conducted to clarify the effects of oxidized olive oil on the T cell response during ACA. BALB/c female mice were orally administered naturally oxidized olive oil once every 2 d for 2 weeks after ovalbumin (OVA)/aluminum hydroxide gel sensitization, after which ACA was elicited by intracutaneous administration of OVA into the ear auricles. Compared with fresh olive oil, oxidized olive oil administration increased the antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody titer 2 weeks after OVA-sensitization and vascular hyperpermeability increased due to ACA. In the oxidized olive oil-administered mice, the mRNA expression levels of T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4, -5, -6, and -10, in the lymph nodes increased, as did the proportion of cluster designation (CD)3+CD4+ cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. In CD3+CD4+ cells, the mRNA expression levels of IL-4 and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3), the master regulator of Th2, were higher in the oxidized olive oil-group. Antigen-stimulated specific IL-4 production was promoted in CD3+CD4+ cells of oxidized olive oil-administered mice. This suggests that oxidized olive oil exacerbates ACA by promoting Th2 dominance in immediate allergic diseases.

Support Diminution Design for Layered Manufacturing of Manifold Surface Based on Variable Orientation Tracking.

This article proposes a support diminution design method for layered manufacturing of manifold surface based on variable orientation tracking (VOT). We aim at reducing the external support or upholders to a minimum with maximum possibility theoretically to save material and diminish material stripping effect (MSE), thereby improving the bilateral surface precision either exterior or interior. The cosmic gravity effect criterion is first used to extract surface need support from manifold surface with various materials by considering the balance force involving material characteristics and inclination angle. In the light of this criterion theory, varying the substrate normal orientation (SNO), namely workbench, for each layer in printing coordinate system, may break the balance between gravity and its equilibrium force. Therefore, the optimal SNO can be rigorously calculated using mathematical harmonic analysis among the continuous domain. To serve for the multidegree of freedom (DOF) on account of SNO, a reconfigurable VOT robot with six-axis DOF is developed for 3D printing (3DP). The matched servo controller is successfully implemented to accurate tracking of both orientation and Cartesian coordinates, using forward kinematic chains as well as reverse kinematic tracking. What is more, the end-effector (extruder) is holding perpendicular to the substrate workbench. The physical experiment that takes human external ear auricle, for example, using a layer-based process is implemented via VOT. The MSE due to supporting material can be clearly observed and diminished using an optical microscope. The stripped material from external support via diminution design can be evaluated quantitatively by electronic weighting balance. All of which indicate the findings that external support in 3DP can be virtually reckoned and diminished using VOT rather than the so-called build orientation traversal method. The VOT method upon which we touched can be widely applied to various layered manufacturing of accurate structure, for instance, cantilever, sandwich, and scaffolds in the occasion needing precise curtailment of outer support multimaterial.

Clinical and genetic analysis of a child with 2q37 deletion syndrome resulting from a translocation involving chromosome satellite

To carry out cyto- and molecular genetic testing for a child featuring facial dysmorphism and attention deficit and hyperactive disorder. The child was subjected to routine peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosomal karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) analyses. The child's facial dysmorphism included low-set ears, curly ear auricle, protuberance of eyebrow arch, nostril notch, short and flat philtrum and thin upper lip. SNP-array revealed that he has carried a 4.883 Mb deletion at 2q37. His chromosomal karyotype was ultimately determined as 45, XY, der(2;21) (2pter→ 2q37.3::21p13→ 21p10::20p10→ 20pter), der(20) (21qter→ 21q10::20q10→ 20qter). A rare case of 2q37 deletion syndrome involving three chromosomes was discovered. Combined use of various cyto- and molecular genetic techniques is crucial for the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities with complex structures.

Технология дополненной реальности для реконструкции ушной раковины при лечении микротии

Facial defects and deformations occupy a significant place in the practice of maxillofacial and dental surgeons. Nevertheless, maxillofacial surgery is developing rapidly and requires improvement of existing treatment methods, and introduction of new approaches to reconstructive surgery. Augmented reality is a promising direction of computer technology development which is actively used in medicine and education. Modern computer technology allows to create a 3D model of a lost organ and use it for preoperative planning, as well as apply a virtual model for intraoperative navigation. Recently, the method of augmented reality has been actively developed, when a virtual image of the zone of the surgical area or a dedicated organ is used, which is compared with its real prototype in static mode, or in real-time using computer devices. The benefits of using augmented reality technologies in reconstructive surgery is associated with preoperative virtual planning, simplification of the surgical intervention itself, as well as with a reduction in the risks of intra- and postoperative complications. The aim of our work was to study the opportunity of using the augmented reality technology in reconstructive surgery for microtia correction based on pre-operative computer simulation. At the preoperative stage, a photometric analysis of the patient was carried out, then a computer simulation of the missing auricle was performed. Using a 3D printer, a virtual model of the reconstructed auricle was obtained. The image in three-dimensional format was loaded into augmented reality glasses, which made it possible to project the shape and position of the simulated auricle to the area of the defect of the auricle when preparing for surgery. During the surgery, a marker was installed near the surgical field, in order to display the three-dimensional model in a destined position. During surgical intervention, an autogenous costal cartilage was taken, from which the auricle was formed using augmented reality approach and three-dimensional modeling. Subsequently, the graft was introduced to the formed bed in the area of the right ear auricle. The obtained 3D model of the auricle before the operation enabled planning of the forthcoming operation and determine the amount of autograft needed for reconstruction. Using the augmented reality glasses, the exact shape of the auricle is reproduced during the operation, and its proper position is assessed in relation to the healthy side. No complications were observed over the postoperative period. Virtual modelling of a lost or absent organ based on a preoperative examination provides important information about its spatial structure. Preoperative virtual planning allows you to predict the individual features of the operation, its difficult stages, to anticipate possible complications. The use of augmented reality technology during reconstructive surgery is a promising method requiring further development and improvement.

Protein profile of ear auricle cartilage and the important role of ITGB1/PTK2 in microtia

BackgroundMicrotia is a congenital malformation of the external ear that involves anything from a small reduction in size to a complete absence. The external ear is composed of elastic cartilage which is also the important skeleton of the outer ear. However no previous study explored the difference between abnormal elastic cartilage and normal cartilage in the molecular level. MethodsMicrotia cartilage and normal cartilage tissue samples from patients subjected to autologous costal cartilage reconstruction were obtained in surgery. Total proteins were extracted and purified, and then proteomic analyzed via LC-MS/MS using DDA/DIA data collection methods. Proteins were also isolated with lysis beads and then analyzed via antibody chip. Differentially expressed proteins were identified in both experiments and further analyzed with functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis. Valuable regulatory gene expression level was verified by RT-PCR. ResultsA total of 4178 protein types were identified in the DDA experiment. A total of 2154 proteins were quantified, 172 of which were significantly upregulated and 82 downregulated in the microtia group (P < 0.05). Antibody chip detection allowed identification of 584 protein phosphorylation sites with 102 upregulation sites and 9 downregulation sites (P < 0.05). Differentially altered proteins were annotated to 143 KEGG pathways, while differentiated phosphate site-associated genes were annotated into 21 KEGG pathways. Two intersecting pathways, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and the focal adhesion pathway, may paly important role on ear auricle cartilage development. One item is significant in both differential protein expression and phosphorylation. Integrin beta-1, that is downregulated in protein quantification of the microtia group. The mean ITGB1 mRNA level of the microtia patient group was significantly lower than in the healthy control group (P = 0.0007 < 0.05). And the gene expression of downstream gene PTK2 was also decreased. (P = 0.0288 < 0.05). ConclusionThe research locates the key protein Integrin Beta-1, and verified it at the mRNA level. The increasing level of ITGB1 and decreasing of PTK2 may play an important role in congenital ear deformity. This research will inspire more otolaryngologists and orthopedics doctors to pay attention to the etiology and mechanism of microtia.

Immunotoxicity evaluation by subchronic oral administration of clothianidin in Sprague-Dawley rats

Neonicotinoid pesticides (NNs) act as agonists on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of insects, and there have been concerns about the effects of NNs on the health of mammals. Since nAChRs are expressed in immune cells, it is possible that NNs disturb the immune system. However, few reports have examined the immunotoxicity of clothianidin (CLO), a widely-used NN. Here, we report the effects of CLO on immune organs and type IV allergic reactions in ear auricles. We orally administered CLO at 0, 30 and 300 mg/kg/day (CLO-0, 30 and 300) to Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days. The effects were evaluated by organ and body weights, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry (TCRαβ, CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD68, CD103). In addition, some cecal contents were subjected to preliminary gut microbiota analysis, because microbiota contribute to host homeostasis, including the immunity. Our results showed loose stool, suppression of body weight gain, significant changes in organ weights (thymus: decreased; liver: increased) and changes of the gut microbiota in the CLO-300 group. There were no obvious histopathological changes in immune organs. Granulomas of the ear auricles were found in one rat of each of the CLO-30 and 300 groups, but CLO had no apparent effect on the thickness or immunohistochemistry in the ear auricles. We present new evidence that CLO affects the thymus and intestine, and might enhance the local inflammatory response. These findings should contribute to the appropriate evaluation of the safety of NNs in the future.