Beta-trace protein in pediatric otitis media with effusion

Objectives

The middle ear cleft connects by membranes to the inner ear and the subarachnoid space particularly in infants. In order to gain more insight about the permeability between the two compartments we quantified the concentration of beta-trace protein – a highly specific marker for CSF and perilymph but not for serum and mucosal effusion – in middle ear secretions from children with otitis media with effusion.

Methods

One-hundred and three patients were included and 93 samples from secretory otitis media were collected during myringotomy or explorative tympanotomy. Thirty-eight patients of 103 had to be excluded (36.9%). Of the 93 collected samples from 65 subjects, 82 viscous samples were pre-diluted 1:1 with tyloxapol. In spite of the attempt to pre-dilute the viscous samples, 30 glue-like samples of 93 were not applicable for nephelometry. The final analysis was made on 63 samples of 52 subjects (median age 3 years) which were quantified for beta-trace protein using immunonephelometry.

Results

In 3/63 samples the beta-trace protein values were below the detection range (<0.2 mg/L) and in 1/63 it was beyond with 18.3 mg/L. The median beta-trace protein value for 59 samples within the measuring range was 2.4 mg/L, range 0.2–14.2.

Conclusion

In pediatric middle ear effusions, the beta-trace protein concentration was found to have a high range compared to other body fluids from other studies. In other studies, the values for serum (0.59 mg/L) or mucosal secretion (0.003–0.12 mg/L) were lower and the values in CSF (18.4 mg/L) or perilymphatic fluid (23.5 mg/L) were highest. This finding might indicate a weak barrier between the cerebrospinal fluid space or inner ear fluid compartments on the one side and the tympanic cavity on the other side given the condition of otitis media with effusion. The detection of beta-trace protein might be important to assess the risk of impending complications.     

Relationship between pediatric obesity and otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between pediatric otitis media with effusion and obesity, as determined by body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations. DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized, case-control study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. SUBJECTS: The experimental group comprised 155 children aged 2 to 7 years, who received unilateral or bilateral ventilation tube insertion for the treatment of otitis media with effusion. The control group comprised 118 children with no history of otitis media with effusion, who underwent operations for conditions other than ear diseases. Based on BMI and serum TG and TC concentrations, we divided the experimental group into 2 subgroups, those who were and were not obese. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We determined the difference between the experimental and control groups in BMI and serum TG and TC concentrations and the difference between the obese and nonobese subgroups in frequency of ventilation tube insertion. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD BMI (22.0 +/- 3.4 vs 16.3 +/- 2.4) (P = .01) and mean +/- SD TC level (195.0 +/- 31.0 mg/dL vs 159.3 +/- 26.9 mg/dL [5.05 +/- 0.80 mmol/L vs 4.13 +/- 0.70 mmol/L]) (P = .04), but not mean serum TG level (109.4 +/- 40.4 mg/dL vs 90.0 +/- 52.3 mg/dL [1.24 +/- 0.46 mmol/L vs 1.02 +/- 0.59 mmol/L]) (P = .13), were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Frequency of ventilation tube insertion, however, did not differ significantly between the obese and nonobese subgroups, whether divided by BMI (P = .10) or serum TG (P = .12) or TC (P = .07) concentration. CONCLUSION: Childhood obesity may be associated with the occurrence of otitis media with effusion.     

Expression of mast cell tryptase in pediatric otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible relationship between allergy and otitis media with effusion (OME), we investigated the presence and level of tryptase, which reflect mast cell activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five children with intractable OME were studied. Thirteen patients were confirmed allergy positive by multiallergosorbent test. Twelve patients were allergy negative. Evidence for mast cell tryptase presence and degree of activation in the middle ear effusion (MEE) were measured by using Western blotting and radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS: The typical single band of 32 kDa tryptase was found in the MEE. And it was more strongly expressed in the MEE with allergy positive than negative. RIA demonstrated that mean tryptase level was significantly higher in the MEE with allergy positive than negative. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that allergy may be one of the contributing factors in the persistence of intractable OME.     

儿童分泌性中耳炎置管术后复发相关危险因素研究

目的 回顾性研究38例低龄分泌性中耳炎患儿的临床诊疗及随访资料,分析术后复发率与腺样体切除、鼓室积液性状、病程长短、鼻部相关疾病、留管时间长短、围手术期用药的相关性,为临床治疗低龄儿童分泌性中耳炎提供依据.方法 搜集整理符合入组标准的38例因双耳罹患分泌性中耳炎于2013年1月～2014年12月就诊于首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科,行双侧鼓膜置管手术的3～6岁患儿临床资料,包括术后1个月、3个月、6个月、1年于门诊复查行专科查体及听力学检查资料.取管时间为术后6个月,术后1年行调查问卷电话随访采用Epidate软件录入信息并用t检验、卡方检验、多因素Logistic回归对数据进行分析.结果 33例(86.8％)患儿有腺样体肥大病史,其中24例(72.7％)例行腺样体切除术,行腺样体切除术患儿复发11例(45.8％),未行切除者复发2例(22.2％).17例患有其他呼吸道疾病,其中患有变应性鼻炎者5例,患慢性鼻-鼻窦炎者12例.患鼻相关疾病者复发9例(52.94％),不患鼻相关疾病者复发8例(38.1％).复发者中鼓室积液黏稠者9例(64.29％),鼓室积液稀薄者13例(54.17％).取管术后复发组平均病程21.46个月,未复发组平均病程18.35个月.取管组与带管组复发情况、复发与带管时间均无统计学意义,用Logistic回归进行多因素分析,腺样体切除、患鼻部疾病、病程长短、中耳鼓室积液性状、留管时间OR值分别为5.01、-0.69、0.14、-3.10、-0.001,P直分别为0.0274、0.1283、0.1128、0.8593.结论 3～6岁低龄儿童分泌性中耳炎复发率及再次置管率仍较高,腺样体切除与否显著影响分泌性中耳炎复发;其次分泌性中耳炎病程长短、鼓室积液性状也影响其复发;而鼻相关疾病(慢性鼻-鼻窦炎、变应性鼻炎)、留管时间、围手术期用药等因素经本研究提示无显著影响.     

Middle ear inflation for diagnosis and treatment of otitis media with effusion

An adult (18 years), healthy, male subject with persistent bilateral middle ear (ME) underpressure and a history of recurrent otitis media into his teen years was identified. The response of his MEs to air inflation was evaluated and showed an immediate pressure increase after a Valsalva maneuver followed by a rapid pressure drop to approach the pre-inflation levels. That response is consistent with the presence of ME effusion, which was not diagnosed by otoendoscopy or tympanometry, but was visualized bilaterally within the mastoid regions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was treated for 25 days with ME inflation (3/day) and then re-examined. On each treatment day, he recorded his ME pressure using tympanometry before and after one inflation maneuver. The patient’s compliance with the treatment protocol was high, and successful gas transfers were documented on most days. Over the course of treatment, pre-inflation ME pressure became more normal bilaterally. When compared to the pre-treatment test, the post-treatment inflation test showed a similar rate of ME pressure decrease, but significantly higher terminal pressures. On follow-up but not during the pre-treatment period, discrete changes in ME pressure attributable to ET openings were noted during test sessions. MRI documented lesser amounts of effusion in the mastoid, but not complete disease resolution. The significance of these observations to the design of a well controlled clinical trail of ME inflation as a treatment for otitis media is discussed.     

Immune-mediated otitis media with effusion

This study was designed to clarify the role of immune reaction in otitis media with effusion (OME). Immune-mediated OME was induced in chinchillas, and characteristics of the disease were evaluated biochemically, cytologically, and histologically. OME was induced by a single intratympanic inoculation of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in animals which had a high serum anti-KLH IgG titer. In addition, OME was maintained for 3 weeks in seven of 17 chinchillas, boosted by intradermal and intratympanic injections at 1-week intervals. Cells in the middle ear effusion (MEE) consisted substantially of neutrophils, a few macrophages, and other cells. The mean histamine and prostaglandin E2 levels in the MEE significantly exceeded the levels in corresponding sera. The lining membrane of the bullae was edematous and thickened due to dilatation and rupture of blood capillaries and cell infiltration. Next, the animals were inoculated with immune complex into the tympanic cavity. MEE appeared in all treated ears within three days after injection. Biochemical, cytologic, and histologic findings of the immune complex-induced OME resembled those of immune-mediated OME. An immune peroxidase method demonstrated that neutrophils in MEE phagocytose immune complexes. Our findings suggest that a perpetual cycle of inflammatory substances may maintain an inflammatory condition in the middle ear.     

Characterization of cytokines present in pediatric otitis media with effusion: comparison of allergy positive and negative

To investigate the possible relationship between allergy and otitis media with effusion (OME), we investigated the cytokine level in the middle ear effusion (MEE)s of children with persistent OME. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the MEEs were measured by devised sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared allergy positive group with allergy negative group. The mean levels of IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in MEE were significantly higher in allergy positive group than allergy negative group (P<0.05). Elevation of Th-2-driven cytokines (IL-4, IL-6) and TNF-alpha in MEEs may be a contributing factor in the persistence of OME with allergy.     

Histopathology of otitis media with effusion

Summary Ultrastructural studies of the middle ear mucosa appear to be of significant value in better understanding the pathology of otitis media with effusion (OME). Our present study was undertaken in order to take advantage of the use of electron microscopy in investigating all areas of the middle ear mucosa. Tissues studied were obtained from the fresh postmortem temporal bones of three patients with OME and terminal head and neck malignancies. In the mucoid type of effusion (cases 1 and 2), goblet cells were seen to proliferate and secretory activity was greatly enhanced. In contrast, there was no evidence of secretory cell proliferation in the serous type of effusion. It was noteworthy that accumulated fluid was not homogeneous in the same ear, as exemplified by case 1, in which both mucoid and serous effusions were present. This occurrence was possibly the result of topographic diversity involving the secretory activity of the middle ear.Presented at the Extraordinary International Symposium on Recent Advances in Otitis Media with Effusion, Kyoto, Japan, 12–15 January 1985     

Quality of questionnaires for the assessment of otitis media with effusion in children

Objectives

Audiometric tests provide information about hearing in otitis media with effusion (OME). Questionnaires can supplement this information by supporting clinical history‐taking as well as potentially providing a standardized and comprehensive assessment of the impact of the disease on a child. There are many possible candidate questionnaires. This study aimed to assess the quality and usability of parent / child questionnaires in OME assessment.

Design and main outcome measures

Fifteen, published questionnaires, commonly used in audiological departments (Auditory Behaviour in Everyday Life (ABEL), Children's Auditory Performance Scale (CHAPS), Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties (CHILD), Children's Outcome Worksheets (COW), Evaluation of Children's Listening and Processing Skills (ECLiPS), Early Listening Function (ELF), Fisher's Auditory Problem Checklist (FAPC), Hearing Loss 7 (HL‐7), Listening Inventory for Education‐ Revised (LIFE‐R Student), Listening Inventory for Education UK Individual Hearing Profile (LIFE‐UK IHP), LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LittlEARS), Listening Situations Questionnaire (LSQ), Otitis Media 6 (OM‐6), Quality of Life in Children's Ear Problems (OMQ‐14), Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) were assessed according to the following 8 criteria: conceptual clarity, respondent burden, reliability, validity, normative data, item bias, ceiling/ floor effects, and administrative burden.

Results

ECLiPS, LittlEARS and PEACH scored highest overall based on the assessment criteria established for this study. None of the questionnaires fully satisfied all 8 criteria. Although all questionnaires assessed issues considered to be of at least adequate relevance to OME, the majority had weaknesses with respect to the assessment of psychometric properties, such as item bias, floor/ceiling effects or measurement reliability and validity. Publications reporting on the evaluation of reliability, validity, normative data, item bias and ceiling/floor effects were not available for most of the questionnaires.

Conclusions

This formal evaluation of questionnaires, currently available to clinicians, highlights three questionnaires as potentially offering a useful adjunct in the assessment of OME in clinical or research settings. These were the ECLiPS, which is suitable for children aged 6 years and older, and either the LittlEARS or the PEACH for younger children. The latter two are narrowly focused on hearing, whereas ECLiPS has a broader focus on listening, language and social difficulties.     

Bacteriology of otitis media with effusion

A study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria present in the middle ear of patients with otitis media with effusion. Middle ear effusions (MEE), nasopharyngeal and throat swabs were obtained at operation and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Two hundred and fifty-nine effusions were obtained from 152 subjects examined. Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from 32 (12.3 per cent) effusions, Streptococcus pneumoniae from seven (2.7 per cent), Staphylococcus aureus from seven (2.7 per cent), Branhamella catarrhalis from one (0.4 per cent)--Group A beta haemolytic streptococci from one (0.4 per cent) and Staphylococcus epidermidis from three (1.9 per cent). The occurrence of respiratory pathogens in MEE reflected their prevalence in the upper respiratory tract. Significantly fewer children who had received antibiotics prior to surgery had organisms present in the MEE. Eight and a half per cent of H. influenzae and 64 per cent of B. catarrhalis were resistant to ampicillin. The present study confirms that bacteria are present in the middle ear in a significant number of patients with otitis media with effusion.     

Conductive hearing loss assessment in children with otitis media with effusion. A comparison of pure tone and BERA results

A comparison between pure-tone audiometry and brainstem electric response audiometry was made in 25 children with a conductive hearing loss due to otitis media with effusion. Pure-tone audiometry, including bone and air-conduction thresholds, was recorded using standard procedures. BERA was used to construct a latency-intensity function and from this the conductive hearing loss could be estimated. For all frequencies except for 2000 Hz a good correlation was found between the conductive loss in the pure-tone audiogram and the conductive loss as estimated by BERA. The moderate correlation for 2000 Hz is due to a 'Carhart'-notch-like phenomenon in the pure-tone audiogram.     

Balance and otitis media with effusion

Dizziness can be caused by a variety of peripheral vestibular, central, and systemic disease processes. Eustachian tube dysfunction with and without middle-ear effusion has been considered one of the most common causes of balance disturbances in young children. Several studies have indicated that during an episode of otitis media the child's balance deteriorates and the child may become clumsy and fall more often. Thus, not only the adverse effect on hearing should be considered in the management of a child with otitis media, but also the child's balance.     

Naproxen in otitis media with effusion

The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured in aspirates of the effusion fluid from children suffering from secretory otitis media. The effects of naproxen 5 mg./kg. twice daily for eight weeks on the condition were studied in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Nineteen middle-ear aspirates from 13 children, six of whom had bilateral aspirations were examined. Detectable levels of PGE2 (greater than 1.0 ng. per ml.) were present in seven aspirates from seven children and ranged from PGE2 1.0 to 14.4 ng. per ml. In four of the six patients who had bilateral aspirations, PGE2 was detectable in the aspirate from one ear but not the other. However, the severity of otalgia and hearing loss was almost identical in the ears with detectable levels of PGE2 and those without. In a separate trial of naproxen, 11 patients received active drug and 13 received placebo. Naproxen had no significant effect on otalgia or hearing loss compared to placebo. These findings suggest that it is unlikely that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will be of therapeutic benefit in secretory otitis media.     

226Hz和1000Hz鼓室声导纳在不同年龄婴幼儿分泌性中耳炎应用探讨

目的：以影像学检查为诊断分泌性中耳性的标准,分析不同年龄段分泌性中耳炎常婴幼儿226Hz和1000Hz2种探测音鼓室声导纳曲线类型分布特点和趋势,比较2种方法在敏感度和特异度,为临床诊断提供依据。方法：经颞骨薄层CT证实为分泌性中耳炎婴幼儿177例（226耳）,中耳结构正常的婴幼儿158例（266耳）,年龄1～60个月。根据年龄分为6组,分别为O～6月龄组,6～12月龄组,12～18月龄组。18～24月龄组,24～36月龄组,36～60月龄组,分别进行226Hz和1000Hz探测音鼓室声导纳测试。用配对Y。检验对不同年龄组受试儿童两种声导纳测试法结果进行检验,并用ROC方法分析2种方法的敏感度和特异度。结果：分泌性中耳炎婴幼儿各组226Hz鼓室声导纳异常检出率分别为21．1％、35．2％、46．9％、42．0％、62．5％及68％,1000Hz鼓室声导纳异常检出率分别为94．7％、98．1％、96．9％、91．2％、95．8％及88．0％。中耳功能正常婴幼儿,226Hz鼓室声导纳正常型检出率分别为95．1％、88．6％、85．1％、93．3％、88．5％及93．5％,l000Hz鼓室声导纳正常型检出率分别是为87．8％、94．3％、89．4％、95．6％、94．2％及97．8％。2种测试方法对分泌性中耳炎的检出率在36月龄以下差异有统计学意义,2种测试方法的敏感度和特异度在0～36个月差异有统计学意义,36个月以上差异无统计学意义。结论：36月龄以下婴幼儿探测分泌性中耳炎应以1000Hz鼓室声导纳为主,36～60月龄幼儿应同时测试226及1000Hz鼓室声导纳。以单峰型和双峰型1000Hz鼓室声导纳作为分泌性中耳炎的正常标准,具有很高的可靠性和实用性。     

Nitrotyrosine in otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to investigate mucosal cell injury due to the nitric oxide (NO)-superoxide system in otitis media with effusion. METHODS: We determined the levels of nitrotyrosine (NT) and NO and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in 90 middle ear fluid samples. RESULTS: The NT concentration was significantly higher in group A (<16 years old) than in group C (>50 years old; p < .05), and significantly higher in the acute group than in the chronic group (p < .05). The NO concentration did not show a significant difference among the groups. The activity of SOD showed significant correlations with the concentrations of NT and NO and with LDH activity (p < .05). The LDH activity was significantly greater in group A than in group C (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate involvement of the NO-superoxide system in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion, showing evidence of protein and/or cell injury in the middle ear.     

探讨儿童分泌性中耳炎的诊断程序

目的 将鼓室导抗图、纯音听阈与耳CT结果比较,并经鼓膜切开所见验证,分析鼓室导抗图、纯音听阈和耳CT在判断中耳积液的敏感度.方法 分析2007年1月至2008年6月临床诊断分泌性中耳炎住院治疗的患者,将其病史、平均听阈、CT结果进行Logistic分析.结果 40例(75耳)患者中男28例(53耳),女12例(22耳).年龄最小3岁6个月,最大11岁10个月,平均6岁6个月.鼓膜切开证实中耳有分泌物62耳(82.7%),无明显分泌物13耳(17.3%).鼓膜置管23耳.统计学分析结果显示,听力损失程度、CT结果与中耳积液有相关性(r值分别为1.392、1.355;P值均＜0.05).结论 通过鼓膜情况、鼓室导抗图和平均听阈综合判断中耳积液有较高的敏感度.特别以传导性听力损失程度判断有无中耳积液有较高特异性.分泌性中耳炎的患儿,除常规耳科检查,应首先进行声导抗,纯音测听检查.尽管耳CT具有较高的敏感度但是由于其副作用的局限,不建议作为分泌性中耳炎的常规检查.     

Balance and otitis media with effusion

Dizziness can be caused by a variety of peripheral vestibular, central, and systemic disease processes. Eustachian tube dysfunction with and without middle-ear effusion has been considered one of the most common causes of balance disturbances in young children. Several studies have indicated that during an episode of otitis media the child's balance deteriorates and the child may become clumsy and fall more often. Thus, not only the adverse effect on hearing should be considered in the management of a child with otitis media, but also the child's balance.     

Hearing acuity in otitis media with effusion and adhesive otitis media

The relationship between findings established by the photograph of the tympanic membrane and hypacusia was determined by pure-tone audiometry. Subjects were 352 ears of 267 patients diagnosed as otitis media with effusion (OME) or adhesive otitis media (AdOM). These two diseases were evaluated on the basis of photographs of the tympanic membrane taken from 1983 to 1988. The results were as follows; 1) The effect of aging process on hearing acuity was noted in patients with these diseases, i.e., values of hearing acuity by air and bone conduction were, in descending order, early-, mature-, and advanced-age groups, with significant differences (p less than 0.01). 2) Greater loss of acuity by air conduction in the middle to high frequency ranges was found in patients with OME than with AdOM. In bone conduction, a decrease in low frequency range in the early--and mature--age groups was larger in patients with AdOM than with OME and a significant decrease in 2000-6000 Hz in the advanced-age group was more marked in patients with OME than with AdOM (p less than 0.05). 3) Among patients with AdOM, those with retained fluid in the middle ear showed a significant decrease in air conduction values and a significant increase in air-bone gap compared with those without fluid (p less than 0.05). 4) The degrees of adhesion correlated well with a decrease in hearing acuity. 5) Hearing acuity was not influenced by attic retraction, white plaque, scar and atrophy of their tympanic membranes.