Retro-labyrinthine Lesion Site Detected by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Elicited Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potentials in Patients with Auditory Neuropathy

Objective Auditory neuropathy(AN)is a unique pattern of hearing loss with preservation of hair cell function.The condition is characterized by the presence of otoacoustic emissions(OAE)or cochlear microphonic(CM)responses with severe abnormalities of the auditory brainstem response(ABR).The vestibular branches of the VIII cranial nerve and the structures innervated by it can also be affected.However,the precise lesion sites in the vestibular system are not well characterized in patients with AN.Methods The air-conducted sound(ACS)vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials(VEMPs)and galvanic vestibular stimuli(GVS)-VEMPs were examined in 14 patients with AN.Results On examination of VEMPs(n=14,28 ears),the absent rates of ACS-cervical VEMP(cVEMP),ACS-ocular VEMP(oVEMP),GVS-cVEMP,GVS-oVEMP and caloric test were 92.9%(26/28),85.7%(24/28),67.9%(19/28),53.6%(15/28),and 61.5%(8/13),respectively.Impaired functions of the saccule,inferior vestibular nerve,utricle,superior vestibular nerve,and horizontal semicircular canal were found in 25.0%(7/28),67.9%(19/28),32.1%(9/28),53.6%(15/28)and 61.5%(8/13)patients,respectively.On comparing the elicited VEMPs parameters of AN patients with those of normal controls,both ACS-VEMPs and GVS-VEMPs showed abnormal results in AN patients(such as,lower presence rates,elevated thresholds,prolonged latencies,and decreased amplitudes).Conclusion The study suggested that patients with AN often have concomitant vestibular disorders.Retro-labyrinthine lesions were more frequently observed in this study.GVS-VEMPs combined with ACS-VEMPs may help identify the lesion sites and facilitate detection of areas of vestibular dysfunction in these patients.

Change of extracellular ascorbic acid in the brain cortex following ice water vestibular stimulation： an on-line electrochemical detection coupled with in vivo microdialysis sampling for guinea pigs

Background Ascorbic acid （AA） represents one of the most important enzyme co-factors, antioxidants and neuromodulators and plays an important role in the cerebral system. Increasing evidence has suggested that AA could treat certain kinds of vertigo diseases such as Meniere＇s disease. To elucidate the neurochemical functions associated with AA in vertigo, the change of extracellular AA in the brain cortex following caloric vestibular stimulation （CVS） was evaluated.Methods An on-line electrochemical detection was coupled with in vivo microdialysis to continuously monitor the change of extracellular AA in the primary somatosensory （SI） area of guinea pigs following a caloric vestibular stimulation. Sixteen guinea pigs were divided into three groups, i.e., experimental group with irrigation of the ear canal with ice water （0℃） （n=-8）, and two control groups, one with irrigation of the ear canal with warm water （38℃） （n=-4） and the other with irrigation of the auricle with ice water （n=-4）.Results In the experimental group, the ice water irrigation of the left external ear canal induced a horizontal nystagmus towards the right side lasting about 45 seconds. No nystagmus was induced by warm water irrigation of the external ear canal or by ice water irrigation of the auricle. The extracellular AA concentration significantly increased following the ice water vestibular stimulation, reaching a maximum of （130±20）% （n=8） of the basal dialysate level （2.61±0.92） μmol/L （n=8）, lasting at least for an hour. AA level did not change distinctly after the irrigation of the left external ear canal with warm water or the irriclation of the auricle with ice water.Conclusions The concentration of extracellular AA in the brain cortex of the SI area increased following the ice water vestibular stimulation. This demonstration may be useful for the investigation of the neurochemical processes associated with AA in the process of vertigo.

Random noise stimulation in the treatment of patients with neurological disorders

Random noise stimulation technique involves applying any form of energy(for instance,light,mechanical,electrical,sound)with unpredictable intensities through time to the brain or sensory receptors to enhance sensory,motor,or cognitive functions.Random noise stimulation initially employed mechanical noise in auditory and cutaneous stimuli,but electrical energies applied to the brain or the skin are becoming more frequent,with a series of clinical applications.Indeed,recent evidence shows that transcranial random noise stimulation can increase corticospinal excitability,improve cognitive/motor performance,and produce beneficial aftereffects at the behavioral and psychological levels.Here,we present a narrative review about the potential uses of random noise stimulation to treat neurological disorders,including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,schizophrenia,amblyopia,myopia,tinnitus,multiple sclerosis,post-stroke,vestibular-postural disorders,and sensitivity loss.Many of the reviewed studies reveal that the optimal way to deliver random noise stimulation-based therapies is with the concomitant use of neurological and neuropsychological assessments to validate the beneficial aftereffects.In addition,we highlight the requirement of more randomized controlled trials and more physiological studies of random noise stimulation to discover another optimal way to perform the random noise stimulation interventions.