The 2010 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), the largest meeting of ear, nose, and throat doctors in the world, in being held September 26-29, 2010, in Boston, MA.

Inner Ear Stem-Cell Transplantation in Cochlear Cultures
Presenters: Dylan K. Chan, MD, PhD; Saku Sinkkonen, MD, PhD; Alan G. Cheng, MD; Stefan Heller, PhD
Time: 9:46 am
Location: Room 209

Researchers have developed an in vitro system to investigate hair-cell regeneration techniques and evaluate the ability of transplanted inner-ear stem-cell spheres to integrate into the organ of Corti and differentiate into mature hair cells.

In a presentation at the 2010 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Boston, researchers revealed that co-culture between inner-ear stem-cell spheres and the neonatal organ of Corti is a useful model to evaluate. It could potentially optimize transplantation of inner-ear stem cells into the cochlea for hair-cell regeneration. Preliminary co-cultures show differentiation of adherent spheres into cells bearing hair-cell markers, but little evidence of precise integration into the sensory epithelium.

Biofilms in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Presenters: Thiago Bezerra, MD; Francini Padua, MD, PhD; Eloisa Gebrim, MD, PhD; Paulo Saldiva, MD, PhD; Richard Voegels, MD, PhD
Time: 9:38 am
Location: Room 252

The presence of biofilms in patients with chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps was studied between 2008 and 2009, in a tertiary care center.

In a presentation at the 2010 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Boston, researchers discussed a study group consisting of 33 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps. The control group consisted of 27 control patients undergoing septoplasty for nasal obstruction without diagnosis of CRS. It is believed that biofilms may play a major role in chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps.

Communication Mode Disparity in Pediatric Cochlear Implants
Presenters: Meredith Edgerton, AuD, CCC-A; Abby Connell, MEd; Nevitte Morris, MA; Ted Meyer, MD, PhD; David White, MD
Time: 9:46 am
Location: Room 259

Children with Medicaid were significantly more likely to become non-oral communicators after cochlear implants.

In a paper presented at the 2010 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Boston, researchers studied whether racial or insurance-based disparities exist in the development of oral communication after cochlear implantation (CI) in children. Data recorded and analyzed included race, age of implantation, communication mode, and insurance type.

Pediatric Ear Infections: Racial Disparities in Health Care
Presenters: Neil Bhattacharyya, MD; Nina Shapiro, MD; Kalpesh Vakharia, MSc, MD
Time: 9:46 am
Location: Room 259

An annualized population of 4.65 million children in the United States report frequent ear infections (FEI). Overall, the study showed that 3.7 percent could not afford care, 5.6 percent could not afford prescriptions, and only 25.8 percent saw a specialist. A larger percent of the black (42.7%) and Hispanic children (34.5%) with FEI were below the poverty level, versus white children (12.4%). Over 18% of Hispanic children were uninsured, versus 6.5% of white children.

In a paper presented at the 2010 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Boston, researchers concluded that racial/ethnic disparities among children with FEI significantly influence healthcare resource access and utilization. These disparities should be targeted for intervention.

Chronic Ear Disease in the Pacific: A 10-Year Review
Presenter: Jon Robitschek, MD
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Room 257

For ten years, otolaryngology surgeons from Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) have been partnering with the Palau Ministry of Health to provide care for patients with ear, nose, and throat disorders.

In a paper presented at the 2010 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in Boston, researchers presented a ten-year retrospective review of surgical cases, success rates, and disease incidence within a unique Pacific island population.

Source:
Mary Stewart
American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery