WongTanLim3 Blog On Sensorineural Hearing Loss / Its Related Tinnitus Treatment Updates

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

hi all

This 2011 has been come back very fast and will be gone in a couple of weeks.

There is some dark clouds gathering in the likes of the euro troubles. I think it could get quite challenging and more people will feel stressed out and perhaps got the sudden hearing loss I have 2 years ago on 4 Jan 2010.

Stress is the No.1 leading cause of all the dreaded illnesses that befall humans.

So let's cheer up!

I have here my favourite Christmas song :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbb3skLR0Bo&feature=player_embedded

Challenges for finding a cure

2011-09-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is a great article:

http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/haircellchallenge.htm

Test of sudden hearing loss

2011-09-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Just come across this article. Wish I have read it when I got my Sudden Hearing Loss :

http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/articles/medicalemergency.htm

Helping Others Will Lessen One's Pain / An online help group ?

2011-09-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

hi all

I recently heard over the radio an interview with a lady who narrate how she got into depression . She got herself out of it by doing social service to help others, by focussing on others.

It work for me!

Also recently thinking whether we should set up an online help group (like the one who help alcoholic) , as I believe many fellow sufferers would go into depression (like myself) ..

GSK supplies more fuel to the battle front with hearing loss with human trial possibly from 2013

2011-09-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

GSK joins battle .

Human trial possibly from 2013. See :

http://www.inpharm.com/news/165362/gsk-biotech-uk-autifony-therapeutics

Update of me

2011-09-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

hi all

It has been a while since I post. Just an update of myself :

I have grown accustomed to my left ear hearing loss and its resultant tinnitus.

But I am still very much everyday watching at the horizon for the dawn of hearing to come.

If you have problem coping, or like to ask me a question, feel free to e-mail me at my email wongtanlim3@yahoo.com

Fully Invisible Hearing Aid

2011-02-27T05:37:00.000-08:00

See :

http://www.envoymedical.com/

See FDA approval and some critics' view here :

http://topnews.us/content/213643-fda-approves-first-totally-implanted-hearing-aid

I wonder if later gene therapy / stem cell therapy becomes available, whether one can still go for the hair cell regeneration or the Esteem procedures would kill off my ear hair cells (like cochlea implant does)?

As advised by me in my home page, please seek all the necessary medical advice before you embark on this or any other procedures highlighted by me, or others.

Some success in gene therapy by Sound Pharma

2011-02-27T05:35:00.000-08:00

Some success in gene therapy by Sound Pharma:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ucla-and-sound-pharmaceuticals-identify-a-key-hearing-regeneration-protein-in-the-human-inner-ear-116856853.html

Nanotechnology Vs Sensorineural hearing loss :

2011-02-15T05:35:00.000-08:00

Nanotechnology Vs Sensorineural hearing loss :

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wnan.125/pdf

Hopes to see more development here and elsewhere.

Just last week, I read 2 persons have gotten sudden hearing loss last year, like me ( I got mine on 4 Jan 2009) ..

Hearing with your nose

2011-02-10T00:02:00.001-08:00

Hearing with your nose: How nasal stem cells could tackle childhood hearing problemsStem Cell scientists in Australia have found that patients suffering from hearing problems which began during infancy and childhood could benefit from a transplant of stem cells from their nose. The research, published today in STEM CELLS, reveals that mucosa-derived stem cells can help preserve hearing function during the early-onset of sensorineural hearing loss.Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by the loss of sensory cells or neurons in the cochlea, the sensory organ of the inner ear responsible for hearing. The condition can have genetic causes, often arising during infancy and childhood, hindering cognitive development and leading to speech and language problems."One of the challenges in tackling this condition is that the regenerative ability of the human cochlea is severely limited", said lead author Dr. Sharon Oleskevich from the Hearing Research Group at The University of New South Wales. "It has been proposed that the transplantation of cells from other parts of the body could treat, prevent or even reverse hearing loss. The transplanted cells have the potential to repair tissue by replacing damaged cells and enhancing the survival of existing cells, preventing the condition from developing further."To investigate the effects of this treatment, nasal stem cells were injected into the cochlea of mice displaying symptoms of hearing loss. Mice were chosen for this treatment as they display a similar decline in hearing function following infancy."The authors have used an interesting type of adult stem cell, related to mesenchymal stem cells, to reduce the extent of hearing loss. Since the cells did not integrate into the cochlea, it is likely that the effects from the adult stem cells were due to the release of factors to preserve function of the endogenous stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are known to provide factors to keep many types of cells healthy and functioning," said Jan Nolta, Associate Editor of STEM CELLS.Patient hearing levels were examined using the auditory brainstem response assay, which determines the lowest sound level to which the brain responds, known as the hearing threshold.The mice which received the transplanted cells were compared to mice who had not received the treatment a month later, revealing that the hearing threshold level in stem cell-transplanted mice was significantly lower."The results demonstrate a significant effect of nasal stem cell transplantations for sensorineural hearing loss," concluded Oleskevich. "These cells can be obtained easily from the nasal cavity making this transplantation a potential treatment for other human conditions including Parkinson's disease and cardiac infarction." http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/w-hwy020911.php (external link, opens new browser window)

Some more literature on delivery vehicle of healing agent

2011-01-07T01:21:00.000-08:00

See :

http://preview.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/pdf/1477-3155-8-32.pdf

So when I am doing nothing to contribute to the hearing cause, scientists are working hard. I am really hit myself on the head.

Bravo scientists, keep up the good work in 2011!

100 pro Atoh1 growth chemicals found

2010-12-18T01:03:00.000-08:00

100 or so pro Atoh1 growth chemicals found. See below

http://harvardmedicine.hms.harvard.edu/fascinoma/fivesenses/hearing/back.php

The delivery device is possibly this infusion device found in my other post

http://www.neurosystec.com/Phase_1b_Clinical_Trial-Eng_Long_8-17-09.pdf

Soon people soon, we can hear again.

Soon we will meet and sing our hearts out ; it can be London, Paris , Beijing, Washington or any where. I will arrange. Its our date and it will not be happening in 50 years but in 10 years!

I miss this clinical trial started in Jan 2008

2010-11-29T05:31:00.000-08:00

I miss this clinical trial started in Jan 2008. I got my sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Jan 2009.

Well, this is life :

http://www.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~ent/ClinicalTrial/SNHL-IGF-Gel-1/Gel_Eng.html

But at least my right ear and other fellow human beings are spared what I gone through.

Possible cure for sudden sensorineural hearing loss is here

2010-11-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

If the onset of my left ear sudden hearing loss is now , rather than in Jan 2010, I guess I am home.

Any way, I find comfort for my right ear and for the rest of the world, that a possible cure for sudden hearing loss is here* (just google and you can find).

The other posible cure now is strong dose of steriods immediately into the inner ear

*Text :

Auris Medical completes enrolment in first cohort of phase IIb study with AM-111

Auris Medical announced today that enrolment has been completed for the first of two dose cohorts in its phase IIb clinical trial with AM-111 for the treatment of acute sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL). A total of 105 patients were enrolled in the study and received either AM-111 at 2.0 mg/ml or placebo in a single dose intratympanic injection at a ratio of 2:1. The study recruited patients who showed up for treatment within 48 hours from ASNHL onset and whose hearing loss amounted to at least 30 dB in 3 contiguous frequencies. Auris Medical is planning to proceed to the second dose cohort shortly.

Research , past current and future

2010-11-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

A succint summary of the status (including some results from past research) can be found here:

http://report.nih.gov/NIHfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=94

My thoughts

2010-11-22T05:22:00.000-08:00

hi people

I think I will share some of my thoughts tonight.

I believe for those of us who want a cure for our hearing loss (admittedly many do not), we can , eventually. But the first cure would not be from stem cell or gene therapy. There are just too many challenges to overcome and it does not help that some among us are sabotaging the doers with all the pro-life talk and what nots. Then the risk of the dreaded cancer is also there.

My guess is that our 1st cure will come in the form of super mechanical cochlea , which would almost rival our human cochlea, made available by nanotechnology. This would be unlike the current device used in Cochlea Implant which operation often destroy and by-pass our human cochlea and tap directly into the hearing nerve lines linking the human cochlea to the brain.

This is what is happening in the treatment of another equally complex organ, the eye.

My confidence in scientists really get a boost when i read this article.

If they invent this "..The implant device, which sits completely within the eye, is a tiny plate, measuring just 3 mm squared and a 10th of a millimeter thick, which has around 1,500 tiny light sensors connected to amplifiers and electrodes..", they can invent the cochlea.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A200C20101103

Then for those of us who want a real biological cure, all is needed is a little more patience. The scientists are slowly but surely getting there.

It helps that there are now much more public awareness on the possibility of a hearing loss cure and this lead to more funding and budding scientists coming on board. Therefore we have heard that Novartis is setting aside a war chest of over $200 million for a gene therapy. Below the radar, I would not be surprised if dozens more venture fund managers are quietly bumping in monies into the industry. Recently the Obama administration just announced it is printing billions of dollars more to boast the US economy and this is going to lead to flooding of equity on the market. Some of this billions is going to our cures, you can bet.

So my friends, sleep well and have a good night

A recap of recent advances in restoring hearing

2010-10-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

I come across this Dec 2009 piece which I think some readers may find easier to read , than the other reports. Also it succintly summarise the 2 key approaches now.

Read on and stay positive :

http://www.drf.org/magazine/38/Winter+2010+Issue/article/303

You can be my friend at my facebook. Just e-mail me to let me know first , so that I can add you on.

The power of asking What's Next

2010-08-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

just to share.

Ask yourself "what's next?" after you get your hearing ?

To lead a normal life?

Why don't you do lead a normal life NOW ?

Get it ?

Clinical trial in 4 years?

2010-08-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

hi people

This suggests clinical trial might be as soon as just 4 years away. So hang on there :

http://www.genvec.com/download/press/2010%2008%2006%20Novartis%20Agreement_FINAL%20OUT.pdf

Human Test possible in 5 to 10 years

2010-08-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

See :

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/01/2928247/qa-stem-cell-work-moves-quickly.html

Sure hope a treatment comes earlier than later.

Just yesterday, I asked my wife why man can fly (in a aeroplane) ? She replied it is because man saw bird flying.

I told myself same for hearing loss : now that man has seen how bird can restore their hearing loss, pretty soon, man can also restore human hearing loss.

Treatment of early deafness possible in animal models by drugs

2010-06-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

Treatment of early deafness has proven possible in rat model by drugs.

This is indeed good news for future sudden hearing loss cases (happened to me in Jan 2009) :

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100630071258.htm

Drug Delivery Device Could Restore Hearing

2010-06-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

The good gentleman Mr Microbiology has again posted some really excellent materials and info on the RNID website (google it and you will find the site). For sharing with readers :

___________________

Drug Delivery Device Could Restore Hearing
Showing 1 to 10 of 10 results
Previous 1 Next Start End .Posts Posted by Post date

http://www.masseyeandear.org/news/press_releases/recent/drug_delivery_device/

external link, opens new browser window
Mr Microbiology 22 Jun 2010 01:07

Thanks for the info.

I am pretty sure GenVec, Norvatis, Heller and Rivolta are watching closely, as it should be.

Cheer cheer cheers
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com 22 Jun 2010 01:36

Yes ,there will be a few researchers looking at the above technology as a method to deliver regenerative medicines to the inner ear.
Unfortunitely in respect to Genvec they are having problems with company stock & finances.
www.fiercebiotech.com/story/struggling-genvec
They still have viable hearing regeneration research but if the company has to sell up this could slow the progression of thier research.
Nevermind ,there are plenty of other research centres / scientists exploring the potential of gene therapy as well.

Cheers.

Mr Microbiology 24 Jun 2010 00:54

...

Ask an Expert...

http://www.dnj.com/article/20100602/ADVERTORIAL01/306020007 (external link, opens new browser window)
26 Jun 2010 18:26

...

Mr Microbiology and wongtanlim3,

Have you guys been or seen this site on Tinnitus before?

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/mail-on-sunday-london-england-the/mi_8003/is_2010_March_14/brain-zapper-ease-tinnitus/ai_n52452048/?tag=col2;top-active (external link, opens new browser window)

quote
The idea of the stimulation therapy is that it calms down that hyperactivity and so reduces the tinnitus. The device uses repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which involves repeated magnetic stimuli to the skull to induce electrical activity in the underlying areas of the brain. Lowfrequency stimulation, once a second, has been shown to induce small, sustained reductions in activity in the part of the brain being stimulated.

Several hundred tinnitus sufferers have already been treated with the technology, either through trials or on compassionate grounds. Results from the biggest study so far, of about 200 people, show that placing the device over the left temporal cortex reduced their tinnitus. All the patients had lowfrequency stimulation - 2,000 stimuli a day - for ten days.

In one trial, involving researchers from the University of Regensburg in Germany, placebo stimulation was carried out with a sham coil system that mimicked the sound of active stimulation, without producing a magnetic field. In a second trial, also involving the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, 20 patients received either active or placebo stimulation over the same areas of the brain for five consecutive days.

Symptoms went down significantly in those who had the active treatment and remained at a low level six months later.

'The findings highlight the need for more research into the various types of tinnitus in order to develop the best cures and treatments for sufferers.'

Patients are now being recruited for seven clinical trials in America and Germany looking at rTMS and tinnitus. info@tinnituszentrumregensburg.de
end quote

What do you think, sounds very promising. Seems like they are doing more research before commercializing the device. That's gonna take a long long time.
vandal 28 Jun 2010 02:04

Hi Vandal ,

The internet link I posted earlier today ,
http://www.tinnitusresearch.org/en/meetings/files2010/abstractbook%20Dallas%202010.pdf (external link, opens new browser window)
has a bit about rTMS on page 28 of 76 of the pdf file.

Go to ,
http://www.clinicalconnection.com/searchstudies.aspx (external link, opens new browser window)
and type in tinnitus in the search box.
You will see the area ;
" Results from other databases "
Clink on the area that says ,
Show results from other databases.
Many of the latest tinnitus trials will be shown including the rTMS trials at the moment.
You can get more info by clicking on any one.

Some studies have shown good results from rTMS and others have not.
It is still a grey area that needs to be fine tuned but the conceipt remains promising.
I read about a patient in America who had severe tinnitus and his life begun falling apart around him.
His wife and family were suffering from him becoming an alcoholic which he found gave him relief.
He eventually was accepted on compassionate grounds to have surgery to implant electrodes under the scull which worked on electro stimulation of the tinnitus affected side of the brain.
It was successful in and his tinnitus was deeply reduced if not cured.
He no longer drinks and is very happy with the results.
He has a pacemaker like device (generator) that connects to the implanted electrodes.
It is similar but different to rTMS but is another promising avenue in tinnitus treatment.
There is a bit about this similar therapy here ,
http://www.henryfordhealth.org/body.cfm?id=53644 (external link, opens new browser window)

Cheers & Best Regards.
Mr Microbiology 28 Jun 2010 05:39

Mr Microbiology, thank you for the web site.

The one I have posted is not an implant but still it's a good option for those who doesn't like implants.
vandal 28 Jun 2010 07:17

Hi vandal ,

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation I know is not an implant but it is similar in the way it works to the implanted electrodes.
The theory of rTMS is that it blocks or reduces spontanious firing of overactive neurons in tinnitus.
rTMS works on a low frequency magnetic field being apllied to the brain via an external electromagnet for a period of time.
Electrode implants work on disrupting the spontanious activity of neuron clusters with electrical stimulation but are usually a permanent fixture.

Best Regards.

Stem Cell Based Therapy

2010-05-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post, I mentioned UK University of Sheffield's Dr Rivolta has succeeded in restoring hearing in 6 animal models , scoring an improvement of 25 dB.

Now I am also pleased to know UK and US researchers are moving in tandem towards a stem-cell based therapy. Well done !
See :

http://www.rnid.org.uk/VirtualContent/84925/HearingProgress2010.pdf

http://www.prfire.co.uk/press-release/new-stem-cell-research-could-provide-long-term-cure-for-deafness-14203.html

RNID going to Chicago in May 2010 for BIO Conference

2010-04-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

From their stated trip to Chicago, I gathered RNID is now marketing aggressively their merchandise (stem cell therapy), which indicates they are pretty confident and certain their merchandise works. They probably have some answers too , to some of the problem issues raised in Rivolta's article. As a boss will tell his contractors, come to me with a solution and not a problem. Let's hope they too come home with US $ 200m deal , just like GenVec with their gene therapy , and then they can really push their merchandise out faster to the supermarket for ENTs and from there, to us consumers.

http://www.drugdiscoverytoday.com/view/8974/rnid-calls-on-industry-to-invest-in-treatments-for-hearing-loss/

Mr Microbiology's very informative piece on Dr Rivolta's work

2010-04-12T20:25:00.000-07:00

I got to correspond with a very knowledgeable Microbiologist who hails from NZ.

This is his take on Dr Rivolta's work which produced a 25dB improvement from 6 animal models using stem cells.

"It is very good to see this news and its now proof of conciept that stem cells can be used to intergrate into the cochlear inner ear and become functional.A barrier for this type of therapy was considering that the original cells hensen , pillar , dieter , support and remaining sensory hair cells are all tightly packed together in a strictly organised fashion kind of like tiles on a floor.Getting new cells (stem) to intergrate and organise correctly is an important accomplishment.Its like fitting a new tile into an already complete floor.These must become fucntional hair cells if they are improving hearing by 25db which is great.They downfall of this research is that the cells used are embryonic stem cells , not native cells of the recipient or person recieving..This can cause the organism to have an immune response to the cells and adverse effects.Also ,stem cells can and do form tumors this problem is a statistical one at present.The fact the animal models hearing has survived several weeks is encouraging.I think it will be a race between stem cells and regenerative gene therapy but believe we will see gene therapy hit clinical trials first.Probably one day the two therapies will be combined to produce near perfect hearing.Genvec has recently publicised that that they are no longer continuing with there TNF anti-cancer study because of weak results for pancreatic cancer.Sad to see this but there is one positive in this outcome and that is they now are intesifying their resources into the hearing loss program with Novartis and there are talks of a clinical trail.The genvec program is targeting age related hearing loss amonst other forms.Its stated on there website.It means Genvec intends to invent a treatment without a window period.The hair cells are required for hearing complete their task with the help off support cells that nourish and support metabolism.They are connected to hair cells and can also mechanically influence hair cell sensitivity.It is the support cells that are the targetadenovirus transported ahoh gene therapy.These cells transdifferentiate into hair cells.Take hair cell form when expressing the atoh gene making healthy functional hair cells.There are a few downfalls of gene therapy for regeneration of the inner ear.The problem is 10 days after haircells are damaged and die (noise / medication) the support cells that are needed to change start to die or change their cell form making the atoh less effective.Some damaged regions of support cells will entirely change to what is called flat epithelium (scar tissue) which atoh has little effect.This is why a 10 day window is a big help for atoh therapy effectiveness.Some hair cells have been found to be unnatural , (ectopic hair cells) that grow in places where hair cells do not normally grow but it is not known if they will assist ear function.If support cells are changed to hair cells what will replaces the support cells afterwards.These things must have been considered by genvec scientists all they would not be considering age related / long term hearing loss.There are also genes that can induce proliferation of support cells which could be of great influence to recovery of the cochlear inner ear.Providing a garden of support cells to grow into hair cells.Hopefully these support cells are being targeted for regeneration as well.The sooner a trial starts the better.Best Regards."

Mr Microbiology very informative piece on Gene Therapy (2)

2010-04-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

I came across a Mr Microbiology's (who is a Microbiologist who hails from New Zealand) posts which are very good :

"I have been chasing for more information on the internet again and found some information on the research efforts and goals Genvec has towards a hearing loss treatment with Novartis.http://www.docstoc.com/docs/31792069/Ge ... Transcript (external link, opens new browser window)The most promising parts of this transcript is the talk of treatments moving towards the clinic or a phase 1 trail.They wouldnt say if or when because Novartis now has the rights to the hearing loss programme but the fact that they talking about it is good news.
Mr Microbiology
29 Mar 2010 04:58
hi Mr MThanks for the info. Do you any contact that can throw some light whether the gene therapy is good for long term deafness ? There is some concern that it is only for 10-days' old deafness only
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
29 Mar 2010 05:18
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/releases/10/02_04_10.htm (external link, opens new browser window)http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... sound.html (external link, opens new browser window)
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
29 Mar 2010 05:43
Hi , have a look at this page on genvecs website ; http://www.genvec.com/go.cfm?do=Page.View&pid=120 (external link, opens new browser window)All the company information I have seen in regards to Genvecs technology seems to be based on hearing damage that has been in the longer term.They look like they are aiming at this market.Makes sense to because this is where the money will be made.I know there are limitations to atoh therapy in long term hearing loss but maybe genvec has some extra technology that has not been released that allows atoh to work for this type of hearing loss.
Mr Microbiology
29 Mar 2010 06:38
thanksI really hope so also.Do you have hearing loss and T ? How does it occurred ?
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
29 Mar 2010 15:00
Hi Wongtanlim3 ,a couple of years ago I had a hearing test through work ( government scheem in New Zealand ).My hearing was perfect 250 to 4000 at 0 db and 4khz to 8khz were actually - 5db both ears.I had never heard of Tinnitus before until I had two weeks of an antibiotic which knocked out a few frequencies of hearing in my left ear.Was a shock when I started to hear a high pitch kettle like sound in my left ear and it didnt go away.The worst thing is when the doc tells you nothing can be done !!!My personal opinion is that Tinnitus is directly correllated with hearing loss.The brain is deprived of neural input at certain frequencies so it compensates by plastic changes and in neuronal activity.Get the hearing back , normalise the brain.So the ultimate cure for my type of T is going to be a hearing treatment not a drug like Neramexane that temporarly suppresses overactive neurons (NMDA Receptor Neurons) but dosent treat the cause to start with.I would still take Neramexane in a heartbeat if it was available here.As for the mystery of people that get T with noramal hearing well thats just it , a mystery.I know that when I have talked to some friends and family about T a surprise was that some of them had noticed sounds in the quiet when going to sleep but only when they looked for it.Even my 13 yr old niece said she heard whistling sounds at night before sleep ,I had to reassure that nothing was wrong ,it dosent bother her now.Did you know that Good human hearing is so sensitive that if it was a few decibels more sensitive people could hear atoms collide ;http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Arc ... n-gap.html (external link, opens new browser window)Maybe normal hearing sensitivity covers up and drowns out normal natural tinnitus (normal brain auditory activity) the one that everyone is supposed to get in extremely quiet surroundings and when we lose hearing the ability to cover this natural tinnitus signal is lost.But who knows really just yet , I just want the devils chorus gone out of my head and I think that will be done by restoring hearing !!!
Mr Microbiology
30 Mar 2010 00:30
Mr. Microbiology,You are absolutely wrong. Tinnitus and hearing loss are not co-related. My grandfather has severe hearing loss up to 70-80 db but no tinnitus and I know many people with severe hearing loss but no tinnitus.NMDA receptors in the cochlea of the inner ear is the root cause of the tinnitus originating in the inner ear. AM-101 jab has completely suppressed the tinnitus in Phase I Trial of people with noise induced hearing loss with a time scale of upto 90 days. The big question is that whether it will work for people with chronic tinnitus or not.Ototoxicity has cause your tinnitus not hearing loss.
Superstar
30 Mar 2010 01:22
hi Mr MicrobiologyI am on the same page as you. I too believe by restoring my hearing (lost suddenly by virus or tiny blood vessel blockage - nobody can be sure), my T will be gone. I just need a simple experiment to prove this : once I wear ear plug and can hear the high frequencies again, I do not hear my T anymore.And I too is of the view that normal ear also hear T. One expert I consulted told me ask anyone to go into a ultra silent room and they come out reporting they can hear all sorts of sounds.Once Rivolta's tests on animals is ok, they will move on to human and we will be home.
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
30 Mar 2010 01:47
Superstar , Ototoxicity and hearing loss go one in one.AM101 is a promising drug.It does sound like it works for people with recent damage but how much hearing loss is there afterwards.It neutralises the effects of excessive glutamatein the cochlear nerve soon after damage and so retards the tinnitus signal preventing the brain from centralising and recording Tinnitus which would lead to overactive NMDA receptors in auditory pathways.I have read that the overactivity of the cochlear dies down anyway over time after ear trauma but its the brain that develops tinnitus.It would be interesting to know what the success rate is in people left with a significant hearing loss after treatment.Sudden hearing loss leads to rapid neuronal changes and plasicity in the audiotory cortex and brain.A theory that sudden changes of audiotory input has been studied and may cause the inbalance of excitatory and inhibatory audiotory processes being more towards excessive excitatory pathways causing T.Slow consistant hearing loss may allow the brain to adapt to audiotory change correctly over time preventing T.This may explain why some people dont have T but have hearing loss.Another thing being studied is the loss of neuronal activity and sound processing in the audiotory cortex and brain as people age.This leads to hearing loss even when the mechanics of the ear are adequate to produce the acoustic signals.This also may shine light why there is hearing loss but no T.The brains sound processor is less active.I have found out some of my extended family have T but they also have hearing loss.If you cut the auditory nerve from the brain in tinnitus patients most will continue to have tinnitusThere is no cochlear influence at that time.I read a story about a girls older sister that use to venture to the nightclubs all the time and developed T.The younger sister had seen how her older sister suffered and became so paranoid and obssessed over her own hearing she wore earplugs for weeks.She developed a high ptiched whistle in her ear and was diagnosed with T.She went through 3 months of tinnitus retraining therapy before the T left her.For me I think my T is directly linked to my hearing loss.I have no hearing loss in my right ear and no T.Hearing loss in the left ear and screaming kettle T.My mother has hearing loss but no T so I know where your coming from superstar but at the end of the day statistically hearing loss and tinnitus are very correlated.I am just happy that all avenues for curing tinnitus are being taken especially hearing regeneration !!!Its great to be born in a time with great technology.Not so great to be the one requiring it.
Mr Microbiology
30 Mar 2010 06:37
I have tinnitus in both ears but hearing loss in the left only that was caused by a loud bang next to my left ear. Surprisingly, although my tinnitus in the left ear is higher pitched and so more uncomfortable, the tinnitus in the normal hearing right ear is much louder.
tj
30 Mar 2010 12:16
Hi Mr M.. there was a forum user who has left now who got tinnitus after many years of wearing ear plugs at night to sleep. That sounds very similar to the girl you describe. Her forum nickname was Angiepoos (I think).
tj
30 Mar 2010 14:10
Hey tj , I read the story on a website somewhere about T but cant remember where , tried to find it but couldnt.Anyway I read my last posts and actually found them a bit to "know all" my apologies.T does seem to happen for all sorts of reasons and its not necessarely just hearing loss.I hope only to post valuable information and not let my own opinions get in the way. Best regards to all.
Mr Microbiology
30 Mar 2010 22:58
Mr M I like your posts the most. You are humble, knowledgable and post valuable information. Keep em up. And you too wongtanlim3! Your constant posting of and treatments for hearing loss provides hope and interesting reading.
tj
31 Mar 2010 00:49"

Mr Microbiology very informative piece on Gene Therapy

2010-04-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

I came across a Mr Microbiology's (a Microbiologist who hails from New Zealan) posts which are very good :

"
I have been in contact with someone that is involved in restoration of hearing research.I recieved and email in reply and it sounds like they are in the final stages of planning an application with the FDA for clinical trails.This means hearing restoration is becoming more of a reality every day.
Mr Microbiology
16 Feb 2010 00:13
Who are they? what's the treatment? what company? what country? etc.
Cas
16 Feb 2010 00:46
Didn't mean to sound like I was barking orders to answer my questions there, just keen to know more please.
Cas
16 Feb 2010 00:51
I would like to enter more details but it would be unfair to the person I have talked to by saying who they are and who they work for.They are very high up in the ranks of their research.They probably dont want to be flooded with emails.Lets just say the company which is doing the research is working at regeneration of hair cells in the cochlear.The main thing is that it is happening and its not just dream anymore but a reality.I feel lucky to be in a time where this is possible.
Mr Microbiology
16 Feb 2010 02:41
Much thanks.As some one said, the time to hear is now !
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
16 Feb 2010 02:55
mr micro you never dissapoint with you posts regarding news. Thanks for relaying this info.
dan
16 Feb 2010 03:57
I have had a few ports so here goes.I have been lucky to have been born in a time where this technology has become reality.Somehow I have made it through the worst part of the damage my hearing had to antibiotic therapy.The tinnitus at the start was immense.It is not so bad now.The future is now for every one.Im going to have another port and have a little peace.Peace to everyone !!!
Mr Microbiology
16 Feb 2010 05:49
So, did he give you any kind of time span?Thanks,Nate
16 Feb 2010 17:15
A couple of things he did say ,is that he thinks they will be moving into the clinic soon and that the final stages of planning for a FDA submission are underway.That was about as specific as he got on the time span but it sounded good to me.
Mr Microbiology
17 Feb 2010 03:10
I am hoping there is no window period like 1-week or 10-days for the treatment to work!
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
17 Feb 2010 04:12
I think that this story is not true. If somebody was really going to clinical trials then they certainly would not keep it top secret. It would have been in the news...like ReNeuron, Geron and all the others involved in regenerative medicine.
17 Feb 2010 13:09
Mr M,Could I have your thoughts on LipoFlavonoid?. It's been sold over 30 years in the US for T.I still take Lipoflavonoid every day. Its:3 capsultes= Vit C, 300 mg, Vit B1. 1 mg, Vit B2. 3 mg. Niacin. 10 mg, Vit B5. 1 mg, V B12. 5 mg, Calcium Panthotenate, 5mg, Dicalcium Phosphate 87 mg, Choline, 334 mg, Bioflavonoids: 600 mg, Inositol, 334 mg
Philippa
17 Feb 2010 15:17
To the poster ( I think that this story is untrue ).For a start it is not a story.Why would I post such things about this if it were unture.To get plessure from getting peoples hopes up ?That would make no sense especially when I suffer just the same id be fooling myself.Please take another look at my posts.I have never said anyone is going to be in a clinical trail but that I was told that the final stages of planning for a FDA submission were being completed and that he thinks the technology will be moving into the clinic soon.That means the FDA still has to approve the trial which I hope they do when they get the application.Also I never said it was top secret.Out of total respect for the person that gave me this information I did not want to say who they were or who thay work for.This is to prevent him being flooded with emails by people wanting to know if its true.Im sure you can understand that.Im sure when the FDA submission is filed the presswill be all over it.Last thing said ,it is totally true all I have said !!!
Mr Microbiology
17 Feb 2010 21:19
Apologies Mr Microbiology. I should have read your first post more carefully and you make some good points in your last post.Thank you for passing on your information.
17 Feb 2010 21:37
Apologies Mr Microbiology. I should have read your first post more carefully and you make some good points in your last post.Thank you for passing on your information.
17 Feb 2010 21:46
Mr. M,Could you at least tell us in what form it is in...stem cell, regeneration, surgical......?Thanks,Nate
17 Feb 2010 21:55
To ( I think this story is untrue ).No worries you do not need to apologise.I know how everyone wants to know more , I am the same I want to know more about it to.To ( Nate ).The form will be in adenovector technology.A harmless or non pathogenic virus is used to transport a regenerative gene to inner ear cells so they can differentiate into hair cells.
Mr Microbiology
17 Feb 2010 22:21
Phillipa ,I think what you have is a good multivitamin tablet with some bioflavonoids in the mix.The vitamins are good to preserve inner ear function but for tinnitus im not sure if they would make much of a difference.The Bioflavonoids are good at thinning the blood and so increase circulation to the inner ear.This may improve hearing slightly and by doing so reduce T.Be careful when taking any other blood thinning medication ,you dont want blood to be thinned to much.Maybe Magnesium will be useful daily as it can have a antagonistic effect on NMDA receptors in the brain.Slows down overactivity.The NMDA receptor seem to have a role in tinnitus.
Mr Microbiology
17 Feb 2010 22:30
Hi Mr MicrobiologyPlease excuse my ignorance but Id be very grateful if you would be able to shed some light on a few questions I have.1) Do you know if there is any evidence that the stem cells that reside in the inner ear are able to differentiate into hair cells that respond across the entire frequency range of human hearing? I have high frequency (>6kHz) losses. This is why I ask.2) Why can the gene not be directly (locally) administered into the ear by intratympanic injection?Many thanks.
S.D
18 Feb 2010 12:07
Thanks Mr M. I swear taking the LipoFlavonoid is helping to reduce the noise. Funnily enough, the 'prophet' and seer Edgar Cayce said T was down to poor circulation in the ears ,and he recommended craniosacral therapy and steam baths, and I have indeed found both helpful.How much Magnesium do you think I should take?And I really appreciate you keeping us up to date with the cell stem info and answering our questions about it.
Philippa
18 Feb 2010 14:45
Very interesting stuff, thanks for posting. I recently attended a seminar at the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital in London and there making breakthroughs there aswell. I'd be interested to see what there doing, at this point in time implanting cells directly into the cochlea is very difficult because of scar tissue. In response to Mr. M, i don't know if stem cells would have the desired effect your thinking of. I'm not sure if they would differentiate, however even if they did they could not implant themselves into the organ of corti (sensory part of the inner ear). Even if this were possible or done manually by surgery there is still the problem of tonotopy. When cells die inside the cochlea the associated nerves move away and attach to other fuctional hair cells near by. If a new hair cell were to be implanted there is no way of knowing wether the correct nerve fibers would reassociate (if at all). In other words if a cell were to be implanted in a 6235kHz section, nerve fibers from 6500kHz or even higher may associate, causing problems.
Student Audiologist
18 Feb 2010 19:53
What if you have No Cochlear ? just a question
pompeyfc
18 Feb 2010 22:14
To (S.D.).A scientist named Stefan Heller had discovered a small amount of stem cells that reside in the ear cochlear these are pluripotent adult stem cells and they have the latent potential for regeneration of cochlear tissue.Everyone has adult stem cells in the body that regenerate different organs and they often deplete with age.The problem with inner ear stem cells is they have lost there ability to regenerate the inner ear.They need to be switched on for this.This is a completely different avenue of research than gene therapy or by another method of delivering stem cells for therapeutic effect (Dr Marcelo Rivolta).Gene therapy is a method of inducing hair cells in the Cochlear from support cells & hopefully epithelium cells.Current research from what I have researched is that the frequency range of recovery is linear or across the range of frequencies to a degree and correlating to damage and incomplete.So not quite normal hearing in animal models tested.The therapy could fix 6khz to a degree if it is successful I would think.It is being developed with a adenovector virus that is specific to certain cells the ones needing to be repaired.This is the challenging part ,to get the virus to transfer the regenerative gene to the correct cells.The therapy (adenovector virus) I would imagine will be delivered directly to the cochlear by intratympanic injection.This method is most important to prevent systemic or whole body exposure to the virus (cochlear is well quite isolated from the rest of body) , so to prevent a growth gene being delivered to other parts of the body.Advancements are being made in this method so that fragile cochlear cells are not damaged when injection is performed (injection techniques / smaller volumes of med / more efficient adenovectorparticles or virus ).Hope thats of help.
Mr Microbiology
19 Feb 2010 05:00
To (Philipa) , I take 600mg Magnesium Chelate a day.Easily absorbed by the body.Bioavailabilty.Provides about 100mg elemental magnesium.Cheers.
Mr Microbiology
19 Feb 2010 05:10
To (student audiologist).The method of cochlear repair you have specified (stem cell) is different to the method I am referring to in this thread.Stem cells I agree would have a difficult time intergrating in scar tissue or the flat epithelium of the cochlear (when the support cells have degraded).The method im referring to regards a gene being implemented into cells of the cochear via virus adenovector to induce hair cell differiation.There has been research to show that nerve fibres will move towards a new functional hair / support cell when it has been regenerated.This shows that a chemical signal from the newly formed cells seems to attract nerve fibres.As to frequency and brain response to that frequency.From what I have researched ,somehow the brain reconfigurates and this is shown in animal models with this therapy.Cheers.
Mr Microbiology
19 Feb 2010 05:40
hi Mr MicrobiologyI came across some writing that suggest the US is collaborating with a hospital in China Beijing using Math1/Atoh1 for treatment of hearing loss. It is in the research stage.While this is good news , with US and China now jointly researching into gene therapy, however they seem to suggest there is a limited window period of 10 days. Did your source said their coming treatrment has such a limited period ?See :http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/releases/10/02_04_10.htm (external link, opens new browser window)
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
19 Feb 2010 07:01
Hi (pompeyfc)No cochlear means this therapy would not work.They would need to regrow one and that is a part of the future.It will take a little longer than replacing hair cells but one day ! Scientists are trying to grow human organs from stem cells now so it is not fantasy that a cochlear could possibly be created in the same way.Then you need a good surgeon to transplant it in.Hi wongtamlim.The article you have metioned is for research for the damage done to hair cells causing them to lose their stereocilia (hairs) and come close to cell death ( Apoptosis ).The math1 gene invigorates the hair cells and causes them to grow back their stereocilia so long as the problem is isolated only to loss of hair cells.The research im referring to causes support / ( epithelium ? ) cells in the cochlear to differentiate into hair cells to replace hair cells gone (Gene Therapy)The research sounds like improvements so far are best with vestibular (balance) systems ,the hair cells in this area seem to be more easily replaced.Im sorry I cannot tell you much more.I would like to get more information if at all possible.I will try sometime soon.Cheers.
Mr Microbiology
19 Feb 2010 09:07
Correction to above Post.Think I will proof read my posts from now on anyway =Hi wongtamlim.The article you have metioned is for research for the damage done to hair cells causing them to lose their stereocilia (hairs) and come close to cell death ( Apoptosis ).The math1 gene invigorates the hair cells and causes them to grow back their stereocilia and prevents them from hair cell death.
Mr Microbiology
19 Feb 2010 09:21
hi Mr MicrobiologyMuch thanks for the reply.
wongtanlim3 at yahoo.com
19 Feb 2010 11:39
HelloSo if i can make a conclusion there is no talking about a window period? So tinnitus sufferers having tinnitus "due to haircell death" for 1year, 10years, 20years,.. would be able to receive the treatment? Im sorry if u answered this before but my english is not that well and it was hard for me to subtract this information from the above written. Regards and thankyou for keepin us updated about this intresting mather!
19 Feb 2010 13:50
Thanks Mr M for info about Magnesium Chelate.. What other supplements are you taking, and do you think it helps your T?
Philippa
19 Feb 2010 14:37
Thanks Mr. Microbiology. Much appreciated. Btw have you seen Stefan Heller's YouTube video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZPClxxLGmE (external link, opens new browser window)I expect you know all this already, but it's a nice presentation nonetheless.
S.D
19 Feb 2010 14:47
I could not be 100% sure whether what they are planning for in a FDA submission is for long term hearing loss or short term.The research is aimed at a market where people already have hearing loss so I would imagine that the technology he was talking about is for long termers. .
Mr Microbiology
19 Feb 2010 23:15
I dont think there is a window period as the research is aimed at the a market where hearing loss has already occurred.
Mr Microbiology
20 Feb 2010 00:38"

Exciting Updates on hearing loss and Tinnitus

2010-04-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

Some really exciting updates on treatment for hearing loss (using stem cell) and Tinnitus.

See :

http://www.rnid.org.uk/VirtualContent/84925/HearingProgress2010.pdf

Folks who are suffering need not wait for too long now!

" ...
Stem cells are cells that can be grown in the
lab and have the potential to turn into many
different types of cell.
Dr Marcelo Rivolta at Sheffield University, UK,
is exploring the possibility of using stem cells
to replace the damaged cells within our ears.
In previous research, funded by RNID, Dr
Rivolta discovered how to grow ‘auditory stem
cells’ in the lab and how to coerce these cells
into cell types found in the inner ear. He is now
focusing on finding out whether these auditory
stem cells could be used to restore hearing in
six models of deafness.
Initial results are very promising, with all six
models showing that the cells transplanted
into the ear developed into the correct type
of cell. In this case, the team had ‘told’ the
stem cell to turn into a hearing nerve cell. After
several weeks, the cells were still in good
condition and had started to grow towards the
right location. Even more promising is the fact
that the models showed a 25dB improvement
in their hearing thresholds, indicating that
this early research is a step in the right
direction towards achieving the ultimate goal –
reversing hearing loss."

Cells (for inner ear treatment) for sale

2010-04-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

Scientists who need cells for experiments to treat inner ear deafness can now buy them off the shelf:

See :

http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_14838699?nclick_check=1

Stem Cell experiments moving from lab on to animals

2010-03-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

Dr Rivolta and team in University of Sheffield is the 1st in the world to be able to create human ear hair cells. They did it in the lab.

Seem they are moving from lab to animal testing. This means they might have invented an instrument which can transplant the hair cells from the lab into the inner ear. This is nothing but good news.

See below :

http://www.rnid.org.uk/howwehelp/research_and_technology/rnid_research_grants/projects/projects/restoring/transplantation.htm

China PLA Hospital also researching on Atoh1 gene therapy

2010-03-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

I found this link. The beauty of it, is not so much the message that Atoh1/Math1 can only repair damaged ear cells within 10 days of damage but the revelation inside the text that China PLA General Hospital in the Chinese Capital is into gene therapy using Atoh1 as well. Seem it is also collaborating with US scientists.

With the more liberal testing and trial methods at China, we can be pretty certain that if there is going to be any human trial using Atoh1, it would first start in China and we will not need to wait for long.

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/releases/10/02_04_10.htm

Micromanipulator developed to deliver stem cell

2010-03-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

Someone shared the following links which said the micromanipulator tool can deliver stem cells into the inner ear in the future

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/ef-cdt031210.php

video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcTUsgIdlAI&feature=related

Picture of the device:

http://www.basqueresearch.com/upload/txostenak/2599_MicromanipuladorOidoInterno.pdf

They brighten my otherwise dull day today; I am today feeling (I feel it from time to time and not always) a bit imbalance on my right side because my left ear's balancing mechanism has probably been knocked out by virus, mini-stroke or whatever which took out my hearing and caused T too!

Genvec CEO shared in Feb 2010 that Atoh1 can restore all hearing freq

2010-03-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

See :

http://www.investorvillage.com/smbd.asp?mb=1195&mn=6078&pt=msg&mid=8582724

It is a very wonderful report. For eg, it tells us that Atoh1 is unlikely to cause cancer (1 of the major worries for this novel gene therapy using Atoh1 to restore hearing). On the contrary, it suppress cancer !

MIT is developing inner ear drug delivery device

2010-03-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

Harvard Medical School and MIT seem to be developing a inner ear drug delivery device. See link below.

I surmise from the materials that they must have some sort of effective drug up their sleeve already. It is some sort of solid dry drug, that need to be continuously delivered (controlled by a microprocessor) over years into the inner ear to be effective, something to do with the Atoh1 gene which Genvec is partnering Novartis to co-develop with a war chest of over US$200 million.

And it follows from the above (eg that it need to be continuously delivered over years)that it is not only for repairing damaged hair cells in 10-days old patients only (see my other report or 2nd link below) :

http://www.usher-syndrome.org/index.cfm?pk=download&id=10711&pid=10258

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527494.800-ten-days-to-save-hearing-after-deafening-sound.html

Atoh1 repairs hair cell damaged up to 10-days ie for 10-days old patients

2010-03-09T03:15:00.000-08:00

This report says Atoh1 repairs 10-days old patients' hair cells.

One may then ask whether it is the end of the hope that Atoh1 (which in Jan 2010 Genvec is reportedly co-developing with pharma giant Novartis with a war chest of over US$200 million) can cure deafness which has occurred for some time.

I think not.

For one, the same report seems to suggest it is an additional function for Atoh1, on top of regenerative qualities.

Here is the link :

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527494.800-ten-days-to-save-hearing-after-deafening-sound.html

Also I found these materials from some good soul that Harvard Medical School and MIT seem to be developing an inner ear drug delivery device. See link below.

I surmise from the materials that they must have some sort of effective drug up their sleeve already. It is some sort of solid dry drug, that need to be continuously delivered (controlled by a microprocessor) over years into the inner ear to be effective, something to do with the Atoh1 gene which Genvec is partnering Novartis to co-develop with a war chest of over US$200 million.

And it follows from the above (eg that it need to be continuously delivered over years)that Atoh1 is not only good for repairing damaged hair cells in 10-days old patients only :

http://www.usher-syndrome.org/index.cfm?pk=download&id=10711&pid=10258

Patent for Atoh1/Math1 gene therapy filed - the end is near!

2010-02-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

Some good person has alerted me to this very informative and good news that a patent for the Atoh1/Math1 gene therapy has been filed.

It was filed in Feb 08, which is only good news because it means much have been done since.

I expect a real cure is really coming, fast. The end is near !!

See :

http://www.freshpatents.com/-dt20090917ptan20090232780.php

US scientists warn of fraud of stem cell banks

2010-02-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

Against the tide of support chorus for umbilical stem cell, there is this article. We will need to see how it will act out. See :

http://english.sina.com/technology/p/2010/0220/304659.html

Isolation and culture of the cochlea from neonatal mice and proof of Atoh1/Math1 healing agent capability

2010-02-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

This link describes a method for the isolation and culture of the organ of Corti from neonatal mice. It also proved Atoh1/Math1 healing agent is able to re-generate inner ear hearing hair cells.

See :

http://www.jove.com/index/Details.stp?ID=1685

Genvec going into partnership with Novartis

2010-01-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

Novartis is entering into partnership with Genvec for their hearing and balance loss restoration programme.They are spending 5 million upfront to Genvec showing their convidence in Genvec's technology.

If the programme succeeds Genvec will recieve a further 214 million which is a great incentive for Genvec to achieve their goal.

It is nice to know that a pharmaceutical giant with about 99,000 employees and 2008 net income of more than $8 billion has finally come to play in the field of hearing and balance loss.

See :

http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/01/18/daily16.html

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100119/GenVec-and-Novartis-collaborate-to-develop-novel-treatments-for-hearing-loss-and-balance-disorders.aspx

Recent Advances in Restoration of Hearing

2010-01-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

The last ten years have yielded much advances. Hopefully, the next few years will see more breakthroughs !

See :

http://www.drf.org/magazine/38/Winter+2010+Issue/article/303

Stem Cell Treatment Successful in Mice Animal Model

2010-01-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

See :

http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/treatments/haircells.aspx

I believe much progress has been made since the 2004 aritcle. Let's await for more news.

Promising past and coming developments

2010-01-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

See :

http://www.rnid.org.uk/howwehelp/research_and_technology/

See :

http://www.rnid.org.uk/howwehelp/research_and_technology/rnid_research_grants/projects/projects/restoring/

See (for projects):

http://www.rnid.org.uk/howwehelp/research_and_technology/rnid_research_grants/projects/projects/restoring/

hearing loss-a-brief history

2009-11-30T05:16:00.000-08:00

See

http://repairstemcell.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/hearing-loss-%e2%80%93-a-brief-history/

Hearing Loss - A Brief History

2009-11-29T06:46:00.000-08:00

See

Hearing Loss - A short history

Some articles on T

2009-10-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

See the link.

There are also some links on related stories inside the article for general reading up on T.

See :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071031152922.htm (external link, opens new browser window)

The Hearing Loss and Tinnitus connection

2009-10-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

The relationship of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus.

See :

http://www.hear-it.org/page.dsp?page=3571

Nanomagnets Guide Stem Cells To Damaged Tissue

2009-10-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

see :

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817190640.htm

Stem cell restore sight. Hearing loss next ?

2009-10-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Gene therapy was almost thrown out when a death occurred and a few cancer cases surfaced a few years ago.Now gene therapy has success again. The below article may suggest similar treatment pattern for hearing loss, balance disorder and the hearing-loss-induced T , by similarly using a neutralised harmless virus to deliver the healing atoh1 gene to the injured inner ear area. You can read more atoh1 on my other thread here in this blog wongtanlim3 .

See :

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre59n1t4-us-blindness-genetherapy/

The wonder zebra fish helps in hearing loss and balance disorder

2009-10-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

The tiny zebra fish's developing ears is useful for study into hearing loss and balance disorder

See:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201144731.htm

Possible Human Trials / Clinical Trials

2009-10-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

1. Cord blood

I found these 2 links. Seem human trials will be coming ?

Please see the 1st link on the cord blood coy and the 2nd link on where the idea might have come from:

http://blog.cordbloodbankingnews.com/2009/03/center-for-regenerative-medicine-cord.html

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120350.php

2. Infusion device and microscopic tube into the cochlea

Seem French scientists able to perform micro-surgery to insert a microscopic tube into the cochlea.

I will think if the rather invasive surgeryit does not damage the inner ear, then the device might be able to deliver stem cells or other healing agents into the cochlea to treat sensorineural hearing loss.

See :
http://www.neurosystec.com/Phase_1b_Clinical_Trial-Eng_Long_8-17-09.pdf

See ATA's reference to it at
http://www.ata.org/about-tinnitus/patient-information

Research Areas where scientists may perhaps collaborate with each other

2009-10-01T21:35:00.001-07:00

1. See (it is a Sep 2009 article) :

http://www.drf.org/magazine/37/Fall+2009+Issue/article/295

2. See RNID-supported scientists' work at http://www.rnid.org.uk/howwehelp/research_and_technology/rnid_research_grants/projects/projects/restoring/?pn=1

3. See artificial cochlea study :

http://researchenterprise.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/artificial-cochlea-study-group-seeks-collaborators/

Artificial cochlea

2009-09-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

See :
http://researchenterprise.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/artificial-cochlea-study-group-seeks-collaborators/

Infusion device and microscopic tube possible tool to treat cochlea deafness

2009-09-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

A infusion device and miscrosopic tube developed by French scientists might possible be a useful tool to deliver stem cells or other healing agents directly into the cochlea if the micro-surgery does not cause damage to the inner ear.

See :

http://www.neurosystec.com/Phase_1b_Clinical_Trial-Eng_Long_8-17-09.pdf

Some recent update :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1242460/Revealed-The-drug-end-misery-tinnitus.html

Electrodes possible device to treat or reduce T

2009-09-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

hiI read a scientist in Belgium has implanted 30 patients with electrodesto reduce T with some success. See below which is 2008 aricle. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7175306.stm?(external (external link, opens new browser window) link,?opens new browser window)

Just the other day (28 Sep Mon or so), I read 38 blind volunteers (I think it is from US) have volunteered to test electrodes which enabled them to see some images. The results was hailed as a success and it was stated the cure for blindness , 1 of the holy grail , was found.

Hearing loss and tinnitus next ?

The article also mentioned a Germany scientist has 1 success by running electrical current near the brain. So fellow T sufferers in Germany may want find out more from that German scientist, Berthold Langguth, who is a neurologist in Germany.

Antibody Against Cancerous Stem Cell

2009-09-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

It appear 1 of the major problems with stem cell therapy is that the stem cells which are being re-generated (by the new technologies) might grow and grow ie after the damaged part in our inner ear is replaced with the regenerated stem cells, the stem cells might still continue growing and become cancerous. This is of course not acceptable. I found this article which said a Bioprocessing Technology Institute's researchers have uncovered a protein that kills only embryonic stem cells. This will prevent the potential cancer risk of future stem cell cures.So it seem the barriers are coming down, slowly but surely!

Ps : It might be also of real practical importance now that since this month Sep of 2009, e-mails are starting to come out from China that a Qingdao hospital there is starting to use stem cell to treat human nerve deafness.

See :

http://www.singaporemedicine.com/news/new0201c.asp?id=6068

For more scientific details, seehttp://www.bti.a-star.edu.sg/ASTAR_team_Develops_First_Cytotoxic_Antibody_against_Undifferentiated_Stem_Cells.pdf

Nanotechnology

2009-09-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

See :

http://www.nanoear.org/disease-burden.html

Delivery engine for use in treatment

2009-09-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

See :

http://www.nanobmi.com/images/OAD_Technology_for_Inner_Ear_Therapeutics_June_2009.pdf

Spiral tissue for treatment

2009-09-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

See (the Spanish are also working hard):

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-deafness&tid=4884

Zebra fish for treatment of hearing loss

2009-09-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

See :

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204563304574320823841860910.html

See 2nd article. The tiny fish's developing ears useful for study :
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081201144731.htm

Fruit flies for treatment of hearing loss

2009-09-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

Scientists are using fruit flies to find a treatment for hearing loss.

See :

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123414.php

microRNAs study for treatment of hearing loss

2009-09-15T23:07:00.000-07:00

See :

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090414124606.htm

Brain Tissue Cell treatment for hearing loss

2009-09-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

See (as far as I am aware, this news first appear around Dec 2008):

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/ears-nose-throat/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100231857

Human umbilical cord hematopoietic stem cell for treatment of hearing loss

2009-09-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

See :
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120350.php

Bone marrow stem cell treatment for hearing loss

2009-09-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

See below (please note article was published in 2007 or even earlier) :

http://www.healthyhearing.com/articles/7885-stem-cell-research-reveals

Buying human embryonic stem cell for hearing loss cures experiment

2009-09-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

Scientists who wish to buy human embryonic stem cell for hearing loss cures experiment can see :
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/17/business/worldbusiness/17stem.html

Embryonic Stem Cell Treatment for hearing loss

2009-09-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

See (Marcelo N. Rivolta is 1 of my star scientists):

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090323093129.htm

Inner ear stem cell for treating hearing loss

2009-09-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

See (Stefan Heller is 1 of my star scientists) :

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/29/CMGKAGAFFG1.DTL&type=printable

Buying Math1 (also known as Atoh1 and HATH1) Gene for hearing loss cures experiment

2009-09-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Scientists who wish to buy Math1 (also known as Atoh1 and Hath1) which can stimulate the growth of inner ear hair cells for hearing loss cure experiment can see :

http://www.audiologyonline.com/theHearingJournal/pdfs/hj2008_06_p46.pdf

Gene therapy treatment for hearing loss

2009-09-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

See (John Brigande is 1 of the star scientists) :

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080830005613.htm

See 1 Jun 2009 article from US' UM and Dept of Defense:

http://www.fox4kc.com/lifestyle/health/wdaf-tinnitus-health-research-060109,0,4837256.story

Background of Gene therapy

2009-09-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

See :

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/research/stories/archives/06/04_01_06.asp

Challenges

2009-09-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

Updated since Sep 2009 and from time to time:

My findings so far :

Background

The human inner ear 's cells (commonly known as hair cells because they have hairs) grow very fast and furious in foetus in the mother's womb sometime around between 9 to 11 weeks. But then they stop growing after that. The about 15500 hair cells are all that there is for a human to listen in their life-time, because hair cells would not re-grow back once they died due to whatever reason (eg loud noise, virus infection , mini-stroke in the inner ear / blockage of the ear tiny blood vessels etc).

The 15500 hair cells are lined up inside the snail-shell shaped cochlea. The outer ones 'detect and hear' high/very high frequencies while the inner ones 'detect and hear' lower frequencies and transmit the information via the 8th nerve to the brain which then enable us to hear the sounds.

Any damage to the hair cells inside the cochlea and also to the nerve cells along the 8th nerve is generally known as sensorineural hearing loss. It is more common for the hair cells in the cochlea to be damaged than the nerve cells along the 8th nerve to be damaged.

Conventional medicine all said there is no cure for sensorineural hearing loss.

Then around 1987 , 2 team of scientists discovered birds can hear again after they are deafened and their hair cells can grow back after they died (therefore the phrase "there are no deaf birds"). Many other scientists then start to embark on the road to find a cure for sensorineural hearing loss (also known as nerve deafness). Related to the death of hair cells is Tinnitus and loss of balance.

Broadly these are the challenges to finding a cure for sensorineural hearing loss:

I. finding a cure -

1. Using Stem Cell as a cure

Recently (Mar 2009) Dr Marcelo Rivolta and team at University of Sheffield have for the 1st time in human history managed to re-grow human ear nerve in lab. So now tests can be done directly using human tissue instead of say mice's

Problems

- the cell do not have the characteristic hairs which lead to its name 'hair cell'
(but Marcelo team say they are confident they can perfect the growth)

- body may reject if the cell come from another person (solution : take medicine to suppress rejection)

- how to transplant them into the small 5 mm cochlea

- the stem cells may grow uncontrollably, causing non-lethal tumour or cancer tumour

But a team discovered in Apr 2008 a protein which kill cancerous stem cell (see :
http://www.bti.a-star.edu.sg/ASTAR_team_Develops_First_Cytotoxic_Antibody_against_Undifferentiated_Stem_Cells.pdf

Also see my other headings on main page of my blog).

2. Using Gene as a cure

By injecting turn-on gene (eg Atoh1 formerly known as Math1 / also known as Hath1) and at the same time injecting suppressing-turn-off gene (eg retinoblastoma or Rb1) into the cochlear.

How ?

By eg hijacking a virus (eg cow virus)

Scientists like Yehoash Raphael (2005) and John Brigande (2008) and KU Med researcher Dr. Hinrich Staecker (2009) have been working on gene theraby.

- Dr Staecker informed at Jun 2009 HLAA that they can change the number of hair cells they produce by changing the promoter
(ie. turning the dimmer switch on the Atoh1/Math1 gene up or down).

So I will say if they can find out how many hair cells needed by individual patient , then blavo, we are closer to a cure !

Problems

- sound restored by Atoch1 are distorted because only 1 out of 2 types of hair cell are re-grown
- danger of developing into non-lethal tumour or lethal cancer (but 'promoter' switch is possible solution)

Some other scientists are also looking into a new gene delivery engine using new OAD technology (see link*). So it is promising for people like me who has sensorineural hearing loss with T, where the main stream medicine field currently offered no cure. It is a possible substitute for the virus delivery engine currently thought to be the most likely candidate for delivering the Math1/Atoh1 hair-cell-growth- stimulating gene into the inner ear.

*See :http://www.nanobmi.com/images/OAD_Technology_for_Inner_Ear_Therapeutics_June_2009.pdf

3. Extracting and transplanting recently discovered brain matter who looked and behaved like inner ear hair cells

See :
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/ears-nose-throat/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100231857

Problems

- unclear side-effect of taking out brain matter
- how to transplant into the small 5 mm cochlea

4. Drug

Some drugs being developed by some pharma companies for US Defence Dept for their soldiers to prevent hearing loss due to noise or to treat noise-induced deafness shortly after onset. Still development stage
- sound-induced drug is now being developed by coy
eg Pharma Sound
- there are other coy which is working on Atoh1/Math1
eg GenVec

5. Programming surviving hair cells

I have read and note some scientists have suggested they may be able to programme the remaining surviving hair cell to hear the sounds which the dead hair cells can no longer hear.

See :

http://www.ethlife.ethz.ch/archive_articles/080905_gehoerschnecke/index_EN

6. Cochlea Transplant

Cochlea transplant is not conducted yet.

It means the transplant of another person's real cochlea to the patient's inner ear (contrast this with Cochlear Implant which used a mechanical device).

Problem of connecting the 15500 hair cells nerves from cochlea to brain
(Query : But have anyone find out whether there is a really a need to connect each hair cell nerve to the brain ?)

II. Delivery

Problems -

Cochlea is tiny - only 5 mm
Cochlea is behind/protected by the body's hardest bone, the temporal bone - so it is more challenging to surgically drill through
Cochlea also filled with fluids (more than 1 fluids) - possible leakage if punctured.

Possibilities

By flooding the cochlea by injection into the inner ear
By nano technology (see my other headings on my main page of my blog)
By hijacking a harmless virus - but body immune system may attack it first
By yet-to-be-developed micro transplant surgery (to overcome problem of the 8th nerve being very very close to the face nerve and any incorrect handling might paralyse face)
By new technology (see above OAD technology as an example).

III. Clinical trials on humans

Too stringent and too long?
Block by ethical / moral issues ?

Should not be major issue : Once a cure or cures are found, some countries (like China) will spearheard and West will play catch-up again , like for stem cell treatments for blindness , eye and spinal injuries

1. As at Sep 2009, research is being done on using deaf babies cord blood stem cell to treat them by The CBR Center for Regenerative Medicine. It is collaborating with two leading medical institutions to initiate a research study that would evaluate using a child's own cord blood stem cells to help restore or improve hearing that's been damaged from injury or sickness from Feb 2009.

So if it succeed, it proved stem cells do grow into human inner ear cochlea's hair cells and the 8th nerve cells which connect sounds from the cochlea to the brain, which will enable hearing to be restored.

See :
http://www.cordblood.com/regenerative-medicine/hearingloss.asp

2. Then in Sep 2009, there are e-mail replies from a China hospital in Qingdow that they can treat sensorineural hearing loss.

See :

Article 1
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=es&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ganxibao.com.cn%2FnewEbiz1%2FEbizPortalFG%2Fportal%2Fhtml%2FMessageBoard.html%3FMessageBoard_action%3DlistMultiPage%26MessageBoard_NextPage%3D35%26time%3D1252427645882%231 (external link, opens new browser window)

Article 2 -

Which says that the centre has treated a few cases of sensorineural hearing loss and results are not bad. Currently they are treating a girl who was born with SHL and there are some positive results already. For more details , can call them at 053280653989,80653375.

The link in Chinese
http://www.ganxibao.com.cn/newEbiz1/EbizPortalFG/portal/html/MessageBoard.html?MessageBoard_action=listMultiPage&MessageBoard_NextPage=1&time=1252374159945#1 (external link, opens new browser window)

IV. Funding

Should not be major issue : Once plausible cures found or plausible theories out, venture companies , investors and pharma companies will come in because the market is huge

1. There is funding by governments

eg US' Department of Defence,

eg US' NIDCD

See :

http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&sid=cp111ZXgCA&refer=&r_n=sr066.111&db_id=111&item=&sel=TOC_411259&

2. Then there is at least 1 venture coy which is trying to get $20 million ie $20,000,000 for treating mienere disease and hearing loss. See
http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/03/06/otonomy-tunes-in-to-biotechs-sound-opportunity-diseases-of-the-ear/

3. There is also individual donation.

What is conductive and sensorineural hearing loss

2009-09-03T08:02:00.000-07:00

The hear has 3 portions. Problems associated with the outer ear and middle ears are conductive hearing loss. Inner ear's is sensorineural hearing loss.

Most conductive hearing loss can be treated with drug or surgery.

Most sensorineural hearing loss, if not recovered within a short time (some ENTs say 2 weeks from onset) whether by itself or oral / inject-into-the ear steroids, are currently awaiting a cure.

My hearing loss story

2009-09-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have sudden hearing loss in my left ear since Jan 09. No ENT can tell me the cause. But the tests (eg MRI scan and blood test) show it is not serious. They guess it may be due to infection (which I don't think so, because I am very well then) or mini-stroke in the ear ie the tiny blood vessels get blocked (I believe this is likely).