Researchers discovered a way to reprogram mature inner ear cells to proliferate and regenerate hair-cell-like cells in adult mice. This breakthrough could lead to the development of treatments to restore hearing in people with hearing loss. The study provides hope for regrowing sensory hair cells and other important inner ear cell types.
A new study suggests that chronic conductive hearing loss due to middle-ear infections can lead to neural deficits and difficulties in noisy environments. Researchers found patients with longstanding conductive hearing impairment had lower speech-recognition scores on the affected side, even when speech was audible.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear have identified microglia as gatekeepers that orchestrate inflammatory responses in the retina during autoimmune uveitis. By depleting microglia, disease was completely blocked, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for this devastating eye disease.
A genomic study of a 1980s hospital outbreak in Wisconsin reveals how Enterococcus faecalis bacteria adapts to the modern hospital environment and causes repeated antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections. Researchers identified mutations that allow the bacteria to resist antibiotics and develop new strategies for prevention and trea...
Researchers developed a biomaterial called GelCORE that can seal cuts or ulcers on the cornea and encourage regeneration of corneal tissue without surgery. The technology uses light-activated chemicals and has shown promising results in preclinical studies.
Physicians at Massachusetts Eye and Ear successfully induced a sense of smell in human subjects by stimulating nerves in the olfactory bulb. The breakthrough opens doors for developing implant technology to restore smell in those who have lost it, with potential applications in treating anosmia.
A research team from Massachusetts Eye and Ear discovered a new mechanism by which the immune system protects itself against bacteria inhaled through the nose. The 'exosome swarm' process involves tiny fluid-filled sacs that directly attack bacteria and shuttle protective antimicrobial proteins along the airway to protect other cells.
A study by Massachusetts Eye and Ear found that astronauts or pilots with higher vestibular thresholds are more likely to become disoriented during flight. The researchers also found a strong correlation between lower vestibular thresholds and improved manual control performance.
A study of 173 patients who underwent rhinoplasty found that only two refilled their opioid prescriptions, suggesting that pain management may not require as many opioids as previously thought. Facial plastic surgeons are now reducing opioid prescriptions by at least 50% to limit the potential for abuse.
Researchers discover immune cells in eye contribute to progressive vision loss from glaucoma. Elevated eye pressure triggers autoimmune response attacking neurons, leading to optic nerve degeneration and permanent vision loss. The findings offer a promising new target for future therapies.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear found that microglial cells rapidly migrate into the injured retina, forming close connections with infiltrating immune cells and removing injured photoreceptors. This protective role of microglia may suggest a new therapeutic avenue for preserving photoreceptors after retinal detachment.
A study published in PNAS reveals that the spatial organization of outer hair cells is crucial for amplifying and tuning sound. Researchers found that these cells can only produce high hearing sensitivity when arranged in their natural configuration with respect to surrounding structures.
Researchers have identified mifepristone, an FDA-approved drug for chemical abortion, as a promising candidate for treating vestibular schwannoma. The study found that treatment of the tumor cells with mifepristone reduced their proliferation rate by 80 percent.
Researchers develop CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing therapy to prevent hearing loss in a mouse model of human genetic progressive deafness. The therapy delivers the protein complex directly into sound-sensing cells, disrupting the mutation that causes cell death and preserving some hearing.
A recent study has created the first atlas of head and neck cancer, revealing the unique structural transition involving cancer cells and normal cells that allows tumors to spread. This finding may have implications for other common cancers as well.
A new study has identified potential lipid biomarkers in human blood plasma associated with age-related macular degeneration, which may lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatment options. The study's findings also suggest that metabolomics profiling may provide novel insights into the relationship between lipids and AMD.
A new study published in PNAS identifies two key compounds that can reduce the severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by regulating inflammatory immune cells. The findings have significant therapeutic implications for AMD and other conditions involving angiogenesis and inflammation.
Researchers from Mass Eye and Ear successfully prevented mice from developing retinal angiogenesis using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing techniques. The technique targets VEGFR2, a critical protein responsible for angiogenesis, and showed promising results in preclinical models.
Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who quit smoking experience improvement in symptoms and medication usage within 10 years. The study found that every year without smoking is associated with a statistically significant reduction in symptoms and medication usage.
The study reveals that enterococci, leading hospital superbugs, have been resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants for hundreds of millions of years. They were shaped by their environment, including living in the intestines of extinct animals, and can withstand drying out and starvation.
Researchers developed a novel strategy using cytokines TGF-β and IL-10 to promote tolerance in high-risk corneal transplant patients. Treating donor tissue with this combination improved graft survival rates by 68.7%, offering a promising approach for reducing rejection.
A study by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers found that oral promethazine temporarily worsened vestibular perception thresholds by 31 percent. This increase in thresholds could lead to poorer balance performance and a higher risk of falling.
A team of researchers identified the transcription factor RUNX1 as a novel therapeutic target for retinal neovascularization, a hallmark of advanced diabetic eye disease. By inhibiting RUNX1 with a small molecule drug, they achieved a 50% reduction of retinopathy in preclinical models.
A new study led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers found that the brains of blind individuals make new connections to compensate for visual information, enhancing abilities like hearing, smell, touch, memory, and language. The findings could lead to more effective rehabilitation efforts for blind individuals.
A two-step process has been developed to multiply stem cells found in the inner ear and convert them into hair cells, restoring partial hearing to mice. The researchers generated over 11,500 hair cells from a single mouse, offering hope for full hearing restoration in those with damaged hair cells.
Researchers found that a slight increase in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) protects retinal blood vessels from damage in early diabetic eye disease. The study suggests that inhibiting TGF-β may accelerate the disease, while increasing its signaling could prevent or delay diabetic retinopathy.
A clinical trial found that Verapamil therapy improved symptoms in patients with CRS and nasal polyps, representing a promising novel therapy for the disease. The treatment's effectiveness was limited among patients with higher body mass indices.
Study findings reveal that IL-7 and IL-15 signal Th17 cells to chronically reside in the body, contributing to autoimmune disorders. The study suggests targeting these cytokines may lead to new therapies for chronic autoimmune diseases.
A new study found that vestibular thresholds double every 10 years above 40, correlating strongly with poorer balance test results and increased fall risk. Vestibular dysfunction is estimated to cause up to 152,000 American deaths each year, making it a leading cause of death.
For the first time, researchers have identified rapidly proliferating cells in the corneal endothelium of specimens from normal corneas and those with Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). This discovery holds promise for new therapies to be developed using these cells to return normal clearing abilities to patients with FECD.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers have linked symptoms of difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments to evidence of cochlear synaptopathy in young adults. Regular use of hearing protection significantly improved test scores.
Researchers found that corticosteroids worsened long-term recovery from facial paralysis in Lyme disease patients, recommending cautious use of corticosteroids and prompt antibiotic therapy instead. The study's findings suggest a clear association between corticosteroid use and worse facial function outcomes.
A novel contact lens-based system has been shown to be at least as effective as daily latanoprost eye drops in reducing eye pressure in a pre-clinical model for glaucoma. The lenses deliver medication gradually to the eye, eliminating the burden of administration from patients and improving compliance.
New findings suggest that abnormal proliferation of blood vessels and rare lymphatic vessel formation contribute to the swelling and inflammation in thyroid eye disease. The study offers potential therapeutic options for treating the condition through targeted therapies and functional lymphatic vessel creation.
Researchers have designed three new eyeglasses using high-power prisms to optimally expand the visual fields of patients with hemianopia, a condition that affects over one million Americans. The new devices address limitations of existing prism technology and may provide additional range of vision when scanning in both directions.
A new technology is being used to treat sleep apnea in adolescent patients with Down syndrome, who often struggle with traditional CPAP machines. The first patient showed significant improvement in symptoms after implantation, paving the way for further research.
A new smartphone application allows users to control a magnified screen projected onto Google Glass using head movements, improving navigation and orientation. The technology has shown a 28% reduction in trial time compared to conventional manual scrolling.
A clinical trial found that patients treated with tacrolimus experienced equal relief of ocular symptoms as those treated with methylprednisolone, with fewer negative serious side effects. The study suggests that tacrolimus is an effective therapeutic option for ocular GVHD without the known hypertensive effects of steroids.
Researchers identified TNFa as a key inflammatory factor causing optic neuropathy in keratoprosthesis recipients. Blocking TNFa with antibodies successfully halted nerve damage in a mouse model, providing new insights into the underlying process and potential therapeutic pathway.
Dr. Joseph Rizzo, a neuro-ophthalmologist at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School, has received funding from the US Department of Defense to develop a visual prosthesis that can bypass damaged optic nerves and restore vision. The project aims to improve the quality of life for wounded warriors and Americans with severe visual impair...
A study by Mass. Eye and Ear researchers describes an association between a defective myogenic response in blood vessels of the retina and early development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes. The findings provide a potential target for therapies to delay or prevent accelerated onset diabetic retinopathy.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear have shown a link between mitochondrial dysfunction in corneal endothelial cells and the development of Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. The study found that lifelong accumulation of oxidative DNA damage leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death in FECD tissue.
Researchers found that high-dose atorvastatin regresses lipid deposits and improves visual acuity without progression to advanced disease in dry AMD patients. This potential therapy offers a new avenue for treating the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School have gained new understanding of how endomucin, a key molecule with anti-adhesive properties, prevents inflammatory cells from adhering to blood vessels. By promoting the expression of endomucin, they believe it may be possible to develop treatments for inflammation.
Researchers found that the adult brain's natural plasticity can compensate for a near-complete loss of auditory nerve fibers, restoring sensitivity to faint sounds but not complex sounds like speech. The brain's 'amplifier' at higher stages of processing acts as an amplifier, increasing sound detection abilities within normal limits.
Vestibular schwannomas cause hearing loss by secreting toxic molecules like TNFa, which damages the inner ear. The study provides a new mechanism for sensorineural hearing loss in these tumors.
A survey of 337 patients with hearing loss revealed three distinct strategies for disclosing their disability: basic disclosure, nondisclosure, and multipurpose disclosure. These strategies may empower patients to disclose their hearing loss and improve communication with others.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear found that chronic conductive hearing loss can lead to permanent hearing impairment if left untreated. The study, published in PLOS ONE, showed dramatic changes in the inner ear after a year of sound deprivation.
Researchers developed a method to deliver drugs across the blood-brain barrier using nasal mucosal grafting, showing neuroprotection in Parkinson's mouse models. The technique has potential to treat various brain disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric conditions.
Researchers found that blind areas in central vision can delay drivers' ability to detect pedestrians, even when using peripheral vision. The study suggests that any binocular central field loss might impact a driver's reaction time.