Does enriched acoustic environment in humans abolish chronic tinnitus clinically and electrophysiologically? A double blind placebo controlled study.

Animal research has shown that loss of normal acoustic stimulation can increase spontaneous firing in the central auditory system and induce cortical map plasticity. Enriched acoustic environment after noise trauma prevents map plasticity and abolishes neural signs of tinnitus. In humans, the tinnitus spectrum overlaps with the area of hearing loss. Based on these findings it can be hypothesized that stimulating the auditory system by presenting music compensating specifically for the hearing loss might also suppress chronic tinnitus. To verify this hypothesis, a study was conducted in three groups of tinnitus patients. One group listened just to unmodified music (i.e. active control group), one group listened to music spectrally tailored to compensate for their hearing loss, and a third group received music tailored to overcompensate for their hearing loss, associated with one (in presbycusis) or two notches (in audiometric dip) at the edge of hearing loss. Our data indicate that applying overcompensation to the hearing loss worsens the patients' tinnitus loudness, the tinnitus annoyance and their depressive feelings. No significant effects were obtained for the control group or for the compensation group. These clinical findings were associated with an increase in current density within the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in the alpha2 frequency band and within the left pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in beta1 and beta2 frequency band. In addition, a region of interest analysis also demonstrated an associated increase in gamma band activity in the auditory cortex after overcompensation in comparison to baseline measurements. This was, however, not the case for the control or the compensation groups. In conclusion, music therapy compensating for hearing loss is not beneficial in suppressing tinnitus, and overcompensating hearing loss actually worsens tinnitus, both clinically and electrophysiologically.

Cosmetic and reconstructive medical tattooing.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cosmetic and reconstructive medical tattooing techniques are being used with a higher frequency than ever before. The volume of scientific research into its basics, however, is too small to prevent the present occurrence of complications. This review shows that most of the recent articles on the subject are in fact case reports and that many of the complications described result from the failure to conduct more research. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings include few and relatively unimportant new techniques, studies describing tattoo removal with laser, magnetic displacement and chemical irritants, more findings about infections and allergies, and complications with high field-strength magnetic resonance imaging scans. SUMMARY: Recent literature contains very few useful studies because generally they are not supported by sufficient scientific research.

Dermatography as an adjunctive treatment of uni- and bilateral scars in combination with pseudo-hair formation after craniosurgery.

This article describes the use of dermatography as a method to reduce large cosmetically unacceptable scars in the temporo-occipital region after craniosurgery. Over a period of 15 years, 17 patients were treated in two to five 1-hour sessions without local anesthesia. The results show that dermatography is effective in providing a lasting cosmetically satisfactory effect, with subtle pseudo-hair formation and color pigments stably deposited. At the same time, the hypertrophic scars themselves are reduced and flattened, with their tissue made supple.