Panel 1: Biotechnology, biomedical engineering and new models of otitis media

Marie Gisselsson-Solén; Paula A Tähtinen; Allen F Ryan; Apoorva Mulay; Shin Kariya; Anne G M Schilder; Tulio A Valdez; Steve Brown; Ryan M Nolan; Ann Hermansson; Gijs van Ingen; Tal Marom

doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109833

Panel 1: Biotechnology, biomedical engineering and new models of otitis media

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Mar;130 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):109833. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109833. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
² Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
³ Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; San Diego Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Research Department, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁴ The Stripp Lab, Pulmonary Department, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
⁶ EvidENT, Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research University College London Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
⁸ MRC Harwell Institute, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK.
⁹ PhotoniCare, Inc., Champaign, IL, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Otolaryngology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
¹¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences Ben Gurion University, Ashdod, Israel. Electronic address: talmarom73@gmail.com.

Abstract

Objective: To summarize recently published key articles on the topics of biomedical engineering, biotechnology and new models in relation to otitis media (OM).

Data sources: Electronic databases: PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library and Clinical Evidence (BMJ Publishing).

Review methods: Articles on biomedical engineering, biotechnology, material science, mechanical and animal models in OM published between May 2015 and May 2019 were identified and subjected to review. A total of 132 articles were ultimately included.

Results: New imaging technologies for the tympanic membrane (TM) and the middle ear cavity are being developed to assess TM thickness, identify biofilms and differentiate types of middle ear effusions. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied to train software programs to diagnose OM with a high degree of certainty. Genetically modified mice models for OM have further investigated what predisposes some individuals to OM and consequent hearing loss. New vaccine candidates protecting against major otopathogens are being explored and developed, especially combined vaccines, targeting more than one pathogen. Transcutaneous vaccination against non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae has been successfully tried in a chinchilla model. In terms of treatment, novel technologies for trans-tympanic drug delivery are entering the clinical domain. Various growth factors and grafting materials aimed at improving healing of TM perforations show promising results in animal models.

Conclusion: New technologies and AI applications to improve the diagnosis of OM have shown promise in pre-clinical models and are gradually entering the clinical domain. So are novel vaccines and drug delivery approaches that may allow local treatment of OM.

Implications for practice: New diagnostic methods, potential vaccine candidates and the novel trans-tympanic drug delivery show promising results, but are not yet adapted to clinical use.

Keywords: Animal model; Diagnostics; Haemophilus influenzae; Moraxella catarrhalis; Otitis media; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Treatment; Vaccines.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Artificial Intelligence
Biofilms
Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology
Disease Models, Animal
Ear, Middle / diagnostic imaging
Haemophilus Infections / prevention & control*
Haemophilus Vaccines
Haemophilus influenzae
Humans
Otitis Media / diagnosis*
Otitis Media / prevention & control
Otitis Media / therapy*
Otitis Media with Effusion / diagnostic imaging
Tympanic Membrane / diagnostic imaging*
Tympanic Membrane / surgery

Substances

Haemophilus Vaccines

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding