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World J Otorhinolaryngol. Aug 28, 2013; 3(3): 89-99
Published online Aug 28, 2013. doi: 10.5319/wjo.v3.i3.89
Published online Aug 28, 2013. doi: 10.5319/wjo.v3.i3.89
Noise-induced cochlear inflammation
Winston JT Tan, Srdjan M Vlajkovic, Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Peter R Thorne, Department of Physiology, Centre for Brain Research and Section of Audiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Author contributions: Tan WJT wrote the manuscript and generated the figure; Vlajkovic SM and Thorne PR revised the manuscript.
Supported by The Auckland Medical Research Foundation; and the University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship to Tan WJT
Correspondence to: Winston JT Tan, BSc (Hons), Department of Physiology and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. w.tan@auckland.ac.nz
Telephone: +64-9-3737599 Fax: +64-9-3737499
Received: May 21, 2013
Revised: August 8, 2013
Accepted: August 20, 2013
Published online: August 28, 2013
Revised: August 8, 2013
Accepted: August 20, 2013
Published online: August 28, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Noise exposure, either occupational or recreational, is a major cause of sensorineural hearing loss in the industrialised world. Hearing loss is a devastating disability with considerable social and economic implications. Recent studies have demonstrated that an inflammatory response induced in the cochlea by noise exposure may contribute to the development of noise-induced hearing loss. Better understanding of the underlying inflammatory processes will help define pharmacological interventions that can potentially mitigate noise-induced cochlear inflammation and the associated hearing loss.