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Vestibular schwannoma is a benign, intracranial tumor of the 8th pair of cranial nerves. The incidence of vestibular schwannoma is 3-5.2 cases per 100000 people. It represents 6% of all intracranial tumors and 80% of tumors located in the cerebellopontine angle. In this paper, the authors present the results of a retrospective study of vestibular schwannoma patients who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery between 2010 and 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CMV is the most common congenital viral infection, with a birth prevalence of 0.48-1.3% in recent decades. The congenital infection may be asymptomatic or symptomatic; the symptomatic disease can be severe and life-threatening. Both asymptomatic and symptomatic newborns are at risk of developing long-term neurodevelopmental morbidity, particularly deafness. Recently, the neurological complications caused by congenital CMV infection in affected infants have been successfully treated with antiviral agents, but the early diagnosis of congenital infection is vital for this treatment to be effective. To identify primary CMV infection, maternal blood tests for CMVspecific immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies (CMV IgM) are widely used. However, CMV IgM tests can remain positive for years after the primary infection, so a positive result for CMV IgM does not always indicate primary infection during pregnancy. A CMV IgG avidity test is also used for identifying a recent infection. Screening for congenital CMV infection is an issue for debate at this moment, but its severe consequences, similar to Zika infection, should rise more concern and research studies regarding neonatal screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital hypothyroidism may be associated with hearing loss. However, the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities in children with severe hearing loss is not clearly evaluated. The authors assessed the thyroid function in 30 children with profound sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, with cochlear implant, to determine if there is any association between congenital hearing loss and hypothyroidism. Serum levels of TSH and free thyroxine were normal in the study group. None had Pendred syndrome. We present a literature review on the association between hearing loss and thyroid abnormalities and the importance of testing hearing in children with congenital hypothyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present clinical importance and usefulness of genetic testing for connexin 26 and connexin 30 (the most common cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss) before and during pregnancy, and the importance of genetic counseling in families with such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present an important issue regarding congenital sensorineural hearing loss and the first study on connexin 26 performed in Romania, on a significant number of patients. We present the results from this study and the genetic correlation with the clinical aspects. Also, we compare our results with the results obtained in several studies performed in Western Europe countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prelingual sensorineural hearing loss is a sensorial deficit either congenital, either acquired due to perinatal period associated risk factors. Among these, congenital infection with cytomegalic virus (CMV) and ototoxic-induced deafness have a high incidence. CMV is the most common congenital viral infection, with birth prevalence of 0.48 to 1.3 percent in recent decades. The congenital infection may be asymptomatic or symptomatic; the symptomatic disease can be severe and life-threatening. Both asymptomatic and symptomatic newborns are at risk of developing long-term neurodevelopmental morbidity, particularly deafness. Recently, the neurological complications caused by congenital CMV infection in affected infants have been successfully treated with antiviral agents, but the early diagnosis of congenital infection is vital for this treatment to be effective. To identify the primary CMV infection, maternal blood tests for CMV-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies (CMV IgM) are widely used. However, CMV IgM tests can remain positive for years after primary infection, so a positive result for CMV IgM does not always indicate primary infection during pregnancy. A CMV IgG avidity test is also used for identifying a recent infection. The screening for congenital CMV infection is an issue for debate for the moment, but its severe consequences, similar to those of Zika infection, should rise more concern and research studies regarding neonatal screening. Ototoxic-induced deafness is frequently met because aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamycin, vancomycin) are the first-line antibiotics in neonatal sepsis - they are cheap and with a broad spectrum. The correct posology when using these antibiotics has a significant influence in reducing the risk of ototoxic-induced deafness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]