There’s More to Blast Exposure Than Just Perforated Eardrum!!
Auditory problems are the most common presentation in blast exposed civilians and military personnel alike. They may range from tinnitus and perforated tympanic membrane to complete hearing loss. The pathology of such condition is based on exposure to excessive pressure as a result of blast. However, latest literature divulges transcriptional basis of various presentation of ears after exposure to intemperate pressure. A study on mice population with simulated blast injuries revealed change in transcriptional patterns of various genes, 1 to 7 days after exposure to extreme pressure injuries associated with blast. Histopathological analysis and RNA sequencing showed upregulation and down regulation of diverse genes. The gross features of ear injury in such cases may range from perforated eardrum, hemorrhage, tinnitus, and sensorineural hearing loss. The alteration in transcriptional factors is associated with regulation of healing of injuries. The discovery of involvement of transcription factors in blast induced injuries has opened new avenues for management of ear trauma by modulating the transcription factors. This ensure better healing and prompt regain of physiological function of ear in near future. Source Blast-induced hearing impairment in rats is associated with structural and molecular changes of the inner ear https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-67389-5 Image via https://www.stripes.com/news/despite-new-efforts-battlefield-blasts-still-damage-hearing-of-thousands-of-troops-1.145733
