ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Molecular Research and Advances in Ear Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 812

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Opera Clinic, Protone Audio Kft., Lázár u. 4, H-1065 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: obstructive sleep apnoea vertigo tinnitus hearing loss otorhinolarnygology audiology; olfactory disorders; neurotology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus are common complaints that significantly affect patients' quality of life and can lead to psychiatric symptoms. These symptoms may arise from various causes, including conditions affecting the middle and inner ears, as well as issues originating from the central nervous system. Major causes include Ménière’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular schwannoma, and both acute and chronic middle ear infections. A considerable portion of these symptoms is associated with sensorineural hearing loss. As the population ages, presbystasis and presbycusis are becoming increasingly important concerns. Ototoxicity, which affects both the cochlear and vestibular systems, is also a significant issue in clinical practice, impacting patients of all ages.

This Special Issue aims to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms and potential causes of middle ear, cochlear, and vestibular disorders, which will help enhance diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We invite authors to contribute original articles or reviews on the molecular relationships related to ear disorders, with a focus on topics including (but not limited to)   

  • The molecular and cellular mechanisms of otosclerosis, along with treatment options;
  • Genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of sensorineural hearing loss;
  • Novel treatment options for sensorineural hearing loss;
  • Changes in blood parameters associated with sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo;
  • Tinnitus: molecular and genetic mechanisms, novel diagnostic parameters, and new therapeutic options;
  • Biomarkers related to Ménière’s disease;
  • Treatment options for Ménière’s disease;
  • Degeneration of vestibular and cochlear hair cells;
  • Drug delivery to the inner ear and issues related to ototoxicity;
  • Gene-based therapies;
  • Management strategies for vestibular schwannoma.

Dr. András Molnár
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vertigo
  • hearing loss
  • tinnitus
  • otosclerosis
  • Ménière’s disease
  • middle ear
  • inner ear
  • drug therapies
  • laboratory findings
  • molecular mechanisms

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

48 pages, 1027 KB  
Review
The Impact of Genetic Factors in Ménière’s Disease
by Iustin Mihai Iațentiuc, Otilia Elena Frăsinariu, Andreea Iațentiuc, Lucia Corina Dima-Cozma, Raluca Olariu, Luminița Mihaela Rădulescu, Ingrith Crenguța Miron, Iuliana Magdalena Stârcea, Cristina Gavrilovici, Cristina Mihaela Ghiciuc, Violeta Necula, Sebastian Romică Cozma and Oana Roxana Bitere-Popa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(6), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062788 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Ménière’s disease is an idiopathic disorder of the inner ear whose causes and pathogenetic mechanisms remain insufficiently elucidated. Advances in genetic analysis technologies have shifted attention toward the role of hereditary components in Ménière’s disease, generating a considerable number of studies investigating the [...] Read more.
Ménière’s disease is an idiopathic disorder of the inner ear whose causes and pathogenetic mechanisms remain insufficiently elucidated. Advances in genetic analysis technologies have shifted attention toward the role of hereditary components in Ménière’s disease, generating a considerable number of studies investigating the relationship between human genetic variations and disease onset. The results of these investigations highlight the complex and heterogeneous nature of pathogenesis, involving both genetic and epigenetic alterations. Studies have identified multiple candidate genes involved in the regulation of endolymphatic fluid homeostasis, immune response, control of oxidative stress, and maintenance of the structural integrity of the inner ear. However, the reproducibility of these associations varies substantially across populations, reflecting the impact of ethnic heterogeneity, HLA haplotypes, and phenotypic diversity among patients. Moreover, non-genetic factors may act as triggers or modulators of the disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Taken together, the evidence supports a polygenic and context-dependent model of the disorder, in which genes influence susceptibility but do not directly determine disease development. Integrating genomic information with clinical data, analyzing immunological profiles, and investigating exposure to environmental factors are essential steps for patient classification and for the development of individualized treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research and Advances in Ear Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop