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Introduction: Elderly people with cognitive impairment are at greater risk for falls; thus, an understanding of the earliest stages of cognitive decline is necessary., Objective: To compare postural balance between elderly people with and without mild cognitive impairment using a three-dimensional system., Methods: Thirty elderly people with mild cognitive impairment and thirty healthy elderly subjects were selected. Static posturography was performed using three-dimensional electromagnetic equipment and the following parameters were evaluated: maximum displacement, mean speed and total trajectory. Open- and closed-eye stabilometric variable comparisons between groups and within each group were carried out, and a relationship between the Mini Mental State Examination and the total trajectory of all elderly subjects was determined., Results: The analysis among open- and closed-eye conditions showed a significant difference in maximum anteroposterior displacement in the control group and a significant difference in all stabilometric variables in the mild cognitive impairment group. A significant difference between the groups in all variables in the closed-eye condition was observed. There was a strong correlation between cognitive performance and total trajectory., Conclusion: Evaluations showed decrease in balance in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Presence of anteroposterior displacement can be an early sign of postural control impairment, and the evaluation with visual restriction can be useful in detecting small postural instabilities., (Copyright © 2015 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: One resorts to various postural strategies while attempting to maintain balance., Objective: To assess the postural strategies adopted by young and elderly subjects in varying sensory conditions by using a system of tridimensional electromagnetic sensors positioned on the projection of the first thoracic vertebra and on the sacral region. Postural oscillation values for young and elderly subjects were also reported., Method: This observational cross-sectional study enrolled 25 young and 16 elderly individuals. A Polhemus™ device equipped with two sensors was used to assess postural oscillation parameters (maximum displacement, mean velocity, and trajectory). Data acquisition was carried out with subjects standing while undergoing a 90-second test in four sensory conditions: eyes opened, eyes closed, on a stable surface, and on an unstable surface., Results: Sensors 1 and 2 presented significant cross-correlations in all sensory conditions for both groups (r > 0.99; p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were seen when the cross-correlations for both groups were compared., Conclusion: This study presented an important tool to analyze postural oscillation and assess the postural strategies of young and elderly subjects in different sensory conditions. Young and elderly individuals presented strong correlations between sensors (ankle strategy), but no statistically significant differences were seen between groups.

Unlabelled: There is evidence that a "resistance phenomenon" occurs when a none-damaging dose of amikacin protects the hair cells from ototoxicity. Our goal is to prove that this resistance is persistent., Method: Experimental study - 14 albino guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) divided into three groups. The auditory function was assessed by distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE): before exposure to amikacin, on the 15th day after the non-damaging dose was injected, at the end of the damage dose injection and prior to decapitation., Results: Group A (control) presented normal hearing and histological pattern. Group B (amikacin 20mg/kg/day (IM) for 30 days and affecting dose (400 mg / kg / day) for 12 days and Group C (same protocol of Group B, but kept for 60 days and slaughtered), the DPOAE confirmed normal auditory function in the pre-exposure and maintenance of the standard-dose; however, significant loss of auditory function after the end of the damaging dose injection., Conclusion: The protection phenomenon did not extended for a period of 30 to 60 days after the application of damaging doses of amykacin.

Unlabelled: Early detection of postural disorders is essential for timely interventions in patients with imbalance., Aim: A pilot study describing a new tool for evaluating static postural balance., Study Design: A cross-sectional study of a contemporary series., Material and Method: Twenty-five volunteers (15 women and 10 men) were evaluated. The mean age was 25.8 ± 4.2 years, the mean weight was 63.9 ± 13.1Kg, the mean height was 1.68 ± 0.08 m and the body mass index was 22.3±3.3kg/m2. Posturography was done by analysing postural sway with an electromagnetic system; a sensor was attached to the skin over the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra. Tests were carried out with the subjects in the orthostatic position for 90 seconds, with eyes opened(EO) and closed(EC) on stable and unstable surfaces., Results: When the influence of the surface was analyzed (stable x unstable) in the EO condition, there were significant differences in the middle-lateral parameters (m-l) (p=0.004) and total path (p=0.01), and in the m-l (p=0.004) and total (p=0.014) speed. In the EC condition, there were significant differences in all parameters (p<0.001). The influence of the vision was observed in all parameters only on unstable surfaces (p<0.05)., Conclusion: The new tool was efficient for analysing postural sway.

Unlabelled: Cisplatin is an antineoplastic drug for cancer treatment in children and adults. The side effects of cisplatin ototoxicity are significant: irreversible bilateral hearing damage to high frequencies (4 kHz - 8 kHz). Reports recognize some drugs that are associated with cisplatin to obtain an otoprotector effect. The ototoxicity mechanisms of cisplatin are related to injury of hair cell oxidation mechanism, especially of outer hair cells., Aim: Using otoacoustic emissions distortion products (DPOEA) and scanning electron microscopy we intended to verify the action of amifostine, a radioprotective drug that has well known antioxidant characteristics and otoprotector effects to cisplatin injury., Study Design: Experimental., Material and Methods: We used an experimental guinea pig model. The study was performed as follows: group 1: 6 animals, 12 ears, cisplatin 8.0 mg/Kg/day (IP), 3 days. Group 2: 6 animals, 12 ears, amifostine 100 mg/Kg/day (IP) and after 90 minutes, cisplatin 8.0 mg/Kg/day (IP), 3 days and group 3: 3 animals, 6 ears, amifostine 100 mg/Kg/day (IP), 3 days., Results: DPOEA were present before and after treatment in groups 2 and 3. The normal cilium architecture of outer hair cells was supported in all cochlear turns in groups 2 and 3. We concluded that amifostine has a potential otoprotector effect against cisplatin ototoxicity and could be used in clinical trials.