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The study describes a novel method for tinnitus screening in rats by use of gap detection reflex procedures. The authors hypothesized that if a background acoustic signal was qualitatively similar to the rat's tinnitus, poorer detection of a silent gap in the background would be expected. Rats with prior evidence of tinnitus at 10 kHz (n = 14) exhibited significantly worse gap detection than controls (n = 13) when the gap was embedded in a background similar to their tinnitus. No differences between tinnitus and control rats were found with 16 kHz or broadband noise backgrounds, which helped to rule out explanations related to hearing loss or general performance deficits. The results suggest that gap detection reflex procedures might be effective for rapid tinnitus screening in rats. Keywords: tinnitus, screening, behavior, gap detection, startle

The prevalence of diabetes in the United States continues to grow at an alarming rate. Nonadherence to diabetes self-management leads to morbidity and mortality. Short message service (SMS) text messaging is an effective method for delivering support to increase patient engagement with diabetes self-care management. This quality improvement project evaluated the effectiveness of a unidirectional SMS text messaging intervention to improve glycemia targets in adult patients with diabetes in the primary care setting. Results showed significant improvements in glycemic control (ie, decrease in A1C of 1.04%; P = 0.05). The SMS text messaging intervention effectively supports this modality in providing ongoing motivation and support patients with diabetes.

Cruising the Baltic and beyond was a great way to spend 18 days in August 2000. Orient Lines is the company; our ship was the 848-passenger Marco Polo. What we […]

In May '98 we took the "Sojourn in Southern ITALY I," in combination with the "Roman Holiday I," offered by Cross-Culture, Inc. (52 High Point Dr., Amherst, MA 01002-1224; phone […]

For a data center owner with a growing need of additional data center or infrastructure capacity, acquiring a company or its data center assets may be a good option. It [...]

There is no question that the incident involving Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) helped the GOP tremendously, as David Weigel points out in "They Don't Know Jack" (October). The graphic image […]

On our cruise around South America, we sailed on two oceans and cruised in grand fjords flanked by snow covered mountains. We encountered penguins, petrels, cormorants and condors plus porpoises, [...]

When we travel in Europe, whether by car or by train, we most often use the 'hub and spoke' approach. That is, we base ourselves in a city or town [...]

This study examines the experiences of gay-identified college men related to their faith and sexual orientation identity development. The findings suggest that for gay-identified college men, faith and sexual orientation identity development includes examination of one’s faith and sexual orientation identity, important relationships, and a desire for service and activism.

PURPOSE: Two previous studies showed that ARDS patients fed an enteral diet containing EPA+GLA and elevated antioxidants (Oxepa) had significantly increased oxygenation, and improved clinical outcomes. We investigated the potential [...]

As the Tennessee Department of Transportation (DOT) was finalizing the future route of I-69 through northwest Tennessee, a previously unknown, unregulated landfill was discovered directly beneath the proposed route near its juncture with a continuing segment into Kentucky. The Tennessee DOT, cooperating with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, implemented a rapid-response, technology-driven strategy to assess the potential costs and liabilities of crossing the landfill versus avoiding it. After a concerted site-history investigation, an electromagnetic geophysical survey mapped the landfill boundaries, established the area of fill, and identified areas of higher metal content within the fill. A concurrent soil–gas survey showed only isolated patterns of volatile organic compounds, often a driver for environmental mitigation costs. These results were used to optimize locations for subsurface drilling that employed the waste-minimizing sonic drilling technique. Depth of fill from exploratory drilling was combined with the geophysical delineation of landfill boundaries to yield an estimated waste volume of 65,000 m3 (85,000 yd3) within the proposed I-69 footprint. Chemical analyses were done for subsurface sonic rig soil cores, surface soil samples, the contents of drums scattered across the surface, and surface water. These analyses showed relatively modest environmental risk; it was suggested that if the landfill were excavated, most of the soil could be handled as nontoxic special waste. Nevertheless, considering both design–build factors and environmental issues, the cost of excavating and building through the landfill ($33.5 million) exceeded that of rerouting slightly east of the landfill ($29.5 million), and the route was diverted to avoid the landfill.

Presbyacusis, one of the most common ailments of the elderly, is often treated with hearing aids, which serve to reintroduce some or all of those sounds lost to peripheral hearing loss. However, little is known about the underlying changes to the ear and brain as a result of such experience with sound late in life. The present study attempts to model this process by rearing aged CBA mice in an augmented acoustic environment (AAE).

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a fall risk assessment instrument for the inpatient psychiatric population. Nine risk factors were identified through a review of the literature. The instrument was applied retrospectively to patient records, and the percentage of those who fell who triggered each of the items in each domain was calculated. The expected value of the population and weighting system were established. The Morse Fall Scale and Edmonson Psychiatric Fall Risk Assessment Tool (EPFRAT) were administered simultaneously to inpatient psychiatric patients. Sensitivity of the EPFRAT was 0.63, compared with 0.49 for the Morse Fall Scale; specificity of the EPFRAT was 0.86, compared with 0.85 for the Morse Fall Scale. Initial psychometric testing of the EPFRAT indicates the instrument is more sensitive in assessing fall risk in the acutely ill psychiatric population than those currently available. Additional psychometric testing is needed to determine the reliability and validity of the EPFRAT.

To assess the suitability of concanavalin-A-induced hepatitis as a model for investigating the relationships between hepatic disease and alterations in somnolence.

To determine a correlation between conventional electronystagmography findings with results obtained from BalanceTrak 500 posturography assessment.

Objectives/HypothesisFalls are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for persons aged 65 years and older, with more than 2 million people falling and sustaining serious injury annually. This study compared computer dynamic posturography (CDP) and electronystagmography (ENG) results as predictors of falls.

The central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICc) is a major processing center for the ascending auditory pathways. Gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and excitant amino acids (EAAs) are essential for coding many auditory tasks in the IC. Recently, a number of neurochemical and immunocytochemical studies have suggested an age‐related decline in GABAergic inhibition in the ICc, and possibly excitant‐amino‐acid‐mediated excitation as well. The objective of this study was to compare quantitatively changes in the synaptic organization of the ICc among three age groups (3, 19, and 28 months) of Fischer‐344 rats. Immunogold electron microscopic methods were used to determine if there were age‐related changes in the density, distribution, or morphology of GABA‐immunoreactive (+) and GABA‐immunonegative (–) synapses in the ICc. The data suggest similar losses of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in the ICc. There were significant reductions in the densities of GABA+ and GABA– synaptic terminals (∼30% and ∼24%, respectively) and synapses (∼33% and ∼26%, respectively) in the ICc of 28‐month‐old rats relative to 3‐month‐olds. The numeric values, which were adjusted to consider changes in volume of the IC with age, depict similar effects, although the effect magnitude for the adjusted values was reduced by approximately 9%. For both types of synapses, the decreases did not differ significantly from each other. The reductions in synaptic numbers appeared to be related to a similar numeric decline in dendrites, in particular those with calibers of between 0.5 and 1.5 μm. The number and distribution of synaptic terminals on the remaining dendrites of GABA– neurons appeared not to undergo major age‐related changes. GABA+ neurons, on the other hand, may have evolved patterns of synaptic and dendritic change during aging in which the distribution of synaptic terminals shifts to dendrites of larger caliber. In the 19‐month group, the synaptic areas were elevated in terminals apposed to dendrites with calibers of 1.5 μm or less. However, this increase in synaptic size did not persist in the aged animals. No neuronal losses were detectable among the three age groups. Thus, the decrease in GABA and EAAs identified in the IC by previous studies may be attributable to synaptic and dendritic declines, rather than cell loss. J. Comp. Neurol. 406:285–298, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The effect of essential tremor on the timing of rapid wrist flexion was examined in 10 patients with moderate to severe disability. The mean reaction time and motor time of the patients did not differ from the mean values of 10 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. The latencies of the triphasic agonist and antagonist EMG bursts did not differ between patients and controls. The initiation of movement was time-locked to the tremor cycle in all patients. The initial agonist muscle activation occurred in phase with the rhythmic bursts of EMG, but the onset of rapid wrist flexion occurred when the momentum of essential tremor opposed the volitional movement. Essential tremor has subtle effects on motor control that transcend oscillation per se. These effects probably contribute to the impaired performance of fine motor tasks in patients with advanced disease.

Considerable knowledge has been accumulated regarding acquired and congenital deafness in children. However, despite the intimate relationship between the auditory and vestibular systems, data are limited regarding the status of the balance system in these children. Using a test population of 15 children, aged 8 to 17 years, we performed electronystagmography testing. The test battery consisted of the eye-tracking (gaze nystagmus, spontaneous nystagmus, saccade, horizontal pursuit and optokinetic) tests, positional/positioning (Dix-Hallpike and supine) tests, and rotational chair tests. With age-matched controls, five children were tested in each of the following three categories: normal hearing, hereditary deafness, and acquired deafness. The children in the hereditary deafness category were congenitally deaf and had a family history of deafness. Those subjects in the acquired deafness category had hearing loss before the age of 2 years, after meningitis. Analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences between the two deaf groups and the control subjects in the gaze nystagmus test, saccade latencies, horizontal pursuit phase, and Dix-Hallpike and supine positionally provoked nystagmus. Also, significant differences were found in rotational chair gain and phase between the deaf and normal-hearing children. The children with acquired deafness exhibited the most profound results. In addition, there were significant differences in rotational chair gain between the acquired and congenitally deaf children. No differences were noted in horizontal pursuit gains, saccade accuracies, or saccade asymmetries. These preliminary data demonstrate that the etiologic factors responsible for congenital and acquired deafness in children may indeed affect the balance system as well. These findings of possible balance disorders in conjunction with the profound hearing loss in this patient population will have prognostic implications in the future evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of these patients.

Previous studies have shown that levels of binding for the strychnine‐sensitive glycine receptor in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of Fischer(F344) rats decrease with age. Given the major role glycine plays in normal CN function, changes in glycine‐receptor activity may contribute to central presbycusis. To further evaluate the impact of age on glycine receptors, in situ hybridization was used to assess, in three age groups of F344 rats, changes in levels of gene expression for four of its subunits. When compared with the 3‐month‐old rats, expression of mRNAs for α1and β subunits in the anteroventral CN decreased significantly in the 18‐ and 27‐month‐old age groups, while mRNA expression for the α2subunit increased. If protein expressions are similar, these subunit changes may alter the function of glycine receptors, thereby affecting binding to its ligands.

• The primary clinical utility of electrocochleography at the Louisiana State University Medical Center is the detection of hearing losses in children. This frequently requires the administration of a general anesthetic. Time required for this procedure could be shortened if stimuli were presented at a more rapid rate than the customary 10/s, provided the response amplitude is not significantly diminished by adaptation. The response amplitudes of 12 subjects were studied at stimulus rates of 10, 20, 40, and 80/s. An increase of response amplitude on the order of approximately 3:1 over the 10/s rate was found for the 80/s rate when the test interval for each was equal.(Arch Otolaryngol 104:551-554, 1978)

Infrared computed stroboscopic photometry was used to quantify the kinematic profiles of walking in 10 elderly patients with symmetrical neurological disturbances of gait and in 19 age-matched neurologically healthy people. Clinical examination of the patients revealed similar profiles of walking even though their diagnoses were vascular dementia (2), normal pressure hydrocephalus (2), Alzheimer dementia with possible normal pressure hydrocephalus (2), mixed Alzheimer and vascular dementia (1), peripheral neuropathy (1), Alzheimer dementia with parkinsonian features (1), and un determined (1). Quantitatively, the patients' gait kinematics deviated greatly from control values, but these deviations were statistically attributable to reductions in stride. We suggest that many gait disturbances in elderly people are similar, regardless of etiology, because the characteristics of these gait disturbances are heavily veiled by nonspecific stride-dependent changes that comprise the syndrome of senile gait.

In a study of the initial 1,004 consecutive patients who had direct coronary artery bypass at Ochsner Medical Institutions, computer methods of data processing were used to compare the clinical results between patients who had saphenous vein (SV) grafts and those who had internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts. The factors compared were the long-term mortality rates, nonfatal myocardial infarction rates, relief or persistence of angina, and the percentage of patients who acquired congestive heart failure. A simple comparison showed the patients with IMA grafts did better in all four categories; however, in a subsequent analysis in which maldistributed factors were removed, the rates of anginal relief and congestive heart failure were not significantly improved. The major benefit appears to be an increase in longevity among patients who had IMA bypasses.

School-based management and teacher-parent empowerment have both currency and emotional ring. The terms have become a kind of rallying cry. But each term lacks definition and bad things can happen when things only sound good.

Fifty-four patients, diagnosed with Menière's disease and treated with diuretics and a low-salt diet, were evaluated retrospectively with the 1985 AAO/HNS Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium (CHE) guidelines for vertigo and hearing changes. The patient data base was also evaluated with other methods that helped determine the effectiveness of the 1985 AAO/HNS CHE guidelines. After 24 months of therapy, vertigo control was complete or substantial in 79% of the patients, limited or insignificant in 19%, and worse in 2% as evaluated by the CHE 1985 guidelines. Hearing improved in 35% of the patients, was unchanged in 29%, was worse in 22%, and could not be classified by CHE guidelines in 14%. Hearing was also evaluated by comparison of individual thresholds before medical therapy, and at 22 and 74 months after the start of medical therapy. We found a stabilization of low- and mid-threshold frequencies, with an average rate of hearing loss approximating 0 dB/yr with 74 months of followup. The results of this preliminary study suggest that diuretics and a low-salt diet may decrease the natural progression of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Menière's disease. Compared with other methods of data analysis, the 1985 CHE guidelines lacked sensitivity to evaluate the hearing changes observed.

An event is an action that alters a program’s normal flow of execution. Events can be classified into asynchronous (such as the expiration of a timer or a request to terminate a process) and synchronous (for example, arithmetic and protection faults). When an event occurs during the execution of a process, specialized software is required, either in the kernel, the process, or both. This paper describes the experiences gained in the design, implementation and operation of the event handling mechanism developed for the message-based Lego kernel and distributed system running on the iAPx86 platform. The resulting implementation is a uniform communication interface, treating all events as messages, thereby maintaining Lego’s send-receive paradigm. This implementation ensures that event messages follow processes that have migrated and permit the implementation of group event software. Several applications of the event handling software are presented, as is a discussion of the design tradeoffs. The paper concludes that although the basic concept of message-based event handling is well understood, a system’s process naming technique can influence how events are handled in a migration and with process groups. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Courses in data communications are becoming commonplace in many undergraduate computer science programs. The reason for this is abundantly clear: Data communications is pervading almost all aspects of computer science. However, to many students, data communications can be a difficult subject to master without having either prior experience in data communications or an electrical engineering background. In this article, the composition of a one-term course in data communications intended for computer science students without a background in either data communications or electrical engineering is presented. It includes a description of the course, its objectives, and assignments.

From January, 1971, through May, 1978, the records of 1,239 patients who had comparable patterns of coronary artery bypasses were retrieved for study from the Ochsner computerized data bank. Seven hundred twenty-six patients had saphenous vein grafts (SVG) alone and 513 patients had internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts alone or in combination with SVG. Patients with IMA grafts had significantly improved survival over patients with SVGs, but after exclusion of biasing subgroups the improved survival was not reliably different (p = 0.1684). The percentages of patients who had unrelieved angina after operation were similar (5.0% versus 4.8%); the rates of nonfatal myocardial infarction and of postoperative congestive heart failure were also similar. When the recently done SVG bypasses were compared to those done before mid-1975, we found that unrelieved angina rates and nonfatal myocardial infarction rates were significantly improved in the recent group. We conclude that use of the SVG is indicated in some clinical situations and use of the IMA graft in others. Therefore, cardiovascular surgeons should be proficient in using both grafts.

A total of 142 full scale individual intelligence tests were rescored to compare the V and BD dyad of the WISC-R with the full scale WISC-R and the limen method of scoring of the S-B with the full scale S-B. Tests had been administered to students who had been referred for possible inclusion in a gifted program. The correlation ofthe limen short form andthe full scale S-B was. 78while the V and BD dyad and full scale WISC-R correlation was .92. Results suggest that the V and BD dyad of the WISC-R may be a useful screening device for superior students.

The olfactory and gonadal dysfunction in Kallmann syndrome share a common embryologic pathophysiology. To characterize further the linkage between the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia, the authors performed a detailed evaluation of olfactory function in a patient with Kallmann Syndrome having the rare variant of partial gonadotropin deficiency (fertile eunuch). The subject was seen initially at age 16 years because of delayed puberty. He received testosterone replacement therapy and subsequently completed pubertal development. As an adult, while untreated, he had subnormal levels of serum testosterone, low gonadotropins, and normal response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. He also had impotence that was reversible with testosterone therapy, and a normal sperm count. Despite the mild degree of hypogonadism, olfactory function was completely absent, and the response to nasal trigeminal stimulants was markedly attenuated. Complete anosmia may therefore be associated with gonadotropin deficiency that is only partial; the presence of anosmia does not predict the need for gonadotropin therapy to attain fertility.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that stuttering is related to a dysfunction in auditory temporal processing. The performance of 20 adult male stutterers and 20 matched nonstutterers was studied using two auditory processing tasks. The subjects listened to stimuli with differential onset asynchronies during temporal order judgment (TOJ) and dichotic listening tasks. Stutterers and nonstutterers were not significantly different at judging which ear received the stimulation first (TOJ task) at varying stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). During the dichotic listening task, stutterers made significantly fewer double-correct responses (correct report for both stimuli in a dichotic pair) than nonstutterers. The stuttering subjects correctly classified one of the syllables in a pair (single-correct response) more frequently than normal controls on the dichotic listening task. These findings suggest that SOAs as a temporal parameter do not differentiate the performance of the two groups. The more difficult auditory processing task (dichotic identification) showed a significant difference in the performance of the stutterers versus nonstutterers.