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The strategy of delaying or retarding the progression of Alzheimer's disease requires early diagnosis and treatment. Previous research indicates that measurement of changes in olfaction and cognition will play an important role in the early detection of AD and in the monitoring of therapy effectiveness. Using the data of 177 subjects, our objective was to study the measurement properties of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) using a Rasch scaling framework. The results indicate that the UPSIT can yield a linear, unbiased, and unidimensional Rasch measure of human smell recognition abilities. As expected, olfactory recognition ability decreased with age, and at the rate of about 0.05 Logits per year. Also, Alzheimer's patients showed a decrease in smell recognition equivalent to that experienced by healthy subjects over the course of 30 years. Hormone replacement therapy was not found to affect healthy women's olfactory recognition ability. Additional diagnostic information can be extracted from the analysis of incorrect responses patterns that is relevant to group membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed otolaryngologic procedures in the United States. Many options and controversies exist regarding techniques and peri-operative management. The purpose of the study was to examine current practice patterns among otolaryngologists regarding tonsillectomy. Methods: A 13 question survey regarding tonsillectomy techniques and peri-operative management was mailed to 10% of randomly selected board certified otolaryngologists of the AAO-HNS in the spring of 2002. Four hundred and eighteen anonymously completed questionnaires were returned, for a response rate of 58.5%. Statistical analysis of survey data was performed by means of cross tabulation and Pearson Chi-Square Calculation. Results: Monopolar electrocautery was the most common technique used among those surveyed (53.5%). There was a significant correlation between choice of monopolar electrocautery and the cited reason for choice of technique being decreased blood loss (P<0.001). There was no relationship between pediatric fellowship training and choice of technique. 97.7% routinely admitted sleep apnea patients for post-operative observation. There was no significant correlation between practice setting (tertiary versus community) and type of post-operative monitoring for sleep apnea patients, with patients most commonly admitted to an intermediate care setting. Conclusion: In our survey, the most common surgical technique for tonsillectomy was monopolar electrocautery, chosen for the reason of decreased blood loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study describes audiologic methodology and results for evaluating potential ototoxicity in a phase I clinical trial of a new glycopeptide. This study was conducted under good clinical practices, which are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (21 Code of Federal Regulations), and input from the FDA was sought prior to study implementation. Healthy, normal volunteers underwent extensive medical and audiologic assessments as part of this phase I dose- escalation study of dalbavancin, a new glycopeptide, to assess potential side effects. Audiologic monitoring included air-conduction thresholds in the conventional (0.25-8 kHz) and high-frequency (10-16 kHz) ranges. At baseline, subjects were also tested using word recognition, bone conduction testing if indicated, and tympanometry. Full testing was to be repeated if any subject met the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 1994 criteria for ototoxic change. However, no subjects demonstrated ototoxic change after receiving dalbavancin, nor were any false-positive results obtained.