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Objective: Uni- or bilateral vestibular hypofunction (VH) impairs balance and mobility, and may specifically lead to injury from falls and to disability. The extent of this problem in the general population is still unknown and most likely to be underestimated. Objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, determinants, and consequences of VH in the general population. Methods: Data originates from the cross-sectional second follow-up (FF4) in 2013/14 of the KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg)-S4 study (1999–2001) from Southern Germany. This was a random sample of the target population consisting of all residents of the region aged 25–74 years in 1999. We included all participants who reported moderate or severe vertigo or dizziness during the last 12 months and a random sub-sample of participants representative for the general population without vertigo or dizziness during the last 12 months were tested. VH was assessed with the Video-Head Impulse Test (vHIT). Trained examiners applied high-acceleration, small-amplitude passive head rotations (“head impulses”) to the left and right in the plane of the horizontal semicircular canals while participants fixated a target straight ahead. During head impulses, head movements were measured with inertial sensors, eye movements with video-oculography (EyeSeeCam vHIT). Results: A total of 2,279 participants were included (mean age 60.8 years, 51.6% female), 570 (25.0%) with moderate or severe vertigo or dizziness during the last 12 months. Of these, 450 were assessed with vHIT where 26 (5.8%) had unilateral VH, and 16 (3.6%) had bilateral VH. Likewise, 190 asymptomatic participants were tested. Of these 5 (2.6%) had unilateral VH, and 2 (1.1%) had bilateral VH. Prevalence of uni- or bilateral VH among tested symptomatic participants was 2.4% in those < 48 years, and 32.1% in individuals aged 79 and over. Age-adjusted prevalence was 6.7% (95% CI 4.8%; 8.6%). VH was associated with worse health, falls, hearing loss, hearing impairment, and ear pressure. Conclusion: VH may affect between 53 and 95 million adults in Europe and the US. While not all affected persons will experience the full spectrum of symptoms and consequences, adequate diagnostic and therapeutic measures should become standard of care to decrease the burden of disease.

Hintergrund: Gelenkkontrakturen sind ein häufiges Phänomen bei Pflegeheimbewohnern und führen zu erheblichen Einschränkungen der Lebensqualität und der Möglichkeit zur sozialen Teilhabe. Um diesem Problem entgegenzuwirken wurde im Rahmen eines BMBF-geförderten Projekts[zum vollständigen Text gelangen Sie über die oben angegebene URL], 15. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung

An outcrop of the McMurray Formation along the Christina River (Alberta, Canada) has been investigated to better understand depositional processes and setting. The succession is formed by large-scale tabular sets of unidirectional trough cross-stratification. Many of these sets are characterized by profusely ripple-laminated and thick, laterally persistent bottomset intervals at their base. Additionally, reactivation surfaces and infrequent set climbers occur in the foresets. The bottomsets almost entirely consist of backflow cross-lamination. Available knowledge indicates that this points to a rather strong vortex circulation and related strong and persistent main flow velocity. The observed bottomset succession is discussed within the range of variation in bottomset architecture that results from the structure and strength of the flow in the wake behind dunes and related strength of the main flow. Sets descend along a gentle slope, suggesting that dunes filled a preexisting depression, thus representing conditions of a vertically expanding and decelerating flow. This means that aggradation rate was high, which is in accordance with the thickness of the preserved sets. Systematic changes in flow strength are documented by downstream cyclic variations in organic debris, bottomset thickness, and foreset dip. The periodic increase of flow velocity is interpreted as being produced by the increased strength of the river flow during the ebbing tide on the days around spring tide. Apart from these subtle variations, the area experienced large changes in flow strength due to seasonal differences in fluvial discharge. The turbidity maximum zone was located downstream of the study site since thick slackwater mud drapes that characterize the seaward part of the fluvial to tidal transition zone are not present; only a few thin mud drapes are found at the study locality. Therefore, it is concluded that deposition took place in the most landward part of this zone. This new interpretation of this facies in the Christina River area is in line with the inferred depositional setting of the transition to the overlying thick point bar units formed by inclined heterolithic stratification.

Einleitung: Apparativ erzeugte Luftdruckschwankungen werden auf das Mittel- und Innenohr übertragen und sind therapeutisch nutzbar beim M. Menière. Natürlich vorkommende Luftdruckschwankungen haben möglicherweise ebenfalls einen Einfluss auf die Innenohrhomöostase. Wir untersuchten[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 86. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie

Hintergrund und Fragestellung: Gelenkkontrakturen sind häufige Syndrome in der geriatrischen Versorgung. Es liegt bislang kein standardisiertes Assessmentinstrument vor, das den Einfluss von Gelenkkontrakturen auf die körperliche Funktionsfähigkeit und auf die soziale Teilhabe quantifiziert.[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], Prävention zwischen Evidenz und Eminenz; 15. Jahrestagung des Deutschen Netzwerks Evidenzbasierte Medizin

Background: Vertigo is one of the most frequent reasons for consulting medical care. However, it is unknown if the aspects currently addressed in instruments used in clinical assessment or research reflect the salient aspects of functioning and disability. Most established instruments cover body functions[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], Mainz//2011; 56. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie (gmds), 6. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Epidemiologie (DGEpi)