University Of Colorado Menieres

Thousands of people are diagnosed with Meniere’s disease each year. Meniere’s often impacts middle-aged adults, but the disease can be present in people of all ages. Since all of the symptoms may not be present in every patient, it can be challenging for doctors to diagnose this disorder.

Disease Background
Meniere’s disease can be difficult to understand, but scientists have made amazing progress in researching the illness. This disease was initially discovered after a correlation between vertigo and the middle ear was discovered. Research then began to show that problems in the middle ear were related to Meniere’s disease, which includes a variety of symptoms. People suffering from Meniere’s disease often experience a variety of symptoms, including the following:

• ringing sensations
• loss of hearing
• feeling pressure

The symptoms usually are felt in just one ear, but it is possible for them to be felt in both ears. Since the hearing loss becomes worse over time, it is important to find a cure as soon as possible. Millions of people in the United States struggle with Meniere’s disease, and researchers have been able to determine important information that can hopefully lead to a cure.

Research Progress
The causes of Meniere’s disease have puzzled scientists since the disease was discovered. University of Colorado menieres researchers, however, have recently determined a link between the disease and decreased blood flow to the brain. Recognizing this correlation means that doctors will be able to identify patients who are likely to develop the disease, which means the disease can potentially be stopped.

Decreased Blood Flow
There are several causes for the decreased blood flow that is now believed to contribute to the development of Meniere’s disease. The University of Colorado menieres researchers concluded that certain factors play a role in reducing the blood flow to the brain, which combines with a malformation in the inner ear that leads to the gathering of excess fluid. The risk factors leading to a reduction in blood flow include:

• sleep apnea
• migraines
• smoking

Treatment Changes
The discovery of the correlation between risk factors and Meniere’s disease onset is important because it means that doctors can screen patients more effectively. Healthcare teams will be able to better identify patients who are at risk of developing Meniere’s. Patients who have risk factors can be treated earlier, which means that the onset of the disease can hopefully be delayed or prevented. The results determined from the University of Colorado menieres study may lead to better outcomes for millions of patients.

 

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Effects of Soft Tissue Artifacts on Differentiating Kinematic Differences Between Natural and Replaced Knee Joints During Functional Activity

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Cheng-Chung Lin, Tung-Wu Lu, Hsuan-Lun Lu, Mei-Ying Kuo, Horng-Chaung Hsu
Functional performance of total knee replacement (TKR) is often assessed using skin marker-based stereophotogrammetry, which can be affected by soft tissue artifacts (STA). The current study aimed to compare the STA and their effects on the kinematics of the knee between twelve patients with TKR and twelve healthy controls during sit-to-stand, and to assess the effects of STA on the statistical between-group comparisons. Each subject performed the sit-to-stand task while motions of the skin markers and the knees were measured by a motion capture system integrated with a three-dimensional fluoroscopy technique. The bone motions measured by the three-dimensional fluoroscopy were taken as the gold standard, with respect to which the STA of the markers were obtained. The STA were found to affect the calculated segmental poses and knee kinematics between the groups differently. The STA resulted in artefactual posterior displacements of the knee joint center, with magnitudes significantly greater in TKR than controls (p<0.01). The STA-induced knee external rotations in TKR were smaller than those in controls with mean differences of 2.3° - 3.0°. These between-group differences in the STA effects on knee kinematics in turn concealed the true between-group differences in the anterior-posterior translation and internal/external rotation of knee while leading to false significant between-group differences in the abduction/adduction and proximal-distal translation.



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Reliability of knee biomechanics during a vertical drop jump in elite female athletes

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Kam-Ming Mok, Erich Petushek, Tron Krosshaug
The purpose of the study was to assess the within-session and between-session reliability of knee kinematics and kinetics in a vertical drop jump task among elite female handball and football athletes. Specifically, we aimed to quantify the within-session waveform consistency and between-session consistency of the subject ranking for a variety of knee kinematics and kinetics.Forty-one elite female handball and football (soccer) athletes were tested in two sessions. The reliability of three-dimensional knee biomechanical measurements was quantified by the intra-class correlation, Spearman's rank correlation, and typical error. All the selected discrete variables achieved excellent within-session reliability (ICC>0.87). The typical error of valgus angles, internal rotation angles, and internal rotation moment was constant throughout the whole stance phase. For between-session reliability, the selected discrete variables achieved good to excellent reliability (ICC>0.69), except peak internal rotation moment (ICC=0.40). All between-session rank correlation coefficients ranged from 0.56 to 0.90. Most of the discrete variables achieved good to excellent reliability in both within-session and between-session analysis. Moreover, moderate to strong between-session consistency of subject rankings was found, implying that the measurements assessed during the vertical drop jump demonstrate sufficient reliability to be used in both single-session and multiple-session studies.



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Effects of Soft Tissue Artifacts on Differentiating Kinematic Differences Between Natural and Replaced Knee Joints During Functional Activity

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Cheng-Chung Lin, Tung-Wu Lu, Hsuan-Lun Lu, Mei-Ying Kuo, Horng-Chaung Hsu
Functional performance of total knee replacement (TKR) is often assessed using skin marker-based stereophotogrammetry, which can be affected by soft tissue artifacts (STA). The current study aimed to compare the STA and their effects on the kinematics of the knee between twelve patients with TKR and twelve healthy controls during sit-to-stand, and to assess the effects of STA on the statistical between-group comparisons. Each subject performed the sit-to-stand task while motions of the skin markers and the knees were measured by a motion capture system integrated with a three-dimensional fluoroscopy technique. The bone motions measured by the three-dimensional fluoroscopy were taken as the gold standard, with respect to which the STA of the markers were obtained. The STA were found to affect the calculated segmental poses and knee kinematics between the groups differently. The STA resulted in artefactual posterior displacements of the knee joint center, with magnitudes significantly greater in TKR than controls (p<0.01). The STA-induced knee external rotations in TKR were smaller than those in controls with mean differences of 2.3° - 3.0°. These between-group differences in the STA effects on knee kinematics in turn concealed the true between-group differences in the anterior-posterior translation and internal/external rotation of knee while leading to false significant between-group differences in the abduction/adduction and proximal-distal translation.



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Reliability of knee biomechanics during a vertical drop jump in elite female athletes

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Kam-Ming Mok, Erich Petushek, Tron Krosshaug
The purpose of the study was to assess the within-session and between-session reliability of knee kinematics and kinetics in a vertical drop jump task among elite female handball and football athletes. Specifically, we aimed to quantify the within-session waveform consistency and between-session consistency of the subject ranking for a variety of knee kinematics and kinetics.Forty-one elite female handball and football (soccer) athletes were tested in two sessions. The reliability of three-dimensional knee biomechanical measurements was quantified by the intra-class correlation, Spearman's rank correlation, and typical error. All the selected discrete variables achieved excellent within-session reliability (ICC>0.87). The typical error of valgus angles, internal rotation angles, and internal rotation moment was constant throughout the whole stance phase. For between-session reliability, the selected discrete variables achieved good to excellent reliability (ICC>0.69), except peak internal rotation moment (ICC=0.40). All between-session rank correlation coefficients ranged from 0.56 to 0.90. Most of the discrete variables achieved good to excellent reliability in both within-session and between-session analysis. Moreover, moderate to strong between-session consistency of subject rankings was found, implying that the measurements assessed during the vertical drop jump demonstrate sufficient reliability to be used in both single-session and multiple-session studies.



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Effects of Soft Tissue Artifacts on Differentiating Kinematic Differences Between Natural and Replaced Knee Joints During Functional Activity

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Cheng-Chung Lin, Tung-Wu Lu, Hsuan-Lun Lu, Mei-Ying Kuo, Horng-Chaung Hsu
Functional performance of total knee replacement (TKR) is often assessed using skin marker-based stereophotogrammetry, which can be affected by soft tissue artifacts (STA). The current study aimed to compare the STA and their effects on the kinematics of the knee between twelve patients with TKR and twelve healthy controls during sit-to-stand, and to assess the effects of STA on the statistical between-group comparisons. Each subject performed the sit-to-stand task while motions of the skin markers and the knees were measured by a motion capture system integrated with a three-dimensional fluoroscopy technique. The bone motions measured by the three-dimensional fluoroscopy were taken as the gold standard, with respect to which the STA of the markers were obtained. The STA were found to affect the calculated segmental poses and knee kinematics between the groups differently. The STA resulted in artefactual posterior displacements of the knee joint center, with magnitudes significantly greater in TKR than controls (p<0.01). The STA-induced knee external rotations in TKR were smaller than those in controls with mean differences of 2.3° - 3.0°. These between-group differences in the STA effects on knee kinematics in turn concealed the true between-group differences in the anterior-posterior translation and internal/external rotation of knee while leading to false significant between-group differences in the abduction/adduction and proximal-distal translation.



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Reliability of knee biomechanics during a vertical drop jump in elite female athletes

Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016
Source:Gait & Posture
Author(s): Kam-Ming Mok, Erich Petushek, Tron Krosshaug
The purpose of the study was to assess the within-session and between-session reliability of knee kinematics and kinetics in a vertical drop jump task among elite female handball and football athletes. Specifically, we aimed to quantify the within-session waveform consistency and between-session consistency of the subject ranking for a variety of knee kinematics and kinetics.Forty-one elite female handball and football (soccer) athletes were tested in two sessions. The reliability of three-dimensional knee biomechanical measurements was quantified by the intra-class correlation, Spearman's rank correlation, and typical error. All the selected discrete variables achieved excellent within-session reliability (ICC>0.87). The typical error of valgus angles, internal rotation angles, and internal rotation moment was constant throughout the whole stance phase. For between-session reliability, the selected discrete variables achieved good to excellent reliability (ICC>0.69), except peak internal rotation moment (ICC=0.40). All between-session rank correlation coefficients ranged from 0.56 to 0.90. Most of the discrete variables achieved good to excellent reliability in both within-session and between-session analysis. Moreover, moderate to strong between-session consistency of subject rankings was found, implying that the measurements assessed during the vertical drop jump demonstrate sufficient reliability to be used in both single-session and multiple-session studies.



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Tinnitus Without Hearing Loss

Tinnitus is characterized by a ringing sound in the ears, but it may also be heard as a buzzing, whirring, chirping or other repetitive sound. The sound may be mild and bothersome, or it may be so loud that it is debilitating. Tinnitus is most commonly associated with hearing loss, such as hearing loss related to damage to the ear drums or other parts of the auditory system. However, tinnitus without hearing loss is possible, and it often requires special treatment for the best results.

The Cause of Tinnitus
The cause of tinnitus without hearing loss is not entirely understood. While some people will develop tinnitus as a result of hearing loss caused by damage to the ears, others will develop it without hearing loss and without an event that caused damage to the ears. The individual simply begins to hear sounds one day for no apparent reason. The audiograms that measure hearing loss do not report hearing loss in any range as well. However, it is important to note that audiograms are not foolproof, and they do not measure all types of hearing loss. Particularly, they do not measure loss related to the high volume threshold. Therefore, what appears to be tinnitus without hearing loss may actually be tinnitus with hearing loss at a threshold that is not measured by audiograms.

Common Treatment Options
Many people who think that they have tinnitus without hearing loss are not certain how to proceed with treatment, but the fact is that the tinnitus may actually be related to hearing loss. Therefore, proven effective treatments for tinnitus with hearing loss, such as tonal therapy with headphones, may be effective. This is a type of therapy that will train your brain to essentially tune out tones that you are hearing repetitively. It is effective both with and without noticeable hearing loss.

Tinnitus can be a bothersome condition to have, and for some people, it can be so irritating that it interferes with their ability to work and to have personal relationships with friends and family members. While it may seem as though there is not an effective solution available, particularly if there is no apparent cause for the tinnitus, rest assured that there may be tonal therapy or other solutions that you will respond well to. You simply have to try out a few different treatments to find the one that works best for you.

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Noise Cancelling Headphones

Tinnitus is a painful condition that causes people to experience a nearly constant ringing sound in their ears. Infections and certain medical conditions may cause tinnitus to develop, but the most common reason why people get tinnitus is exposure to loud sounds. The more frequently a person is exposed to loud sounds, the more likely they are to develop tinnitus. Noise cancelling headphones for tinnitus use a built-in microphone and electronic circuitry to create a competing noise that cancels out the sound of ringing. There are many benefits to using these headphones for tinnitus.

Better Listening Experience
In people with tinnitus, listening to audio books or music can be a challenge. The sound of ringing in the ears competes with the sounds that you want to hear, resulting in over-stimulation of your auditory system. Noise cancelling headphones for tinnitus help to block other noises from your environment, such as the voices of nearby people who are conversing. Your auditory system will no longer feel the need to listen to the ambient noises. With the headphones on, you can focus on the songs or book that you want to hear.

Protects Against Further Hearing Damage
If you work at a job that involves regular exposure to loud noises, wearing noise cancelling headphones for tinnitus may help to protect your ears from further damage. Jobs such as airline baggage handlers and machinery operators require that workers wear these headphones, because hearing loss is a real risk with these occupations. If you do hobbies such as carpentry or metalwork, noise cancelling headphones are a good idea. The headphones help to protect your ears from the loud sounds of the saws and other equipment.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy
Noise cancelling headphones for tinnitus are of great benefit to people who need tinnitus sound therapy. During our sound therapy sessions, our patients use these headphones and listen to customized tones created by our audiologists. The pleasant sounds that play from the headphones aim to help patients decrease their tinnitus symptoms. Over time, use of noise cancelling headphones for tinnitus sound therapy may decrease both the frequency and the duration of ringing in the ears.

Noise cancelling headphones are adjustable to fit a range of head sizes and shapes. They are available for children as well as adults who have tinnitus. Using these headphones is safe, as they do not emit any radiation like cellphones may release.

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New program could improve hearing aid use for older adults

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic illness for older adults. It can impact everyday life and can significantly affect a person's health and safety if gone untreated.

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Dopamine key to vocal learning, songbird study finds

The neurotransmitter dopamine is essential to correcting vocal mistakes, suggests a study on Bengalese finches.

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New program could improve hearing aid use for older adults

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic illness for older adults. It can impact everyday life and can significantly affect a person's health and safety if gone untreated.

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Dopamine key to vocal learning, songbird study finds

The neurotransmitter dopamine is essential to correcting vocal mistakes, suggests a study on Bengalese finches.

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New program could improve hearing aid use for older adults

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic illness for older adults. It can impact everyday life and can significantly affect a person's health and safety if gone untreated.

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via IFTTT

Dopamine key to vocal learning, songbird study finds

The neurotransmitter dopamine is essential to correcting vocal mistakes, suggests a study on Bengalese finches.

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Low-frequency signals produced by Northeast Atlantic killer whales (Orcinus orca)

Killer whale acoustic behavior has been extensively investigated; however, most studies have focused on pulsed calls and whistles. This study reports the production of low-frequency signals by killer whales at frequencies below 300 Hz. Recordings were made in Iceland and Norway when killer whales were observed feeding on herring and no other marine mammal species were nearby. Low-frequency sounds were identified in Iceland and ranged in duration between 0.14 and 2.77 s and in frequency between 50 and 270 Hz, well below the previously reported lower limit for killer whale tonal sounds of 500 Hz. Low-frequency sounds appeared to be produced close in time to tail slaps, which are indicative of feeding attempts, suggesting that these sounds may be related to a feeding context. However, their precise function is unknown, and they could be the by-product of a non-vocal behavior rather than a vocal signal deliberately produced by the whales. Although killer whales in Norway exhibit similar feeding behavior, this sound has not been detected in recordings from Norway to date. This study suggests that, like other delphinids, killer whales produce low-frequency sounds, but further studies will be required to understand whether similar sounds exist in other killer whale populations.

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QTL Mapping of Endocochlear Potential Differences between C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice

Abstract

We reported earlier that the endocochlear potential (EP) differs between C57BL/6J (B6) and BALB/cJ (BALB) mice, being lower in BALBs by about 10 mV (Ohlemiller et al. Hear Res 220: 10–26, 2006). This difference corresponds to strain differences with respect to the density of marginal cells in cochlear stria vascularis. After about 1 year of age, BALB mice also tend toward EP reduction that correlates with further marginal cell loss. We therefore suggested that early sub-clinical features of the BALB stria vascularis may predispose these mice to a condition modeling Schuknecht’s strial presbycusis. We further reported (Ohlemiller et al. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 12: 45–58, 2011) that the acute effects of a 2-h 110 dB SPL noise exposure differ between B6 and BALB mice, such that the EP remains unchanged in B6 mice, but is reduced by 40–50 mV in BALBs. In about 25 % of BALBs, the EP does not completely recover, so that permanent EP reduction may contribute to noise-induced permanent threshold shifts in BALBs. To identify genes and alleles that may promote natural EP variation as well as noise-related EP reduction in BALB mice, we have mapped related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using 12 recombinant inbred (RI) strains formed from B6 and BALB (CxB1–CxB12). EP and strial marginal cell density were measured in B6 mice, BALB mice, their F1 hybrids, and RI mice without noise exposure, and 1–3 h after broadband noise (4–45 kHz, 110 dB SPL, 2 h). For unexposed mice, the strain distribution patterns for EP and marginal cell density were used to generate preliminary QTL maps for both EP and marginal cell density. Six QTL regions were at least statistically suggestive, including a significant QTL for marginal cell density on chromosome 12 that overlapped a weak QTL for EP variation. This region, termed Maced (Marginal cell density QTL) supports the notion of marginal cell density as a genetically influenced contributor to natural EP variation. Candidate genes for Maced notably include Foxg1, Foxa1, Akap6, Nkx2-1, and Pax9. Noise exposure produced significant EP reductions in two RI strains as well as significant EP increases in two RI strains. QTL mapping of the EP in noise-exposed RI mice yielded four suggestive regions. Two of these overlapped with QTL regions we previously identified for noise-related EP reduction in CBA/J mice (Ohlemiller et al. Hear Res 260: 47–53, 2010) on chromosomes 5 and 18 (Nirep). The present map may narrow the Nirep interval to a ~10-Mb region of proximal Chr. 18 that includes Zeb1, Arhgap12, Mpp7, and Gjd4. This study marks the first exploration of natural gene variants that modulate the EP. Their orthologs may underlie some human hearing loss that originates in the lateral wall.

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Parents' beliefs and knowledge about the management of acute otitis media: a qualitative study.

Related Articles

Parents' beliefs and knowledge about the management of acute otitis media: a qualitative study.

BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:82

Authors: Hansen MP, Howlett J, Del Mar C, Hoffmann TC

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute otitis media is a common reason for antibiotic prescribing, despite strong evidence that antibiotics provide minimal benefit. Studies have demonstrated that patients' (or parents') expectations of antibiotics often influence general practitioners' (GPs) decision to prescribe antibiotics, but few have explored parents' expectations of the management of infections in children, or which factors influence the development of these expectations. This study aimed to explore parents' knowledge and beliefs about the management of acute otitis media in children.
METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 parents of children who had recently presented to their GP with acute otitis media. Parents were recruited at childcare centres or playgroups in Brisbane, Australia.
RESULTS: Many parents did not have an accurate understanding of what causes acute otitis media. GPs were primarily consulted for the management of symptoms such as pain and fever. Others specifically wanted reassurance or were concerned about hearing loss. Most parents assumed that antibiotics were the best treatment option. Parents' perceptions about the best treatment were mainly based on their previous experience and the advice of the GP. Pain relief medications, such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, were not considered by parents to be sufficient treatment on their own.
CONCLUSION: There is discrepancy between parents' beliefs and expectations of management of acute otitis media and the evidence-based recommendations. This study provides insights into parents' expectations of management of acute otitis media, which may help inform clinicians about perceptions and misperceptions that may be valuable to elicit and discuss.

PMID: 26148678 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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