A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-9

Authors: Denys S, Latzel M, Francart T, Wouters J

Abstract
The recent integration of automated real-ear measurements (REM) in the fitting software facilitates the hearing aid fitting process. Such a fitting strategy, TargetMatch (TM), was evaluated. Test-retest reliability and matching accuracy were quantified, and compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment. Also, it was investigated whether TM leads to better perceptual outcomes compared to a FirstFit (FF) approach, using software predictions only. Ten hearing impaired participants were enrolled in a counterbalanced single-blinded cross-over study comparing TM and FF. Aided audibility, speech intelligibility and real-life benefits were assessed. Repeated measurements of both TM and REMs with manual adjustment were performed. Compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment, TM had higher test-retest reliability. Also, TM outperformed the other fitting strategies in terms of matching accuracy. Compared to a FF, improved aided audibility and real-life benefits were found. Speech intelligibility did not improve. Preliminary data suggest that automated REMs increase the likelihood of meeting amplification targets compared with a FF. REMs integrated in the fitting software provide additional reliability and accuracy compared to traditional REMs. Findings need to be verified in a larger and more varied sample.

PMID: 30513024 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-2

Authors: Roeser RJ

PMID: 30513019 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-9

Authors: Denys S, Latzel M, Francart T, Wouters J

Abstract
The recent integration of automated real-ear measurements (REM) in the fitting software facilitates the hearing aid fitting process. Such a fitting strategy, TargetMatch (TM), was evaluated. Test-retest reliability and matching accuracy were quantified, and compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment. Also, it was investigated whether TM leads to better perceptual outcomes compared to a FirstFit (FF) approach, using software predictions only. Ten hearing impaired participants were enrolled in a counterbalanced single-blinded cross-over study comparing TM and FF. Aided audibility, speech intelligibility and real-life benefits were assessed. Repeated measurements of both TM and REMs with manual adjustment were performed. Compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment, TM had higher test-retest reliability. Also, TM outperformed the other fitting strategies in terms of matching accuracy. Compared to a FF, improved aided audibility and real-life benefits were found. Speech intelligibility did not improve. Preliminary data suggest that automated REMs increase the likelihood of meeting amplification targets compared with a FF. REMs integrated in the fitting software provide additional reliability and accuracy compared to traditional REMs. Findings need to be verified in a larger and more varied sample.

PMID: 30513024 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-2

Authors: Roeser RJ

PMID: 30513019 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-9

Authors: Denys S, Latzel M, Francart T, Wouters J

Abstract
The recent integration of automated real-ear measurements (REM) in the fitting software facilitates the hearing aid fitting process. Such a fitting strategy, TargetMatch (TM), was evaluated. Test-retest reliability and matching accuracy were quantified, and compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment. Also, it was investigated whether TM leads to better perceptual outcomes compared to a FirstFit (FF) approach, using software predictions only. Ten hearing impaired participants were enrolled in a counterbalanced single-blinded cross-over study comparing TM and FF. Aided audibility, speech intelligibility and real-life benefits were assessed. Repeated measurements of both TM and REMs with manual adjustment were performed. Compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment, TM had higher test-retest reliability. Also, TM outperformed the other fitting strategies in terms of matching accuracy. Compared to a FF, improved aided audibility and real-life benefits were found. Speech intelligibility did not improve. Preliminary data suggest that automated REMs increase the likelihood of meeting amplification targets compared with a FF. REMs integrated in the fitting software provide additional reliability and accuracy compared to traditional REMs. Findings need to be verified in a larger and more varied sample.

PMID: 30513024 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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via IFTTT

Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-2

Authors: Roeser RJ

PMID: 30513019 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

A preliminary investigation into hearing aid fitting based on automated real-ear measurements integrated in the fitting software: test-retest reliability, matching accuracy and perceptual outcomes.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-9

Authors: Denys S, Latzel M, Francart T, Wouters J

Abstract
The recent integration of automated real-ear measurements (REM) in the fitting software facilitates the hearing aid fitting process. Such a fitting strategy, TargetMatch (TM), was evaluated. Test-retest reliability and matching accuracy were quantified, and compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment. Also, it was investigated whether TM leads to better perceptual outcomes compared to a FirstFit (FF) approach, using software predictions only. Ten hearing impaired participants were enrolled in a counterbalanced single-blinded cross-over study comparing TM and FF. Aided audibility, speech intelligibility and real-life benefits were assessed. Repeated measurements of both TM and REMs with manual adjustment were performed. Compared to a REM-based fitting with manual adjustment, TM had higher test-retest reliability. Also, TM outperformed the other fitting strategies in terms of matching accuracy. Compared to a FF, improved aided audibility and real-life benefits were found. Speech intelligibility did not improve. Preliminary data suggest that automated REMs increase the likelihood of meeting amplification targets compared with a FF. REMs integrated in the fitting software provide additional reliability and accuracy compared to traditional REMs. Findings need to be verified in a larger and more varied sample.

PMID: 30513024 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Transforming and transitioning-the past and the future.

Int J Audiol. 2018 Dec 04;:1-2

Authors: Roeser RJ

PMID: 30513019 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Human middle-ear muscles rarely contract in anticipation of acoustic impulses: Implications for hearing risk assessments

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018

Source: Hearing Research

Author(s): Heath G. Jones, Nathaniel T. Greene, William A. Ahroon

Abstract

The current study addressed the existence of an anticipatory middle-ear muscle contraction (MEMC) as a protective mechanism found in recent damage-risk criteria for impulse noise exposure. Specifically, the experiments reported here tested instances when an exposed individual was aware of and could anticipate the arrival of an acoustic impulse. In order to detect MEMCs in human subjects, a laser-Doppler vibrometer (LDV) was used to measure tympanic membrane (TM) motion in response to a probe tone. Here we directly measured the time course and relative magnitude changes of TM velocity in response to an acoustic reflex-eliciting (i.e. MEMC eliciting) impulse in 59 subjects with clinically assessable MEMCs. After verifying the presence of the MEMC, we used a classical conditioning paradigm pairing reflex-eliciting acoustic impulses (unconditioned stimulus, UCS) with various preceding stimuli (conditioned stimulus, CS). Changes in the time-course of the MEMC following conditioning were considered evidence of MEMC conditioning, and any indication of an MEMC prior to the onset of the acoustic elicitor was considered an anticipatory response. Nine subjects did not produce a MEMC measurable via LDV. For those subjects with an observable MEMC (n=50), 48 subjects (96%) did not show evidence of an anticipatory response after conditioning, whereas only 2 subjects (4%) did. These findings reveal that MEMCs are not readily conditioned in most individuals, suggesting that anticipatory MEMCs are not prevalent within the general population. The prevalence of anticipatory MEMCs does not appear to be sufficient to justify inclusion as a protective mechanism in auditory injury risk assessments.

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Human middle-ear muscles rarely contract in anticipation of acoustic impulses: Implications for hearing risk assessments

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018

Source: Hearing Research

Author(s): Heath G. Jones, Nathaniel T. Greene, William A. Ahroon

Abstract

The current study addressed the existence of an anticipatory middle-ear muscle contraction (MEMC) as a protective mechanism found in recent damage-risk criteria for impulse noise exposure. Specifically, the experiments reported here tested instances when an exposed individual was aware of and could anticipate the arrival of an acoustic impulse. In order to detect MEMCs in human subjects, a laser-Doppler vibrometer (LDV) was used to measure tympanic membrane (TM) motion in response to a probe tone. Here we directly measured the time course and relative magnitude changes of TM velocity in response to an acoustic reflex-eliciting (i.e. MEMC eliciting) impulse in 59 subjects with clinically assessable MEMCs. After verifying the presence of the MEMC, we used a classical conditioning paradigm pairing reflex-eliciting acoustic impulses (unconditioned stimulus, UCS) with various preceding stimuli (conditioned stimulus, CS). Changes in the time-course of the MEMC following conditioning were considered evidence of MEMC conditioning, and any indication of an MEMC prior to the onset of the acoustic elicitor was considered an anticipatory response. Nine subjects did not produce a MEMC measurable via LDV. For those subjects with an observable MEMC (n=50), 48 subjects (96%) did not show evidence of an anticipatory response after conditioning, whereas only 2 subjects (4%) did. These findings reveal that MEMCs are not readily conditioned in most individuals, suggesting that anticipatory MEMCs are not prevalent within the general population. The prevalence of anticipatory MEMCs does not appear to be sufficient to justify inclusion as a protective mechanism in auditory injury risk assessments.

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Transforming and transitioning—the past and the future

.


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Transforming and transitioning—the past and the future

.


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6th Vital Sign App: Testing Validity and Reliability for Measuring Gait Speed

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): E. Martin, S. Kim, A. Unfried, S. Delcambre, N. Sanders, B. Bischoff, R. Saavedra

Abstract

Background

Gait speed tests are useful predictors of different health outcomes in people. These tests can be administered by the convenience of one’s smartphone.

Research Question

Is the 6th Vital Sign app valid and reliable for measuring gait speed?

Methods

The study used a prospective test-retest design. Fifteen college subjects were asked to walk at their normal pace for 2 minutes. Each subject performed two trials. Speed was recorded by the 6th Vital Sign app, Brower timing gates, and by hand-measurement of distance walked divided by the 2 minutes. Criterion validity was assessed by paired t-tests, Cohen’s D effect sizes, and Pearson correlation tests. Inter-trial reliability within each device was assessed with Pearson correlation tests.

Results

Speed measured by the app was significantly lower than speed measured by gates (p = 0.004) and by hand-measurement (p = 0.009). The difference between gates and hand-measurement was not significant (p = 0.684). The speed measured by gates and hand-measurement were very highly correlated (r = 0.974), but speed measured by app was only moderately correlated with gates (r = 0.370) and hand-measurement (r = 0.365). The inter-trial reliability was fairly high with correlations r = 0.916, 0.944, and 0.941 when speed was measured by the app, gates, and hand-measurement, respectively.

Significance

The app tended to underestimate speed when compared to gate and hand-measurements. Therefore, we conclude that the 6^th Vital Sign app is not valid for use for clinical diagnosis or prognosis.

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Effects of heel height and high-heel experience on foot stability during quiet standing

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Frances K.W. Wan, Kit-Lun Yick, Winnie W.M. Yu

Abstract

Background

The use of high-heeled shoes (HHS) introduces instability into the wearer’s balance system but how high-heel experience might influence standing balance is less examined in literature.

Research question

(1) Does foot stability decrease in both the antero-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions with increasing heel height during quiet standing?

(2) Does HHS experience improve the wearer’s foot stability during quiet standing in high-heeled conditions?

Methods

Twenty-four young females (12 regular and 12 non-regular HHS wearers) were recruited to perform quiet standing while wearing shoes with heel heights of 1 cm, 5 cm, 8 cm and 10 cm. The effects of heel height on the mean COP, their variability (standard deviations) and mean COP velocities in both the AP and ML directions were analysed by one-way repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test. The effects of high-heel experience were analysed through independent samples t-tests.

Results

The variability of the COP in both directions increased with heel height, although significance was found only in the ML direction. The COP velocities in both directions were highest for the 1 cm heel, decreased as the heel increased to 8 cm and increased again for the 10 cm heel. Experienced HHS wearers exhibited significantly smaller COP variances (AP) for the 8 cm and 10 cm heels, smaller COP velocities (AP) for all heels, and smaller COP variances (ML) and COP velocities (ML) for the 10 cm heel.

Significance

The use of HHS results in greater stability distortions in both AP and ML directions but high-heel experience improves balance control under high-heeled conditions. Our findings enhance the understanding of how high-heel experience might influence standing balance in different heel height, and highlights the importance of the ML components of the in-foot COP measures in the examination of standing balance in HHS.

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Combining muscle morphology and clinical neuro-motor symptoms to explain abnormal gait at the ankle joint in cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Simon-Henri Schless, Francesco Cenni, Lynn Bar-On, Britta Hanssen, Marije Goudriaan, Eirini Papageorgiou, Erwin Aertbeliën, Guy Molenaers, Kaat Desloovere

ABSTRACT

Background

Individuals with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) have clinical neuro-motor symptoms contributing towards their pathological gait patterns. However, the role of altered muscle morphology alongside these symptoms is yet to be fully investigated.

Research question: Can a combination of medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior volume and echo-intensity, plantar/dorsi-flexion strength and selective motor control, plantarflexion spasticity and passive ankle dorsiflexion explain pathological gait at the ankle.

Method

In thirty children and adolescents with spastic CP (8.6 ± 3.4 y/mo) and ten typically developing peers (9.9 ± 2.4 y/mo), normalised muscle volume and echo-intensity were estimated, along with three-dimensional gait analysis. In the spastic CP participants, plantar/dorsi-flexion strength and selective motor control, plantarflexion spasticity and maximum ankle dorsiflexion were also measured. The combined contribution of these parameters towards the features of gait were evaluated, using backwards multiple regression analyses.

Results

The spastic CP participants cohort had reduced normalised medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior volume deficits of 40% and 33%, and increased echo-intensity values of 19% and 16%, respectively. The backwards multiple regression analyses revealed that the combination of reduced ankle dorsiflexion, smaller muscle volume, plantarflexion strength and dorsiflexion selective motor control could explain between 12-62% of the variance in the features of gait.

Significance

The combination of altered muscle morphology and clinical neuro-motor symptoms partly explained pathological gait at the ankle in children and adolescents with spastic CP. Both should be considered as important measures for informed treatment decision-making, but further work is required to better unravel the complex pathophysiology.

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Ankle angle variability during running in athletes with chronic ankle instability and copers

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Philipp Wanner, Thomas Schmautz, Felix Kluge, Björn Eskofier, Klaus Pfeifer, Simon Steib

Abstract

Background

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) demonstrate altered ankle kinematics during running compared to uninjured individuals; however, little is known about differences between individuals with CAI and those who recover successfully from an index sprain (copers).

Methods

Thirty-two young male athletes with prior ankle sprain were investigated, eighteen with CAI and fourteen copers. Instrumented running analysis was performed on a treadmill at two velocities: moderate (2.63 ± 0.20 m/s, rate of perceived of exertion = 14/20); and high velocity (3.83 ± 0.20 m/s). Mean ankle kinematics and stride-to-stride variability were analyzed applying the statistical parametric mapping method.

Results

At both running velocities, no statistically significant differences in mean ankle kinematics were observed. At high running velocity, athletes with CAI demonstrated significantly increased frontal plane variability at 17-19% of the running gait cycle (p = 0.009). Additionally, large between-group effect sizes (Hedges’ g ≥ 0.8) may potentially indicate increased frontal plane variability during initial contact and terminal swing, as well as decreased variability in sagittal plane at 34-35% in CAI. A similar tendency existed at moderate velocity, with large effect sizes indicating decreased dorsiflexion at 75-89% in CAI, as well as an increased frontal plane variability at 16-25%, and 97-99%.

Discussion

Compared to copers, individuals with CAI demonstrate increased variability of ankle kinematics - mainly in the frontal plane and particularly during stance phase - while mean ankle kinematics seems minimally affected. Increased ankle variability at high running velocity may best reflect persisting sensorimotor control deficits in athletes with chronically instable ankles.

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6th Vital Sign App: Testing Validity and Reliability for Measuring Gait Speed

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): E. Martin, S. Kim, A. Unfried, S. Delcambre, N. Sanders, B. Bischoff, R. Saavedra

Abstract

Background

Gait speed tests are useful predictors of different health outcomes in people. These tests can be administered by the convenience of one’s smartphone.

Research Question

Is the 6th Vital Sign app valid and reliable for measuring gait speed?

Methods

The study used a prospective test-retest design. Fifteen college subjects were asked to walk at their normal pace for 2 minutes. Each subject performed two trials. Speed was recorded by the 6th Vital Sign app, Brower timing gates, and by hand-measurement of distance walked divided by the 2 minutes. Criterion validity was assessed by paired t-tests, Cohen’s D effect sizes, and Pearson correlation tests. Inter-trial reliability within each device was assessed with Pearson correlation tests.

Results

Speed measured by the app was significantly lower than speed measured by gates (p = 0.004) and by hand-measurement (p = 0.009). The difference between gates and hand-measurement was not significant (p = 0.684). The speed measured by gates and hand-measurement were very highly correlated (r = 0.974), but speed measured by app was only moderately correlated with gates (r = 0.370) and hand-measurement (r = 0.365). The inter-trial reliability was fairly high with correlations r = 0.916, 0.944, and 0.941 when speed was measured by the app, gates, and hand-measurement, respectively.

Significance

The app tended to underestimate speed when compared to gate and hand-measurements. Therefore, we conclude that the 6^th Vital Sign app is not valid for use for clinical diagnosis or prognosis.

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Effects of heel height and high-heel experience on foot stability during quiet standing

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Frances K.W. Wan, Kit-Lun Yick, Winnie W.M. Yu

Abstract

Background

The use of high-heeled shoes (HHS) introduces instability into the wearer’s balance system but how high-heel experience might influence standing balance is less examined in literature.

Research question

(1) Does foot stability decrease in both the antero-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions with increasing heel height during quiet standing?

(2) Does HHS experience improve the wearer’s foot stability during quiet standing in high-heeled conditions?

Methods

Twenty-four young females (12 regular and 12 non-regular HHS wearers) were recruited to perform quiet standing while wearing shoes with heel heights of 1 cm, 5 cm, 8 cm and 10 cm. The effects of heel height on the mean COP, their variability (standard deviations) and mean COP velocities in both the AP and ML directions were analysed by one-way repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test. The effects of high-heel experience were analysed through independent samples t-tests.

Results

The variability of the COP in both directions increased with heel height, although significance was found only in the ML direction. The COP velocities in both directions were highest for the 1 cm heel, decreased as the heel increased to 8 cm and increased again for the 10 cm heel. Experienced HHS wearers exhibited significantly smaller COP variances (AP) for the 8 cm and 10 cm heels, smaller COP velocities (AP) for all heels, and smaller COP variances (ML) and COP velocities (ML) for the 10 cm heel.

Significance

The use of HHS results in greater stability distortions in both AP and ML directions but high-heel experience improves balance control under high-heeled conditions. Our findings enhance the understanding of how high-heel experience might influence standing balance in different heel height, and highlights the importance of the ML components of the in-foot COP measures in the examination of standing balance in HHS.

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Combining muscle morphology and clinical neuro-motor symptoms to explain abnormal gait at the ankle joint in cerebral palsy

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Simon-Henri Schless, Francesco Cenni, Lynn Bar-On, Britta Hanssen, Marije Goudriaan, Eirini Papageorgiou, Erwin Aertbeliën, Guy Molenaers, Kaat Desloovere

ABSTRACT

Background

Individuals with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) have clinical neuro-motor symptoms contributing towards their pathological gait patterns. However, the role of altered muscle morphology alongside these symptoms is yet to be fully investigated.

Research question: Can a combination of medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior volume and echo-intensity, plantar/dorsi-flexion strength and selective motor control, plantarflexion spasticity and passive ankle dorsiflexion explain pathological gait at the ankle.

Method

In thirty children and adolescents with spastic CP (8.6 ± 3.4 y/mo) and ten typically developing peers (9.9 ± 2.4 y/mo), normalised muscle volume and echo-intensity were estimated, along with three-dimensional gait analysis. In the spastic CP participants, plantar/dorsi-flexion strength and selective motor control, plantarflexion spasticity and maximum ankle dorsiflexion were also measured. The combined contribution of these parameters towards the features of gait were evaluated, using backwards multiple regression analyses.

Results

The spastic CP participants cohort had reduced normalised medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior volume deficits of 40% and 33%, and increased echo-intensity values of 19% and 16%, respectively. The backwards multiple regression analyses revealed that the combination of reduced ankle dorsiflexion, smaller muscle volume, plantarflexion strength and dorsiflexion selective motor control could explain between 12-62% of the variance in the features of gait.

Significance

The combination of altered muscle morphology and clinical neuro-motor symptoms partly explained pathological gait at the ankle in children and adolescents with spastic CP. Both should be considered as important measures for informed treatment decision-making, but further work is required to better unravel the complex pathophysiology.

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Ankle angle variability during running in athletes with chronic ankle instability and copers

Publication date: Available online 4 December 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Philipp Wanner, Thomas Schmautz, Felix Kluge, Björn Eskofier, Klaus Pfeifer, Simon Steib

Abstract

Background

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) demonstrate altered ankle kinematics during running compared to uninjured individuals; however, little is known about differences between individuals with CAI and those who recover successfully from an index sprain (copers).

Methods

Thirty-two young male athletes with prior ankle sprain were investigated, eighteen with CAI and fourteen copers. Instrumented running analysis was performed on a treadmill at two velocities: moderate (2.63 ± 0.20 m/s, rate of perceived of exertion = 14/20); and high velocity (3.83 ± 0.20 m/s). Mean ankle kinematics and stride-to-stride variability were analyzed applying the statistical parametric mapping method.

Results

At both running velocities, no statistically significant differences in mean ankle kinematics were observed. At high running velocity, athletes with CAI demonstrated significantly increased frontal plane variability at 17-19% of the running gait cycle (p = 0.009). Additionally, large between-group effect sizes (Hedges’ g ≥ 0.8) may potentially indicate increased frontal plane variability during initial contact and terminal swing, as well as decreased variability in sagittal plane at 34-35% in CAI. A similar tendency existed at moderate velocity, with large effect sizes indicating decreased dorsiflexion at 75-89% in CAI, as well as an increased frontal plane variability at 16-25%, and 97-99%.

Discussion

Compared to copers, individuals with CAI demonstrate increased variability of ankle kinematics - mainly in the frontal plane and particularly during stance phase - while mean ankle kinematics seems minimally affected. Increased ankle variability at high running velocity may best reflect persisting sensorimotor control deficits in athletes with chronically instable ankles.

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Assessment of the State of the Natural Antioxidant Barrier of a Body in Patients Complaining about the Presence of Tinnitus.

Assessment of the State of the Natural Antioxidant Barrier of a Body in Patients Complaining about the Presence of Tinnitus.

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018;2018:1439575

Authors: Pawlak-Osińska K, Kaźmierczak H, Marzec M, Kupczyk D, Bilski R, Mikołajewska E, Mikołajewski D, Augustyńska B

Abstract
Background: Tinnitus is defined as a phantom auditory perception, i.e., sound experience despite the lack of acoustic stimuli in the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the state of the natural antioxidant barrier of a body in patients complaining about the presence of tinnitus.
Material and Methods: The study included a total of 51 patients aged from 20 to 62 years with diagnosed idiopathic tinnitus and 19 healthy subjects as a control group. All patients underwent the audiometric tone test, speech audiometry, distortion otoacoustic emission product testing, study of evoked auditory potentials of short latency, and biochemical analysis of venous blood concerning values of activity or concentration of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, S-transferase, glutathione reductase superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and ceruloplasmin as the selected parameters of oxidative stress.
Results: Disorders of the auditory pathway were not only limited to the cochlea but also covered its further episodes. Mean values of activity or concentration of the selected parameters of oxidative stress in the study and control groups showed reduced effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant barrier.
Discussion: Patients complaining about the presence of tinnitus showed reduced effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant barrier compared to the control group.
Conclusions: The main indication to undertake further research on the functioning of the antioxidant barrier in people suffering from ailments in the form of tinnitus is to determine a suitable therapy aimed at improving the quality of life of these patients, which might be the administration of antioxidant medications.

PMID: 30510615 [PubMed - in process]

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Assessment of the State of the Natural Antioxidant Barrier of a Body in Patients Complaining about the Presence of Tinnitus.

Assessment of the State of the Natural Antioxidant Barrier of a Body in Patients Complaining about the Presence of Tinnitus.

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018;2018:1439575

Authors: Pawlak-Osińska K, Kaźmierczak H, Marzec M, Kupczyk D, Bilski R, Mikołajewska E, Mikołajewski D, Augustyńska B

Abstract
Background: Tinnitus is defined as a phantom auditory perception, i.e., sound experience despite the lack of acoustic stimuli in the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the state of the natural antioxidant barrier of a body in patients complaining about the presence of tinnitus.
Material and Methods: The study included a total of 51 patients aged from 20 to 62 years with diagnosed idiopathic tinnitus and 19 healthy subjects as a control group. All patients underwent the audiometric tone test, speech audiometry, distortion otoacoustic emission product testing, study of evoked auditory potentials of short latency, and biochemical analysis of venous blood concerning values of activity or concentration of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, S-transferase, glutathione reductase superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and ceruloplasmin as the selected parameters of oxidative stress.
Results: Disorders of the auditory pathway were not only limited to the cochlea but also covered its further episodes. Mean values of activity or concentration of the selected parameters of oxidative stress in the study and control groups showed reduced effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant barrier.
Discussion: Patients complaining about the presence of tinnitus showed reduced effectiveness of the body's natural antioxidant barrier compared to the control group.
Conclusions: The main indication to undertake further research on the functioning of the antioxidant barrier in people suffering from ailments in the form of tinnitus is to determine a suitable therapy aimed at improving the quality of life of these patients, which might be the administration of antioxidant medications.

PMID: 30510615 [PubMed - in process]

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