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cVEMP, oVEMP and Caloric Test Results in Individuals with Meniere’s Disease
No full textObjective: The present study aimed to characterize cVEMP, oVEMP and caloric test findings in individuals with Meniere’s disease.Methods: 29 participants with Meniere’s disease and 29 participants with normal hearing were enrolled for the study. Out of 29 participants in the experimental group, 25 of them had unilateral Meniere’s disease and 4 of them had bilateral Meniere’s disease (Total 33 ears diagnosed with Meniere’s and 25 ears with non-Meniere’s disease). All the participants underwent routine audiological, cVEMP, oVEMP and Caloric testing.Results: Out of 33 ears with Meniere’s disease, 29 ears had absent responses on cVEMP, 23 ears showed absent oVEMP responses, 27 ears had hypo-activity, five ears showed hyper activity and one ear showed normal response to caloric stimulation. In the contralateral ear (25 ears with non-Meniere’s disease) both cVEMP and oVEMP were absent in 5 of the ears, cVEMP was absent and oVEMP was present in 13 ears, cVEMP was present and oVEMP was absent in 1 ear, whereas both cVEMP and oVEMP were present in 6 ears in individuals with Meniere’s disease. However, the caloric responses were present normally in the contralateral ear in individuals with Meniere’s disease.Conclusions: The combination of cVEMP, oVEMP and caloric test provides valuable information regarding localization of hydrops in individuals with Meniere’s disease
Speech Perception Assessment Practices Among Audiologists in India: A Preliminary Survey
No full textAssessment of speech perception is an important aspect of clinical audiology practice. The profession of audiology is about 50 years old in India. However, there is no published information available about speech perception assessment practices implemented by audiologists in the country. The present study is a small scale survey of audiologists involving 59 respondents working in various settings in India. The survey was conducted via e-mail and social networking website. Analysis indicates that about 70% respondents conduct speech testing routinely, though only about 50% test through audition-only and through the audiometer. The results indicate considerable variability in aspects such as presentation level, speech stimuli and tests used, setting used for testing, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio used for testing in noise. 85% respondents prefer presenting stimuli through monitored live voice for children. Word Recognition Score is the most commonly used measure, while HINT and SPIN are the tests commonly used for testing in noise. A majority of respondents feel the need for developing language-independent test material for both children and adults. Reportedly, the major impediments in conducting speech testing include non-availability of standard sound treated rooms, lack of access to sophisticated audiometers, lack of time and non-availability of standard test material in the various languages spoken in the country. The main limitation of the survey is that 73% of the respondents were from western India and hence the results cannot be generalized to the population of audiologists across the country. Despite its limitations, this study may be considered as a preliminary survey providing valuable information about speech perception assessment practices among audiologists in India
Fibre-Optical Light Scattering Technology in Polar Bear Hair: A Re-Evaluation and New Results
No full textIn very early studies, the function of the transparent hair of polar bears with their light scattering hollow core has been associated with fibre-optical properties. Critics, arguing that the distance propagated by the light is too short, later denied this. New spectroscopic, microscopic, and laser-optical studies explain the contradiction. The light harvesting mechanism can only be understood as a synergetic cooperation of many of the animal`s hairs. Light is coupled into the hair`s fibre via a scattering process for a short distance where soon after it is coupled out by a subsequent scattering process, just to be coupled again into a neighbouring hair and so on until the light is dissipated into heat or absorbed by the bear`s black skin. In the meanwhile, a small percentage of the incident light is backward scattered. As a result, the pelt`s transparent hairs appear white, while absorbing most of the incident radiation. Moreover, the solar optical technology includes a complementary strategy: the IR -radiation of body`s heat, between 8000 and 12000 nm, is effectively trapped by an analogue mechanism. This is supported by the high absorptive capacity of the fur and the absence of any significant spectroscopic feature in the entire spectral region. The polar bear evolved an efficient optical nano-technology for energy harvesting and energy conservation. Challenges for a biomimetic energy technology based on Mie scattering are discussed
A Deterministic Model of Human Motion Based on Algebraic Techniques and a Sensor Network to Simulate Shoulder Kinematics.
No full textLimiting the quantitative characterization of ambulatory mobility to only the two-dimensional sagittal plane through the investigation of key kinematic parameters, may still inform scientists and bioengineers of critical elements of joint locomotion. This paper presents the initial validation of a deterministic biomechanical gait model that was derived from an inverse kinematic analysis of three-dimensional upper extremity movement. Algebraic methods were applied to generate shoulder flexion and extension angles during a single gait cycle during normal walking. The direct kinematic measurements from a motion capture system were analyzed and compared to the predicted measurements from the algebraic model for eight healthy, human subjects. The predicted results over all subjects varied from the actual joint angle measurements with a nominal amount of mean error (23%), while correlations were quite strong (mean R2 = 0.97). These findings indicate the potential value of deterministic modeling with algebraic techniques as an alternative to existing methods
Effect of Altitudes/Ecology on Storage Pests Population and their Damage in Eritrea.
No full textOn-farm wheat grain storage study was conducted in three different altitudes of wheat growing areas of Eritrea in 2005/2006. The objective of the study was to assess the loss caused by storage pests in farmers’ traditional store. The treatments used to control the pests were sand, small grain (taff, Eragrostis tef), ash, chemical (Malathox 1%) and control (no treatment). The trial was conducted for seven moths and data was collected on grain damage, weight loss and germination percent of the damaged and undamaged grains. The data was collected every month. The major storage pests recorded were weevils (Sitophilus spp.), Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) and flour beetle (Tribolium spp). The results of the study showed that higher altitude and cooler temperature had a suppressing effect on pest population build-up thus resulting in lower grain damage and loss. Sand and small grain reduced storage pest damage up to three months and then there was no difference with the control. Ash and Malathox 1% gave significantly lower percent of infestation, damage and weight loss throughout the study period. Ash is non toxic and has no side effects on the grain and human health and is therefore be recommended to small scale farmer for treatment of grain storage
Diabetic Mastopathy: A Rare Complication of Type 1 Diabetes
No full textDiabetic mastopathy is a rare complication encountered in type I diabetes.This observation relates diagnostic, morphological, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of diabetic mastopathy.Our case consist of a young woman aged 30 years, type 1 diabetic for 20 years with chronic blood sugar imbalance (HBA1C 13%); at the stage of microvascular complications.During the last year, she has had a painless bilateral breast induration, while physical examination found very hard breasts without inflammatory signs or well-individualized nodule.The echo-mammography showed a heterogeneous appearance of the two breasts with a nodule in the upper inner quadrant of the left breast rated ACR4 at the BI-RADS classification. The surgical biopsy showed dense fibrous tissue with a chronic inflammatory infiltrate, predominately lymphocytic, related to diabetic mastopathy. Abstention and monitoring were recommended.Indeed, clinical and radiological signs of diabetic mastopathy are nonspecific and can leave a suspected breast cancer. The pathogenesis is not known. The duration of diabetes and hyperglycemia could be contributing factors. After histological diagnosis, in agreement with the clinic (old and complicated diabetes), surgical abstention is the rule
Seroprevalence of Acute Hepatitis Caused by HAV & HEV in Gazipur, Bangladesh.
No full textHepatitis A and E virus (HAV & HEV) are the most common causes of acute hepatitis. Both of them are endemic in South Asia; specially in the developing countries, like Bangladesh. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, age-specific prevalence and seasonal variation of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E in Gazipur district. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1118 patients presenting with acute viral hepatitis. All patients were tested for Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HEV IgM by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The study population was divided into 7 groups according to their ages with 10 years interval. Among 1118 patients, 571(51.0%) & 203 (18.2%) were found HEV IgM positive and HAV IgM respectively. Rest 344 (30.8%) patients were negative for both HAV IgM & HEV IgM. 64.0% and 77.8% male patients were positive for HAV and HEV infection. In our study, it was found that 62.4% patients positive for Hepatitis A infection were less than 10 years and 73.9% & 70.5% HEV positive patients were in 31 years to 40 years and 41 years to 50 years age group. HAV & HEV infections occur all year round with a peak during hot seasons with great number of rains. It may be concluded with that both HAV & HEV infection can occur at any age throughout the year. But HAV affect more in children and HEV affect more in adults with a peak during hot seasons with great number of rains
Prevalence of Oral Manifestations and Associated Factors in the HIV Infection at a Reference Hospital from the Health's Unified System, Brazil – an update.
No full textA severe control by the Brazilian Ministry of Health on the HIV infection suggests that all the opportunistic infections related to this disease are in a low frequency. This study aimed to characterize the oral lesions profile in patients with HIV/AIDS who presented to the public health system in Goiania, Brazil. An oral clinical examination was developed based on the EC-Clearinghouse on oral problems related to HIV infection. A questionnaire was completed, medical data were collected and photos were taken. A total of 201 patients were divided into two groups: Group I (92 HIV-positive patients with CD4+ count above 200 cells/mm3 and absence of symptoms of AIDS) and Group II (109 HIV-positive patients with CD4+ count below 200 cells/mm3 and with signs and symptoms of AIDS). The total prevalence for oral manifestations ranged from 19.60% (Group I) to 33.00% (Group II). Periodontitis associated with HIV infection occurred in 5.43% (Group I) and 11.00% (Group II) of patients. Linear gingival erythema occurred in 4.34% (Group I) and 7.34% (Group II) of patients. Erythematous candidiasis affected 4.34% (Group I) and 2.75% (Group II) of patients. Pseudomembranous candidiasis affected 1.83% of Group I patients. A significant association was observed between the occurrence of oral lesions related to HIV infection and age (p<0.05; OR 2.82; 95% CI (1.31-6.05)) and between HIV-related oral lesions and prosthesis wearing (p<0.05; OR 3.6; 95% CI (1.2-11.4)) in Group I patients. In Group II patients, an association was observed between the presence of caries and HIV-related oral lesions (p<0.005; OR 2.4; 95% CI (1.1-5.4)). Dry mouth was the most observed complaint related to antiretroviral therapy (7.80% in Group I and 11.00% in Group II). In conclusion, the Group II presented the highest prevalence of lesions, and periodontitis was the most common oral lesion. Age and prosthesis wearing were factors associated with the development of these lesions among Group I patients, while the presence of dental caries was associated with oral lesions in Group II patients
Lymphocytoma Cutis: A Case Report
No full textCutaneous pseudolymphomas are a group of benign reactive T- or B-cell lymphoproliferative processes of diverse etiology that simulate cutaneous lymphomas clinically and histologically. The diagnosis and classification of pseudolymphomas is a challenge for the clinical dermatologists and dermatopathologists. Lymphocytoma cutis (LC) is a prototypic lesion of cutaneous pseudolymphomas. It is characterized by a relatively dense, B-cell rich lymphoid infiltrate in the dermis. Here we report a case of lymphocytoma cutis presenting on the face
Rheumatoid Arthritis Serology in Macedonian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-Cyclic Citrulinated Peptide Antibodies or both?
No full textIntroduction: In the last 70 years, Rheumatoid Factor (RF) was considered the most useful laboratory marker in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The next very important milestone for the RA diagnosis was the discovery of anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPA). The detection of ACPA is usually done with the CCP test of the second generation, CCP2.Objective: To evaluate the performances of RF and CCP2 tests and to see whether or not the performance of both tests together is better then the performances of either of the tests alone.Materials and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study with 380 participants of which 155 RA patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 classification criteria for RA, 120 patients with inflammatory and other connective tissue diseases (Non-RA) and 105 healthy controls (HC), at the Rheumatology Clinic in Skopje, Macedonia. The patients and controls were tested for RF and ACPA.Results: The mean age of the RA patients was 50 years, and 87 % of the patients were female. The average duration of the disease has been 6 years. In this group of patients, CCP2 test showed identical sensitivity of 0,69 and better specificity than RF (0,95 vs. 0,87 respectively). For the patients who tested positive for both tests, the sensitivity was lower 0,60 and for the patients who were either ACPA or RF positive, sensitivity was slightly higher 0,73. The specificity of 0,88 for both or either of the tests was identical with that of RF. The positive likelihood ratio was 13,8 for the CCP2 test, 5,3 for RF and 5,1 for both tests done together. Ninety four out of 155 RA patients were positive for both ACPA and RF, 20 patients were positive for either one of the antibodies of which 7 (4,5%) RA patients were only anti-CCP positive and 13 (8,3%) patients were only RF positive.Conclusion: The results from our study showed that the sensitivity and specificity of both tests, done in parallel, does not differ much from the sensitivity of either of the tests alone and from the specificity of RF, respectfully. Still, CCP2 test showed the highest specificity and positive likelihood ratio as was expected. The results from our study support the idea that in countries like Macedonia, which can not afford enough CCP2 antibody kits, we may use RF first, especially in patients who are not likely to meet any clinical criteria for RA. In patients with early undifferentiated arthritis or early RA we may use both antibodies in order to select the patients who will need more aggressive treatment