112,769 research outputs found
Hearing rehabilitation in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients: cochlear versus auditory brainstem implantation
No full textAudiol Neurootol. 2008;13(4):273-80. Epub 2008 Feb 7.
Hearing rehabilitation in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients: cochlear versus auditory brainstem implantation.
Vincenti V, Pasanisi E, Guida M, Di Trapani G, Sanna M.
SourceDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate and compare the auditory performance of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients with bilateral total deafness fitted with cochlear or auditory brainstem implants.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case review was performed. Nine patients suffering from NF2 who underwent hearing rehabilitation by means of cochlear (4 patients) or auditory brainstem (5 patients) implantation participated in the study. Postoperative auditory performance was assessed using closed- and open-set tests.
RESULTS: In the group of patients fitted with a cochlear implant, 3 subjects achieved open-set speech recognition abilities comparable to those of standard adult postlingual implant patients; the remaining patient scored 0% in all open-set format tests, reporting benefits only in environmental sound detection and lip-reading. Among the 5 patients who underwent auditory brainstem implantation, 1 reached good open-set speech recognition skills, scoring 70% in the common phrases comprehension test, and she was able to communicate on the telephone. Two other patients achieved open-set speech understanding (respectively, 33 and 41% in the common phrases comprehension test), reporting daily use of their device. The remaining 2 patients did not achieve any level of open-set speech perception, obtaining only improved access to environmental sound and lip-reading skills.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed literature data reporting that cochlear implantation may offer open-set speech communication in NF2 patients. In this small cohort, cochlear implant patients performed better than auditory brainstem implant patients, even if variability in auditory performance was observed with both devices. More studies are needed in order to clarify the role and reliability of electrophysiological tests in predicting the residual functionality of the cochlear nerve after tumor removal
Le terme centrali di Aquinum (FR): considerazioni preliminari sulle fasi e sulle pavimentazioni
No full text
Substrate selectivity and pH dependence of KAAT1 expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes
No full textWhen expressed in Xenopus oocytes KAAT1 increases tenfold the transport of L-leucine. Substitution of NaCl with 100 mM LiCl, RbCl or KCl allows a reduced but significant activation of L-leucine uptakes. Chloride-dependence is not strict since other pseudo-halide anions such as thyocyanate are accepted. KAAT1 is highly sensitive to pH. It can transport L-leucine at pH 5.5 and 8, but the maximum uptake has been observed at pH 10, near to the physiological pH value, when amino and carboxylic groups are both deprotonated. The pH value mainly influences the V(max) in Na+ activation curves and L-leucine kinetics. The kinetic parameters are K(mNa) = 4.6 ± 2 mM, V(maxNa) = 14.8 ± 1.7 pmol/oocyte/5 min for pH 8.0 and K(mNa) = 2.8 ± 0.7 mM, V(maxNa) = 31.3 ± 1.9 pmol/oocyte/5 min for pH 10.0. The kinetic parameters of L-leucine uptake are: K(m) = 120.4 ± 24.2 μM, V(max) = 23.2 ± 1.4 pmol/oocyte/5 min at pH 8.0 and K(m) = 81.3 ± 24.2 μM, V(max) = 65.6 ± 3.9 pmol/oocyte/5 min at pH 10.0. On the basis of inhibition experiments, the structural features required for KAAT1 substrates are: (i) a carboxylic group, (ii) an unsubstituted α-amino group, (iii) the side chain is unnecessary, if present it should be uncharged regardless of length and ramification
Cochlear implantation in pontine tegmental cap dysplasia
No full textInt J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Aug;74(8):962-6.
Cochlear implantation in pontine tegmental cap dysplasia.
Bacciu A, Ormitti F, Pasanisi E, Vincenti V, Zanetti D, Bacciu S.
SourceDepartment of Otolaryngology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
Pontine tegmental cap dysplasia (PTCD) is an exceptionally rare brain stem and cerebellar malformation characterized by ventral pontine hypoplasia, vaulted pontine tegmentum, hypoplasia of the vermis, subtotal absence of middle cerebellar peduncles, lateralized course of the superior cerebellar peduncles, and absence or alteration of the inferior olivary nucleus. The main clinical features are multiple cranial neurophaties and ataxia. Sensorineural hearing loss of varying severity is almost always present. To date, 14 cases of PTCD have been reported in the literature. We present a child with PTCD and profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation. To the best of our knowledge, cochlear implantation in PTCD has not been previously reported. Functional outcome was assessed using the Speech Perception Categories and the Speech Intelligibility Rating scale. At 22 months' postoperative evaluation, the patient who was placed into speech perception category 0 (no detection of speech) preoperatively progressed to category 3 (beginning word identification). Before implantation, the child had connected speech unintelligible. At the last follow-up, she had connected speech intelligible to a listener who has little experience of a deaf person's speech. Cochlear implantation allowed this child to improve her quality of life, increasing her self-confidence, independence, and social integration
Main peak interleaved sampling (MPIS) strategy: effect of stimulation rate variations on speech perception in adult cochlear implant recipients using the Digisonic SP cochlear implant.
No full textActa Otolaryngol. 2010;130(1):102-7.
Main peak interleaved sampling (MPIS) strategy: effect of stimulation rate variations on speech perception in adult cochlear implant recipients using the Digisonic SP cochlear implant.
Di Lella F, Bacciu A, Pasanisi E, Vincenti V, Guida M, Bacciu S.
SourceDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Middle Ear Microsurgery and Otoneurosurgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
CONCLUSION: Data obtained from a cohort of 10 post-lingually deaf adult patients indicated that use of a higher stimulation rate, in the setting of the main peak interleaved sampling (MPIS) strategy coupled with the Neurelec-MXM Digisonic SP cochlear implant system, gives a significant advantage in terms of speech perception if compared with a lower rate, especially in a noisy environment.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate speech recognition performances in post-lingually deaf adult cochlear implant recipients using two different stimulation rates (260 pps/e and 600 pps/e) in the setting of the MPIS strategy combined with the MXM-Neurelec Digisonic SP cochlear implant system.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten post-lingually deaf adults who consecutively received a Neurelec-MXM Digisonic SP device at the CI Center of the University of Parma participated in the study. The study was conducted prospectively as a within-subject repeated measures (ABA protocol) between January 2007 and January 2008. Each subject was exposed to and sequentially tested with two different rates of stimulation (260 pps/e and 600 pps/e), in quiet and in a noisy environment. Statistical analysis was performed on the data obtained.
RESULTS: Subjects using the MPIS strategy with a stimulation rate of 600 pps/e performed significantly better in words and phrases recognition tests in both a noisy and a quiet environment
Comparison of speech perception performance between the Nucleus 24M e Nucleus 24 Contour Cochlear implant systems
No full textActa Otolaryngol. 2004 Dec;124(10):1155-8.
Comparison of speech perception performance between the Nucleus 24 and Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implant systems.
Bacciu A, Pasanisi E, Vincenti V, Guida M, Barbot A, Berghenti M, Forli F, Berrettini S, Bacciu S.
SourceDepartment of Otolaryngology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the 1-, 3-, and 6-month postoperative speech perception scores obtained by a group of subjects who received the new perimodiolar array (Nucleus Contour) cochlear implant with those obtained by a group of subjects implanted with the straight electrodes of the previous-generation Nucleus 24 device.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The speech performance of 10 postlingually deafened adults implanted with the Nucleus Contour device was compared with that of matched controls who received the Nucleus 24 model. Objective measures included word and sentence speech recognition scores.
RESULTS: Patients implanted with the Nucleus Contour device obtained significantly higher word and sentence recognition scores after short-term use of the implant compared to those obtained by patients implanted with the Nucleus 24 model.
CONCLUSION: Further long-term studies are required to determine whether the Nucleus Contour CI recipients continue to improve over time
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