Hearing in Noise Test Brazil: standardization for young adults with normal hearing

IntroductionIndividuals with the same ability of speech recognition in quiet can have extremely different results in noisy environments.ObjectiveTo standardize speech perception in adults with normal hearing in the free field using the Brazilian Hearing in Noise Test.MethodsContemporary, cross-sectional cohort study. 79 adults with normal hearing and without cognitive impairment participated in the study. Lists of Hearing in Noise Test sentences were randomly in quiet, noise front, noise right, and noise left.ResultsThere were no significant differences between right and left ears at all frequencies tested (paired t − 1 test). Nor were significant differences observed when comparing gender and interaction between these conditions. A difference was observed among the free field positions tested, except in the situations of noise right and noise left.ConclusionResults of speech perception in adults with normal hearing in the free field during different listening situations in noise indicated poorer performance during the condition with noise and speech in front, i.e., 0°/0°. The values found in the standardization of the Hearing in Noise Test free field can be used as a reference in the development of protocols for tests of speech perception in noise, and for monitoring individuals with hearing impairment.     

Risk stratification in breast cancer screening: Cost-effectiveness and harm-benefit ratios for low-risk and high-risk women

In mammography screening programmes, women are screened according to a one-size-fits-all principle. Tailored screening, based on risk levels, may lead to a better balance of benefits and harms. With microsimulation modelling, we determined optimal mammography screening strategies for women at lower (relative risk [RR] 0.75) and higher (RR 1.8) than average risk of breast cancer, eligible for screening, using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of current uniform screening in the Netherlands (biennial [B] 50-74) as a threshold ICER. Strategies varied by interval (annual [A], biennial, triennial [T]) and age range. The number of life-years gained (LYG), breast cancer deaths averted, overdiagnosed cases, false-positive mammograms, ICERs and harm-benefit ratios were calculated. Optimal risk-based screening scenarios, below the threshold ICER of €8883/LYG, were T50-71 (€7840/LYG) for low-risk and B40-74 (€6062/LYG) for high-risk women. T50-71 screening in low-risk women resulted in a 33% reduction in false-positive findings, a similar reduction in costs and improved harm-benefit ratios compared to the current screening schedule. B40-74 in high-risk women led to an increase in screening benefit, compared to current B50-74 screening, but a relatively higher increase in false-positive findings. In conclusion, optimal screening consisted of a longer interval and lower stopping age than current uniform screening for low-risk women, and a lower starting age for high-risk women. Extending the interval for women at lower risk from biennial to triennial screening reduced harms and costs while maintaining most of the screening benefit.     

Arabic adaptation of the Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis screen (ECAS-AR)

Current screening batteries for assessing neuropsychological function are not specific for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and are considered as limited tools due to the physical disabilities associated with ALS. The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) was developed to detect the specific cognitive and behavioral changes that may occur among ALS patients. This study presents the ECAS developed for Arabic-speaking ALS patients (ECAS-AR) for use by healthcare professionals. ECAS was translated and modified to refined variety of Arabic language. Eighty-five ALS patients were included. Normative data were collected from 200 healthy controls (among them 97 were matched). Subjects were administered the ECAS-AR and two conventional cognitive screening batteries, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). ECAS-AR discriminated well between healthy controls and ALS patients. Significant differences were noted in language, executive functions, memory, and visuospatial domains between the two groups. The most prevalent deficit occurred in language and executive functions in ALS-specific functions. Whereas memory was more readily impaired in the lower and middle education groups concerning ALS non-specific functions. Verbal fluency tended to be preserved. Positive correlations were found between ECAS-AR and the standard cognitive tests supporting its full validity. The ECAS-AR version proposed will provide rapid, efficient and sensitive tools for healthcare professional to determine the cognitive-behavioural profile in Arabic-speaking ALS patients.     

Prenatal screening and diagnosis of handicaps: Current state of the art

Current medical procedures used in prenatal screening and diagnosis of handicapping conditions are reviewed. These strategies include ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus biopsy, restriction enzyme analysis, maternal serum analysis, fetoscopy, and fetal serum analysis. Along with an explanation of each method, advantages, disadvantages, and risks involved with each are provided. An understanding of these procedures by medical and educational personnel is encouraged, and the potential benefits of prenatal identification of handicapping conditions are emphasized.     

听神经瘤术中耳蜗电图监测与听力保护

目的：评价耳蜗神经电位活动直接监护在听神经瘤手术中对保护听力的作用。方法：听神经瘤手术中施行耳蜗电图监护。结果：１６例听神经瘤手术中施行耳蜗电图监护者，术后听力保留５例（３１％），其中４例为有效听力保留。肿瘤在２厘米以下者听力保留为３８％（５／１３）。结论：听神经瘤手术过程中采用耳蜗电图监护，能敏感地反应即时的听神经功能状况，给术者及时的反馈信息，有助于听力保护     

Encouraging Underscreened Women to Have Cervical Cancer Screening: The Effectiveness of a Computer Strategy

Background.Computers that collect data from patients and provide both patients and practitioners with printed feedback on a range of health risks are a tool for assisting general practitioners with preventive care. This study assessed the impact of computer-generated printed feedback on cervical screening among women who were underscreened for cervical cancer.Method.Female attenders at two Australian general practices were randomly allocated to Experimental or Control groups. Women in both groups completed a health risk survey on a touch screen computer prior to their consultation. Those in the Experimental group received printed pages summarizing their results, including their eligibility for cervical screening and last Pap test, for themselves and their doctor. The number and proportion of underscreened women who had a Pap test in the 6 months after completing the computer survey, as determined by pathology records, were examined.Results.Of the 679 participants, 139 were classified as underscreened on the basis of self-report (74 Experimental, 65 Control) and 272 on the basis of their pathology records (148 Experimental, 124 Control). Overall about one-third of women had a test in the 6-month period, and the differences between the groups were not significant for women overall (18–70 years) or for women 18–49 years. Among women 50–70 who were underscreened based on self-report, those receiving the printout were more likely to have a Pap test in the next 6 months (P< 0.05). This pattern was also evident, but did not reach statistical significance, for older women who were underscreened based on pathology records.Conclusions.We are unable to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the computer system due to the modest proportions of women screened, the small numbers, and the fact that the computer survey may have created an intervention effect in the Control group. As the study suggests the computer system is acceptable to women and may be effective for encouraging screening among older women, further exploration of the system is desirable.     

90岁以上长寿老人听力与发中微量元素的观察

作者对30名90岁以上老人作纯音测听、高频测听和发中微量元素检测,与<60岁组人进行比较。结果:老年组纯音全频率听阈与对照组相比差异非常显著(P<0.01),高频测听,90岁组随着频率提高,听到耳数越来越少。并观察到90岁组发中锌、镁微量元素均低于<60岁组,两组间有显著差异(P<0.01)。对90岁组老人听力的特点,发中锌、镁微量元素含量减少对老年性耳聋的影响进行探讨。     

Preclinical Drug Metabolism in the Age of High-Throughput Screening: An Industrial Perspective

With the advent of genomics, combinatorial paradigms and high-throughput screen (HTS)-based pharmacological testing, the number of compounds flowing through the discovery pipeline is likely to escalate. At the same time, with increased knowledge of the human drug-metabolizing enzymes and the availability of in vitro absorption-metabolism (AM) models, Preclinical Drug Metabolism is poised to meet the challenges of HTS. In order to be successful, however, a rational HTS strategy (vs. serendipitous HTS) has to be employed. Such a strategy is based on automation, validation and integration of in vitroAM models and database management (AVID). A generalized strategy for rational (AVID-based) HTS in Preclinical Drug Metabolism is described briefly.