Improved quantification of amyloid burden and associated biomarker cut-off points: results from the first amyloid Singaporean cohort with overlapping cerebrovascular disease

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - The analysis of the [11C]PiB-PET amyloid images of a unique Asian cohort of 186 participants featuring overlapping vascular diseases...     

The role of tensor veli platini muscle (TVP) and levetor veli platini muscle (LVP) in the opening and closing of pharyngeal orifice of Eustachian tube

Conclusion: This study developed an easy way to induce otitis media in an animal model and find the relation between tensor veli platini muscle (TVP) and levetor veli platini muscle (LVP) in the opening and closing of the pharyngeal orifice of Eustachian tube. It was proved that otitis media is caused due to the dysfunction of Eustachian tube and the only muscle responsible for opening and closing of ETPO (Eustachian tube pharyngeal orifice) is TVP and LVP has no role in the opening and closing of the Eustachian tube pharyngeal orifice.

Objective: To develop valid animal model for otitis media of effusion and to study the relation of paratubular muscles in the functioning of Eustachian tube.

Methods: Two different methods were used to induce middle ear disease: (1) Excision of tensor veli platini and levetor veli platini muscles (TVP and LVP); and (2) Injection of botulinum toxin type A on TVP and LVP.

Result: Otomiscroscopic, tympanograph, and pathological examination showed the presence of middle ear disease in those animals whose TVP was excised and paralyzed, but on those groups of animals whose LVP was excised and paralyzed, abnormalities were seen.     

Electrophysiological change in the tensor veli palatini muscle after radiotherapy

Conclusion: Electromyography of the tensor veli palatine (TVP) was abnormal and showed mainly myogenic impairment in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with secretory otitis media (SOM) after radiotherapy. The diseased ears showed impairment in opening functions of the eustachian tubes (ETs). Objectives: To characterize electrophysiology of the TVP muscle using electromyography (EMG) in patients with SOM after radiotherapy of NPC. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers and 20 patients with NPC and SOM after radiotherapy were chosen for assessment of EMG of the TVP during swallowing. Results: The measurements of average duration and amplitude of action potential, swallowing contraction duration, and peak voltage in NPC patients with both SOM (n = 25) and healthy ears (n = 6) were significantly lower than those of ears (n = 38) in healthy controls (p < 0.01). In patients with NPC, the average action potential duration and swallowing contraction duration in ears with SOM were lower than those of subjects with healthy ears (p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in average amplitude of action potential and peak voltage between them.     

Auditory brainstem responses after electrolytic lesions in bilateral subdivisions of the medial geniculate body of tree shrews

Neurological Sciences - This study aimed to establish a tree shrew model of bilateral electrolytic lesions in the medial geniculate body (MGB) to determine the advantages of using a tree shrew...