Acoustic evaluation of earmoulds in situ: a comparison of impression and earmould materials.

Laboratory research has been carried out on the accuracy of both ear impression and earmould materials. The present work was undertaken to assess such materials in vivo. An objective clinical method of earmould evaluation was developed, based on estimation of the attenuation in the acoustic feedback path. The method was used to assess the acoustic performance of earmoulds made from three earmould materials of different texture, when prepared from two different impression materials. It was shown that the choice of impression material made a significant difference to earmould performance. For greatest accuracy, addition cured silicone impression materials are recommended.     

In vitro considerations in the production of dimensionally accurate earmoulds. I. The ear impression

As the first part of a study on the fabrication of earmoulds, the dimensional accuracy and stability, as a function of time, of a wide range of polymer-based impression materials has been studied. The results demonstrate that addition cured silicones are the most promising materials in terms of their accuracy and dimensional stability.     

A comparison of three types of earmoulds in elderly users of post-aural hearing aids

The objective of this study was to assess the ease of handling, comfort, and general effectiveness of three types of earmould in patients who, due to their age, could be expected to experience handling difficulties. The three mould types were, meatal tip, skeleton and skeleton with the 'top prong' removed. The results indicated that the skeleton with the top prong removed was the best in all contexts but one. It was easiest and quickest to fit and least likely to be badly fitted. Only in feedback control did it perform less well. It was concluded that it should be routinely used for elderly patients fitted with low gain hearing aids.     

A comparison of different methods for assessing the 'intensity' of tinnitus

Questions are raised about the technical and psychological interpretation of loudness match measures in the assessment of tinnitus "intensity". The effect of hearing threshold on loudness matches expressed in sensation level (SL) was investigated by selecting subjects with different degrees of hearing loss. The loudness match expressed in SL was found to be a function of threshold. Correlations were then determined between psychological scales of tinnitus complaint (reported loudness, distress, intrusiveness, and others) and loudness match expressed in HL, SL, sones, or personal loudness units (PLUs). Only matches expressed in PLUs were significantly correlated with reported loudness or other psychological scales. The PLU transformation, derived from an individually determined loudness function, produces values that are generally independent of other audiometric measures. It is therefore recommended for assessing tinnitus "intensity".     

胆脂瘤型中耳炎不同手术方法效果的分析

目的对比分析同一术者用不同手术方法治疗胆脂瘤中耳炎的效果.方法38例(耳)为A组,手术时间在2002年1月至2003年4月,男25例,女13例,年龄范围13-72岁,术后观察随访12-28月,平均18.56月.6耳属于复发病例,分别在1年到6年前在本院或外院手术过.另38例(40耳)为B组,手术时间在1995年4月至1999年12月间,男17例,女21例,年龄范围9-60岁,术后观察随访6-110月,平均17.12月.5耳属于复发性.二组的年龄、术前气导(AC)和术前气骨导差(ABG)相似,统计分析差异无显著意义.手术方法A组包含上鼓室外壁重建(盾板修复)、鼓索神经弹压听骨、防粘连可吸收网片置入等多项综合技术.B组大多采用上鼓室、乳突外壁凿开和插柱法.二组都用最后一次随访听力记录为统计数据.统计分析用S-t检验.结果术后AC、ABG和ABG术前后差值(dB),A组是27.05±12.53、12.89±8.08、22.34±11.92,B组是42,76±14.22、22.27±10.95、8.83±8.72,S-t检验P均＜0.01,差异都有极显著性意义.随访期中A组有4耳发现鼓膜穿孔(10.5%),3耳接受再次手术,术中发现1耳有胆脂瘤上皮残留(2.6%);再次术后听力恢复均满意,1耳随访又1年以上.而B组有9耳因胆脂瘤复发被再次手术(22.5%).结论耳道骨回复作盾板修复等综合技术对提高胆脂瘤手术听力和减少复发有明显效果.     

A clinical comparison of the results of two different methods of closing tympanic membrane perforations

A series of myringoplasties is presented and those cases that did not heal perfect are discussed. In order to evaluate whether some changes in the technique could further improve the results, another series incorporating these changes was operated after and the results are presented. Differences in healing and post-operative hearing between the two groups of patients are evaluated.     

普通话语句理解能力分割评分法的比较研究

目的确定普通话噪声下言语测试（Mandarin hearing in noise test，MHINT）的最佳分割评分法，建立评估受试者言语能力的测试规则。方法使用MHINT测试材料对30名听力正常受试者进行测试，采用不同的适应性得分规则，分别将短句按单字和词组分割，进行评分。对使用两种分割评分法得到的测试结果进行比较。结果两组受试者采用不同分割评分法测试，按单字分割组和按词组分割组所得到的各适应性得分规则下的语句接受阈之间差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；言语识别率之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。同一受试者采用不同分割评分法的测试，按单字分割和按词组分割得到的各适应性得分规则下的语句接受阈之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；言语识别率之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论两种分割评分法均可用于正常听力者和听障人群的言语理解能力评估。     

Conservative therapy of chronic tonsillitis: comparison of different methods

A comparative analysis was made of efficacy of chronic tonsillitis (CT) treatment with high frequency ultrasound (HFU), low frequency ultrasound (LFU) and laser. The study covered 172 CT patients aged 7 to 35 (65 males and 107 females) with CT history 5-32 years. Clinical examination included micropharyngoscopy, blood count, urine tests, microbiological investigation of tonsillar lacune lavage and nasal mucus, immunological tests, consultation of the therapist. Tonsillar prints were analysed for 40 patients. A compensated CT form was diagnosed in 58 patients, a decompensated one--in 114. The treatment efficacy was evaluated in the course of therapy and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after it. Immediate results were the best in patients treated with LFU on the palatine tonsils (73%). Patients exposed to LFU and laser showed good response in 35-37% in equal number of unsatisfactory outcomes. Repeated courses of all three therapies improved results in all the groups: good and satisfactory results were 69%, 51% and 43% for LFU, HFU, laser, respectively. Thus, LFU (Tonsillor device) is the most efficient up-to-date conservative therapy of CT which provides mechanical elimination of pathogens from the tonsils, a bactericidal effect, recovery of the barrier function.     

The effects of sterilization on the accuracy of silicone ear impression materials

The dimensional stability of a range of elastomeric impression materials has been assessed to study the effect of storage in sterilizing solutions. Experiments were carried out on audiological silicones of condensation and addition types. Further, a number of dental-based materials comprising a polysulphide, a polyether, a condensation and an addition silicone, were also investigated for comparison. The results indicate that the addition silicones had the greatest dimensional stability over a range of storage conditions, which included aqueous glutaraldehyde and hypochlorite solutions.     

Factors influencing the efficacy of light cured materials for earmoulds.

This work was undertaken to investigate two systems for producing light-cured earmoulds, in order to evaluate the factors which influence the efficacy of such procedures. It was shown that there were variations in light intensity in the light boxes, and that the depth and age of gel in which curing takes place was important. Degree of cure of the materials was assessed by hardness measurements for hard materials and resistance to tearing for hard materials. Light-cured technology has great potential for the rapid production of earmoulds.     

不同术式治疗鼻腔鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤疗效的比较观察

目的比较三种不同手术方式治疗鼻腔鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤的疗效.方法分别采用鼻侧切开术、改良面中部揭翻径路联合鼻内镜手术及鼻内进路联合鼻内镜手术治疗鼻腔鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤62例,对其治疗效果进行比较分析.结果经术后随访半年～11年,各组患者症状均消失或减轻.鼻侧切开术36例中复发8例(22.2%),改良面中部揭翻径路联合鼻内镜手术18例中,复发2例(11.1%),鼻内进路联合鼻内镜手术8例中复发1例(12.5%).复发者再次手术后治愈.结论改良面中部揭翻径路联合鼻内镜手术是治疗鼻腔鼻窦内翻性乳头状瘤可靠且有效的方法.     

Practical considerations in the fabrication of earmoulds for young babies

The practicalities of fabricating earmoulds for young babies (under the age of 3 months) have been investigated. The results indicate that earmoulds can be satisfactorily fabricated provided there are changes in approach in the fabrication procedure. This applies in both the ear impression taking and in the format of the final earmould.     

A comparison of three methods of oral reconstruction

A protocol is presented that was designed to provide comparative data on the two primary oral cavity functions affected by surgery: speech and swallowing. Three types of reconstruction (skin grafts, hemitongue flaps, and myocutaneous flaps) and results of a series of tests given to 15 surgical patients with T2 and T3 tongue and/or floor of mouth lesions were evaluated. The patients who had split-thickness skin grafts had the best oral function results. The study suggests that tongue mobility is the most significant variable in determining post-operative speech results.     

Laryngeal trauma. A historical comparison of treatment methods

In the last 20 years, several authors have reported their experience with the treatment of laryngeal trauma. Over 200 cases of laryngeal trauma in the literature were reviewed and compared with the experience at Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, NY. Special attention was paid to surgical v medical treatment, type and duration of stenting techniques, and time interval between injury and surgery. Results were compared in terms of voice and airway status. If surgical treatment is not required, the results for airway and voice are generally excellent. In those cases requiring open surgical treatment, the adequacy of airway was independent of the use or method of stenting. Superior voice results were obtained when stenting was not used. In general, better results were obtained when treatment was carried out within the first 24 hours.     

建立扁桃体腺样体不同手术方式对儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征疗效的系统评价体系

目的 探讨建立比较分析不同的扁桃体腺样体手术方式对儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)疗效的系统评价体系。 方法 计算机检索中国知网、万方数据库、中国生物医学文献数据库和维普数据库中关于扁桃体腺样体不同手术方式治疗儿童OSAHS的随机对照试验,时限为从建库到2016年7月。对纳入研究的质量进行严格评价与提取资料,对符合标准的文献进行系统评价,统计学处理分析应用RevMan 5.0软件。 结果 共纳入7篇随机对照试验。结果显示观察组与对照组的治愈率、有效率、术后低通气指数(AHI)及最低血氧饱和度(LSaO₂)的比较,其差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);而观察组的手术时间及术中出血量均少于对照组,两者间差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。只有1篇对比了腺样体切除伴扁桃体部分及全切术术前及术后6个月时体液免疫及细胞免疫指标的改变,无法进行Meta分析,故未能提供循证医学证据。 结论 目前不同术式对患儿免疫功能的影响及治疗效果的研究较少,而且术后观察时间不一致,但这些可查询到的研究均表明腺样体切除伴部分扁桃体切除术不会对儿童的体液及细胞免疫功能造成不良影响。8岁以下且扁桃体仅单纯增生肥大的OSAHS患儿,部分扁桃体切除+腺样体切除术既可改善通气障碍,又能保留扁桃体的免疫功能及减少手术时间和术中出血量,是治疗该类患者的理想方法。     

A comparison of the effects of eighth nerve section with lidocaine on tinnitus

The success rate of eighth nerve section in abolishing tinnitus is disappointing and the results generally unpredictable. A comparison of the effects of a bolus intravenous injection of lidocaine with the effects of nerve section is reported: it presents some evidence that the response to lidocaine may be of value in selecting patients for nerve section, and further it may shed some light on the site of action of lidocaine in suppressing tinnitus.     

A comparison of two methods of hearing screening in the preschool population

The outcome of hearing screening using conventional pure tone behavioral testing was compared with the outcome employing measures of transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in a preschool population under conditions typical of educational settings. Two hundred children ranging in age from 2 years 1 month to 5 years 10 months were screened. Nearly equal numbers of children were referred from the two types of screening activities. The majority of referrals from the pure tone screening were due to an inability to condition the children to respond. Only 10% of the children referred from the TEOAE screening received a referral due to an inability to cooperate. Approximately 44% of the children referred from the pure tone screening also failed the immittance screening, whereas 62% of those who referred from the TEOAE screening also failed immittance screening.

Learning outcomes: As a result of completing this activity, the learner will obtain information about vocabulary development in children with hearing loss, referral rates from preschool hearing screening programs and the influence of middle ear status on referrals.     

A comparison of experimental methods in molecular chronic rhinosinusitis research

BACKGROUND: Research into the molecular pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) requires the collection and analysis of sinonasal tissue. Recent gene expression studies have used either surgical tissue specimens or isolated epithelial cell preparations. Here, we compare cultures of nasal epithelial cells, nasal brush biopsy, and whole ethmoid mucosa with respect to expression of innate immune genes. METHODS: Ethmoid mucosa was collected intraoperatively from 12 CRS and control patients. This tissue either was processed whole for mRNA extraction or was used to generate primary nasal epithelial cell cultures. After 6 weeks, epithelial cells in culture were assessed for multiple innate immune proteins by flow cytometry. In parallel, middle meatal brush biopsy specimens were obtained from the same patients and studied acutely in a similar fashion by flow cytometry. Expression of innate immune genes was determined in whole tissue samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Flow cytometry revealed that brush biopsy specimens contain 75% epithelial cells, whereas primary nasal epithelial cell cultures were pure. Epithelial cells derived from individual subjects expressed very similar levels of innate immune markers whether studied acutely or after 6 weeks in culture. Whole tissue mRNA levels were variable and not correlated to epithelial expression. CONCLUSION: The choice of experimental methodology can greatly influence the results and interpretation of CRS research. Primary nasal epithelial cells maintain their innate immune receptor expression profile when grown in prolonged culture in vitro. These findings imply that alterations in innate immune gene expression in CRS may be intrinsic to the epithelial cells, even outside of their in vivo microenvironment.     

A comparison of methods for nasal mast cell demonstration.

Nasal turbinates were studied from 14 rhinitis patients following surgical turbinectomy, and from five subjects at autopsy. Mast cell counts on turbinectomy specimens were compared following staining with toluidine blue or Alcian blue and safranin after fixation in either paraformaldehyde or neutral buffered formalin. Mast cell numbers were significantly greater in the superficial submucosa than in the epithelium or deep submucosa in both the rhinitis group and the autopsy subjects. The combination of PFA fixation and ABS staining gave maximum mast cell counts, revealed two morphological mast cell sub-types and gave optimal demonstration of nasal tissue. Nasal mast cells are thus not uniformly distributed, appear heterogeneous under light microscopy, are present in large numbers even in the elderly, and are best demonstrated using PFA fixation and ABS staining.     

A comparison of audiometric test methods for 2-year-old children

Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA), visual reinforcement operant conditioning audiometry (VROCA), and play audiometry were compared in terms of conditionability and number of responses obtained prior to habituation on normal 2-year-old (24-27 months) children. Results indicated that a higher percentage of children could be conditioned to VRA than to either VROCA or play audiometry. Results also indicated that for children who could be conditioned, the play audiometry group showed more responses prior to habituation than were obtained from the other two groups.