Evaluation of an internet-based speech-in-noise screening test for school-age children

Objective: To evaluate a Dutch online speech-in-noise screening test (in Dutch: “Kinderhoortest”) in normal-hearing school-age children. Sub-aims were to study test–retest reliability, and the effects of presentation type and age on test results. Design: An observational cross-sectional study at school. Speech reception thresholds (SRTs) were obtained through the online test in a training condition, and two test conditions: on a desktop computer and smartphone. The order of the test conditions was counterbalanced. Study sample: Ninety-four children participated (5–12 years), of which 75 children were normal-hearing (≤25?dB HL at 0.5?kHz,?≤20?dB HL at 1–4?kHz). Results: There was a significant effect for test order for the two test conditions (first or second test), but not for presentation type (desktop computer or smartphone) (repeated measures analyses, F(1,75)?=?12.48, p?F(1,75)?=?0.01, p?=?0.982). SRT significantly improved by age year (first test: 0.25?dB SNR, 95% CI: –0.43 to –0.08, p?=?0.004. Second test: 0.29?dB SNR, 95% CI: –0.46 to –0.11; p?=?0.002). Conclusions: The online test shows potential for routine-hearing screening of school-age children, and can be presented on either a desktop computer or smartphone. The test should be evaluated further in order to establish sensitivity and specificity for hearing loss in children.     

Application of artificial intelligence using a novel EUS-based convolutional neural network model to identify and distinguish benign and malignant hepatic masses

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Effect of acute environmental heat stress on urinary water and electrolyte excretion in the rat

Plasma cortisol and urinary excretion of water, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium have been studied in the rat after application of heat stress. There was a significant increase in plasma cortisol level after exposure to heat. During heat stress complete cessation of urine formation was observed. In the next 30 min there was statistically significant increase in the urinary excretion of water, sodium and calcium but not of potassium and magnesium. Urinary calcium/magnesium ratio was also significantly elevated. The increase in urinary water and electrolyte excretion seemed to be mediated through prostaglandins since it could be abolished by administration of indomethacin prior to the application of heat stress. On the basis of these results, the possible role of heat stress in the genesis of urolithiasis has been discussed.     

Two prohormones for gastrin-releasing peptide are encoded by two mRNAs differing by 19 nucleotides.

In our studies on the molecular biology of human gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), we have discovered an example of a change in translational reading frame apparently produced through alternative RNA splicing. Complementary DNAs prepared from a pulmonary carcinoid tumor rich in GRP immunoreactivity had one of two different-sized internal DNA fragments after digestion with the restriction enzyme Pvu II. Nucleotide sequences of the two DNA fragments were identical except for 19 additional nucleotides present in the larger fragment. The region of the mRNA containing the 19 nucleotides corresponded to the carboxyl-terminal region of the human GRP precursor. The resulting shift in reading frame causes a difference of 10 amino acids in size and an overall sequence difference of 27 amino acids between the two GRP prohormones so formed. The change in reading frame described here is unusual in eukaryotes and is yet another mechanism to produce diversity in the generation of biological peptides.     

Prolonged acute mechanical ventilation and hospital bed utilization in 2020 in the United States: implications for budgets,plant and personnel planning

Background  

Adult patients on prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (PAMV) comprise 1/3 of all adult MV patients, consume 2/3 of hospital resources allocated to MV population, and are nearly twice as likely to require a discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Their numbers are projected to double by year 2020. To aid in planning for this growth, we projected their annualized days and costs of hospital use and SNF discharges in year 2020 in the US.     

Ventilatory and diffusion studies in smoker and non smoker flour-mill workers

Various pulmonary function tests, FVC, FEV1/FVC%, PEFR, EFR25-75, MVV and Tlco were measured in 25 asymptomatic male flour mill workers and 50 healthy subjects not working at flour mill, to assess the effect of flour dust on lungs. All the subjects of different groups were well matched in their anthropometeric parameters and socio economic status. In smoker flour mill workers significant reduction was present in both ventilatory and diffusion functions of lungs, which was more pronounced in subjects who consumed larger quantity of tobacco and were exposed to flour dust for longer duration. On the other hand deterioration of pulmonary functions in non smoker flour mill workers was found to be statistically not significant. The relative strength of both the parameters viz tobacco and flour dust for impairment of pulmonary functions is discussed for being a pointer to further studies.     

Urinary calcium excretion in pregnancy

Urinary calcium excretion and creatinine clearance studies have been conducted in 50 women at 36 weeks of pregnancy and 50 normal controls. Of the pregnant women, 25 had been administered 600,000 IU vitamin D in the 24-26 weeks of pregnancy (supplemented group). The non-supplemented group showed significant hypocalcaemia (even after accounting for low plasma protein levels) and hypocalciuria, while the supplemented group showed normocalcaemia as well as significantly greater 24-hour urinary calcium excretion than the controls. 24-hour creatinine clearance was increased in both groups of pregnant women. It was concluded that, due to increased GFR, urinary calcium excretion tends to increase in pregnancy provided the subject is not deficient in vitamin D. Occurrence of hypocalciuria in pregnancy suggests vitamin D deficiency and should not be considered a physiological adaptation.     

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for tricompartment osteoarthritis in octogenarians

Background:

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is specifically indicated in isolated unicompartmental arthritis with competent ligaments. Recent series of UKA for unicompartmental arthritis have shown good function, persistence of pain relief, and nearly 90% survivorship at 15 years, even in knees that would perhaps not be considered good indications for UKA today. The perioperative morbidity of UKA is less than total knee arthroplasty. We present our series of 19 octogenarians with tricompartment osteoarthritis (predominant medial compartment involvement) treated with UKA as definitive surgery.

Materials and Methods:

We performed UKA on 29 knees (19 patients) average 83 years (79-94 years) of either sex from Jan 2002 to Dec 2006. All the patients had tricompartment knee osteoarthritis (with predominant medial and some patellofemoral compartment involvement).

Results:

The results were evaluated using the Knee Society scores and visual analogue score over an average 48-month follow-up (range, 24 to 81 months). Barring one (medial femoral condyle fracture detected on postoperative radiography), all patients achieved promised levels of satisfaction.

Discussion:

UKA for tricompartment knee arthritis in the young active patient entails risk of dissatisfaction and failure. We present UKA in select ‘very elderly’ patients with tricompartment osteoarthritis (with predominant unicompartment involvement).