Antibody response in pig nasal fluid and serum following foot-and-mouth disease infection or vaccination

Nasal fluid and serum collected from pigs after exposure to live foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus or injection of single oil emulsion (w/o) or double oil emulsion (w/o/w) vaccines were examined for FMD neutralizing activity. After virus exposure the response profiles of serum and nasal mucus were similar to one another. In both, neutralizing activity rose to a peak at one to two weeks after exposure and then subsided slowly. After vaccination with either the w/o or w/o/w preparations a neutralizing response was demonstrable in the serum three to seven days after the first injection, and this was boosted by revaccinations 56 and 117 days later. The neutralizing activity was also detectable in nasal fluid seven days after the first vaccination, but subsequent revaccinations 56 and 117 days later provoked neutralizing titres which were no greater than those observed after the initial vaccination.     

Temperament Patterns in Young Neurologically Impaired Children

Parents of young neurologically impaired children completeda rating scale on their handicapped child's temperament. Theratings were examined for the incidence of the "difficult" temperamentpattern, and for the sample's distribution on nine separatetemperament characteristics. The data indicated no greater incidenceof difficult temperament in neurologically impaired childrenthan in normal children. The temperament characteristics oflow activity level and a short attention span, coupled withlow persistence were more common in this sample than in normalchildren. The results suggest that while some individual temperamentcharacteristics may be modified by handicapping conditions,not every group of handicapped children has a higher rate oftemperamentally difficult children. Additionally, moderatelyhigh parental convergence on temperament ratings was noted.     

Bioengineering solutions for hearing loss and related disorders

Advances in digital signal processing, microelectronics, and power technology have produced devices that have contributed significantly to the quality of life and communication abilities of individuals with hearing impairment and tinnitus. Future technological developments will expand the benefits of current devices and offer new treatments for otologic disorders.     

Which is mightier, the tuning fork or the bone oscillator?

INTRODUCTION: It is important to differentiate cochlear implant candidates with profound sensorineural hearing loss from those with profound mixed hearing loss. The latter include patients with far advanced otosclerosis and chronic otitis media who may be better treated with ossiculoplasty and conventional amplification than with cochlear implantation. Otologists have observed that a dentally placed tuning fork can be heard by some patients whose sensorineural thresholds are beyond the limits of a bone oscillator placed on the mastoid. We hypothesized that tuning forks may be able to deliver a strongerintensity bone-conducted signal than a conventional mastoid-placed oscillator. OBJECTIVE: To measure the maximum bone-conduction signal intensities of a mastoid-placed bone oscillator and tuning forks placed on the forehead, mastoid, and teeth. METHOD: The maximum signal intensity of a mastoid-placed bone oscillator and tuning forks at various locations (mastoid, forehead, teeth) was measured using behavioural masking level differences at three frequencies (250, 500, and 1000 Hz). RESULTS: The peak intensity of a dental bone-conducted tuning fork signal is greater than that delivered by a mastoid-placed bone oscillator (at least 20.5 dB HL at 250 Hz, 16.5 dB HL at 500 Hz, and 8.5 dB HL at 1000 Hz; p <.001) at all three frequencies tested. At some frequencies, the bone oscillator's maximum perceived level is greater than the peak perceived level of the tuning fork when placed on the forehead or mastoid. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to pure-tone audiometry, all patients being considered for cochlear implantation should be evaluated with maximally vibrating tuning forks applied to the teeth. If the signal is audible, other surgical procedures may need to be considered before proceeding with cochlear implantation.