Effects of a walking program in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction

[Purpose] Patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction show decreased postural stability and low levels of physical activity and also experience much anxiety. Physical activity is known to improve these symptoms; however, no study has reported any positive effects of physical activity, such as symptom reduction or improvement in function in these patients. In this study, we investigated the role of a walking program in improvement of dizziness, anxiety, and postural stability in this patient population. [Participants and Methods] This study included 21 patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction and chronic dizziness. Patients were instructed to walk 30 min daily for 3 months. Physical activity levels and questionnaires for clinical symptoms, anxiety, and postural stability were evaluated before and after intervention. [Results] We observed significant differences in the amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, clinical symptoms, and self-perceived handicap before and after the intervention. Additionally, anxiety levels were significantly reduced and postural stability was significantly improved in these patients. [Conclusion] A walking program improved physical activity levels, clinical symptoms, and postural stability and reduced self-perceived handicap and anxiety in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction. These results highlight the effectiveness of a walking program for these patients and emphasize its role as a complementary vestibular rehabilitation strategy.     

头脉冲试验与头脉冲抑制试验参数相关性分析

目的验证头脉冲试验（HIMP）和头脉冲抑制试验（SHIMP）在前庭眼动反射中的互补效应。方法选择前庭上神经炎患者33例,健康成人10例（20耳）,对前庭上神经炎患者患侧和健康成人左右侧HIMP和SHIMP增益、扫视潜伏期、扫视波振幅及显性扫视产生百分比进行匹配分析,比较HIMP和SHIMP各项参数之间相互关系。结果HIMP增益与SHIMP增益呈线性正相关,并且HIMP增益大于SHIMP增益,差异具有统计学意义（t=5.890,r=0.956,P均=0.000）。HIMP潜伏期大于SHIMP潜伏期,差异具有统计学意义（t=-3.360,P=0.001）,但无相关性（r=0.180,P=0.196）。HIMP扫视振幅与SHIMP扫视振幅呈负相关（r=-0.484,P=0.000）,HIMP扫视百分比与SHIMP显性扫视百分比呈负相关（r=-0.604,P=0.000）。HIMP增益与HIMP扫视潜伏期、振幅及百分比均呈负相关,且均具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。SHIMP增益与SHIMP代偿性扫视振幅及百分比呈正相关,具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。SHIMP增益与SHIMP扫视潜伏期无相关性（r=-0.044,P=0.756）。结论SHIMP和HIMP均可检查水平性角前庭眼动反射（VOR）的直接通路,代偿性扫视和反代偿性扫视的增益、振幅和扫视产生的百分比可作为动态观察指标评估前庭功能。两者参数变化对评估VOR通路的损伤和恢复情况起到一定指导意义。     

前庭性偏头痛的眼震视图表现及诊断价值

目的比较前庭性偏头痛(VM)和健康受试者的眼震视图(VNG)表现,明确VNG检查在VM中的诊断价值.方法前瞻性连续纳入2018年8月至2019年8月在新乡医学院附属人民医院神经内科就诊的VM患者55例和体检中心健康受试者45例,所有患者及健康受试者在条件允许下行VNG检查,包括视动性试验(扫视试验、平稳跟踪试验、视动性试验)、前庭功能试验(温度试验、摇头眼震)、自发性眼震、诱发性眼震检查(静态位置性试验).采用χ^2检验比较两组之间VNG结果的差异.结果VM组与健康受试者组之间人口统计学差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05).扫视试验:VM组有17例(30.9%)异常,健康受试者组异常例数3例(6.7%;χ^2=9.091,P<0.05);平稳跟踪实验:VM组异常20例(36.4%),健康受试者组异常5例(11.1%;χ^2=8.418,P<0.05);视动性眼震检查:VM组异常例数24例(43.6%),健康受试者组异常例数6例(13.3%;χ^2=10.823,P<0.05);温度试验:VM组有13例(23.6%)异常,健康受试者组中异常2例(3.6%;χ^2=7.150,P<0.05);摇头眼震:VM组有11例(20.0%)异常,健康受试者组异常2例(3.6%;χ^2=5.295,P<0.05);自发性眼震检查:VM组中异常10例(18.2%),健康受试者组异常4例(8.9%;χ^2=1.775,P>0.05);静态位置性眼震检查:VM组共有22例(40.0%)异常,健康受试者组中共有7例异常(16.5%;χ^2=7.183,P<0.05).结论VM组的总VNG检查异常率高于健康受试者组,说明VNG检查有助于VM的诊断,且其表现提示VM患者中枢及外周均有损害的迹象.     

A comparison of auditory and vestibular dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy

IntroductionVertigo and disequilibrium are common symptoms in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Hearing loss has been recently recognized as an additional non-motor feature in PD. The aim of this study is to evaluate audio-vestibular function in patients affected by PD and MSA.MethodsFifteen patients with PD, 16 patients with MSA and 20 age-matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Audio-vestibular examination included pure-tone audiometry (PTA), vestibular bed-side examination, video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), and cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMPs).ResultsPD and MSA patients showed worse PTA thresholds compared to HC at high frequencies. MSA patients showed worse PTA thresholds at 125 Hz compared to HC. In patients with PD, a direct correlation between disease duration and PTA thresholds was found at 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz. In patients with MSA, disease duration was directly related to PTA thresholds at 125 Hz and 250 Hz. Among PD patients, cVEMPs were absent bilaterally in 46.7% and unilaterally in 13.3% of the subjects. Among MSA patients, cVEMPs were absent bilaterally in 26.7% and unilaterally in 40% of the subjects; p13 latency was significantly increased in PD patients as compared to HC. A significant inverse relationship was found between disease duration and cVEMP amplitude in MSA patients.ConclusionWe found that high-frequency hearing loss and cVEMP abnormalities are frequent features of both MSA and PD, suggesting that an audio-vestibular dysfunction may be present in these patients even in the absence of self-reported auditory or vestibular symptoms.     

Vestibular dysfunction in patients with auditory neuropathy detected by vestibular evoked myogenic potentials

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine vestibular involvement in patients with auditory neuropathy (AN) using ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), caloric tests, video Head Impulse Tests (vHIT), and Suppression Head Impulse Paradigm (SHIMP) tests.MethodsTwenty-two patients with AN (study group) and 50 age-and-gender-matched healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled. All patients underwent air-conducted sound oVEMP and cVEMP tests. In the study group, 20 patients underwent a caloric test, 10 patients underwent a video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), and nine patients underwent the Suppression Head Impulse Paradigm (SHIMP) test.ResultsSignificant differences in VEMP abnormalities were found between the two groups. Most AN patients showed no VEMP response, while only a few patients showed VEMP responses with normal parameters. Some AN patients presented abnormal VEMP parameters, including thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes. The abnormal rate (including no response and abnormal parameters) was 91% in the cVEMP test and 86% in the oVEMP test. No significant difference was found between oVEMP and cVEMP abnormalities. AN patients exhibited a 70% abnormal rate in the caloric test. Most AN patients showed normal VOR gains. Most patients showed no overt corrective saccades in vHIT, and exhibited normal anticompensatory saccades in the SHIMP test.ConclusionMany AN patients experience vestibular dysfunction, which may be detected by using a vestibular functional test battery.SignificanceVEMP abnormalities might reflect the status and degree of vestibular involvement in AN.     

Cytomegalovirus-induced pathology in human temporal bones with congenital and acquired infection

ObjectivePublications on histopathology of human temporal bones with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are limited. We aim to determine histopathology of the inner ears and the middle ears in human temporal bones with congenital and acquired CMV infections.MethodsTemporal bones from 2 infants with congenital and 2 adults with acquired CMV infection were evaluated by light microscopy.ResultsTwo infants with congenital CMV infection showed striking pathological changes in the inner ear. There was a hypervascularization of the stria vascularis in the cochlea of the first infant, but no obvious loss of outer and inner hair cells was seen in the organ of Corti. However, cytomegalic cells and a loss of outer hair cells were found in the cochlea of the second infant. The vestibular organs of both infants showed cytomegalic cells, mostly located on dark cells. There was a loss of type I and type II hair cells in the macula of the saccule and utricle. Loss of hair cells and degeneration of nerve fibers was also seen in the semicircular canals. Both infants with congenital infection showed abundant inflammatory cells and fibrous structures in the middle ear cavity. No evidence of cytomegalic cells and hair cell loss was found in the cochlea or vestibular labyrinth in acquired CMV infection.ConclusionsIn two infants with congenital CMV infection, the cochlea, vestibule, and middle ear were highly affected. Temporal bones of adult donors with acquired viral infection showed histological findings similar to donors of the same age without ear disease.     

聚焦解决模式在肝移植遵医行为中的应用

【】目的 探讨聚焦解决模式在肝移植患者遵医行为中的应用与效果。方法 以聚焦解决模式为依据,制订护理干预策略,随机分组实验组(36例)和对照组(32例)。对照组进行常规护理,实验组在常规护理的基础上,按照聚焦解决模式五个步骤进行护理,采用一般情况问卷和肝移植患者依从性调查表对68例肝移植术后6个月的患者进行随访和调查。结果 实验组比对照组肝移植患者免疫抑制药物依从性提高8.7%~19.4%,生活习惯依从性评分提高10.1%~38.0%,自我监测及随访依从性评分提高6.3%~34.0%。结论 采用聚焦解决模式对肝移植患者遵医行为实施护理,可显著增强患者出院后的服药依从性和自我管理能力,从而达到提高患者的生活质量,减少并发症的发生的目的。