Long-Term Follow-Up of Intratympanic Methylprednisolone Versus Gentamicin in Patients With Unilateral Menière's Disease.

Objectives: To determine whether long term (>48 months) symptomatic vertigo control is sustained in patients with Menière's disease from a previous comparative trial of intratympanic methylprednisolone versus gentamicin, and if the two treatments remain nonsignificantly different at long-term follow-up.

Study Design: Mail survey recording vertigo frequency in the previous one and six months, further intratympanic treatment received, and validated symptom questionnaires.

Setting: Outpatient hospital clinic setting.

Adaptation of ventilation to 'buffeting' in vehicles.

Objectives: Short exposures to buffeting in a vehicle driving over rough terrain induce an increase in the frequency of respiration resulting in hyperpnoea and hypocapnia. The present study investigates the adaptation to buffeting-induced hyperpnoea.

Methods: We monitored ventilation and cardiovascular function in nine healthy young adults prior to, throughout and post a 30 minute simulation of buffeting.

Tachypnea and hypocapnia are induced by 'buffeting' in vehicles.

Normal physiological responses to vehicular buffeting were studied during a 5 minute mild 'off road' exposure in a motion simulator. The ride provoked an initial increase in heart rate and blood pressure and a significant hypocapnia of P(ET) CO(2) 34 mm Hg caused by tachypnea, which took 5 minutes to recover. Motion induced hypocapnia could be a source of distress for vulnerable subjects and patients when travelling.