Tinnitus and sound intolerance: evidence and experience of a Brazilian group.

Introduction: Tinnitus and sound intolerance are frequent and subjective complaints that may have an impact on a patient's quality of life.

Objective: To present a review of the salient points including concepts, pathophysiology, diagnosis and approach of the patient with tinnitus and sensitivity to sounds.

Methods: Literature review with bibliographic survey in LILACS, SciELO, Pubmed and MEDLINE database.

The chemopreventive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract 761 against cisplatin ototoxicity: a pilot study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by using distortion product otoacoustic emission test, the action of Ginkgo biloba extract 761, which has a known antioxidant property, as a possible otoprotective against cisplatin induced hearing loss. This prospective and double blinded study was conducted on individuals that were to begin cisplatin treatment in a tertiary university center. They were randomized and allocated in two groups: control group (CG) (n = 07) receiving placebo and cisplatin and study group (SG) (n = 08) receiving Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (240 mg/day) and cisplatin.

Nasal involvement in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Numerous studies have reported an association between nasal obstruction and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but the precise nature of this relationship remains to be clarified. This paper aimed to summarize data and theories on the role of the nose in the pathophysiology of sleep apnea as well as to discuss the benefits of surgical and medical nasal treatments. A number of pathophysiological mechanisms can potentially explain the role of nasal pathology in OSAS.

Hearing preservation in cochlear implant surgery.

In the past, it was thought that hearing loss patients with residual low-frequency hearing would not be good candidates for cochlear implantation since insertion was expected to induce inner ear trauma. Recent advances in electrode design and surgical techniques have made the preservation of residual low-frequency hearing achievable and desirable. The importance of preserving residual low-frequency hearing cannot be underestimated in light of the added benefit of hearing in noisy atmospheres and in music quality.

The mismatch negativity test in ears with and without tinnitus-a path to the objectification of tinnitus.

Introduction: The mismatch negativity (MMN) test evaluates neural responses to unexpected sounds, providing objective data on the neural plasticity of the auditory system.

Objectives: In this study, we assessed whether the MMN test could identify failure of neural habituation of the auditory pathway in patients with severe tinnitus.

Materials And Methods: Patients with normal hearing were compared to tinnitus patients, via the MMN test.

Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) changes in children treated with high doses cisplatin.

Introduction: Cisplatin can cause cochlear damage by oxidative stress in hair cells, but there are few studies regarding toxicity in the central auditory pathways.

Objective: To study cisplatin neurotoxicity in the central auditory pathways in children treated with high doses cisplatin for solid malignant tumors.

Methods: Thirteen children (Group S) aged 3-19 years who had been treated with cisplatin (60-120 mg/m(2)/cycle) were studied using evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOA), conventional auditory evaluation and auditory brainstem response (ABR).

Group therapy for patients with tinnitus at the University of Brasilia Medical School.

Unlabelled: Although group therapy for tinnitus is a well documented field in the international literature, as far as we know it has never been held in Brazil. This study represents a successful experience of a group therapy for tinnitus based on the tinnitus retraining therapy associated with behavioral cognitive techniques. The goal of the present study is to assess patients with tinnitus before and after the group therapy based on the tinnitus retraining therapy and the behavioral cognitive therapy.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: diagnosis and treatment.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a common disorder in Neurotology. This vestibular syndrome is characterized by transient attacks of vertigo, caused by change in head position, and associated with paroxysmal characteristic nystagmus. The symptoms result from movement of the free floating otoconia particles in the endolymph or their attachment to the cupulae of the semicircular canal.