Diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss with neural networks versus logistic regression modeling of distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

We investigated whether modeling with artificial neural networks or logistic regression of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), across diverse frequencies, may achieve an accurate diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) of cochlear origin. 256 ears (90 with SNHL and 166 with normal hearing) were evaluated with pure-tone audiometry, impedance audiometry, speech audiometry and DPOAE. Ears were split into training (n = 176) and validation (n = 80) sets.

Measuring of distortion product otoacoustic emissions using multiple tone pairs.

In order to reduce the examination time of the Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) test, we investigated the applicability of the multiple-tone pairs method by comparing the DPOAE evoked by 4- and 3-tone pairs (Sim) with the conventional 1-tone pair (Seq) in 116 ears of human adults with normal hearing (NH) and 86 ears with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We found that: (1) DPOAE amplitudes in the NH group obtained with the Sim method were strongly correlated with those of Seq. (2) DPOAE amplitude and noise level mean values obtained with the Seq method were significantly higher than those obtained with Sim.

Permanent bilateral acoustic trauma due to air bag deployment in a young female adult.

Air bag safety systems have significantly reduced the number of occupant injuries from road traffic accidents (RTA). However air bag deployment is also associated with unavoidable risks. We report the acoustic trauma incurred by a young female driver who was a heavy smoker as a consequence of air-bag deployment in a low speed RTA and the sparing of her child seated in the rear.

Recurrent facial pain due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa sinusitis.

Pseudomonas (P) aeruginosa has been rarely reported as a causative agent of chronic sinusitis in otherwise healthy individuals, mostly as part of polymicrobial infections, while it has been frequently described among immunocompromised patients. We report a case of chronic maxillary sinustitis due to P. aeruginosa presenting as recurrent facial pain in a previously healthy middle-aged woman.

Effect of meteorological parameters on acute laryngitis in adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of weather conditions on the frequency of acute laryngitis in adults. The medical records of 825 patients with a diagnosis of acute laryngitis obtained over a 5-year period were reviewed. Meteorological data reviewed included the daily values of 13 parameters.

Prevalence of GJB2 mutations in prelingual deafness in the Greek population.

Objective: Mutations in the gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin 26 (GJB2) have been shown as a major contributor to prelingual, sensorineural, nonsyndromic, recessive deafness. One specific mutation, 35delG, has accounted for the majority of the mutations detected in the GJB2 gene in Caucasian populations. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and spectrum of GJB2 mutations in prelingual deafness in the Greek population.

Squamous cell vocal cord carcinoma and synchronous small cell lung carcinoma: a case report.

According to various authors the incidence of multiple primary tumors in the aerodigestive tract can be considered high. However, most of these tumors are metachronous and of the same histological type. The occurrence of a small cell lung carcinoma synchronous with a squamous cell vocal cord carcinoma is a very rare phenomenon.

Ear involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a comparative study.

Ear damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has been occasionally reported but the frequency and the mechanisms of ear involvement are not well documented. In an attempt to investigate the presence of hearing loss and the possible causes for it we prospectively evaluated 43 SLE patients. All patients underwent a complete ear-nose-throat physical examination and audiological evaluation with pure tone, impedance and speech audiometry.