Endolymphatic Hydrops in Fluctuating Hearing Loss and Recurrent Vertigo.

Endolymphatic hydrops (EH) is the histopathological hallmark of Ménière's disease (MD) and has been found by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with several inner ear syndromes without definite MD criteria. The incidence and relevance of this finding is under debate. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of EH and audiovestibular test results in groups of patients with fluctuating audiovestibular symptoms not fulfilling the actual criteria for definite MD and compare them with a similar group of patients with definite MD and a group of patients with recent idiopathic sudden neurosensory hearing loss (ISSNHL).

Normative data for static balance testing in healthy individuals using open source computerized posturography.

Purpose: Computerized posturography is the gold standard for balance assessment. Because of the great cost and dimensions of commercial equipments, low-cost and portable devices have been developed and validated, such as RombergLab, a software in open source term which works connected with a low-cost force platform. The objective of this study was to obtain normative posturography data using this software.

Endolymphatic hydrops severity in magnetic resonance imaging evidences disparate vestibular test results.

Objectives: It has been suggested that in Ménière's disease (MD) a dissociated result in the caloric test (abnormal result) and video head-impulse test (normal result) probably indicates that hydrops affects the membranous labyrinth in the horizontal semicircular canal (HSC). The hypothesis in this study is that based on endolymphatic hydrops' cochleocentric progression, hydrops should also be more severe in the vestibule of these patients than in those for whom both tests are normal.

Methods: 22 consecutive patients with unilateral definite MD were included and classified as NN if both tests were normal or AN if the caloric test was abnormal.

Erratum: Thoracoscopic Patch Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a Neonate Using Spiral Tacks: A Case Report.

[This corrects the article on p. 31 in vol. 4, PMID: 26290813.

Immediate acoustic effects of straw phonation exercises in subjects with dysphonic voices.

Abstract This study sought to measure any acoustic changes in the speaking voice immediately after phonation exercises involving plastic straws versus phonation exercises with the open vowel /a/. Forty-one primary school teachers with slightly dysphonic voices were asked to participate in four phonatory tasks. Phonetically balanced text at habitual intensity level and speaking fundamental frequency was recorded.

4-Methylthioamphetamine increases dopamine in the rat striatum and has rewarding effects in vivo.

4-Methylthioamphetamine (MTA) is a phenylisopropylamine derivative whose use has been associated with severe intoxications. MTA is usually regarded as a selective serotonin-releasing agent. Nevertheless, previous data have suggested that its mechanism of action probably involves a catecholaminergic component.

Influence of protonation on substrate and inhibitor interactions at the active site of human monoamine oxidase-A.

Although substrate conversion mediated by human monoaminooxidase (hMAO) has been associated with the deprotonated state of their amine moiety, data regarding the influence of protonation on substrate binding at the active site are scarce. Thus, in order to assess protonation influence, steered molecular dynamics (SMD) runs were carried out. These simulations revealed that the protonated form of the substrate serotonin (5-HT) exhibited stronger interactions at the protein surface compared to the neutral form.