A new ventilation tube for long-term middle ear ventilation.

Objectives: The treatment of secretory otitis media often requires repeated tubulation of the tympanic membrane as the standard ventilation tubes are extruded before the disease of the middle ear has remitted. The T-tube and its modification have been developed to remain longer in situ, often requiring surgical removal. The rates of subsequent persisting tympanic membrane perforations and granulations around the tube have been unacceptably high.

Monitoring middle ear pressure by tympanometry. A study of middle ear pressure variation through seven hours.

The aim of this investigation was to monitor fluctuations in middle ear pressure, to study tympanometric signs of Eustachian tube functioning and to assess the validity of the tympanometric readings. In 20 patients with a low initial middle ear pressure (-150 daPa or lower) and 5 normals, impedance tympanometry was performed every 3 min through 7 h. Median pressure for the patients was -150 daPa (range 100 to -400 daPa) and for the normals 0 daPa (range 50 to -50 daPa).

Ginger root against seasickness. A controlled trial on the open sea.

In a double-blind randomized placebo trial, the effect of the powdered rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale) was tested on seasickness. Eighty naval cadets, unaccustomed to sailing in heavy seas reported during voyages on the high seas, symptoms of seasickness every hour for 4 consecutive hours after ingestion of 1 g of the drug or placebo. Ginger root reduced the tendency to vomiting and cold sweating significantly better than placebo did (p less than 0.

Vertigo-reducing effect of ginger root. A controlled clinical study.

The effect of powdered ginger root (Zingiber officinale) upon vertigo and nystagmus following caloric stimulation of the vestibular system was studied in 8 healthy volunteers in a double-blind crossover placebo trial. The results reported are based upon 48 vertigo scores and 48 electronystagmograms. Ginger root reduced the induced vertigo significantly better than did placebo.