Analysis of subtle auditory dysfunctions in young normal-hearing subjects affected by Williams syndrome.

Objective: To assess if young subjects affected by Williams syndrome (WS) with normal middle ear functionality and normal hearing thresholds might have subtle auditory dysfunctions that could be detected by using clinically available measurements.

Methods: Otoscopy, acoustic reflexes, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured in a group of 13 WS subjects and in 13 age-matched, typically developing control subjects. Participants were required to have normal otoscopy, A-type tympanogram, normal acoustic reflex thresholds, and pure-tone thresholds≤15 dB HL at 0.

Audiological follow-up of 24 patients affected by Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cardiovascular problems, facial abnormalities and several behavioural and neurological disabilities. It is also characterized by some typical audiological features including abnormal sensitivity to sounds, cochlear impairment related to the outer hair cells of the basal turn of the cochlea, and sensorineural or mixed hearing loss, predominantly in the high frequency range. The aim of this report is to describe a follow-up study of auditory function in a cohort of children affected by this syndrome.

Audiological findings in Williams syndrome: a study of 69 patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate, in a clinical setting, the auditory function of a group of individuals affected by Williams syndrome (WS). Sixty-nine patients with WS, aged 2-30, underwent comprehensive audiological testing including air/bone conduction behavioral audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry and measurement of the acoustic reflex, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and brainstem auditory evoked responses. Hearing loss, defined by a pure-tone average above 15 dB HL, affected 22.

Cochlear active mechanisms in young normal-hearing subjects affected by Williams syndrome: time-frequency analysis of otoacoustic emissions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the functionality of cochlear active mechanisms in normal-hearing subjects affected by Williams syndrome (WS). Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were recorded in a group of young WS subjects and a group of typically developing control subjects, all having normal-hearing thresholds and normal middle-ear functionality. We also analysed the narrow-band frequency components of TEOAEs, extracted from the broad-band TEOAE recordings by using a time-frequency analysis algorithm based on the Wavelet transform.

Monitoring cerebral oxygen saturation in elderly patients undergoing general abdominal surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate changes in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) and incidence of intraoperative cerebral desaturation in a cohort of elderly patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Methods: rSO2 was continuously monitored on the left and right sides of the forehead in 60 patients older than 65 yr (35 males and 25 females; ASA II-III; age: 72 +/- 5 yr; without pre-existing cerebral pathology, and baseline Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >23) undergoing sevoflurane anaesthesia for major abdominal, non-vascular surgery >2 h.

Results: Baseline rSO2 was 63 +/- 8%; cerebral desaturation (rSO2 decrease <75% of baseline or <80% in case of baseline rSO2 <50%) occurred in 16 patients (26%).

Cardiovascular changes after extraglottic airway insertion: a prospective, randomized comparison between the laryngeal mask or the new PAXpress.

Study Objective: To compare hemodynamic responses induced with the new extraglottic airway, PAXpress, and the classic Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA).

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Anesthesia department of a university teaching hospital.