Exchange rates of gases across the tympanic membrane in rhesus monkeys.

The exchange rates of CO2 and He across the tympanic membrane were estimated in 5 monkeys. For these experiments, the monkey was anesthetized and one arm of a polyethylene "T" tube was introduced into the external canal of the test ear and sealed to the ambient environment with wax. One arm of the T tube was attached to a pressure transducer and the other to an argon gas source via a valve.

Neural nets identify sensory receptors from somal spikes.

Retrospective analysis of somal electrophysiology from intracellularly recorded, physiologically identified afferents demonstrates that neural nets can be readily trained to identify the type of peripheral receptor supplied. Specifically, cat spinal ganglion somata could be identified as innervating muscle spindles, hairs or high-threshold mechanoreceptors. Further, both hair afferents and high-threshold mechanoreceptors could be separated into three distinct subclasses.

The relationship between the nasal cycle and axillary sweat production.

Mean inspiratory nasal resistances and mean axillary sweating rates were recorded bilaterally every 30 minutes for a 5-7 hour period in seven subjects. One subject performed the experiment twice. Nasal resistance was measured using either anterior (n = 5) or posterior (n = 2) rhinomanometry and sweating rate was determined using a filter paper technique.

Physiological modulation of eustachian tube function.

The effect of changing body position on the Eustachian tube opening time (TOT) and nasal conductance (NC) was investigated in 5 subjects. Eustachian tube function was evaluated using a sonotubometric technique and NC was determined by anterior or posterior rhinomanometry. The results showed that both the TOT and NC were decreased by changing the body position from erect to recumbent.

Autoinflation of eustachian tube in young children.

Inflation of the middle ear has long been thought to be beneficial in the treatment of otitis media. We describe a new system of autoinflation based on a modified Valsalva technique consisting of an anesthesia mask and a flowmeter which can be used successfully by children. An objective method to record eustachian tube opening during autoinflation using frequency spectrum analysis of the ear canal sounds is also presented.