The Stimulation of Polymodal Sensory Perception by Skarżyński (SPPS-S): comparison of stationary and remote therapy results

Hearing is a sense, which has a significant impact on a child’s development. Disorders connected with hearing can have impact in a various form and affect each area of life. Hearing disorders may concern peripheral auditory system as well as its parts responsible for central processing. It is estimated that central auditory processing disorders in its isolated form concern 2-3% of the population of school-age children, however, the problem co-occurring with other disorders may affect even several dozen percents of children. According to the available recommendations, there are three main therapeutic approaches in the treatment of patients with auditory processing disorders: transforming the school environment, teaching the child strategies how to compensate his or her difficulties or using hearing trainings focused on a specific deficit. The main aim of the study is to present the results of SPPS-S therapy dedicated to patients with central auditory processing disorders who have completed the remote version of the method in comparison with patients performing therapy in a rehabilitation center. The Stimulation of Polymodal Sensory Perception by Skarżyński (original name in polish SPPS-S) is a treatment applicable for many different groups of disorders showing comorbidity with central auditory processing disorders. Solutions present in SPPS-S offer multifaceted therapy activating different perceptual modalities (hearing, vision and touch) at the same time, as well as their integration and coordination. Patient may receive the SPPS-S therapy either in the rehabilitation center or at home. The material used to assess the effectiveness of SPPS-S-based therapy included the results of 100 patients who received remote SPPS-S therapy compared to the results of 100 patients who performed therapy at a specialized center. Statistical analysis of the results obtained, which showed that the therapy used resulted in a statistically significant improvement in all auditory functions studied. Results confirm the high effectiveness of The Stimulation of Polymodal Sensory Perception by Skarżyński, both in stationary and remotely implemented form. The quality of telerehabilitation interventions was maintained at the same level as in therapeutic work at the therapeutic center, which was confirmed by the results of patients. Remote SPPS-S therapy as an effective telerehabilitation method has become an effective form of supporting patients in their own homes

Hearing screening of school children in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland

IntroductionHearing screening is an important part of prevention. It allows early detection of hearing disorders, thus the treatment may begin early, and eliminates or minimises negative consequences. Children with hearing impairment often experience delayed speech development and cognitive abilities, which can result in learning disabilities and reduce school progress. Since 1999, the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in Poland has provided a hearing screening program for school-age children in the country. The main aim of the program is the early detection of hearing disorders in children starting school, and increase in the awareness among parents of hearing problems.Materials and MethodsPure-tone air-conduction hearing thresholds were obtained at 0.5–8 kHz. The results of the hearing screening examination were regarded as positive if pure-tone thresholds were higher than 20 dB HL in one or both ears at one or more of the test frequencies. The audiometric results were supplemented by questionnaires completed by the parents. There were 8,091 first-grade children from the Podkarpackie Voivodeship enrolled in the program.ResultsBased on the audiogram, screening showed that hearing impairment was found in 1618 children (20% of the examined children).ConclusionOur study yielded a large group of children with hearing problems. We recommend that hearing screening in primary schools should be a routine procedure within a general framework of preventive pediatric health care

The level of religiosity and views on euthanasia and persistent therapy among nurses

Wstęp. Eutanazja i uporczywa terapia stanowią trudne zagadnienia z zakresu medycyny i etyki, a opinie na ich temat są kształtowane między innymi przez religie. Praca pielęgniarki i jej postawy wobec zakończenia życia cierpiącego pacjenta uzależnione są w pewnym stopniu od jej wierzeń. Powiązanie postaw wobec tych zagadnień i religijności jest istotne, gdyż może wpływać na efektywność opieki pielęgniarskiej. Cel pracy. Celem pracy było zbadanie poglądów pielęgniarek i pielęgniarzy dotyczących eutanazji i uporczywej terapii oraz ocena związku prezentowanych postaw z poziomem religijności ankietowanych. Materiał i metody. Badania przeprowadzono metodą sondażu diagnostycznego, z zastosowaniem techniki ankiety. Grupę badawczą stanowiło 102 pielęgniarek/pielęgniarzy, którzy pracowali na oddziałach chirurgii, intensywnej terapii, onkologii, internistycznym i opieki paliatywnej.Wyniki. Większość ankietowanych określiła się, jako katolicy (81,37%), natomiast osoby uznające się za niewierzące stanowiły 14,71% badanych. Badani wykazywali średni poziom intensywności postaw religijnych i znaczenia religii w ich życiu. Poglądy odnośnie popierania eutanazji były zróżnicowane, natomiast większość grupy była przeciwna prowadzeniu uporczywej terapii. Badania wykazały istotny związek pomiędzy poziomem religijności a opiniami na temat eutanazji. Większa religijność wiązała się z mniejszym poparciem dla eutanazji, nie stwierdzono natomiast korelacji religijności z postawami wobec uporczywej terapii. Stan cywilny respondentów miał wpływ na poziom religijności, postawy wobec religii oraz opinie dotyczące uporczywej terapii (p=0,012). Wnioski. Opinie odnośnie eutanazji i uporczywej terapii były zróżnicowane w badanej grupie i w dużym stopniu wykazywały związek z poziomem religijności. Wyniki te mogą być pomocne w określeniu wpływu religii na poglądy dotyczące tych zagadnień bioetycznych.Introduction. Euthanasia and persistent therapy are difficult issues in the field of medicine and ethics, and opinions on them are shaped, among others, by religions. The work of a nurse and her attitude towards the end of a suffering patient's life depend to some extent on her beliefs. Linking attitudes towards these issues and religiosity is crucial because it can affect the effectiveness of nursing care.Aim. The aim of the study was to determine the views of nurses on euthanasia and persistent therapy and to assess the relationship between the presented attitudes and the level of religiosity of the respondents.Material and methods. The research was carried out with using the diagnostic survey method, and the questionnaire technique. The research group consisted of 102 nurses working in the departments of surgery, intensive care, oncology, internal medicine and palliative care.Results. Most of the respondents identified themselves as catholics (81.37%), while nurses who considered themselves non-believers constituted 14.71% of the study group. The respondents showed an average level of intensity of religious attitudes and the importance of religion in their lives. Opinions on supporting euthanasia varied, while the majority of the group was against persistent therapy. Research has shown a significant relationship between the level of religiosity and opinions on euthanasia. Greater religiosity was associated with less support for euthanasia, but no correlation was found between religiosity and attitudes towards persistent therapy. The marital status of the respondents had an impact on the level of religiosity, attitudes towards religion and opinions on persistent therapy (p=0.012).Conclusions. Opinions on euthanasia and persistent therapy varied in the study group and were largely related to the level of religiosity. These results might be helpful in determining the influence of religion on views on these bioethical issues

Personal Music Players Use and Other Noise Hazards among Children 11 to 12 Years Old

Exposure to loud music—due to widespread personal music players (PMPs) and noisy leisure activities—are major risk factors for noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) in adolescents. However, there is little evidence of the impact of noise on the hearing of younger children. This study aimed to explore an association between PMP use and hearing, and to identify other sources of noise among children. The study sample consisted of 1032 children aged 11–12 years old. Hearing thresholds were determined from 0.5 to 8 kHz. PMP use and other noise exposures were evaluated using a survey. We found that 82% of the children had a PMP, and 78% were exposed to noise when playing computer games. An audiometric notch was documented in 1.3% of the children. Only 11.5% of the children ever used hearing protection while engaged in noisy activities. We found no convincing evidence of an association between PMP use and hearing thresholds, although our results suggest that tinnitus may be an early sign of NIHL in young children. The study shows a need to provide children, their parents, and educators with knowledge of how to take care of hearing, including how to avoid and minimize noise exposure

How to explore what is hidden? A review of techniques for vascular tissue expression profile analysis

Abstract The evolution of plants to efficiently transport water and assimilates over long distances is a major evolutionary success that facilitated their growth and colonization of land. Vascular tissues, namely xylem and phloem, are characterized by high specialization, cell heterogeneity, and diverse cell components. During differentiation and maturation, these tissues undergo an irreversible sequence of events, leading to complete protoplast degradation in xylem or partial degradation in phloem, enabling their undisturbed conductive function. Due to the unique nature of vascular tissue, and the poorly understood processes involved in xylem and phloem development, studying the molecular basis of tissue differentiation is challenging. In this review, we focus on methods crucial for gene expression research in conductive tissues, emphasizing the importance of initial anatomical analysis and appropriate material selection. We trace the expansion of molecular techniques in vascular gene expression studies and discuss the application of single-cell RNA sequencing, a high-throughput technique that has revolutionized transcriptomic analysis. We explore how single-cell RNA sequencing will enhance our knowledge of gene expression in conductive tissues

Effectiveness of Surgical Approach of Insertion Ventilation Tubes (Tympanostomy) and Adenoidectomy in Comparison with Non-Surgical Approach (Watchful Waiting Approach) in Children at the Age between 1 and 6 and Who Suffer from Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in 12-Month Period of Observation—The Retrospective Analysis

(1) Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the most common diseases in childhood. The objective was to assess clinically the effectiveness of the surgical approach (tube insertion with adenoidectomy) in comparison with the non-surgical approach (watchful waiting) during a 12-month observation period. (2) Methods: This study was retrospective and obtained approval from the bioethics committee. The criteria of inclusion in the first group (surgical approach) were: (1) a diagnosis of chronic otitis media with effusion in children aged between 1 and 6 years; (2) their medical history showed that they had undergone adenoidectomy and tympanostomy with the insertion of ventilation tubes (VTs). The criteria for inclusion in the second group (non-surgery) were similar to the first group except that their medical history showed they had not undergone adenoidectomy or tympanostomy with the insertion of VTs. There were 422 children included in the surgical group and 50 children in the non-surgical group, and the period of observation was 12 months. (3) Results: For the entire surgical group, the number of healthy days ranged from 20 to 365, with a mean of 328.0 days (SD = 91.4).In the non-surgical group, the number of healthy days ranged from 13 to 365, with a mean of 169.2 days (SD = 127.3). The difference in the number of healthy days was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The certainty of treatment in the first group was higher than in the second group, and the number of days without recurrence was significantly higher than in the second group. In the first group, there were 71 recurrences from 422 children (16.8%), and, in the second subgroup, there were 40 recurrences of acute otitis media (AOM) from 50 children (80%). The RR was 0.21. (4) Conclusions: The surgical approach in children aged 1–6 years who have been diagnosed with otitis media with effusion is reasonable and beneficial for the child

Hearing screening among first-grade children in rural areas and small towns in Małopolskie voivodeship, Poland

Undiagnosed hearing deficits hamper a child’s ability to learn. Hearing screening in school aged children helps detect educationally significant hearing loss and prevents negative impacts on academic achievement. The main purpose of this study was to improve early detection and assess the incidence of hearing disorders in first-graders from rural areas and small towns in the Małopolskie Voivodeship of Poland. There were 5029 children aged 6–7 years. Hearing thresholds were measured over the frequency range 0.5–8 kHz. A result was considered positive (abnormal) if the hearing threshold was worse than 20 dB HL at one or more frequencies. The prevalence of hearing loss was estimated in terms of four-frequency hearing loss, high-frequency hearing loss, and low-frequency hearing loss. Parents filled in a brief audiological questionnaire. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 24. Of all the children, 20.5% returned a positive result and were referred for further audiological diagnoses. The estimated prevalence of hearing loss was 11.6%, made up of 6.5% with FFHL, 7.6% with HFHL, and 8.2% with LFHL. This study showed that large numbers of children in the district had hearing problems. Adoption of hearing screening in primary schools is recommended as a routine procedure within preventive pediatric health care

Using generic and disease-specific measures to assess quality of life before and after 12 months of hearing implant use : a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational clinical study

The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of hearing implant (HI) use on quality of life (QoL) and to determine which QoL measure(s) quantify QoL with greater sensitivity in users of different types of HIs. Participants were adult cochlear implant (CI), active middle ear implant (VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE (VSB)), or active transcutaneous bone conduction implant (the BONEBRIDGE (BB)) recipients. Generic QoL and disease-specific QoL were assessed at three intervals: pre-activation, 6 months of device use, and 12 months of device use. 169 participants completed the study (110 CI, 18VSB, and 41BB). CI users’ QoL significantly increased from 0–6 m device use on both the generic- and the disease-specific measures. On some device-specific measures, their QoL also significantly increased between 6 and 12 m device use. VSB users’ QoL significantly increased between all tested intervals with the disease-specific measure but not the generic measure. BB users’ QoL significantly increased from 0–6 m device use on both the generic- and the disease-specific measures. In sum, HI users experienced significant postoperative increases in QoL within their first 12 m of device use, especially when disease-specific measures were used. Disease-specific QoL measures appeared to be more sensitive than their generic counterparts