Customized Versus Noncustomized Sound Therapy for Treatment of Tinnitus: A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial.

ObjectivesTo determine the effectiveness of a customized sound therapy and compare its effectiveness to that of masking with broadband noise.MethodsSubjects were randomized to receive either customized sound therapy or broadband noise for 2 hours per day for 3 months and then switched to the other treatment after a washout period. The outcome variables were tinnitus loudness (scored 0-10), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), minimum masking levels (MML), and residual inhibition (RI).ResultsEighteen subjects completed the study. Mean age was 53 ± 11 years, and mean tinnitus duration was 118 ± 99 months. With customized sound therapy, mean loudness decreased from 6.4 ± 2.0 to 4.9 ± 1.9 ( P = .001), mean THI decreased from 42.8 ± 21.6 to 31.5 ± 20.3 ( P < .001), mean BAI decreased from 10.6 ± 10.9 to 8.3 ± 9.9 ( P = .01), and MML decreased from 22.3 ± 11.6 dB SL to 17.2 ± 10.6 dB SL ( P = .005). After 3 months of broadband noise therapy, only BAI and, to a lesser degree, MML decreased ( P = .003 and .04, respectively).ConclusionsCustomized sound therapy can decrease the loudness and THI scores of tinnitus patients, and the results may be superior to broadband noise

An Investigation into Teachers’ Perception of (Postmodern) Postmethod Pedagogy

This study investigates into teachers’ perceptions in order to find out whether they are thinking beyond the concept of method. Specifically speaking, the underlying goal is to diagnose whether teachers are context sensitive and are aware of the uniqueness of each specific teaching-learning context, that is, whether they are able to differentiate between the different requirements of one teaching context from another. Instead of exploring teachers’ views on the term’s method, postmethod, which is a dominant pattern in the literature of postmethod studies, teachers’ perceptions of postmethod teaching strategies (Stern, 1992) were explored across two proficiency levels of elementary and intermediate as a kind of contextual variable. To this end, a questionnaire tapped into three teachers’ perceived effectiveness of each of the two distinctive strategies of each dimension across two levels of intermediate and elementary. The statistical analysis didn’t reveal any significant difference in teachers’ perceptions across the two proficiency levels. This indicated that teachers didn’t consider the requirements of context but rather they adhered to just one method at both levels. Therefore, these teachers were not thinking beyond the framework of the method concept and were not oriented toward postmethod pedagogy in their thoughts

False-Positive Cholesteatomas on Non-Echoplanar Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

ObjectivesTo investigate false-positive findings on non-echoplanar (non-EPI) diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in patients under surveillance post-cholesteatoma surgery.Study design, setting, subjects, and methodsA retrospective review was performed on patients diagnosed with cholesteatoma who underwent surgical resection and were then followed by serial non-EPI DWI using half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) sequence. All patients had at least two annual follow-up imaging studies.ResultsFalse-positive findings were identified in four patients. The size of the suspected lesions was 4 to 12 mm. Otoendoscopy was used during all primary cases and Argon laser was used in one case. In all cases, the entire cholesteatoma was removed, and no residual disease was detected at the end of the procedures. One patient underwent revision surgery but only cartilage graft was found in the area of concern. All patients had stable or resolved hyperintense areas in the subsequent HASTE sequences.ConclusionFalse positive findings can occur with non-EPI DWI MRI and patients need to be counseled accordingly before revision surgery. Decreasing intensity and dimension of a suspected lesion and a positive finding in an area other than the location of the initial cholesteatoma may favor a false positive. If a false positive finding is suspected when the surgeon is confident of complete resection of the cholesteatoma, an MRI can be repeated in 6 to 12 months to assess changes in the dimension and intensity of the area of concern. Cartilage grafts may cause restricted diffusion on DWI sequences

The effects of a strengthening exercise program with EMG biofeedback to correct patellar alignment and reduce knee pain in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Background and aims: EMG biofeedback as a relatively new tool in helping to relieve muscle dysfunction has been proposed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a strengthening exercise program with electromyographical biofeedback on the alignment corrections of the patella and the knee pain in patients with patella-femoral pain syndrome. Methods: This research was a clinical trials study. 22 participants with patella-femoral pain syndrome were randomly divided into two equal groups (n=11). The first group underwent a strengthening exercise program with biofeedback electromyography. The second group also recieved a strengthening exercise program without biofeedback electromyography. Using VAS questionnaire, the knee pain was assessed. Radiography technique was also applied to evaluate the knee alignments including Sulcus, congruence and tilt angles and Q angle assessed by clinical tests. Pair t-test and Independent t-test with SPSS were used for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that the knee pain, congruence and Q angle had significant decrease after the therapy in both groups (P<0.05). However, the patellar tilt displayed a significant decrease only in the strengthening exercise program in the biofeedback electromyography group (P<0.05). In between group comparisons, pain and Q angle reduction after strengthening exercise program with biofeedback electromyography group was significantly more than strengthening exercise program without biofeedback electromyography group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Muscular strengthening exercise with electromyographical biofeedback displayed a better treatment outcome for pain reduction and correction of knee alignment. It seems that the provision of electromyographic biofeedback be preferred in comparison with the muscular strength training method without electromyographic biofeedback by creating more motivation for performing the exercises precisely and it can be used as a supportive tool in rehabilitation

Study of Corrosion and Scaling of Water Resources and Wastewater of Shahid Hashemi Nezhad Gas Refinery

In this study, 18 surface and groundwater samples and 5 wastewater samples were analyzed to assess water recourses and wastewater quality at Shahid Hashemi Nezhad Gas Refinery region in terms of corrosion and scaling. The parameters measured were pH, EC, temperature, and concentration of major ions, including K+, Na +, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42, Cl, HCO3- and CO32,. Majority of the water samples showed Na+- SO42- and Na+-Cl- type and face by Piper diagram. To assess corrosion and scaling of the samples, various indices were calculated including LSI, RSI, PSI, AI and S&DSI for CaCO3 deposition, and L&SI and Skillman for sulfates deposition especially CaSO4. The results showed most of the water samples had scale forming due to high hardness and alkalinity, and the wastewater samples were often corrosive and therefore, all of the samples did not have favorable quality for industrial uses. The results of hydrogeochemical studies indicated evaporation, evaporative minerals such as gypsum and anhydrite in the water flow path, carbonate formations and their dissolution were the most important parameters in controlling ionic content of the water resources

(E)-N′-[(2-Hy­droxy­naphthalen-1-yl)methyl­idene]-4-methyl­benzene­sulfono­hydrazide

In the title compound, C18H16N2O3S, the dihedral angle between the planes of the benzene ring and the naphthyl ring system is 83.37 (10)°. An intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond occurs. Inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal structure. There is a π–π inter­action between the naphthyl ring systems [centroid–centroid distance = 3.7556 (15) Å]. In addition, naphth­yl–tolyl and naphth­yl–naphthyl C—H⋯π inter­actions are observed

Effect of PTEN Gene Mutations and Environmental Risk Factors on the Progression and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer.

Bladder cancer is the most frequent genitourinary malignancy in Iran. Environmental and genetic factors are the two factors linked with bladder cancer expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PTEN gene and environmental risk factors on the progression and prognosis of bladder cancer.We evaluated 55 tumor specimens and 66 bladder mucosa samples of non-cancerous patients between 2011 and 2013. All samples were analyzed for PTEN mutations using PCR and direct DNA sequencing methods. Demographic data collected, were analyzed using SPSS version 19.0 software and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Of the 55 patients examined, tumor stage was T1, T2 (T2a, T2b) in 34 (61.8%) and 21 (38.2%) and tumor grade was high, low in 34 (61.8%) and 21 (38.2%), respectively. No mutations in the PTEN gene were found in patients with bladder cancer and control. Among the risk factors studied, only the occupation and history of urinary tract stones, were significantly associated with bladder cancer (P valu

Loudness and acoustic parameters of popular children's toys

ObjectiveThis project was conducted to evaluate the loudness and acoustic parameters of toys designed for children. In addition, we investigated whether occluding the toys' speaker with tape would result in a significant loudness reduction; thereby potentially reducing the risk of noise induced hearing loss.MethodsTwenty-six toys were selected after an initial screening at two national retailers. Noise amplitudes at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8kHz were measured using a digital sound level meter at a distance of 0 and 30cm. The toys' speakers were then occluded using adhesive tape and the same acoustic parameters were re-measured.ResultsMean maximum noise amplitude of the toys at 0cm and 30cm was 104dBA (range, 97-125dBA) and 76dBA (range, 67-86dBA), respectively. Mean maximum noise amplitude after occlusion at 0cm and 30cm distances was 88dBA (range, 73-110dBA) and 66dBA (range, 55-82dBA), respectively, with a p-value &lt;0.001.ConclusionsProper use of the loudest toys at a distant of 30cm between the speaker and the child's ear will likely not pose a risk of noise-induced hearing loss. However, since most toys are used at closer distances, use of adhesive tape is recommended as an effective modification to decrease the risk of hearing loss