¿De vuelta a Los ocho años? A propósito de La guerra de Figueres, de Guillermo Villegas Hoffmaister

El libro de Guillermo Villegas Hoffmeister, “La guerra de Figueres”, tiene sin duda el subtítulo exacto Crónica de ocho años, porque eso es lo que es. Basado en alguna documentación escrita, en sus propios recuerdos personales y en una revisión de los periodos de la década de 1940, la obra se presenta ante todo como un producto de entrevistas realizadas por el autor a distintos personajes de la época. El resultado final es una narrativa descriptiva y parcializada, que combina alguna información interesante con datos sin importancia y algunas notables inexactitudes históricas: por ejemplo, el autor afirma que ¡el partido republicano nacional fue fundado por Maximiliano Fernández en 1909!, y en lo que parece ser producto de un lamentable descuido de él y de la EUNED, fecha la batalla de tejar el 13 de marzo en vez del 13 de abril de 1948…UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Artes y Letras::Centro de Investigación en Identidad y Cultura Latinoamérica (CIICLA

Differences between acoustic trauma and other types of acute noise-induced hearing loss in terms of treatment and hearing prognosis

Objectives: To evaluate the differences between acoustic trauma (AT) and other types of acute noise-induced hearing loss (ANIHL), we performed a literature search and case reviews.Methods: The literature search based on online databases was completed in September 2016. Articles on ANIHL and steroid treatment for human subjects were reviewed. The source sounds and treatment sequelae of our accumulated cases were also reviewed. Hearing loss caused by gun-shots and explosions was categorized into the AT group, while hearing loss caused by concerts and other noises was categorized into the ANIHL group.Results: Systemic steroid treatment did not appear to be effective, at least in the AT group, based on both the literature and our case reviews. However, effective recovery after treatment including steroids was observed in the ANIHL group. The difference in hearing recovery between the AT and ANIHL groups was statistically significant (p = .030), although differences in age, days from the onset to treatment and pretreatment hearing levels were not significant.Conclusions: Hearing recovery from AT is very poor, whereas, ANIHL is recoverable to some extent. Therefore, it is essential to differentiate between these two groups for accurate prediction of the hearing prognosis and evaluation of treatment effects

Epidemiological survey of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss

Objectives: A nationwide epidemiological survey involving 23 hospitals in Japan was conducted and the predictive values of demographic data were examined statistically.Methods: A total of 642 patients from 23 hospitals, including 20 university hospitals, in Japan were enrolled in the study. Age ranged from 8 to 87 years, and all were diagnosed with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) between 1994 and 2016. Demographic data for the patients, such as symptoms, gender, mean age, and distribution of ALHL grading, were collected and analyzed in relation to prognosis using Student’s t-test, χ2 test and logistic regression.Results: Female gender (p < .013), younger age (p < .001), low-grade hearing loss (p < .001), and shorter interval between onset and initial visit (p < .004) were significantly predictive of a good prognosis. The prognosis for definite ALHL was significantly better than that for probable ALHL (p < .007).Conclusions: The severity of initial hearing loss, interval between onset and initial visit and age were important prognostic indicators for ALHL, while female gender was an important prognostic indicator peculiar to ALHL

The effect of initial treatment on hearing prognosis in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss : a nationwide survey in Japan

Objective: To investigate the hearing prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) treated with different initial therapies.Methods: Subjects consisted of patients diagnosed with idiopathic SSNHL within 7 days from onset and showing severe hearing loss (≥60 dB), who were registered in a Japanese multicenter database between April 2014 and March 2016. Subjects were divided into four groups according to initial therapy: (1) steroids, (2) steroids + Prostaglandins (PGs), (3) intratympanic steroids (ITS), and (4) no steroids. Hearing outcomes were compared among the groups.Results: In total, 1305 patients were enrolled. The final hearing level and hearing gain of patients treated with steroids + PGs were significantly higher than those of patients treated with steroids alone or no steroids. The ratio of good prognosis (complete recovery or marked improvement) in patients treated with steroids + PGs was higher than that in patients treated with steroids alone or no steroids. There was no difference in the prognosis of patients treated with steroids alone or no steroids.Conclusion: A large number of patients with idiopathic SSNHL were registered in a multicenter database. PG use in combination with steroid administration was associated with a good hearing prognosis in patients with severe hearing loss

Relationships among drinking and smoking habits, history of diseases, body mass index and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Japanese patients

Objectives: To present the cardiovascular risk factors in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patients enrolled in a nationwide epidemiological survey of hearing disorders in Japan.Materials and methods: We compiled the cardiovascular risk factors in 3073 idiopathic SSNHL subjects (1621 men and 1452 women) and compared their proportions with controls as part of the National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan, 2014. The cardiovascular risk factors consisted of drinking and smoking habits, a history of five conditions related to cardiovascular disease and body mass index.Results: The proportion of current smokers was significantly higher among men aged 50–59, 60–69 and 70+ and among women aged 30–39, 40–49 and 60–69. The proportion of patients with a history of diabetes mellitus was significantly higher among men aged 50–59, 60–69 and 70+, but not in women. In addition, male and female SSNHL subjects aged 60–69 showed lower proportions of current drinking; and female SSNHL subjects aged 60–69 showed higher proportions of overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2).Conclusions: The present cross-sectional study revealed showed significantly higher proportions of current smokers among both men and women as well as those with a history of diabetes mellitus among men across many age groups in patients with idiopathic SSNHL compared with the controls

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss: a comparison of the results of a nationwide epidemiological survey in Japan

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), and acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) using the results of a nationwide survey database in Japan and to analyze the variables associated with their clinical features and the severity of hearing impairment, treatment, and prognosis.Methods: Participants were patients registered between April 2014 and March 2016 in a multicenter epidemiological survey database involving 30 university hospitals and medical centers across Japan. Statistical analysis was performed to clarify the factors associated with their clinical characteristics and the severity of hearing impairment, treatment, and prognosis.Results: Idiopathic SSNHL and ALHL differed significantly in terms of male-to-female ratio, age distribution, and time from onset to start of treatment. The treatment methods and hearing prognosis also differed markedly between the two diseases. A majority (92%) of idiopathic SSNHL patients were administered some type of corticosteroid, while half of the ALHL patients received corticosteroids and a diuretic agent.Conclusion: The results suggested that idiopathic SSNHL and ALHL belonged to different categories of inner ear disease