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

Prevalence of vitamin d deficiency amongwomen of reproductive age: A multi centric study in tehran

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitaminDdeficiency among Iranianwomenof reproductive age. Methods: In this multicentric cross-sectional study, 300 women aged 15 - 45 years referring to Tehran branch of Islamic Azad university hospitals from 2013 to 2015 were recruited. The collected data included the demographic characteristics of the participants, including age, body mass index (BMI), parity, and serum level of vitamin D. Serum levels of 25-dihydroxy vitamin D were measured by radioimmunoassay. Vitamin D was defined as deficient < 20 nmol/L, mild 25 nmol/L, moderate 12.5 - 25 nmol/L and severe12.5 nmol/L. Statistical analysis was performed, using Excel software. Results: Amongthe300patients, 257 caseshadvitaminDdeficiency;amongwhom,122 caseshadsevere, 96hadmoderateand38hadmild deficiency. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, only 14.8 of the study population had normal serum vitamin D levels, indicating that the majority of Iranian women in the reproductive age have vitamin D deficiency. © 2016, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

L'impact de l'homme sur la forêt dans la région de Tlemcen (Oranie-Algérie)

Les formations végétales actuellement en lambeaux et qui étaient bien représentées, il y a moins d'un siècle, subissent de nombreux dommages de la part de l'homme et de ses troupeaux. Leur stabilité est menacée à court terme dans toute la zone étudiée. En effet, le développement agricole et l'urbanisation dans la région imposent souvent l'augmentation des cheptels ovin, caprin et bovin dont l'élevage extensif provoque des dégâts considérable au milieu naturel. Ce travail comprend deux parties distinctes : - une analyse floristique montrant la transformation des structures forestières en matorrals clairsemés, - une description de la pression anthropozoogène sur les lieux fragilisés par les contraintes climatiques, accentuant la dégradation des groupes sylvatiques au profit des thérophytes à pouvoir envahissant

The effect of tablet containing Boswellia serrata and Melisa officinalis extract on older adults' memory: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Memory deficits and age-related memory loss are currently two significant concerns in older adults. In Iranian herbal medicine, there are some prescriptions for memory improvement. Objective This study was designed to investigate the effect of tablet containing Boswellia serrata (BS) extract and Mellisa officinalis (MO) extract on memory of the older adults. Method This is a randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that performed among 70 older adults who referred to healthcare centers of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either tablets (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35) for a month (n = 30). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent-samples t-tests, paired t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and ANCOVA using SPSS v13. Result Participants' baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The study was completed by 53 participants. However, as the analysis was based on an intention-to treat approach, all 70 older adults were included in the final analysis. Comparison of the two groups with showed that the total scores of the WMS-R and the subscales, including auditory immediate, immediate memory, visual immediate and working memory, were increased after consumption of the containing BS and MO tablets (p < 0.0001). Conclusion The BS and MO tablet in older adults can be beneficial on improvement of memory. This is still necessary to investigate effects and durability of the tablets on older adults with memory impairments in future studies. Keywords Boswellia serrata Older adult Mellisa officinalis Memor

Bilan de la flore de la région de Tlemcen (Oranie-Algérie)

Dans l'ouest algérien, le sort des formations végétales n'a pas échappé à l'action dévastatrice de l'homme. Les écosystèmes forestiers et préforestiers voire steppiques de la région de Tlemcen ont subi d'énormes modifications, dues principalement à l'impact conjugué de l'homme et du climat

Enabling Technologies for Silicon Microstrip Tracking Detectors at the HL-LHC

While the tracking detectors of the ATLAS and CMS experiments have shown excellent performance in Run 1 of LHC data taking, and are expected to continue to do so during LHC operation at design luminosity, both experiments will have to exchange their tracking systems when the LHC is upgraded to the high-luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) around the year 2024. The new tracking systems need to operate in an environment in which both the hit densities and the radiation damage will be about an order of magnitude higher than today. In addition, the new trackers need to contribute to the first level trigger in order to maintain a high data-taking efficiency for the interesting processes. Novel detector technologies have to be developed to meet these very challenging goals. The German groups active in the upgrades of the ATLAS and CMS tracking systems have formed a collaborative "Project on Enabling Technologies for Silicon Microstrip Tracking Detectors at the HL-LHC" (PETTL), which was supported by the Helmholtz Alliance "Physics at the Terascale" during the years 2013 and 2014. The aim of the project was to share experience and to work together on key areas of mutual interest during the R&D phase of these upgrades. The project concentrated on five areas, namely exchange of experience, radiation hardness of silicon sensors, low mass system design, automated precision assembly procedures, and irradiations. This report summarizes the main achievements