Static and dynamic posture control in postlingual cochlear implanted patients: effects of dual-tasking, visual and auditory inputs suppression

Posture control is based on central integration of multisensory inputs, and on internal representation of body orientation in space. This multisensory feedback regulates posture control and continuously updates the internal model of body's position which in turn forwards motor commands adapted to the environmental context and constraints. The peripheral localization of the vestibular system, close to the cochlea, makes vestibular damage possible following cochlear implant (CI) surgery. Impaired vestibular function in CI patients, if any, may have a strong impact on posture stability. The simple postural task of quiet standing is generally paired with cognitive activity in most day life conditions, leading therefore to competition for attentional resources in dual-tasking, and increased risk of fall particularly in patients with impaired vestibular function. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of postlingual cochlear implantation on posture control in adult deaf patients. Possible impairment of vestibular function was assessed by comparing the postural performance of patients to that of age-matched healthy subjects during a simple postural task performed in static (stable platform) and dynamic (platform in translation) conditions, and during dual-tasking with a visual or auditory memory task. Postural tests were done in eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions, with the CI activated (ON) or not (OFF). Results showed that the postural performance of the CI patients strongly differed from the controls, mainly in the EC condition. The CI patients showed significantly reduced limits of stability and increased postural instability in static conditions. In dynamic conditions, they spent considerably more energy to maintain equilibrium, and their head was stabilized neither in space nor on trunk: they behaved dynamically without vision like an inverted pendulum while the controls showed a whole body rigidification strategy. Hearing (prosthesis on) as well as dual-tasking did not really improve the dynamic postural performance of the CI patients. We conclude that CI patients become strongly visual dependent mainly in challenging postural conditions, a result they have to be awarded of particularly when getting older

Cochlear Schwannomas

In a series of 179 cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors, the authors present nine cases (5%) that were cochlear nerve neuromas. There were six men and three women (mean age, 51 years). Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis in one case with a labyrinthine extension and raised suspicions in the other four cases, which were confirmed during surgery. The remaining neuromas were discovered intraoperatively. The mean time between first observation and surgery was 9 months. Preoperatively, all patients underwent a complete otoneurological assessment. The middle fossa approach was used for the patient with the labyrinthine extension, and the retrosigmoid approach was used for the other eight cases. In all patients facial nerve function was preserved. Sudden or major hearing loss without associated vestibular symptoms or preoperative facial paralysis may be predictive of a cochlear component of a CPA tumor. The near-field relationships of cochlear neuromas located at the level of the acoustic and facial nerves can be appreciated because of their small size and strong contrast enhancement

New perspectives for middle ear implants: first results in otosclerosis with mixed hearing loss.

International audienceMiddle ear implantation is an efficient procedure to restore moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss (HL) in selected patients. Implantation of such devices requires ossicular chain integrity. Patients suffering from otosclerosis with mixed HL should be eligible for this treatment after stapes surgery with air-bone gap closure. To address this issue, we report four cases of middle ear implantation after or during stapes surgery. Results and complications obtained with Vibrant SoundBridge, MedEl and Middle Ear Transducer, Otologics are reported. Audiologic results were similar to those obtained in cases of sensorineural HL. One case of postoperative labyrinthitis was observed

Multicenter evaluation of Neurelec Digisonic Ò SP cochlear implant reliability

Abstract Over the past decade, the adoption of universal hearing screening in newborns has led to earlier detection of hearing problems and significant lowering of the age of first cochlear implantation. As a consequence, recipients are now expected to keep their cochlear implants (CIs) for a longer period of time. Comprehensive longitudinal information on CI reliability is essential for device choice. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability (in children and adults) of the latest generation of the Digisonic Ò SP CI launched in 2006 by Neurelec. Failure rate (FR) and cumulative survival rate (CSR) for a 5-year period were calculated. This survey is a multicenter retrospective study. A questionnaire was sent to nine CI centers requesting information about patients implanted with Neurelec Digisonic Ò SP CIs. FR and CSR over a 5-year period were calculated on this group. Collaborating centers collected data on 672 patients (362 children and 310 adults) implanted between March 2006 and March 2011. The overall rate of explantation was 2.23 % (15 cases): six devices were explanted due to device failure (0.89 %) and nine were explanted for medical reasons (1.34 %). Four patients were lost to follow-up. The CSR at 5 years was 98.51 % on all patients, 98.48 % for children and 98.57 % for adults. FR was 0.97 % for adults and 0.83 % for children. This first independent study that assesses FR and CSR on the current generation of Digisonic Ò SP CI represents an important resource that can help clinicians and patients during their device choice

Multicenter evaluation of Neurelec Digisonic implant reliability

Over the past decade, the adoption of universal hearing screening in newborns has led to earlier detection of hearing problems and significant lowering of the age of first cochlear implantation. As a consequence, recipients are now expected to keep their cochlear implants (CIs) for a longer period of time. Comprehensive longitudinal information on CI reliability is essential for device choice. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability (in children and adults) of the latest generation of the Digisonic® SP CI launched in 2006 by Neurelec. Failure rate (FR) and cumulative survival rate (CSR) for a 5-year period were calculated. This survey is a multicenter retrospective study. A questionnaire was sent to nine CI centers requesting information about patients implanted with Neurelec Digisonic® SP CIs. FR and CSR over a 5-year period were calculated on this group. Collaborating centers collected data on 672 patients (362 children and 310 adults) implanted between March 2006 and March 2011. The overall rate of explantation was 2.23 % (15 cases): six devices were explanted due to device failure (0.89 %) and nine were explanted for medical reasons (1.34 %). Four patients were lost to follow-up. The CSR at 5 years was 98.51 % on all patients, 98.48 % for children and 98.57 % for adults. FR was 0.97 % for adults and 0.83 % for children. This first independent study that assesses FR and CSR on the current generation of Digisonic® SP CI represents an important resource that can help clinicians and patients during their device choice

NIGHT SESSION IN PARIS / Zoot Sims ; Henri Renaud ; Zoot Simms ts ; Jon Eardley tp ; Henri Renaud p ; Eddie de Haas b ; Charles Saudrais dm

Titre uniforme : [I've found a new baby]Titre uniforme : [Crazy Rhythm]BnF-Partenariats, Collection sonore - BelieveContient une table des matière

Applications and reactivity trends of homoleptic p-block metal amido reagents

This review aims to develop an understanding of reactivity trends of p-block metal bases M(NR2)n (M = Sn: n = 2; M = Al, Ga, As, Sb: n = 3) towards organic substrates EHy containing one or more E–H bonds (E = B, N, P, S). These compounds not only act as good bases for the deprotonation of E–H bonds but recent advances in p-block amido chemistry have shown that, in addition, they can effect the dehydrogenic homo-coupling of primary phosphines and amines to give E–E bonded products. They have also been found to be active in stoichiometric and catalytic dehydrocoupling of amine-boranes, which has direct applications in hydrogen storage devices, revealing that these p-block catalysts offer potential alternatives to the extensive range of expensive and often highly toxic heavy metal catalysts. This perspective analyses three distinct reactivity patterns of p-block metal bases; deprotonation, stoichiometric dehydrocoupling and catalytic dehydrocoupling and attempts to rationalise reactivity in relation to the redox stability of the p-block metal