Audiology Measurement Using Telemedical Solution in Central Asia

Nowadays, the telemetry mediated systems tend to be an alternative to the standard measurement systems. With the decreasing cost of electronic devices, the use telemetry systems is becoming more and more common, as it allows to test remotely and to send the results to the specialised centres with experienced staff. Healthcare personnel involved with hearing services in less modern locations need consistent training, oversight and feedback by audiologists in order to provide quality services. The aim of the study is to present usage of telemedical tools for diagnosis between Poland and Kyrgyzstan. A hybrid synchronous and asynchronous model of testing is used in Kyrgyzstan. Before starting the remote Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing Kyrgyz technicians completed comprehensive training courses. They were instructed on the correct patient preparation for testing, abrasions of the skin, electrode sticking, clip attaching, and launching of the appropriate software. Support documentation was prepared; instructional materials including  a brochure and instructional video. The equipment was sent to the centre in Kyrgyzstan. At the beginning of the project we made numerous mock examinations, after that we started the remote Kyrgyz-Polish testing. The whole process was performed with the use of the Team Viewer application (a proprietary computer software package for remote control, desktop sharing, online meetings, web conferencing and file transfer between computers). During the process, the testing room can be seen on the video and we can speak with the technician depending on our Russian speaking personnel. After the test, the  results are collected and sent to a specialist in Poland to determine the result. The documents are then translated and sent to Kyrgyzstan. Up to 20 remote examinations can be performed weekly. This technology assists clinicians by making it easier for them to consult with other more experienced audiologists

Investigating the relationship between periodontitis and specific memory processes in the search for cognitive markers of Alzheimer's disease risk

The spontaneous retrieval deficit (SRD) hypothesis argues that individuals in the preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are particularly impaired in spontaneous retrieval, which manifests in reduced mind-wandering. Our main purpose was to provide novel evidence to support the SRD hypothesis by investigating, for the first time, the relationship between mind-wandering and periodontitis, the latter being the risk factor for AD. The second objective was to address the lack of deeper understanding of the relationship between oral health and specific cognitive abilities by investigating whether periodontitis would be primarily associated with memory. Sixty community-dwelling dementia-free older adults completed neuropsychological tests that focused on various cognitive abilities and a computerised task, during which mind-wandering was evaluated. Periodontal health was assessed subjectively, and through an oral examination by a qualified dentist that focused on visible periodontitis-related changes in gingival tissues and the number of periodontitis bacteria. In line with our predictions, objective and subjective symptoms of poorer periodontal health were associated with less mind-wandering, providing further support for the SRD hypothesis. Again in line with predictions, poorer periodontal health was associated with worse episodic memory, with no relationship between periodontitis and the measure targeting various cognitive abilities, from which memory was excluded

Validation of the Polish language version of the SF-36 Health Survey in patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis

Introduction and objective. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires have become the standard measure for treatment effectiveness after spinal surgery. One of the most widely used generic PROs is the SF-36 Health Survey. The aim of this study was to specifically focus on validating the SF-36 Health Survey to confirm that the tool is an acceptable and psychometrically robust measure to collect HRQoL data in Polish patients with spinal stenosis. Materials and Methods. Patients were eligible if they were above 18 years of age and had been qualified for spine surgery of the lumbar region due to either discopathy or non-traumatic spinal stenosis. All patients filled-in the Polish version of the SF-36 and a demographic questionnaire. Standard validity and reliability analyses were performed. Results. 192 patients (83 women – 43.2%) agreed to take part in the study (mean age: 57.5±11.4 years). In 47 patients (24.5%), using MRI, ossification of the ligamenta flava were found. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients showed positive internal consistency (0.70–0.92). Interclass correlations for the SF-36 ranged from 0.72 – 0.86 and proved appropriate test-retest reliability. Satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity in multi-trait scaling analyses was seen. Conclusions. The Polish version of the SF-36 is a reliable and valid tool for measuring HRQoL in patients with spinal stenosis. It can be recommended for use in clinical and epidemiological settings in the Polish population. However, caution is warranted when interpreting the results of the ‘role limitations due to physical health problems’ and the ‘role limitations due to emotional problems’ scales because of floor and ceiling effects