RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Children and teenagers often suffer from hearing loss because of exposure to sound levels above 100 dB generated by toys, portable music players and stereo equipment in discotheques. Even in nursery schools and schools, considerable noise levels are produced by children's voices. METHODS: Sound levels were measured in a nursery school in Cologne in four different rooms, each with 22 children aged between 3 and 6 years and two teachers. Sound dosimeters detected sound levels in each room for 5 days of the week. These were positioned in the room above the playing children as well as near the teachers' ears. The same measurements were repeated after the children had been instructed about noise and possible noise damage. In addition, the children were now able watch the "noise lights", an instrument resembling traffic lights which translated the sound levels actually measured in their room into optical signals. A questionnaire containing 13 questions about noise and sensitivity to noise was distributed to 35 teachers at nursery schools in the Cologne municipal area. RESULTS: Mean sound levels of an 8-h/day measuring period (L(eq)) were 80.1 ± 2.3 dB(A) near the ear of the teacher and 70.87 ± 2.5 dB(A) measured in the room. The maximal sound level for 1 s, L(max) dB(A), was 112.55 ± 2.3 dB(A) near the ear and 103.77 ± 8.1 dB(A) in the room. After the children had learned about noise and were able to check the sound level they produced with the help of the "noise lights", a tendency towards a reduction of sound levels in the room and near the teachers' ears could be seen. An evaluation of the questionnaire revealed the high physical strain and emotional stress the teachers were subjected to due to noise. CONCLUSIONS: Children and teachers in nursery schools are subjected to high sound levels. Therefore, the education and early sensitization of children to noise in order to prevent prospective hearing damage, e.g. using the "noise light", should be set as a goal. Soundproofing measures are also possible. Further investigations to assess the effects of these measures are planned.
Asunto(s)
Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Monitoreo del Ambiente/estadística & datos numéricos , Ruido , Escuelas de Párvulos/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Niño , Preescolar , Alemania , HumanosRESUMEN
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Enhancement characteristics of a nonionic, dimeric, isotonic contrast medium (iodixanol [Visipaque]) were compared with a nonionic, monomeric contrast medium (ioversol [Optiray]) of the same iodine concentration in spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdominal aorta. METHODS: Spiral CTA was performed in 78 patients referred for suspected renal artery stenosis (n = 35) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 43). A test bolus was used to time the scan delay, and all patients were injected with 150 ml contrast medium (320 mgI/ml) of either iodixanol (n = 40) or ioversol (n = 38). Contrast enhancement was measured in the aorta, renal arteries, and renal parenchyma. RESULTS: All mean aortic enhancement was slightly higher with iodixanol than ioversol, measured at three different levels (celiac trunk 315 Hounsfield units [HU] versus 300 HU, renal arteries 325 HU versus 312 HU, aortic bifurcation 276 HU versus 266 HU). However, none of them were statistically significant (e.g., P = 0.26 at the celiac trunk level). Similar results were observed in renal artery and parenchyma enhancements. CONCLUSIONS: Iodixanol and ioversol had similar enhancement characteristics in the early arterial phase. Both substances were well tolerated and seem to be well suited for spiral CTA.
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Aorta Abdominal/diagnóstico por imagen , Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/diagnóstico por imagen , Medios de Contraste , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Ácidos Triyodobenzoicos , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Angiografía/métodos , Femenino , Humanos , Inyecciones Intravenosas , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obstrucción de la Arteria Renal/diagnóstico por imagen , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodos , Ácidos Triyodobenzoicos/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
Whiplash injuries of the cervical spine are of special medical and socio-economic importance. Biomechanical studies of the injury have proven, that a hypertranslation of the capito-cervical region takes place first, leading to ligamentous hyperdistension and ruptures, when exceeding elastic deformation, thus possibly resulting in mechanical disturbance and rotatory malpositioning. Diagnosis of so called "functional disorders" bears difficulties concerning objective tests for structural lesions. This demands the definition of diagnostic parameters and clinical signs, which also consider vegetative phenomena. This paper aims at a systematic clinical and radiological check. Adequate therapeutic means have to be concordant to prognosis. Therefore functional parameters should already determine differential diagnosis. This is based on technical feasibilities and needs future scientific efforts.
Asunto(s)
Vértebras Cervicales/fisiopatología , Lesiones por Latigazo Cervical/fisiopatología , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Vértebras Cervicales/lesiones , HumanosRESUMEN
Motion analysis of the cervical spine is a sensitive tool in the fields of preventive and clinical biomechanics of whiplash. In the field of preventive biomechanics motion analysis contributes to validation and optimisation of dummy based crash test experiments and simulations. In the clinical field motion analysis up to now is of restricted value. Data exist about restrictions and pathologies of movement and motion of the cervical spine, coordinative disturbances, postural control, TMJ-function and oculomotor disturbances after whiplash. The standardisation of technical and clinical set-ups is necessary to establish a well proven biomechanical model of whiplash and whiplash related biomechanical dysfunction. Without this model the value of motion analysis for clinical use will be restricted due to lack of comparable data on sensitivity and specificity although motion analysis of the cervical spine is neither cost- nor time consuming and free of adverse effects. Within a prospective series of 28 patients (14 m/14 f) with a follow-up to six weeks we were lucky to describe numerically two different types of reaction to low energy (delta v < 20 km/h) rear end collision: Type I with disturbances in complex movements only, Type II with overall restriction of movement. Control of angular velocity during cyclic movements of the head was disturbed by oscillations of higher frequency in all patients. Recovery from whiplash within 6 weeks could be monitored.
Asunto(s)
Lesiones por Latigazo Cervical/fisiopatología , Cabeza/inervación , Cabeza/fisiopatología , Humanos , Movimiento (Física) , Cuello/inervación , Cuello/fisiopatologíaRESUMEN
Post-traumatic knee injuries often deteriorate if reuptures of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) are not treated adequately. Further diagnostic procedures are required if pain-induced muscle contraction impairs clinical examination. The clinical relevance of sonography, however, for the diagnosis of ACL ruptures is controversial. Within 25 months, 74 patients were preoperatively evaluated clinically and by ultrasound. 58 ruptures of the ACL and 21 lesions of the collateral ligaments were confirmed by arthroscopy or arthrotomy. In 16 cases a menisceal tear was found, four patients had a luxation of the patella, and two had PCL ruptures. The sensitivity of the Lachman test was 93%, of the anterior drawer test 68% and of the pivot shift test 48%. Ultrasound diagnosis revealed 88% of all ACL ruptures (91% if patients with bony ruptures of the ACL were excluded). In 75% of ACL ruptures, a popping sensation was reported by the patients. In the case of uncertain diagnosis, examination with ultrasound could be easily performed before further operative diagnostic procedures are scheduled.