RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A method is needed to measure parameters of vertigo and disequilibrium. Our objective was to ascertain whether the vestibular autorotation test (VAT) gives numerical data on the vestibular oculomotor reflex (VOR) that are useful for clinical research. METHODS: A VAT was carried out on 17 healthy young volunteers twice, with an interval of 7 days (group A), and on a single occasion on another 17 volunteers of similar age and health (group B). The parameters studied were vertical and horizontal gains and phases and horizontal eye velocity symmetry. The resulting values were paired inter-session in the same individuals of group A, and between the first test of group A with the test in group B, chosen at random. Variances for the sets of numbers in each parameter as a whole and for each frequency of stimulation were calculated and statistical validity was determined. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the inter-session and inter-individual results. Variances of gain (horizontal and vertical) were small, but variances of phase and symmetry were large. An analysis of frequencies of stimulation revealed that variances increased with the elevation of frequency. CONCLUSIONS: For clinical research and evaluation, the VAT affords sufficiently consistent figures for vertical and horizontal gain in the entire spectrum of frequencies tested (2-5.9 Hz) and for horizontal phases between 2-3.9 Hz. Vertical phases and horizontal asymmetry vary too greatly for our stated purpose.
Assuntos
Reflexo Vestíbulo-Ocular/fisiologia , Testes de Função Vestibular/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Análise de Variância , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pesquisa , Testes de Função Vestibular/métodosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Deafness generates psychological conflicts for the deaf as well as for others in their environment. Our purpose is to obtain a panorama of the topic based on the available bibliography. INFORMATION: Relevant articles were located in Medline and in unlisted journals, accessible at the National Institute of the Human Communication and at the Juan N. Navarro Hospital of Mexico City. The books were located at the National Institute of the Human Communication. SELECTION OF THE MATERIAL: The articles were selected by the authors, based in their apparent internal consistency and relation to our purpose. Two different concepts became apparent: one which recognizes a "personality of the deaf" that would predispose to emotional damage, and the other that denies that concept, explaining the distinctive features of deaf people as due to basically environmental factors. CONCLUSION: We think that this review sustains the premise that the psychological damages of deafness are real, not inherent to it, but caused by the social, occupational, pedagogical and familiar conflicts that are generated. Those damages vary with the age at the presentation of deafness the personal adjustment to the deficiency and acceptance by the community. The mitigation of deafness, damage depends on educated parents, adequate instruction programs (scholastic as well as occupational), and when needed, appropriate supportive psychotherapy based on the specific needs of each deaf person and this/her environment. We consider highly desirable to promote the elaboration and publication of interdisciplinary studies related to this topic.
Assuntos
Surdez/psicologia , Adolescente , Idoso , Criança , Família/psicologia , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Ajustamento SocialRESUMO
A group of patients with congenital endotropia or exotropia was investigated in their capacity to perform reflex eye movements. Some patients had a successful surgical correction of their eye defect. The functions measured were the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex, the feedback control loop for searching and following eye movements and the optomotor reflex. A loss in the functional capacity was displayed in all the tests done. The average value of the losses found for the whole group, according to the test used, were from 8 to 27% for the vestibulo-oculomotor reflex; 22 to 42% for the eye tracking feedback loop, and 48% for the optomotor reflex. The deficit was not due to the incorrect eye position, because the successfully operated subjects had the same magnitude of the motor defect than the non-operated patients.
Assuntos
Reflexo Vestíbulo-Ocular , Estrabismo/congênito , Estrabismo/fisiopatologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Retroalimentação , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
An important factor that all cochlear implant teams have to deal with one way or another is the coast of the prostheses. This problem takes on very special characteristics in developing countries. This paper is based on the authors' experience in establishing the cochlear implant program of the "Hospital General Manuel Gea Gonzalez", a public hospital in Mexico City, and tries to determine which should be the optimal characteristics of an implant to be used in developing countries.
Assuntos
Implantes Cocleares/economia , Países em Desenvolvimento/economia , Ética Médica , Humanos , MéxicoAssuntos
Resistência das Vias Respiratórias/métodos , Computadores , Manometria/métodos , Microcomputadores , Nariz/fisiopatologia , Obstrução das Vias Respiratórias/diagnóstico , Obstrução das Vias Respiratórias/fisiopatologia , Apresentação de Dados , Humanos , Manometria/instrumentação , Mucosa Nasal/efeitos dos fármacos , Fenilefrina/farmacologiaRESUMO
The effects of angular accelerations in one or two spatial planes over the pressure exerted on the cupule of the semicircular canals, was studied using hydraulic models of the canals. The models were accelerated using a torsion pendulum and the resulting flow was monitored. The relative position of the model modifies the direction and magnitude of the flow in each canal and in the equivalent of the utricle where the canals join each other. When simultaneous accelerations in two spatial planes were used, a coriolic effect was observed, which could be significant to explain some vestibular symptoms that occur under similar conditions. From the information obtained with the models, the excitation-inhibition patterns in each of the six semicircular canals can be predicted for accelerations in any given spatial plane or combination of planes.