Methods: We examined 31 patients with bilateral congenital aural atresia in whom a Baha system had been implanted. The patients, 16 males and 15 females, were between 5 and 14 years
find more of age (mean 8.7).
The following parameters were assessed for each patient: mean preoperative air and bone conduction for frequencies between 0.5 and 4 kHz; mean preoperative threshold with conventional bone-conduction hearing aids; mean postoperative threshold with the Baha system; improvement in quality of life evaluated with the Glasgow Children’s Benefit Inventory; rate and type of surgical complications.
Results: The mean preoperative air- and bone-conduction thresholds were 51.2 +/- 12.5 and 14.1 +/- 6.3 dB HL, respectively. The mean preoperative threshold with a conventional bone-conduction hearing aid was 29.3 +/- 7.2 dB HL, and the mean postoperative threshold with the Baha system was 18.1 +/- 7.5 dB HL Quality
of life improved for Selleck Taselisib all operated patients.
Conclusions: The results of our study of the Baha system to treat patients with bilateral aural atresia were extremely satisfactory compared both with those of surgical reconstruction of the auditory canal and those of traditional bone-conduction hearing aids. Furthermore, great improvement was noted in quality of life, while the rate of complications was very low.
Therefore, we are convinced that the Baha system is the treatment of choice for hearing loss due to bilateral congenital aural atresia. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Despite infrastructure and capacity challenges in Africa, significant development
has been made in the number of laboratories supporting immunological and safety studies required for large-scale HIV/AIDS vaccine or intervention trials. In Uganda, GSK1120212 cohorts participating in HIV intervention trials are often recruited from rural areas. To avoid transporting samples from intervention trial areas over long distances (120 km) to central laboratories in Entebbe, we set up a standardized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) processing laboratory at a field station in Masaka, southwest Uganda. The laboratory was well equipped and enrolled into the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Quality Assurance (QA) program. Staff was trained in laboratory techniques and Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP). The laboratory received IAVI and GCLP accreditation in 2008. In this paper we describe the process and achievements of measures taken to overcome challenges, to build staff capacity, and to optimize the quality of the cells yielded.”
“Purpose of review
Present the current status of transrectal ultrasound imaging in prostate cancer (PCa) and discuss the latest techniques now under preclinical evaluation.
Recent findings
Three-dimensional ultrasound and quantification techniques are superior to two-dimensional ultrasound in visualizing PCa and can be beneficial in staging prior to operation.