Search Results (7)

Background/Objectives: Children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can develop, or have concurrent vestibular hypofunction (VH). Assessing the vestibular function is challenging in the pediatric population. The objective of the current study was to identify the most effective test battery for objectively diagnosing and screening VH in children with SNHL. Methods: A two-center retrospective chart review included 71 children aged six months to 18 years old with unilateral or bilateral SNHL. Testing consisted of the video head impulse test (VHIT), the caloric test and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP). Pairwise agreement between tests was calculated by the proportion of overall agreement and unweighted Cohen’s kappa. Results: Vestibular hypofunction was diagnosed less often by cVEMP compared to VHIT or the caloric test. The overall disagreement observed between VHIT and cVEMP and the caloric test and cVEMP was explained by a higher proportion of ears diagnosed with VH by VHIT (18 versus four) or the caloric test (14 versus 0). Several cases with normal cVEMP responses had abnormal test results for VHIT (18 of 71 ears) or the caloric test (14 of 32 ears). VHIT and the caloric test showed a moderate inter-test agreement (Kappa 0.591; p = 0.018). Conclusions: VHIT and the caloric test had a higher likelihood of diagnosing VH, as opposed to cVEMP. It would therefore be advised to use VHIT or the caloric test as the first-line vestibular test for children with SNHL to screen for VH. The clinical value of cVEMP seems low in children with SNHL. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are highly prevalent and strongly associated with the risk of falls in the elderly. Falls are associated with impairments in cognition and functional or gait performance; however, little is known about these associations in the elderly population with CVD. In this study, we aimed to clarify the possible associations of physical capacity and functional and cognitive outcomes with the incidence of falls in older adults with CVD. In this comparative study, 72 elderly patients were divided into fallers (n = 24 cases) and non-fallers (n = 48 controls) according to the occurrence of falls within one year. Machine learning techniques were adopted to formulate a classification model and identify the most important variables associated with the risk of falls. Participants with the worst cardiac health classification, older age, the worst cognitive and functional performance, balance and aerobic capacity were prevalent in the case group. The variables of most importance for the machine learning model were VO_2max, dual-task in seconds and the Berg Scale. There was a significant association between cognitive-motor performance and the incidence of falls. Dual-task performance, balance, and aerobic capacity levels were associated with an increased risk of falls, in older adults with CVD, during a year of observation. Full article

The value of gadoxetic acid in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on perfusion criteria, is under dispute. This post-hoc analysis of the prospective, phase II, randomized, controlled SORAMIC study compared the accuracy of gadoxetic acid-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (arterial, portovenous, and venous phase only) versus contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for stratifying patients with HCC to curative ablation or palliative treatment. Two reader groups (radiologists, R1 and R2) performed blind reads of CT and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (contrast dynamics only). A truth panel, with access to clinical and imaging follow-up data, served as reference. Primary endpoint was non-inferiority (margin: 5% points) of MRI vs. CT (lower 95% confidence interval [CI] > 0.75) in a first step and superiority (complete 95% CI > 1) in a second step. The intent-to-treat population comprised 538 patients. Accuracy of treatment decisions was 73.4% and 70.8% for CT (R1 and R2, respectively) and 75.1% and 70.3% for gadoxetic acid-enhanced dynamic MRI. Non-inferiority but not superiority of gadoxetic acid-enhanced dynamic MRI versus CT was demonstrated (odds ratio 1.01; CI 0.97–1.05). Despite a theoretical disadvantage in wash-out depiction, gadoxetic acid-enhanced dynamic MRI is non-inferior to CT in accuracy of treatment decisions for curative ablation versus palliative strategies. This outcome was not subject to the use of additional MR standard sequences. Full article

The aim of the article is to present the remarkable changes in architecture that took place in the 20th century. They can easily be called a revolution regarding the architectural form and the color scheme. Progress was being made through the development of reinforced concrete production methods. In the German Empire (Deutsches Kaiserreich), this material quickly found applications in more and more interesting solutions in architectural structures. In Wrocław (formerly Breslau), then located in the eastern German Empire, exceptional architectural works were realized before and after the First World War using new technology. In 1913, an unusual building was erected—the Centennial Hall, designed by Max Berg (inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006). Berg’s work was inspired by the works of both Hans Poelzig and Bruno Taut. On the one hand, it was a delight with the new material (the Upper Silesian Tower at the exhibition in Poznań, designed by H. Poelzig) and, on the other hand, with the colorful architecture of light and glass by B. Taut (a glass pavilion at the Werkbund exhibition in Cologne). Max Berg left the concrete in an almost “pure” form, not hiding the texture of the formwork under the plaster layer. However, stratigraphic studies of paint coatings and archival inquiries reveal a new face of this building. The research was carried out as part of the CMP (Conservation Management Plan—prepared by the authors of the article, among others) grant from The Getty Foundation Keeping It Modern program. According to the source materials, the architect intended to leave the exposed concrete outside of the building, while the interior was to be decorated with painting, stained glass, and sculpture. The stratigraphic tests showed that the external walls were covered with a translucent yellowish color coating. Thus, the Centennial Hall shows a different face of reinforced concrete architecture. Full article

The efficacy of exercise to reverse frailty in the aging population has not been extensively investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise program (MCEP) on frailty, physical performance (handgrip strength, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and VO₂Max), blood biomarkers (Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) in frail older adults. A randomized controlled trial using an allocation concealment method, included 64 older adults (77.78 ± 7.24 years), were divided into two parallel groups using block randomization: an MCEP group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 32). The combined center- and home-based MCEP training consisted of chair aerobic, resistance, and balance, which was carried out 3 days per week for 24 weeks. A mixed model repeated measure ANOVA demonstrated significant interaction effects of group x time for BBS, TUG and frailty scores (p < 0.001). Additionally, the post-hoc analysis revealed that the MCEP group showed significantly improved BBS, TUG, and frailty scores (p < 0.01), at both 12- and 24-weeks. When compared with controls at 12-weeks, the MCEP group decreased IL-6 and CRP levels (p < 0.05). The combined center- and home-based MCEP were effective in reversing frailty to pre-frailty and improving physical performance especially balance in the older population. Full article

Targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) has the potential to improve the therapeutic effect of PDT due to significantly better tumor responses and less normal tissue damage. Here we investigated if the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted PDT using cetuximab-IRDye700DX is fluence rate dependent. Cell survival after treatment with different fluence rates was investigated in three cell lines. Singlet oxygen formation was investigated using the singlet oxygen quencher sodium azide and singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG). The long-term response (to 90 days) of solid OSC-19-luc2-cGFP tumors in mice was determined after illumination with 20, 50, or 150 mW·cm⁻². Reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to monitor therapy. Singlet oxygen was formed during illumination as shown by the increase in SOSG fluorescence and the decreased response in the presence of sodium azide. Significantly more cell death and more cures were observed after reducing the fluence rate from 150 mW·cm⁻² to 20 mW·cm⁻² both in-vitro and in-vivo. Photobleaching of IRDye700DX increased with lower fluence rates and correlated with efficacy. The response in EGFR targeted PDT is strongly dependent on fluence rate used. The effectiveness of targeted PDT is, like PDT, dependent on the generation of singlet oxygen and thus the availability of intracellular oxygen. Full article

Background: The application of continuum manipulators as assistive robots is discussed and tested through the use of Bendy ARM, a simple manually teleoperated tendon driven continuum manipulator prototype. Methods: Two rounds of user testing were performed to evaluate the potential of this arm to aid people living with disabilities in completing activities of daily living. Results: In the first round of user testing, 14 able-bodied subjects successfully completed the prescribed task (pick-and-place) using multiple control schemes after being given a brief introduction and one minute of practice with each scheme. In the second round of user testing, subjects ( $n=3$ ) demonstrated between 29.5 and 48.9 percent improvement in completion time across twelve trials of a peg-in-hole task, and between 8.4 and 33.8 percent improvement across six trials of a task involving opening and closing a drawer. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is posited that continuum manipulators merit further consideration as a safer and more cost-effective alternative to existing commercially available assistive robotic manipulators. Full article