Abstract Objective: Our study aimed to measure the effectiveness of using HA in reducing the disturbance caused by tinnitus. Methods: Study was designed as a within-subjects clinical trial. Nineteen patients with chronic tinnitus and untreated sensorineural hearing loss were under counseling, HA fitting and 6 months follow-up. Tinnitus assessment was performed with Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pitch and loudness matching, and Minimum Masking Level measurements (MML). Results: following 6 months of HA use, a reduction in reported tinnitus and hearing handicap scales scores was observed both statistically and clinically. The pitch and loudness matching, as well as MML at the baseline and final evaluation were compared. MML’s thresholds reduced significantly after 6 months of HA use. Conclusion: Our study has provided evidence that HA fitting is a valuable treatment strategy for chronic tinnitus relief and associated hearing loss subtype of patient. Level of evidence: 3.

Abstract Introduction Music-based sound therapies become recently a trend in the treatment of tinnitus. Few publications have studied the therapeutic use of fractal tones to treat chronic tinnitus. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the benefits of using fractal tones as a unique sound therapy for chronic tinnitus sufferers. Methods Twelve participants were recruited; however, six could not be assigned. At baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months, the participants were provided with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) questionnaires, and their visual analog scale score was recorded. Tinnitus pitch and loudness matching was performed before fitting and after 6 months of use. Results The visual analog scale (VAS) score, pitch and loudness matching and minimal masking levels did not result in significant improvement at the end of the treatment. The mean THI measured at baseline was 45, and the final one was 25. A paired sample t-test showed that this 20-point difference was statistically significant. Conclusions We measured the benefits of using fractal tone therapy for the treatment of chronic tinnitus and found that most of the benefits were in the THI functional domain, which includes concentration, reading, attention, consciousness, sleep, social activities, and household tasks. For all patients with bothersome chronic tinnitus and high scores on the THI functional scale, fractal tones should be considered a promising initial sound therapy strategy. The findings from this open-label pilot study are preliminary, and further trials are needed before these results can be generalized to a larger tinnitus population.

Cranial osteomyelitis is a potentially fatal lesion. White blood cell scanning (WBC) with 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) has proven highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with suspected osteomyelitis. In this report we show the usefulness of SPECT and transmission CT performed simultaneously using a hybrid imaging device for the functional anatomic mapping of soft tissue and cranial bone infections. 99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes scintigraphy was performed on an elderly diabetic man with an intracranial mass lesion and with suspected temporal bone infection. Planar scans were acquired 30 min, 4 h, and 24 h after injection. SPECT/CT was obtained 6 h after tracer injection, using a dual-head camera coupled with a low-power X-ray tube. The scintigraphic results were matched with the results of surgery and of clinical follow-up. The planar images alone were true-positives for abscess in this patient. SPECT/CT improves the accuracy of99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy especially in discriminating between soft-tissue and bone involvement. In fact, SPECT/CT also showed temporal bone osteomyelitis. This result indicates that SPECT/CT performed using a hybrid device can improve imaging with 99mTc-HMPAO-labeled leukocytes in patients with suspected osteomyelitis by providing accurate anatomic localization and precise definition of the extent of infection.

Foi estudada a resposta reprodutiva (taxa de parição e tamanho de leitigada) das ovelhas inseminadas artificiosamente após o tratamento de sincronização do estro em relação à carneiros, dose de PMSG e número de inseminações artificiales. Ovelhas adultas Merino em estação reprodutiva (primavera), foram tratadas com esponjas intravaginais impregnadas com 60 mg acetato de medroxiprogesterona (MAP) para sincronização do estro. As esponjas foram retiradas após 14 dias e foram administradas i.m. 375 ou 400 UI gonadotrofina da égua pregnhe (PMSG). Utilizaram-se carneiros vasectomizados para a detecção do cio. As ovelhas que apresentaram cio foram inseminadas artificiosamente com sêmen fresco diluido de carneiros, uma ou duas vezes. A taxa de parição não foi afectada pelos carneiros ou pelo número de inseminações. A taxa de parição foi maior nas ovelhas tratadas com 400 UI PMSG que aquêlas tratadas com 375 UI (76.47% v 54.32%; p<0.01). O tamanho de leitigada não sofreu influência das variáveis estudadas.

The experiment was conducted to determine the reproductive performance (lambing rate and litter size) of sheep artificially inseminated at a synchronized estrus in relation to rams, dose of PMSG and number of artificial inseminations performed. During spring cyclic Merino adult ewes were treated with intravaginal sponges impregnated with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP). After 14 days sponges were removed and the females received an intramuscular injection of either 375 or 400 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Estrus detection was performed with vasectomized rams. Females in estrus were cervically inseminated with fresh diluted semen from different rams either once or twice. Data on lambing rate and litter size were recorded. Lambing rate was not affected by rams or number of inseminations. A higher proportion of ewes that received 400 IU PMSG lambed compared with those receiving 375 IU PMSG (76.47% v 54.32%; p<0.01). Litter size was not affected by any of the variables under study.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: 1) determinar a apresentação e a distribuição do estro através do método convencional de sincronização do estro (tratamento progestágeno-PMSG) num rebanho de ovelhas; e 2) analisar a apresentação e a distribuição do estro em ovelhas adultas e borregas. Um total de 300 ovelhas Merino em período reprodutivo (primavera), incluindo-se 231 ovelhas adultas e 69 borregas, foram tratadas com esponjas intravaginais impregnadas com 60 mg de acetato de medroxiprogesterona (MAP). As esponjas foram retiradas após 14 dias e foram administradas 375 UI IM de gonadotrofina de égua prenhe (PMSG). Utilizaram-se carneiros vasectomizados para a detecção do cio. As ovelhas foram observadas para a presença das marcas a intervalos de 4 horas. Analisaram-se perdas das esponjas, sincronização e distribuição dos cios nas ovelhas adultas e borregas. Detectou-se 1% (3/300) de perda das esponjas. A taxa de sincronização do estro no rebanho de ovelhas foi de 92,93% (276/297), sendo 93,48% (215/230) nas adultas e 91,04% (61/67) nas borregas (p>0,10). Detectou-se a apresentação do cio desde 28 até 68 horas após o tratamento nas duas classes de fêmeas. O intervalo entre a extração das esponjas e a apresentação do cio foi de 46,88 ± 11,78 horas no rebanho de ovelhas, sendo 46,99 ± 12,22 nas adultas e 47,31 ± 10,94 nas borregas (p>0,10). Encontraram-se somente diferenças significativas entre adultas e borregas nos intervalos 34-38 (p<0,10) e 50-54 horas (p<0,05). Conclui-se que o tratamento utilizado foi efetivo na sincronização do estro nas ovelhas.

The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine estrus presentation and distribution following a conventional method of estrus synchronization (progestagen-PMSG treatment) in an ewe herd and 2) to analyze estrus presentation and distribution in adult ewes and ewe lambs. During spring a total of 300 cyclic Merino ewes, including 231 adult ewes and 69 ewe lambs were treated with intravaginal sponges impregnated with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP). After 14 days sponges were removed and 375 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) were administered i.m. Estrus detection was performed with vasectomized rams. Ewes were inspected for the presence of marks at 4-hours intervals. Sponge losses, estrus synchronization and distribution were analyzed for adult ewes and ewe lambs. It was detected 1% (3/300) of sponge losses. Estrus synchronization rate was 92.93% (276/297) for the ewe herd, being 93.48% (215/230) for adults and 91.04% (61/67) for lambs (p>0.10). Estrus onset was detected from 28 to 68 hours following treatment in both classes of females. The interval between sponge removal and estrus onset was 46.88 ± 11.78 hours for the ewe herd, being 46.99 ± 12.22 hours for adult ewes and 47.31 ± 10.94 hours for ewe lambs (p>0.10). Statistical differences were found only for the intervals 34-38 (p<0.10) and 50-54 hours (p<0.05) between adult ewes and ewe lambs. It was concluded that the treatment used was effective for estrus synchronization in ewes.

Preparou-se um conjunto de esponjas de poliuretano impregnadas com acetato de medroxiprogesterona (MAP). O nível real do progestágeno nas esponjas foi checado com anterioridade à inserção das esponjas do tratamento. Um total de 126 ovelhas Merino em período reprodutivo (primavera) foram tratadas com esponjas intravaginais impregnadas com MAP para sincronização do estro. As esponjas foram retiradas após 14 dias de tratamento. Utilizaram-se carneiros vasectomizados para detecção do cio. As ovelhas foram observadas para a presença das marcas duas vezes ao dia. As ovelhas que apresentaram cio foram inseminadas artificialmente com sêmen fresco diluído, empregando-se uma dose de 300x10(6) espermatozóides totais. A inseminação artificial foi praticada 12 horas depois da apresentação do cio. Os níveis residuais de MAP (RMAP) nas esponjas retiradas foram medidos por espectrofotometria a 241 nM e examinados em relação à resposta estral e à fertilidade. A dose real de MAP foi como média 54 mg. RMAP encontrados em esponjas após o tratamento foram como média 25,00 ± 0,84 mg. A porcentagem de sincronização dos cios foi 92,86% e a taxa de prenhez, 50,43%. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre RMAP das ovelhas com (24,70 ± 0,86 mg) e sem (28,89 ± 3,65 mg) resposta estral (p>0,10). Também não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre RMAP das ovelhas prenhes (25,56 ± 1,25 mg) e não-prenhes (23,83 ± 1,18 mg) (p>0,10). Conclui-se que a dose de 60 mg MAP utilizada convencionalmente para sincronização do estro em ovelhas é superior à quantidade utilizada pelas fêmeas.

A pool of polyurethane sponges impregnated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) was prepared. Real level of progestagen on sponges was checked prior to sponge treatment insertion. During spring a total of 126 cyclic Merino ewes were intravaginally treated with MAP-impregnated pessaries for the synchronization of estrus. After 14 days treatment, sponges were removed. Estrus detection was performed with vasectomized rams. Ewes were inspected for the presence of marks twice a day. Ewes in estrus were artificially inseminated with fresh diluted semen containing a dose of 300x10(6) total sperm. Artificial insemination was performed 12 hours after estrus presentation. Residual levels of MAP (RMAP) on removed sponges were measured by spectrophotometry at 241 nM and examined in relation to their estrus response and fertility. Real dose of MAP was in average 54 mg. RMAP found on sponges following treatment were in average 25.00 ± 0.84 mg. Percentage of estrus synchronization was 92.86% and pregnancy rate was 50.43%. There were no significant differences for RMAP between ewes with (24.70 ± 0.86 mg) and without (28.89 ± 3.65 mg) estrus response (p>0.10). There were also no significant differences for RMAP between pregnant (25.56 ± 1.25 mg) and non-pregnant (23.83 ± 1.18 mg) ewes (p>0.10). It was concluded that the 60 mg MAP dose conventionally used for estrus synchronization in ewes is higher than the amount uptaken by the females.