Role of Active Listening and Listening Effort on Contralateral Suppression of Transient Evoked Otoacousic Emissions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of active listening and listening effort on the contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (CSTEOAEs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty eight young adults participated in the study. Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were recorded using ‘linear’ clicks at 60 dB peSPL, in three contralateral noise conditions. In condition 1, TEOAEs were obtained in the presence of white noise in the contralateral ear. While, in condition 2, speech was embedded into white noise at +3, −3, and −9 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and delivered to the contralateral ear. The SNR was varied to investigate the effect of listening effort on the CSTEOAE. In condition 3, speech was played backwards and embedded into white noise at −3 dB SNR. The conditions 1 and 3 served as passive listening condition and the condition 2 served as active listening condition. In active listening condition, the participants categorized the words in to two groups (e.g., animal and vehicle). RESULTS: CSTEOAE was found to be largest in the presence of white noise, and the amount of CSTEOAE was not significantly different between active and passive listening conditions (condition 2 and 3). Listening effort had an effect on the CSTEOAE, the amount of suppression increased with listening effort, when SNR was decreased from +3 dB to −3 dB. However, when the SNR was further reduced to −9 dB, there was no further increase in the amount of CSTEOAE, instead there was a reduction in the amount of suppression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study show that listening effort might affect CSTEOAE.

Effect of Vowel Context on the Recognition of Initial Consonants in Kannada

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of vowel context on the recognition of Kannada consonants in quiet for young adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 17 young adults with normal hearing in both ears participated in the study. The stimuli included consonant-vowel syllables, spoken by 12 native speakers of Kannada. Consonant recognition task was carried out as a closed-set (fourteen-alternative forced-choice). RESULTS: The present study showed an effect of vowel context on the perception of consonants. Maximum consonant recognition score was obtained in the /o/ vowel context, followed by the /a/ and /u/ vowel contexts, and then the /e/ context. Poorest consonant recognition score was obtained in the vowel context /i/. CONCLUSIONS: Vowel context has an effect on the recognition of Kannada consonants, and the vowel effect was unique for Kannada consonants.

Effect of Vowel Context on the Recognition of Initial Consonants in Kannada

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of vowel context on the recognition of Kannada consonants in quiet for young adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 17 young adults with normal hearing in both ears participated in the study. The stimuli included consonant-vowel syllables, spoken by 12 native speakers of Kannada. Consonant recognition task was carried out as a closed-set (fourteen-alternative forced-choice). RESULTS: The present study showed an effect of vowel context on the perception of consonants. Maximum consonant recognition score was obtained in the /o/ vowel context, followed by the /a/ and /u/ vowel contexts, and then the /e/ context. Poorest consonant recognition score was obtained in the vowel context /i/. CONCLUSIONS: Vowel context has an effect on the recognition of Kannada consonants, and the vowel effect was unique for Kannada consonants.

Clinicopathological spectrum of gall bladder cancer in Kashmir - an institutional study

Gallbladder cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy that usually presents at an advanced incurable stage. It is the fifth most common gastro-intestinal tumor and leads to approximately 2800 deaths in United States annually. This was a retrospective study carried out in the Department of Pathology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, a 650-bed super speciality hospital in Kashmir valley. We reviewed the histopathological records of all the patients who were diagnosed as carcinoma gallbladder from Dec 2009-Dec 2013. Gross findings and histopathological findings were noted from the departmental archival material and clinical records of the patients including the clinical presentation, laboratory investigations, radiological investigations, pre-operative diagnosis and intra-operative findings, were retrieved from the hospital records. We analyzed 57 cases of carcinoma gallbladder for their clinicopathological features It included 19 males and 37 females. In our study, adenocarcinomas accounted for 87.5% of total carcinomas. Incidentally, all but one patient where gall stones were found, adenocarcinomas were seen. We have 4 patients of squamous cell carcinoma. In our series we have a single case of small cell carcinoma which was positive for neuroendocrine markers. In our study, gall stones were seen only in 8 cases [14%] of the total cases

Embedded esophageal foreign body. A diagnostic challenge

Esophageal foreign body [EFB] ingestion is of ubiquitous occurrence in pediatric population. Diagnosis and precise localization of non-radio opaque FB poses considerable challenge. Delayed presentation, poor history, and inconclusive esophagoscopic findings often lead to diagnostic delay. Multidetector computed tomography [MDCT] could be a great option in these situations. We present a case of EFB in a child who presented with failure to thrive, had negative fibreoptic endoscopy, ultimately diagnosed conclusively on MDCT examination

Oral findings in newborn children in and around Mangalore, Karnataka state, India

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of normal findings and oral anomalies in newborn children in and around Mangalore, India, within the first week of birth. A gloved index finger, a head torch and an extra-orally placed ruler were used to perform visual examinations in 1,038 newborn babies, who were selected by convenience sampling. The babies were examined by one of the investigators [D.G.]. Normal findings like the location of upper labial midline frenum, symmetry of alveolar ridges, anteroposterior/buccolingual and vertical relationship of the alveolar ridges, and oral anomalies like white inclusion cysts that are gingival cyst of infants, Epstein's pearls and Bohn's nodules were recorded in a standard format. The findings were statistically analysed. Open bite was present in 102 [9.8%] children. In the anteroposterior relationship, 1,035 [99.7%] had the mandible distal to maxilla. In the buccolingual relationship, the mandible was lingual to the maxilla in 1,035 neonates [99.7%]. Gingival cyst of infants was present in 143 [13.8%] of the neonates, Epstein's pearls in 365 [35.2%] and Bohn's nodules in 492 [47.4%]. The present study exhibits the prevalence of normal findings and anomalies in the neonates. Longitudinal studies are required to assess any significance of the anteroposterior, buccolingual and vertical relationships of the gum pads in the neonates to the future development of occlusion

Colocynth toxicity A Possible cause of bloody diarrhea

Five cases of toxicity due to consumption of an uncommon wild fruit called Colocynth are described. These cases were seen over a period of 2 years. Severe bouts of bloody diarrhea were encountered in these patients. The plant, its ingredients, the medicinal and other uses, features of toxicity and the management is discussed. Doctors are advised to be aware of this uncommon clinical problem

Parathyroid adenoma associated with multiple tendon rupture; a case report

A rare and unusual case is described of multiple lower limb fractures and complete closed tendon ruptures, following trivial trauma, in a 50 years old woman who had been complaining of low back pain and generalised weakness for two years. She had generalised osteoporosis and bilateral nephrolithiasis. Investigations revealed hyperparathyroidism as the underlying cause. The diagnosis of the cause was difficult. It was elucidated by blood biochemical and hormonal assays. The parathyrod adenoma was detected only by ultrasonography of the neck. The pathological manifestations rapidly improved after surgical reconstruction of the skeletal and tendinous lesions, and after excision of the hyperactive parathyroid adenoma, together with appropriate medical and supportive treatment