Comparison of different mobile telephones in Combi40+ users.

CONCLUSION: Telephone usage is a difficult challenge for cochlear implanted patients. A significant number of cochlear implanted patients are able to carry on a land-line or mobile telephone conversation. The telephone model may be a critical factor for telephone performance. OBJECTIVES: The goals of this study were to evaluate speech discrimination through land-line and mobile telephones in Combi40+ users, and to compare different mobile telephone models to find out which could be more advisable for them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen Combi40+ implantees were tested with CID sentences and bisyllabic words presented through land-line and mobile telephones, in both quiet and noisy environments. RESULTS: Mean scores for telephonic speech discrimination were over 85% for CID sentences and 28-59% for bisyllabic words. The Siemens M55 was superior to the other mobile telephones tested.

[Speech discrimination through telephone in patients implanted with a Combi 40+]. / Discriminación verbal a través del teléfono en pacientes implantados con un Combi 40+.

OBJECTIVE: To assess speech discrimination through line and mobile telephone in cochlear implanted patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen patients implanted with a Combi 40+ went through different speech discrimination tests with a line telephone and three mobile telephones, in quiet and noisy environment. RESULTS: Mean scores for telephonic speech discrimination were 84-92% using CID sentences, 27-58% using bisyllabic words in quiet environment and 15-41% using bisyllabic words in noisy environment. Among the mobile telephones tested, the Siemens M55 reached the best scores. CONCLUSIONS: Telephonic speech discrimination is achieved by a significant number of cochlear implanted patients. Certain mobile telephone models appear to be more advisable for these patients.

Discriminación verbal a través del teléfono en pacientes implantados con un Combi 40+ / Speech Discrimination through Telephone in Patients Implanted with a Combi40+

Objetivo: Estudiar la discriminación verbal a través del teléfono fijo y móvil en pacientes con implante coclear. Material y métodos: Dieciocho pacientes implantados con un Combi 40+ fueron sometidos a pruebas de discriminación verbal a través de un teléfono fijo y tres modelos de móviles, tanto en silencio como en presencia de ruido. Resultados: La discriminación verbal telefónica media fue de 84-92% para frases CID, de 27-58% para palabras bisílabas en silencio y de 15-41% para palabras bisílabas en presencia de ruido. Delos modelos de telefonía móvil probados el Siemens M55 obtuvo los mejores resultados. Conclusiones: Un número significativo de pacientes implantados consiguen una buena discriminación verbal telefónica. Ciertos modelos de telefonía móvil parecen más recomendables para estos pacientes

Objective: To assess speech discrimination through line and mobile telephone in cochlear implanted patients. Material and Methods: Eighteen patients implanted with a Combi 40+ went through different speech discrimination tests with a line telephone and three mobile telephones, in quiet and noisy environment. Results: Mean scores for telephonic speech discrimination were 84-92% using CID sentences, 27-58% using bisyllabic words in quiet environment and 15-41% using bisyllabic words in noisy environment. Among the mobile telephones tested, the Siemens M55 reached the best scores. Conclusions: Telephonic speech discrimination is achieved by a significant number of cochlear implanted patients. Certain mobile telephone models appear to be more advisable for these patients

[Quality of life in cochlear implanted patients]. / Calidad de vida en pacientes con implante coclear.

Several articles show the audiologic benefits of cochlear implants, although it is still necessary to prove their impact on quality of life. In this study, 36 Med-El processor users were included. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) was used to measure changes in quality of life, and another questionnaire was used to evaluate the communication abilities. Eighty-six percent of the patients answered our questionnaire. The quality of life improved significantly according to the specific questionnaire. The average total benefit obtained with the GBI was +41, and the average scores related to general, social and physics benefits were +57, +16, and +3, respectively. No significant difference was found between quality of life and other parameters like insertion depth of the array, etiology or duration of the deafness.

[Ductal regeneration in vanishing bile duct syndrome in Hodgkin's lymphoma]. / Recuperación ductular en el síndrome de los conductillos biliares evanescent en paciente con linfoma de Hodgkin.

We present the case of a 17-year-old male patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma (nodular sclerosis) in the mediastinum. During the postoperative period treatment with erythromycin was started and the patient developed progressive jaundice and cholestasis. Treatment modified for the lymphoma was initiated, which achieved complete remission and subsequent improvement and resolution of the cholestasis. Histological study of the liver revealed massive loss of bile ducts. After resolution of the cholestasis, consecutive biopsies revealed ductal proliferation. The present report therefore illustrates a case of ductopenia or vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS) with ad integrum regeneration of the bile ducts simultaneous with lymphoma remission. Because the 2 possible causes, erythromycin toxicity and Hodgkin's lymphoma, occurred simultaneously, the etiology of the VBDS cannot be definitively established.

Calidad de vida en pacientes con implante coclear / Quality of life in cochlear implanted patients

Numerosas publicaciones muestran los beneficios audiológicos de los implantes cocleares, aunque aún está poco estudiada su repercusión sobre la calidad de vida. En este estudio se han incluido 36 pacientes, todos ellos portadores de un procesador Med-El. Se utilizó el Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) para la cuantificación de los cambios en la calidad de vida así como otro cuestionario específico para valorar las habilidades en la comunicación. El 86% de los pacientes contestó a nuestra encuesta. La calidad de vida medida según el cuestionario específico mejoró en todos los campos analizados. La media obtenida en el GBI para el beneficio total fue de +41, con unas puntuaciones medias de +57, +16 y +3 referentes al beneficio general, social y físico, respectivamente. No se encontró relación significativa entre los cambios en la calidad de vida y la profundidad de inserción del electrodo, la causa o la duración de la sordera

Several articles show the audiologic benefits of cochlear implants, although it is still necessary to prove their impact on quality of life. In this study, 36 Med-El processor users were included. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) was used to measure changes in quality of life, and another questionnaire was used to evaluate the communication abilities. Eighty-six percent of the patients answered our questionnaire. The quality of life improved significantly according to the specific questionnaire. The average total benefit obtained with the GBI was +41, and the average scores related to general, social and physics benefits were +57, +16, and +3, respectively. No significant difference was found between quality of life and other parameters like insertion depth of the array, etiology or duration of the deafness

Recuperación ductular en el síndrome de los conductillos biliares evanescent en paciente con linfoma de Hodgkin / Ductal regeneration in vanishing bile duct syndrome in Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Presentamos el caso de un joven de 17 años con un linfoma de Hodgkin (esclerosis nodular) en el mediastino. En el post-operatorio, tras iniciar tratamiento con eritromicina, presentó ictericia y colestasis progresiva. Después de iniciar tratamiento modificado para el linfoma se consiguió la remisión completa, y posteriormente la mejoría y normalización de la colestasis. El estudio histológico del hígado demostró una pérdida masiva de ductos biliares, y tras la desaparición de la colestasis se objetivó una proliferación ductal en las biopsias sucesivas. Se trata, por tanto, de un caso de ductopenia o síndrome de los conductillos biliares evanescentes, con regeneración ad integrum de los ductos biliares, que coincidió temporalmente con la remisión del linfoma. En este caso de coincidencia temporal de 2 posibles causas, tóxica por eritromicina y linfoma de Hodgkin, no se puede establecer con certeza la etiología del síndrome de los conductillos biliares evanescentes

We present the case of a 17-year-old male patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (nodular sclerosis) in the mediastinum. During the postoperative period treatment with erythromycin was started and the patient developed progressive jaundice and cholestasis. Treatment modified for the lymphoma was initiated, which achieved complete remission and subsequent improvement and resolution of the cholestasis. Histological study of the liver revealed massive loss of bile ducts. After resolution of the cholestasis, consecutive biopsies revealed ductal proliferation. The present report therefore illustrates a case of ductopenia or vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS) with ad integrum regeneration of the bile ducts simultaneous with lymphoma remission. Because the 2 possible causes, erythromycin toxicity and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, occurred simultaneously, the etiology of the VBDS cannot be definitively established

[Giant esophageal hematoma: possible association with low-dose aspirin]. / Hematoma esofágico gigante: posible relación con dosis pequeñas de aspirina.

Esophageal hematoma is a rare entity that usually presents as acute thoracic pain. It may occur spontaneously or in association with an underlying disease or direct esophageal damage. The presence of coagulation disorders plays an important role in the development of hematoma. We describe the case of a female patient treated with low-dose aspirin who was diagnosed through emergency gastroscopy. We also review the literature and discuss possible causes, findings in diagnostic tests and treatment.

[Inflammatory bowel disease and amyloidosis]. / Enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal y amiloidosis.

Secondary (AA) amyloidosis is a rare but serious complication of longstanding inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the patient's prognosis more than the underlying disease. Although early diagnosis of this complication is becoming more frequent, its effective treatment continues to pose a challenge to the clinician. We present two cases of Crohn's disease complicated by secondary amyloidosis after two years, and describe their outcome.