[Audiologic diagnosis in children. Applicability of different speech material]. / Audiologische Diagnostik bei Kindern. Verwendbarkeit von unterschiedlichem Sprachmaterial.

The aim of our study was to establish bench-mark values for speech intelligibility in noise for children. We also considered which of the two dichotic discrimination tests, Feldmann's or Uttenweiler's, would be most suitable for use within this age group. We examined 102 children aged between 7 and 10 years (second year, primary school), with an average age of 8 years. After confirming normal hearing acuity (examination of the ear, tympanometry and audiogram), speech perception was tested. This was performed with and without noise using the Göttingen Audiometric Speech Test for Children II and the monosyllables of the Freiburger Speech Intelligibility Test. The percentage of word intelligibility was recorded. Furthermore, dichotic hearing was tested using a combination of Feldmann and Uttenweiler dichotic discrimination tests. We rated the percentage of correct word pair repetitions with the correct article. The results showed that the best method for testing speech perception in noise for this age group was the Göttingen Test II for Children. Speech perception below 70% for word intelligibility should be considered as pathologic. For testing dichotic hearing, Uttenweiler's dichotic discrimination test for children was most suitable. In this test values below 80% should be considered as pathologic.

MR colonography without colonic cleansing: a new strategy to improve patient acceptance.

OBJECTIVE: MR colonography permits accurate detection of colonic polyps larger than 8 mm. Patient acceptance remains limited because of the need for bowel cleansing. The aim of this study was to develop and assess a strategy obviating colonic cleansing by performing MR colonography in conjunction with fecal tagging based on the oral administration of barium. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six healthy volunteers and six patients with suspected colorectal tumors, undergoing conventional colonoscopy within 1 week of MR imaging, were included in this study. For fecal tagging, 200 mL of a barium-containing contrast agent was ingested with each of four principal meals preceding the examination. For MR colonography, the colon was filled with a barium and water mixture while gadobenate dimeglumine (0.2 mmol/kg) was injected IV. RESULTS: The combination of fecal tagging and colonic filling with barium resulted in a homogeneously low signal throughout the colonic lumen in all 12 subjects. IV injection of gadolinium caused avid enhancement of the colonic wall. Similarly, lesions arising from the colonic wall enhanced avidly. In the six evaluated patients, MR colonography correctly identified two colonic carcinomas in two patients and one polyp in each of another two patients. CONCLUSION: Fecal tagging obviates bowel cleansing and should, therefore, enhance patient acceptance for MR colonoscopy. Barium used as the tagging agent is promising because it is inexpensive, commercially available, and characterized by an excellent safety profile.

A fall prevention program for elderly individuals. Exercise in long-term care settings.

The purpose of this research was to explore the role of exercise in preventing falls, specifically assessing the effectiveness of an ankle strengthening and walking program to improve balance, ankle strength, walking speed, and falls efficacy and to decrease falls and subjects' fear of falling. Sixteen individuals participated in the study which was conducted at two nursing homes. Subjects were assigned randomly to an intervention or control group. The participants in the intervention group completed a 3-month supervised program of ankle strengthening exercises and walking. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, and differences in the least square means were used to assess the outcome variables (i.e., balance, ankle strength, walking speed, falls, fear of falling, falls efficacy) before the exercise program, and again at 3 months and 6 months after the program for the intervention and control subjects. Findings for the intervention group from pretest to 3-month posttest were, for the most part, maintained or in the predicted direction, suggesting that regular exercise shows promise for preventing deterioration and improving fall-related outcomes for elderly nursing home residents.

[Virtual reality in MR colonography]. / Die virtuelle Realität der MR-Kolonographie.

Early detection and subsequent removal of colorectal polyps have been shown to constitute an effective approach for decreasing the incidence of colorectal cancer. The lack of an ideal modality for colorectal polyp screening stimulated interest in the development of CT-colonography and MR-colonography. Both techniques allow the colon to be analyzed in a cross-sectional as well as a virtual endoscopic format. Causing no side-effects and not concerning for radiation exposure MR-colonography warrants further consideration. Additional to detecting polyps down to 6 mm in size the inner wall contour and the morphology of the colonic wall itself can be assessed. New developments like fecal tagging will increase patients acceptance comparing to other diagnostic techniques. In search of an ideal modality for polyp screening MR-colonography will become a potent option in the diagnostic arsenal.

Outcome indicators for direct and indirect caregiving.

Informal caregiving and outcomes for caregiving are an important part of health care and of particular importance in nursing. The purpose of this research is to report the results of a survey mailed to nursing experts for validation of the outcome labels Caregiver Role Performance: Direct Care and Caregiver Role Performance: Indirect Care and their accompanying indicators. Experts were asked to rate how important the identified indicators were for assessing those two outcomes. In addition, the respondents were asked to what extent nursing interventions influence the achievement of each identified indicator for Caregiver Role Performance: Direct Care and Caregiver Role Performance: Indirect Care. In general, the validity of the concept analysis work by the caregiver focus group was supported. Ten indicators for Caregiver Performance: Direct Care were retained, 1 was dropped that was considered most appropriate for indirect care, and 3 new indicators were added to reflect the nurse experts surveyed. For Caregiver Performance: Indirect Care, all of the indicators were retained.

[Optimization of beam filtering, kv-ma regulation curve and image intensifier entrance exposure rate to reduce radiation exposure in angiographic fluoroscopy]. / Optimierung von Zusatzfilterung, Durchleuchtungskennlinie und Bildverstärker-Eingangsdosisleistung zur Reduktion der Strahlenexposition bei der Angiographie.

AIM OF STUDY: Evaluation of radiation exposure and image quality during fluoroscopy using a new vascular X-ray system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The measurements were made on an Integris V 3000 X-ray system with MRC tube and SpectraBeam technology (Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg). Entrance dose rates were measured with phantoms for the three fluoroscopy levels (1-3) which differed with regard to beam filtering and image intensiver entrance exposure rate. We evaluated 132 diagnostic and interventional angiographic studies. The angiographic investigators were asked to start with level 1 and to change to the next fluoroscopy level only in the case of insufficient image quality. RESULTS: Entrance dose rate is reduced by approx. 74% at fluoroscopy level 1 and by approx. 46% at level 2 relative to level 3 which is comparable to angiographic X-ray systems without MRC tube and SpectraBeam technology. Because level 1 ensured a sufficient image quality in 92% of the diagnostic and 60% of the interventional angiographic procedures a change to higher fluoroscopy levels was not necessary. CONCLUSION: Reduction of the intensifier exposure rate and the optimization of beam filtering enabled us to reduce the radiation exposure considerably. The procedure was well accepted by the angiographic investigators due to the diagnostically sufficient image quality of the fluoroscopy level 1.

From risk for trauma to unintentional injury risk: falls--a concept analysis. Nursing Diagnosis Extension and Classification Research Team.

TOPIC: Concept analysis of the nursing diagnosis risk for trauma. PURPOSE: To examine the nursing diagnosis risk for trauma and to specify the risk factors for falling. SOURCES: Research and informational articles on falling, and NANDA Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions and Classification, 1999-2000. CONCLUSIONS: Replace the current nursing diagnosis risk for trauma with the more specific nursing diagnosis unintentional injury risk: falls. The other risks included in risk for trauma (e.g., burns) also will need to be developed.

A fall prevention educational program for community dwelling seniors.

The purpose of this research was to assess participants' responses to a fall prevention educational program. Fourteen persons volunteered to participate in the study conducted at a large senior center. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and to assess subjects' awareness about falls, attitudes about fall risk, fall prevention behaviors, and incidence of falls before the fall prevention program and again at one month and three months after the program. Forty-six percent of the sample had fallen in the previous year. In general, subjects' perceptions that their risk of falling was lower than others of the same age and sex increased following the fall prevention program. Additionally, subjects were somewhat more concerned about falling after attendance at the fall prevention program. Most of the participants completed the home safety checklist; however, very few subjects made changes at home to reduce the risk of falling or did the recommended muscle strengthening exercises. Suggestions for community fall prevention programs are offered based upon the pilot results.