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Biomedical subjects

J Vernon

Publications and source records attributed to J Vernon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Attributes of tinnitus that may predict temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

A collection of 1002 patients with severe tinnitus, drawn from the Tinnitus Data Registry, were retrospectively surveyed to determine which traits or attributes of tinnitus could indicate the possibility of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) as the cause of tinnitus. The patients were divided into two groups: (1) a TMD group, consisting of 69 patients for whom there was no known cause of tinnitus except for one or more temporomandibular joint (TMJ) indicators, and (2) a comparison group with mixed etiologies (n = 860). Seventy-three patients were eliminated due to excessive complications relating to cause. The two groups were compared seeking those attributes of tinnitus that significantly separated them. No single benchmark standard was discovered that exclusively indicated tinnitus from TMJ origins. However, a total of 10 "TMJ Indicators" were discovered. The data for each of these indicators is presented and discussed. In addition, the attributes that did not significantly separate the two groups are listed. The study concludes with a recommendation for TMJ referral for those tinnitus patients with unknown etiology who demonstrate any three or more of the TMJ indicators.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1988

Conservative treatment of tinnitus in Menière's disease.

Menière's disease is a three-symptom malady. Vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus, in order of their importance, are the three symptoms. Tinnitus in active Menière's disease is not of major importance to the patient. Tinnitus in "burnt-out" Menière's disease often becomes the primary complaint. In most cases, the tinnitus of burnt-out Menière's disease can be relieved easily by the masking afforded through the use of hearing aids.

Hearing Aids↗
PubMed1988

An implantable bone conduction hearing device.

A new implantable hearing device that transmits an acoustical signal from an external electromagnetic coil to a small magnet implanted in the temporal bone has been developed and implanted in more than 350 patients. Animal research indicates that the device serves as a high-fidelity sound source throughout the audio range. Especially notable is its high-frequency performance. Human experiments using a body processor indicate that the device compares favorably with conventional bone conduction hearing aids, and patients report excellent sound quality as well as improved ability to understand conversational speech. Further development has resulted in an at-the-ear (ATE) processor. Extensive testing of the ATE unit has revealed that current models provide approximately 10 dB less output than the body processors. Further research and development are continuing to address the need for increased power output from the ATE processor and to eliminate other minor problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A middle ear implantable hearing device for controlled amplification of sound in the human: a preliminary report.

Millions of people in the United States suffer from hearing impairment that is not benefited or poorly benefited by surgery or conventional hearing aids. Recently, we introduced an implantable Temporal Bone Stimulator (TBS) designed for those patients having a hearing loss due to external canal conditions; such as, external canal atresia or disease, inoperable ossicular problems, atelectasis or eustachian tube malfunction, and chronic open-cavity mastoid disease. This device requires relatively good cochlear function. However, the electromagnetic application of this device has led to the development of a new device we call the Implantable Hearing Device (IHD). This device stimulates, by an electromagnetic field, an independent electromagnetic sensitive prosthesis attached to the ossicular chain. This direct energy transfer to the ossicular chain provides a high degree of sound amplification and fidelity, thus providing benefit for those with various degrees of sensorineural hearing impairment. Preliminary disclosure of the device design, the animal experimental results, and the data from human testing will be given.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The surgical technique for implantation of the temporal bone stimulator (Audiant ABC).

Microsurgical techniques and modern hearing aids are very limited in providing hearing improvement to patients with a vast number of middle ear and external ear canal conditions. A new electromagnetic temporal bone stimulator (TBS), capable of direct stimulation of the cochlea, has been developed. Nothing is placed in the external ear canal. The internal portion of the device is placed in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone, thus completely bypassing the external canal, the ossicles, and the middle ear. This provides stimulation to the inner ear regardless of the condition of the external canal and the middle ear. Unilateral hearing losses may also be benefited by transfer of energy to the opposite ear. Selection of patients, the surgical technique, and the instrumental armamentarium are discussed. The pitfalls and expected results are described.

Audiometry↗
PubMed1985

Complement C8 deficiency with recurrent meningococcemia: examination of meningococcal opsonization.

A 10 year old girl presented with recurrent febrile episodes over 2 months. A non-typable strain of Neisseria meningitidis was grown from blood cultures on three occasions. She was found to lack functional C8 activity in serum but material with C8 antigenic activity was present. The opsonic activity of the C8 deficient serum for N. meningitidis was equivalent to that of normal controls.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Decreased neutrophil chemotaxis and chronic granulomatous disease.

A case of chronic granulomatous disease associated with decreased neutrophil chemotaxis is described. It is suggested that defective neutrophil motility may be more common than previously recognized in chronic granulomatous disease. However, the presence of a chemotactic defect does not necessarily imply a more severe clinical course.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗
PubMed1984

The perceived severity of tinnitus. Some observations concerning a large population of tinnitus clinic patients.

Detailed information about tinnitus was obtained from over 1800 patients attending a tinnitus clinic. Patients rated their tinnitus severity on a scale from 1 to 10 and also provided information concerning the quality, duration, localization, and other attributes of their tinnitus. In addition to standard audiometric tests, patients received tests for tinnitus pitch, loudness, maskability, and residual inhibition, and provided a brief medical history. The severity ratings of over 90% were at or above the scale value of 5. There was no correlation between rated severity and the loudness of tinnitus (obtained by a loudness balance procedure using external sounds matching the tinnitus pitch), thus confirming earlier observations. The severity also was not related to the type, quality, or pitch of tinnitus sound heard. However, severity ratings were highly correlated with incidence of sleep disturbance. Additional observations concerning relationships between perceived severity and other patient characteristics are discussed.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1984

Yeast opsonization and phagocytosis studied by a visual assay and measurement of neutrophil chemiluminescence.

Yeast opsonization was examined by a visual phagocytic assay which identified intracellular particles by means of staining with reduced nitroblue tetrazolium, and by measurement of the chemiluminescent response of neutrophils to opsonized particles. With both assays optimal opsonization was dependent on the classical complement pathway at lower serum concentrations, however, alternative pathway activity alone was able to opsonic optimally at higher serum concentrations. Examination of the complement pathway and opsonic activity of sera from 17 children with atopic dermatitis revealed 2 subjects with defective alternative pathway lytic activity. There was no significant difference in the opsonic activity between atopic children and control subjects. This investigation does not confirm the suggestion that yeast opsonization is a common defect in atopic individuals and indicates yeast can be opsonized by both classical and alternative pathways.

Humans↗
PubMed1980

The characteristics and natural history of tinnitus in Meniere's disease.

Four tests for the identification of tinnitus have been presented: pitch, loudness, maskability, and residual inhibition. The typical features of the tinnitus associated with Meniere's disease are as follows: 1. Usually the tinnitus is a low pitched noise. However, in the burned out condition it is often higher in pitch and tonal in quality. 2. The loudness match occurs at very low sensation levels. 3. Masking as a relief procedure is usually easily achieved, requiring only low levels of noise. 4. The masking recommended for relief of tinnitus is found to be acceptable as a substitute for tinnitus. 5. Masking of the tinnitus produces residual inhibition, which frequently is of longer than average duration.

Female↗
PubMed1979

Function of the acoustic reflex in discrimination of intense speech.

It is known that the middle ear acoustic reflex (AR) alters the transmission characteristics of the auditory system; however, disagreement exists on how these changes may influence the ears; transfer of speech stimuli. In this study, speech with and without a competing message was delivered at supra-AR levels to cat ears that demonstrated an active and a pharmaceutically inactivated middle ear reflex mechanism. Resulting cochlear potentials were tape recorded and subsequently presented to 18 human subjects with normal hearing. Findings suggest word and sentence discrimination is enhanced in the presence of a functioning AR, with implications for hearing aid use and stapedectomy procedure.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

ASBAH-independence.

This paper describes the work done by ASBAH in the field of social independence training since November 1977. The aims of the training scheme are to encourage young people toward accepting responsibility for the course of their own lives, and to prepare them to take fuller advantage of the opportunities for further education and training and a wider range of leisure activities. Problems so far encountered - physical, vocational and emotional, are examined and proposals made for further development in this area of work.

Activities of Daily Living↗