Biomedical subjects

Raquel Mezzalira

Publications and source records attributed to Raquel Mezzalira.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Oculomotricity in childhood: is the normal range the same as in adults?

UNLABELLED: The study of oculomotricity is done by the evaluation of three systems: saccade eye movements (MOS), optokinetic nystagmus (NO) and smooth pursuit eye movement (MORL). The joint action of these three systems allows the visual field's establishment in different movement situations. AIM: To compare the value of oculomotricity in normal adults and children to confirm, or not if it is viable to use the same parameters of adults normality to children's exams interpretation. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical with transversal cohort. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied MOS, NO and MORL in 50 normal children and in 35 adults and the results were compared by the t Student test. RESULTS: The data analysis showed significant difference between children and adults (significance at level +/- = 0.05) DISCUSSION: In the literature we have found evidence that myelinization of the vestibular pathways happen at about 16 weeks and the pyramidal tracts, at 24 months. Oculomotricity is finished at this time. Other papers describe the importance of these tests in the diagnostic of neurological diseases, visual alterations and as predictors of the risk of schizophrenia development but they do not report the normal range in children. In our study we found increased latency of MOS, increase in gain of NO, reduction in gain and increase in the distortion of MORL in children if compared to adults, which is in accordance with the literature. These alterations can be explained by the low attention during the tests and the immaturity of ocular movements' control in children. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the establishment of a parameter of normality to the oculomotricity in childhood is necessary for the correct analysis of the oculography to avoid misinterpretation of the exam.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Seasonality in vestibular disorders.

Our objective in this study was to evaluate a causal relationship between vestibular pathological findings and climatic variations during the year (summer, autumn, winter, and spring). The study was conducted in a Brazilian clinic located in a tropical climate and having well-defined warm and cold weather. For this retrospective study, our outpatients were the subjects, and the diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical (ear, nose, and throat) and electronystagmographic evaluation. Data were collected, matched with the year's seasons, and analyzed for significance statistics. We found no significant differences among the illnesses in relation to the climatic seasons. We concluded that a correlation did not exist between annual seasons and vestibular disorders in our environment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The contribution of otoneurological evaluation to tinnitus diagnosis.

Tinnitus has been reported for nearly 80% of patients referred to the otolaryngology services. Usually, its evaluation is based on tonal and vocal audiometry, tympanometry, brainstem-evoked potentials, electrocochleography, and otoacoustic emissions. However, as the cochleovestibular system works as a unit, the use of vestibular tests has been proposed to evaluate tinnitus. Many patients with tinnitus have altered vestibular test results even in the absence of vestibular symptoms. This finding accounts for the indication of complete vestibular and audiological evaluation of tinnitus. The aim of this study is to analyze the contribution of otoneurological evaluation in the diagnosis of tinnitus. Patients were selected and divided into two groups. Group 1 was composed of patients complaining about tinnitus only, whereas group 2 was composed of patients with tinnitus associated with dizziness, hearing loss, and fullness. All submitted to otoneurological evaluation based on directed clinical history, physical examination, tonal and vocal audiometry, tympanometry, and vestibular examination. A total of 195 patients were analyzed. The otoneurological evaluation was conclusive in the diagnosis in 48 cases (75%) in group 1 and in 94 cases (72%) in group 2. The present study showed that otoneurological evaluation contributes to the etiological diagnosis of tinnitus.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-medication profile of ENT patients.

AIM: To describe self-medication habits of patients with otorhinolaryngological disorders to characterize problematic aspects in order to manage and correct them. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multiple-choice questionnaire was used to obtain the data, consisting of 17 questions about self-medication habits. It was distributed to the patients assisted in our ENT clinic, in July/2003. RESULTS: Approximately 83% of the admitted patients have practiced self-medication (without medical prescription). However, 73% of them stated that it wasn't mandatory to present a prescription in order to obtain the medicine. The most utilized drugs were: analgesics/antipyretics (90%), cold and flu drugs (78%), and NSAIDs (69%); antibiotics were the 8th (11%). Among the reasons or diseases patients believed to suffer from that justified the self-medication practice, we observed: headaches (76%), cold/flu (74%) and nonspecific febrile illnesses (56%); otitis, in general, was the last (12%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the need for continuous educational programs about the risks of self-medication, besides appropriate governmental regulation and inspection.

Adolescent↗