http://www.rxpgnews.com/ Medical News and Information Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:48:36 PST en-us http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scientists-search-for-brain-center-responsible-for-tinnitus_67550.shtml Latest Research BUFFALO, N.Y. -- For the more than 50 million Americans who experience the phantom sounds of tinnitus -- ringing in the ears that can range from annoying to debilitating -- certain well-trained rats may be their best hope for finding relief. Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scientists-search-for-brain-center-responsible-for-tinnitus_67550.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Music-training-linked-to-enhanced-verbal-skills_65226.shtml Latest Research EVANSTON, Ill. --- Music training, with its pervasive effects on the nervous system’s ability to process sight and sound, may be more important for enhancing verbal communication skills than learning phonics, according to a new Northwestern University study. Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Music-training-linked-to-enhanced-verbal-skills_65226.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Sensitivity-of-brain-center-for-sound-space-defined_64420.shtml Latest Research While the visual regions of the brain have been intensively mapped, many important regions for auditory processing remain “uncharted territory.” Now, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and elsewhere have identified a region responsible for a key auditory process — perceiving “sound space,” the location of sounds, even when the listener is not concentrating on those sounds. Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Sensitivity-of-brain-center-for-sound-space-defined_64420.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Brain-center-for-sound-space-identified_64246.shtml Latest Research While the visual regions of the brain have been intensively mapped, many important regions for auditory processing remain terra incognita. Now, researchers have identified the region responsible for a key auditory process—perceiving “sound space,” the location of sounds. The findings settle a controversy in earlier studies that failed to establish the auditory region, called the planum temporale, as responsible for perceiving auditory space. Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Brain-center-for-sound-space-identified_64246.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Researcher-developing-new-method-for-hearing-loss-assessment_61956.shtml Latest Research WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University researcher is working on a new technique to diagnose hearing loss in a way that more accurately reflects real-world situations. Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Researcher-developing-new-method-for-hearing-loss-assessment_61956.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Holy-Grail-of-hearing-True-identity-of-pivotal-hearing-structure-is-revealed_61708.shtml Latest Research Our ability to hear is made possible by way of a Rube Goldberg-style process in which sound vibrations entering the ear shake and jostle a successive chain of structures until, lo and behold, they are converted into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. Exactly how the electrical signal is generated has been the subject of ongoing research interest. Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Holy-Grail-of-hearing-True-identity-of-pivotal-hearing-structure-is-revealed_61708.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-study-finds-infant-hearing-test-results-may-predict-sudden-infant-death-syndrome_54327.shtml Latest Research SEATTLE: July 26, 2007 – One of the greatest medical mysteries of our time has taken a leap forward in medical understanding with new study results announced by Dr. Daniel D. Rubens of ChildrenÂ’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. RubensÂ’ study published in July, 2007 in Early Human Development found all babies in a Rhode Island study group who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) universally shared the same distinctive difference in their newborn hearing test results for the right inner ear, when compared to infants who did not have SIDS. This is the first time doctors might be able to identify newborns at risk for SIDS by a simple, affordable and routine hearing test administered shortly after birth. In the study, medical records and hearing tests of 31 babies who died from SIDS in Rhode Island were examined and compared to healthy babies. Rhode Island has a particularly robust database of newborn hearing test data. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-study-finds-infant-hearing-test-results-may-predict-sudden-infant-death-syndrome_54327.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Ability-to-listen-to-2-things-at-once-is-largely-inherited-says-twin-study_51929.shtml Latest Research Your ability to listen to a phone message in one ear while a friend is talking into your other ear?and comprehend what both are saying?is an important communication skill that?s heavily influenced by your genes, say researchers of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), one of the National Institutes of Health. The finding, published in the August 2007 issue of Human Genetics, may help researchers better understand a broad and complex group of disorders?called auditory processing disorders (APDs)?in which individuals with otherwise normal hearing ability have trouble making sense of the sounds around them. Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Ability-to-listen-to-2-things-at-once-is-largely-inherited-says-twin-study_51929.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Nearly-90-percent-of-babies-receive-recommended-newborn-screening-tests_51326.shtml Latest Research WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JULY 11, 2007 – Nearly 90 percent of all babies born in the United States – more than double the percentage in 2005 – live in states that require screening for at least 21 life-threatening disorders, according to the latest March of Dimes Newborn Screening Report Card. Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Nearly-90-percent-of-babies-receive-recommended-newborn-screening-tests_51326.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Global-community-listens-to-TAU-genetic-researcher-at-EU-Conference-on-Hearing-Loss_51089.shtml Latest Research Paris -- Prof. Karen Avraham, chair of the department of human molecular genetics and biochemistry at Tel Aviv UniversityÂ’s Sackler School of Medicine, represented EuroHear, a consortium of 25 European, Israeli and U.K.-based research teams, at the European Union conference “Hearing and Seeing: European Research to Fight Deafness and Blindness,” held at ParisÂ’s College de France on July 2-3, 2007. Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Global-community-listens-to-TAU-genetic-researcher-at-EU-Conference-on-Hearing-Loss_51089.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-examines-cause-of-hearing-loss-for-patients-with-certain-genetic-disease_48449.shtml Latest Research Patients with the genetic disorder von Hippel-Lindau disease may suddenly experience hearing loss because of a tumor-associated hemorrhage in the inner ear, according to a study in the July 4 issue of JAMA. Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-examines-cause-of-hearing-loss-for-patients-with-certain-genetic-disease_48449.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Difficulty-identifying-odors-may-predict-cognitive-decline_48340.shtml Latest Research Older adults who have difficulty identifying common odors may have a greater risk of developing problems with thinking, learning and memory, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Difficulty-identifying-odors-may-predict-cognitive-decline_48340.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Promising-results-from-first-gene-therapy-clinical-trial-for-Parkinsons-disease-reported_40231.shtml Latest Research NEW YORK (June 21, 2007) -- In what could be a breakthrough in the treatment of neurological disease, a team led by physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center has completed the first-ever phase 1 clinical trial using gene therapy to battle Parkinson's disease. Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Promising-results-from-first-gene-therapy-clinical-trial-for-Parkinsons-disease-reported_40231.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Mother-mice-more-attuned-to-pup-sounds-than-others_39192.shtml Latest Research Researchers have shown for the first time that the behavioral context in which communication sounds are heard affects the brain's ability to detect, discriminate and ultimately respond to them. Specifically, the researchers found that the auditory neurons of female mice that had given birth were better at detecting and discriminating vocalizations from mouse pups than the auditory neurons in virgin females. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Mother-mice-more-attuned-to-pup-sounds-than-others_39192.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Bird-song-study-gives-clues-to-human-stuttering_39208.shtml Latest Research HOUSTON and NEW YORK -- Researchers at the Methodist Neurological Institute (NI) in Houston and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City used functional MRI to determine that songbirds have a pronounced right-brain response to the sound of songs, establishing a foundational study for future research on songbird models of speech disorders such as stuttering, as reported today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Bird-song-study-gives-clues-to-human-stuttering_39208.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/A-wider-range-of-sounds-for-the-deaf_38945.shtml Latest Research ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- More than three decades ago, scientists pursued the then-radical idea of implanting tiny electronic hearing devices in the inner ear to help profoundly deaf people. An even bolder alternative that promised superior results — implanting a device directly in the auditory nerve — was set aside as too difficult, given the technology of the day. Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/A-wider-range-of-sounds-for-the-deaf_38945.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Some-children-are-born-with-temporary-deafness-and-do-not-require-cochlear-implant_30964.shtml Latest Research Clinical research conducted in the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Haifa revealed that some children who are born deaf recover from their deafness and do not require surgical intervention. To date, most babies who are born deaf are referred for a cochlear implant. Many parents will say to me: 'My child hears; if I call him, he responds'. Nobody listens to them because diagnostic medical equipment did not register any hearing. It seems that these parents are smarter than our equipment, said Prof. Joseph Attias, a neurophysiologist and audiologist in the Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Haifa, who made the discovery. Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Some-children-are-born-with-temporary-deafness-and-do-not-require-cochlear-implant_30964.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/-Study-shows-isolation-of-stem-cells-may-lead-to-a-treatment-for-hearing-loss_31890.shtml Latest Research CLEVELAND, OH -- Have you ever walked by someone listening to their i-Pod loud enough for you recognize the song? Studies have shown noise-induced hearing loss is going to become the next big epidemic affecting our younger generation though the effects wonÂ’t show until it is too late to treat. In addition to loud noise, certain cancer drugs or genetic factors can cause hearing loss in humans due to loss or faulty development of the sensory ‘microphonesÂ’ (hair cells) inside the ear – the cochlea. Lost hair cells are not replaced and people exposed to these conditions face permanent hearing loss. Identification of the stem cells from the adult cochlea would be a major step forward to develop new therapeutic approaches to hearing loss. Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/-Study-shows-isolation-of-stem-cells-may-lead-to-a-treatment-for-hearing-loss_31890.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/One-membrane-many-frequencies_32983.shtml Latest Research Modern hearing aids, though quite sophisticated, still do not faithfully reproduce sound as hearing people perceive it. New findings at the Weizmann Institute of Science shed light on a crucial mechanism for discerning different sound frequencies and thus may have implications for the design of better hearing aids. Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/One-membrane-many-frequencies_32983.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Anti-epileptic-drugs-can-prevent-permanent-hearing-loss_18826.shtml Hearing Imapirment On the battlefield, a soldier's hearing can be permanently damaged in an instant by the boom of an explosion, and thousands of soldiers returning from Iraq have some permanent hearing loss. But what if soldiers could take a pill before going on duty that would prevent damage to hearing? Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:31:28 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Anti-epileptic-drugs-can-prevent-permanent-hearing-loss_18826.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Research-finds-music-training-tunes-human-auditory-system_32394.shtml Latest Research EVANSTON, Ill. -- A newly published study by Northwestern University researchers suggests that Mom was right when she insisted that you continue music lessons -- even after it was clear that a professional music career was not in your future. Mon, 12 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Research-finds-music-training-tunes-human-auditory-system_32394.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/RIT-researchers-developing-micropump-for-hearing-loss-treatments_47407.shtml Latest Research Hearing aids have existed, in one form or another, for hundreds of years. Wearable, electrical hearing aids have been around for about 75 years. More recently—over the past 50 years—cochlear implants have been used to create or restore hearing for some of the estimated 30 million people in modern societies affected by permanent hearing loss and deafness (including many age 65 and older). Mon, 12 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/RIT-researchers-developing-micropump-for-hearing-loss-treatments_47407.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Surprising-airbag-hazards-among-research-findings-at-hearing-safety-conference_36491.shtml Latest Research At the National Hearing Conservation AssociationÂ’s 32nd annual conference, top experts in the field will reveal new findings related to automobile airbags, military hearing protection, and farm-work related trauma. Several hundred people are expected to attend the conference, titled A Passion to Preserve, which will be held Feb. 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Ga. Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Surprising-airbag-hazards-among-research-findings-at-hearing-safety-conference_36491.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Pittsburgh-ear-study-finds-that-fluid-in-the-ear-does-not-impair-development-in-children_35125.shtml Latest Research Early insertion of ear tubes in otherwise healthy infants and young children with persistent fluid in the middle ear does not improve developmental outcomes up to 9 to 11 years of age, according to results of an important study at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC led by otitis media researcher Jack Paradise, MD. Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Pittsburgh-ear-study-finds-that-fluid-in-the-ear-does-not-impair-development-in-children_35125.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Call_centre_staff_could_face_hearing_damage_risk_5232.shtml Hearing Imapirment London, Nov 19 (IANS) People working at call centres could suffer hearing damage from acoustic shock, say health experts. Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:37:13 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Call_centre_staff_could_face_hearing_damage_risk_5232.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Critical-hearing-gene-helps-send-auditory-messages-to-brain_42288.shtml Latest Research By studying a gene earlier linked to deafness in humans, researchers now have new insight into the molecular process by which components of the inner ear send messages to the brain. The team reports its findings in the October 20, 2006, issue of the journal Cell, published by Cell Press. Thu, 19 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Critical-hearing-gene-helps-send-auditory-messages-to-brain_42288.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Dartmouth-researchers-find-a-neural-signature-of-bilingualism_42681.shtml Latest Research HANOVER, NH – Dartmouth researchers have found areas in the brain that indicate bilingualism. The finding sheds new light on decades of debate about how the human brain's language centers may actually be enhanced when faced with two or more languages as opposed to only one. The study was presented at the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting on October 14-18 in Atlanta, Ga. Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Dartmouth-researchers-find-a-neural-signature-of-bilingualism_42681.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vision-and-hearing-loss-often-occur-together-in-older-age_44640.shtml Latest Research Older adults with vision loss may be more likely to also have hearing loss, and the opposite appears true as well, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Mon, 09 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vision-and-hearing-loss-often-occur-together-in-older-age_44640.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/UK_researcher_identifies_brain_region_responsible__5036_5036.shtml Hearing Imapirment A major science prize was today awarded to a researcher who is looking for the region of the brain that helps us to hear someone in a noisy place, such as a party or bar, and is responsible for "training" the brain to hear better in these situations. Fri, 06 Oct 2006 21:10:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/UK_researcher_identifies_brain_region_responsible__5036_5036.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/First-evidence-that-musical-training-affects-brain-development-in-young-children_46571.shtml Latest Research Researchers have found the first evidence that young children who take music lessons show different brain development and improved memory over the course of a year compared to children who do not receive musical training. Tue, 19 Sep 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/First-evidence-that-musical-training-affects-brain-development-in-young-children_46571.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Boosting_local_immunity_in_nose_can_help_treat_chr_4971_4971.shtml ENT Researchers at Johns Hopkins have evidence that curbed activity from several key chemicals on the inner lining of the nose are linked to chronic sinusitis that fails to respond to the usual current treatments. Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:35:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Boosting_local_immunity_in_nose_can_help_treat_chr_4971_4971.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Acidic_mammalian_chitinase_gene_linked_to_recurren_4936_4936.shtml ENT Although it's unclear why it's so, scientists at Johns Hopkins have linked a gene that allows for the chemical breakdown of the tough, protective casing that houses insects and worms to the severe congestion and polyp formation typical of chronic sinusitis. Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:39:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Acidic_mammalian_chitinase_gene_linked_to_recurren_4936_4936.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Brain-enzyme-treatment-relieves-memory-lapse-in-Alzheimers-mice_42278.shtml Latest Research An enzyme that helps neurons rid themselves of excess or aberrant proteins is required for normal brain function, according to a new report in the August 25, 2006 issue of the journal Cell, published by Cell Press. What's more, by increasing brain levels of the enzyme in mice with Alzheimer's symptoms, the researchers found they could reverse lapses of memory characteristic of the debilitating disease. Thu, 24 Aug 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Brain-enzyme-treatment-relieves-memory-lapse-in-Alzheimers-mice_42278.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/NIH-turns-to-FSU-for-top-research-on-learning-disabilities_43712.shtml Latest Research Tallahassee, Fla. -- Florida State University has been awarded a $6-million grant from the federal government over five years to fund research efforts aimed at more effectively understanding, predicting and preventing the development of learning disabilities such as dyslexia in children, it was announced today. Tue, 11 Jul 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/NIH-turns-to-FSU-for-top-research-on-learning-disabilities_43712.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Chronic-middle-ear-infections-linked-to-resistant-biofilm-bacteria_45435.shtml Latest Research Direct evidence of bacterial biofilms has been found on the middle ear tissue of children who suffer from chronic ear infections, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by researchers from the Allegheny Singer Research Institute (ASRI) at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Tue, 11 Jul 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Chronic-middle-ear-infections-linked-to-resistant-biofilm-bacteria_45435.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Beta-actin_mutations_linked_to_deafness_and_dyston_4677_4677.shtml Hearing Imapirment Findings of a recent genetic study on developmental brain disorders may be the "tip of an iceberg" revealing factors involved with a number of congenital diseases, according to UC Irvine researchers. The study is the first to find that mutations in the structural proteins in brain cells - beta-actin - are linked to disorders such as deafness and dystonia, a debilitating neural disease, and further suggests that genetic variants of these proteins may play a wider role with inherited human diseases. Study results appeared in the June issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:26:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Beta-actin_mutations_linked_to_deafness_and_dyston_4677_4677.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Role_of_Folic_Acid_in_Treatment_of_Laryngeal_Leuco_4445_4445.shtml ENT Folic acid supplements may prevent cancer progression and promote regression of disease, according to a new study. Published in the July 15, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the small study found that 31 of 43 patients with the precancerous laryngeal lesion called leucoplakia demonstrated 50 percent or greater reduction in the lesion size after six months of taking folate supplements. In 12 of 31 responders, there was no evidence of the original lesion. Folate levels in the patients' blood also increased significantly from baseline while homocysteine levels decreased significantly. This study provides data to support the hypothesis that folate insufficiency is a risk factor for cancer progression. Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:26:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Role_of_Folic_Acid_in_Treatment_of_Laryngeal_Leuco_4445_4445.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Duke-University-study-finds-hearing-aids-are-underused_44328.shtml Latest Research These are among the key findings of a literature review conducted by the Medical Technology Assessment Working Group at Duke University. Researchers found consistent evidence that hearing loss contributes to a decline in quality of life, particularly among the elderly. Fri, 02 Jun 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Duke-University-study-finds-hearing-aids-are-underused_44328.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-shows-autism-related-developmental-red-flags-identifiable-at-age-two-in-children_44945.shtml Latest Research The study examined development in 87 infants at 6, 14 and 24 months of age using a standardized development test. Based on data and clinical judgment at 24 months, participants were classified as: unaffected, language delayed (LD) or ASD. Researchers compared development across groups at the three target ages and observed statistically significant differences between the ASD group and the unaffected group at 14 months. By 24 months, significant differences were detectable between the ASD group and both the unaffected and LD groups. Thu, 01 Jun 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-shows-autism-related-developmental-red-flags-identifiable-at-age-two-in-children_44945.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Surgical-plugs-in-ears-bone-stops-strange-form-of-severe-dizziness_44764.shtml Latest Research Rapid, uncontrollable eye movements that swish and thump as the eyes roll and blink. Bones that creak as the body moves. Sudden dizziness, loss of balance. Falling down after a loud noise, such as the sound of your own voice, a cough or even laughter. These are hallmarks of a debilitating and relatively rare syndrome known as superior canal dehiscence that has stumped clinicians for a long time. Sat, 20 May 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Surgical-plugs-in-ears-bone-stops-strange-form-of-severe-dizziness_44764.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/What-is-the-sound-of-one-person-talking--New-speech-collection-tells-all-syllable-by-syllable_46551.shtml Latest Research All the scientists really cared about was how they said it. Mon, 01 May 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/What-is-the-sound-of-one-person-talking--New-speech-collection-tells-all-syllable-by-syllable_46551.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Researchers-learn-more-about-ways-to-regenerate-the-ears-hearing-cells_45503.shtml Latest Research In these first studies of the role of the Rb protein in the ears of postnatal mice, we have confirmed that – under the right conditions – mature hair cells can go through the cell cycle and produce new, functioning hair cells. But we've also confirmed that you need to block Rb reversibly and at an early stage of development, otherwise the hair cells will die, says Zheng-Yi Chen, DPhil, of the MGH Neurology Service, the study's senior author. In 2005 Chen was named to the Scientific American 50, the magazine's annual list of outstanding leaders, for this continuing research project. Fri, 28 Apr 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Researchers-learn-more-about-ways-to-regenerate-the-ears-hearing-cells_45503.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Technology-to-improve-learning-for-visually-impaired-children_44293.shtml Latest Research We are experimenting with how to use different senses to partially replace missing visual capabilities, especially in tasks that are central in the construction of the system, he says. Empirical research of collaborative and cross-modal haptic interfaces for visually-impaired children is one of the most important research activities. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Technology-to-improve-learning-for-visually-impaired-children_44293.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Hyperactivity_attention_deficit_sleepiness_and_ADH_3890_3890.shtml ENT In fact, about half of the children in the study who were found to have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder before tonsil surgery no longer met criteria for this diagnosis one year later. Other cognitive and behavioral issues also improved. Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:52:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Hyperactivity_attention_deficit_sleepiness_and_ADH_3890_3890.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scientists-discover-reason-behind-ear-canal-in-Chinese-frog-Ultrasonic-communication_45844.shtml Latest Research Amolops tormotus, also referred to as the concave-eared torrent frog, is the first non-mammalian species found to be capable of producing and detecting ultrasounds for communication, much like dolphins, bats, and some rodents. It does so, the researchers report, to make itself heard above the din of low-frequency sounds produced in its surroundings so that it can communicate territorial information to other males of its species. In addition to helping researchers puzzle out how the ear evolved, the research may one day enable scientists to develop new strategies or technologies that help people to hear in environments in which there is a lot of background noise. Wed, 15 Mar 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scientists-discover-reason-behind-ear-canal-in-Chinese-frog-Ultrasonic-communication_45844.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Rheumatoid-arthritis-does-not-increase-risk-of-hearing-loss-Mayo-Clinic-study-finds_45449.shtml Latest Research The study results will be presented Monday at the American Auditory Society annual meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. Mon, 06 Mar 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Rheumatoid-arthritis-does-not-increase-risk-of-hearing-loss-Mayo-Clinic-study-finds_45449.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/New_vaccine_against_ear_infection_3566_3566.shtml ENT Czech scientists have developed a vaccine to help prevent ear infections in young children. Next to the common cold, ear infections are the most commonly diagnosed childhood illness. More than three out of four children in the US have at least one ear infection by the time they reach three years of age. The infection known as acute otitis media could be very painful and - very rarely - cause long term damage. Roman Prymula, from the University of Defence at Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, administered almost 5,000 infants with either the ear vaccine or a hepatitis A vaccine at various ages between three and 15 months. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 12:53:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/New_vaccine_against_ear_infection_3566_3566.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Novel-vaccine-effective-against-middle-ear-infection-in-young-children_45153.shtml Latest Research Otitis media (middle ear infection) accounts for nearly 20 million visits to a paediatrician every year in the USA. The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are the leading causes of infection. Although vaccines against S. pneumoniae exist, they are not effective enough in the age group where the disease is most prevalent--children younger than two years. Thu, 02 Mar 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Novel-vaccine-effective-against-middle-ear-infection-in-young-children_45153.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Middle_cranial_fossa_approach_preserves_hearing_in_3552_3552.shtml ENT Even when they're extremely small, tumors on the nerves that connect the brain to the ear can wreak havoc on a person's hearing and balance. But removing them is a delicate process that can, in some cases, cause further harm. Tue, 28 Feb 2006 20:58:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Middle_cranial_fossa_approach_preserves_hearing_in_3552_3552.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Stroke-patients-regain-ability-to-communicate-through-use-of-speech-generating-device_45006.shtml Latest Research Traditionally aphasic patients have been entitled to a few months of speech rehabilitation during a brief period of so-called spontaneous recovery when the brain physiologically heals itself from injury. But research, using computers to do extended therapy, now indicates that these patients can continue to improve even many years after their stroke or brain trauma. Lingraphicare America, developers of the Lingraphica speech generating device for aphasia, has published results of studies which show significant improvements after use of the device over a period of approximately 20 weeks. Speech generating devices are specialized computers that produce audible speech from words and images. Mon, 20 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Stroke-patients-regain-ability-to-communicate-through-use-of-speech-generating-device_45006.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Born-with-a-love-of-speech_46063.shtml Latest Research It's well established that neonates have a preference for speech above other sounds, but where does this come from? Is it something that's built in and there's something about the speech signal that they're tuned to listen to without the benefit of experience, or does it come from their prenatal experience in the womb? I think we've shown that there's an experience-independent component to newborns' preference for speech, says Dr. Vouloumanos, an Assistant Professor in McGill's Department of Psychology in Montreal, Canada. Fri, 17 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Born-with-a-love-of-speech_46063.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Aldosterone_linked_to_good_hearing_as_we_age_3407_3407.shtml Hearing Imapirment Researchers have linked a hormone known to adjust levels of key brain chemicals to the quality of our hearing as we age. The more of the hormone that older people have in their bloodstream, the better their hearing is, and the less of the hormone, the worse their hearing is. Sun, 12 Feb 2006 18:38:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Aldosterone_linked_to_good_hearing_as_we_age_3407_3407.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Chance-music-and-the-ear-of-the-beholder_42290.shtml Latest Research The work is reported by a team of scientists led by Dr. Jan Schnupp at the Oxford University Auditory Neuroscience group. Mon, 06 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Chance-music-and-the-ear-of-the-beholder_42290.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-route-to-therapy-for-Rett-syndrome_42369.shtml Latest Research Rett syndrome is the most common form of mental retardation in girls, affecting about one in 10,000. The X-linked disorder is particularly devastating, because while children with the disease are normal as infants, when they become toddlers they suffer a dramatic decline in physical and mental abilities. They experience language and growth retardation, breathing problems, seizures, motor dysfunction, hand-wringing, and social impairment. Wed, 01 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-route-to-therapy-for-Rett-syndrome_42369.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Online-ear-and-hearing-diagnosis-to-break-sound-barrier_47283.shtml Latest Research The unique software – which is expected to be available for doctors in 12 months' time – will be a collection of ear and hearing diagnoses and associated symptoms collated from reports published by medical experts in international scientific and medical articles, reports and journals. Wed, 25 Jan 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Online-ear-and-hearing-diagnosis-to-break-sound-barrier_47283.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Antibiotic_telithromycin_linked_to_liver_damage_3214_3214.shtml ENT An antibiotic drug to treat lung and sinus infections has been found to cause liver failure, according to a report. Sun, 22 Jan 2006 14:18:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Antibiotic_telithromycin_linked_to_liver_damage_3214_3214.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Salicylate_causes_tympanic_membranes_to_rupture_mo_2470_2470.shtml Hearing Imapirment It's well known that high doses of aspirin can cause ulcers and temporary deafness, but the biochemical mechanism responsible for these phenomena has never been deciphered. New research from Rice University offers clues, showing for the first time how salicylate -- an active metabolite of aspirin -- weakens lipid membranes. Researchers believe these mechanical changes disrupt the lining of the stomach, which functions to protect underlying tissue from the acidic contents of the gut. By a similar mechanism, the changes may result in aspirin-related deafness by interfering with the proper function of prestin, a transmembrane protein that's critical for mammalian hearing. Mon, 26 Sep 2005 15:51:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Salicylate_causes_tympanic_membranes_to_rupture_mo_2470_2470.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Amount_of_hearing_in_an_ear_prior_to_surgery_is_un_2218_2218.shtml Hearing Imapirment Hearing-impaired individuals with severe to profound hearing loss and poor speech understanding who possess some residual hearing in one ear may experience significant communication benefit from a cochlear implant even if it is placed in the worse-hearing ear, a Johns Hopkins study suggests. Sun, 04 Sep 2005 08:08:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Amount_of_hearing_in_an_ear_prior_to_surgery_is_un_2218_2218.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/How_sensory_hair_cells_in_the_ear_develop_unique_s_2111_2111.shtml ENT Scientists are one step closer to understanding the genetic pathway involved in the development of hearing. New research findings, published online this week in the journal Nature Genetics, detail how sensory hair cells in the ear –– the cells largely responsible for hearing –– develop unique shapes that enable the perception of sound. Fri, 19 Aug 2005 22:37:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/How_sensory_hair_cells_in_the_ear_develop_unique_s_2111_2111.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Tonsillar_homing_of_Epstein-Barr_virus-specific_CD_2107_2107.shtml ENT In a study appearing online on August 18 in advance of print publication of the September 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Alan Rickinson and colleagues from University of Birmingham address the immunology of long-term oropharyngeal shedding of Epstein-Barr virus at a time when infection of circulating lymphocytes is well-controlled. Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:54:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Tonsillar_homing_of_Epstein-Barr_virus-specific_CD_2107_2107.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Chronic_sinus_infection_is_not_a_tissue_issue_1968_1968.shtml ENT Mayo Clinic researchers have found that the cause of chronic sinus infections lies in the nasal mucus -- the snot -- not in the nasal and sinus tissue targeted by standard treatment. Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:09:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Chronic_sinus_infection_is_not_a_tissue_issue_1968_1968.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Extracorporeal_septoplasty_for_difficult_nasal_rec_1864_1864.shtml ENT A surgical technique that requires the removal, restructure and re-implantation of the nasal septum (the partition of the nose between the nostrils) appears to be a useful option for repairing the hard-to-treat severely deviated septum, according to an article in the July/August issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Tue, 19 Jul 2005 03:05:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Extracorporeal_septoplasty_for_difficult_nasal_rec_1864_1864.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Cidofovir_as_an_Useful_Adjunct_in_Treating_Recurre_1591_1591.shtml ENT Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) is a chronic disease evidenced by wart-like lesions in the larynx, particularly on the vocal folds. Debulking or removing a major part of the lesions is generally the treatment of choice in order to preserve as much laryngeal function as possible and limit the morbidity associated with surgical treatment of this generally benign disorder. Mon, 30 May 2005 20:57:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Cidofovir_as_an_Useful_Adjunct_in_Treating_Recurre_1591_1591.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Adenotonsillectomy_Improves_Asthma_in_Children_1589_1589.shtml ENT A new study suggests that an adenotonsillectomy, which provides improvement in the upper airway of children, may in turn lead to improvement of the lower airways of children, especially those with bronchial asthma. Mon, 30 May 2005 20:41:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Adenotonsillectomy_Improves_Asthma_in_Children_1589_1589.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Spatial_Hearing_Aid_Can_Provide_Direction_of_Sound_1283_1283.shtml Hearing Imapirment Over three million Australians suffer from hearing loss but fewer than 20 per cent of them use hearing aids. Part of the problem is that technology just isn't good enough for them. Researchers from Sydney are changing that. Thu, 28 Apr 2005 18:11:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Spatial_Hearing_Aid_Can_Provide_Direction_of_Sound_1283_1283.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Sensory_deprivation_reduces_new_cell_size_in_the_o_1002_1002.shtml ENT New Haven, Conn.--Sensory deprivation causes changes in new cell size and excitability in the olfactory system, which governs the ability to smell, according to a study in Neuron by a Yale School of Medicine researcher. Wed, 06 Apr 2005 23:45:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Sensory_deprivation_reduces_new_cell_size_in_the_o_1002_1002.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Stem_Cells_to_Help_Hearing_Impaired_806_806.shtml Hearing Imapirment Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are several steps closer to the day when a profoundly deaf patient's own bone marrow cells could be used to let him or her hear the world. Tue, 29 Mar 2005 15:29:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/hearingimpairment/Stem_Cells_to_Help_Hearing_Impaired_806_806.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Minimally_invasive_surgery_is_a_safe_effective_the_213_213.shtml ENT Minimally invasive surgery to alleviate the pain and pressure of sinusitis is a safe, effective therapy for geriatric patients who can't be helped by medication alone, according to new research. Thu, 30 Dec 2004 17:43:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/ent/Minimally_invasive_surgery_is_a_safe_effective_the_213_213.shtml