[Changes induced by auditive monoaural and binaural fatigue in TTS and the auditory brainstem response latency]. / Modificazioni indotte da fatica uditiva monoaurale e binaurale sul TTS e sulla latenza in ABR.

The purpose of the research was to study the TTS values and latency of fifth wave Auditory Brainstem Response in human monaural and binaural fatigue, using auditory evoked potentials. From the results obtained in 12 volunteers, it is concluded that during exposure to auditory fatigue, if only one ear is protected, the unprotected ear is subject to a greater hearing loss than would be expected with both ears unprotected. The practical implication of these conclusions is that subjects with unilateral hearing loss occupationally exposed to noise run a greater risk for the healthy ear than subjects with normal hearing.

[Examination of reaction time--auditory brainstem responses--ABR in noise induced temporary and permanent threshold shift]. / Badania funkcji latencja--natezenie sluchowych potencjalów pnia mózgu--abr, w czasowych i trwalych pohalasowych ubytkach sluchu.

This study was conducted to investigate the differences between auditory brainstem responses--ABR recorded in men with temporary or permanent threshold shifts (TTS or PTS). Behaviorally, the tested ears showed insignificant differences in the hearing thresholds at frequencies in the range 0.25-8 kHz. The latency of waves I, III, V and interwave intervals I-III, III-V, I-V were analysed as functions of stimulus intensity. The comparisons between recordings obtained in groups with TTS and PTS showed significant differences in latencies of wave V at 90 dB nHl only. The latencies of waves I, III and interwave intervals were unaltered.

A comparative study of cefaclor vs. amoxicillin/clavulanate in tonsillopharyngitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pharyngotonsillitis (APT) is one of the most common inflammatory processes of adults and children in an outpatient setting. Increasing failure rates, hypersensitivity to penicillin, the required multiple daily doses and common side effects lead to poor patients compliance and thus inadequate treatment duration, providing therefore ground for considering alternative antimicrobial agents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, single blind study was undertaken in order to compare efficacy and safety of cefaclor (375 mg BID) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (625 mg BID) in 10 days treatment regiment of ambulatory patients with APT. A total of 200 patients (age range between 12-65 years) with symptoms of APT and positive antigen strep test were enrolled into the study. Clinical and bacteriological responses were assessed after the end of treatment (14th-18th day) and at the follow-up visit (38th-45th day). All GABHS strains, isolated from throat cultures, were tested for in vitro sensitivity to the antibiotics used in the study and no strain was found resistant to both antibiotics. RESULTS: The results indicated that both antibiotics had high--almost 99% effectiveness at the post therapy visit. On the follow up visit an increased tendency of relapses was observed in the amoxicillin/clavulanate treated group, compared to cefaclor treated group (8.33% vs 3.29%). Relative risk of relapse in patients treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate was 2.6 greater compared to cefaclor. There were significantly higher rates of gastrointestinal adverse events in group treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate (29/97 patients; 29.89%) compared to cefaclor (16/95 patients; 16.84%) - p< 0.03. Frequency of other adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cefaclor and amoxicillin/clavulonate provide a clinically and bacteriologically effective treatment for patients with pharyngotonsillitis caused by GABHS, but cefaclor treatment is significantly safer in regard to gastrointestinal side effects.