Dizzy triathlete-evidence supporting vestibular etiology.

Dizziness during or after the swimming leg is a common complaint among triathletes. We hypothesized that the dizziness is caused by asymmetrical cooling of the vestibular organ. This caloric response is characterized by involuntary eye movements called nystagmus. Altogether, 125 triathletes completed an electronic questionnaire. Fifteen triathletes who had frequently experienced dizziness during the swimming leg agreed to take part in a cold water swimming test. The test comprised two cold water swimming legs, first without earplugs and then with earplugs to prevent a potential caloric response. Eye movements and possible nystagmus were recorded immediately after the swimming legs. A majority (87%, 109/125) of athletes had experienced dizziness during triathlon races or training. Of these, almost all (97%, 106/109) experienced it during or after swimming. Dizziness affected the triathlon performance in half of the athletes with dizziness (50%, 51/102). Fifteen athletes participated in a cold water swimming test. During the first leg (without earplugs), 11/15 athletes (73%) experienced dizziness. Of these, six had nystagmus (55%), four had uncertain nystagmus (36%), and one did not have nystagmus (9%). Only one of these athletes experienced dizziness during the second leg with earplugs. The prevalence of dizziness among triathletes is notable. A large part of the dizziness is likely to be caused by caloric reaction of the vestibular organ. We recommend earplug usage for triathletes suffering from dizziness during the swimming leg.

Effectiveness of Integrated Education to Reduce Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting, and Dizziness after Abdominal Surgery under General Anesthesia.

This study presents an anticipatory integrated education program for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness prevention (anti-NVD education program) for patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The anti-NVD education program for nephrectomy patients consisted of the following: the causes of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and dizziness; effective deep breathing and how to use an inspirometer; postoperative nausea and vomiting; effective methods of patient-controlled analgesia; and the stepwise standing up method to prevent dizziness. A study was conducted among 79 adults (experimental group: n = 40, control group: n = 39). The degree of nausea and dizziness was measured using a numerical rating scale (NRS), and vomiting and the frequency of antiemetic use were measured in terms of the number of patients. The experimental group, which received the anti-NVD education, showed remarkably lower levels of nausea (p = 0.013) and dizziness (p < 0.001) than the control group. The frequency of antiemetic use 48 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the experimental group (p = 0.03). This study proved the efficacy of the anti-NVD education program for reducing postoperative nausea and dizziness. This program can be used as a noninvasive nursing intervention to prevent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness among patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Does cognitive dysfunction correlate with dizziness severity in patients with vestibular migraine?

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the relationship between dizziness severity and cognitive dysfunction in vestibular migraine (VM) patients. METHODS: Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) scores were compared pre- and post-treatment in a cohort of definite VM patients who underwent evaluation in a multidisciplinary clinic from 2016 to 2020. RESULTS: 44 patients were included. DHI reduction of 11.96 (SD 11.49) (p < 0.001) from an initial mean of 58.36 (22.05) and CFQ reduction of 4.57 (12.20) (p = 0.017) from an initial mean of 47.66 (19.12) were demonstrated. Both pre- and post-treatment DHI scores correlated with pre- and post-treatment CFQ scores (r = 0.537, p < 0.001 and r = 0.667, p < 0.001, respectively). Change in DHI score correlated with change in CFQ score (r = 0.351, p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive dysfunction in VM patients is correlated with dizziness severity. The DHI may fail to thoroughly assess cognitive dysfunction in VM patients. Additionally, multidisciplinary treatment of VM reduces both dizziness severity and cognitive dysfunction.

Feasibility of full immersive virtual reality video game on balance and cybersickness of healthy adolescents.

Various virtual reality (VR) games with head-mounted displays (HMDs) can provide immersive experiences, but are often accompanied by negative experiences. We investigated the feasibility of immersive virtual reality game on balance and cybersickness in healthy adolescents. This is cross-over design. This study included 11 healthy adolescents. Balance and cybersickness were measured in the following three conditions. First, as a baseline, only balance was measured while no immersive virtual reality game was being played. Second, balance and cybersickness were measured while the participants played an immersive virtual reality game with a fixed background. Third, balance and cybersickness were measured while the participants played an immersive virtual reality game with a moving background. A force plate was used to measure balance, while the Questionnaire (VRSQ) and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) were used to measure cybersickness. Sway velocity and length significantly increased during the game with a moving background compared to baseline and a fixed background game (p < 0.05). VRSQ and SSQ scores significantly increased during the game with a fixed and moving background compared to baseline (p < 0.05) and were significantly higher with use of the moving versus fixed background (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that playing an immersive virtual reality game with a moving background could negatively affect balance and cybersickness. These results will help to select game contents that can reduce side effects when applying VR HMD to various fields in the future.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Using Posturographic System in Elderly Patients with Postural Instability: Can the Number of Sessions Be Reduced?

PURPOSE: Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) using posturography systems has proved useful in improving balance among elderly patients with postural instability. However, its high cost hinders its use. The objective of this study is to assess whether two different protocols of VR with posturography, one of them longer (ten sessions) and the other shorter (five sessions), show significant differences in the improvement of balance among old patients with instability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, experimental, single-center (Department of Otorhinolaryngology of a tertiary referral hospital), randomized (into balanced patient blocks) study with two parallel arms, in 40 people over 65 years of age, with instability and at a high risk of falling. The percentage of the average balance (composite) in the sensory organization test (SOT) of the CDP (main outcome measure), other CDP scores, time and steps in the "timed up and go" test, scores of Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), short Falls Efficacy Scale - International (short FES-I), and Vertiguard were compared before and 3 weeks after VR between both intervention groups. RESULTS: The two treatment groups (20 patients per group) were comparable in age, sex, and pre-VR balance evaluation. In both groups, we observed a significant improvement in global balance (composite) after VR (49±11.34 vs 57±13.48, p=0.007, in the group undergoing 10 sessions; 51±12.55 vs 60±12.99, p=0.002, 5 sessions). In both groups, we also observed improvements in other posturographic parameters (in the SOT and limits of stability) but not in the timed up and go scores or in the questionnaires. Comparison of the improvement level achieved in both groups revealed no significant differences between them. CONCLUSION: The protocols of vestibular rehabilitation by posturography of 5 sessions in elderly patients with postural instability are as effective as those of 10 sessions for improving balance among elderly patients with postural instability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03034655. Registered on 25 January 2017.

Effects of Anti-Orthostatic Hypokinesia on the Parameters of Vertical Posture: Orthostatic and Stabilometric Study.

The effects of anti-orthostatic hypokinesia on the parameters of vertical posture (orthostatic and postural stability) were studied. Anti-orthostatic hypokinesia was followed by orthostatic instability manifested in a decrease in the tolerance time in the orthostatic test, a significant increase in HR and systolic BP starting from the 11th minute of the test. Significant changes in the parameters reflecting postural stability were observed starting from minutes 10-11 of the stabilometric test. Anti-orthostatic hypokinesia was shown to affect all parameters of postural stability; symmetry in paired stabilometric tests was impairmed.

[investigation on the triggers and the effect of healthy education on recurrence of vestibular migraine].

Objective:The aim of this study is to investigate the predisposing factors and the effect of healthy education on recurrence of vestibular migraine (VM), so as to provide a scientific basis for increasing the knowledge rate and reducing the recurrence rate of VM patients. Method: Questionnaires, memory diary, regular follow-up, etc. were used to understand the possible predisposing factors of VM patients. Self-assessment depression scale (SDS) and self-assessment anxiety scale (SAS) were used to evaluate patients' mental and psychological status, and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the severity of vertigo. Health education was conducted for VM patients through face-to-face consultation, material distribution, modern multimedia and other methods. The knowledge rate, anxiety and fear psychological state, recurrence frequency of vertigo, duration and severity of vertigo were compared before and after the healthy education. Result:Of 103 cases of the object of study, 100 patients (97.1%) with different degree of sleep disorders, 96 cases (93.2%) had a clear family history with vertigo or dizziness headache, 90 cases (87.4%) had history of motion sickness, 90 cases (87.4%) had confined space history of intolerance, 82 cases (79.6%), recurrent cause psychological anxiety, fear, 80 cases (77.7%), lack of exercise, 79 cases (76.7%) under pressure from life or work, 53 (51.5%) had food preference, 8 cases (7.8%) think much rain attacks more frequent when humid climate,seven (6.8%) reported more episodes during the spring or spring/summer exchanges.After health education, patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years with a median of 15 months, and their knowledge rate of VM was increased from 12.6% (13 cases) to 98% (101 cases).The psychological ratio of anxiety and fear decreased from 79.6% (82 cases) to 7.8% (8 cases).The SAS score decreased from 47.9±4.4 to 45.5±4.2, and the SDS score decreased from 39.7±3.6 to 38.2±3.8.The unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits （lack of exercise, stress, and eating preferences at least 1 item）decreased from 89.4% (92 cases) to 32.1% (33 cases).The recurrence rate of 83.5% (86 cases) of the patients was reduced by 1 time or more, and the rate of no recurrence increased from 1% (1 case) to 15.5% (16 cases) within half a year.The duration of the attack was reduced by 20% or more in 48.5%(50 cases),The mean duration of the attack declined from (17.4±1.4) hours before healthy education to (10.5±0.9) hours after healthy education.The VAS score of 86.4%(89 cases) with recurrence severity decreased by 2 points or more. The average VAS score before and after education was (6.6±0.1) points and (4.5±0.1) points respectively.The above differences were statistically significant (P<0.01) compared with those before and after education.Conclusion: Sleep disorder, airtight space intolerance, excessive stress, lack of exercise, and dietary preference may be related factors to trigger VM attacks. Healthy education can significantly improve the awareness of VMs, and promote patients to change their lifestyle and eating habits. It can significantly improve patients' anxiety and fear psychological state, reduce the frequency of attack, shorten the duration of attack, and reduce the severity of selfassessment, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Effects of sodium intake on postural lightheadedness: Results from the DASH-sodium trial.

Lightheadedness after standing contributes to adverse clinical events, including falls. Recommendations for higher sodium intake to treat postural lightheadedness have not been evaluated in a trial setting. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-Sodium trial (1998-1999) tested the effects of the DASH diet and sodium reduction on blood pressure (BP). Participants were randomly assigned to DASH or a typical Western diet (control). During either diet, participants ate three sodium levels (50, 100, 150 meq/d at 2100 kcal) in random order for 30-days, separated by 5-day breaks. Participants reported the presence and severity of postural lightheadedness at baseline and after each feeding period. There were 412 participants (mean age 48 years; 57% women; 57% black). Mean baseline SBP/DBP was 135/86 mm Hg; 9.5% reported baseline lightheadedness. Among those consuming the DASH diet, high vs low sodium increased lightheadedness (OR 1.71; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.90; P = 0.047) and severity of lightheadedness (P = 0.02), but did not affect lightheadedness in those consuming the control diet (OR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.46, 1.29; P = 0.32). Among those consuming high vs low sodium in the context of the DASH diet, adults <60 vs ≥60 years old experienced more lightheadedness (P-interaction = 0.04), along with obese vs non-obese adults (P-interaction = 0.01). In the context of the DASH diet, higher sodium intake was associated with more frequent and severe lightheadedness. These findings challenge traditional recommendations to increase sodium intake to prevent lightheadedness.

The effects of vestibular rehabilitation on dizziness and balance problems in patients after traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the effects of group-based vestibular rehabilitation in patients with traumatic brain injury. DESIGN:: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING:: University Hospital (recruitment and baseline assessments) and Metropolitan University (experimental intervention). SUBJECTS:: A total of 65 patients (45 women) with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (mean age 39.4 ± 13.0 years) were randomly assigned to intervention ( n = 33) or control group ( n = 32). INTERVENTION:: Group-based vestibular rehabilitation for eight weeks. Participants were tested at baseline (3.5 ± 2.1 months after injury) and at two post-intervention follow-ups (2.7 ± 0.8 and 4.4 ± 1.0 months after baseline testing). MAIN MEASURES:: Primary outcome: Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Secondary outcome: High-Level Mobility Assessment Tool. Other outcomes: Vertigo Symptom Scale; Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and Balance Error Scoring System. Between-group differences were analyzed with a linear mixed-model analysis for repeated measurements. RESULTS:: At baseline, no group differences were revealed (personal factors, clinical characteristics and outcome measures). At the first follow-up, statistically significant mean differences in favor of the intervention were found in the primary (-8.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): -16.6 to -0.9) and secondary outcomes (3.7 points, 95% CI: 1.4-6.0). At the second follow-up, no significant between-group differences were found. No significant between-group differences in the other outcomes were found at the two follow-ups. CONCLUSION:: The intervention appeared to speed up recovery for patients with dizziness and balance problems after traumatic brain injury. However, the benefits had dissipated two months after the end of the intervention.

Butorphanol effectively prevents etomidate-induced myoclonus: a pooled analysis of 788 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of pre-injection of butorphanol on etomidate-induced myoclonus during anesthesia induction. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the ability of butorphanol to prevent etomidate-induced myoclonus were collected by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and WanFang databases, from the day of database establishment until May 2017. The literature was screened independently by two evaluators, and the data were then extracted and independently evaluated. Finally, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.2 software. RESULTS: Eight RCTs were analyzed. The results of meta-analysis showed that: 1. compared with the control group, butorphanol was effective in preventing etomidate-induced myoclonus [RR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.21]; 2. butorphanol was effective in preventing mild, moderate, and severe etomidate-induced myoclonus [RR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.63; RR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.27; and RR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.09]; 3. butorphanol did not increase the incidence of dizziness and nausea associated with etomidate. CONCLUSIONS: Butorphanol could reduce the incidence and degree of etomidate-induced myoclonus. Notably, it did not increase the incidence of dizziness and nausea associated with etomidate.

Results and lessons learnt from a randomized controlled trial: prophylactic treatment of vestibular migraine with metoprolol (PROVEMIG).

BACKGROUND: Vestibular migraine (VM) is the most frequent cause of recurrent spontaneous attacks of vertigo causally related to migraine. The objective of the Prophylactic treatment of vestibular migraine with metoprolol (PROVEMIG) trial was to demonstrate that metoprolol succinate is superior to placebo in the prevention of episodic vertigo- and migraine-related symptoms in patients with VM. METHODS: This phase III, two-arm, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial was designed to be conducted at tertiary referral centres at neurology and ear, nose and throat departments of eight German university hospitals. The planned sample size was a total of 266 patients to be allocated. Adults aged 18 years or above diagnosed with probable or definitive VM according to the Neuhauser criteria 2001 were randomly assigned 1:1 to 6 months blinded metoprolol (maintenance dosage of 95 mg daily) or placebo. The primary efficacy outcome was the self-reported number of vertiginous attacks per 30 days documented by means of a paper-based daily symptom diary. The pre-specified time period of primary interest was defined as months 4 to 6. Secondary outcomes included the patient-reported number of migraine days and vertigo days, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and clinical assessments. Adverse events were reported throughout the whole 9-month study period. RESULTS: At the time of trial termination, no evidence for a difference in the incidence of vertiginous attacks between groups was detected. For the full analysis set, the incidence rate ratio was 0.983 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.902-1.071) for metoprolol versus placebo. In both groups, there was a significant decline over time in the overall monthly vertigo attacks by a factor of 0.830 (95% CI 0.776-0.887). Results were consistent for all subjective and objective key measures of efficacy. The treatment was well tolerated with no unexpected safety findings. CONCLUSIONS: After randomizing 130 patients PROVEMIG had to be discontinued because of poor participant accrual not related to the tolerability of the study medication or safety concerns; no treatment benefit of metoprolol over placebo could be established. Additional preparatory work is much needed in the development, psychometric evaluation and interpretation of clinically meaningful end points in trials on episodic syndromes like VM taking into consideration the complexity of this disease entity comprising two domains (vertigo- and headache-related disability). TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT, 2009-013701-34. Prospectively registered on 8 April 2011.

Efectividad de cinco sesiones de rehabilitación vestibular en mujeres mayores de 60 años con hipofunción vestibular / Effectiveness of five vestibular rehabilitation sessions in women over 60 years of age with vestibular hypofunction

RESUMEN Introducción: Los síntomas vestibulares son motivo frecuente de consulta en la atención médica, el adulto mayor y en especial el género femenino está expuesto a riesgo de caída por esta causa. Es común que el tratamiento de este grupo de pacientes sea los supresores vestibulares, y la terapia de rehabilitación vestibular (RV) se indique excepcionalmente, olvidando en ocasiones que los elementos anatomofuncionales involucrados en las disfunciones vestibulares son la integración del aparato visual, vestibular, y somatosensorial, pilares en los que se fundamenta la RV. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si cinco sesiones RV son suficientes para disminuir la discapacidad funcional y el riesgo de caída en un grupo de pacientes con patología vestibular. Material y método: Estudio prospectivo con 14 pacientes de género femenino mayores de 61 años con diagnóstico de patología vestibular periférica. Se realizó evaluación de (dizziness handicap inventory) DHI, (timed up and go) TUG y (video head impulse test) vHIT previo y posterior a la intervención de cinco sesiones de RV. Resultados: Las tres variables estudiadas (DHI, TUG y vHIT) demostraron mejorías estadísticamente significativas en el grupo de pacientes. Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio permiten sugerir que la terapia de RV en pacientes adultos mayores, con patología vestibular periférica y sin medicación de supresores vestibulares, es una modalidad terapéutica adecuada y eficiente.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Vestibular symptoms are frequent reason for consultation in medical care, the elderly and especially the female gender is exposed to fall risk from this cause. It is common for the treatment of this group of patients to be vestibular suppressors while vestibular rehabilitation therapy is indicated exceptionally, sometimes forgetting that the anatomic and functional elements involved in vestibular dysfunctions are the integration of the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory, pillars in those that are based on vestibular rehabilitation (VR). Aim: The objective of this study is to determine if five VR sessions are sufficient to provide concrete quantitative data on the decrease of disability and risk of falling in a group of patients with vestibular pathology. Material and method: This prospective study included 14 female patients over 61 years of age with diagnoses of peripheral vestibular pathology. Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), timed up and go (TUG) and video head impulse test (vHIT) were performed and after the intervention of five sessions of vestibular rehabilitation. Results: The three variables studied (DHI, TUG and vHIT) showed statistically significant improvements in the group of patients. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study allow us to suggest that VR therapy in elderly patients with peripheral vestibular pathology and without vestibular suppressor medication is an adequate, efficient and promising therapeutic modality.

Pharmacists' Advice about Driving for Diabetic Patients.

In November 2013, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a directive that required the revision of the package inserts of 13 substances whose consumption carries risks associated with driving and the operation of machinery due to their side effects, such as dizziness. Medical personnel are required to remind patients taking these drugs about the risks, but the abovementioned directive did not apply to any antidiabetic drugs at that point. In January 2014, it was decided that patients should "pay attention while driving and at the workplace" when taking any antidiabetic drugs. This point is mentioned in the "important precautions" section of the drugs' package inserts. Since the revised Road Traffic Law was enacted in June 2014, the penalty for car accidents caused by a lack of awareness of hypoglycemia has increased. It has therefore become essential for medical personnel to instruct diabetic patients how to avoid falling unconscious due to hypoglycemia during driving. Patients taking antidiabetic drugs that are categorized as high-risk drugs are required to take an extra set of precautions and these are important for preventing severe hypoglycemia as well as reducing patients' cardiovascular risk. For more than 20 years, my pharmacy has been giving annual intensive counseling on hypoglycemia to diabetic patients. This counseling includes reminding patients about preventative measures, the risks associated with driving, and the need to keep a source of sugar in their cars. Only about 10% of diabetic patients keep a source of sugar in their cars.

Burundanga: mito o realidad por conocer / Burundanga: a myth or reality still to be learned

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Tailored multifactorial intervention to improve dizziness symptoms and quality of life, balance and gait in dizziness sufferers aged over 50 years: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom in older people that can markedly impair quality of life. This manuscript presents the protocol for a randomised controlled trial, which has the main objective of determining the impact of comprehensive assessment followed by a tailored multifaceted intervention in reducing dizziness episodes and symptoms, improving associated impairments to balance and gait and enhancing quality of life in older people with self-reported significant dizziness. METHODS: Three hundred people aged 50 years or older, reporting significant dizziness in the past year will be recruited to participate in the trial. Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive a tailored, multifaceted intervention aimed at treating their dizziness symptoms over a 6 month trial period. Control participants will receive usual care. The primary outcome measures will be the frequency and duration of dizziness episodes, dizziness symptoms assessed with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, choice-stepping reaction time and step time variability. Secondary outcomes will include health-related quality of life measures, depression and anxiety symptoms, concern about falling, balance and risk of falls assessed with the physiological fall risk assessment. Analyses will be by intention-to-treat. DISCUSSION: The study will determine the effectiveness of comprehensive assessment, combined with a tailored, multifaceted intervention on dizziness episodes and symptoms, balance and gait control and quality of life in older people experiencing dizziness. Clinical implications will be evident for the older population for the diagnosis and treatment of dizziness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000379819 .

Stereotactic radiotherapy of vestibular schwannoma : Hearing preservation, vestibular function, and local control following primary and salvage radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this publication is to present long-term data on functional outcomes and tumor control in a cohort of 107 patients treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (RT) for vestibular schwannoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included were 107 patients with vestibular schwannoma (primary or recurrent following resection) treated with stereotactic RT (either fractioned or single-dose radiosurgery) between October 2002 and December 2013. Local control and functional outcomes were determined. Analysis of hearing preservation was limited to a subgroup of patients with complete audiometric data collected before treatment and during follow-up. Vestibular function test (FVT) results could be analyzed in a subset of patients and were compared to patient-reported dizziness. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 46.3 months, actuarial local control for the whole cohort was 100% after 2, 97.6% after 5, and 94.1% after 10 years. In patients with primary RT, serviceable hearing was preserved in 72%. Predictors for preservation of serviceable hearing in multivariate analysis were time of follow-up (odds ratio, OR = 0.93 per month; p = 0.021) and pre-RT tumor size (Koos stage I-IIa vs. IIb-IV; OR = 0.15; p = 0.031). Worsening of FVT results was recorded in 17.6% (N = 3). Profound discrepancy of patient-reported dizziness and FVT results was observed after RT. In patients with primary RT, worsening of facial nerve function occurred in 1.7% (N = 1). CONCLUSION: Stereotactic RT of vestibular schwannoma provides good functional outcomes and high control rates. Dependence of hearing preservation on time of follow-up and initial tumor stage has to be considered.

Mitigating Simulator Adaptation Syndrome by means of tactile stimulation.

Some drivers experience Simulator Adaptation Syndrome (SAS), a condition in which nausea, disorientation, dizziness, headache, and difficulty focusing, are exhibited when driving in a simulator. To reduce this syndrome, we investigated the efficacy of tactile stimulation (TS) on mitigating Simulator Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) in a driving simulation. Fifteen drivers (eight women; mean age = 24.07 years) participated in this experiment. We compared the total scores of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) across two stimulation conditions (TS condition and no stimulation condition as a baseline measure). The experimental outcomes revealed that TS seemed to decrease SAS due to attentional distraction from the symptoms and not because of an improvement in balance ability.

[Brivaracetam for add-on treatment in focal epilepsy]. / Brivaracetam zur Zusatztherapie bei fokalen Epilepsien.

Brivaracetam is the latest antiepileptic drug to be approved for adjunctive therapy in focal epilepsy and has a high affinity as a SV2A ligand. The aim of this review article is to summarize the data from the pivotal studies in which more than 2000 patients received brivaracetam. A significant median reduction in seizures from 30.5 % to 53.1 % for 50 mg/day, from 32.5 % to 37.2 % for 100 mg/day and 35.6 % for 200 mg/day could be demonstrated. Overall brivaracetam appears to be well-tolerated, with fatigue, dizziness and somnolence being the main adverse side effects. An immediate change from levetiracetam to brivaracetam at a conversion ratio of 10:1 to 15:1 seems feasible and could alleviate behavioral side effects related to treatment with levetiracetam. A swift permeability into brain tissue and a faster onset of action compared to levetiracetam suggest that brivaracetam could be useful in emergency situations.

Childhood otitis media is associated with dizziness in adulthood: the HUNT cohort study.

The objective of the study was to examine the association between otitis media in childhood and dizziness in adulthood. Longitudinal, population-based cohort study of 21,962 adults (aged 20-59 years, mean 40) who completed a health questionnaire in the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study was conducted. At 7, 10 and 13 years of age, the same individuals underwent screening audiometry in a longitudinal school hearing investigation. Children found with hearing loss underwent an ear, nose and throat specialist examination. Adults diagnosed with childhood chronic suppurative otitis media (n = 102) and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media (n = 590) were significantly more likely to have increased risk of reported dizziness when compared to adults with normal hearing as children at the school investigation and also a negative history of recurrent otitis media (n = 21,270), p < 0.05. After adjusting for adult age, sex and socio-economic status, the odds ratios were 2.1 [95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.4-3.3] and 1.3 (95 % CI: 1.0-1.5), respectively. This longitudinal cohort study suggests that childhood chronic suppurative otitis media and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media are associated with increased risk of dizziness in adulthood. This might reflect a permanent effect of inflammatory mediators or toxins on the vestibular system. The new finding stresses the importance of treatment and prevention of these otitis media conditions.