[Low-molecular-weight heparins].

Background
This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 4, 2007 and previously updated in 2011.

Unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction (UPVD) can occur as a result of disease, trauma or postoperatively. The dysfunction is characterised by complaints of dizziness, visual or gaze disturbances and balance impairment. Current management includes medication, physical manoeuvres and exercise regimes, the latter known collectively as vestibular rehabilitation.

Objectives
To assess the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation in the adult, community-dwelling population of people with symptomatic unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ISRCTN and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The most recent search was 18 January 2014.

Selection criteria
Randomised controlled trials of adults living in the community, diagnosed with symptomatic unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. We sought comparisons of vestibular rehabilitation versus control (e.g. placebo), other treatment (non-vestibular rehabilitation, e.g. pharmacological) or another form of vestibular rehabilitation. Our primary outcome measure was change in the specified symptomatology (for example, proportion with dizziness resolved, frequency or severity of dizziness). Secondary outcomes were measures of function, quality of life and/or measure(s) of physiological status, where reproducibility has been confirmed and shown to be relevant or related to health status (for example, posturography), and adverse effects

Data collection and analysis
We used the standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration.

Main results
We included 39 studies involving 2441 participants with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders in the review. Trials addressed the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation against control/sham interventions, medical interventions or other forms of vestibular rehabilitation. Non-blinding of outcome assessors and selective reporting were threats that may have biased the results in 25% of studies, but otherwise there was a low risk of selection or attrition bias.

Individual and pooled analyses of the primary outcome, frequency of dizziness, showed a statistically significant effect in favour of vestibular rehabilitation over control or no intervention (odds ratio (OR) 2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85 to 3.86; four studies, 565 participants). Secondary outcomes measures related to levels of activity or participation measured, for example, with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, which also showed a strong trend towards significant differences between the groups (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.83, 95% CI -1.02 to -0.64). The exception to this was when movement-based vestibular rehabilitation was compared to physical manoeuvres for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where the latter was shown to be superior in cure rate in the short term (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.49). There were no reported adverse effects.

Authors' conclusions
There is moderate to strong evidence that vestibular rehabilitation is a safe, effective management for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction, based on a number of high-quality randomised controlled trials. There is moderate evidence that vestibular rehabilitation resolves symptoms and improves functioning in the medium term. However, there is evidence that for the specific diagnostic group of BPPV, physical (repositioning) manoeuvres are more effective in the short term than exercise-based vestibular rehabilitation; although a combination of the two is effective for longer-term functional recovery. There is insufficient evidence to discriminate between differing forms of vestibular rehabilitation.

Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction

An integrative model of tinnitus based on a central gain controlling neural sensitivity.

Detection of isolated covert saccades with the video head impulse test in peripheral vestibular disorders

Objectives
To evaluate video-head-impulse test (vHIT) results in normal subjects, to determine the normative values of vHIT for the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and to characterise the catch-up saccades (CSs).

Design
Prospective cohort study.

Setting
Tertiary care academic referral centre.

Participants
Fifty healthy subjects with no history of vestibular impairment, ten each in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's, underwent vHITs in the lateral semicircular canal plane.

Main outcome measures
vHIT gains and the incidence and amplitudes of covert and overt CSs.

Results
The mean vHIT gain was 1.02 ± 0.07, and the mean gain asymmetry was 2.39 ± 1.96%, with no significant differences among age groups. CSs were observed during 22.6% of the trials and in 49% of the ears. The incidence of CSs was not associated with age. The mean velocity of CSs was 55.5 ± 16.9°/s, and its mean interaural difference was 11.8 ± 10.7°/s.

Conclusions
vHIT gains were consistently equal to 1.0 in all age groups (20's to 60's), suggesting that abnormal criteria for vHIT gain (e.g. 0.8) and gain asymmetry (e.g. 8%) can be used, regardless of age. CSs were observed in about half of normal ears, suggesting that VOR is a hypometric system. The amplitudes and interaural difference of CSs were also similar in all age groups, suggesting that abnormal criteria for CS amplitude (e.g. 100°/s) and interaural difference (e.g. 40°/s) can be used, regardless of age.

Quantitative analysis of gains and catch-up saccades of video-head-impulse testing by age in normal subjects.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our investigations was to characterize the relationship between basilar artery (BA) flow velocity in patients with cervical spondylosis and age, grade of radiological changes, prevalence of vertigo, and decreased blood flow velocity through vertebral arteries (VA) after head rotation.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective, controlled study in academic neurotology was conducted. We examined 80 patients with radiological evidence of cervical spondylosis. Forty patients complained of positional vertigo lasting more than 6 months. Patients were examined by transcranial Doppler ultrasound with head rotations.RESULTS: We showed significant association between velocity flow in basilar artery after neck rotation and age, prevalence of vertigo, grade of radiological changes, and positional vertebral artery flow lesion.CONCLUSION: Spondylotic-induced VA compression may be the reason for decreased blood flow velocity in the basilar artery during head rotation, which may be of particular import...

The association between positional vertebral and basilar artery flow lesion and prevalence of vertigo in patients with cervical spondylosis

Firearms are a common source of impulse noise that may potentially damage a hearing organ. It is not easy to predict soldiers' personal susceptibility to noise exposure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate of the transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) before and after shooting and compare it with conventional pure tone audiometry. Standard pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, TEOAE and DPOAE measurements were recorded before and 10-15 minutes after shooting. Ten male soldiers (20 ears) were exposed to impulse noise from automatic gunfire (15 single rounds of live ammunition). They did not use any earplugs. The reduction in amplitude of the TEOAE after shooting was 3.1 and 5.1 as SPL for 3 and 4 kHz respectively for the right ear and 4.3 dB SPL for 1 kHz and 0.6 dB SPL at 2 kHz for the left ear. The greatest reduction in DPOAE occurred at frequencies of 1.0 kHz (3.8dB SPL) and 3.0 kHz (2.9 dB SPL) for the left ear. There were no differences in the audiometric thresholds before and after shooting. Emissions appear to be more sensitive for monitoring early cochlear changes after shooting, than pure tone audiometry.

Evaluation of Transient and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions before and after shooting practice.

Tinnitus suppression by electrical promontory stimulation (EPS) in patients with sensorineural hearing loss

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the level of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), Periostin (POSTN) and Interleukin-4(IL-4) gene expression in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, without polyps and with a nasal septum deviation. The tests were performed on 63 patients (24 women and 39 men) with chronic rhinosinusitis and polyps (CRSwP—study group I), with determination of the COX-2, POSTN and IL-4 gene expression; an allergy was diagnosed in 38 cases. The reference groups were patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps––CRS (n = 23, including 14 women and 9 men) and patients with nasal septum deviation––DSN (n = 18, including 9 women and 9 men). The expression level was determined in the polyp tissue and the mucosa of paranasal sinus collected during an FESS. The expression level of studied genes was also evaluated in the material. Immediately after being collected, the tissue fragments were placed in test tubes with 1 ml of RNAlater (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) preventing the degradation of RNA and frozen at −70 °C. The studies revealed an increased level of POSTN, IL-4 gene expression and a decreased level of COX-2 gene expression that may be associated with the development of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. An analysis of the expression level indicates the participation of POSTN and IL-4 in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in patients with atopy.

/pdf/significance-of-cyclooxygenase-2-cox-2-periostin-postn-and-431kxc09ae.pdf

Significance of CYCLOOXYGENASE-2(COX-2), PERIOSTIN (POSTN) and INTERLEUKIN-4(IL-4) gene expression in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Objectives
Vertigo is a very common symptom mainly caused by the lesion of vestibular system (peripheral or central) and often accompanied by some work-related diseases and occupational intoxications. The aim of this study was to assess the value of electronystagmography (ENG) and videonystagmography (VNG) for diagnosing vertigo of various origin.

/pdf/electronystagmography-versus-videonystagmography-in-2mf6dqisys.pdf

Piotr Pietkiewicz

Papers

The association between positional vertebral and basilar artery flow lesion and prevalence of vertigo in patients with cervical spondylosis

Evaluation of Transient and Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions before and after shooting practice.

Tinnitus suppression by electrical promontory stimulation (EPS) in patients with sensorineural hearing loss

Significance of CYCLOOXYGENASE-2(COX-2), PERIOSTIN (POSTN) and INTERLEUKIN-4(IL-4) gene expression in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Electronystagmography versus videonystagmography in diagnosis of vertigo.