Aline Cabral de Oliveira

Desmame precoce em prematuros participantes do Método Mãe Canguru

PURPOSE: To identify the early weaning prevalence and risk factors in preterm newborns participants of the Kangaroo Mother Care in a school-maternity in Alagoas, Brazil. METHODS: Thirty-three mothers of preterm newborns that were at the Kangaroo Mother infirmary and showed up for the ambulatory returns in the period from February to June 2006 answered a questionnaire that included objective questions. After the infants were discharged, their files were periodically analyzed, observing the maintenance of the breastfeeding, the occurrence of early weaning and its causes. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistic techniques, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests and the Mann-Withney and bivaried correlation tests. Differences were considered significant for p-values below 0,05 and the beta error was of 0,1. RESULTS: When discharged, all infants were exclusively breastfed. The percentage of early weaning was 27,3%, mostly occurring at the third month, as detected at the returns. The most prevalent early weaning cause regarded socio-cultural factors. CONCLUSION: Low indices of early weaning were observed in this study, when compared to the percentages described in previous national researches. The major cause of early weaning regarded socio-cultural factors. Therefore, the Mother Kangaroo Care program of humanized attention proved to be efficient for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding.

Aspectos indicativos de envelhecimento facial precoce em respiradores orais adultos

BACKGROUND Early facial aging in mouth breathing adults. AIM To verify the presence of indicative factors of early facial aging and to characterize the measurements of the projection of the nasogeniane fold to the tragus and of the face width in mouth and nose breathing adults. METHOD Aspects of early facial aging were observed in 60 individuals (presence of dark circles and wrinkles under the eyes, mentual wrinkles and mentual ridges). Measurements of the projection of the nasogeniane fold to the tragus and of the face width (distance between the buccinators) were taken using a digital caliper. Later, the volunteers were submitted to speech-language evaluations (anamneses and orofacial myofuntional assessment) and to an otolaryngology inspection in order to establish the diagnosis of mouth breathing (anamneses, clinical evaluation and video laryngoscopy). The obtained data were analyzed according to descriptive statistics and to the following statistic tests: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Qui-square, Mann-Withney and the T-Student test for independent variables. Differences were considered significant when the p value was inferior to .05 and the accepted beta error was of .1. RESULTS The research sample consisted only of female volunteers. For the research group (mouth breathers) the age average was of 22.04 +/- 2.25 years and, for the control group (nose breathers) the age average was of 21.94 +/- 2.03 years. The presence of a high percentage of indicative factors of early facial aging was observed for the group of mouth breathers when compared to the group of nose breathers. Greater differences between the projections of the nasogenianos ridges in right and left side of the face was also observed for the group of mouth breathers. However, higher values of face widths were observed for the nose breathing individuals, configuring a discreetly more widened face in the cheek region. CONCLUSIONS In the present study there was a higher indication of early facial aging for the group of mouth breathers.

Influence of gender on the vestibular evoked myogenic potential

UNLABELLED There is no consensus on the relevance of factors that influence gender differences in the behavior of muscles. Some studies have reported a relationship between muscle tension and amplitude of the vestibular evoked myogenic potential; others, that results depend on which muscles are studied or on how much load is applied. AIMS This study aims to compare vestibular evoked myogenic potential parameters between genders in young individuals. METHODS Eighty young adults were selected - 40 men and 40 women. Stimuli were averaged tone-bursts at 500 Hz, 90 dBHL intensity, and a 10-1000 Hz bandpass filter with amplification of 10-25 microvolts per division. The recordings were made in 80 ms windows. STUDY TYPE An experimental and prospective study. RESULTS No significant gender differences were found in wave latency - p = 0.19 and p = 0.50 for waves P13 and N23, respectively. No differences were found in amplitude values - p = 0.28 p = 0.40 for waves P13 and N23, respectively. CONCLUSION There were no gender differences in latency and amplitude factors; the sternocleidomastoid muscle strain was monitored during the examination.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials using low frequency stimuli

UNLABELLED Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials are vestibulocervical reflexes resulting from sacculus stimulation with strong intensity sounds. Normality parameters are necessary for young normal individuals, using low frequency stimuli, which configure the most sensitive region of this sensory organ. AIM To establish vestibular evoked myogenic potential standards for low frequency stimulation. MATERIAL AND METHOD Vestibular evoked myogenic potential was captured from 160 ears, in the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle, using 200 averaged tone-burst stimuli, at 250 Hz, with an intensity of 95 dB NAn. CASE STUDY Clinical observational cross-sectional. RESULTS Neither the students t-test nor the Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference in latency or vestibular evoked myogenic potential amplitudes, for p <; 0.05. Irrespective of gender, we found latencies of p13-n23 and p13-n23 interpeaks of 13.84 ms (± 1.41), 23.81 ms (± 1.99) and 10.62 ms (± 6.56), respectively. Observed values for amplitude asymmetry between the ears were equal to 13.48% for females and 3.81% for males. CONCLUSION Low frequency stimuli generate vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, with adequate morphology and amplitude, thereby enabling the establishment of standard values for normal individuals at this frequency.

Potencial miogênico evocado vestibular: proposição de um novo instrumento

Institution: Department of Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Head and Neck. Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto University of Sao Paulo (USP) and Laboratory Instrumentation and Acoustics (LIA) State University of Health Sciences of Alagoas (UNCISAL) Maceio / AL Brazil. Correspondence to: Prof. Dr. Pedro de Lemos Menezes Rua Dr. Antonio Cansacao, 55 Apt. 703 Ponta Verde Maceio / AL Brazil Zip code: 57035-190 Telephone: (+55 82) 3315-6813 E-mail: pedrodelemosmenezes@gmail.com Article received on July 11, 2010. Approved on August 22, 2010.

Potenciais miogênicos evocados vestibulares: metodologias de registro em homens e cobaias

The vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a clinical test that assess the vestibular function by means of an inhibitory vestibulo-neck reflex, recorded in body muscles in response to high intensity acoustic stimuli. AIM: To check and analyze the different methods used to record VEMPs in humans and in guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We researched the following databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO and COCHRANE. RESULTS: we noticed discrepancies in relation to the ways used to record the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in relation to the following factors: patient position at the time of recording, type of sound stimulus used (clicks or tone bursts), parameters for stimuli mediation (intensity, frequency, duration of presentation, filters, response amplification gain and windows for stimulus recording), type of phone used and way of stimulus presentation (mono or binaural, ipsi or contralateral). CONCLUSION: There is no consensus in the literature as to the best recording method for vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. We need more specific studies in order to compare these recordings and establish a standard model to use it in the clinical practice.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potential: recording methods in humans and guinea pigs

UNLABELLED The vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a clinical test that assess the vestibular function by means of an inhibitory vestibulo-neck reflex, recorded in body muscles in response to high intensity acoustic stimuli. AIM To check and analyze the different methods used to record VEMPs in humans and in guinea pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS We researched the following databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO and COCHRANE. RESULTS we noticed discrepancies in relation to the ways used to record the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in relation to the following factors: patient position at the time of recording, type of sound stimulus used (clicks or tone bursts), parameters for stimuli mediation (intensity, frequency, duration of presentation, filters, response amplification gain and windows for stimulus recording), type of phone used and way of stimulus presentation (mono or binaural, ipsi or contralateral). CONCLUSION There is no consensus in the literature as to the best recording method for vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. We need more specific studies in order to compare these recordings and establish a standard model to use it in the clinical practice.

Localização sonora em usuários de aparelhos de amplificação sonora individual

PURPOSE: to compare the sound localization performance of hearing aids users, with the performance of normal hearing in the horizontal and sagittal planes, at 0.5, 2 and 4.5 Hz; to correlate the correct responses in sound localization tasks and the use time of hearing aids. METHODS: eight normal hearing subjects and 20 hearing aid users were tested, subdivided into groups of 10 in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid users and 10 behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid users. All subjects were tested with a sound localization device which had three types of square waves with fundamental frequencies at 0.5 kHz, 2 kHz and 4.5 kHz, at 70 dBA. RESULTS: the rate of correct responses in sound localization tasks was 78.4%, 72.2% and 72.9% for normal hearing subjects, at 0.5 kHz, 2 kHz and 4.5 kHz, respectively, and 40.1%, 39.4%, and 41.7% for hearing aid users. As for the types of hearing aids, users of ITC type hit the correctly sound localization in 47.2% and user of BTE type in 37.4%. CONCLUSION: normal hearing subjects locate sound sources more efficiently than hearing aid users, and among these, those using the ITC type obtained better performance. Moreover, the time of use does not interfere with the performance for locating the sound sources.

Localização de fontes sonoras: a importância das diferenças dos limiares auditivos interaurais

AbstRACt Purpose: To relate the differences between left and right ears’ auditory thresholds and rate of correct/incorrect responses in sound localization tasks placed in reverberant environments. Methods: The following tests were carried out: otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, impedanciometry and otoacoustic emissions. All 56 volunteers presented normal hearing results in all tests. After that, the volunteers were submitted to a sound localization test, in which square waves of 500 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz were used. Stimuli were presen-ted fifteen times in each one of the thirteen space positions of the device used, for each frequency tested. Therefore, a total number of 585 stimuli were presented for each subject. Results: Data analysis showed that the sample had subjects with ages between 18 and 50 years, the average difference between right and left ears’ auditory thresholds was 6,81 dB, and percentage of correct answers on the sound localization test was within normal values. No significant correlations were found between interaural differences and localization abilities.

Hearing, language, motor and social skills in the child development: a screening proposal

Purpose: to analyze the hearing, language, motor and social skills of children and propose a screening of child development. Methods: 129 preschool children of both sexes, aged between three and six years old, enrolled in educational institutions and 25 teachers of kindergarten from public and private institutions, with no history of hearing disorders, with type A tympanometric curves and the presence of acoustic reflexes participated. For the children, the neuropsychomotor test, Denver II, and the evaluation of sound localization and temporal ordination of three verbal and non-verbal sounds were applied. For the educators responsible for the children, the Scale of Auditory Behaviors (SAB), was used. Results: most participants with normal SAB presented hearing abilities or standard Denver II; while in the amended SAB group, most participants presented alterations in Denver II or in the auditory abilities tests. It was found, also, that part of the children with standard Denver II were pointed, by the educators, as misbehaving in SAB. Conclusion: the combination of the findings of the Denver II, hearing tests of sound localization and temporal ordination and the SAB Scale is useful in the characterization of child development and, thus, the use of these three instruments for screening in this age group is recommended.