The Role of Mutations on Gene TGFB1 in Camurati Engelmann Syndrome

Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) is characterized by increased bone density primarily affecting the long bones of the arms and legs and the skull. The thickening of these bones leads to pain, a waddling gait, muscle weakness, and extreme fatigue. Increased density of the skull can cause a variety of neurological deficits such as headaches, hearing loss, vision problems, dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and even facial paralysis. The first symptoms of the condition can appear at varying ages, but usually during childhood, with pain and proximal muscle weakness developing by adolescence. CED is often diagnosed based on a physical exam and radiographic findings (X-rays). CED is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and is caused by changes (mutations) in the TGFB1 gene.

Pengaruh Aplikasi Akupuntur Pada Pasien Hipertensi di Puskesmas Sentani Kabupaten Jayapura

Hypertension is blood pressure that exceeds normal limits divided into three categories. Hypertension is dubbed as a silent killer with symptoms of feelings of bending, headaches, palpitations, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, fatigue, vertigo, and nosebleeds. In addition, trends in treatment using alternative and complementary therapies are starting to appeal to the community, one of which is acupuncture. Acupuncture is a method of treatment by attaching needles to certain points on the body to reduce blood pressure or relieve symptoms of hypertension. This study aims to determine the application of acupuncture at points: LV3, HT7, PC6, and LU9 in hypertensive patients. This research was an experimental pretest-posttest without a control group with a time series approach, in 15 people with blood pressure criteria ≥130mmHg. This research was conducted from November 2018 to February 2019 using the analysis of the repeated ANOVA test. The results of the comparative output mean it is known that average hypertension before the acupuncture application was 172.93 mmHg, and after the acupuncture application 155.87 mmHg at the first meeting, hypertension before the acupuncture application was 154.50 mmHg and after the acupuncture application was 135.73 mmHg at the second meeting with the results of the in-action effect test revealed a Greenhouse-Geisser sig value of 0,000, so it can be concluded that there is a difference in the decrease in average blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Efforts that can be done are monitoring the continuity of hypertensive patients in carrying out acupuncture therapy.

The Presence of Physical Symptoms in Patients With Tinnitus: International Web-Based Survey

Background Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a phantom perception of sound in the absence of overt acoustic stimulation. Many patients indicate that the perception of their tinnitus is not constant and can vary from moment to moment. This tinnitus fluctuation is one of the diagnostic criteria for somatosensory tinnitus (ST), a tinnitus subtype that is influenced by cervical spine or temporomandibular dysfunctions, although various factors have been reported to cause fluctuations in tinnitus, such as stress, anxiety, and physical activity. Objective The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to investigate the presence of physical symptoms in a large group of participants with tinnitus and (2) to investigate if these physical symptoms are more frequently present in a subgroup of participants with ST. Methods A Web-based survey, questioning the presence of physical symptoms in a convenience sample of participants with tinnitus, was launched on the online forum, Tinnitus Talk, managed by Tinnitus Hub. After a general analysis of the physical symptoms present in our survey population, we further analyzed the group of participants who were diagnosed by a physician (n=1262). This subgroup was divided into 2 groups, one group diagnosed with ST and another group diagnosed with other types of tinnitus. Results In total, 6115 participants with a mean age of 54.08 years (SD 13.8) completed the survey. Physical symptoms were frequently present in our sample of participants with tinnitus: 4221 participants (69.02%) reported some form of neck pain, 429 (7.01%) were diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders, 2730 (44.64%) indicated they have bruxism, and between 858 and 1419 (14.03%-23.20%) participants were able to modulate their tinnitus by voluntary movements. ST was diagnosed in 154 out of 1262 (12.20%) participants whose tinnitus cause was diagnosed by a physician. Symptoms referring to the known diagnostic criteria were evidently more present in the ST group than in the non-ST group. Additionally, participants with ST more often indicated a negative effect of a bad night’s sleep (P=.01) and light intensity exercise (P=.01). Conclusions Physical activity and movement (disorders) frequently affect tinnitus severity. Head-neck related symptoms are more frequently reported in the ST group, as is the ability to modulate the tinnitus by head or jaw movements. Additionally, participants with ST more often report fluctuations of their tinnitus and reaction to sleeping difficulties and low intensity exercise.

Physical symptoms in tinnitus: an international web-based study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a phantom perception of sound in the absence of overt acoustic stimulation. Many patients indicate that the perception of their tinnitus is not constant and can vary from moment to moment. This tinnitus fluctuation is one of the diagnostic criteria for somatosensory tinnitus (ST), a tinnitus subtype that is influenced by cervical spine or temporomandibular dysfunctions. Although various factors have been reported to cause fluctuations in tinnitus, such as: stress, anxiety and physical activity. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was twofold: first to investigate the presence of physical symptoms in a large group of participants with tinnitus and second to investigate if these physical symptoms are more frequently present in a subgroup of participants with ST. METHODS An online survey, questioning the presence of physical symptoms in participants with tinnitus was launched on the online forum Tinnitus Talk, managed by Tinnitus Hub. After a general analysis of the physical symptoms, present in our survey population, we further analysed the group op participants who were diagnosed by a physician (n = 1262). This subgroup was divided into two groups, one group diagnosed with ST and another group diagnosed with other types of tinnitus. RESULTS In total, 6115 participants with a mean age of 54,08 years (SD: 13,8) completed the survey. Physical symptoms were frequently present in our sample of participants with tinnitus: 69% reported some form of neck pain, 7% was diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders, 44,6% indicated they have bruxism and 14 to 23,1% was able to modulate their tinnitus by voluntary movements. ST was diagnosed in 17,7%. Symptoms referring to the known diagnostic criteria were evidently more present in the ST-group than in the non-ST-group. Additionally, participants with ST more often indicated a negative effect of a bad night’s sleep and light intensity exercise. CONCLUSIONS Physical activity and movement (disorders) frequently affect the tinnitus severity. Head-neck related symptoms are more frequently reported in the ST-group, as is the ability to modulate the tinnitus by head or jaw movements. Additionally, participants with ST more often report fluctuations of their tinnitus and reaction to sleeping difficulties and low intensity exercise.

Hearing Problems

The most common hearing problems after concussion are hypersensitivity to sound, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and hearing loss. Excessive sensitivity to sound can be due to migraine, damage to the ear and auditory nerve, or neuropathic pain. Refer to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for an evaluation of the middle and inner ear. Consider trials of migraine abortive agents (e.g., triptans) and neuropathic pain agents (e.g., pregabalin). For tinnitus, if an audiogram reveals hearing loss, refer to ENT. Treatment from a specialized therapist team including an audiologist and psychologist may improve tinnitus outcomes. Assess for medications that adversely affect the inner ear and reduce them if possible. Test thyroid function. Consider a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain to make sure that the concussion didn’t unmask another problem, such as a tumor or vascular malformation. A complaint of hearing loss can mean several things: true hearing loss due to middle or inner ear damage, attention deficit, or a language problem such as aphasia. Obtain an audiogram, and if it is abnormal, refer to ENT, assess for attention deficit, and test for receptive aphasia.

A Study of Social Media Utilization by Individuals With Tinnitus

PurposeAs more people experience tinnitus, social awareness of tinnitus has consequently increased, due in part to the Internet. Social media platforms are being used increasingly by patients to seek health-related information for various conditions including tinnitus. These online platforms may be used to seek guidance from and share experiences with individuals suffering from a similar disorder. Some social media platforms can also be used to communicate with health care providers. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of tinnitus-related information on social media platforms.MethodThe present investigation analyzed the portrayal of tinnitus-related information across 3 social media platforms: Facebook (pages and groups), Twitter, and YouTube. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the platforms using the key words “tinnitus” and “ringing in the ears.” The results on each platform were manually examined by 2 reviewers based on social media activity metrics, such as “likes,” “followers,” and “comments.”ResultsThe different social media platforms yielded diverse results, allowing individuals to learn about tinnitus, seek support, advocate for tinnitus awareness, and connect with medical professionals. The greatest activity was seen on Facebook pages, followed by YouTube videos. Various degrees of misinformation were found across all social media platforms.ConclusionsThe present investigation reveals copious amounts of tinnitus-related information on different social media platforms, which the community with tinnitus may use to learn about and cope with the condition. Audiologists must be aware that tinnitus sufferers often turn to social media for additional help and should understand the current climate of how tinnitus is portrayed. Clinicians should be equipped to steer individuals with tinnitus toward valid information.