Search

Thirty cases of episodic vertigo of labyrinthine origin with the common denominator of a history of hypersensitivity to fungal derivatives are grouped for study. Verification of the history of specific intolerances to fungal ingestants was accomplished by performing provocative intracutaneous or challenge feeding tests for hypersensitivity to yeast. A positive test response was obtained in each instance. Sixteen of the 30 patients gave a history of hypersensitivity to penicillin and 21 reported an intolerance to ingested, fermented alcohol. An antigenic cross-reactivity between penicillin, yeast and other fungi is suggested. Ten of the 30 cases qualified as classic Meniere's disease and 14 as vestibular Meniere's disease without auditory involvement. Six fell into the category of benign, positional vertigo. Therapy entailed correction of proven metabolic and endocrine dysfunctions, when present and complete elimination from the diet of all proven allergenic offenders. Hyposensitization therapy for inhalant allergens supplemented the program when indicated. Therapeutic results are classified according to the criteria set forth by the Subcommittee on Equilibrium and Its Management of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. Two of the 10 cases of classic Meniere's disease fell into the Class A category with absence of definitive spells of vertigo for the prescribed “10 times the average interval of spells before treatment” plus an improvement in hearing. Three cases fell into the Class B group, experiencing no definitive spells of vertigo but failing to show auditory improvement. Definitive spells persisted in the remaining 5 cases. Allergic management of the vestibular Meniere's group of 14 cases allowed for the classification of 7 as meeting the prescribed requirement of 10 times the average pretreatment interval between definitive attacks. Seven cases of vestibular Meniere's disease failed to obtain relief from definitive spells. Only 1 of 6 cases of benign positional vertigo experienced relief with allergic management. The high failure rate suggests other etiologic factors in this group. It is conceivable that the initial hypersensitization of the patient to penicillin in some instances may be responsible for the eventual antigenic excitation of a perverse labyrinthine response by commonly ingested fungi. Antigenic stimuli may excite episodic vertigo of labyrinthine origin. An acute episode of vertigo may be precipitated by the intracutaneous injection of a predetermined dilution and volume of a specific food antigen or by its ingestion, if the patient is hypersensitive to that food and the labyrinth is in a state of readiness to react.

The rapid industrial development in the United States has not been met by an adequate attempt to prevent resultant increase in traumatic deafness in the noisier branches of industry. This is due largely to the employers' refusing to recognize the entity for fear of raising the question of compensation, to the employees' evading the subject lest employment be refused those in whom hearing impairment appears and to a general lack of interest from both the legislative and the scientific points of view. That compensation boards are making awards for losses of hearing was observed by Bunch. 1 To determine how recent is this trend questionnaires were sent to the compensation commissions of each state. The commissions were asked whether the compensation laws of their state recognized occupational deafness as compensable; whether such recognition, if given, was statutory or based on decisions in the courts of the state, and at what time

Precision shear (S) and longitudinal (P) ultrasonic velocity measurements were made on jacketed and unjacketed Solenhofen limestone as a function of hydrostatic pressure to 12 kb. Measurements of P velocities were also made in the C direction of calcite to 12 kb and in fused quartz to 14 kb. For constant pressure below approximately 5 kb the P and S velocities in jacketed Solenhofen limestone are found to be directly proportional to initial specimen density. After subjecting specimens to pressures greater than 5 kb, they exhibit features attributed to the polycrystalline nature and porosity of the limestone: (1) a permanent decrease in the zero-pressure velocity is observed which is explained by microfractures at regions of high stress concentration, (2) a ‘negative velocity hysteresis’ is observed; i.e., velocities measured with increasing pressure are less than the velocities measured with decreasing pressure; this feature can be explained on the basis of either phase transitions or porosity changes accompanying permanent deformations. Unjacketed Solenhofen limestone exhibited a ‘positive velocity hysteresis’ that can be explained on the basis of trapped fluid in the pores. The P and S velocities for jacketed Solenhofen limestone falls sharply at pressures exceeding about 8 kb. Comparison with data of unjacketed specimens provides experimental evidence that the often observed sharp decrease in the velocity occurring below 15 kb is a result of local stress concentrations in the specimen.

Measurements of the longitudinal and shear moduli were made on fused quartz to 10 kb at 24·5°C. The anomalous behavior of the bulk modulus K at low pressure, ∂K ∂P , begins to approach the “normal” behavior of solids, ∂K ∂P > 0 , at higher pressures. The pressure derivative of the rigidity modulus ∂G ∂P remains constant and negative for the pressure range covered. A 15-kb hydrostatic pressure vessel is described for use with ultrasonic pulse instrumentation for precise measurements of elastic moduli and density changes with pressure. The placing of the transducer outside the pressure medium, and the use of C -ring pressure seals result in ease of operation and simplicity of design.

Loss of hearing due to acoustic trauma has been established as a clinical entity. It has also been established that no known form of therapy can improve this type of hearing defect. After rest has removed what fatigue factor existed, the remaining damage may be considered permanent. With this in mind, it is clear that energy must be directed toward the prevention of deafness in persons not yet affected and the arrest of progress in those who have already suffered some loss. The simplest means of decreasing the intensity of sound reaching the ear has always been the plugging of the external auditory canal. Chippendale,1in 1866, suggested the use of cotton. Cousins2recommended the use of ear plugs made of india rubber. During the first World War it was found that cotton soaked in glycerin afforded the best protection.3This soaking of the cotton in some viscous substance is

Decision as to the presence of Meniere's disease requires strict adherence to established diagnostic criteria. An etiologic diagnosis becomes mandatory upon determining existence of the disorder. Among several etiologic factors to be considered is antigenic excitation of labyrinthine dysfunction. A primary patho-physiologic process in Meniere's disease is probably often an abnormal response of select, genetically predisposed cochlear arterioles to systemic stress. Local hypoxia resulting from arteriolar constriction through abnormal catacholamine stimuli may induce a persisting neosynthesis of histamine at the precapillary loop sphincters, as described by Schayer.3 Majno, et al.,4 have demonstrated that the ensuing dilation of the precapillary loops causes an increase in capillary and venule volume with stasis, endothelial cell separation and greater permeability of capillary and venule walls to plasma protein and fluid. Imbalance of circulatory homeostasis in stria vascularis conceivably could result in auditory and vestibular dysfunction. The role antigenic excitation may play in this perverse vascular response deserves exploration.

Reexamination of accepted techniques of histamine therapy for episodic vertigos in the light of clinical experience and recent laboratory studies suggests than an optimum dosage of exogenous histamine may be of therapeutic value in selected cases. Patients surmised to be capable of manifesting an abnormal response to stress by local microcirculatory dysfunction are, theoretically, favorable candidates for such therapy. Microvascular dysfunction of the cochlear or vestibular labyrinth may or may not contraindicate intravenous histamine therapy.

The production of randomly generated polygons of high complexity is a very time-consuming process with presently available methods. A technique was developed for speeding this process, particularly when producing very complex figures (e.g., polygons with over 40 sides). A portion of this process was computerized to facilitate production further. The procedure was employed to produce polygons with up to 200 sides. The technique proved feasible in practice, and subsequently clear results were obtained with the polygons in research on visual exploratory behavior.

ALKALOSIS [26], HYPOXIA [9], ANEMIA [23], AND HYPOPHOSPHOTEMIA [19] affect the position of the oxyhemoglobin curve, either by direct means or indirectly by the level of intraerythrocyte organic phosphates. The most important of these indirect affecters has been assumed to be 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (DPG). Measuring DPG levels has been accepted by many investigators as the equivalent of establishing changes in the position of the oxyhemoglobin curve at standard conditions (PsO ) [7, 1416, 18, 201. Under conditions of hyperbar:c normoxia in animals [lo] and hypobaric hyperoxia in man [13], intraerythrocytic DPG levels appear to fall over a period of time. The position of the oxyhemoglobin curve was not examined in these studies, nor was the time sequence of recovery reported. The effects of normobaric hyperoxia on both P,“, and DPG levels have not been established. Since the biochemistry of oxygen transport by the red cell of the canine and human are similar [4, 211 a study was set up to establish the in vivo effects of hyperoxia on canine red cells.

DIPLACUSIS or double hearing is the phenomenon of hearing the same tone at a different pitch in each ear. It is far more prevalent than formerly realized and can now be detected with considerable accuracy by expressing the degree of diplacusis as the percentage of deviation from the other ear. A person with normal hearing may have from 1% to 2% deviation of their tone perception which may vary with fatigue and exposure to noise. Tuning forks have long been used to indicate the presence of diplacusis. Variable frequency audio-oscillators permit accurate measurements for matching identical tones. Diplacusis was first reported in 1907 by Shambaugh, Sr., 1 to be caused by a slight alteration in the mass of the delicate tectorial membrane causing it to respond in a different area than normal. He claimed that temporary "tinnitus aurium" was due to increased endolymphatic pressure whether caused by stapedial displacement, hypertension

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a new methodology in the study of acquired meaning. Over a 15-day period, 20 boys and girls in a sixth-grade classroom learned to associate CVC nonsense syllables with classroom activities (e.g., lunch and recess). The syllables were employed as tickets of permission to participate in associated activities. Subsequently, measures were made of the semantic properties acquired by the syllables. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of employing this naturalistic methodology for the study of acquired meaning.

The specific heats of lunar samples 10057 and 10084 returned by the Apollo 11 mission have been measured between 90 and 350 degrees Kelvin by use of an adiabatic calorimeter. The samples are representative of type A vesicular basalt-like rocks and of finely divided lunar soil. The specific heat of these materials changes smoothly from about 0.06 calorie per gram per degree at 90 degrees Kelvin to about 0.2 calorie per gram per degree at 350 degrees Kelvin. The thermal parameter gamma=(kpC-(1/2) for the lunar surface will accordingly vary by a factor of about 2 between lunar noon and midnight.