[Processing of interaural time differences in normal-hearing subjects and cochlear implant users with FSP and HDCIS coding strategy]

BACKGROUND

Sound localization is necessary for social interaction and remains challenging for bilateral cochlear implant (CI) users. This study investigated the influence of fine structure processing (FSP) coding strategies on temporal accuracy and source localization. The ability to discriminate between different interaural time differences (ITD) was measured objectively and compared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen normal-hearing subjects and five CI users participated in this study. Electrophysiological recording of mismatch negativity (MMN) and psychoacoustic tests with headphones and loudspeakers were conducted to measure and compare the discrimination of ITDs.

RESULTS

In normal-hearing subjects the discrimination threshold for ITD was 83-117 µs. Localization ability in a free sound field was below the limit of resolution. A significant MMN was measured. CI users showed a mean angle detection error of more than 30° and a discrimination threshold between 1100 and 2100 µs. Due to artifacts, no clear MMN component could be recorded.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that MMN can be used as an objective measure of ITD discrimination in normal-hearing participants. An indication that improvements in directional hearing can be achieved with the transfer of fine structure could not be provided by this study.

A feasibility study of trauma-sensitive obstetric care for low-income, ethno-racial minority pregnant abuse survivors

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of an integrated (psychological and obstetric) intervention for pregnant abuse survivors with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS) from low-income, ethno-racial minority backgrounds.

METHODS

Trauma-sensitive obstetrics to promote control, anxiety-reduction and empowerment (TO-CARE) offers cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) coping skills delivered over six sessions by therapists, coupled with trauma-sensitive obstetric care from specially-trained obstetric physicians.

RESULTS

Participants were 21 women who completed at least three sessions of CBT, totaling 51.2% of eligible participants. Participants received approximately one-third (M = 2.29; SD = 2.15) of their prenatal visits with obstetric residents trained in trauma-sensitive care. Nearly all participants (95%) reported that they benefited from the intervention. Although most participants demonstrated improvement in PTS, only four demonstrated reliable improvement, and two demonstrated reliable improvement in depression symptoms. These improvements appeared to be maintained at postpartum follow-up for two of the participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that TO-CARE was acceptable to pregnant abuse survivors and may be a promising intervention to reduce symptoms of distress. Implications of the low retention rate for the CBT (51.2%) are discussed in the context of interventions for low-income minority pregnant women. Limitations regarding feasibility of the integrated intervention are discussed.

Signaltransduktionswege der Mechanotransduktion in Knochenzellen

Die Erhaltung der Knochenmasse wird durch die Interaktion von verschiedenen Faktoren, einschließlich systemischen Hormonen, lokalen Wachstumsfaktoren und mechanischer Belastung reguliert. Verantwortlich für die adaptive Antwort von Knochenzellen auf mechanische Belastung sind zelluläre Prozesse der Aufnahme, der Umwandlung des physikalischen Stimulus in strukturelle und biochemische Reaktionen, die als Mechanotransduktion bezeichnet werden. Osteoblasten und vor allem Osteozyten sind die mechanosensorischen Zellen des Knochens. Sie benötigen den mechanischen Stimulus für ihre Vitalität und Funktion. Die in der Mechanotransduktion aktivierten Signalwege wirken anabol auf die Knochenmasse. Hierzu gehören der WNT (wingless integration)/β-Catenin und der Östrogenrezeptor (ER)-Signalweg, die beide eine entscheidende Rolle in der Regulation von Knochenbildung und Knochenresorption spielen. Eine Aufklärung der Interaktion der Signalwege in der Mechanotransduktion durch geeignete In-vitro-und In-vivo-Experimente ist sinnvoll, um in Zukunft effektiv mechanische Signale in der Prävention und Intervention von/bei osteodegenerativen Krankheiten, wie z. B. Osteoporose, nutzen zu können.

Improved parental dietary quality is associated with children's dietary intake through the home environment

BACKGROUND

Improving access to supermarkets has been shown to improve some dietary outcomes, yet there is little evidence for such effects on children. Relatedly, there is a dearth of research assessing the impact of a structural change (i.e. supermarket in a former food desert) on the home environment and its relationship with children's diet.

OBJECTIVE

Assess the relative impact of the home environment on children's diet after the introduction of a new supermarket in a food desert.

METHODS

Among a randomly selected cohort of households living in a food desert, parental diet was assessed before and after the opening of a full-service supermarket. The home environment and children's intake of fruits and vegetables was measured at one point - after the store's opening. Structural equation models were used to estimate the pathways between changes in parental dietary quality at follow-up and children's dietary intake through the home environment.

RESULTS

Parental dietary improvement after the supermarket opened was associated with having a better home environment (β = 0.45, p = 0.001) and with healthier children's dietary intake (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) through higher family nutrition and physical activity scores (β = 0.25, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Policy solutions designed to improve diet among low-resource communities should take into account the importance of the home environment.