Articles tagged with Ear
A new study suggests that bicarbonate modifies the visual signal generated by rod and cone photoreceptors, leading to improved tracking of moving objects while slightly reducing sensitivity to light. The researchers hope to explore the potential of controlling bicarbonate levels in the eye to slow or prevent eye diseases.
Researchers analyzed ear bone development in womb and fossilized whales, revealing parallel changes that indicate whales shifted from land to sea. The study provides insight into the evolutionary process of whale hearing, essential for protecting populations from ocean noise.
The app will use distinctive features on newborns to estimate gestation and identify those at risk of urgent medical care. Computer scientists aim to harness smartphone technology to transform mobile phones into medical devices for low-access communities.
A team of scientists used barn owls and green anoles to study otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and their biomechanical principles. They found that the emissions originate from similar principles despite anatomical differences, offering new insights into hearing loss in humans.
Researchers will test electrically-small biomimetic antenna arrays inspired by insect ear systems to increase data rate and reduce size of mobile devices. The project aims to develop signaling techniques suitable for full potential of MIMO antennas, enabling faster communication speeds.
Researchers found salicylates reduce vestibular schwannoma cell viability and proliferation without affecting healthy nerve cells. The study's results suggest salicylates as promising pharmacotherapies against vestibular schwannomas, which can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
Researchers at San Diego State University used computer simulations to discover that fin whale skulls can capture low-frequency energy and direct it to the ear bones. This bone conduction method is up to 10 times more sensitive than pressure mechanisms for hearing, solving a long-standing mystery about baleen whales' acoustic properties.
Researchers found dogs process human speech in left- and right-hemisphere biases, similar to humans. Dogs respond differently to familiar commands and intonation cues, suggesting they pay attention to both who and how we communicate.
A new study found that black children are less likely to be diagnosed with and receive broad-spectrum antibiotics for ear infections compared to white children. This disparity may be due to overtreatment and overdiagnosis in white children, and undertreatment and underdiagnosis in black children.
Researchers have identified new properties in microbes causing conjunctivitis, enabling the bacterium to stick to and damage the eye surface. The discovery may lead to the development of a new vaccine to prevent this infection.
A novel mutant mouse model, NRV2, has been developed to study retinal neovascularization, a condition characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. The researchers found that NRV2 mice show spontaneous retinal depigmentation and neovascularization, which mimic the early clinical stages of RAP disease in humans.
Researchers found a link between residential geography, time spent in the sun, and XFS risk. Wearing sunglasses for summer hours reduced odds of XFS by 2%.
Researchers found that horses rely on facial expressions, particularly eye and ear positions, to gauge attention and locate food. The study's results suggest individual facial features may be important in horse communication, contradicting earlier notions about animals with eyes to the sides of their heads.
A team of researchers developed a tiny prototype device that mimics the parasitic fly's freakishly acute hearing mechanism, which may be useful for new generation of hypersensitive hearing aids. The device uses piezoelectric materials to turn mechanical strain into electric signals, minimizing power consumption.
Researchers found that dietary iodine intake was inversely related to central foveal swelling in RP patients with CME. This finding suggests that an iodine supplement could help limit or reduce retinal swelling in these patients.
Researchers found that chimpanzees in a social group learned to stick grass in their ears after observing Julie, who first introduced the behavior. The trait was passed down through generations even after Julie's death, highlighting the cultural potential of chimpanzees.
Using a molecule called ABCB5, researchers identified limbal stem cells in deceased donors' tissue and grew fully functional human corneas in mice. This breakthrough could restore vision for individuals with damaged eyes due to injury or disease, revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine.
Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids can regulate choroidal angiogenesis and vascular leakage by modulating micro-environmental immune cell recruitment. This mechanism suggests a unique pathway for disease resolution and potential therapeutic applications in age-related macular degeneration.
Researchers developed a game that trained both mice and humans to enhance their ability to discriminate soft sounds in noisy backgrounds. Trained subjects showed improved speech processing skills, even in high levels of background noise.
Two Harvard Medical School faculty members, Patricia D'Amore and Joan Miller, have been recognized with the 2015 Proctor Medal and Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology, respectively. Their groundbreaking research on vascular growth and development has led to significant advancements in anti-angiogenic therapies, imp...
A study by Volker Thoma found that humans can only process a few faces at a time, whether they are familiar or not. This limits our ability to recognize faces in crowded spaces. The study used famous faces like Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger to test this theory.
A prospective cohort study found that higher total folate intake was associated with a lower risk for exfoliation glaucoma (EG)/suspected exfoliation glaucoma (SEG). The results showed a trend of reduced EG/SEG risk with higher folate intake, particularly from supplements. This supports a possible causal role of homocysteine in EG/SEG.
Researchers found that drivers with hemianopia had lower detection rates for pedestrians on the side of their field loss due to inadequate scanning patterns. These individuals often failed to scan the entire intersection or scanned too little, increasing the risk of accidents.
Researchers at WashU Medicine are studying asymmetric hearing loss, which affects communication difficulties beyond mild disability. They aim to understand brain reorganization and develop new treatments to restore hearing in adults and children with one ear deaf and the other ear partially or fully hearing.
A study by Mass Eye and Ear researchers found significant plasticity in the visual system after extended blindness, leading to improvements in contrast sensitivity tests. The findings suggest that the critical period for vision development may be longer than previously thought.
Researchers found a significant inverse association between aspirin use and vestibular schwannoma growth in a retrospective series of 689 people. Aspirin intake may inhibit tumor growth, providing a potential therapeutic role for this anti-inflammatory medication.
Chronic pain affects an estimated 20-25% of the population worldwide and is caused by various factors such as nerve injuries and osteoarthritis. Researchers found that serotonin release from the brain stem into the spinal cord activates TRPV1, making it hyperactive in injured V2 and uninjured V3 branches.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital has awarded Christina Marsica Grassi a $30,000 fellowship to investigate sterile vitritis in patients with artificial corneal implants. The research project aims to improve understanding of immune responses to prosthetic devices and develop better treatments for this condition.
Dr. Jason I. Comander has received a $250,000 Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award to study patients with inherited retinal degenerations, including retinitis pigmentosa. The award aims to develop techniques for high-throughput functional characterization of human genetic variation and mutation in retinitis pigmentosa.
Children with autism have difficulty integrating simultaneous information from their eyes and ears, according to a Vanderbilt study. The research suggests that deficits in sensory building blocks for language and communication can hamper social and communication skills in children with autism.
A new study found that acute otitis media, or ear infection, is associated with significant increases in direct costs incurred by consumers and the health care system. The research showed that pediatric AOM accounts for approximately $2.88 billion in added health care expenses annually.
A study published in Ophthalmology found that open globe injuries increase the risk of retinal detachment, particularly among older patients with poorer visual acuity. Researchers developed a new scoring system to predict which patients are at higher risk, which may help prevent or identify and repair retinal detachment more quickly.
Researchers identify azithromycin as a potential therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction, leading to improved treatment options for dry eye disease. The study suggests that topical azithromycin could directly stimulate the function of human meibomian gland epithelial cells.
A new drug-eluting contact lens has been developed to deliver latanoprost, a common glaucoma medication, continuously for a month. The lens was designed with materials approved by the FDA and achieved comparable concentrations to daily topical treatment in animal studies.
Brazilian researchers assessed caxirola sound levels and found them comparable to a normal conversation, with only slight differences from vuvuzela noise. They also analyzed instrument vibrations, finding variations in frequency and intensity over time.
Researchers found a sharp downward trend in ear infection visits between 2004 and 2011, coinciding with the advent of PCV-13 vaccine in 2010. This trend was most pronounced in children under 2 years old. The study suggests that medical interventions, especially vaccines, have reduced the burden of otitis media in US children.
A study by Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School found that preoperative vocal cord dysfunction affects LRN electrophysiologic activity in thyroid surgeries. In some cases, malignant invasion of the RLN is associated with preserved electrophysiologic activity when vocal cord function is maintained.
A multi-center study showed that peripheral prism glasses significantly outperformed sham devices in helping patients with hemianopia avoid obstacles during everyday walking. After six months, 41% of patients continued to wear the real glasses, reporting improved navigation in various environments.
Digital photography shows promise as a tool to detect retinoblastoma in its earliest stages. A study found that analyzing family photographs can identify leukocoria, a symptom of the disease.
A new study suggests that genetically modified Bt sweet corn can reduce the need for traditional insecticides, resulting in increased marketability and profitability for farmers. The research found that Bt sweet corn outperformed non-Bt varieties in controlling pest infestations, even with conventional insecticide applications.
Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers discovered that higher brain levels can accurately predict sound source location from electrical activity in a small population of neurons. The findings have implications for designing devices to improve hearing in noisy environments, such as restaurants or with cochlear implants.
A study published in Nature Communications found that brief, reversible hearing loss during childhood can disrupt the processing of sound in the brain, leading to persistent hearing deficits. Researchers identified two critical periods after hearing onset that regulate how sounds from each ear are fused into a coherent representation.
Researchers develop a technique using smartphones to capture high-quality fundus images, aiding in the diagnosis of eye diseases. The method uses inexpensive apps and readily available instruments, making it accessible for smaller practices and third-world countries.
Researchers used whole genome sequencing to identify unique mutations and a previously undescribed disease gene NEK2 associated with retinitis pigmentosa. The study highlights the importance of rare structural DNA variations in Mendelian diseases.
Researchers at the University of Iowa used fruit flies to study hearing loss caused by loud noise. The study found that the molecular underpinnings of hearing loss in fruit flies are similar to those in humans.
A study published in Human Molecular Genetics found that the complement system plays a critical role in early macular degeneration. The researchers used mice genetically engineered to have an inherited form of the disease and found that turning off the complement system prevented the disease from progressing.
A team of researchers at Mass Eye and Ear has created the most comprehensive description of gene expression in the human retina. The study identified over 30,000 novel exons and more than 100 potential new genes that were not previously known to be expressed in the retina.
Moths have developed ears sensitive to bat echolocation cries as a defense mechanism, but also use their hearing and avoidance behavior to communicate sexually. Researchers found that different moth species employ varying methods to court females with sound.
Researchers found that prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) can cause upper and lower eyelid drooping, hollowing of the inferior periorbital fat pads, and levator muscle dysfunction in glaucoma patients. The study suggests reevaluating PGA use for new patients to prevent vision loss.
A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery reveals a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used for cell phone conversations, with left-brain dominant individuals more likely to use their right ear. The study's findings have implications for language center mapping and may suggest a lower risk of tumo...
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) team created a web-based tool to help physicians, hospitals and clinics make the transition without hiring experts. The study shows that the translations from ICD-9 to ICD-10 are organized into clusters, making it convoluted and entangled.
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde have identified the greater wax moth as capable of sensing sound frequencies up to 300kHz, surpassing human and dolphin limitations. This discovery has significant implications for air-coupled ultrasound technology and may lead to advancements in micro-scale acoustic systems.
A team of researchers has successfully developed a method to breach the blood-brain barrier using the nasal lining, allowing for higher molecular weight drug delivery to the central nervous system. This breakthrough opens up new treatment options for neurodegenerative and CNS diseases affecting millions of people worldwide.
Researchers found that topical anakinra significantly reduced dry eye symptoms, eliminating corneal staining and improving signs of ocular surface disease. The treatment was well-tolerated and effective in reducing dry eye symptoms six times more than the current standard treatment.
Researchers have discovered that the surface of the eye produces 'lubricin,' a substance similar to joint lubricant, reducing friction between cornea and conjunctiva. This finding holds promise for treating conditions like dry eye disease, postmenopausal vaginal atrophy, and xerostomia.
A systems biology approach predicts the ocular tropism of a newly identified human adenovirus based on genomic and bioinformatics analysis. The study identifies a unique deletion in the viral capsid, suggesting potential for severe ocular infection.
Researchers found that Ranibizumab reduced the bioactivity of vitreous from patients and experimental animals with PVR, protecting rabbits from developing this disease. The study suggests a novel prophylactic approach to neutralize VEGF-A for managing diseases.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a new, nonsurgical process to fine-tune and customize cochlear implant programming, providing improved sound quality and spectral resolution. This image-guided strategy uses pre- and postoperative CT scans to pinpoint electrode locations and optimize signal transmission.
A team of plant geneticists successfully demonstrated that weakening the FEA2 gene can increase meristem size and lead to more rows and kernels in maize plants. This research has significant implications for increasing yields of essential food crops as the global population is projected to reach 8-9 billion by mid-century.
Scientists studied fruit fly 'love song' to understand auditory system, discovering a protein-based sodium/potassium pump similar to battery compartments. This finding sheds light on the human ear's ion balance and potential mechanisms for hearing disorders.