Articles tagged with Ear
A groundbreaking study has identified the mode of death of cone photoreceptor cells in an animal model of retinitis pigmentosa. The receptor interacting protein (RIP) kinase pathway is found to be involved in cone degeneration, and a deficiency of RIP kinase reduces cone loss.
Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear have isolated the elusive human gene NMNAT1, which causes Leber congenital amaurosis, a rare but devastating form of early-onset blindness. The discovery is a significant step towards developing sight-saving gene therapy.
Dr. Joseph Ciolino, a Mass. Eye and Ear ophthalmologist, has received the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Career Development Award to support his translational projects in keratoprosthesis and ocular drug delivery. The award aims to attract young physicians and scientists to eye research.
The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary has been awarded a $110,000 grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to conduct research on the causes, treatment and prevention of blinding diseases. The grant will be directed by Dr. Joan Miller, who leads the Mass. Eye and Ear/Mass General Department of Ophthalmology.
A University at Buffalo study finds that synapses in the cochlear nucleus are bundled together by plasticity, allowing for efficient transmission of sound information. This organization enables specialized bushy cells to develop unique sensitivities to sound characteristics.
The Mass. Eye and Ear Cataract Master uses computer-based simulation to provide a realistic interactive experience for ophthalmology residents and practicing surgeons. The program aims to minimize clinical risk while boosting skills and confidence, ultimately raising the quality of patient care.
A new study from Henry Ford Hospital found a significant association between insomnia and the severity of perceived tinnitus symptoms. Patients with insomnia reported greater emotional distress from tinnitus, highlighting the need for evaluation and treatment of insomnia patients to reduce tinnitus symptom severity.
A University of Gothenburg researcher developed research-based teaching material on sound, hearing, and auditory health, which improved students' knowledge and attitudes towards high sound levels. The study found that teaching about hearing can positively change adolescents' behavior.
A new study from Henry Ford Hospital found a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used for cell phone calls. Most left-brain thinkers tend to use their right hand to hold the phone up to their right ear, while most right-brain thinkers use their left hand to hold it in their left ear.
Corneal specialist Dr. James Chodosh has received a $150,000 grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to study viral infections of the eye and identify characteristics that cause inflammation in the cornea. The goal of his research is to develop predictive models for Adenovirus-infected corneas and improve treatment options.
Researchers at Mass. Eye and Ear will develop an algorithm to evaluate anatomical changes in the eye associated with certain glaucoma treatments. The fellowship will support the work of Mamta Shah under the mentorship of Drs. Louis Pasquale and Suzanne Freitag.
Researchers at Mass Eye and Ear aim to understand the origins of eye allergies, a major health problem in the US. They hope to uncover more effective targets for treatment, potentially offering new hope for those suffering from ocular surface allergy.
Researchers found that women are more vulnerable to exfoliation syndrome (ES) than men, and that living in the middle or southern tier of the US reduces the risk. The study also confirms established associations with age and family history, as well as new data on associations with gender, eye color, and ancestry.
A Heidelberg University Hospital study found that a single protein mediates pathological remodeling processes causing varicose veins. The protein triggers changes in wall architecture, leading to increased cell proliferation and enzyme production.
A study of seven patients found that wearing a custom-designed pressure device on the ear at night supplemented surgical excision and steroid injection to effectively treat auricular keloids. The device showed safety and efficacy, with no itch, pain or abnormal sensations reported by treated patients.
Dale Browne, MD, a renowned ear, nose, and throat specialist, will receive the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes his extensive meritorious service to the specialty through instructional courses, scientific papers, and leadership positions.
John House, MD, a leading expert in otolaryngology, is recognized for his extensive service to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The award honors his contributions to the field through instructional courses, scientific papers, and leadership roles.
The American Psychological Association will feature public demonstrations of psychological science applications, including a device that enables 'seeing' with one's ears. The Science Showcase also includes an interactive home energy-use feedback system and a test to determine on-the-job fatigue associated with sleep loss.
A new system tracks cattle's feeding patterns and behavior using RFID technology, enabling early detection of illnesses and improving treatment outcomes. The system has shown promising results in detecting subtle changes in animal behavior indicative of health challenges.
Physicists have found that supersolid helium has liquid-like characteristics, contradicting previous assumptions of a solid state. The researchers attribute this behavior to moving defects in the crystal structure, which relax at higher temperatures.
Bats' varying ear shapes influence biosonar functionality, with implications for engineering applications such as SONAR and RADAR. The study's findings provide insights into the role of biodiversity in customizing general principles for different species.
The 2010 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation features over 305 scientific research sessions and 594 posters. Researchers discuss challenges in caring for the aging voice and effective advocacy in healthcare reform.
A team of University of Oregon scientists has found that when a sound is loud enough, auditory neurons simply accept it and ignore subsequent reverberations. This simplifies the filtering process, suggesting that a sophisticated system to suppress echoes may not be necessary.
Researchers discovered that the barbastelle bat can catch earless moths by using an unusual whispering strategy. By producing quieter echolocation calls than other bats, the barbastelle can hear unsuspecting moths before they become aware of its presence, giving it an advantage in hunting.
Research by UCLA and Harvard University found that white children and those from below the poverty level have higher rates of frequent ear infections. The study's findings highlight racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to healthcare for these vulnerable populations.
Researchers at NYU identified a key mechanism in the brain's computation of sound location, finding that neurons are sensitive to rise times and detect differences between input shapes on a microsecond scale. This contradicts previous theories, which held that biophysical properties were identical for both ears.
Researchers at NYU identified a key mechanism in the brain's computation of sound location, challenging existing theories. The study found that neurons respond to the rise time of synaptic inputs rather than their width.
Plants with enhanced disease resistance, like mouse ear cress, produce fewer and smaller leaves, but excel against pathogens. This tradeoff allows for coexistence of large, vulnerable plants with small, protected ones in nature.
The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary has received a five-year K12 grant from the National Institutes of Health to support junior clinician-scientists in translational and clinical research. The program provides financial support, mentorship, and protected research time.
A new study has found that children with hearing loss in one ear tend to have poorer oral language scores than their peers with normal hearing. The researchers discovered a significant link between unilateral hearing loss and lower language skills, particularly among disadvantaged children.
Researchers have isolated a portion of the adenovirus responsible for causing pink eye, finding that its protein coating is the key to inflammation in the eyes. This discovery offers new hope for developing a treatment for this highly contagious and common condition.
A recent study published in Psychological Science reveals that individuals with higher well-being engage in fewer solitary activities and more social interactions. The research suggests a link between deeper, more meaningful conversations and overall happiness.
A virtual training tool enhances teaching in cataract surgery, improving resident performance and patient outcomes. The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Cataract Surgery Trainer allows residents to practice complex surgeries in a safe, simulated environment.
Children with bilateral cochlear implants exhibit poor initial voice control but show significant improvement as they use their hearing aids for extended periods. Targeted speech therapies could help address these voice abnormalities.
A University of British Columbia study found that air puffs directed at the skin can bias perception of spoken syllables, causing mishearing. The researchers suggest that tactile information plays a significant role in speech perception, similar to how our brain processes visual cues.
University of Miami engineer Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb develops state-of-the-art systems for 3-D face and ear biometric identification, surpassing conventional shape matching methods in computational efficiency. His techniques achieve high recognition rates, including 100% accuracy when combining facial and ear data.
Researchers created a new strain of mice with outstanding hearing as they age, studying the phenomenon known as golden ears. The study offers clues about maintaining good hearing while aging and provides a new tool to explore protective factors that allow some organisms to retain their hearing for their whole lives.
Researchers have developed a tool to analyze marine mammal calls, finding that whales adjust click intervals to prevent cluttering echoes. This strategy enables groups of whales to explore more efficiently, suggesting a 'polite listener' behavior.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered a unique structure in the ear of the Blue Morpho butterfly, which may allow it to distinguish between high and low pitch sounds. The membrane's properties suggest that butterflies can hear lower pitches more sensitively than other insects.
A study of 120,000 children from 1997-2006 found that improved air quality was associated with a decrease in frequent otitis media cases. The findings suggest that cleaner air may have direct health benefits, particularly for vulnerable populations like children.
A new study uses magnetoencephalography (MEG) to detect the site of perception of tinnitus in the brain, allowing physicians to target specific areas with treatments. The imaging technique reveals activity in both hemispheres of the brain for patients with bilateral tinnitus, providing hope for future interventional strategies.
A study published in Current Biology found that nostrils can experience a 'binaral rivalry' when receiving different scents, causing an olfactory illusion. This phenomenon is observed in other paired sensory organs like eyes and ears.
Researchers at Rice University found that when the nose is presented with two different smells, the brain processes them separately through each nostril in an alternating manner. This 'perceptual rivalry' in the olfactory system allows individuals to perceive one smell predominantly at a time, creating an 'olfactory illusion'.
Researchers found that people prefer to be addressed in their right ear and are more likely to perform a task when receiving a request there. In noisy night club environments, the side bias was consistently displayed, with 72% of interactions occurring on the right side.
The five-year grant will enable the researcher to further explore how inhibitory components influence sound localization circuitry in vertebrate systems. The study aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of sound localization circuitry that can contribute to clinical applications, such as improving cochlear implants.
The study delves into the Old Frisian compensation tariffs, which linked financial compensation to injuries and insults, preventing blood feuds. Nijdam's research reveals a unique body-centred model of honor that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the human body and surroundings.
Researchers are exploring the health struggles of US presidents with otolaryngologic disorders, such as premature death from tonsillitis and sleep apnea. The study highlights the importance of addressing these conditions to prevent similar issues in future leaders.
Researchers found that calmodulin uses two lobes to sense local and global calcium levels, allowing it to detect fluctuations within cells. This discovery sheds light on the universal means of communication in cells and has implications for understanding neural diseases.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that approximately 29 million Americans have speech frequency hearing loss, while an estimated 55 million have high-frequency hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss varies by age, gender, and ethnicity, with men being more likely to experience it.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons are urging ATV riders to follow safety tips to reduce the incidence of ATV-related injuries. Plastic surgeons treat thousands of patients with severe head trauma, eye injuries, disfiguring lacerations, and facial fractures from ATV accidents eac...
The study reveals that three RAMOSA genes (RA1-3) control maize inflorescence branching, leading to changes in grain yield. The genes regulate the architecture of maize ears through a complex network, influencing plant development and adaptation.
A study by Indiana University School of Medicine found that bilateral cochlear implants significantly improve hearing in noisy environments and overall quality of life. The benefits of the second implant outweighed its added cost, offering improved cognitive skills and emotional well-being for profoundly deaf individuals.
Researchers found that topical application of alpha-linolenic acid significantly decreased clinical signs of dry eye syndrome in animal models. The study suggests a potential new treatment approach for this common condition, which affects millions of people worldwide.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered a six-amino acid protein sequence, EAR domain, which ensures plants are neither all root nor all shoot. The study clarifies the purpose of the EAR motif and explains how mutations in TOPLESS gene can switch plant cell's fate from shoot to root.
A team of scientists has discovered a new pathway for sound transmission in Cuvier's beaked whales using finite element modeling and computed tomography scanning. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that noise vibrations travel through the lower jaw to reach the ear complex, instead revealing a unique fatty channel.
Scientists have developed a new tool to analyze corn's genetic makeup, enabling the identification and increased cultivation of high-vitamin A precursors. This method is designed to tap natural genetic diversity, significantly simplifying the task of finding high-vitamin corn strains.
Researchers discover that individual brains are adapted to their unique auditory environment and can learn to localize sounds. The study may lead to more sophisticated hearing aids and speech recognition systems.
Research by Michigan Medicine suggests that overactive nerves in the head and neck may contribute to tinnitus. Acupuncture and trigger point therapy may be effective treatments for people with 'ringing in the ears'. The study found hyperactivity of touch-sensing neurons in animals, which could lead to new insights into the condition.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have discovered that auditory and visual information are integrated in the brain before being sent to the cortex. The findings suggest that hearing and vision may be more closely linked than previously believed, with implications for understanding how we perceive the world around us.
A new study reveals that mast cells not only cause allergic reactions but also help reduce skin damage and inflammation from sun exposure or poison oak. The discovery opens up new possibilities for treating allergies and other conditions.