SAY
WHAT?
Your mother was right when she warned you
that loud music could damage your hearing,
but now scientists have discovered exactly
what gets damaged and how. In a research
report published in the September 2013 issue
of The FASEB Journal, scientists describe exactly
what type of damage noise does to the inner
ear, and provide insights into a compound that
may prevent noise-related damage.
“Noise-induced hearing loss with accompanying tinnitus and sound hypersensitivity
is a common condition which leads to
communication problems and social isolation,”
said Xiaorui Shi, M.D., Ph.D., study author from
the Department of Otolaryngology/Head
and Neck Surgery at the Oregon Hearing
Research Center at Oregon Health and
Science University. “The goal of our study is to
understand the molecular mechanisms well
enough to mitigate damage from exposure to
loud sound.”
To make this discovery, Shi and colleagues
used three groups of six- to eight-week-old
mice, which consisted of a control group, a
group exposed to broadband noise at 120
decibels for three hours a day for two days, and
a third group given single-dose injections of
pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) prior
to noise exposure. PEDF is a protein found in
vertebrates that is currently being researched
for the treatment of diseases like heart disease
and cancer. The cells that secrete PEDF in control
animals showed a characteristic branched
morphology, with the cells arranging in a
self-avoidance pattern which provided good
coverage of the capillary wall. The morphology
of the same cells in the animals exposed to
wide-band noise, however, showed clear
differences - noise exposure caused changes in
melanocytes located in the inner ear.
“Hearing loss over time robs people of their
quality of life,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D.,
editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal. “It’s easy
to say that we should avoid loud noises, but
in reality, this is not always possible. Frontline soldiers or first responders do not have
time to worry about the long-term effects
of loud noise when they are giving their all.
If, however, a drug could be developed to
minimize the negative effects of loud noises,
it would benefit one and all.”
SOURCE: MEDICAL NEWS TODAY
Protect
YOUNG ATHLETES
The risks of sports-related traumatic brain injuries among
professional athletes are making national headlines. However,
prevention should begin at childhood, especially among those
involved in contact sports.
Each year, approximately 300,000 people in the United States
experience sports-related concussions.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury most often caused
by a sudden bump or blow to the head or other parts of the body.
It also can be caused by a fall. As a result of the sudden impact, the
brain moves around in the skull causing chemical changes. These
changes make the brain more sensitive to stress and other injuries
until it fully recovers. In addition, the immature brain of a young
athlete is known to take longer to recover.
Most people who have experienced a concussion realize that
something is wrong, however, the symptoms can be tricky, so those
around the injured person must pay close attention for the warning
signs. This is especially apparent among football players who are
conditioned to being knocked down and getting back up again,
only to realize later that they’ve been hurt.
Many athletic directors for public schools require that athletes
who participate in “high-risk” sports must have a baseline
symptoms of a concussion
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty completing tasks
Changes in behavior
Worsening headache
Persistent double vision
Excessive drowsiness
Stroke-like symptoms
neurocognitive test before their first contact football practice, within
the first week of cheerleading or before the first game for other
sports.
Although treatment for concussions is individualized, almost
all physicians recommend physical and mental rest immediately
after the injury. This includes no texting, video games, TV,
reading or physical ac ѥ٥