The purpose of this study was to assess the cortical representation of sensorimotor functions in patients undergoing perirolandic epilepsy surgery, focusing on somatotopy, mosaicism, and variability of function in relation to the classic motor homunculus. The authors studied 36 patients in whom intraoperative or extraoperative electrical cortical stimulation to map motor functions was performed. A computer program was devised to register electrode number, stimulation parameters, and response to each stimulus. Electrode position was represented graphically whenever a stimulus was delivered. A total of 43 maps from 36 patients were analyzed. The authors found variations in the organization of M1 (primary motor cortex) in seven patients (19.4%). Four patients (11.1%) presented mosaicism (overlapping of functional areas), two (5.6%) presented variability (inverted disposition of M1 functional areas), and one (2.8%) had both. The results of this study challenge the notion of orderly topographic relationships between the human sensorimotor functions and their representation in the primary motor cortex. These results confirm those of other studies with animals and humans using novel imaging techniques, suggesting that the motor homunculus may not always be considered a definite and absolute representation of M1.

Objectives: Chronic otitis media is currently associated with an increase in air conduction thresholds. However, a few groups reported a decrease in sensorineural function in these patients. This study evaluates the occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with chronic otitis media.Methods: The records of patients with unilateral chronic otitis media were reviewed. Eighty-four patients met the inclusion criteria that were normal otoscopy and normal hearing in the contra lateral ear. Bone conduction threshold averages were calculated over 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz and 4000 Hz frequencies. We compared the bone conductions threshold averages between the normal ear and the ear with chronic otitis media. Thresholds were examined separately for each frequency.Results: The bone conduction threshold averages in the normal side were smaller than those of the chronic otitis media ear. The threshold shift was statistically significant in each frequency (P Ͻ 0.001 t Student test) but in 500 Hz (P ϭ 0.16). There were no differences between the groups when we analyzed the role of age or in the role of the cholesteatoma presence in the sensorineural hearing loss.Conclusions: This study shows that chronic otitis media is associated with decrease in cochlear function. Neither the P231

The Brazilian Portuguese version of THI is a valid and reproducible tool used to quantify how tinnitus impacts the life quality of those Brazilian patients who complain of this symptom.

Ti nnitus can greatly impact an individual's life qualityand it is very difficult quantify. Aim: To determine the reproducibility and validity of a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), a self-applicable questionnaire which assesses tinnitus impact on patients' life quality. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective transversal study. The questionnaire was translated into Portuguese and cross-culturally adapted to the Brazilian environment according to internationally recommended methods. The Portuguese version of the THI was answered by 180 patients who complained of tinnitus. Reproducibility was assessed using the Cronbach's Alpha Calculation; and the validity was assessed by means of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The Portuguese version of the THI showed high internal validity, comparable to the original version. A high correlation was observed between the THI and the BDI. Conclusion: The Brazilian Portuguese version of THI is a valid and reproducible tool used to quantify how tinnitus impact the life quality of those Brazilian patients who complain of this symptom.