Recognition of immune-mediated sensorineural deafness that responds to immunosuppressive therapy has led to a search for a diagnostic assay to identify inner ear autoantibodies. Without a confirmed diagnosis of autoimmune disease, many patients have undergone inappropriate immunosuppressive treatment or developed irreversible inner ear damage. Serum from patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss (n = 54), ulcerative colitis (N = 5), normal controls (N = 14), and animals with experimental autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss (EASNHL) were analyzed by Western blot against fresh bovine inner ear antigen preparations. The hearing loss group (19 [35%]) showed a single-or double-band migrating at 68,000 molecular weight (MW), differing from the normal group (1 of 14 [7%]) which showed a similar band (P = .031). Upon analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis both the EASNHL guinea pigs and a patient reacted against identical components of inner ear antigen. These results suggest an autoimmune basis for disease in patients reacting against the 68,000 MW antigen.

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Although time 1 findings between groups were not significant, CR participants reported higher self-efficacy for healthy dietary intake than did nonparticipants. At time 2, CR participants also reported greater self-efficacy (F3,40 = 13.69, P ≤ .0001), indicating more confidence they could commit to a healthy diet. A significant difference was found in barriers to healthy dietary intake (t = 2.13, P = .04) at time 1, with CR participants reporting fewer barriers. At time 2, CR participants reported fewer barriers to healthy dietary intake (F3,39 = 18.19, P < .0001), indicating a more positive perception. Findings improve understanding of factors influencing adoption of healthy diet behaviors and are useful for designing interventions to assist individuals in sustaining secondary preventive efforts over time.

The objective of this review was to systematically evaluate available clinical evidence for the application of nonsilicone or silicone gels and gel sheets on hypertrophic scars and keloids after a burn injury so that practice guidelines could be proposed. This review provides evidence based recommendations, specifically for the rehabilitation interventions required for the treatment of aberrant wound healing after burn injury with gels or gel sheets. These guidelines are designed to assist all healthcare providers who are responsible for initiating and supporting scar management interventions prescribed for burn survivors. Summary recommendations were made after the literature, retrieved by systematic review, was critically appraised and the level of evidence determined according to Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine criteria.