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The threshold of the acoustic stapedius reflex in man was investigated by means of changes in acoustic impedance of the ear. The contralateral ear was stimulated by using bands of noise and complex tones with various bandwidths. The experiments showed that the reflex threshold, expressed in decibels re 2.10 -5 N/m •', is almost constant for bandwidths less than a specific value and designated as "critical bandwidth." When the bandwidth was further increased, a decrease in the reflex threshold at approximately 3-6 dB/oct was observed. Assuming that the stapedius reflex mechanism is loudness governed in persons with normal hearing, these findings confirm the existence of a critical bandwidth in loudness summation. In addition, the findings indicate that the basis for the critical-band mechanism is located in the peripheral part of the auditory system, probably in the cochlea.

We compared two groups of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Group 1 consisted of 483 patients treated from 1958 through 1978. Primary surgery was selected in 41% pre- or postoperative radiation therapy in 16% and primary radiation therapy in 43%. Group 2 consisted of 247 patients treated from 1978 through 1983. Primary surgery was selected in only 1.6%, pre- or postoperative radiation therapy in 23%, and primary radiation therapy, with surgery in reserve for residual or recurrent carcinoma, in 76%. Although the results were comparable for patients with early stage tumors in the two groups, significantly higher local-regional tumor control rates and corrected survival rates were recorded for patients with advanced tumors in group 2. More patients survived with a cancer-free functional larynx, the surgical salvage rates were higher, the complication rates and the death rates lower in group 2 compared to group 1.

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The final analysis revealed that 245 research projects on the clinical development of drugs had been started in 2000. Of these, 178 (73%) completed the research phase as planned. The results of 131 (54%) of these projects were published in a scientific journal, and another 34 (14%) were reported as a congress abstract or as report to a sponsor; 80 (33%) were not published at all. Industrial sponsors seemed to promote both the completion of the research process and the publication of results in scientific journals.

The sensory cells of the inner ear are vulnerable to several agents (aminoglycosides, cytostatics, ionizing irradiation). The effect of strong magnetic fields occurring in industries with production based on electrolytic processes and with medical magnetic resonance equipment is unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of strong static magnetic fields on the inner ear, by exposing 11 healthy men to a magnetic field with flux density of 2-7 mT for 9 h. No damage was found to the acoustic or vestibular system.