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Listening to music through a portable personal music system (PMS) is a growing trend, especially among the youth. The preferred listening level in such kinds of PMS has been reported to cross the safe levels and its impact on the auditory system was demonstrated in several previous investigations. Owing to the commonality in several aspects between the auditory and the vestibular systems, it appears likely that the deleterious effects of PMS use could also be impinging on the vestibular system, which has never been investigated. The present study therefore, aimed at evaluating the effects of PMS use on the sacculocollic reflex assessed by the cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) technique. Thirty-two regular PMS users and 32 nonregular PMS users underwent cVEMP testing using alternating polarity 500 Hz tone bursts. The results revealed no significant group difference in latencies and interaural asymmetry ratio. However, the cVEMP was significantly reduced in the group of individuals in whom the diffused field equivalent sound pressure levels (SPLs) were above the damage risk criteria (DRC) compared to those with diffused field equivalent SPLs below it (P< 0.01). Therefore, the use of PMS at high levels of volume controls could be deleterious to the vestibular well-being of an individual.

Objective Preoperative imaging-based scoring systems help choose the intervention of choice and can help predict postoperative complications in patients undergoing surgery for small renal masses. The study aims to evaluate the utility of RENAL Nephrometry Score (RNS) in predicting intraoperative ischemia times, estimated intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy. Methods A total of 40 consecutive patients undergoing partial nephrectomy at a tertiary care hospital in South India were recruited into a prospective observational study. The preoperative imaging-based RENAL scores were obtained, and various intraoperative (ischemia times, blood loss) and postoperative variables (duration of hospital stay, change in renal function, and postoperative complications) were compared. Results A total of 80% of patients had low RENAL scores, while 20% had high scores. There was a statistically significant association between RENAL scores and intraoperative ischemia times(p=0.024) and tumor size(p=0.008). Other variables like blood loss, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and change in renal function did not show any association with RENAL scores. Conclusions The RNS is a useful tool in predicting intraoperative ischemia times in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy for small renal masses. It can also be useful to predict tumor size in the final histopathological assessment of renal cell carcinoma. Comparative studies incorporating larger numbers of patients are required to establish statistically significant associations between RNS and the secondary outcomes proposed by this study.