Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for electrically stimulating the brain to alleviate tinnitus. In one aspect of the invention the areas of the brain to which stimulation is applied would be determined by a procedure which first involves analysis of the patient to determine the nature of the sound perceived by the patient to produce tinnitus. Then these sound frequencies will be provided to the patient while imaging studies are made of the patient's brain. These studies may include magnetoencephalography (MEG) and/or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). MEG is a non-evasive imaging technique that can be used to image the functional activity of the cortex, while fMRI is based on the increase in blood flow to the local vasculature that accompanies neural activity in the brain.

Abstract: Erosion of elements of the ossicular chain in the middle ear, resulting in hearing loss, is corrected by creating a bridge between the eroded elements, employing a bone cement formed as a paste of a self-hardening material, which is molded into an elongated bridge, secured at its two ends to the elements to be bridged, and supported in its desired position until the material hardens to fuse the two elements, at which time the support may be removed. The material is preferably hydroxyapatite cement, bone source, or similar material, such as ionomeric bone cement. These materials strongly bond to the contacting bone and may stimulate bone in-growth, resulting in osseointegration. The apparatus for forming the bridge consists of a reservoir of the bridge material in liquid or paste form connected to a bridge supporting tube. The tube is preferably placed in contact with the two elements to be bridged and the bone source material is injected into the tube using a manually actuated plunger until the tube is full.

Abstract: Methods of obtaining a measurement indicative of oxidative stress and the molecular age of an individual include the step of detecting a mitochondrial DNA deletion and correlating the quantity of the deletion with a measurement of a parameter related to oxygen metabolism.

Abstract: A nutritional supplement for enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing age-associated DNA damage, protecting against age-associated deterioration in cognition and hearing loss and many other common deleterious changes that occur with the normal aging process is provided. The supplement includes nutritionally effective amounts of at least two components selected from the group consisting of acetyl-L-carnitine, N-acetyl cysteine, resveratrol, lecithin, and lipoic acid with the proviso that lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine are not administered within the same supplement. In particular embodiments, resveratrol is present from 45 to 1000 mg in combination with one of: 600 to 3000 mg acetyl-L-carnitine, 250 to 2000 mg N-acetyl cysteine, 200 to 2000 mg lecithin, and 100 to 750 mg alpha-lipoic acid. The nutritional supplement of the present invention is preferably taken on a daily basis.

Abstract: A method and dermatological formulation are provided for increasing the pigmentation response of mammalian skin, hair, wool or fur to agents which stimulate melanogenesis. The method comprises administering to mammalian skin, hair, wool or fur a dermatological formulation containing a melanogenesis-stimulating effective amount of an agent which stimulates melanogenesis in melanocytes, and a melanogenesis-enhancing effective amount of an agent, such as an &agr;-hydroxy acid, which enhances the stimulation of melanogenesis by the melanogenesis-stimulation agent.