A process evaluation of implementing a vocational enablement protocol for employees with hearing difficulties in clinical practice

Objective: A multidisciplinary vocational rehabilitation programme, the Vocational Enablement Protocol (VEP) was developed to address the specific needs of employees with hearing difficulties. In the current study we evaluated the process of implementing the VEP in audiologic care among employees with hearing impairment. Design: In conjunction with a randomized controlled trial, we collected and analysed data on seven process parameters: recruitment, reach, fidelity, dose delivered, dose received and implemented, satisfaction, and perceived benefit. Study sample: Sixty-six employees with hearing impairment participated in the VEP. The multidisciplinary team providing the VEP comprised six professionals. Results: The professionals performed the VEP according to the protocol. Of the recommendations delivered by the professionals, 31% were perceived as implemented by the employees. Compliance rate was highest for hearing-aid uptake (51%). Both employees and professionals were highly satisfied with the VEP. Participants rated good perceived benefit from it. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the VEP could be a useful treatment for employees with hearing difficulties from a process evaluation perspective. Implementation research in the audiological setting should be encouraged in order to further provide insight into parameters facilitating or hindering successful implementation of an intervention and to improve its quality and efficacy.     

持续性特发性耳鸣严重程度的相关因素分析

目的 探讨导致持续性特发性耳鸣严重程度的相关因素。 方法 分析870例持续性特发性主观性耳鸣患者的一般资料、病史、听力学结果、耳鸣匹配实验、耳鸣残疾量表、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表和焦虑自评量表,应用多因素Logistic回归分析研究与患者耳鸣严重程度相关的因素。 结果 (1)性别(P<0.001)、年龄(P=0.010)、耳鸣主调声频率(P=0.005)、听力损失(P=0.037)、焦虑程度(P<0.001)、睡眠状况(P<0.001)在THI分级上差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);(2)病程(P=0.053)、侧别(P=0.437)、主调声响度(P=0.120)在THI分级上差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。 结论 女性患者特发性耳鸣的程度较男性更为严重;低频较高频更扰人;焦虑程度和睡眠状况是影响耳鸣严重程度的因素,而病程、侧别、耳鸣主调声响度不是影响患者特发性耳鸣严重程度的因素。     

Hearing in Noise Test Brazil: standardization for young adults with normal hearing

IntroductionIndividuals with the same ability of speech recognition in quiet can have extremely different results in noisy environments.ObjectiveTo standardize speech perception in adults with normal hearing in the free field using the Brazilian Hearing in Noise Test.MethodsContemporary, cross-sectional cohort study. 79 adults with normal hearing and without cognitive impairment participated in the study. Lists of Hearing in Noise Test sentences were randomly in quiet, noise front, noise right, and noise left.ResultsThere were no significant differences between right and left ears at all frequencies tested (paired t − 1 test). Nor were significant differences observed when comparing gender and interaction between these conditions. A difference was observed among the free field positions tested, except in the situations of noise right and noise left.ConclusionResults of speech perception in adults with normal hearing in the free field during different listening situations in noise indicated poorer performance during the condition with noise and speech in front, i.e., 0°/0°. The values found in the standardization of the Hearing in Noise Test free field can be used as a reference in the development of protocols for tests of speech perception in noise, and for monitoring individuals with hearing impairment.     

DNA methylation of the ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, C1orf132/MIR29B2C,and TRIM59 genes for age prediction from blood,saliva, and buccal swab samples

Many studies have reported age-associated DNA methylation changes and age-predictive models in various tissues and body fluids. Although age-associated DNA methylation changes can be tissue-specific, a multi-tissue age predictor that is applicable to various tissues and body fluids with considerable prediction accuracy might be valuable. In this study, DNA methylation at 5 CpG sites from the ELOVL2, FHL2, KLF14, C1orf132/MIR29B2C, and TRIM59 genes were investigated in 448 samples from blood, saliva, and buccal swabs. A multiplex methylation SNaPshot assay was developed to measure DNA methylation simultaneously at the 5 CpG sites. Among the 5 CpG sites, 3 CpG sites in the ELOVL2, KLF14 and TRIM59 genes demonstrated strong correlation between DNA methylation and age in all 3 sample types. Age prediction models built separately for each sample type using the DNA methylation values at the 5 CpG sites showed high prediction accuracy with a Mean Absolute Deviation from the chronological age (MAD) of 3.478 years in blood, 3.552 years in saliva and 4.293 years in buccal swab samples. A tissue-combined model constructed with 300 training samples including 100 samples from each blood, saliva and buccal swab samples demonstrated a very strong correlation between predicted and chronological ages (r = 0.937) and a high prediction accuracy with a MAD of 3.844 years in the 148 independent test set samples of 50 blood, 50 saliva and 48 buccal swab samples. Although more validation might be needed, the tissue-combined model’s prediction accuracies in each sample type were very much similar to those obtained from each tissue-specific model. The multiplex methylation SNaPshot assay and the age prediction models in our study would be useful in forensic analysis, which frequently involves DNA from blood, saliva, and buccal swab samples.     

不同浓度氯氮平对小鼠空腹血糖和骨骼肌葡萄糖转运蛋白4基因表达的影响

目的探讨氯氮平对雄性C57BL/6小鼠空腹血糖和骨骼肌葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)基因表达的影响。方法将63只雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为3组,每组21只,分别灌胃给予蒸馏水、氯氮平4mg/kg及氯氮平20mg/kg,于给药后3h、1周、4周以试纸法测定各组空腹血糖,用逆转录-聚合酶链反应测定GLUT4mRNA表达。结果(1)灌药后3h、1周氯氮平4mg/kg组和氯氮平20mg/kg组空腹血糖和GLUT4mRNA的表达与空白对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);(2)灌药后4周氯氮平4mg/kg组和20mg/kg组的空腹血糖值[(5.6±0.5)mmol/L和(5.8±0.5)mmol/L]高于空白对照组[(4.6±0.6)mmol/L],而GLUT4mRNA的表达(0.50±0.14和0.48±0.12)却低于空白对照组(0.85±0.27),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论氯氮平可以慢性升高空腹血糖,降低GLUT4mRNA的表达,可能是抗精神病药长期应用后血糖升高的发生机制之一。     

缬沙坦治疗糖尿病肾病的疗效观察

目的:观察血管紧张素Ⅱ,Ⅰ型受体拮抗剂(AT1Ra)缬沙坦(Valsartan)对伴大量白蛋白尿的临床糖尿病肾病的治疗作用。方法:32例2型糖尿病患者,24h尿白蛋白排泄率(24hUAER)>200μg/min,均伴高血压,维持原糖尿病治疗不变,分组比较应用缬沙坦(80mg/d)或贝那普利(10mg/d)治疗8周前后平均动脉压(MAP)、24hUAER、HbA1c、尿酸(UA)等指标的变化。结果:缬沙坦治疗组和贝那普利治疗组24hUAER分别由703.2±987.9μg/min降至664.2±970.6μg/min(P<0.01)和由778.6±1005.0降至734.9±996.0μg/min(P<0.01)。二者疗效相似,且均与血压变化不相关。结论:AT1Ra缬沙坦可以降低临床糖尿病肾病的蛋白尿,其肾脏保护作用除了与降血压有关,还有不依赖降压效应的其他机制。