Acute sensorineural hearing loss in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Background: Approximately, 30–40% of patients experienced hearing loss under regular hemodialysis.

Objective: This study reviewed our experience on treating acute hearing loss in patients under regular hemodialysis over the past two decades.

Methods: Twenty-six patients having acute hearing loss under hemodialysis were divided into two groups based on their etiologies. Sixteen patients (16 ears) with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) were assigned to Group A and 10 patients (13 ears) with endolymphatic hydrops (EH) were assigned to Group B.

Results: No significant difference was noted between Groups A and B, regardless of hemodialysis duration, clinical manifestation, underlying systemic diseases, blood examination, and vestibular test battery. In contrast, serum osmolality was significantly lower in Group B (292?±?11 mOsm/kg) than in Group A (310?±?11 mOsm/kg). Furthermore, Group B (40?±?14?dB) had better mean hearing level than Group A (87?±?21?dB) in the initial audiogram, and a higher hearing improvement rate (69%) than Group A (19%).

Conclusions and significance: Both SSHL and EH are major causes for precipitating acute hearing loss in hemodialysis patients. Compared to SSHL, the less deteriorated MHL and lower serum osmolality in EH provide two clues for differentiating acute hearing loss in hemodialysis patients.     

逐瘀止血汤加减治疗慢性子宫内膜炎气虚血瘀证的疗效观察

目的 评价逐瘀止血汤加减对慢性子宫内膜炎（CE）气虚血瘀证患者妊娠结局的影响及对免疫炎症因子的调节作用。方法 将144例患者随机按数字表法分为观察组和对照组各72例。观察组脱落、失访4例，剔除2例，完成66例；对照组脱落、失访3例，剔除5例，完成65例。两组均给予抗感染治疗14 d。对照组口服妇科千金片，6片/次，3次/d。观察组内服逐瘀止血汤加减，1剂/d。两组疗程均为3个月，并随访6个月。记录治疗前后月经经量、经期和周期变化情况；进行治疗前后宫腔镜和阴道彩色多普勒超声检查，评价子宫内膜形态、子宫内膜容受性（CP）［子宫内膜厚度、阻力指数（RI），搏动指数（PI）和血流指数（FI）］等，并进行子宫内膜病理检查；进行治疗前后气虚血瘀证评分；检测治疗前后月经血白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β），IL-6和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平和外周血测T淋巴亚群（CD3⁺，CD4⁺，CD8⁺）水平；随访记录妊娠情况和流产情况。进行安全性评价。结果 治疗后观察组经量、经期、周期和月经完全正常率均高于对照组（P<0.05）；观察组子宫内膜厚度和FI均高于对照组（P<0.01），RI和PI均低于对照组（P<0.01）；观察组月经血IL-1β，IL-6和TNF-α水平均低于对照组（P<0.01）；观察组CD3⁺，CD4⁺水平和CD4⁺/ CD8⁺均高于对照组（P<0.01），CD8⁺水平低于对照组（P<0.01）；在6个月随访期间，观察组妊娠率46.97%（31/66），高于对照组的27.69%（18/65）（χ²=5.197，P<0.05）；观察组子宫内膜形态疗效总有效率为96.97%（64/66），高于对照组的86.15%（56/65）（χ²=4.981，P<0.05）；观察组子宫内膜病理组织疗效总有效率为95.45%（63/66），高于对照组的84.62%（55/65）（χ²=4.304，P<0.05）；观察组综合临床疗效总有效率为93.94%（62/66），高于对照组的81.54%（55/65）（χ²=4.696，P<0.05）；两组治疗期间均未发现与中药相关不良反应。结论 逐瘀止血汤加减治疗CE气虚血瘀证患者，可调经月经、减轻临床症状，改善宫腔镜下内膜形态，调节全身和局部的免疫炎症反应，提高了CP，从而改善了妊娠结局，有着较好的综合疗效，且安全。     

Fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder: Their perceptions of paternal role a predictor of caregiving satisfaction,self-efficacy and burden

BackgroundThe positive effect of a father’s involvement in children’s upbringing is now recognised. However, research on fathers raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are still few. This study examines the relationship between the perception, fathers of children with ASD have of the importance of their role in the development of their children and the feelings (self-efficacy, caregiving burden, satisfaction) they express about their parenting experience.MethodSixty-three Swiss Italian fathers of children with ASD completed The Role of the Father Questionnaire (ROFQ), three sub-scales of the Caregiver Survey, a subtest of the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale and a home-made questionnaire measuring Perceived Social Support.ResultsThe results from hierarchical multiple regression analyses show that the importance that fathers attach to the paternal role predicts positively their caregiving satisfaction and their feeling of self-efficacy. The children’s challenging behaviours predict positively the caregiving burden whereas the assessment of social support predicts it negatively.ConclusionsThe perception of the importance of the paternal role needs to be considered in the support offered to families with a child with ASD. A better understanding of the fathers’ feelings could be of value for the programmes.     

Investigation of non-linear Mate1-mediated efflux of trimethoprim in the mouse kidney as the mechanism underlying drug-drug interactions between trimethoprim and organic cations in the kidney

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the involvement of Mate1 in the tubular secretion of trimethoprim and saturation of Mate1-mediated efflux to address the mechanisms underlying the pharmacokinetic drug interactions with trimethoprim. Trimethoprim is a more potent inhibitor of MATE2-K than MATE1 with K_i values (μM) of 0.030–0.28 and 2.4–5.9, respectively. Trimethoprim is a substrate of human MATE1 and MATE2-K with K_m values of 2.3 ± 0.9 and 0.018 ± 0.004 μM, and mouse Mate1, but not human OCT2, mouse Oct1 and Oct2. Pyrimethamine significantly reduced the renal clearance (CL_R) of trimethoprim (mL/min/kg) from 40.0 ± 5.1 to 20.1 ± 3.7 (p < 0.05). Trimethoprim was given to mice at three infusion rates (150, 500, and 1500 nmol/min/kg). Together with an increase in the plasma concentrations of trimethoprim, the CL_R (mL/min/kg) of trimethoprim decreased to 25.9 ± 3.2, 13.5 ± 5.7, and 8.92 ± 1.50 at the respective rates. Trimethoprim decreased the CL_R of rhodamine 123 in an infusion rate-dependent manner: 11.5 ± 1.3 (control), 5.17 ± 1.55, 1.31 ± 0.50, and 0.532 ± 0.180. These results suggest that Mate1 mediates the tubular secretion of trimethoprim, and at therapeutic doses, MATEs-mediated efflux can be saturated, and thereby, cause drug interactions with other MATE substrates.     

Current therapeutical strategies for allergic rhinitis

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis is a common condition with increasing prevalence and is associated with several comorbid disorders such as bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. If allergen avoidance is not possible, allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only causal treatment option.

Areas covered: This review focuses on current treatments and the future outlook for allergic rhinitis. Pharmacotherapy includes mast cell stabilizers, antihistamines, glucocorticosteroids (GCSs), leukotriene receptor antagonists, and nasal decongestants. Nasal GCSs are currently regarded as the most effective treatment and are considered first-line therapy together with non-sedating antihistamines. The new formulation MP29-02 combines the nasal GCS fluticasone propionate with azelastine in one single spray and has achieved greater improvements than those under monotherapy with modern GCSs or antihistamines. Furthermore, this review discusses allergen immunotherapy alone and in combination with modern monoclonal antibodies.

Expert opinion: Despite the variety of medications for allergic rhinitis, ranging from general symptomatic agents like GCSs or decongestants, to more specific ones like histamine receptor or leukotriene blockers, to causal therapy like immunotherapy, many patients still experience treatment failures or unsatisfactory results. The ultimate goal may be to endotype every downstream pathway separately in order to offer patients individualized, targeted therapy with specific antibodies against the respective pathway.