Effect of Hearing Rehabilitation Therapy Program in Hearing Aid Users: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

ObjectivesDespite sufficient hearing gains, many patients with hearing loss have difficulty using hearing aids due to poor word recognition ability. This study was performed to introduce our hearing rehabilitation therapy (HRT) program for hearing aid users and to evaluate its effect on hearing improvement.MethodsIn this prospective randomized case-control study, 37 participants with moderate or moderate-severe sensorineural hearing loss who had used bilateral hearing aids for more than 3 months with sufficient functional hearing gain were enrolled in this study. Nineteen participants were randomly assigned to the control group (CG) and 18 patients were assigned to participate in our HRT program once a week for 8 consecutive weeks (hearing rehabilitation therapy group [HRTG]). Their hearing results and questionnaire scores for hearing handicap and hearing aid outcomes were prospectively collected and compared between the two groups.ResultsAfter completing 8 weeks of the HRT program, the HRTG showed a significantly greater improvement in scores for consonant-only and consonant-vowel sound perception than the CG (P<0.05). In addition, the HRTG showed a significant improvement in hearing ability as measured by two questionnaires (P<0.05), while no differences were observed in the CG. However, word and sentence recognition test results did not show significant differences between the two groups.ConclusionEven after short-term HRT, patients had subjectively better hearing outcomes and improved phoneme perception ability; this provides scientific evidence regarding a possible positive role for HRT programs in hearing aid users. Further validation in a larger population through a long-term follow-up study is needed.     

Hearing impairment and hypoxia ischaemic encephalopathy: Incidence and associated factors

Objective

To establish the local incidence of hearing loss in newborns with Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and to identify associated risk factors.

Estimating Low- and High-Cyclic Fatigue of Polyimide-CF-PTFE Composite through Variation of Mechanical Hysteresis Loops

The fatigue properties of neat polyimide and the “polyimide + 10 wt.% milled carbon fibers + 10 wt.% polytetrafluoroethylene” composite were investigated under various cyclic loading conditions. In contrast to most of the reported studies, constructing of hysteresis loops was performed through the strain assessment using the non-contact 2D Digital Image Correlation method. The accumulation of cyclic damage was analyzed by calculating parameters of mechanical hysteresis loops. They were: (i) the energy losses (hysteresis loop area), (ii) the dynamic modulus (proportional to the compliance/stiffness of the material) and (iii) the damping capacity (calculated through the dissipated and total mechanical energies). On average, the reduction in energy losses reached 10–18% at the onset of fracture, whereas the modulus variation did not exceed 2.5% of the nominal value. The energy losses decreased from 20 down to 18 J/m³ (10%) for the composite, whereas they reduced from 30 down to 25 J/m³ (17%) for neat PI in the low-cycle fatigue mode. For high-cycle fatigue, energy losses decreased from 10 to 9 J/m³ (10%) and from 17 to 14 J/m³ (18%) for neat PI and composite, respectively. For this reason, the changes of the energy losses due to hysteresis are of prospects for the characterization of both neat PI and the reinforced PI-based composites.     

突发性聋临床分析

目的探讨突发性聋的治疗方法及预后因素。方法96例突发性聋病例采用川芎嗪、皮质类固醇激素、抗病毒药物为主的综合治疗,其中43例辅以高压氧治疗,分析患者年龄、初诊听力损失程度、听力曲线类型、治疗早晚、有无眩晕与预后的关系。结果痊愈25例,显效46例,痊愈率为26.04%,痊愈、显效率为73.96%;重度听力损失组,高压氧治疗组痊愈、显效率高于非高压氧治疗组(P<0.05);年龄18～40岁组,发病后10天内就诊组,轻、中度听力损失组,初诊听力曲线为平坦型和上升型组,无眩晕组疗效分别好于对照组(P<0.05)。结论年龄18～40岁,发病后10天内就诊,轻、中度听力损失组,初诊听力曲线为平坦型和上升型,无眩晕者预后好。     

An evaluation of chemical photoreactivity and the relationship to phototoxicity

The existing regulatory guidance for photosafety testing of new drug products states that studies are warranted for those chemicals that both absorb light in the range of 290–700 nm, and that are either applied locally/topically, or “reach” (EMEA)/“significantly partition” (FDA) to the skin or eyes. The initial in vitro study recommended for the assessment of phototoxic potential is the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) Assay. The current study was undertaken to establish superior triggers for the initiation of biological photosafety testing. In this study, photophysical and photochemical parameters for 40 drug or drug-like molecules were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and a fivefold cross-validation PLS algorithm were used to evaluate the relationship between subsets of photophysical and photochemical parameters with the 3T3 NRU PIF/MPE (Photo Irritation Factor/Mean Photo Effect) results. The parameters most indicative of a 3T3 NRU positive PIF or MPE score were the extent of degradation in solution, the quantum yield of formation of singlet oxygen and the relative formation of superoxide anion. The results demonstrate that while absorption of light is critical to the induction of a light-induced process, it is the resultant events that may be used to predict the 3T3 NRU assay result. It is therefore proposed that the trigger for photosafety testing be revised to include a molecular basis for photoreactivity. From this limited investigation, estimated thresholds leading to 3T3 NRU positive results due to photodegradation, formation of singlet oxygen quantum yield or a relative superoxide anion formation value are proposed.     

不明原因感音神经性聋患者红细胞免疫功能检测

为探讨不明原因感音神经性聋患者红细胞免疫功能，采用酵母菌花环试验对５０例不明原因感音神经性聋患者红细胞免疫功能进行检测，并与正常组进行比较，结果显示：不明原因感音神经性聋患者红细胞Ｇ３ｂ受体（ＲＢＣ－Ｃ３ｂＲ）花环率降低，红细胞免疫复合物（ＲＢＣ－ＩＣ）花环率升高，且皆与正常组有显著性差异，提示不明原因的感音神经性聋患者有继发性红细胞免疫功能低下，可能与红细胞免疫调节功能紊乱有关。     

大前庭水管综合征患者误诊与漏诊原因分析

目的 了解大前庭水管综合征(large vestibular aqueduct syndrome,LVAS)患者的临床特征,分析造成误诊和漏诊的原因.方法 观察19例被误诊或漏诊的LVAS患者,详细了解诊治经历,行纯音测听、声导抗测听及脑干诱发电位等听功能检查,所有患者均行颞骨高分辨CT检查.结果 19例患者确诊年龄为...     

乌鲁木齐地区线粒体12SrRNA基因突变筛查分析

目的　研究乌鲁木齐地区非综合征性聋患者线粒体12S rRNA基因突变情况。方法　收集乌鲁木齐非综合征性聋患者标本609例,对其进行临床和分子遗传学评估。结果　12S rRNA基因突变分析共发现11个突变位点,已知的A1555G、961DelT、C1494T突变分别占2.96%,1.15%,0.16%。另外A1047G突变相关报道较少,A1585G突变未见相关报道。其他突变均为多态性位点。结论　线粒体12S rRNA突变是引起遗传性聋的重要因素,此次乌鲁木齐地区线粒体12S rRNA A1555G突变在聋病人群中的检出率与前期报道相比有所降低,可能与耳毒性药物使用量降低有关。A1047G与新发现的A1585G突变是否与聋相关,还需进一步研究。对筛查中阳性突变携带者及其母系家庭成员需告知氨基糖苷类抗生素使用风险,使其避免使用,逐步降低药物性聋的发生率。     

Characteristics of normal newborn transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions: Ear asymmetries and sex effects

Transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were recorded from more than 30000 newborns over a six year period. Analysis was performed on all the TEOAEs that passed the bedside universal hearing screen (n=60431), in order to characterize the normal properties of neonatal TEOAEs and to study ear and sex effects. Short recording times (median=33 s) were observed in combination with high entire TEOAE level (median=18.8 dB SPL for an 81.8 dB SPL peak stimulus), and high reproducibility (median=86%). Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the TEOAE was highly frequency-dependent, being poorer at low frequencies. Prolonged averaging increased median reproducibility to 97%, but the minor S/N-improvement at low frequencies did not justify the longer test time. Highly significant mean lateral asymmetries (right >left) and sex differences (female >male) existed in entire TEOAE level, S/N TEOAE, and in half-octave frequency bands (700–4000 Hz). Mean lateral and sex entire TEOAE level differences were 1.1 dB and 1.3 dB, respectively. Stimulus levels were not affected by ear or sex. Hence, physiological differences at the level of organ of Corti were demonstrated in newborns.     

江苏省≥10岁人群的眩晕流行病学调查研究

目的调查江苏省人群中眩晕的分布情况及相关因素，为制订防治策略提供科学依据。方法采用按容量比例概率抽样（PPS）方法，在江苏省常住人口中抽样，对其中≥10岁的6854人进行眩晕问卷调查、纯音测听和耳科检查。结果本研究实际接受调查6333人，应答率92．4％，男3035人（47．9％），女3298人（52．1％），年龄10～93岁。被调查人群中眩晕的总体患病率为4．1％（标化患病率：全国3．4％，江苏3．6％），眩晕患病率随年龄增加呈上升趋势（P=0．000）。女性眩晕患病率（5．3％）高于男性（2．8％）（P=0．000），城乡之间差异无显著性（农村4．3％。城镇3．8％．P=0．459）。听力减退、中耳炎病史、噪声暴露史是眩晕的危险因素，OR值分别为2．186、2．135、1．609。结论眩晕在江苏省人群中较为常见，其发生与多种因素有关，必须加强这些方面的防治研究。