Objective:To explore the genetic and clinical characteristics of Guizhou patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct（EVA） syndrome through combined SLC26A4 variant analysis and clinical phenotype analysis. Methods:Seventy-two EVA patients underwent comprehensive genetic testing using a multiplex PCR-based deafness gene panel and next-generation sequencing（NGS）. The audiological and temporal bone imaging characteristics were compared across mutation subtypes. Results:A total of 27 pathogenic loci of SLC26A4 were detected in 72 patients, including c.919-2A>G in 79.2%（57/72）. A novel deletion（c.1703_1707+6del） was discovered. Among 65 cases, truncated mutations were 89.2%（58/65）, 52.3%（34/65）, 28（43.1%） and 7（10.8%）. No significant differences were observed in the midpoint diameter of the vestibular aqueduct and the incidence of incomplete partitioning typeⅡ（IP-Ⅱ） of the cochlea among the three groups of patients. Moreover, there was no difference in the midpoint diameter of different vestibular pipes or the combination with IP-Ⅱ. Conclusion:The most common mutation site of SLC26A4 in EVA patients in Guizhou is c.919-2A>G, though genotype-phenotype correlations remain elusive. The detection of 27 mutation sites and the discovery of new mutation sites suggested the precise diagnostic significance of NGS technology in EVA patients in Guizhou.
Humans ; Sulfate Transporters ; Vestibular Aqueduct/abnormalities* ; Mutation ; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Phenotype ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

With the recent ongoing autumn/winter 2022 COVID-19 wave and the adjustment of public health control measures, there have been widespread SARS-CoV-2 infections in Chinese mainland. Here we have analyzed 369 viral genomes from recently diagnosed COVID-19 patients in Shanghai, identifying a large number of sublineages of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron family. Phylogenetic analysis, coupled with contact history tracing, revealed simultaneous community transmission of two Omicron sublineages dominating the infections in some areas of China (BA.5.2 mainly in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and BF.7 mainly in Beijing) and two highly infectious sublineages recently imported from abroad (XBB and BQ.1). Publicly available data from August 31 to November 29, 2022 indicated an overall severe/critical case rate of 0.035% nationwide, while analysis of 5706 symptomatic patients treated at the Shanghai Public Health Center between September 1 and December 26, 2022 showed that 20 cases (0.35%) without comorbidities progressed into severe/critical conditions and 153 cases (2.68%) with COVID-19-exacerbated comorbidities progressed into severe/critical conditions. These observations shall alert healthcare providers to place more resources for the treatment of severe/critical cases. Furthermore, mathematical modeling predicts this autumn/winter wave might pass through major cities in China by the end of the year, whereas some middle and western provinces and rural areas would be hit by the upcoming infection wave in mid-to-late January 2023, and the duration and magnitude of upcoming outbreak could be dramatically enhanced by the extensive travels during the Spring Festival (January 21, 2023). Altogether, these preliminary data highlight the needs to allocate resources to early diagnosis and effective treatment of severe cases and the protection of vulnerable population, especially in the rural areas, to ensure the country's smooth exit from the ongoing pandemic and accelerate socio-economic recovery.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of modified acute aortic dissection risk score in the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD).Methods:The general, clinical, and imaging data of 162 patients who complained of chest and back pain who received treatment between January 2019 and January 2021 in the Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Jiaxing, China were collected for this study. The included patients were divided into control (non-AAD, n = 120) and observation (AAD, n = 42) groups according to whether they were diagnosed with AAD. The indexes with statistical significance between the two groups were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A score table was established according to the size of OR value. The modified AAD risk score was predicted using the receiver operating curve. Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male sex, family history, sudden severe chest and back pain, bilateral blood pressure asymmetry, hypertension, abnormal ultrasound, and D-dimer level were independent risk factors for the diagnosis of AAD (statistical values = 7.84, 6.96, 7.04, 11.38, 7.12, 8.15, 15.07, 9.11, all P < 0.05). Taking the total score of 5 as the prediction standard, the specificity and sensitivity in the prediction of the occurrence of AAD were 84.94% and 95.43%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating curve regarding the modified AAD risk score was 0.909. Conclusion:The modified AAD risk score can be used to conveniently and quickly predict the occurrence of AAD and has a high predictive value. This study is highly innovative and scientific.

Objective The hearing and speech rehabilitation effects by hearing aid use and cochlear implanta‐tion in hearing -impaired children were compared .Methods A total of infants aged from 6 months to 3 years with severe hearing loss of prelingual nature were included .They were divided into 2 groups :group 1 (18 with hearing aids) and group 2 (14 with cochlear implantation) .There was no significant difference in the degree of hearing loss and age between the 2 groups .They received rehabilitation education of the same content for a year .Their unaided and aided thresholds were tested in sound field while the IT -MAIS was used for evaluating hearing ability of two groups before and after 3 ,6 ,9 ,and 12 months of hearing aid use and cochlear implantation .Results In both groups ,hearing were better in aided conditions than those of in unaided ,while those from the cochlear group were significantly improved at more frequencies than those of the hearing aid group .In general ,the longer use and train‐ing ,the better hearing improvement .The mean scores of auditory performance in the cochlear implantation group at 6 months were significantly higher in comparison with those at 3 months (P<0 .05) .There were significant differ‐ences in mean scores between the two groups at 6 ,9 ,12 months after fitting (P<0 .05) .The verbal ability scores ,hearing and speech rehabilitation levels in the cochlear group were higher than those of in the hearing aid group (P<0 .05) .Conclusion For severe hearing loss children ,cochlear implantation could produce more noticeable effects than hearing aids .

OBJECTIVEThis study was to understand the status of pollution on drinking water, by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), among rural residents living in the basin of Huaihe River. Relationship between the morbidity, morbidity of cancers and VOCs were also explored.

METHODS28 villages were chosen from Xuyi,Jinhu, Chuzhou along the Huaihe River, with water samples collected from ditch pond water, shallow wells, deep wells in November-December 2010. VOCs indicators were evaluated according to the Standard Quality GB 5749-2006 for Drinking Water.

RESULTSMethylene chloride, chloroform, benzene and carbon tetrachloride were all detected in 76 water samples. The rates of chloroform, benzene, carbon tetrachloride which exceeding the quality standards were 3.95% , 21.05% and 22.37% , but no significant differences were found among these three water resources in chloroform, benzene or carbon tetrachloride. Results from the correlation analysis showed that benzene had positive correlation with tumor deaths (r = 0.24, P < 0.05). Results from the risk assessment on health showed that some chloroform, benzene, carbon tetrachloride products which were related to the risks of cancers were exceeding the acceptable ranges of risk, with the rates as 28.95%, 22.37% and 64.47% but with no significant differences among the three water resources (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDrinking waters for rural residents along the Huaihe River were polluted while VOCs might have related to tumor incidence with potential impact and risk to the health of local residents.

China ; Drinking Water ; chemistry ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Rural Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; adverse effects ; analysis

Objective This study was to understand the status of pollution on drinking water, by volatile organic compounds(VOCs),among rural residents living in the basin of Huaihe River. Relationship between the morbidity,morbidity of cancers and VOCs were also explored. Methods 28 villages were chosen from Xuyi,Jinhu,Chuzhou along the Huaihe River,with water samples collected from ditch pond water,shallow wells,deep wells in November-December 2010. VOCs indicators were evaluated according to the Standard Quality GB 5749-2006 for Drinking Water. Results Methylene chloride,chloroform,benzene and carbon tetrachloride were all detected in 76 water samples. The rates of chloroform,benzene,carbon tetrachloride which exceeding the quality standards were 3.95%,21.05% and 22.37%,but no significant differences were found among these three water resources in chloroform,benzene or carbon tetrachloride. Results from the correlation analysis showed that benzene had positive correlation with tumor deaths(r=0.24,P<0.05). Results from the risk assessment on health showed that some chloroform,benzene,carbon tetrachloride products which were related to the risks of cancers were exceeding the acceptable ranges of risk,with the rates as 28.95%,22.37% and 64.47% but with no significant differences among the three water resources(P>0.05). Conclusion Drinking waters for rural residents along the Huaihe River were polluted while VOCs might have related to tumor incidence with potential impact and risk to the health of local residents.

Two hundred and forty patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, discharged from October 2009 to January 2010, were randomly divided into two groups. One hundred twenty patients received home-based rehabilitation training, another 120 patients received conventional treatment and non-specific home rehabilitation. Brunnstrom rating and Barthel index ( BI) evaluation of motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) were performed in both groups before and after training program; Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) , Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) Assessment of anxiety and depression were also performed. Results showed that the lower limb function and ADL ability in home rehabilitation group were significantly increased, the anxiety and depression were significantly improved after home rehabilitation training ( P < 0. 005 ) ; but those indicators in control group were not significantly changed ( P > 0. 05 ).

Action oriented teaching is to train a person's comprehensive vocational ability for the teaching goal, widely used in vocational education field. In the rehabilitation of specialized curriculum teaching method using orientation, not only can stimulate inner motivation in students to cultivate students' comprehensive analysis ability and developing thinking ability, but also help students' comprehensive ability and quality of career.