Background Kurtosis reflecting noise's temporal structure is an effective metric for evaluating noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and its threshold is still unclear. Objective To explore the energy range of kurtosis and the threshold of NIHL induced by kurtosis in this energy rangeMethods Using cross-sectional design, 4631 noise-exposed workers in manufacturing industry were selected. The hearing loss and noise exposure data of each worker were collected. Logistic regression model was used to establish the dose-response relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss and estimate the range of energy effects. Restricted cubic spline model was utilized to analyze the dose-response relationship curves of kurtosis to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHI) and high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL) under different 8 h equivalent sound levels (L_{EX,8 h}), as well as to estimate the kurtosis effect threshold. Results The logistic regression model analysis showed that the prevalence of NIHI and HFNIHL increased significantly with increase of L_{EX,8 h} for steady noise; when L_{EX,8 h} of non-steady noise was 80-100 dB(A), the risk of hearing loss increased with an increase in kurtosis (P<0.05). The restricted cubic spline model showed that when L_{EX,8 h} of non-steady noise was 0-80 dB(A) or >100 dB(A), there was no significant relationship between kurtosis and NIHI or HFNIHL. When L_{EX,8 h} was 80-100 dB(A), there was a significant nonlinear dose-response relationship between kurtosis and NIHL or HFNIHL (P <0.001), and kurtosis > 28.08 exerted effect in elevating NIHI or HFNIHL. Conclusion The effect threshold of kurtosis on NIHL is 28.08 when non-steady noise levels are in the range of 80-100 dB(A). The effect threshold of kurtosis needs further verification.

Background Temporal kurtosis (without frequency weighting, i.e., Z-weighted kurtosis) can evaluate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, few studies have considered the function of frequency weighting (A- or C-weighted) kurtosis on NIHL. Objective To study the significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis adjustment for equivalent sound level (L'_{EX,8 h}) in evaluating occupational hearing loss. Methods A cross-sectional survey was used to select 973 noise-exposed workers in seven industries as the subjects. The noise exposure of all workers was assessed by distributions of A-, C-, and Z-weighted kurtosis (e.g., K_A, K_C, and K_Z) and respective adjusted equivalent sound level (e.g., L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A, L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z). The significance of A- and C-weighted kurtosis in evaluating NIHL was evaluated by correlations between three types of L'_{EX,8 h} and NIHL, and improvement of noise-induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS) underestimation predicted by the ISO prediction model (Acoustics—Estimation of noise-induced hearing loss, ISO 1999-2013). Results The median K_A, K_C, and K_Z were 68.33, 28.22, and 19.82, respectively. The binary logistic regression showed that L_{EX, 8 h}-K_A, L_{EX, 8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX, 8 h}-K_Z were risk factors for NIHL (OR>1, P<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that when the outcome variable was noise-induced hearing impairment (NIHI), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A, L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z were 0.625, 0.628, and 0.625, respectively. When the outcome variable was high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL), the areas under the curves corresponding to L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A, L'_{EX, 8 h}-K_C, and L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z were 0.624, 0.623, and 0.622, respectively (P<0.05). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'_{EX,8 h} for NIPTS₁₂₃₄ was: L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A (4.68 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C (4.38 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z (4.28 dB HL) (P<0.001). The order of underestimation improvement values predicted by L'_{EX,8 h}-K for NIPTS₃₄₆ was: L'_{EX,8 h}-K_A (7.20 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_C (6.83 dB HL)>L'_{EX,8 h}-K_Z (6.71 dB HL) (P<0.001). Conclusion The adjustment of A- and C-weighted kurtosis to equivalent sound level L_{EX,8 h} can effectively improve the accuracy of the ISO 1999 prediction model in NIPTS prediction, and compared with the C-weighted, the A-weighted kurtosis can improve the result of the ISO 1999 prediction model in terms of underestimating NIPTS.

background Current assessment of noise-induced hearing loss relies on the hearing threshold statistical distribution table of ISO 7029-2017 standard (ISO 7029), which is based on foreign population data and lacks a hearing threshold distribution table derived from pure-tone audiometry data of the Chinese population, hindering accurate evaluation of hearing loss in this group. Objective To establish a statistical distribution table of hearing threshold level (HTL) for otologically normal Chinese adults and to provide a scientific basis for revising the diagnostic criteria of occupational noise-induced deafness in China. Methods A total of 1271 otologically normal Chinese adults aged 18-60 years were divided into four groups with 10-year age intervals. Based on the pure tone audiometry data and power function operation formula, the relevant parameters of the median and percentile calculation formula of ISO 7029 were adjusted. Based on the adjusted parameters, a statistical distribution table of HTL of normal Chinese adults in otology was preliminarily constructed according to the calculation formula of ISO 7029. A nonparametric rank sum test was used to compare the difference between the adjusted median deviation value and the ISO 7029 calculation. Results Except for a few frequencies (2000, 3000, and 8000 Hz), the value of parameter α adjusted for the auditory threshold deviation of the Chinese population (α_CHN-md) increased with the increase of frequency, while the value of parameter β adjusted for the auditory threshold deviation of the Chinese population (β_CHN-md) decreased with the increase of frequency. The preliminary distribution table of otologically normal Chinese adults' median hearing threshold deviation (ΔH_CHN-md) showed that the hearing threshold deviation increased with age and frequency. At 8000 Hz, the increase in ΔH_CHN-md with age was the greatest for both men and women, from 0 dB to 23 dB and 21 dB respectively. The minimal threshold elevation was noted at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, which increased from 0 dB to 2 dB. In otologically normal Chinese adults, the maximum increase of ΔH_CHN-md with frequency was observed at age of 50 years, which increased from 2 dB at 500 Hz to 23 dB at 8000 Hz in men and from 2 dB at 500 Hz to 21 dB at 8000 Hz in women. The comparison results with the ISO 7029 calculation showed that the trend was consistent. The median hearing threshold deviation value of the adjusted Chinese population was lower than that of the ISO 7029 calculation (ΔH_md). However, they had no significant statistical difference (P>0.05). For otologically normal normal Chinese men and women, the maximum difference of ΔH_md between the 50-year-old group and the ISO calculation at 8000 Hz was 7 dB and 9 dB, respectively. Conclusion This preliminary analysis of hearing threshold deviations in otologically normal Chinese adults suggests that current standards may potentially underestimate hearing loss at frequencies below 8000 Hz while possibly overestimating it at 8000 Hz. These findings require further validation through expanded sample sizes to more accurately assess the characteristics of hearing thresholds in the Chinese population and their discrepancies with existing standards.

Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Tic Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the medium- and long-term efficacy of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) combined with stent implantation for treatment of iliac vein stenosis with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT). METHODS: Clinical and follow-up data of 125 patients with iliac vein stenosis and LEDVT who underwent PMT and stent implantation at five hospitals in northern Zhejiang province from January 2017 to June 2021 were collected. The thrombus clearance rate, thrombus recurrence rate, patency rate of iliac vein stents and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) occurrence rate were documented, and safety indicators such as bleeding, death, pulmonary embolism, stent fracture and displacement were assessed. RESULTS: Among 125 patients, for clearance of limb thrombosis, there were 8 cases of grade I (6.4%), 10 cases of grade II (8.0%), and 107 cases of grade III (85.6%). Patients were followed up for a median period of 74 months. According to the Villalta score, the recurrence rates of limb thrombosis at 12, 24 and 36 months were 8.48%, 8.93% and 10.91%; the iliac vein patency rates were 91.52%, 91.07%, and 89.09%; and the incidences of PTS were 5.08%, 5.36% and 6.36%, respectively. There were no major adverse events such as death, massive pulmonary embolism or severe hepatic and renal insufficiency, and no readmission intervention events due to stent fracture or other incidence were found. CONCLUSIONS PMT combined with iliac vein stent implantation is effective for patients with iliac vein stenosis complicated by LEDVT with good medium- and long-term efficacy and safety, which is worthy of clinical application.
Humans ; Stents ; Iliac Vein/pathology* ; Venous Thrombosis/surgery* ; Thrombectomy/methods* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; Constriction, Pathologic/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Follow-Up Studies

The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) control natural killer (NK) cells development and cytotoxic functions, however, whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in this pathway remains unknown. We found that miR155HG was elevated in activated NK cells and promoted their proliferation and effector functions in both NK92 and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells, without reliance on its derived miR-155 and micropeptide P155. Mechanistically, miR155HG bound to miR-6756 and relieved its repression of JAK3 expression, thereby promoting the JAK-STAT pathway and enhancing NK cell proliferation and function. Further investigations disclosed that upon cytokine stimulation, STAT3 directly interacts with miR155HG promoter and induces miR155HG transcription. Collectively, we identify a miR155HG-mediated positive feedback loop of the JAK-STAT signaling. Our study will also provide a power target regarding miR155HG for improving NK cell generation and effector function in the field of NK cell adoptive transfer therapy against cancer, especially iPSC-derived NK cells.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ) on ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) after myocardial infarction (MI) in Sprague-Dawley rats and explore its potential mechanism.Methods:The random number table method was used to divide 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats into 4 groups: Sham group, TCZ group, MI group and MI+TCZ group, with 8 rats in each group. The MI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery in the MI and MI+TCZ groups, and only sutured without ligation in the Sham and TCZ groups. TCZ was injected into the left superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of rats in the TCZ and MI+TCZ groups after successful modeling or sham operation, and the same amount of normal saline was injected in the Sham and MI groups. 24 h after successful modeling, ECG of rats in each group was recorded, heart rate variability (HRV, including low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), LF/HF ratio), QT interval, QTc interval were calculated, and left ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and VA inducibility were measured. Myocardial infarct size and tissue changes were observed with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining and HE staining. Real-time PCR analysis was used to detect the messager RNA (mRNA) expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 in SCG and potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily D member 2 (Kcnd2) in myocardial infarction periphery. The expression of c-fos in SCG was detected by immunofluorescence staining.Results:Compared with Sham group and MI+TCZ group, rats in MI group had higher LF and LF/HF ratio, longer QT interval and QTc interval, more VAs induced, lower HF and shorter ERP ( P all<0.05). Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining and HE staining showed that rats in the Sham and TCZ groups had normal myocardial tissue structure, those in the MI group had severe myocardial injury, and those in the MI+TCZ group had less myocardial injury than those in the MI group. Real-ime PCR analysis showed that compared with Sham group and MI+TCZ group, mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and STAT3 in SCG of rats in MI group were higher, and mRNA expression level of myocardial Kcnd2 was lower ( P all<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the content of c-fos in SCG of rats in MI group was higher than that of Sham group and MI+TCZ group ( P all<0.05). Conclusions:TCZ may reduce neural activity of the SCG after MI by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating myocardial injury and inhibiting VAs.

Objective To cultivate glioblastoma U87 stem-like cells(SLCs)and to detect the level of stemness bio-markers,mitochondrial respiratory capacity and the capacity of in vivo tumorigenesis.Methods B-27,growth factors EGF and bFGF was added into DMEM/F-12 culture in serum-free stem cell culture medium for U87 SLCs.Suspended culture of U87 SLCs was suspended using the neuro-sphere formation assay,while adherent culture of U87 SLCs was achieved by coating Matrigel matrix on the culture surface.The mRNA and protein level of stemness biomarkers in culture were detected using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.The proportion of CD133+cells in culture was detected by flow cytometry.The changes of cell oxygen consumption rate were detected by Seahorse cell metabo-lism analysis.Cell tumorigenesis ability was verified by subcutaneous tumor transplantation in animals.Results U87 SLCs in stem cell culture medium would grow into typical sphere morphology within one week,and the spheres would continue to grow as the culture process prolongs.At the appropriate concentration of adhesive,U87 SLCs adhered to and grow well in stem cell culture medium.The mRNA transcription of stemness biomarkers such as CD133,nes-tin,OLIG2,CD44,CD15,and integrin α6(ITGA6)was significantly increased as found in both culture methods,and the protein levels of CD133 and nestin were also increased under both methods(P＜0.05).U87 SLCs showed higher mitochondrial reserve respiratory capacity(P＜0.05).U87 SLCs could form larger subcutaneous tumors with fewer inoculated cells(P＜0.05),and grew faster in vivo with stronger tumorigenic ability.Conclusions U87 SLCs have typical stemness characteristics and may function as tumor cell model with higher stemness properties.

Objective To study the effect of carboxyamidotriazole-orotate(CTO)on the proliferation and fatty acid anabolism regulation of human pancreatic cancer cells.Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell lines AsPC-1,AsPC-1/GEM(AR),PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2 were used as the study subjects;cell survival rate was detected by sulfo-nylrhodamine B(SRB);the mRNA level of key genes for fatty acid synthesis was detected by qPCR;the protein level of the AMPK/ACC pathway was detected by Western blot;intracellular lipid metabolites were examined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results Comparing to control group,CTO significantly de-creased the cell viability of AsPC-1,AR,PANC-1,and MiaPaCa-2(P＜0.05).CTO down-regulated the mRNA level of key fatty acid synthesis genes(P＜0.05).CTO significantly reduced the protein expression of AMPK,ACC and c-Myc(P＜0.05),while increasing the protein expression of p-AMPK and p-ACC(P＜0.05).CTO decreased lipid metabolite content in AR cells(P＜0.05).Conclusions CTO attenuates cellular fatty acid anabolism by inhibition of oncogene c-Myc expression and AMPK/ACC pathway,down-regulates the expression of fatty acid synthesis-related genes,and then inhibits proliferation of the human pancreatic cancer cell lines AsPC-1,AR,PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2.

Objective To investigate the effect of afferent blockade of visceral adipose tissue(VAT)on cardiac function and cardiac neural remodeling in rats after myocardial infarction(MI).Methods After 30 healthy SPF-grade male SD rats were subjected,12 of them were randomly divided into control group(n=6)and activation group(n=6).In the activation group,low-dose capsaicin(1 mmol/L)was used to activate VAT afferent nerves,while in the control group,an equal amount of normal saline was injected,and real-time blood pressure and heart rate were monitored for 30 min.The other 18 rats were randomly assigned into sham group(n=6),MI group(n=6),and high-dose capsaicin blockade group(n=6).The MI model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery.After MI modeling,the high-dose capsaicin blockade group was give 33 mmol/L capsaicin to block VAT afferent nerve,and the sham opera-tion group and MI group were injected with the same amount of normal saline.After 2 weeks,car-diac function was measured by echocardiography,infarct size was measured by TTC staining,heart rate variability was analyzed,and myocardial tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)was measured.The levels of myocardial superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were measured by biochemical methods.Results More significant changes in blood pressure and heart rate were observed in the activation group than the control group(P＜0.01).The MI group had obviously larger infarct size,higher LVEDD and LVESD,and increased myocardial TH density and MDA level,but lower LVEF and myocardial SOD activity than the sham group(P＜0.05).However,the infarct size,LVEDD(9.15±0.37 mm vs 10.1±0.85 mm),LVESD(6.33±0.40 mm vs 7.87±0.86 mm)were obviously decreased,while LVEF[(67.04±3.34)％vs(47.10±3.89)％]and myocar-dial FS[(33.26±2.50)％vs(20.81±2.14)％]activity were greatly increased in the high dose capsaicin group than the MI group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Activation of VAT afferent nerve can increase blood pressure and heart rate;while its blockade can reduce the infarct size,protect cardiac function and inhibit cardiac nerve remodeling in MI rats,possibly by reducing oxidative stress.