BACKGROUND: Without timely and effective rehabilitation, hearing loss may profoundly affect human life quality. China has a large population of hearing-impaired individuals, which imposes a heavy health burden on society. Moreover, this population is projected to increase rapidly owing to China's aging society. METHODS: We used data from a population-representative epidemiological investigation of hearing loss and ear diseases in four Chinese provinces. We estimated the national prevalence using multiple linear regression of the age-group proportions and prevalence in 31 provinces with clustering analysis. We used years lived with disability (YLDs) to analyze the disease burden and forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss by 2060 in China. RESULTS: An estimated 115 million people had moderate-to-complete hearing loss in 2015 across the 31 provinces of China (8.4% of 1.37 billion people). Of these, 85.7% were older than age 50 years (99 million people) and 2.4% were younger than 20 years old (2.8 million people). Of all YLDs attributable to hearing loss, 68.9% were attributable to moderate-to-complete cases. By 2060, a projected 242 million people in China will have moderate-to-complete hearing loss, a 110.0% increase from 2015. CONCLUSIONS The hearing loss prevalence in China is high. Population aging and socioeconomic factors substantially affect the prevalence and severity of hearing loss and the disease burden. The prevalence and severity of hearing loss are unevenly distributed across different provinces. Future public health policies should take these trends and regional variations into account.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Hearing Loss/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cost of Illness

Objective Based on data mining,the medication patterns and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine compound in treatment of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis(RIOM)were studied to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods Search for relevant literatures on the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine in RIOM published in databases such as CNKI,VIP,and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform from their establishment to December 6,2024.High-frequency drug statistics,association rules,systematic clustering and complex network analysis were conducted using Excel 2010,SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Origin 2024 software.Results A total of 70 prescriptions involving 154 herbs were selected.There were 16 herbs with a frequency≥ 12,and the top 10 were Maidong,Shengdihuang,Shenggancao,Xuanshen,Jinyinhua,Beishashen,Lianqiao,Jiegeng,Taizishen,Fuling.The four qi were mainly cold,while the five flavors were mainly sweet and bitter.The channel tropism were most concentrated in lung meridian,stomach meridian,and heart meridian.Association rule analysis identified 10 commonly used drug pairs,systematic clustering yielded 5 novel drug combinations,and complex network analysis results were consistent with systematic clustering.Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for RIOM mainly focuses on clearing heat and removing toxicity,supplement qi and nourish yin,while also promoting production of fluid,promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis,and dispersing pathogenic factors.The new formulas obtained from data mining,such as Maidong,Beishashen,Yuzhu,Shihu,Tiandong,Jinyinhua,Lianqiao,Shenggancao,can provide good clinical reference.

Objective To observe the changes of myelin sheath in corpus callosum on non-ischemic side after ischemic stroke in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R)model,and to investigate the effect of vagus nerve stimulation(VNS)on secondary demyelination in I/R model.Methods Forty-two rats were randomly assigned to sham,I/R,or I/R+VNS groups,with 14 rats in each group.Except for the sham group,the rats in other groups were used to construct I/R model by a middle cerebral artery occlusion thread method.In addition,the rats in the I/R+VNS group were given repetitive electrical stimulation of the left vagus nerve for 60 min at 30 min after ischemia occlusion.The cerebral infarction volume was observed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.The expression levels of myelin basic protein(MBP)and myelin-associated glycoprotein(MAG)in the corpus callosum on the non-ischemic side were detected by Western blotting.The integrity and thickness of myelin sheaths in the corpus callosum on the non-ischemic side were observed by Luxol fast blue staining and transmission electron microscopy,respectively.Results Compared with the sham group,the volume of cerebral infarction in the I/R group was increased(P＜0.01).On the 3rd day after I/R,compared with the sham group,the expression levels of MBP and MAG were significantly decreased(both P＜0.01),the intensity of Luxol fast blue staining was significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and the thickness of the myelin sheath was significantly thinner(g-ratio was increased,P＜0.01)in the corpus callosum on the non-ischemic side.Compared with the I/R group,the expression levels of MBP and MAG in the I/R+VNS group were significantly increased(both P＜0.05),the intensity of Luxol fast blue staining was significantly increased(P＜0.01),and the thickness of myelin sheath was significantly increased(g-ratio was decreased,P＜0.01)in the corpus callosum on the non-ischemic side.Conclusion Secondary demyelination occurs on the non-ischemic side of the rat corpus callosum after ischemic stroke,and VNS can ameliorate the demyelination.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Xiaoxuming Decoction combined with conventional Western medicine therapy in the treatment of patients with ischemic stroke in the recovery period.Methods:A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted. A total of the 118 patients with wind phlegm obstructing collaterlas syndrome during the recovery period of ischemic stroke in our hospital from September 2023 to July 2024 were selected as the observation subjects. They were divided into two groups using a random number table method, with 59 patients in each group. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine therapy, while the TCM group was treated with modified Xiaoxuming Decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 2 months and followed up for 1 month. TCM syndrome scoring was performed before and after treatment, Barthel Index was used to evaluate daily living ability, and carotid artery ultrasound detector was used to evaluate the stability of carotid vascular plaques. Inter group comparisons were performed using t test, χ2 test, or repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). Results:RM-ANOVA showed that the time effect and inter group effect of TCM syndrome integration in the TCM group were significantly different from those in the control group ( Ftime=55.56, Ptime<0.001); Fbetween=18.94, Pbetween<0.001); there was no statistical significance in the interaction effect compared to the control group ( Finteraction=0.24, Pinteraction=0.866); the time effect, inter group effect, and interaction effect of Barthel Index in the TCM group were significantly different from those in the control group ( Ftime=44.57, Ptime<0.001); Fbetween=18.94, Pbetween<0.001; Finteraction=7.45, Pinteraction<0.001). The number of patients with unstable plaques in the TCM group after 3 months of treatment was lower than that in the control group ( χ2=4.52, P=0.033). Conclusion:The combination of modified Xiaoxuming Decoction and conventional Western medicine therapy can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and daily living ability of patients in the recovery period of ischemic stroke, improve the stability of cervical vascular plaques, and the clinical efficacy becomes more significant over time.

ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

Aim To investigate the relationship between sleep deprivation and vascular aging,as well as the un-derlying mechanisms.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group,senescence group,sleep deprivation group,and sleep deprivation+senescence group,with 6 rats in each group.The modified level table method deprived rats of sleep duration.Senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to detect the senes-cence status of rat vascular tissue.The mRNA and protein expression of tumor suppressor protein p53,silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)and clock gene cryptochrome 1(CRY1)was detected by real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(RT-qPCR),Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the control group,the intensity of SA-β-Gal staining was increased in the vascular tissues of the senescence group rats,the expression level of p53 was elevat-ed,the expression level of SIRT1 was decreased.Similar changes were observed in the sleep deprivation group and the sleep deprivation+senescence group,including intensified SA-β-Gal staining,elevated p53 levels,and reduced SIRT1 lev-els in vascular tissues.Additionally,compared with the control group,the sleep deprivation group showed reduced CRY1 levels in vascular tissues,while only CRY1 mRNA levels were reduced in the sleep deprivation+senescence group.Fur-thermore,compared with the senescence group,the sleep deprivation+senescence group exhibited intensified SA-β-Gal staining,increased p53 level,decreased SIRT1 level,and reduced CRY1 mRNA level in vascular tissues.Conclusion Sleep deprivation may promote the expression of vascular aging-related factors,potentially through the inhibition of CRY1 expression in vascular tissues.

Aim To investigate the relationship between sleep deprivation and vascular aging,as well as the un-derlying mechanisms.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group,senescence group,sleep deprivation group,and sleep deprivation+senescence group,with 6 rats in each group.The modified level table method deprived rats of sleep duration.Senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to detect the senes-cence status of rat vascular tissue.The mRNA and protein expression of tumor suppressor protein p53,silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)and clock gene cryptochrome 1(CRY1)was detected by real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(RT-qPCR),Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the control group,the intensity of SA-β-Gal staining was increased in the vascular tissues of the senescence group rats,the expression level of p53 was elevat-ed,the expression level of SIRT1 was decreased.Similar changes were observed in the sleep deprivation group and the sleep deprivation+senescence group,including intensified SA-β-Gal staining,elevated p53 levels,and reduced SIRT1 lev-els in vascular tissues.Additionally,compared with the control group,the sleep deprivation group showed reduced CRY1 levels in vascular tissues,while only CRY1 mRNA levels were reduced in the sleep deprivation+senescence group.Fur-thermore,compared with the senescence group,the sleep deprivation+senescence group exhibited intensified SA-β-Gal staining,increased p53 level,decreased SIRT1 level,and reduced CRY1 mRNA level in vascular tissues.Conclusion Sleep deprivation may promote the expression of vascular aging-related factors,potentially through the inhibition of CRY1 expression in vascular tissues.

Objective Based on data mining,the medication patterns and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine compound in treatment of radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis(RIOM)were studied to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods Search for relevant literatures on the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine in RIOM published in databases such as CNKI,VIP,and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform from their establishment to December 6,2024.High-frequency drug statistics,association rules,systematic clustering and complex network analysis were conducted using Excel 2010,SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Origin 2024 software.Results A total of 70 prescriptions involving 154 herbs were selected.There were 16 herbs with a frequency≥ 12,and the top 10 were Maidong,Shengdihuang,Shenggancao,Xuanshen,Jinyinhua,Beishashen,Lianqiao,Jiegeng,Taizishen,Fuling.The four qi were mainly cold,while the five flavors were mainly sweet and bitter.The channel tropism were most concentrated in lung meridian,stomach meridian,and heart meridian.Association rule analysis identified 10 commonly used drug pairs,systematic clustering yielded 5 novel drug combinations,and complex network analysis results were consistent with systematic clustering.Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine treatment for RIOM mainly focuses on clearing heat and removing toxicity,supplement qi and nourish yin,while also promoting production of fluid,promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis,and dispersing pathogenic factors.The new formulas obtained from data mining,such as Maidong,Beishashen,Yuzhu,Shihu,Tiandong,Jinyinhua,Lianqiao,Shenggancao,can provide good clinical reference.

Rapid turnover of the intestinal epithelium is a critical strategy to balance the uptake of nutrients and defend against environmental insults, whereas inappropriate death promotes the spread of inflammation. PPARα is highly expressed in the small intestine and regulates the absorption of dietary lipids. However, as a key mediator of inflammation, the impact of intestinal PPARα signaling on cell death pathways is unknown. Here, we show that Pparα deficiency of intestinal epithelium up-regulates necroptosis signals, disrupts the gut vascular barrier, and promotes LPS translocation into the liver. Intestinal Pparα deficiency drives age-related hepatic steatosis and aggravates hepatic fibrosis induced by a high-fat plus high-sucrose diet (HFHS). PPARα levels correlate with TRIM38 and MLKL in the human ileum. Inhibition of PPARα up-regulates necroptosis signals in the intestinal organoids triggered by TNF-α and LPS stimuli via TRIM38/TRIF and CREB3L3/MLKL pathways. Butyric acid ameliorates hepatic steatosis induced by intestinal Pparα deficiency through the inhibition of necroptosis. Our data suggest that intestinal PPARα is essential for the maintenance of microenvironmental homeostasis and the spread of inflammation via the gut-liver axis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical infection status and trends in drug resistance of a rare pathogen Kluyveromyces marxianus ( Candida kefyr), and to provide experience for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods:Morphological and molecular biological identification tests and in vitro microdilution drug susceptibility test were conducted on a Kluyveromyces marxianus strain recently isolated from the midstream urine sample of a patient with urinary calculus in the Fungal Laboratory, Changhai Hospital. The ultrastructural damage of the strain caused by different antifungal drugs was observed by scanning electron microscopy. A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical cases of Kluyveromyces marxianus infection in Changhai Hospital from 2009 to 2021. Results:The isolated strain formed smooth, soft, cheese-like yeast colonies on the Sabouraud′s agar medium, and ovoid or slender spores were observed under the microscope. Morphological analysis, mass spectrometry and sequencing analysis identified the strain as Kluyveromyces marxianus. The drug susceptibility test showed that minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, flucytosine, caspofungin, and micafungin were 0.5, 0.5, 0.03, ≤ 0.03, 0.06, 0.5, ≤ 0.016, and 0.06 μg/ml, respectively. Under the scanning electron microscope, the strain was ovoid to slender before antifungal drug treatment, with a size of (3.0 - 6.5) μm × (5.5 - 11.0) μm; after 24-hour treatment with antifungal drugs at the dose of 1 μg/ml, cell membrane shrinkage was more obvious under the treatment with posaconazole, which exhibited a stronger destructive effect on the strain compared with amphotericin B and voriconazole. From 2009 to 2021, 8 cases of Kluyveromyces marxianus infection were collected, including 6 males and 2 females; the Kluyveromyces marxianus strains were isolated from ascites in 3 cases, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in 1 case, sputum in 2 cases, and midstream urine samples in 2 cases. Conclusion:For suspected Kluyveromyces marxianus infection, it is crucial to determine the pathogenic species as early as possible using various identification methods, and to collect strain as well as evaluate drug susceptibility, which will be beneficial for targeted clinical treatment.