Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent sensory disorders affecting the human nervous system. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a physiological process that facilitates the reversible and dynamic assembly of biomolecular condensates. Increasing evidence suggests that LLPS plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of hereditary hearing loss. Nevertheless, there is a conspicuous lack of systematic investigations exploring the impact of LLPS abnormalities on the etiology of hereditary hearing loss. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which dysfunctions in LLPS contribute to hereditary hearing loss, specifically focusing on its effects on mechanoelectrical transduction in hair bundles, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modifications, the actin cytoskeleton, ion homeostasis within the inner ear, and energy and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, we evaluate the considerable potential of targeting LLPS as a therapeutic approach for hearing loss and propose innovative perspectives on LLPS that may guide future research initiatives in the field of auditory disorders.
Humans ; Animals ; Hearing Loss/physiopathology* ; Phase Separation

Objective To detect the value of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in peripheral venous blood in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Methods 50 female patients with advanced advanced metastatic breast can-cer hospitalized in our hospital from May 2016 to December 2016 were enrolled in the research. Patients were divid-ed into oligometastases group and extensive metastasis group through multi-department comprehensive analysis andimaging diagnosis. 10 cases with early stage breast cancer were selected randomly. 10 healthy female volunteers were recruited as control group. After obtaining written informed consent from research subjects ,7.5 mL peripheral blood was drew from patients and volunteers prior to starting a new line of chemotherapy ,surgery or other treat-ment. CTCs counts from Blood samples were detected density gradient centrifugation associate with flow cytometry. Results The base line was formulated as CTCs≥5/7.5 mL positive and CTCs<5/7.5 mL negative. By comparing the positive expression of CTCs in early and advanced metastatic breast cancer(Pa = 0.01,P < 0.05),positive CTCs was associated with advanced metastatic breast cancer. Comparision of the positive expression of CTCs between oligometastases group and the extensive transfer group showed significant difference in the CTCs count be-tween the two groups(Pb = 0.018,P < 0.05). In the corresponding period,no positive CTCs was detected in all healthy volunteers. Conclusion CTCs count was associated with metastatic breast cancer. There was a correlation between tumor metastasis and CTCs count (the more widely metastasis ,the higher the detection rate of CTCs). CTCs may be of relevant value in the diagnosis and treatment ,and prognosis evaluation of metastatic breast cancer.