Objective:To investigate the factors influencing sound localization in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, so as to provide the reference for hearing rehabilitation of patients with unilateral sudden hearing loss.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study that retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and audiological examination results of 228 patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss(103 males and 125 females; aged from 18 to 80 years, with an average age of 46.2 years; 107 cases in the left ear and 121 cases in the right ear; 8 cases of low-frequency decline type, 42 cases of high-frequency decline type, 92 cases of flat decline type, and 86 cases of total deafness type)at the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University from June 2023 to April 2024. The minimum audible angle (MAA) was calculated by the angle discrimination test of 1000 Hz and 4000 Hz warble tones, which were recorded as MAA 1 000 and MAA 4 000 according to the frequency of the given sound stimulus. The root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated by the angle recognition test with daily natural sounds as the stimulus sound. Using SPSS 27.0 statistical software, correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to research the clinical factors affecting the ability of sound localization in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Results:The mean MAA 1 000, MAA 4 000, RMSE of patients with unilateral sudden deafness were (53.97±29.14)°, (46.34±28.87)° and (30.06±13.64)°, respectively. Univariate analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences between different classifications of sudden sensorineural hearing loss for sound localization tests (MAA 1 000: F=6.338, P<0.001,MAA 4 000: F=14.334, P<0.001,RMSE: F=49.918, P<0.001), post-hoc analysis observed that all significant contrasts were included the type of total deafness and low-frequency deafness. Correlation analysis showed the age of subjects in this study was weak positively correlated to the MAA 1 000 ( r=0.165, P=0.013), the duration of sudden sensorineural hearing loss was weak negatively related to RMSE ( r=-0.144, P=0.030), there were significant positive relationships between the threshold of PTA, PTA 1kHz, PTA 4kHz for the affected side, as well as the binaural PTA difference and sound localization test (MAA 1 000,MAA 4 000,RMSE) (all P<0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed the age and the binaural PTA difference for the affected side were the significant factors for the MAA 1 000 and MAA 4 000, the binaural PTA difference was the significant factors for the RMSE. The R 2 of multivariable linear regression model for MAA 1 000, MAA 4 000 and RMSE results in unilateral sudden deafness patients were 0.149, 0.207 and 0.553, respectively. Conclusion:Age, the hearing of the affected side, and binaural PTA difference are the significant factors for sound localization ability in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, hearing compensation of the affected ear for these patients is hopeful to enhance the sound localization ability.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of nutritional risk related indicators in the prognosis of elderly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients undergoing radical radiotherapy.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of ESCC patients aged ≥ 70 years who received radical radiotherapy in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the radiotherapy planning system, the maximum transverse diameter of gross tumor volume of primary tumors (GTVt) and GTVt volume in the esophagus were calculated. The nutritional risk related indicators of ESCC patients before and after radiotherapy were calculated and recorded, including body mass index (BMI), geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log- rank test was performed; Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the factors influencing the prognosis of patients. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), short-term efficacy, and adverse reactions of patients with different clinicopathological characteristics were compared.Results:The last follow-up time was 30 December, 2023. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates of 161 elderly patients with ESCC were 79.5%, 33.9%, and 16.1% respectively, with a median OS time of 25.8 months (95% CI: 20.11-31.49 months); the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year PFS rates were 65.8%, 28.9%, and 14.8%, respectively, with a median PFS time of 20.0 months (95% CI: 16.31-23.69 months). There were statistically significant differences in the median OS time of patients with different age, lesion contrast length, maximum transverse diameter of GTVt, GTVt volume, short-term efficacy, BMI before radiotherapy, BMI after radiotherapy, GNRI after radiotherapy, NLR before radiotherapy, and NLR after radiotherapy (all P < 0.05); there were statistically significant differences in the median PFS time of ESCC patients with different age, maximum transverse diameter of GTVt, GTVt volume, short-term efficacy, BMI before radiotherapy, BMI after radiotherapy, GNRI after radiotherapy, and NLR before radiotherapy (all P <0.05). The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the maximum transverse diameter of GTVt was an independent influencing factor of the patients' OS ( P < 0.05); GTVt volume, short-term efficacy, GNRI after radiotherapy, and NLR before radiotherapy were independent influencing factors for OS and PFS of the patients (all P < 0.05). Among 161 elderly patients with ESCC, 45 achieved complete remission (CR), 111 achieved partial remission (PR), and 5 achieved stable disease (SD). There were statistically significant differences in the proportions of patients with different maximum transverse diameter of GTVt, GTVt volume, BMI after radiotherapy, GNRI after radiotherapy, and NLR before radiotherapy reaching CR and PR+SD (all P < 0.05). Among the 161 patients, grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 radiation-induced esophagitis (RE) occurred in 59, 54, 42, and 6 cases, respectively during treatment and within 3 months after treatment; among them, ≥ grade 2 RE occurred in 48 cases (29.8%); grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 radiation pneumonitis (RP) occurred in 95, 38, 25, and 3 cases, respectively; among them, ≥ grade 2 RP occurred in 28 cases (17.4%). Conclusions:Nutritional risk related indexes GNRI and NLR may be predictive indicators for the prognosis of elderly ESCC patients undergoing radical radiotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the level of health literacy and its influencing factors among university students in Xi'an City, so as to provide the basis for improving the health literacy level among university students. Methods: Students from five comprehensive universities in Xi'an City were selected using a multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method from September to December 2023. Data of basic information and health literacy were collected using questionnaire surveys. The health literacy level of university students was analyzed and factors affecting health literacy level among university students were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 815 students were surveyed, including 803 males (44.24%) and 1 012 females (55.76%), and had a mean age of (20.07±1.70) years. The overall health literacy level was 40.17%. The health literacy levels of basic knowledge and concept, healthy lifestyle and behaviors, and basic skills were 61.98%, 41.32% and 27.82%, respectively. The health literacy levels of safety and first aid, scientific health outlook, health information, chronic disease prevention and control, infectious disease prevention and control, and basic medical care were 73.44%, 70.14%, 53.50%, 50.36%, 39.34% and 33.72%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the university students who were female (OR=1.339, 95%CI: 1.034-1.733), majored in medicine (OR=1.668, 95%CI: 1.306-2.129), had a normal body mass index (OR=1.326, 95%CI: 1.056-1.688) and had no smoking history (OR=2.072, 95%CI: 1.122-2.192) had higher health literacy levels. Conclusions The health literacy levels among university students in Xi'an City are relatively low in terms of basic skills, infectious disease prevention and control, and basic medical care. Gender, major, body mass index and smoking history are influencing factors for health literacy level among university students.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing sound localization in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, so as to provide the reference for hearing rehabilitation of patients with unilateral sudden hearing loss.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study that retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and audiological examination results of 228 patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss(103 males and 125 females; aged from 18 to 80 years, with an average age of 46.2 years; 107 cases in the left ear and 121 cases in the right ear; 8 cases of low-frequency decline type, 42 cases of high-frequency decline type, 92 cases of flat decline type, and 86 cases of total deafness type)at the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University from June 2023 to April 2024. The minimum audible angle (MAA) was calculated by the angle discrimination test of 1000 Hz and 4000 Hz warble tones, which were recorded as MAA 1 000 and MAA 4 000 according to the frequency of the given sound stimulus. The root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated by the angle recognition test with daily natural sounds as the stimulus sound. Using SPSS 27.0 statistical software, correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to research the clinical factors affecting the ability of sound localization in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Results:The mean MAA 1 000, MAA 4 000, RMSE of patients with unilateral sudden deafness were (53.97±29.14)°, (46.34±28.87)° and (30.06±13.64)°, respectively. Univariate analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences between different classifications of sudden sensorineural hearing loss for sound localization tests (MAA 1 000: F=6.338, P<0.001,MAA 4 000: F=14.334, P<0.001,RMSE: F=49.918, P<0.001), post-hoc analysis observed that all significant contrasts were included the type of total deafness and low-frequency deafness. Correlation analysis showed the age of subjects in this study was weak positively correlated to the MAA 1 000 ( r=0.165, P=0.013), the duration of sudden sensorineural hearing loss was weak negatively related to RMSE ( r=-0.144, P=0.030), there were significant positive relationships between the threshold of PTA, PTA 1kHz, PTA 4kHz for the affected side, as well as the binaural PTA difference and sound localization test (MAA 1 000,MAA 4 000,RMSE) (all P<0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed the age and the binaural PTA difference for the affected side were the significant factors for the MAA 1 000 and MAA 4 000, the binaural PTA difference was the significant factors for the RMSE. The R 2 of multivariable linear regression model for MAA 1 000, MAA 4 000 and RMSE results in unilateral sudden deafness patients were 0.149, 0.207 and 0.553, respectively. Conclusion:Age, the hearing of the affected side, and binaural PTA difference are the significant factors for sound localization ability in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, hearing compensation of the affected ear for these patients is hopeful to enhance the sound localization ability.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of nutritional risk related indicators in the prognosis of elderly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients undergoing radical radiotherapy.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of ESCC patients aged ≥ 70 years who received radical radiotherapy in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the radiotherapy planning system, the maximum transverse diameter of gross tumor volume of primary tumors (GTVt) and GTVt volume in the esophagus were calculated. The nutritional risk related indicators of ESCC patients before and after radiotherapy were calculated and recorded, including body mass index (BMI), geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log- rank test was performed; Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the factors influencing the prognosis of patients. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), short-term efficacy, and adverse reactions of patients with different clinicopathological characteristics were compared.Results:The last follow-up time was 30 December, 2023. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates of 161 elderly patients with ESCC were 79.5%, 33.9%, and 16.1% respectively, with a median OS time of 25.8 months (95% CI: 20.11-31.49 months); the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year PFS rates were 65.8%, 28.9%, and 14.8%, respectively, with a median PFS time of 20.0 months (95% CI: 16.31-23.69 months). There were statistically significant differences in the median OS time of patients with different age, lesion contrast length, maximum transverse diameter of GTVt, GTVt volume, short-term efficacy, BMI before radiotherapy, BMI after radiotherapy, GNRI after radiotherapy, NLR before radiotherapy, and NLR after radiotherapy (all P < 0.05); there were statistically significant differences in the median PFS time of ESCC patients with different age, maximum transverse diameter of GTVt, GTVt volume, short-term efficacy, BMI before radiotherapy, BMI after radiotherapy, GNRI after radiotherapy, and NLR before radiotherapy (all P <0.05). The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the maximum transverse diameter of GTVt was an independent influencing factor of the patients' OS ( P < 0.05); GTVt volume, short-term efficacy, GNRI after radiotherapy, and NLR before radiotherapy were independent influencing factors for OS and PFS of the patients (all P < 0.05). Among 161 elderly patients with ESCC, 45 achieved complete remission (CR), 111 achieved partial remission (PR), and 5 achieved stable disease (SD). There were statistically significant differences in the proportions of patients with different maximum transverse diameter of GTVt, GTVt volume, BMI after radiotherapy, GNRI after radiotherapy, and NLR before radiotherapy reaching CR and PR+SD (all P < 0.05). Among the 161 patients, grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 radiation-induced esophagitis (RE) occurred in 59, 54, 42, and 6 cases, respectively during treatment and within 3 months after treatment; among them, ≥ grade 2 RE occurred in 48 cases (29.8%); grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 radiation pneumonitis (RP) occurred in 95, 38, 25, and 3 cases, respectively; among them, ≥ grade 2 RP occurred in 28 cases (17.4%). Conclusions:Nutritional risk related indexes GNRI and NLR may be predictive indicators for the prognosis of elderly ESCC patients undergoing radical radiotherapy.

Objective To establish an animal model of dampness-syndrome in mice (single model) and evaluate its characteristics of dampness-syndrome. The above-mentioned mice with dampness syndrome were used to construct mice model of ischemic stroke (double model) and observe the effect of dampness-pathogenic on the outcome of stroke. Methods Healthy C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into dampness-syndrome (including sham-surgery group and ischemic stroke group,with 10 mice in each group) and non dampness-syndrome groups (including sham-surgery group and ischemic stroke group,with 10 mice in each group). The dampness-syndrome group was fed with high-fat diet and the non dampness-syndrome group was fed with normal diet for 12 weeks. After the mice model of dampness-syndrome was successfully established,transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (tMCAO/R) surgery was used to replicate an ischemic stroke mice model. Evaluation indicators for dampness-syndrome mice model:the general status including body weight,morphology,posture,activity status,and physical characteristics,the histopathological observation of the aorta (oil red O staining,Masson-trichrome staining) and liver (HE staining,oil red O staining),electron microscopic observation of the tongue tissue (scanning electron microscopy,electron microscopy),blood lipid levels[total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG)]and liver coefficient. Evaluation indicators for ischemic stroke mice model:neurological function score and the cerebral infarction volume ratio. Results Compared with the non dampness-syndrome group,the mice in the dampness-syndrome group showed an increased in body weight,poor hair color,sparse hair,fatigue and laziness,mental atrophy,anorexia and lethargy. It was observed that the aortic lumen was narrowed,the intima was significantly thickened,lipid plaque deposition was increased,and foam cells were visible. A large amount of red lipid droplets appeared in liver cells. There were obvious lipid infiltration and diffuse steatosis. Increased keratosis of the mucosal layer of tongue tissue,the thicker stratum corneum,lipofuscin,and bacteria on the tongue surface were found. Serum TG and TC levels significantly increased(P<0.01),and the liver coefficient significantly decreased (P<0.001). Compared with non dampness-syndrome group (sham-surgery group),neurological function score and the cerebral infarction volume ratio in dampness-syndrome ischemic stroke group obviously increased (P<0.001). Conclusion High-fat feeding for 12 weeks combined with tMCAO/R modeling can successfully establish a mice model with dampness-syndrome ischemic stroke,and the neurological function score and cerebral infarction volume in the dampness-syndrome ischemic stroke group was more severe than that in the non dampness-syndrome ischemic stroke group.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role and mechanism of podoplanin （PDPN） in hepatic stellate cell （HSC） activation and liver fibrosis. MethodsLiver biopsy samples were collected from 75 patients with chronic hepatitis B who attended Department of Infectious Diseases， Putuo Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， for the first time from September 2019 to June 2022， and RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the expression of PDPN in liver tissue of patients in different stages of liver fibrosis. A total of 12 male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into control group and model group. The mice in the model group were given intraperitoneal injection of 10% CCl₄， and those in the control group were injected with an equal volume of olive oil， for 6 weeks. HE staining and Sirius Red staining were used to observe liver histopathological changes； primary mouse liver cells were separated to measure the mRNA expression of PDPN in various types of cells； primary mouse HSCs were treated with PDPN protein， followed by treatment with the NF-‍κB inhibitor BAY11-708， to measure the expression of inflammatory factors in HSCs induced by PDPN. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups； a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. The Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate data correlation. ResultsAs for the liver biopsy samples， there was a relatively low mRNA expression level of PDPN in normal liver， and there was a significant increase in the mRNA expression level of PDPN in liver tissue of stage S3 or S4 fibrosis （all P<0.001）. Immunohistochemical staining showed that PDPN was mainly expressed in the fibrous septum and the hepatic sinusoid， and the PDPN-positive area in S4 liver tissue was significantly higher than that in S0 liver tissue （t=8.892， P=0.001）. In normal mice， PDPN was mainly expressed in the hepatic sinusoid， and there was a significant increase in the expression of PDPN in CCl₄ model mice （t=0.95， P<0.001）， mainly in the fibrous septum. RT-PCR showed a significant increase in the mRNA expression of PDPN in the CCl₄ model mice （t=11.25， P=0.002）. Compared with hepatocytes， HSCs， Kupffer cells， and bile duct endothelial cells， hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells showed a significantly high expression level of PDPN （F=20.56， P<0.001）. Compared with the control group， the primary mouse HSCs treated by PDPN protein for 15 minutes showed significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of the inflammation-related factors TNFα， CCL3， CXCL1， and CXCR1 （all P<0.05）， and there were significant reductions in the levels of these indicators after treatment with BAY11-7082 （all P<0.05）. ConclusionThere is an increase in the expression of PDPN mainly in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells during liver fibrosis， and PDPN regulates HSC activation and promotes the progression of liver fibrosis via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of nosocomial pneumonia in elderly pa-tients with CHD and HF.Methods A total of 196 elderly CHD patients with HF diagnosed and treated in our department from March 2021 to August 2023 were enrolled,and divided into infec-ted group(n=52)and non-infected group(n=144)based on whether pulmonary infection oc-curred during hospitalization.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors af-fecting secondary nosocomial pulmonary infection.Based on these risk factors,a comprehensive in-dex was built.ROC curve was drawn to analyze the diagnostic value of the index for secondary nosocomial pulmonary infection.Results The infected group had significantly advanced age,lar-ger proportions of NYHA grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ,smoking history,diabetes history,mechanical ventila-tion time＞48 h,length of hospital stay＞14 d,and albumin at admission＜30 g/L,and higher RDW at admission when compared with the non-infected group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that NYHA grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ,diabetes history,mechanical ventilation time＞48 h,length of hospitalization＞14 d,albumin＜30 g/L at admission and RDW at admis-sion were risk factors for secondary nosocomial pulmonary infection in elderly CHD patients with HF(OR=2.398,95％CI:1.157-4.969;OR=2.732,95％CI:1.278-5.839;OR=2.607,95％CI:1.138-5.973;OR=3.368,95％CI:1.567-7.242;OR=2.677,95％CI:1.218-5.886;OR=1.762,95％CI:1.488-61.222).ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC value of NYHA grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ,diabetes history,mechanical ventilation time＞48 h,length of hospitalization＞14 d,albumin＜30 g/L at admission and RDW at admission in predicting secondary nosocomial pulmonary infec-tion in elderly CHD patients with HF was 0.598,0.620,0.586,0.595,0.615 and 0.850,respectively,and the value of the comprehensive index was 0.743,which is superior to that of above single indi-cator(P＜0.05).Conclusion Age,NYHA grade,smoking history,diabetes history,mechanical ventilation time,hospital stay and albumin and RDW levels at admission have adverse effects on secondary nosocomial pulmonary infection in elderly CHD patients with HF.Our built compre-hensive index based on these risk factors has high efficacy in predicting nosocomial pulmonary in-fection.

Objective:To screen the pivotal genes involved in the occurrence and development of HBV-associated HCC. Additionally, perform validation and biological function analysis to evaluate changes in the expression of pivotal genes and their prognostic value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The GSE121248 gene expression profile data of HBV-HCC patients were searched and downloaded from the GEO database. The R language was used to compare the differences in gene expression between hepatocellular carcinoma and paracancerous tissues. KEGG and GO function enrichment analyses were performed on the differential genes. PPI plots and pivotal gene screening were carried out through online tools like STRING and Cytoscape software. 369 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 160 healthy controls in TCGA and GTEx were used as validation cohorts to verify the expression levels of the pivotal genes. A Kaplan-Meier plot was drawn to evaluate the prognostic value of the pivotal gene.Results:A total of 120 differentially expressed genes were screened, of which 89 were up-regulated and 31 were down-regulated. Differential genes were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways related to retinol metabolism, cytochrome P450 metabolism, and the p53 signaling pathway. The top 10 differential genes were selected as pivotal genes by the Cytoscape plug-in cytoHubba. There were significant differences in the expression levels of four types of CCNB1, CDK1, RRM2, and TOP2A genes in the validation cohort. All four types of genes were up-regulated. Survival analysis showed that patients with elevated expression levels of four genes had a poorer prognosis, with statistical differences in results.Conclusion:Four types of genes, CCNB1, CDK1, RRM2, and TOP2A, have high expression levels in patients with HBV-HCC and are correlated to shorter survival times, making them a potential target for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Objective:To explore the coverage of influenza and pneumonia vaccination and factors influencing the vaccination in children.Methods:A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in children's parents in Beijing and Gansu by using two-stage cluster-sampling to investigate the influenza and pneumonia vaccination rates and influencing factors in children.Results:A total of 2 377 parents were included in the study, and the results indicated that the influenza vaccination coverage was 35.93% and the pneumonia vaccination coverage was 16.58% in children in survey areas, the vaccination rate of both vaccines was 11.65%. The top three reasons for vaccination for both vaccines were being aware of severity of the diseases (influenza vaccine: 36.02%; pneumonia vaccine: 49.61%), being required by school or organization (influenza vaccine: 28.76%; pneumonia vaccine: 25.45%) and being aware of the susceptibility of the diseases (influenza vaccine: 26.41%; pneumonia vaccine: 13.88%). The top three reasons for having no vaccinations were personal unwillingness, concern about vaccine and vaccine accessibility. Families with multi children, living in rural areas and lower family income were the negative factors for both types of vaccinations.Conclusions:The influenza and pneumonia vaccination coverage in children need further improvement, and rural families and families with multi children are the key concern groups for expanding vaccination coverage. Health education about influenza and pneumonia vaccinations, coordinating vaccine supply and decreasing vaccine prices play an important role in improving influenza and pneumonia vaccination coverage.