ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of paeoniflorin （PF） on neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in the rat model of Alzheimer's disease （AD） and to clarify whether its mechanism is associated with regulation of the Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） signaling pathway. MethodsGlycosides related to AD-associated neuroinflammation were screened through bibliometric analysis， and the potential targets of PF were predicted through network pharmacology and molecular docking. A rat model of AD was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose （100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Rats were assigned into a control group， a model group， a PF （200 mg·kg^-1） group， and a donepezil （0.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and drugs were administered by gavage for 21 days. The learning and memory abilities were evaluated by the Morris water maze （MWM）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Nissl staining were performed to observe hippocampal neuronal morphology. The mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein levels of molecules in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency and decreased platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， accompanied by increased expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， as well as elevated ratios of phosphorylated （p）-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the PF group and donepezil group exhibited shortened escape latency and increased platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α， upregulated mRNA levels of interleukin-4 （IL-4） and interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and reduced ratios of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionPaeoniflorin can alleviate cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation in the rat model of AD by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To explore the early detection of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome(LVAS)in children by applying several audiological indicators.METHODS Ninety-two children with hearing loss(aged 1-70 months)were enrolled and divided into an LVAS group(45 cases)and a control group(47 cases).Eleven audiological indicators were statistically analyzed:lateral of hearing loss,the degree of hearing loss,configuration of hearing loss;ABR air-conduction threshold;ABR air-bone gap;ASSR average threshold;ASSR thresholds at 0.5,1,2,and 4 kHz;and tympanogram type.Indicators showing significant two-group differences were used to construct a visualized multifactorial linear prediction model using the R language.RESULTS Nine indicators demonstrated statistically significant differences between groups(P<0.05):laterality,configuration of hearing loss,ABR air-conduction threshold,ASSR average threshold,ASSR thresholds at all frequencies(0.5,1,2,4 kHz),and tympanogram type.A prediction model was established.When the total model score ranged between 200 and 240 points,the predicted LVAS risk probability was 0.1 to 0.99.The consistency index(C-index)was 0.85,indicating good predictive ability of the model.CONCLUSION The identified nine audiological indicators are valuable for the early detection of LVAS in children.The developed model can estimate LVAS risk.After refinement,this model holds potential to support early clinical diagnosis and intervention.

OBJECTIVE To validate the Chinese version hearWHO APP,as a digits in noise test in hearing screening.METHODS Twelve subjects with normal hearing and 92 patients with hearing loss.All participants completed the pure-tone audiometry,the acoustic impedance test,and the hearWHO test in that order.The correlation between better or worse ear PTA0.5-4 kHz and the hearWHO score was analyzed,and the sensitivity and specificity of the hearWHO score at the optimal diagnostic cutoffwere determined by using the subjects'operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve.RESULTS There was a significant negative correlation between the hearWHO score and the PTA0.5-4 kHz in both the better and worse ears,with correlation coefficients of-0.552 and-0.693(P<0.001),respectively.Defining PTA0.5-4 kHz≥20 dB HL as the presence of hearing loss,when the hearWHO score was≤60,it suggested that there was hearing loss in at least one ear,with sensitivity and specificity of 0.733 and 0.690,respectively;when the hearWHO score was≤50,it suggested that the subject might have binaural hearing loss,with sensitivity and specificity of 0.815 and 0.917.CONCLUSION The high sensitivity and specificity of hearWHO for detecting monaural or binaural hearing loss is effective for screening,and when the hearWHO score is≤60,it suggests that the subject needs to be referred for further hearing testing and diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To assess changes in the demographic characteristics of patients with otitis media with effusion during the COVID-19 epidemic.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed cases of otitis media with effusion in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,Beijing Tongren Hospital.The cases were divided into two groups:a pre-Covid-19 group(from December 1,2018,to January 31,2019),and a Covid-19 group(from December 1,2022,to January 31,2023).Patient demographics including age,sex,ear side and audiology results were collected.Additionally,age composition ratio,sex composition ratio,disease-side ratio,and audiological results were analyzed.RESULTS A total of 1 872 patients were included in the pre-COVID group,with an average age of(30.45±23.17)years(949 males and 923 females).Among them,910 were children and 962 were adults.The Covid-19 group included 1 194 patients,with an average age of(48.31±18.92)years(623 males and 571 females).Among them,95 were children and 1 099 were adults.Statistical analysis of the data revealed that the overall age distribution of the disease was different between the two groups(Z=-20.820,P＜0.001).There was a significant difference in the composition ratio of children to adults(χ2=546.838,P＜0.001),with a significant decrease and increase in the prevalence rate of otitis media with effusion in children and adults,respectively,in the COVID-19 group.Compared to the pre-COVID-19 group,the proportion of cases in the age group of 7-18 years was significantly reduced in the children's group(Z=-5.641,P＜0.001),and the proportion of prevalence increased significantly in the adult group aged 46-75 years(Z=-3.134,P=0.002).Additionally,there was a significant increase in the number of male patients in the Covid-19 group(χ2=5.15,P=0.023)when compared to the pre-COVID-19 group.CONCLUSION Compared to the pre-Covid-19 period,a significant change in the age distribution of otitis media with effusion was observed during the COVID-19 epidemic,with a significant decrease in the proportion of children and a signification increase in the proportion of adults.

Objective:To study the correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults and to analyze the influencing factors.Methods:Using Pure-tone audiometry, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a survey was conducted with 492 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above in Beijing. Age, gender, education level, hearing loss, levels of anxiety and depression, and other factors were used as independent variables, and the MMSE scores were used as dependent variables. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were performed.Results:Among the 492 subjects, based on the better ears, 418 (85.0%) had hearing loss and 160 (32.5%) had disabled hearing loss. Factors such as age (β=-0.33, P<0.01), gender (β=0.09, P=0.04), education level (β=0.31, P<0.01), hearing loss (β=-0.11, P=0.02) and marital status (β=0.56, P=0.02) were significantly related to cognitive decline. Gender (β=-0.17, P<0.01) and hearing loss (β=0.08, P=0.02) correlated with anxiety indicators; gender (β=-0.84, P=0.02) and hearing loss (β=0.04, P=0.01) also correlated with depression indicators. Conclusion:Results indicated a correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline, and between hearing loss and anxiety and depression among community-dwelling older adults in Beijing.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) of normal youth with different test positions,to study the relationship between test positions and test parameters,and to explore the suitable test position for clinical practice.Methods Fifty healthy young volunteers (25 males,25 females,100 ears) were enrolled in this study.Two test positions were used,including sitting with the head turned away from the test (SIT) and supine with the head held straight up (SUP).The derivation rate,latency and amplitude were analyzed.Results The derivation rates of both SIT and SUP were 100％.The VEMP threshold in SIT was (93.5 ±4.3) dBnHL.The latency of P1 and N2 in SIT was longer than that in SUP,with significant different (P ＜ 0.05),the amplitude of P1-N2 in SIT was less than that in SUP,with significant different (P ＜ 0.05).Regarding to the latency of P1 and N2 in SIT,the left was longer that right,with (P =0.013) and (P =0.015) respectively.The latency in SUP between sides was not significant (P ＞ 0.05).The amplitude ratio and asymmetry in SIT were more obvious than in supine position (P =0.009 and 0.016).In SIT position the P1-N2 amplitude in males was larger than in females,with significant difference (P =0.031);In SUP position the P1-N2 amplitude in males was less than in females,with significant difference (P =0.043).Conclusion The cVEMP can be affected by the different test positions,it is recommended to select a more suitable test position according to the condition of the subject and the purpose of the test.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the found ways and first diagnosis age of children with large vestibular aqueduct, and their relations with hearing loss. METHOD: Medical histories of 122 cases of children diagnosed with large vestibular aqueduct by HRCT or MRI had been collected from January 2009 to April 2014 in our hospital children's hearing diagnosis center clinic. Found ways comprise of accepting universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) group and unaccepting UNHS group. Accepting UNHS children were divided into two ears unpassing group, single ear unpassing group and passing group. The patients in unaccepting UNHS group were divided into not sensitive to sounds, speech stunting, sudden hearing loss, and other group. Analysis the relationship between the found ways and first diagnosis age and their relations with hearing loss. RESULT: There are 84 cases (68.85%) accepting UNHS, the average age of first diagnosis was (17.24 ± 17.08) months; 37 cases (31.15%) are not accepting UNHS. The average age of first diagnosis was (30.92 ± 18.21) months. The average first diagnosis age of accepting UNHS group was more earlier than the unaccepting UNHS group. The difference was statistically signif- icant (P < 0.01). There were 57 cases (67.85%) whose two ears not pass UNHS; 15 cases (17.86%) single ear not pass; namely the referral rate was 85.71%; 12 cases (14.29%) pass the test. The first diagnosis age of passing UNHS group was more later than two ears unpassing group (P < 0.001). In the unaccepting UNHS group, the average first diagnosis age of not sensitive to sounds group (19.69 ± 11.16 months) was more earlier than words dysplasia group (37.13 ± 15.62 months) and sudden hearing loss group (47.40 ± 24.70 months) (P < 0.01). The difference in the degree of hearing loss between accepting UNHS and unaccepting UNHS group had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). In unaccepting UNHS group ,the average first diagnosis age of the mild-to-moderate hearing loss group was later than the very severe hearing loss group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Most of large vestibular aqueduct children can be found and receive diagnosis early by UNHS. But part of these patients with late-onset or progressive hearing loss, especially these with mild-to-moderate hearing loss cannot be found early, which should arouse our attention.
Child, Preschool ; Deafness ; Early Diagnosis ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; abnormalities

Distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) signal can be used for diagnosis of hearing loss so that it has an important clinical value. Continuously using sweeping primaries to measure DPOAE provides an efficient tool to record DPOAE data rapidly when DPOAE is measured in a large frequency range. In this paper, locally weighted least squares estimation (LWLSE) of 2f1-f2 DPOAE is presented based on least-squares-fit (LSF) algorithm, in which DPOAE is evoked by continuously sweeping tones. In our study, we used a weighted error function as the loss function and the weighting matrixes in the local sense to obtain a smaller estimated variance. Firstly, ordinary least squares estimation of the DPOAE parameters was obtained. Then the error vectors were grouped and the different local weighting matrixes were calculated in each group. And finally, the parameters of the DPOAE signal were estimated based on least squares estimation principle using the local weighting matrixes. The simulation results showed that the estimate variance and fluctuation errors were reduced, so the method estimates DPOAE and stimuli more accurately and stably, which facilitates extraction of clearer DPOAE fine structure.
Algorithms ; Hearing Loss ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Regression Analysis

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is causally related to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS),primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and a proportion of cases of multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). The ORF73 protein was cloned into pQE80L-orf73 and expressed in E.coli and purified. The expressed recombinant ORF73 was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A protein of about 27 kDa was expressed as expected. Western Blotting showed that the purified recombinant ORF73 reacted with KSHV positive serum. The immunogenicity of the recombinant ORF73 was further analysed by ELISA and the optimal conditions were determined. The ORF73 ELISA was used to compare the KSHV seroprevalence between Hubei and Xinjiang Han people. The Hart people in Xinjiang have significantly higher KSHV seroprevalence than their counterparts in Hubei (6.7% vs 2.9%, P = 0.005).