Spinal microglia and astrocytes are both involved in neuropathic and inflammatory pain, which may display sexual dimorphism. Here, we demonstrate that the sustained activation of spinal astrocytes and astrocyte-derived interleukin (IL)-17A promotes the progression of mouse bone cancer pain without sex differences. Chemogenetic or pharmacological inhibition of spinal astrocytes effectively ameliorates bone cancer-induced pain-like behaviors. In contrast, chemogenetic or optogenetic activation of spinal astrocytes triggers pain hypersensitivity, implying that bone cancer-induced astrocytic activation is involved in the development of bone cancer pain. IL-17A expression predominantly in spinal astrocytes, whereas its receptor IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) was mainly detected in neurons expressing VGLUT2 and PAX2, and a few in astrocytes expressing GFAP. Specific knockdown of IL-17A in spinal astrocytes blocked and delayed the development of bone cancer pain. IL-17A overexpression in spinal astrocytes directly induced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, which could be rescued by CaMKIIα inhibitor. Moreover, selective knockdown IL-17RA in spinal Vglut2 ⁺ or Vgat ⁺neurons, but not in astrocytes, significantly blocked the bone cancer-induced hyperalgesia. Together, our findings provide evidence for the crucial role of sex-independent astrocytic signaling in bone cancer pain. Targeting spinal astrocytes and IL-17A/IL-17RA-CaMKIIα signaling may offer new gender-inclusive therapeutic strategies for managing bone cancer pain.

OBJECTIVE: Audiometric configuration distribution of hearing loss was analyzed for public policy efforts of hearing loss prevention and rehabilitation. METHOD: According to the archived records of the Clinical Audiology Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, audiometric configuration distribution was analyzed by different type,degree of hearing loss and age factor. RESULT: 1. Overall audiometric configuration distribution: the percentages of "sloping", "rising", "flat", "U-shaped", and other type of audiometric configuration distributions are 52.8%, 7.6%, 15.4%, 13.2% and 11.0%, respectively. No difference was found between male and female in the audiometric configuration distribution; 2. Audiometric configuration distribution by type of hearing loss: sloping hearing loss dominants sensorineural and mixed hearing loss; 3. Audiometric configuration distribution by degree of hearing loss: sloping hearing loss dominants mild, moderate and severe hearing loss, U-shaped hearing loss dominants profound hearing loss; 4. Audiometric configuration distribution by age: for age group 5 to 7, the highest prevalence of audiometric configuration is "sloping", followed by "flat", "U-shaped", other type and "rising"; with the age increasing, the percentage of sloping hearing loss increased dramatically. CONCLUSION Audiometric configuration distribution shows obvious characteristic of on the type, degree of hearing loss and age factor. "sloping" hearing loss dominates the audiometric configuration.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Audiometry ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Threshold ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult