Objective:To investigate the relationship between symptoms of vertigo and vestibular functions and short-term hearing outcomes in patients with flat descending sudden sensorineural hearing loss （SSNHL）. Methods:A retrospective review was conducted of the vestibular symptoms observed in 48 patients with unilateral flat-down sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Symptoms of vertigo and the results of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials （cVEMP）, ocular VEMP （oVEMP）, caloric test and video head-impulse test （vHIT） were collected to determine whether these factors could predict therapeutic efficacy. Results:The symptoms of vertigo was not correlated with prognosis （P>0.05） or with abnormal vestibular functions （P>0.05）. Patients with abnormal cVEMP, oVEMP, caloric test or vHIT showed significantly lower effective rates （32.0%, 44.0%, 32.0%, and 24.0%, respectively）; the greater the number of abnormal tests, the poorer the outcome. Patients with all four tests abnormal gained only （3.13±15.97） dB HL in hearing recovery, whereas those with normal cVEMP, oVEMP, caloric test or vHIT showed better chances of hearing improvements by （29.22±20.31）, （31.18±21.59）, （26.17±21.31）, and （26.38±24.05） dB HL, respectively. Conclusion:Vestibular function effectively predicts prognosis in flat descending SSNHL. Patients with abnormal vestibular tests, regardless of symptoms of vertigo, responded poorly to treatment, whereas those with normal cVEMP, oVEMP, caloric test and vHIT results achieved better hearing recovery. Abnormal vestibular function implies more extensive and severe inner-ear lesions in patients with SSNHL.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Vertigo/diagnosis* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis* ; Young Adult ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/diagnosis* ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

Objective:To investigate the expression of the proinflammatory factor IL-18-mediated NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3/nuclear factor κB(NLRP3/NF-κB)signaling pathway in penile tissues of rats with high-fat diet-in-duced erectile dysfunction(ED),and to explore the intervention effect of sildenafil.Methods:Fifty-five sexually normal male SD rats were randomly divided into 10 cases as the normal control group,and the rest of the rats were fed with high-fat chow to establish the ED rat model,and the successfully screened ED rats were randomly divided into the ED group,the Sil group,the IL-18 group,and the IL-18+Sil group,with 8 rats in each group.Following 14 days of nonstop treatment,the morphological alterations in the penile tis-sue were observed by HE staining.Using immunohistochemistry,the amount and distribution of NF-κB p65 and Adropin in penile tis-sues were found.RT-qPCR was used to identify the expression of NLRP3 and NF-κB p65 mRNA in penile tissues.Western blot exami-nation showed the expression of the proteins NLRP3,pro-IL-18,p-NF-κB p65,NF-κB p65,and Adropin in penile tissues.Results:The ED group showed altered penis tissue morphology,destroyed muscle fibers,enlarged sinus cavity,increased mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3,p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,and pro-IL-18(all P<0.05),and decreased Adropin protein expression(P<0.05).While the protein expression of Adropin was increased(P<0.05),the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3,p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,and pro-IL-18 in the penis tissues were decreased(all P<0.05)when compared to the ED group.The muscle fibers and sinus cav-ities of the penis were recovered to varying degrees in the Sil group.The IL-18 group experienced the destruction of muscle fibers,an enlargement of the sinus cavity,an increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3,p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,and pro-IL-18 in the penile tissues(all P<0.05),as well as a decrease in the protein expression of Adropin(P<0.05).The rat penile tissues in the IL-18+Sil group showed variable degrees of recovery in the muscle fibers and sinus cavities when compared to the IL-18 group.Ad-ditionally,there was a drop(all P<0.05)in the expressions of NLRP3,pro-IL-18 m RNA and protein,p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65,and p-NF-κB p65 in the penile tissues.The expression of the Adropin protein was elevated(P<0.05).Conclusion:Significant changes have been observed in the NLRP3/NF-κB signaling pathway,which is regulated by IL-18,in the hyperlipidemia ED rat model.In ED rats,sildenafil can increase erectile function by promoting the production of Adropin and blocking the activation of this pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and pathological significance of the DICER1 mutation in follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC).Methods:Sixty-eight cases of primary FTC resected between 2009 and 2023 were retrieved from The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China. Sanger sequencing was performed to identify DICER1 and TERT promoter mutations in all cases. Cases with DICER1 or TERT promoter mutations were subject to additional examination of potential mutations in KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS. The clinical and pathological features of DICER1-mutant FTCs were then analyzed. The relationship between DICER1 mutations and TERT-promoter/RAS mutations was also assessed.Results:DICER1 mutations were detected in 16 of the 68 FTC cases (23.5%), with 11 near E1813 at exon 25, 6 near D1709 at exon 24, and 1 in the splice region of exon 25. Two cases harbored two (distinct) mutations. All patients with DICER1-mutant FTC were female. Compared with patients with DICER1-wild-type FTC, those with DICER1-mutant were much younger, and had a higher proportion of minimally invasive subtype. Nine FTCs with DICER1 mutations were subject to further sequencing on adjacent non-cancerous tissues or lymph node tissues, but no mutations were detected. TERT-promoter or RAS hotspot mutations were not identified in any of the DICER1-mutant cases. However, TERT-promoter mutation was found in 6 DICER1-wild-type cases (8.8%, 6/68), with 3 cases also having RAS hotspot mutations and exhibiting highly aggressive biological behaviors.Conclusion:DICER1 mutations may occur in FTCs and appear mutually exclusive with RAS and TERT-promoter mutations, warranting further study as RAS-like mutations.

Objective To explore the differences in neural activity between patients with anorexia nervosa(AN)and healthy controls(HC),as well as the association between these differences and symptoms in AN patients,using activation likelihood estimation(ALE)meta-analysis.Methods The literature search covered the period from 2000 to March 2025.From a pool of 588 identified studies,4 studies focusing on the neural activity differences between AN patients and HC were selected for inclusion.These studies comprised 106 participants and 21 sets of coordinates.The ALE meta-analysis method was employed,and the GingerALE software was used to systematically analyze the reported brain region changes and their peak coordinates,aiming to investigate the differences in brain functional activity between AN patients and HC.Results Compared to the HC group,AN group showed significantly enhanced activation in the left parahippocampal gyrus/amygdala(ALE value=0.39×10-2),right parahippocampal gyrus/amygdala(ALE value=0.39×10-2)and suboccipital gyrus(ALE value=0.39×10-2),along with a significant reduction in activation in Brodmann area 17(ALE value=0.61×10-2)(P<0.01,FWE corrected).Conclusion Key brain regions in AN patients including the parahippocampal gyrus,inferior occipital gyrus,and amygdala demonstrate significant functional activation abnormalities.

Objective To analyze the clinical significance of subjective visual vertical (SVV) tests at different head deflection angles in assessing utricle function in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods A total of 61 BPPV patients who were treated at the Hearing Impairment and Vertigo Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from August 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively included, and 29 healthy adults were selected as controls. SVV tests were performed on all research subjects at different head deflection angles: upright head (0°), left head 45° (L45°), right head 45° (R45°). The test results between the two groups were compared. Results SVV absolute value at R45° in BPPV group was lower than that in the control group (P＝0.003); there was no significant difference in SVV values at 0° and L45° between the two groups. There was no statistical difference in SVV values at different head deflection angles between the control group and the left BPPV group. SVV absolute value at R45° in right BPPV group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.001); there was no statistical difference in SVV values at 0° and L45° between the two groups. Conclusions SVV test can provide subjective information about the utricle, and SVV tests at different head deflection angles can fine-tune evaluate the function of the utricle in BPPV patients.

Objective:To investigate the longitudinal relationships among resilience, social support, and negative emotions in college students.Methods:Questionnaire surveys were administered to 1 739 college students from a university in Hebei Province born in the same year in November 2020 and November 2021 respectively, and 1 183 valid responses were finally obtained. The survey battery comprised the 11-item resilience scale, the social support questionnaire, and the 21-item depression anxiety stress scales. Cross-lagged panel analysis was conducted using Mplus 8.3 software. Mediating effects were tested via the Bootstrap method.Results:The scores of resilience, social support and negative emotion at T1 were 58 (51, 65), 57 (51, 66), and 3 (0, 10), respectively. The scores of resilience, social support and negative emotion at T2 were 59 (48, 66), 56 (44, 65), and 11 (1, 24), respectively. Resilience at T1 and T2 were significantly and positively correlated with social support at T1 and T2 ( r=0.66, 0.75, 0.40, 0.33, all P<0.01), while negatively correlated with negative emotion at T1 and T2( r=-0.45, -0.23, -0.26, -0.24, all P<0.01). Social support at T1 and T2 were negatively correlated with negative emotion at T1 and T2( r=-0.44, -0.28, -0.28, -0.28, all P<0.01). T1 resilience significantly and positively predicted T2 resilience ( β=0.35) and T2 social support ( β=0.15). T1 social support significantly and positively predicted T2 resilience ( β=0.07) and T2 social support ( β=0.35), while negatively predicted T2 negative emotion ( β=-0.15). T1 negative emotion significantly and negatively predicted T2 resilience ( β=-0.06) and T2 social support ( β=-0.07). The total effect of T1 resilience on T2 negative emotion was -0.35, and the mediating effect of T2 social support was -0.09, accounting for 25.71% of the total effect. Conclusion:T2 social support partially mediates the relationship between T1 resilience and T2 negative emotions.

Meniere's disease represents an idiopathic inner ear disorder characterized by endolymphatic hy-drops.Currently,the research methods for identifying genes associated with this disease mainly involve first-genera-tion sequencing and second-generation sequencing.This article reviews research on the genetic study of Meniere's disease,mainly summarizing the candidate genes with repeated pedigree validation in familial Meniere's disease,as well as those frequently reported in sporadic Meniere's disease.

Objective:To investigate the status of dignity impairment in elderly incontinence-related dermatitis patients, and to systematically analyze the influencing factors in order to provide reference opinions for the formulation of medical strategies by clinical medical staff.Methods:Using the cross-sectional survey method, from April 15 to April 30, 2024, aged incontinence-related dermatitis patients were selected from 37 tertiary comprehensive hospitals in 10 provinces and municipalities, including Zhejiang Province, Sichuan Province, Guangdong Province, etc. by convenient sampling method. The general data questionnaire and Patient Dignity Inventory were used to investigate their current situation.Results:A total of 315 questionnaires were collected, 307 were valid, and the effective rate was 97.5%. Among 307 cases, 146 cases were males, 161 cases were females, aged (71.46 ± 9.35) years old. The incidence of impaired dignity in elderly patients with incontinence-related dermatitis was 49.5%(152/307). The average score of Patient Dignity Inventory was (45.50 ± 20.17). The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that farming ( OR = 2.405, 95% CI 1.108-5.217), individual industrial and commercial households ( OR = 5.680, 95% CI 2.504-12.888), the primary disease were respiratory diseases ( OR = 2.716, 95% CI 1.018-7.246) and nervous system diseases ( OR = 6.117, 95% CI 2.572-14.551) were risk factors for impaired dignity in elderly incontinence-related dermatitis (both P<0.05). Not living alone ( OR = 0.381, 95% CI 0.184-0.790) and self-rated family relationship harmony ( OR = 0.630, 95% CI 0.449-0.882) were protective factors for dignity impairment in elderly incontinence-related dermatitis patients (both P<0.05). Conclusions:There are many factors that affect the dignity of patients with incontinence-related dermatitis in the elderly, and medical staff should comprehensively consider a variety of factors and establish and improve a prevention and management mechanism suitable for the dignity of patients with incontinency-related dermatitis in the elderly.

Objective:To investigate the longitudinal relationships among resilience, social support, and negative emotions in college students.Methods:Questionnaire surveys were administered to 1 739 college students from a university in Hebei Province born in the same year in November 2020 and November 2021 respectively, and 1 183 valid responses were finally obtained. The survey battery comprised the 11-item resilience scale, the social support questionnaire, and the 21-item depression anxiety stress scales. Cross-lagged panel analysis was conducted using Mplus 8.3 software. Mediating effects were tested via the Bootstrap method.Results:The scores of resilience, social support and negative emotion at T1 were 58 (51, 65), 57 (51, 66), and 3 (0, 10), respectively. The scores of resilience, social support and negative emotion at T2 were 59 (48, 66), 56 (44, 65), and 11 (1, 24), respectively. Resilience at T1 and T2 were significantly and positively correlated with social support at T1 and T2 ( r=0.66, 0.75, 0.40, 0.33, all P<0.01), while negatively correlated with negative emotion at T1 and T2( r=-0.45, -0.23, -0.26, -0.24, all P<0.01). Social support at T1 and T2 were negatively correlated with negative emotion at T1 and T2( r=-0.44, -0.28, -0.28, -0.28, all P<0.01). T1 resilience significantly and positively predicted T2 resilience ( β=0.35) and T2 social support ( β=0.15). T1 social support significantly and positively predicted T2 resilience ( β=0.07) and T2 social support ( β=0.35), while negatively predicted T2 negative emotion ( β=-0.15). T1 negative emotion significantly and negatively predicted T2 resilience ( β=-0.06) and T2 social support ( β=-0.07). The total effect of T1 resilience on T2 negative emotion was -0.35, and the mediating effect of T2 social support was -0.09, accounting for 25.71% of the total effect. Conclusion:T2 social support partially mediates the relationship between T1 resilience and T2 negative emotions.

Objective To explore the differences in neural activity between patients with anorexia nervosa(AN)and healthy controls(HC),as well as the association between these differences and symptoms in AN patients,using activation likelihood estimation(ALE)meta-analysis.Methods The literature search covered the period from 2000 to March 2025.From a pool of 588 identified studies,4 studies focusing on the neural activity differences between AN patients and HC were selected for inclusion.These studies comprised 106 participants and 21 sets of coordinates.The ALE meta-analysis method was employed,and the GingerALE software was used to systematically analyze the reported brain region changes and their peak coordinates,aiming to investigate the differences in brain functional activity between AN patients and HC.Results Compared to the HC group,AN group showed significantly enhanced activation in the left parahippocampal gyrus/amygdala(ALE value=0.39×10-2),right parahippocampal gyrus/amygdala(ALE value=0.39×10-2)and suboccipital gyrus(ALE value=0.39×10-2),along with a significant reduction in activation in Brodmann area 17(ALE value=0.61×10-2)(P<0.01,FWE corrected).Conclusion Key brain regions in AN patients including the parahippocampal gyrus,inferior occipital gyrus,and amygdala demonstrate significant functional activation abnormalities.