Rapid, portable and visualizing nitrite detection enabled by a rationally designed meso-aminoindole substituted pyronine-based fluorescent probe.

Nitrite (NO2-) widely exists in our daily diet, and its excessive consumption can lead to detrimental effects on the human central nervous system and an elevated risk of cancer. The fluorescence probe method for the determination of nitrite has developed rapidly due to its simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity. Despite establishing various nitrite sensing platforms to ensure the safety of foods and drinking water, the simultaneous achievement of rapid, specific, affordable, visualizing, and on-site nitrite detection remains challenging. Here, we designed a novel fluorescent probe by using Rhodamine 800 as the fluorescent skeleton and 5-aminoindole as the specific reaction group to solve this problem. The probe shows a maximal fluorescence emission at 602 nm, thereby avoiding background emission interference when applied to food samples. Moreover, this unique probe exhibited excellent sensing capabilities for detecting nitrite. These included: a rapid response time within 3 min, a noticeable color change that the naked eye can observe, a low detection limit of 13.8 nM, and a remarkable selectivity and specificity to nitrite. Besides that, the probe can detect nitrite quantitatively in barreled drinking water, ham sausage, and pickles samples, with good recoveries ranging from 89.0 % to 105.8 %. More importantly, based on the probe fixation and signal processing technology, a portable and smart sensing platform was fabricated and made convenient and rapid analysis the content of NO2- in real samples possible. The results obtained in this work provide a new strategy for the design of high-performance nitrite probes and feasible technology for portable, rapid and visual detection of nitrite, and this probe holds the potential as a practical tool for alleviating concern regarding nitrite levels.

Possible germline mosaicism in a pedigree with Treacher Collins syndrome: A case report and brief review.

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is a rare congenital craniofacial disorder, typically inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. Here, we report on a family in which germline mosaicism for TCS was likely present. The proband was diagnosed with TCS based on the typical clinical features and a pathogenic variant TCOF1 (c.4369_4373delAAGAA, p.K1457Efs*12). The mutation was not detected in his parents' peripheral blood DNA samples, suggesting a de novo mutation had occurred in the proband. However, a year later, the proband's mother became pregnant, and the amniotic fluid puncture revealed that the fetus carried the same mutation as the proband. Prenatal ultrasound also indicated a maxillofacial dysplasia with unilateral microtia. The mother then disclosed a previous birth history in which a baby had died of respiratory distress shortly after birth, displaying a TCS-like phenotype. Around the same time, the proband's father was diagnosed with mild bilateral conductive hearing loss. Based on array data, we concluded that the father may have had germline mosaicism for TCOF1 mutation. Our findings highlight the importance of considering germline mosaicism in sporadic de novo TCOF1 mutations when providing genetic consulting, and prenatal diagnosis is important when the proband's parents become pregnant again.

Hearing outcomes following cochlear implantation with anatomic or default frequency mapping in postlingual deafness adults.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of different mapping procedures based on anatomic or default frequency distribution in postlingual deafness adults who underwent cochlear implantation (CI). METHODS: Forty-eight adults with postlingual deafness who underwent CI (MED-EL) from January 2021 to May 2022 in our hospital were prospectively recruited. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (the anatomic group and the default group). Postoperative computerized tomography (CT) scans were evaluated with Otoplan® to determine the angular insertion depth (AID) and the specific locations of the intracochlear electrodes. Anatomic maps were imported into MAESTRO 9.0 software (MED-EL) for anatomy-based fitting for anatomic group, while default mapping program was set up for the default group. Hearing thresholds, Speech Recognition Scores (SRS), and subjects' auditory and musical abilities were evaluated 1 year after using the CI. Differences were determined in two groups using Stata statistical software, with significance defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: SRS under noisy conditions was significantly greater for anatomic group than the default group (p = 0.02). Under quiet conditions, however, mean hearing thresholds (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) and SRS did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.07). Modified questionnaires showed that auditory (p = 0.02) and musical (p = 0.01) quality were significantly better following the anatomic mapping than the default procedure. CONCLUSION: CI program based on the anatomic distribution may bring better SRS under noise conditions as well as better auditory and musical qualities than based on the default frequency distribution.

Co-Occurrence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Congenital Heart Disease: Etiologies and Management.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The co-occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and congenital heart disease (CHD) is a rare condition with complex etiologies. The purpose of this study is to assess the etiologies, clinical features, and outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) in this patient population. STUDY DESIGN: Case series and literature review. METHODS: Clinical data of children who were diagnosed with SNHL and CHD and received CIs at a tertiary hospital from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A literature review was performed to identify patients with SNHL and CHD. FINDINGS: Of the 382 children who underwent cochlear implantation at our center, eight (2.1%) were diagnosed with SNHL and CHD. A literature review identified 1525 patients from 254 studies; the database therefore consisted of 1533 patients. The most common genetic etiologies of co-occurring SNHL and CHD were CHARGE syndrome (36.3%), Turner syndrome (8.4%), 22q11.2 deletion (3.0%), Noonan syndrome (2.9%), and Down syndrome (2.5%), whereas the most common non-genetic etiologies were congenital rubella syndrome (22.9%) and SNHL after early cardiac surgery (5.5%). Most of the patients presented with congenital, bilateral, severe-profound SNHL requiring early rehabilitation. Of the 126 children who received CIs at a median age of 2.5 years, half showed delayed speech development at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Co-occurring SNHL and CHD is a rare condition with complex etiologies. Timely hearing intervention with long-term follow-up and proper timing of heart surgery is essential for these children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4, case series Laryngoscope, 134:400-409, 2024.

Influence of the Large-Span Pile-Beam-Arch Construction Method on the Surface Deformation of a Metro Station in the Silty Clay-Pebble Composite Stratum.

The Pile-beam-arch (PBA) method is a new and effective construction method for the urban metro station. It is the key to ensuring the safe construction of the station to clarify the influence of PBA method construction on surface deformation under unfavorable geological and large span conditions. Based on a station of Beijing subway, this paper studies the surface deformation law of the large-span PBA method in different construction stages under silty clay-pebble composite stratum by means of FLAC 3D numerical analysis and field monitoring of level. Then the influence of the excavation scheme of the pilot tunnel and the construction scheme of the secondary lining of the arch on the surface deformation is simulated and analyzed. The results show that, through numerical simulation, the ratio of pilot tunnel excavation: pile-beam construction: vault initial support construction: vault secondary lining construction is about 5:1.1:3.3:0.6. The settlement deformation mainly occurs in the excavation stage of the pilot tunnel. Through the comparative analysis of the field monitoring results and the numerical simulation results, it can be seen that the two results are highly consistent, which verifies the accuracy of the numerical simulation results. The pilot tunnel excavation scheme of excavating the middle first and then excavating both sides, first through the upper layer and then through the lower layer, and the scheme of one-time construction of the secondary lining of the arch are better. The research results promote the further maturity and perfection of large-span PBA method construction under unfavorable geology and provide reference for similar projects.

Poor speech recognition, sound localization and reorganization of brain activity in children with unilateral microtia-atresia.

Microtia-atresia is a congenital malformation of the external ear, often affecting one side and being associated with severe-to-profound unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL). Although the impact of unilateral hearing loss (UHL) on speech recognition, sound localization and brain plasticity has been intensively investigated, less is known about the subjects with unilateral microtia-atresia (UMA). Considering these UMA subjects have hearing loss from birth, we hypothesize it has a great effect on brain organization. A questionnaire on speech recognition and spatial listening ability was administered to 40 subjects with UMA and 40 age- and sex-matched controls. UMA subjects showed poorer speech recognition in laboratory and poorer spatial listening ability. However, cognitive scores determined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) did not differ significantly in these two groups. The impact of hearing loss in UMA on brain functional organization was examined by comparing resting-state fMRIs (rs-fMRI) in 27 subjects with right-sided UMA and 27 matched controls. UMA subjects had increased nodal betweenness in visual networks and DMN but decreases in auditory and attention networks. These results indicate that UCHL in UMA causes significant abnormalities in brain organization. The impact of UCHL on cognition should be further examined with a battery of tests that are more challenging and better focused on the cognitive networks identified.

Altered regional activity and connectivity of functional brain networks in congenital unilateral conductive hearing loss.

Neuroimaging studies have shown marked alterations in brain function after auditory deprivation, with these alterations mainly caused by sensorineural hearing loss. To date, however, little is known about the patterns of functional brain reorganization in conductive hearing loss (CHL). The effects of congenital unilateral CHL on human brain were assessed by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in 24 patients with unilateral microtia (UM) and 25 healthy controls. Focal brain function and seed-based functional connectivity were analyzed to characterize spontaneous activity and network changes in UM. Patients with UM showed common alterations in focal brain activities in the left inferior temporal gyrus across different measurements, with these alterations significantly associated with the duration of hearing loss. Additionally, focal brain activities were decreased in the auditory system and increased in the visual system, with a disassociated pattern shown in the default-mode system. Using the left inferior temporal gyrus as the seed region, patients with UM showed lower connectivity with the default-mode system and right visual regions but higher connectivity with the left frontoparietal regions when compared with controls. These results indicate that congenital partial hearing deprivation, despite normal bone conduction hearing, can induce widespread reorganizations that continue into adolescence and adulthood.

[Selection and application in the approach of Bonebridge implantation for bilateral congenital malformation of external and middle ear: selection and application].

Objective:According to whether auricle reconstruction has been performed before the implantation of Bonebridge, the different surgical plan of combination of ear reconstruction and hearing rehabilitation with Bonebridge were respectively applied for the individuals with congenital outer and middle ear malformation. The study aim to explore the feasibility of personalized comprehensive treatment of congenital outer and middle ear malformation. Methods:We developed individualized surgical plans of Bonebridge implantation and auricular reconstruction for 35 patients with bilateral external and middle ear malformation. Six patients underwent Bonebridge implantation on one side, and the post-auricular skin expander implantation on the other sidesimultaneously; seven patients underwent Bonebridge implantation at the same time as the second stage of auricular reconstruction; twenty-two patients had their Bonebridge implantations performed after the reconstruction of the auricles. Results:No intraoperative complications occured in 35 patients. No facial paralysis, vertigo, tinnitus and cerebrospinal fluid leakage was reported. One patient had skin infection after Bonebridge implantation. The Bonebridge was removed and 7 months later and the Bonebridge implantation was re-performed on the same side. No complication occurred after 16 months of follow-up. Conclusion:According to the individual condition of the patients, different surgical plans of Bonebridge implantation and auricular reconstruction can be selected personally, which is beneficial to obtain the ideal aesthetic and hearing outcome.

Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of malignant struma ovarii confined to the ovary.

BACKGROUND: Malignant struma ovarii (MSO) is a unique type of ovarian malignancy that data on the survival outcome is limited and management strategy remains controversial due to its extreme rarity. METHODS: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment options in patients with MSO confined to the ovary, while also evaluating the recurrent-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rate in this population, a retrospective study was conducted. One hundred twenty-five cases of MSO confined to the ovary were enrolled and their clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and results of follow-up were analyzed. OS and RFS were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox regression models. RESULTS: The most common pathological subtype in this cohort was papillary carcinoma (44.8%). Other reported subtypes, in order of prevalence, were follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and mixed follicular-papillary carcinoma. Surgical treatment options varied in this cohort that 8.0% of the patients received ovarian cystectomy, 33.6% underwent unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO), 5.6% received bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), 21.6% received total abdominal hysterectomy with BSO (TAH/BSO), and 17.6% were treated with debulking surgery; 20.0% of them received radioiodine therapy (RAI). Twenty-seven patients experienced recurrence with a median RFS of 14.0 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.5-18.5). The 5-year and 10-year recurrent rate were 27.1, 35.2%, respectively. Eight patients died during follow-up, with five attributed to MSO; the 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year OS rate was 95.3, 88.7 and 88.7%, respectively. However, the univariate and multivariate Cox regression showed no potential risk factor for RFS and OS. CONCLUSION: Patients with MSO confined to the ovary had an excellent survival outcome, despite varied treatment strategies, and the recurrent rate was relatively high. We recommend USO as the preferred surgical option in this population since more aggressive surgery does not improve outcomes and the benefits of RAI are uncertain.

The Properties of Different Healing Agents Considering the Micro-Self-Healing Process of Asphalt with Encapsulations.

Improving the self-healing performance of asphalt by employing encapsulation technology is a topic of wide interest. This study investigated the performance of sunflower oil, engine oil, and waste cooking oil based on the microhealing mechanism of asphalt with compartmented polymeric fiber. Capillary flow, contact angle, Brookfield viscosity, bar thin layer chromatography, and fatigue-recovery-fatigue tests were conducted to characterize the capillary flow capacity, wetting ability, viscosity reduction ability, suitability of components, and performance restoration ability of the different kinds of healing agents. The diffusion process of sunflower oil in asphalt was simulated using molecular dynamics. The results showed that sunflower oil exhibited the best capillary flow capacity, viscosity reduction ability, and the fastest wetting rate in asphalt. Engine oil exhibited the largest wetting work and the best recovery performance related to fatigue. The diffusion process of sunflower oil in asphalt could be divided into two stages. Two major factors (aging and higher temperature) increased the diffusion rate of sunflower oil in asphalt. The comprehensive analysis showed that sunflower oil was the most suitable to be encapsulated to improve the self-healing performance of asphalt.

Long-term evaluation of development in patients with bilateral microtia using softband bone conducted hearing devices.

OBJECTIVE: The ability of early intervention with softband bone conducted hearing device (BCHD) to ensure normal development of speech, language and psychosocial situations remains undetermined. We aimed to evaluate auditory and speech development, as well as psychosocial situations of children with bilateral microtia fitted with a softband BCHD for 3-5 years. METHODS: The study included 53 patients with bilateral microtia and 53 sex- and age-matched children with normal hearing. Auditory development was evaluated using the Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) and Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP). Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) and Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS) were used to assess speech development. The psychometric properties of these patients were evaluated using Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and subjective benefits were measured using the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The average unaided and aided hearing thresholds measured using VRA were 73.8 ± 5.1 dB HL and 30.5 ± 6.0 dB HL, respectively. The total MAIS scores of the patients were 89.6 ± 9.6% and 93.0 ± 8.8% of normal hearing children at the last follow-up. The CAP scores of the two groups were 6.5 ± 1.3 and 6.9 ± 0.3, respectively. The mean MUSS score of the patients and the control group were 31.9 ± 7.0 and 34.3 ± 6.0, respectively. The mean SIR score of the two groups were 4.6 ± 0.7 and 4.8 ± 0.4. CBCL found that only two patients could be considered problematic psychosocially. The average benefit score on the GCBI was 32.9 ± 29.3. CONCLUSIONS: Softband BCHD significantly improved auditory development in patients with bilateral microtia, with speech development reaching the level of normal hearing peers. No significant behavioral problems were found in the patients, with subjective evaluations showing that softband BCHD improved patient quality of life.

FIGO Stage IV and Age Over 55 Years as Prognostic Predicators in Patients With Metastatic Malignant Struma Ovarii.

Introduction: Metastatic malignant struma ovarii (MSO) is an extremely rare disease that lacks treatment consensus and accurate prognosis. The objective of this study was to present the clinical, pathological, and treatment characteristics of metastatic MSO, while also investigate the overall survival (OS) rate and factors affecting prognosis in this population. Materials and Methods: A total of 79 cases of metastatic MSO were reviewed, including four cases of metastatic MSO from our hospital and 75 cases selected from the literature. Logistic regression was used to identify potential factors affecting disease free survival (DFS). The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to determine OS; further Cox regression was used to evaluate factors affecting OS. Results: The mean age of all the patients at diagnosis was 43.8 years. The most common metastatic sites were peritoneum, bone, liver, omentum and lung in descending order. Only two patients (2.6%) coexisted with local primary thyroid cancer. Follicular carcinoma (41.8%) as the most prevalent subtype, followed by papillary carcinoma, follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, and mixed follicular-papillary carcinoma. 36.7% of the patients received conservative surgery, 43.0% of them underwent aggressive surgery, and 15.2% of them did not receive any surgery. 74.7% of patients who received adjuvant therapy underwent radioiodine therapy (RAI). Logistics regression revealed that FIGO stage IV was the only prognostic factor in predicting DFS (P = 0.002; Odds Ratio [OR] 5.333; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.839-15.471). Only seven deaths occurred. The OS rates at 5, 10, 15 years were 89.3, 82.4, 65.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed age over 55 years (P = 0.006; OR 9.362; 95%CI: 1.895-46.246) was the only risk factor for OS. Conclusion: Patients with metastatic MSO have an excellent disease-specific OS rate, FIGO stage IV and age over 55 years were two factors affecting disease prognosis. Conservative surgery with residual ablation by RAI after total thyroidectomy should be preferred since the benefits of aggressive surgery are uncertain.

Comparative effects of unilateral and bilateral bone conduction hearing devices on functional hearing and sound localization abilities in patients with bilateral microtia-atresia.

Background: Various amplification options are available for patients with congenital bilateral conductive hearing loss. Unilateral bone conduction hearing device (BCHD) is widely used for these patients, whereas benefits of bilateral BCHDs in certain subgroups of patients require further exploration.Objectives: To evaluate functional and directional hearing in patients with unilateral Bonebridge (MEDEL) and contralateral ADHEAR (MEDEL) devices.Materials and methods: This study included 32 patients (20 males, 12 females), of mean age 11.8 years (range 7-27 years). Hearing thresholds, speech perception and sound localization were tested three months after activation of the Bonebridge under three conditions: unaided, unilateral BHCD (Bonebridge) and bilateral BHCDs (Bonebridge plus contralateral ADHEAR). Patient acceptance of these devices in daily life was evaluated by questionnaire.Results: Compared with unaided, the mean hearing thresholds (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) and speech perception with unilateral BCHD and bilateral BCHDs were improved significantly (p < .05 each). Markers of directional hearing ability, including percentages of accurate responses, bias angles and RMS errors, were significantly better with bilateral BCHDs than unilateral BHCD (p < .05 each). Questionnaire revealed high patient satisfaction with both unilateral and bilateral devices.Conclusions: Functional hearing and sound localization abilities were better with bilateral BCHDs than unilateral BCHD.

Long-term Outcomes of Bone Conduction Hearing Implants in Patients With Bilateral Microtia-atresia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of three different types of bone conduction hearing implants (BCHI)-BAHA, Ponto, and Bonebridge-in Mandarin-speaking patients with bilateral microtia-atresia. METHODS: This cohort study enrolled 59 patients affected by bilateral microtia-atresia, with an upper bone conduction threshold limit of 30 dB HL at frequencies of 0.5 to 4 kHz. All subjects underwent unilateral BCHI surgery, including 26 (18 males, 8 females, of mean age 8.7 ±â€Š1.9 yr) implanted with BAHA devices; 10 (7 males, 3 females, of mean age 11.7 ±â€Š2.8 yr) implanted with Ponto devices; and 23 (14 males, 9 females, of mean age 9.0 ±â€Š1.8 yr) implanted with Bonebridge devices. The main outcome measures included long-term audiological benefits, patient satisfaction, and complications. Each subject acted as his or her own control. RESULTS: Two years after BCHI surgery, the mean hearing thresholds in the BAHA, Ponto, and Bonebridge groups had improved to 22.6 ±â€Š1.6 dB HL, 21.6 ±â€Š1.2 dB HL, and 22.5 ±â€Š1.5 dB HL, respectively. The mean percentages of subjects in these three groups recognizing speech at 65 dB SPL under quiet conditions were 97.7 ±â€Š4.2%, 96.3 ±â€Š1.1%, and 94.4 ±â€Š9.4%, respectively, whereas the mean percentages recognizing speech under noise conditions (signal:noise ratio +5) were 87.0 ±â€Š1.8%, 89.3 ±â€Š9.3%, and 85.3 ±â€Š4.7%, respectively. Questionnaires revealed patients' benefits and satisfaction with this surgery. Three (11.5%) of 26 patients in the BAHA group and 1 (10%) of 10 in the Ponto group experienced skin irritation, but all recovered after local treatment. Five (19.2%) patients in the BAHA group and two (20%) in the Ponto experienced abutment extrusion about 6 months postoperatively, with all achieving good results after revision surgery to replace the abutment. One (3.8%) patient in the BAHA group experienced local chronic inflammation and underwent surgery to replace the BAHA with a Bonebridge implant. One (4.3%) patient in the Bonebridge group developed a local infection 3 months postoperatively and underwent implant removal. CONCLUSIONS: All three BCHIs were well tolerated after long-term follow-up, and all improved audiometric thresholds and the intelligibility of speech in the presence of both quiet and noise. These implants should be considered valid and safe options for the functional rehabilitation of patients with bilateral microtia-atresia.

Elevated plasma interleukin-37 playing an important role in acute coronary syndrome through suppression of ROCK activation.

OBJECTIVE: The plasma level of interleukin-37 is elevated in patients with acute coronary syndrome, however, its function during the onset and progress of the disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of IL-37 in acute coronary syndrome and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: 124 patients with acute coronary syndrome and 40 healthy controls were recruited in this study. Plasma interleukin-37 levels were measured in 41 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 41 patients with non-STEMI, 42 patients with unstable angina, and 40 controls. Mortality was defined as an event. RESULTS: In this study, the mean follow-up period was 824±306 days (2-1077 days). 22% (n=27) of patients died. The mortality rate was significantly lower in patients with interleukin-37 serum levels below the median (6.4 pg/mL) than those with interleukin-37 serum levels above 6.4 pg/mL at 36-month follow-up (16% vs. 24%, p=0.02, log rank X2=5.39). Highly concentration of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-37 exerted a protective effect by suppressing the activated Rho Kinase (ROCK) activity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vivo and in vitro after ischemia/reperfusion injury and stimulation of the Rho activator, calpeptin. CONCLUSIONS: The interleukin-37 level is significantly increased in acute coronary syndrome. Elevated baseline interleukin-37 levels in patients on admission are associated with poor outcomes. Thus, we propose that interleukin-37 could be a biomarker predictive of mortality in acute coronary syndrome. Moreover, this study reveals that the protective effect of interleukin-37 against atherosclerosis may involve the inhibition of ROCK activity.

Role of saliva proteinase 3 in dental caries.

Salivary analysis can be used to assess the severity of caries. Of the known salivary proteins, a paucity of information exists concerning the role of proteinase 3 (PR3), a serine protease of the chymotrypsin family, in dental caries. Whole, unstimulated saliva was collected from children with varying degrees of active caries and tested using a Human Protease Array Kit and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A significantly decreased concentration of salivary PR3 was noted with increasing severity of dental caries (P<0.01); a positive correlation (r=0.87; P<0.01; Pearson's correlation analysis) was also observed between salivary pH and PR3 concentration. In an antibacterial test, a PR3 concentration of 250 ng·mL⁻¹ or higher significantly inhibited Streptococcus mutans UA159 growth after 12 h of incubation (P<0.05). These studies indicate that PR3 is a salivary factor associated with the severity of dental caries, as suggested by the negative relationship between salivary PR3 concentration and the severity of caries as well as the susceptibility of S. mutans to PR3.