The Impact of Mobile Phone Use on Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Tinnitus is a perception of sound in the absence of an external source. The aim of our study was to investigate with a meta-analytical approach, whether mobile phone (MP) use increases the risk of tinnitus. Eight studies reporting the risk of tinnitus in relation to MP use were identified, and six high-quality studies (two cohort studies, one case-control study, and three cross-sectional ones) were included in the meta-analysis. The quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The risk of tinnitus was analyzed depending on the exposure to MPs in subgroups according to the study design and method of exposure assessment. Two cohort studies, which assessed the exposure to MPs using network operator data, indicated no significantly increased risk of tinnitus among highly exposed MP users in comparison to lightly exposed individuals (odds ratio [OR]: 1.03 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-1.15]). Likewise, the self-reported exposure data from two cohorts/case-control and four cross-sectional studies did not find an association between exposure to MPs and tinnitus (OR: 1.20 [95% CI: 0.40-3.61] and OR: 1.73 [95% CI: 0.67-4.49], respectively). Current scientific knowledge, including high-quality studies with a reliable exposure assessment based on network operator data, does not support the hypothesis that MP use is associated with tinnitus. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Clinical outcomes and plasma clot permeability and lysability in patients with venous thromboembolism on rivaroxaban: a cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Denser fibrin structure and impaired fibrinolysis reported in patients following venous thromboembolism (VTE) can predict recurrent VTE after cessation of anticoagulation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the properties of fibrin clot may be useful in predicting adverse events in patients with VTE receiving rivaroxaban. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 132 patients with VTE treated with rivaroxaban for 8 weeks or longer, we determined plasma clot permeability (Ks) and clot lysis time (CLT) in blood samples collected 2 to 28 hours after rivaroxaban intake (20 mg/d). The primary endpoint was a composite of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, while the secondary endpoint was recurrent symptomatic VTE. RESULTS: During a median follow­ up of 32 months, the annual rates of primary and secondary endpoints were 3.6% and 2.7%, respectively. There were no differences in Ks and CLT between individuals who experienced the primary endpoint and the remainder. Patients with recurrent VTE had lower baseline Ks (-26.7%) and prolonged CLT (+20.8%) on rivaroxaban, without differences in rivaroxaban concentrations at the time of blood collection. After adjustment for confounding factors, Ks was the only predictor of VTE recurrence on rivaroxaban (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that Ks assessed on rivaroxaban may provide prognostic information about the risk of recurrent VTE in anticoagulated patients.