PKHD1L1, a gene involved in the stereocilia coat, causes autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Identification of genes associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss is a crucial endeavor given the substantial number of individuals who remain without a diagnosis after even the most advanced genetic testing. PKHD1L1 was established as necessary for the formation of the cochlear hair-cell stereociliary coat and causes hearing loss in mice and zebrafish when mutated. We sought to determine if biallelic variants in PKHD1L1 also cause hearing loss in humans. Exome sequencing was performed on DNA of four families segregating autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss. Compound heterozygous p.[(Gly129Ser)];p.[(Gly1314Val)] and p.[(Gly605Arg)];p[(Leu2818TyrfsTer5)], homozygous missense p.(His2479Gln) and nonsense p.(Arg3381Ter) variants were identified in PKHD1L1 that were predicted to be damaging using in silico pathogenicity prediction methods. In vitro functional analysis of two missense variants was performed using purified recombinant PKHD1L1 protein fragments. We then evaluated protein thermodynamic stability with and without the missense variants found in one of the families and performed a minigene splicing assay for another variant. In silico molecular modeling using AlphaFold2 and protein sequence alignment analysis were carried out to further explore potential variant effects on structure. In vitro functional assessment indicated that both engineered PKHD1L1 p.(Gly129Ser) and p.(Gly1314Val) mutant constructs significantly reduced the folding and structural stabilities of the expressed protein fragments, providing further evidence to support pathogenicity of these variants. Minigene assay of the c.1813G>A p.(Gly605Arg) variant, located at the boundary of exon 17, revealed exon skipping leading to an in-frame deletion of 48 amino acids. In silico molecular modeling exposed key structural features that might suggest PKHD1L1 protein destabilization. Multiple lines of evidence collectively associate PKHD1L1 with nonsyndromic mild-moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. PKHD1L1 testing in individuals with mild-moderate hearing loss may identify further affected families.

PKHD1L1, A Gene Involved in the Stereocilia Coat, Causes Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss.

Identification of genes associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss is a crucial endeavor given the substantial number of individuals who remain without a diagnosis after even the most advanced genetic testing. PKHD1L1 was established as necessary for the formation of the cochlear hair-cell stereociliary coat and causes hearing loss in mice and zebrafish when mutated. We sought to determine if biallelic variants in PKHD1L1 also cause hearing loss in humans. Exome sequencing was performed on DNA of four families segregating autosomal recessive nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss. Compound heterozygous p.[(Gly129Ser)];p.[(Gly1314Val)] and p.[(Gly605Arg)];p[(Leu2818TyrfsTer5)], homozygous missense p.(His2479Gln) and nonsense p.(Arg3381Ter) variants were identified in PKHD1L1 that were predicted to be damaging using in silico pathogenicity prediction methods. In vitro functional analysis of two missense variants was performed using purified recombinant PKHD1L1 protein fragments. We then evaluated protein thermodynamic stability with and without the missense variants found in one of the families and performed a minigene splicing assay for another variant. In silico molecular modelling using AlphaFold2 and protein sequence alignment analysis were carried out to further explore potential variant effects on structure. In vitro functional assessment indicated that both engineered PKHD1L1 p.(Gly129Ser) and p.(Gly1314Val) mutant constructs significantly reduced the folding and structural stabilities of the expressed protein fragments, providing further evidence to support pathogenicity of these variants. Minigene assay of the c.1813G>A p.(Gly605Arg) variant, located at the boundary of exon 17, revealed exon skipping leading to an in-frame deletion of 48 amino acids. In silico molecular modelling exposed key structural features that might suggest PKHD1L1 protein destabilization. Multiple lines of evidence collectively associate PKHD1L1 with nonsyndromic mild-moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. PKHD1L1 testing in individuals with mild-moderate hearing loss may identify further affected families.

Polyester fabric-based nano copper-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes sorbent for thin film extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

In this study, in-situ preparation of copper nanoparticles under sonoheating conditions followed by coating on commercial polyester fabric is reported. Through the self-assembly interaction of thiol groups and copper nanoparticles, the modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) was deposited on the fabric's surface. In the next step, radical thiol-ene click reactions were implemented to create more layers of POSSs. Subsequently, the modified fabric was applied for sorptive thin film extraction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and mefenamic acid from urine samples, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a UV detector. The morphology of the prepared fabric phase was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, water angle contact, energy dispersive spectrometry mapping, analysis of nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The significant extraction parameters, including the acidity of the sample solution, desorption solvent and its volume, extraction time, and desorption time, were investigated using the one-variable-at-a-time approach. Under the optimal condition, NSAIDs' detection limit was 0.3-1 ng mL-1 with a wide linear range of 1-1000 ng mL-1. The recovery values were between 94.0% and 110.0%, with relative standard deviations of less than 6.3%. The prepared fabric phase exhibited acceptable repeatability, stability, and sorption property toward NSAIDs in urine samples.

Perylene bisimide-based nanocubes for selective vapour phase ultra-trace detection of aniline derivatives.

Rapid and selective detection of biomarkers at trace levels is a highly coveted objective in the early diagnosis of cancer. Herein, we disclose the design and synthesis of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) substituted perylene diimide. This compound is fully characterized in solution by multi nuclear NMR, as well as in gas state by ESI-MS. Surprisingly, solid-state characterization revealed an unusual cubic morphology with particle dimensions of 80-160 nm. Fluorescence studies indicate that the bulky POSS units effectively prevent perylene's aggregation caused quenching, yielding quantum yields as high as 92%. Exposing the sensor droplet-cast on quartz to anline and o-toluidine, two important biomarkers for lung cancer, results in very highly reproducible, reversible and selective fluorescence quenching responses, with LODs as low as 19 and 8 ng L-1, and linear ranges of 65-350 and 25-450 ng L-1 respectively. Mechanistic investigations point to photoinduced electron transfer (PET) as the operative pathway responsible for fluorescence quenching.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the Phoneme Recognition Test: A central auditory processing measure.

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Phoneme Recognition Test (P-PRT) in normal subjects and cochlear implant (CI) users. Material & Methods: This study includes developing the Persian phoneme recognition test (PRT), determining its validity and reliability, and comparing the results of a control group versus CI users. The test reliability was examined through a test-retest with an approximately five-week interval. In the present survey, 363 subjects were investigated in three stages. The face validity evaluation stage was conducted on 40 subjects. The psychometric properties of the P-PRT were evaluated in 323 individuals (225 normal subjects and 98 CI users). The test-retest reliability was examined in all the 225 subjects in the control group and 40 CI users. Results: The results confirmed the face validity of the P-PRT. No significant differences were observed between the two genders in terms of performance in the P-PRT. Significant differences were observed between the control and CI groups. Evaluating the test-retest reliability suggested perfect reliability (r>0.9) in both groups. Significant differences were observed in the P-PRT between the adults and the 7-year-old subjects compared to other age groups. Conclusion: The P-PRT can be used as a valid and reliable test for clinically evaluating phoneme recognition abilities and monitoring the rehabilitation progress.

Preparation and characterization of Pullulan-based nanocomposite scaffold incorporating Ag-Silica Janus particles for bone tissue engineering.

A nanocomposite bone scaffold was fabricated from pullulan, a natural extracellular polysaccharide. Pullulan (PULL) was blended with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and a nano-platform with ball-stick morphology, Ag-Silica Janus particles (Ag-Silica JPs), which were utilized to fabricate nanocomposite scaffold with enhanced mechanical and biological properties. The Ag-Silica JPs were synthesized via a one-step sol-gel method and used to obtain synergistic properties of silver and silica's antibacterial and bioactive effects, respectively. The synthesized Ag-Silica JPs were characterized by means of FE-SEM, DLS, and EDS. The PULL/PVP scaffolds containing Ag-Silica JPs, fabricated by the freeze-drying method, were evaluated by SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, ICP and biological analysis, including antibacterial activity, bioactivity, cell viability and cell culture tests. It was noted that increasing Ag-Silica JPs amounts to an optimum level (1% w/w) led to an improvement in compressive modulus and strength of nanocomposite scaffold, reaching 1.03 ± 0.48 MPa and 3.27 ± 0.18, respectively. Scaffolds incorporating Ag-Silica JPs also showed favorable antibacterial activity. The investigations through apatite forming ability of scaffolds in SBF indicated spherical apatite precipitates. Furthermore, the cell viability test proved the outstanding biocompatibility of nanocomposite scaffolds (more than 90%) confirmed by cell culture tests showing that increment of Ag-Silica JPs amounts led to better adhesion, proliferation, ALP activity and mineralization of MG-63 cells.

Acoustic Voice Analysis in Postlingual Deaf Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Within-Group Comparison Study.

OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implantation (CI) improves the quality of voice and speech output. However, there are various factors that may interfere with the use of CI to accede desirable voice outcomes. The primary aim of the current study was first to measure three acoustic voice outcomes in postlingual deaf adult CI users who were Persian-speaking, and then, to compare these according to surgery- and auditory-related factors. Of interest was also to determine whether these acoustic measures were influenced by surgery- and auditory-related factors. METHODS: A number of 113 postlingual deaf adults with CI were recruited. The voice samples were recorded in the same silent room to equalize the noise of the environment. The measures of interest were analyzed with the Praat software. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that time duration of CI use (P ≤ 0.008), pattern of deafness onset (P ≤ 0.011), and the interaction between them (P ≤ 0.022) significantly affected all vocal parameters. This means that the quality of voice was significantly better in the participants using CI for more than 2 years than in those using CIs for less than 2 years. On the other hand, patients suffering sudden postlingual deafness for less than 2 years had the best acoustic voice parameters compared with those suffering gradual postlingual deafness for more than 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the surgery- and auditory-related factors could be the reason for changes of voice parameters in postlingual deaf adult CI users.

Cortical Auditory Plasticity Following Cochlear Implantation in Children With Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: The cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) can provide an insight into the maturation of the central auditory nervous system by recording the auditory cortex responses to speech stimuli. This study aimed to explore the central auditory system development in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) using cochlear implants (CIs) and to find the correlation of CAEP biomarkers with speech perception. METHODS: This study was performed on 23 children with prelingual deafness, diagnosed with ANSD, as well as 23 children with prelingual deafness, without ANSD as the control group. All children underwent unilateral CI before the age of 3 years. Children with ANSD were classified into two groups, based on their CAEP results prior to implantation: children with a clear CAEP response (ANSD-I) and children without an identifiable CAEP (ANSD-II). The P1 component of CAEPs and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) were recorded before the initial device activation (baseline) and at 6, 12, and 24 months postimplantation. RESULTS: The P1 CAEP responses were present in all children in the control group, while they were recorded in only 52% of ANSD children before the CI surgery. The longitudinal analysis revealed a significant reduction in the P1 latency and a significant improvement in the P1 amplitude across different time points in all study groups. However, the P1 latency and P1 amplitude were significantly shorter and larger in the control group than the ANSD group, respectively. Also, children in the ANSD-I group exhibited a slightly shorter P1 latency, a larger P1 amplitude, and a higher SIR score than the ANSD-II group after 2 years of follow-up. The P1 CAEP latency was significantly correlated with the SIR score. CONCLUSION: The CAEP can be used as an objective indicator of auditory cortical maturation and a predictor of speech perception performance in implanted children with ANSD.

Modified POSS nano-structures as novel co-initiator-crosslinker: Synthesis and characterization.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize an amine-modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nano-structure as a novel co-initiator-crosslinker (co-Ini-Linker) and to determine the effect of the co-Ini-linker on the physical and mechanical behavior of an experimental dental composite. METHODS: The amine-methacrylate POSS nano-structures (AMA-POSS) were chemically synthesized by anchoring a tertiary amine functionality on the methacrylate POSS (MA-POSS) branches. Three types of AMA-POSS, having different amine branches in their structures, were synthesized through the Aza Michael reaction. The chemical structure of AMA-POSSs were evaluated by1H-NMR spectroscopy. Afterward, the AMA-POSS was incorporated into a dental resin system composed of Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, and photo-initiator. Three resin systems with different AMA-POSS types were then prepared, and their properties were compared with a resin containing DMAEMA as a conventional co-initiator. The degree of conversion evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy and the shrinkage kinetics of the resins were determined through the bonded-disk technique. The flexural properties of the photopolymerized resins were also investigated. The distribution of nano-structures in the matrix resin was analyzed using EDX analysis. RESULTS: The modified POSS structure and the number of amine branches were confirmed with1H-NMR spectroscopy. The resin containing 8 amine branches (P8) showed the same degree of conversion (DC%) as the resin containing DMAEMA (P > 0.05). Decreasing the amine branches in the POSS structure, however, revealed an increasing trend in DC%. The resin containing P8 showed the lowest shrinkage strain. By incorporating AMA-POSS into the resin system, the water sorption significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The flexural strength and modulus increased by adding P3 into the resin system (P < 0.05). EDX Si-map revealed that the co-Ini-linker was well dispersed in the resin matrix. SIGNIFICANCE: The synthesized novel amine-methacrylate POSS nanostructures not only act as an amine co-initiator but also work as a reinforcing filler and a cross-linking agent.

Cochlear implant failure following COVID 19: Report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is a relatively newly reported symptom of novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19). Cochlear implant is an effective therapeutic method for patients with severe to profound hearing loss. CASE REPORT: We describe two cochlear implanted children with the sole presenting symptom of a sudden speech perception problem. They not suspected to have COVID-19 until they showed respiratory symptoms on the first week of admission. CONCLUSION: The current report indicates the importance of COVID-19 screening in hearing impaired patients (including cochlear implanted recipients) presented with sudden or gradual deterioration of speech intelligibility during the pandemic.

Hybrids of Bowl-like and Crumpled Hollow Carbon Particles Synthesized through Encapsulation Templating.

The one-pot synthesis of hybrid hollow nanoparticles of symmetric and asymmetric shapes is a challenging task and has rarely been reported. This work proposes a method for a high-yield synthesis of hybrid hollow carbon particles. In the first step, hexadecane/styrene (HD/St) is encapsulated in a silica shell. Then, by the polymerization of St, a silica/polystyrene double shell is formed. Finally, hollow carbon particles with bowl-like and crumpled shapes are obtained by carbonization. The results show that the ratio of diameter to thickness (D/H) for obtaining crumpled particles is ∼4-12, whereas this ratio is ∼7-18 for bowl-like particles. We study the effects of HD and St concentrations on the D/H ratio and the composition of hybrid particles. In contrast to suspensions of hollow carbon spheres, the suspensions of hybrid nanoparticles show shear-thinning behavior over the examined range of shear rates, which is attributed to their enhanced packing. The shape effect of hybrid particles also increases their adsorption on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) compared to the hollow carbon spheres.

Preparation of hydrophilic polycaprolactone/modified ZIF-8 nanofibers as a wound dressing using hydrophilic surface modifying macromolecules.

In this study, a simple one-step method was introduced to prepare suitable PCL wound dressing by using a small amount of hydrophilic surface modifying macromolecule (LSMM) with ends capped with Polyethylene glycol and aminated zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (MZIF-8) as a drug carrier for curcumin to accelerate the healing process while improve drug loading and controlled drug release. First, LSMM was synthesized and its chemical structure and average molecular weight were characterized by FTIR and gel permeation chromatography. Afterward, PCL nanofibers containing LSMM and curcumin loaded MZIF-8 were prepared and characterized. The surface contact angle of PCL nanofibers containing 1 wt% LSMM was reduced from 130 to 31° due to LSMM molecules migration to the nanofiber surface. Furthermore, tensile strength test results showed that the incorporation of MZIF-8 nanoparticles significantly improved the mechanical properties of the nanofibers. Finally, all samples were evaluated for cell cytotoxicity which confirmed the biocompatibility of the samples. Fibroblast cell adhesion was also evaluated and results indicated that fibroblast cell adhesion was improved when 1 wt% LSMM was added.

A National Iranian Cochlear Implant Registry (ICIR): cochlear implanted recipient observational study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients who receive cochlear implants (CIs) constitutes a significant population in Iran. This population needs regular monitor on long-term outcomes, educational placement and quality of life. Currently, there is no national or regional registry on the long term outcomes of CI users in Iran. The present study aims to introduce the design and implementation of a national patient-outcomes registry on CI recipients for Iran. This Iranian CI registry (ICIR) provides an integrated framework for data collection and sharing, scientific communication and collaboration inCI research. METHODS: The national ICIR is a prospective patient-outcomes registry for patients who are implanted in one of Iranian centers. The registry is based on an integrated database that utilizes a secure web-based platform to collect response data from clinicians and patient's proxy via electronic case report forms (e-CRFs) at predefined intervals. The CI candidates are evaluated with a set of standardized and non-standardized questionnaires prior to initial device activation(as baseline variables) and at three-monthly interval follow-up intervals up to 24 months and annually thereafter. RESULTS: The software application of the ICIR registry is designed in a user-friendly graphical interface with different entry fields. The collected data are categorized into four subsets including personal information, clinical data, surgery data and commission results. The main parameters include audiometric performance of patient, device use, patient comorbidities, device use, quality of life and health-related utilities, across different types of CI devices from different manufacturers. CONCLUSION: The ICIR database could be used by the increasingly growing network of CI centers in Iran. Clinicians, academic and industrial researchers as well as healthcare policy makers could use this database to develop more effective CI devices and better management of the recipients as well as to develop national guidelines.

Micro Motion Amplifiers for Compact Out-of-Plane Actuation.

Small-scale, out-of-plane actuators can enable tactile interfaces; however, achieving sufficient actuator force and displacement can require larger actuators. In this work, 2-mm² out-of-plane microactuators were created, and were demonstrated to output up to 6.3 µm of displacement and 16 mN of blocking force at 170 V. The actuators converted in-plane force and displacement from a piezoelectric extensional actuator into out-of-plane force and displacement using robust, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-enabled, half-scissor amplifiers. The microscissors employed two layers of lithographically patterned SU-8 epoxy microstructures, laminated with a thin film of structural polyimide and adhesive to form compact flexural hinges that enabled the actuators' small area. The self-aligned manufacture minimized assembly error and fabrication complexity. The scissor design dominated the actuators' performance, and the effects of varying scissor angle, flexure thickness, and adhesive type were characterized to optimize the actuators' output. Reducing the microscissor angle yielded the highest actuator performance, as it maximized the amplification of the half-scissor's displacement and minimized scissor deformation under externally applied loads. The actuators' simultaneously large displacements and blocking forces for their size were quantified by a high displacement-blocking force product per unit area of up to 50 mN·µm/mm². For a linear force⁻displacement relationship, this corresponds to a work done per unit area of 25 mN·µm/mm².

A 3D nanoscale polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes network for microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes are 3D nanoscaled materials with large potential in solid phase microextraction (SPME). Here, as a case study, an octaglycidyldimethylsilyl modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane network is described. It was deposited on a stainless steel wire via a sol-gel method and used as a fiber coating for SPME of aromatic compounds. The uniform pore structure, high surface area, and hydrophobicity of the network make it susceptible toward isolation of non-polar and semi-polar chemical compounds. The performance of the fiber coating was tested with three classes of environmental pollutants, viz. chlorobenzenes (CBs), benzenes (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene; known as BTEX), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The effects of various types of sol-gel precursors on the fabrication and performance of fiber coatings were investigated. The extraction capability of the fiber coating was compared with the polydimethyl siloxane/divinylbenzene based commercial fiber. Parameters affecting headspace analysis and gas chromatographic quantitation were optimized. The method was applied to the quantification of PAHs, as model analytes, in tea, coffee and some environmental waters. Linear responses typically cover the 1-200 ng·L-1 concentration range, limits of detection are between 0.1 and 0.3 ng·L-1, intra-day relative standard deviation are <10%, and inter-day RSDs are <12%. The fiber has a long lifespan and can be used >200 times. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a headspace solid phase microextraction process which is implemented to the analysis of PAHs in tea and coffee samples. The SEM image of the SPME fiber coating, the 3D nanoscale polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) network, and the POSS-epoxy molecular structure are shown.

Anti-thrombogenicity and permeability of polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane with sulfonated alginate toward blood purification.

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of sulfonated alginate as a modifying agent to enhance the hemocompatibility of self-fabricated polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fiber membrane for blood detoxification. Sodium alginate was sulfonated with a degree of 0.6 and immobilized on the membrane via surface amination and using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent. Coating layer not only improved the membrane surface hydrophilicity, but also induced -39.2 mV negative charges on the surface. Water permeability of the modified membrane was enhanced from 67 to 95 L/m2·h·bar and flux recovery ratio increased more than 2-fold. Furthermore, the modified membrane presented higher platelet adhesion resistance (reduced by more than 90%) and prolonged coagulation time (35 s for APTT and 14 s for PT) in comparison with the pristine PES hollow fiber membrane, which verified the improved anti-thrombogenicity of the modified membrane. On the other hand, obtained membrane after 3 h coating could remove up-to 60% of the uremic toxins. According to the obtained data, sulfonated alginate can be a promising modifying agent for the future blood-contacting membrane and specially blood purification issues.

Effects of Egg Consumption on Blood Lipids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: It is widely agreed that egg consumption only modestly influences serum lipid concentrations. However, there is no meta-analysis summarizing existing randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials to explore the quantitative effect of egg consumption on serum lipid concentrations. DESIGN: Online databases including MEDLINE, Proquest and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Studies that were published after 2000 and compared serum lipids concentrations in egg-consumers and non egg-consumers were included. The data were obtained from 28 studies. Weighted mean differences were calculated as the ultimate effect using random effects model. RESULTS: Overall, egg consumption increased total cholesterol (TC) by 5.60 mg/dL (95% CI: 3.11, 8.09; P<0.0001), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by 5.55 mg/dL (95% CI: 3.14, 7.69; P<0.0001) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) by 2.13 mg/dL (95% CI: 1.10, 3.16; P<0.0001) compared with the control group. Heterogeneity found between studies was explained partly by study design and participant response to dietary cholesterol. No effect of increased egg consumption on LDL-C:HDL-C and TC:HDL-C ratios, and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were found. No association was observed between number of eggs consumed per day or study duration and any of the serum lipid markers. CONCLUSION: Consumption of egg increases total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C, but not LDL-C:HDL-C, TC:HDL-C and TG compared with low egg control diets. To assess the risk of coronary events, future studies should focus on the postprandial effect of egg consumption and effects on coronary risk.

Dataset of acute repeated sessions of bifrontal transcranial direct current stimulation for treatment of intractable tinnitus: A randomized controlled trial.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has reportedly shown promising therapeutic effects for tinnitus (Forogh et al., 2016; Joos et al., 2014) [1], [2]. Studies are ongoing to determine optimum treatment protocol and the site of stimulation. Findings of the early studies are heterogeneous and most studies have focused on single session tDCS and short follow-up periods. There is no study on repeated sessions of tDCS with long term follow-up. This study presents the results of a randomized clinical trial investigating the therapeutic effects of acute multi-session tDCS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on tinnitus symptoms and comorbid depression and anxiety in patients with chronic intractable tinnitus. The dataset includes the demographic information, audiometric assessments, tinnitus specific characteristics, and the response variables of the study. The response variables included the scores of tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), tinnitus loudness and tinnitus related distress based on 0-10 numerical visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, beck depression inventory (BDI-II) and beck anxiety inventory (BAI) scores. The dataset included the scores of THI pre and immediately post intervention, and at one month follow-up; the tinnitus loudness and distress scores prior to intervention, and immediately, one hour, one week, and at one month after the last stimulation session. In addition, the BDI-II, and BAI scores pre and post intervention are included. The data of the real (n=25) and sham tDCS (n=17) groups are reported. The main manuscript of this dataset is "Acute repeated sessions of bifrontal transcranial direct current stimulation for treatment of intractable tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial" (Bayat et al., submitted for publication) [3].

Healthy eating index and cardiovascular risk factors among Iranian elderly individuals.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent with increase in life expectancy, the prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has also increased. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between healthy eating index (HEI) score and CVD risk factors among Iranian elderly. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of elderly persons from Isfahan, Iran, in 2013. Totally, 107 retired subjects were entered in statistical analysis. A semi- quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intake of participants. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure of participants were determined. Fasting blood samples were taken for biochemical assessments. RESULTS: The results of linear regression determined a significant inverse association between HEI score and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR, ß = -0.238 (-0.426, -0.048)], fasting blood glucose [ß = -0.194 (-0.383, -0.004)], and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP, ß = -0.196, (-0.386, -0.005)]. In addition, a significant positive association was observed between HEI score and high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C, ß = 0.196 (0.006, 0.385)] levels. However, after adjusting for confounding variables, these significant associations were disappeared except for hs-CRP [ß = -0.074 (-0.145, -0.003)]. CONCLUSION: Healthy eating index was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular risk factors in old people. It seems that more adherence with healthy eating index could provide cardio-protective effects in elderly persons.

Universal newborn hearing screening in southwestern Iran.

OBJECTIVES: The implementation of Neonatal Hearing Screening (NHS) program is still at the preliminary stage particularly in developing countries despite the burden of permanent congenital and early-onset hearing impairment. The purpose of this study was to report results for universal newborn NHS in a cohort of children born in the southwestern region of Iran, as part of a national screening program set up by the Iranian National Health System. METHODS: During this cross-sectional study, which took place between March 2013 and April 2016, healthy newborns were screened using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and automated auditory brainstem responses (AABRs) methods at several points in time as early as possible after birth. Screening followed a two-stage strategy and newborns referred after the second-stage screening were scheduled for diagnostic evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 92,521 newborns were screened in the urban (n = 67,780) and rural (n = 24,741) regions. Hearing impairment was confirmed in 223 (2.41 per 1000) newborns. One hundred forty-one (1.52 per 1000) of these newborns were affected bilaterally. More than 87% of these infants (195/223) showed a sensorineural hearing loss, while the defect was found to be conductive in 12 cases (P < 0.001). Of the 223 cases with hearing loss, 28 (12.5%) infants had auditory neuropathy. The majority of the infants, in both urban and rural regions, showed severe hearing impairment. We did not observe any significant difference among the incidences associated with gender (p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that universal newborn hearing screening program is an adequate program for southwestern of Iran with high coverage, low referral rate, and good follow-up rate.