The Role of Asymmetry Values, Gain, and Pathological Saccades of the Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of asymmetry values, gain, and pathological saccades of the video head impulse test (vHIT) in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 226 individuals diagnosed with unilateral definite SSNHL were hospitalized. The assessment included a comprehensive evaluation of medical history, pure-tone test, acoustic impedance, positional test, video nystagmography (VNG), vHIT, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and magnetic resonance. INTERVENTIONS: vHIT, VNG, cVEMP, oVEMP. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The asymmetry values, gain, and pathological saccades of the vHIT. RESULTS: The abnormal gain of vHIT in anterior, horizontal, and posterior canal in SSNHL patients with vertigo were revealed in 20 of 112 (17.9%), 24 of 112 (21.4%), and 60 of 112 (53.6%), respectively. The vHIT pathological saccades (overt + covert) of anterior, horizontal, and posterior canal in SSNHL patients with vertigo were observed in 5 of 112 (4.6%), 52 of 112 (46.4%), and 58 of 112 (51.8%), respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that the prognosis of patients with vertigo was correlated with vHIT gain of posterior canal, pathological saccade in horizontal canal, asymmetric ratio of horizontal canal gain, asymmetric ratio of posterior canal gain, Canal paresis (%) on caloric test and spontaneous nystagmus. CONCLUSION: In the vHIT of patients with SSNHL with vertigo, the posterior canal is most easily affected. Reduced gain of posterior canal, pathological saccade of horizontal canal, and larger asymmetric gain of posterior canal and horizontal canal may be negative prognostic factors.

A New Floating Piezoelectric Microphone for Fully Implantable Cochlear Implants in Middle Ear.

OBJECTIVE: Our team designed a long-lasting, well-sealed microphone, which uses laser welding and vacuum packaging technology. This study examined the sensitivity and effectiveness of this new floating piezoelectric microphone (NFPM) designed for totally implantable cochlear implants (TICIs) in animal experiments and intraoperative testing. METHODS: Different NFPM frequency responses from 0.25 to 10 kHz at 90 dB SPL were analyzed using in vivo testing of cats and human patients. The NFPM was tested in different positions that were clamped to the ossicular chains or placed in the tympanic cavity of cats and human patients. Two volunteers' long incus foot and four cats' malleus neck of the ossicular chain were clamped with the NSFM. The output electrical signals from different locations were recorded, analyzed, and compared. The NFPM was removed after the test without causing any damage to the middle-ear structure of the cats. Intraoperative tests of the NFPM were performed during the cochlear implant surgery and the cochlear implant surgery was completed after all tests. RESULTS: Compared with the results in the tympanic cavity, the NFPM could detect the vibration from the ossicular chain more sensitively in cat experiments and intraoperative testing. We also found that the signal output level of the NFPM decreased as the acoustic stimulation strength decreased in the intraoperative testing. CONCLUSION: The NFPM is effective in the intraoperative testing, making it feasible as an implantable middle-ear microphone for TICIs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:937-944, 2024.

Considering the protective effect of exendin-4 against oxidative stress in spiral ganglion neurons.

Objectives: The protection of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) is crucial for hearing loss. Exendin-4 has been shown to have neuroprotective effects in several neurological disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the glucagon-like protein-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist exendin-4 on kanamycin-induced injury in mouse SGNs in vitro. Materials and Methods: In this study, GLP-1R expression in SGNs was verified by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. In vitro-cultured SGNs and the organ of Corti were exposed to kanamycin with or without exendin-4 treatment. The cell survival rate was measured using the cell counting kit-8 assay, and the damage to auditory nerve fibers (ANF) projecting radially from the SGNs was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was determined by flow cytometry, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were determined by spectrophotometry. Protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) was detected using western blotting. Results: GLP-1R was expressed in SGNs. Treatment with 1 mM kanamycin for 24 hr induced SGN damage. Exendin-4 (100 nM) had a protective effect against kanamycin-induced SGN cell injury, improved cell survival rate, reduced nerve fiber injury, increased SOD activity and GSH-Px level, and reduced MDA and ROS contents. The Nrf2/HO-1 pathway was activated. Conclusion: Exendin-4 alleviates oxidative damage and exerts neuroprotective effects in kanamycin-induced SGN injury through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Exendin-4 has the potential to prevent or treat hearing loss due to SGN damage.

Quercetin improves the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells and Treg/Th17 cells to attenuate allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammation that affects many people globally. Quercetin has anti-allergic biological activity in AR. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of quercetin on type 1 helper T (Th1)/Th2 and regulatory T cells (Treg)/Th17 balance. We established an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model and orally administered 20, 35, and 50 mg/kg/day quercetin. The nasal symptoms of mice were observed. The immunoglobulin levels, Treg/Th17-related factors, and pro-inflammatory factors were examined by ELISA. The differentiated inflammation cells were visualized using the diff-quick staining assay. The nasal histopathology was evaluated using H&E, periodic acid Schiff (PAS), and Giemsa staining assay. The results showed that quercetin attenuated OVA-induced rubbing and sneezing. Quercetin reduced IgE, IgG1, histamine, and increased IgG2 in serum. The number of differentiated inflammation cells and goblet cells in tissues that elevated by OVA was reduced by quercetin. Moreover, OVA increased the Treg cell percentage, the levels of IL-17, TGF-ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and decreased Th17 cell percentage, IL-10 and FOXP3 levels, while quercetin abrogated their levels induced by OVA. Additionally, quercetin inactivated the NF-κB pathway. Taken together, quercetin attenuated AR symptoms by balancing the Th1/Th2, Treg/Th17 ratios, and inactivating the NF-κB pathway. The results suggested that quercetin may use for AR treatment.

Changes in type 2 innate lymphoid cells and serum cytokines in sublingual immunotherapy in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are upregulated in childhood allergic rhinitis (AR) and are associated with AR severity. This study aimed to investigate changes in the ILC2 milieu in pediatric patients with AR after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). METHODS: Forty- pediatric patients with AR received house dust mite (HDM) allergen extract for SLIT group and thirty pediatric patients received placebo in the study, respectively. The levels of ILC2, ILC2-related cytokines (IL-5/IL-13) and their transcription factors (GATA binding protein 3, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor α) in the circulation were assessed after 1- and 2-year SLIT. Moreover, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients were prepared and stimulated by recombinant thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-25, and IL-33 after 2-year SLIT. Subsequently, the levels of ILC2, IL-5, and IL-13 were tested. RESULTS: The frequency of ILC2 and the levels of their transcription factors in the circulation were significantly decreased after SLIT in the SLIT group. The levels of ILC2-related cytokines in the SLIT group showed the same trend. The frequency of ILC2 was positively correlated with transcription factors and cytokines after SLIT. SLIT was observed to reduce the ability of HDM sensitization to generate the ILC2 milieu in PBMCs. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the ILC2 milieu may be correlated with the curative effect and immune regulation function of SLIT. Our results suggested that the regulatory effect on ILC2 is part of the therapeutic mechanism of SLIT.

[Leptin mediated activation of group 2 innate lymphocytes aggravates the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis in obese adults].

Objective To observe the impact of leptin on the activation of group 2 innate lymphocytes (ILC2) in obese adult patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and investigate its role and significance in the pathogenesis of AR. Methods A total of 70 patients with AR were enrolled in the study and divided into obese AR group and non-obese AR group according to body mass index (BMI), and matched with 30 cases in the healthy control group with no difference in age and gender during the same period. Flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of ILC2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of each group, real-time quantitative PCR to detect the expression of leptin mRNA, and ELISA to detect the serum leptin. The correlation between leptin and ILC2 was analyzed, and the changes in the ratio of ILC2 and relevant immune indexes in PBMCs of the AR group before and after the intervention of recombinant leptin were observed. Results Compared with healthy control group, the expressions of leptin and ILC2 of the AR group increased significantly, and the level of the obese AR group was significantly higher than that of the non-obese AR group. The expressions of leptin and ILC2 in the obese AR group were positively correlated in a significant manner. After the intervention of recombinant leptin, the ILC2 level of the obese AR group increased significantly. Conclusion The pathogenesis of AR in obese adults is related to its high expression of leptin, and the activation of ILC2 mediated by leptin aggravates its pathogenetic process.

Mastoid obliteration and external auditory canal reconstruction using 3D printed bioactive glass S53P4 /polycaprolactone scaffold loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-2: A simulation clinical study in rabbits.

Introduction: The lack of good prosthetic materials and objective standards has limited the promotion of mastoid obliteration and external auditory canal reconstruction, and the quality of the surgery varies. In this study, bioactive glass S53P4 (S53P4), the most popular artificial prosthetic material, was modified and combined with polycaprolactone (PCL) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) to produce an individualized biological scaffold using 3D printing technology to explore a better material and method for mastoid obliteration and external auditory canal reconstruction. Methods: 3D-printed S53P4/PCL scaffolds were fabricated from 3D reconstruction data of bone defect areas in New Zealand rabbits simulating "Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy". The water absorption, swelling rate, porosity, and Young's modulus of the scaffold were measured, and the morphology and pore size of the scaffold were observed using scanning electron microscopy. The cytotoxicity of the S53P4/PCL scaffolds was detected using the CCK8 assay, and the in vitro antibacterial activity of the S53P4/PCL scaffolds was detected using the inhibition circle method. The BMP-2-loaded S53P4/PCL scaffolds were prepared using the drop-in lyophilization method and implanted into animal models. The biocompatibility, osteogenic activity, and external auditory canal repair of the scaffolds were observed using endoscopy, micro-CT, and histological examination. Results: The S53P4/PCL scaffold was highly compatible with the defective area of the animal model, and its physicochemical properties met the requirements of bone tissue engineering. In vitro experiments showed that the S53P4/PCL scaffold was non-cytotoxic and exhibited better antibacterial activity than the same volume of the S53P4 powder. In vivo experiments showed that the S53P4/PCL scaffold had good biocompatibility and osteogenic activity, and could effectively repair bone defects and reconstruct the normal morphology of the external auditory canal in animal models. Furthermore, its osteogenic activity and repair ability were significantly improved after loading with BMP-2. Conclusions: The 3D printed S53P4/PCL scaffold has great potential for clinical mastoid obliteration and external auditory canal reconstruction.

LncRNA JPX contributes to Treg/Th17 imbalance in allergic rhinitis via targeting the miR-378g/CCL5 axis.

Aim: T-regulatory (Treg)/T-helper (Th) 17 imbalance contributes to the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the progression of AR. Herein, the effect of lncRNA JP X on Treg/Th17 balance in AR was explored.Methods: CD4+ T cells were isolated from patients with AR and healthy control. The percentage of Treg and Th17 cells were examined by flow cytometry. The levels of JP X, miR-378g, CCL5, T GF-ß, and IL-17A were tested using qRT-P CR. The protein expression of Foxp3 and RORγt was measured by western blot.Results: The data showed that an imbalance of Treg/Th17 was associated with AR. Upregulation of JP X was found in AR, and knockdown of which improved the imbalance of Treg/Th17. Furthermore, JP X functioned as a sponge of miR-378g to upregulate CCL5. Inhibition of miR-378g reversed the effects on Treg/Th17 induced by silencing of JP X. Moreover, overexpression of CCL5 reversed miR-378g-induced effects.Conclusion: In conclusion, depletion of JP X promoted Treg/Th17 balance in AR via regulating the miR-378g/CCL5 axis. The findings provided a novel therapeutic insight for AR.

Role of leptin/ILC2 axis in allergic rhinitis in obese children.

OBJECTIVES: Since the leptin participates in the upregulation of type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). We investigated the role of the leptin/ILC2 axis in AR pathogenesis in Chinese paediatric patients with obesity. METHODS: Seventy AR paediatric patients with or without obesity and 30 healthy obese subjects were enrolled. The levels of leptin, its receptor and ILC2 milieu were measured, and correlations between them and clinical symptom severity and between ILC2 milieu and leptin levels were assessed. Changes of ILC2 milieu in AR patients after leptin stimulation were also detected. RESULTS: Levels of leptin, its receptor and ILC2 milieu levels were significantly higher in the disease than in the controls, and highest in the obese-AR group. The leptin/ILC2 axis and severity of clinical symptoms in obese patients with AR were significantly correlated, similarly to what was observed between leptin/leptin receptors and ILC2 milieu. Recombinant leptin could significantly increased the levels of ILC2 milieu in the obese-AR group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the unique function ofthe leptin/ILC2 axis in obese paediatric AR patients. The mechanism by which obesity promotes AR in paediatric patients may be related to the leptin/ILC2 axis.

Effect of Postoperative Specific Immunotherapy Combined with Nasal Irrigation on Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Allergic Rhinitis.

Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and allergic rhinitis (AR) (CRSwAR) have a more severe condition with a higher rate of recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). This study aimed to explore the effect of specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and nasal irrigation on CRSwAR after ESS. Sixty-four patients who were diagnosed as CRSwAR and received ESS were enrolled and divided into groups A, B, and C to receive different postoperative treatment strategies (conventional medication, medication with nasal irrigation, and medication with nasal irrigation and SCIT), and their prognosis was evaluated by scoring, electron microscopy, and inflammatory factors. One year after ESS, the recurrence rate of group C was significantly reduced; and the scoring from baseline was significantly different among the three groups, which of group C were the best. The epithelium arrangement, cilia morphology, and inflammation of nasal mucosa in each group were better than those in the preoperative state; and those in group C were the best. After one year, the expression levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-17 in group B were lower than those of group A; and the expression levels of ECP, IL-8, IL-25, IL-33, IL-17 in group C were lower than those in group A. SCIT combined with nasal irrigation can improve the patients' symptoms and quality of life, promote the epithelialization of the mucosa in the surgical cavity, regulate the local immune response of the nasal cavity; thus improve the prognosis of patients with ESS after 1 year.

Association Between Sigmoid Sinusoidal Tinnitus and Low-Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Study at a Single Center.

BACKGROUND We aimed to explore the correlation between patients' sigmoid sinusoidal tinnitus (SST) and low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSHL) and illustrate the underlying mechanism. MATERIAL AND METHODS Seven healthy volunteers with normal hearing were subjected to 125-, 250-, and 500-Hz pure sound and different white noise-masking intensities. A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data and postoperative follow-up data of 59 patients with SST in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The patients' sex, age, chief complaints, affected site, concomitant symptoms, course of disease, pure-tone audiometry (PTA) results, tinnitus discomfort loudness scale results, imaging examination, and complications were collected. RESULTS The results of the simulation experiment showed that the threshold of each frequency segment was higher after noise masking than before masking; the intensity of noise masking was positively correlated with hearing loss, and the changes of the hearing threshold of the 3 frequencies before and after masking were statistically significant (P<0.05). Fifty-nine patients with SST were documented between January 2015 and January 2020. After the operation, their low-frequency hearing was recovered to normal; 11 cases had significantly alleviated tinnitus and 9 cases were cured. CONCLUSIONS SST often causes corresponding pseudo-low-frequency hearing loss due to the noise-masking effect. The center frequency of tinnitus appears not to be 250-Hz or 500-Hz octave frequency of PTA, barring the detection of the pseudo-hearing loss in the audiometry chart of most patients. Surgery positively affects patients with SST, and the pseudo-LFSHL can be completely recovered after the operation as a result of tinnitus elimination.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss during pregnancy: etiology, treatment, and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the etiologies, treatments, and outcomes of sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of 25 pregnant patients treated for SSNHL between January 2012 and September 2019. Forty-nine age matched non-pregnant women with severe and profound hearing loss diagnosed with SSNHL during the same period served as controls. Data were recorded on age, symptoms, onset of hearing loss, audiometric results, treatments, and outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age was 29.6 years (range 23-38 years). Intratympanic steroids (ITS) were administered in 15 (60.0%) pregnant women with SSNHL. Three women were treated with postauricular steroids only, while another woman was treated with intravenous ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole. The remaining six women received no medications. More than half (8/15, 53.3%) of pregnant women with SSNHL receiving ITS experienced hearing improvement. Pregnant women with profound hearing loss who received no medication had no hearing improvement. Most pregnant women with SSNHL (12/15, 80.0%) had higher fibrinogen levels than controls (mean values 3.77±0.71 g/L and 2.54±0.48 g/L, respectively). CONCLUSION: Fibrinogen could be a risk factor for SSNHL during pregnancy. ITS may benefit pregnant women with severe and profound SSNHL.

Effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer and belongs to environmental endocrine disruptors (EDCs). It can be entered the human body which is harmful to health. The relationship between DEHP and AR is still inconclusive. This study aims to investigate the effect of environmental pollutants DEHP on AR. By examining DEHP metabolites in the urine of AR patients and building an AR model. 24 BALB/c mice were used as the study subjects, and ovalbumin (OVA) and DEHP (3 mg/kg/body) were used for intragastric administration. They were divided into control group, DEHP group, OVA group and OVA + DEHP group. Examination, behavioral scoring, inflammatory factor testing, oxidative stress testing, detection of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and signaling pathways CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 related proteins and mRNA. The concentrations of 3 metabolites of DEHP (MEHHP, MEOHP, and MEHP) in urine of AR patients were higher. And HE-staining showed that for the control group, many chronic inflammatory cell infiltration and nasal mucosal destruction were observed in the OVA + DEHP group and were more severe than the OVA group. Allergic symptom scores were obtained from sneezing, scratching, number of scratching, and nose flow. The scores of the OVA group and the OVA + DEHP group were higher than 7 points. Serum ELISA and nasal mucosal oxidative stress tests are more serious in the OVA + DEHP group. The expression of AhR protein and its mRNA was increased in the DEHP group, OVA group and OVA + DEHP group. The OVA + DEHP group was more significant in the OVA group and DEHP group. And the mRNAs of the AhR-related signaling pathways CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 were also more prominent in the OVA + DEHP group. DEHP may aggravate its inflammatory response through the AhR pathway closely related to the environment. When combined with OVA, DEHP can further aggravate the OVA-induced nasal inflammatory response and make the nasal cavity have undergone severe changes, and many inflammatory cells have infiltrated. DEHP has shown an adjuvant effect, and the AhR-related signaling pathways CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 may be critical.

Genetic risk of FCRL3 and FCRL5 polymorphisms in children with asthma and allergic rhinitis in a Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVES: Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) frequently occur as comorbid diseases of the upper airways. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FCRL3 and FCRL5 genes have recently been shown to be associated with various immune-related disorders. This study evaluated the association of FCRL3 and FCRL5 polymorphisms with asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) in a Han Chinese population. METHODS: Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the FCRL3 and FCRL5 were genotyped in 300 asthmatic children, and 206 healthy unrelated individuals using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Genotyping was validated by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Our results showed that the frequencies of the rs6692977 CT genotype and T allele within FCRL5 were significantly higher in asthma with comorbid AR compared to healthy controls (Bonferroni-corrected p (Pc) = 3.75 × 10-6; Pc = 0.006, respectively), whereas these of the CC genotype and C allele were significantly lower (Pc = 4.15 × 10-5; Pc = 0.006, respectively). The frequencies of the rs7528684 A allele (Pc = 1.80 × 10-3) and the rs10489678 G allele (Pc = 0.04) within FCRL3 were higher in asthma with comorbid AR than in controls. However, no differences in the tested genetic polymorphisms were detected between asthma and healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: This study identified novel SNPs in FCRL3 and FCRL5 significantly associated with the risk for asthma with comorbid AR in the Chinese population. The genetic variants may play role in the development of the asthma phenotype in children with asthma.

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis comorbidity with asthma and asthma with allergic rhinitis in China: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma are the most common inflammatory diseases of the airways. The relationship between asthma and AR is widely and clinically recognised. The concept "one airway, one disease" has been gradually accepted. However, in China, we could not find any systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of AR with asthma and asthma with AR. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to carry out a meta-analysis on the results of all conducted studies to present valid information about the co-occurrence rate of AR with asthma and asthma with AR in China. METHODS: Pubmed/Medline, Science, Springer, Elsevier, Embase, Wanfang data, VIP, CBM, and CNKI were searched systemically and data were extracted from eligible studies by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis, study quality assessment, and publication bias assessments were all done using Stata 12.1 software. RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis showed that pooled prevalence estimates of AR with asthma ranged from 6.69% to 14.35%, asthma with AR from 26.67% to 54%. Furthermore, an overall prevalence of 10.17% (95% CI 9.08-11.27%) was ascertained for AR with asthma, and 38.97% (95% CI 34.42-43.53%) for asthma with AR. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis comprehensively provided the first quantitative summary of the prevalence of AR with asthma and asthma with AR in China. Our study demonstrated that, in China, asthma and AR are often comorbid diseases and co-exist in the same patients. There is a close correlation between AR and asthma from an epidemiological standpoint.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Children: A Report of 75 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics, treatment, and prognostic factors of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in children. METHODS: Seventy-five cases (78 ears) of SSNHL in children from February 2011 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. We scrutinized the clinical manifestations, audiological assessments, and serologic examinations of these pediatric cases by univariate and multivariate logistic analysis methods. The patients were divided into four groups according to their audiometric curve type: ascending, descending, flat, and profound. RESULTS: Of the 75 patients (78 ears), 25 patients were in the ascending group (32.00%), 9 patients were in the descending group (12.00%), 17 patients were in the flat group (22.67%), and 24 patients were in the profound group (32.32%). The overall recovery rates (complete + partial + slight) of the different groups were as follows: ascending group, 96.00%; flat group, 76.47%; profound group, 50.00%; and descending group, 44.44%. The overall recovery rate of all patients was 70.67%. The multivariate logistic analysis showed that the type of audiometric curve and the interval from onset to intervention were two independent risk factors that correlated with the prognosis of SSNHL in children. Some children had positive cytomegaoviyns, rubella virus, and herpes simplex virus immunoglobulin G antibodies. Twenty-one children were treated with additional intratympanic methylprednisolone as salvage therapy and 13 of these children showed improved (complete + partial + slight) recoveries. Three children had postauricular compound betamethasone injections, but none of them showed improvement. One of three children recovered slightly after treatment with intratympanic methylprednisolone combined with postauricular betamethasone injection. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of SSNHL in children is closely related to the type of audiometric curve and the onset of treatment. Intratympanic methylprednisolone and compound betamethasone injected postauricularly could be effective for SSNHL in children.

Exposure to air pollution and risk of prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Allergic rhinitis (AR), a common chronic inflammatory disease in the upper airways. The prevalence of AR in children seems to be increasing recently, and the most significant causes of the increase are thought to be changes in environmental factors, especially air pollution. However, we could not find any meta-analysis on the risk of air pollution exposure on the prevalence of AR in childhood. The aim of this research was to carry out a meta-analysis on the results of recent studies (21 s t century) to present valid information about exposure to air pollution and risk of prevalence of childhood AR. METHODS: PubMed, Science, Google Scholar, Elsevier and MDPI web database were searched up to January 1, 2000 to February 28, 2018. Including of air pollution and AR in childhood related to the observation of literature. Meta-analysis, study quality assessment, heterogeneity analysis and publication bias test were using Stata-MP 14.1 and Review Manager version 5.3 software. RESULTS: 13 studies will be included in the meta-analysis (8 cross-sectional studies, 5 cohort studies). Exposure to NO2 (OREurope = 1.031, 95%CI [1.002,1.060], P = 0.033; ORAsia = 1.236, 95%CI [1.099,1.390], P = 0.000; ORoverall = 1.138, 95%CI [1.052,1.231], P = 0.001); Exposure to SO2 (OREurope = 1.148, 95%CI [1.030,1.279], P = 0.012; ORAsia = 1.044, 95%CI [0.954,1.142], P = 0.352; ORoverall = 1.085, 95%CI [1.013,1.163], P = 0.020); Exposure to PM10 (OREurope = 1.190, 95%CI [1.092,1.297], P = 0.000; ORAsia = 1.075, 95%CI [0.995,1.161], P = 0.066; ORoverall = 1.125, 95%CI [1.062,1.191], P = 0.000); Exposure to PM2.5 (OREurope = 1.195, 95%CI [1.050,1.360], P = 0.007; ORAsia = 1.163, 95%CI [1.074,1.260], P = 0.000; ORoverall = 1.172, 95%CI [1.095,1.254], P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Exposed to air pollution probable is a risk of prevalence of childhood AR. And the prevalence of AR will be increase when exposed to NO2, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5, but maybe the relationship between SO2/PM10 and prevalence of AR are not closely in Asia.

The airway inflammation induced by nasal inoculation of PM2.5 and the treatment of bacterial lysates in rats.

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most important environmental issues in China. This study aimed to explore the correlation between PM2.5 and airway inflammation in healthy rats. The PM2.5 group was given an intranasal instillation of PM2.5 suspension on 15 consecutive days, and each received oral saline from day 16 to 90. The BV intervention group was treated as the PM2.5 exposure group, except that BV instead of saline was given daily. A histopathologic examination was performed to evaluate the airway inflammation. The prevalence and function of Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry and ELISA. The expression of AhR was detected by western blot and real-time PCR. We found that epithelial damage and increased infiltration of inflammatory cell were present in the airways after PM2.5 exposure; there was an immune imbalance of Th cells in the PM2.5 group; the expression of AhR was increased in the airways after PM2.5 exposure. In the PM2.5 + BV group, we demonstrated alleviated immune imbalance and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the airways. Our study showed that exposure to PM2.5 induced airway inflammation. The imbalance of Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17 in PM2.5-induced airway inflammation might be associated with activation of the AhR pathway. Oral BV reduces PM2.5-induced airway inflammation and regulates systemic immune responses in rats.

Decreased expression of interleukin­37 and its anti­inflammatory effect in allergic rhinitis.

Interleukin­37 (IL­37), a novel member of the IL­1 cytokine family has been identified as a natural suppressor of innate immunity and inflammatory responses. The present study aimed to determine the expression of IL­37 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and examine the possible immunosuppressive effect of IL­37 on inflammatory mediators and CD4+ T cells in the pathogenesis of AR. The expression levels of IL­37 were determined in PBMCs from 39 patients with AR and 43 controls using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR) analysis and flow cytometry. Cytokines in the supernatants of the PBMCs and CD4+ T cells, which were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in the presence or absence of IL­37, were assayed using enzyme­linked immunosorbent assays and RT­qPCR analysis. The results showed that the patients with AR exhibited significantly decreased expression of IL­37, and increased expression levels of interleukin (IL)­1ß and IL­6 in PBMCs. Recombinant IL­37 (rIL­37) inhibited the production of IL­1p and IL­6, and enhanced the production of IL­27 in PBMCs from the patients with AR and the control individuals. rIL­37 also markedly decreased the expression of IL­17 by CD4+ T cells in the patients with AR and controls. These results suggested that IL­37 may be an important cytokine in the pathogenesis of AR. It may have a protective role in AR by inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines and through suppressive regulation of the Th17 response.