Rapid Formation of Non-canonical Phospholipid Membranes by Chemoselective Amide-Forming Ligations with Hydroxylamines.

There has been increasing interest in methods to generate synthetic lipid membranes as key constituents of artificial cells or to develop new tools for remodeling membranes in living cells. However, the biosynthesis of phospholipids involves elaborate enzymatic pathways that are challenging to reconstitute in vitro. An alternative approach is to use chemical reactions to non-enzymatically generate natural or non-canonical phospholipids de novo. Previous reports have shown that synthetic lipid membranes can be formed in situ using various ligation chemistries, but these methods lack biocompatibility and/or suffer from slow kinetics at physiological pH. Thus, it would be valuable to develop chemoselective strategies for synthesizing phospholipids from water-soluble precursors that are compatible with synthetic or living cells Here, we demonstrate that amide-forming ligations between lipid precursors bearing hydroxylamines and α-ketoacids (KAs) or potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) can be used to prepare non-canonical phospholipids at physiological pH conditions. The generated amide-linked phospholipids spontaneously self-assemble into cell-like micron-sized vesicles similar to natural phospholipid membranes. We show that lipid synthesis using KAT ligation proceeds extremely rapidly, and the high selectivity and biocompatibility of the approach facilitates the in situ synthesis of phospholipids and associated membranes in living cells.

Molecular diagnose of a large hearing loss population from China by targeted genome sequencing.

Hereditary hearing loss is genetically heterogeneous, with diverse clinical manifestations. Here we performed targeted genome sequencing of 227 hearing loss related genes in 1027 patients with bilateral hearing loss and 520 healthy volunteers with normal hearing to comprehensively identify the molecular etiology of hereditary hearing loss in a large cohort from China. We obtained a diagnostic rate of 57.25% (588/1027) for the patients, while 4.67% (48/1027) of the patients were identified with uncertain diagnoses. Of the implicated 35 hearing loss genes, three common genes, including SLC26A4(278/588), GJB2(207/588), MT-RNR1(19/588), accounted for 85.54% (503/588) of the diagnosed cases, while 32 uncommon hearing loss genes, including MYO15A, MITF, OTOF, POU3F4, PTPN11, etc. accounted for the remaining diagnostic rate of 14.46% (85/588). Apart from Pendred syndrome, other eight types of syndromic hearing loss were also identified. Of the 64 uncertain significant variants and 244 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants identified in the patients, 129 novel variants were also detected. Thus, the molecular etiology presented with high heterogeneity with the leading causes to be SLC26A4 and GJB2 genes in the Chinese hearing loss population. It's urgent to develop a database of the ethnicity-matched healthy population as well as to perform functional studies for further classification of uncertain significant variants.

Transition-Metal Catalysis of Triene 6π Electrocyclization: The π-Complexation Strategy Realized.

Triene 6π electrocyclization, wherein a conjugated triene undergoes a concerted stereospecific cycloisomerization to a cyclohexadiene, is a reaction of great historical and practical significance. In order to circumvent limitations imposed by the normally harsh reaction conditions, chemists have long sought to develop catalytic variants based upon the activating power of metal-alkene coordination. Herein, we demonstrate the first successful implementation of such a strategy by utilizing [(C5 H5 )Ru(NCMe)3 ]PF6 as a precatalyst for the disrotatory 6π electrocyclization of highly substituted trienes that are resistant to thermal cyclization. Mechanistic and computational studies implicate hexahapto transition-metal coordination as responsible for lowering the energetic barrier to ring closure. This work establishes a foundation for the development of new catalysts for stereoselective electrocyclizations.

Egicoccus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a halophilic, alkalitolerant actinobacterium and proposal of Egicoccaceae fam. nov. and Egicoccales ord. nov.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, moderately halophilic and alkalitolerant actinobacterium, designated EGI 80432T, was isolated from a saline-alkaline soil of Xinjiang province, north-west China. Cells were non-endospore-forming cocci with a diameter of 0.5-0.8 µm. Strain EGI 80432T grew in the presence of 0-9 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum at 3-5 %), and also grew within the pH range 6.0-10.0 (optimum at pH 8.0-9.0) on marine 2216E medium. The peptidoglycan type was A1γ. The whole-cell hydrolysates contained glucose, galactose, mannose and three unknown sugars as major sugars. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω8c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), C18 : 1ω9c and iso-C15 : 0 The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unknown phosphoglycolipid, three unknown phospholipids and four unknown polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 75.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain EGI 80432T clustered within the radius of the class Nitriliruptoria. Levels of sequence similarity between strain EGI 80432T and its phylogenetic neighbours Nitriliruptor alkaliphilus ANL-iso2T and Euzebya tangerina F10T were 94.1 and 88.1 %, respectively. Based on morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, a novel species of a new genus, Egicoccus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed, within the new family and new order Egicoccaceae fam. nov. and Egicoccales ord. nov. in the class Nitriliruptoria. The type strain of Egicoccus halophilus is EGI 80432T ( = CGMCC 1.14988T = KCTC 33612T).

Frigoribacterium endophyticum sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from the root of Anabasis elatior (C. A. Mey.) Schischk.

A novel endophytic actinobacterium, designated EGI 6500707(T), was isolated from the surface-sterilized root of a halophyte Anabasis elatior (C. A. Mey.) Schischk collected from Urumqi, Xinjiang province, north-west China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, short rods and produced white colonies. Growth occurred at 10-45 °C (optimum 25-30 °C), at pH 5-10 (optimum pH 8) and in presence of 0-4% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0-3%). The predominant menaquinone was MK-9. The diagnostic phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(17 : 0) and iso-C(16 : 0). The DNA G+C content of strain EGI 6500707(T) was 69.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EGI 6500707(T) should be placed in the genus Frigoribacterium (family Microbacteriaceae , phylum Actinobacteria ), and that the novel strain exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Frigoribacterium faeni JCM 11265(T) (99.1%) and Frigoribacterium mesophilum MSL-08(T) (96.5%). DNA-DNA relatedness between strain EGI 6500707(T) and F. faeni JCM 11265(T) was 47.2%. On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness data, strain EGI 6500707(T) represents a novel species of the genus Frigoribacterium , for which the name Frigoribacterium endophyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 6500707(T) ( = JCM 30093(T) = KCTC 29493(T)).

Okibacterium endophyticum sp. nov., a novel endophytic actinobacterium isolated from roots of Salsola affinis C. A. Mey.

A white bacterial strain, designated EGI 650022(T), was isolated from the roots of Salsola affinis C. A. Mey, collected from Urumqi City, Xinjiang, north-western China. The strain was found to be aerobic, Gram-stain positive, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Cells were non-motile and irregular rods. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 7 % (w/v), temperatures between 5 and 45 °C, and pH 6.0-9.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain EGI 650022(T) belongs to a clade with the genera Okibacterium and Plantibacter in the family Microbacteriaceae. The novel strain EGI 650022(T) showed highest levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with members of the genera Okibacterium and Plantibacter (97.2-98.0 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained glutamate, homoserine, glycine, alanine and lysine. The predominant menaquinones (MKs) were MK-11, MK-12 and MK-12 (H4). The polar lipid pattern comprised phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycolipids and two unknown phospholipids. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The DNA G+C content was 66.0 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain EGI 650022(T) with Okibacterium fritillariae DSM 12584(T), Plantibacter flavus DSM 14012(T) and Plantibacter auratus DSM 19586(T) were 39.7, 19.7 and 22.0 %. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain EGI 650022(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Okibacterium, for which the name Okibacterium endophyticum sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is EGI 650022(T) (=JCM 30086(T) = KCTC 29492(T)).

Labedella endophytica sp. nov., a novel endophytic actinobacterium isolated from stem of Anabasis elatior (C. A. Mey.) Schischk.

A Gram-stain positive, yellow-coloured, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative, endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain EGI 6500705(T), was isolated from the surface-sterilized stem of a halophyte Anabasis elatior (C. A. Mey.) Schischk collected from Urumqi, Xinjiang province, north-west China. The organism had ornithine as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and iso-C16:0. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9, MK-10 and MK-11. The DNA G + C content of strain EGI 6500705(T) was 69.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain EGI 6500705(T) is clearly affiliated with the genus Labedella and most closely related to Labedella gwakjiensis KCTC 19176(T), with 99.0 % sequence similarity. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain EGI 6500705(T) and L. gwakjiensis KCTC 19176(T) was 27.4 %. On the basis of phenophytic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, the strain EGI 6500705(T) represents a novel species of the genus Labedella, for which the name Labedella endophytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 6500705(T) (=KCTC 29494(T) = CPCC 203961(T) = JCM 30092(T)).

Nesterenkonia rhizosphaerae sp. nov., an alkaliphilic actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil in a saline-alkaline desert.

An alkaliphilic actinobacterial strain, designated EGI 80099(T), was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample of Reaumuria soongorica found in the desert soils of Fukang, Xinjiang, north-west China. Cells of strain EGI 80099(T) were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-endospore-forming cocci. The predominant menaquinones were MK-7, MK-8 and MK-9. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Analysis of the cell wall showed the presence of peptidoglycan of the type l-Lys-Gly-l-Glu, variation A4α. Cells of the isolate contained phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unknown phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid as polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 63.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EGI 80099(T) belongs to the genus Nesterenkonia, sharing 95.68-97.37 % sequence similarities with the type strains of recognized species within this genus. DNA-DNA hybridization of strain EGI 80099(T) with the type strains of species that showed the highest sequence similarities, Nesterenkonia aethiopica DSM 17733(T) (97.37 %), Nesterenkonia flava CAAS 251(T) (97.23 %) and Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis YIM 70097(T) (97.02 %), gave relatedness values of 8.7-62.2 %. Data from DNA-DNA hybridizations and physiological and biochemical tests indicated that strain EGI 80099(T) represents a novel species of the genus Nesterenkonia, for which the name Nesterenkonia rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 80099(T) ( = BCRC 16947(T) = JCM 19129(T)).

[Biodiversity and enzymes of culturable facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria in saline-alkaline soil in Fukang, Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: In order to analyze the biodiversity of cultivable facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria and the enzymes they produced. METHODS: Total 10 soil samples were collected from saline-alkaline environments of Fukang, Xinjiang province. Facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria strains were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Enzymes including amylase, proteinase, xylanase, and cellulase were detected. RESULTS: Total 116 facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacterial strains and 4 alkali-tolerant actinobacterial strains were isolated from the samples, and those strains were distributed within 22 genera in 13 families and 8 orders of actinobacteria based on their 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The ratio of non-predominant Streptomyces and Nocardiopsis strains were 53.3%. The positive rates of amylase, proteinase, xylanase and cellulase were 35.8, 37.6, 28.3 and 17.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Diverse facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria were discovered from saline-alkaline environments of Fukang. Facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria are a potential source for enzymes. The study would facilitate the knowledge of the diversity of facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria, and provide the technical basis for exploration of facultative-alkaliphilic actinobacteria resources.

Establishment of Nomogram for Prediction of Hearing Preservation after Retrosigmoid Approach in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma.

OBJECTIVE: To derive and validate a prognostic nomogram for the prediction of hearing preservation (HP) after retrosigmoid approach (RSA) in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) and further assist in clinical decision-making. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 111 patients diagnosed with VS with serviceable hearing from January 2013 to March 2023. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent surgery via RSA, and hearing outcomes were reviewed 2 weeks postoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative hearing were analyzed and stratified according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). RESULTS: In multivariate analysis of the primary group, preoperative hearing, tumor size, and tumor origin were significantly related to postoperative HP ( p = 0.029, p = 0.043, and p = 0.018, respectively). Factors derived from the multivariate analysis were all assembled into the nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed good predictive accuracy of the nomogram model in both primary and validation groups with area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of 0.802 and 0.797, respectively. CONCLUSION: Independent predictors of postoperative HP in patients with VS were selected to create the nomogram. The nomogram was able to stratify patients into different risk groups and assist in clinical decision making.

[Effects of mouth opening breathing for different reasons on maxillofacial development in children].

Objective:To explore the effects of mouth opening breathing for different reasons on children's maxillofacial development. Methods:One hundred and fifty-one children were selected as the research objects of this experiment. They were divided into 49 cases of adenoid hypertrophy group（group A）, 52 cases of tonsillar hypertrophy group（group B） and 50 cases of adenoid with tonsillar hypertrophy group（Group C）. Healthy children in the same period were selected as the control group, a total of 45 cases. The reflex nasopharyngeal measurement parameters, facial development indexes and cephalometric parameters of group A, group B, group C and control group were analyzed, and the incidence of Angle ClassⅡand Angle Class Ⅲ in group A, group B and group C were studied. Results:Compared with the control group, the reflex nasopharyngeal measurement parameters in group A, group B and group C was significantly different（P<0.05）, and the cephalometric parameters changed with variation in groups（P<0.05）. The incidence of Angle Class Ⅱ facial pattern in group A and group C was higher, but the incidence of Angle Class Ⅲ facial pattern in group B and group C was higher（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Adenoid hypertrophy leads to mandibular retraction; tonsil hypertrophy leads to anterior mandibular arch; adenoid hypertrophy and tonsil hypertrophy are easy to lead to clockwise rotation of the mandible. In clinical practice, to avoid children's uncoordinated maxillofacial development, we should correct the maxillofacial situation of children as soon as possible.

Outcomes of cochlear implantation in 75 patients with auditory neuropathy.

Background: Cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes in patients with auditory neuropathy (AN) are variable, which hampers patients' decisions on CI. Objective: This study aims to assess the outcomes of CI in individuals diagnosed with AN and to examine the various factors that may influence the effectiveness of this intervention. Methods: A total of 75 patients diagnosed with AN were included in the study. The hearing threshold, the score of categories of auditory performance (CAP), speech intelligibility rating (SIR), and speech audiometry were tested. Genetic testing was conducted by medical exome sequencing in 46 patients. Results: After CI, the average aided hearing threshold for patients with prelingual and post-lingual onset was 38.25 ± 6.63 dB and 32.58 ± 9.26 dB, respectively; CAP score improved to 5.52 ± 1.64 (p < 0.001) and 6.00 ± 0.96 (p < 0.001), respectively; SIR score increased to 3.57 ± 1.22 (p < 0.001) and 4.15 ± 0.95 (p < 0.001), respectively. Maximum speech recognition ranged from 58 to 93% for prelingual onset patients and 43 to 98% for those with post-lingual onset. Speech outcomes of CI in cases with cochlear nerve (CN) deficiency were significantly poorer (p = 0.008). Molecular etiologies, including TWIST1, ACTG1, m.A7445G, and a copy-number variant (CNV) carrying ACTB, were related to AN here. Conclusion: CI is a viable therapy option for patients with AN; CN deficiency might impact outcomes of CI.

Study on tinnitus-related electroencephalogram microstates in patients with vestibular schwannomas.

Tinnitus is closely associated with cognition functioning. In order to clarify the central reorganization of tinnitus in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS), this study explored the aberrant dynamics of electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates and their correlations with tinnitus features in VS patients. Clinical and EEG data were collected from 98 VS patients, including 76 with tinnitus and 22 without tinnitus. Microstates were clustered into four categories. Our EEG microstate analysis revealed that VS patients with tinnitus exhibited an increased frequency of microstate C compared to those without tinnitus. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated that the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was negatively associated with the duration of microstate A and positively associated with the frequency of microstate C. These findings suggest that the time series and syntax characteristics of EEG microstates differ significantly between VS patients with and without tinnitus, potentially reflecting abnormal allocation of neural resources and transition of functional brain activity. Our results provide a foundation for developing diverse treatments for tinnitus in VS patients.

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two ghost moths, Thitarodes renzhiensis and Thitarodes yunnanensis: the ancestral gene arrangement in Lepidoptera.

BACKGROUND: Lepidoptera encompasses more than 160,000 described species that have been classified into 45-48 superfamilies. The previously determined Lepidoptera mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are limited to six superfamilies of the lineage Ditrysia. Compared with the ancestral insect gene order, these mitogenomes all contain a tRNA rearrangement. To gain new insights into Lepidoptera mitogenome evolution, we sequenced the mitogenomes of two ghost moths that belong to the non-ditrysian lineage Hepialoidea and conducted a comparative mitogenomic analysis across Lepidoptera. RESULTS: The mitogenomes of Thitarodes renzhiensis and T. yunnanensis are 16,173 bp and 15,816 bp long with an A + T content of 81.28 % and 82.34 %, respectively. Both mitogenomes include 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and the A + T-rich region. Different tandem repeats in the A + T-rich region mainly account for the size difference between the two mitogenomes. All the protein-coding genes start with typical mitochondrial initiation codons, except for cox1 (CGA) and nad1 (TTG) in both mitogenomes. The anticodon of trnS(AGN) in T. renzhiensis and T. yunnanensis is UCU instead of the mostly used GCU in other sequenced Lepidoptera mitogenomes. The 1,584-bp sequence from rrnS to nad2 was also determined for an unspecified ghost moth (Thitarodes sp.), which has no repetitive sequence in the A + T-rich region. All three Thitarodes species possess the ancestral gene order with trnI-trnQ-trnM located between the A + T-rich region and nad2, which is different from the gene order trnM-trnI-trnQ in all previously sequenced Lepidoptera species. The formerly identified conserved elements of Lepidoptera mitogenomes (i.e. the motif 'ATAGA' and poly-T stretch in the A + T-rich region and the long intergenic spacer upstream of nad2) are absent in the Thitarodes mitogenomes. CONCLUSION: The mitogenomes of T. renzhiensis and T. yunnanensis exhibit unusual features compared with the previously determined Lepidoptera mitogenomes. Their ancestral gene order indicates that the tRNA rearrangement event(s) likely occurred after Hepialoidea diverged from other lepidopteran lineages. Characterization of the two ghost moth mitogenomes has enriched our knowledge of Lepidoptera mitogenomes and contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying mitogenome evolution, especially gene rearrangements.

Extended high-frequency audiometric analyses of tinnitus patients exhibiting normal hearing on conventional pure-tone audiometry.

BACKGROUND: While hearing loss is the greatest risk factor associated with developing tinnitus, some tinnitus patients exhibit no hearing loss on conventional pure-tone audiometry (PTA). OBJECTIVES: This study was developed to assess whether tinnitus patients with normal hearing as measured via conventional PTA would exhibit differences from normal controls upon extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometric evaluation. METHODS: In total, 102 tinnitus patients were separated into unilateral and bilateral tinnitus groups. Age- and sex-matched controls without tinnitus were enrolled. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed when comparing EHF audiometry results in the 9-14 kHz range between controls and tinnitus patients, with only left-sided tinnitus ears exhibiting higher hearing thresholds than contralateral ears at 9, 10, and 14 kHz. Relative to normal controls, the hearing thresholds in the 2-8 kHz range for tinnitus ears were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Relative to controls, tinnitus patients with normal hearing did not exhibit any significant hearing loss in the EHF range. Unexpectedly, tinnitus patients with normal hearing exhibited significant hidden hearing loss in the conventional frequency range rather than in the EHF range. For patients with normal hearing, it appears to be unnecessary to conduct EHF examinations to detect hearing loss in the EHF range.

Synthetic probes and chemical tools in sphingolipid research.

Sphingolipids (SLs) are a unique class of nitrogen-linked lipids that are involved in membrane structure, cell signaling, and other important cellular processes. Abnormal sphingolipid metabolism is observed in several diseases including cancer, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. However, the direct study of SLs has been hampered by their ubiquitous presence in cells and their complex metabolism. In the past few decades, efforts have been focused on creating synthetic probes and chemical tools to study SLs and decipher their roles in cellular biology. In this brief perspective, we seek to provide a concise snapshot of recently developed state-of-the-art chemical tools in SL research and the challenges that can be addressed through further development of SL probes.

Identification of factors associated with tinnitus outcomes following the microsurgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is common in vestibular schwannoma patients, but the postoperative tinnitus status of these patients and related factors remain unclear. AIMS: To identify preoperative and operative factors associated with postoperative tinnitus status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postoperative outcomes were retrospectively assessed in 237 vestibular schwannomas (VS) patients with preoperative tinnitus and 90 VS patients without tinnitus. RESULTS: When evaluating patients with preoperative tinnitus, there were significant differences in rates of improvement, no change, and worsening of tinnitus for the translabyrinthine (TL) and retrosigmoid (RS) approaches. Of patients without preoperative tinnitus, there was a significant difference in rates of not developing tinnitus and new-onset tinnitus. Similar results were observed with respect to preoperative hearing. Least-squares analyses revealed that surgical approach and preoperative hearing were independent predictors of postoperative tinnitus. Preoperative pure tone averages for TL group patients that did not develop postoperative tinnitus were 85.8 dB, whereas in patients that developed new-onset tinnitus they were significantly lower (54.9 dB). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Tinnitus prognosis in VS patients is better following TL microsurgery relative to RS microsurgery and is also better in patients with worse preoperative hearing. New-onset tinnitus was more likely to occur in patients with better preoperative hearing that underwent tumor removal via a TL approach.

Treatment of venous pulsatile tinnitus by compression reconstruction of sigmoid sinus.

BACKGROUND: Surgical intervention can effectively treat venous pulsatile tinnitus. AIM/OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of treating of venous pulsatile tinnitus (VPT) by compression reconstruction of sigmoid sinus (SSCR) under local anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 41 patients with VPT in our otolaryngology department between September 2009 and February 2019. Under local anesthesia, all patients were received SSCR. Pre- and postoperative Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) degree and scores were used to evaluate the efficacy of SSCR for VPT. RESULTS: Of the 41 patients, 36 patients were followed up from 9 months to 8 years and 5 patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the data analysis. SSCR was clinically effective in 86% of patients with complete disappearance in 18 patients (50%), partial remission in 10 patients (28%), slight alleviation in 3 patients (8%), and no change in 5 patients (14%). The pre- and postoperative THI degree and scores were significantly different (p < .001 and p = .002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: SSCR under local anesthesia is effective for treating patients with VPT. It is critical to perform a rigorous pre-operative clinical and radiological evaluation to reduce intra- and postoperative complications.

[Diagnosis and clinical implications of cochlear dead regions].

The cochlear dead regions are common exist in the case of moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Patients with dead regions have demonstrated poor understanding of speech in noise and report less satisfaction with hearing aids than patients with no dead regions. Dead regions are assumed to occur if a hearing-impaired listener can be shown to be using off-place listening. A correctly diagnosed dead regions facilitates accurate and informed aural rehabilitation.

[Prognostic analysis of stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer patients treated by traditional chinese medicine].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapy is a treatment for stage III-IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the efficacy is not ideal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has certain effect on NSCLC. This study was to investigate various factors that affect the prognosis of advanced NSCLC, and evaluate the role of TCM in enlonging survival time of patients with stage III-IV NSCLC. METHODS: The NSCLC patients who meet the inclusive criteria were randomized into TCM group, combination (TCM plus NP regimen) group, and chemotherapy group, and received relevant treatments. The median survival time (MST) was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognosis of the patients was analyzed by COX regression method. RESULTS: A total of 294 stage III-IV NSCLC patients were enrolled, of which 99 were in TCM group, 103 in combination group, 92 in chemotherapy group. The MST were 292 days in TCM group, 355 days in combination group, and 236 days in chemotherapy group; the cumulative survival rates were 45.38%, 48.86%, and 42.17%, respectively (P>0.05). Cox regression analysis indicated that therapy, gender, disease course, erythrocyte sedimentation, KPS score, tumor size, and patient's weight were independent prognostic factors of stage III-IV NSCLC. CONCLUSION: Compare with chemotherapy alone, TCM combined with chemotherapy may prolong the survival time of stage III-IV NSCLC patients.