Hearing loss has been shown to be a risk factor for psychiatric disorders. In addition, long-term hearing loss is associated with increased hospitalization and mortality rates; however, the increased ...risk and duration of effect of hearing loss in combination with other chronic diseases on each psychiatric disorder are still not clearly defined. The purpose of this article is to clarify the risk of hearing loss for each disorder over time.
This was a retrospective cohort study, and a national health insurance research database in Taiwan was utilized. All (n = 1,949,101) Taiwanese residents who had a medical visit between 2000 and 2015 were included. Patients with hearing loss and a comparative retrospective cohort were analyzed. Every subject was tracked individually from their index date to identify the subjects who later received a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. The Kaplan‒Meier method was used to analyze the cumulative incidence of psychiatric disorders. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the risk of psychiatric disorders.
A total of 13,341 (15.42%) and 31,250 (9.03%) patients with and without hearing loss, respectively, were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that hearing loss significantly elevated the risk of psychiatric disorders (adjusted HR = 2.587, 95% CI 1.723-3.346, p < 0.001).
Our findings indicate that patients with hearing loss are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the various psychiatric disorders are more likely to occur at different times. Our findings have important clinical implications, including a need for clinicians to implement early intervention for hearing loss and to pay close attention to patients' psychological status. Trial registration TSGHIRB No. E202216036.
Over the past decades, the development of porous materials has directly or indirectly affected industrial production methods. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as an emerging class of porous materials ...exhibit some unique advantages, including controllable composition, a large surface area, high porosity, and so on. These attractive characteristics of MOFs have led to their potential applications in energy storage and conversion devices, drug delivery, adsorption and storage, sensors, and other areas. However, powdered MOFs have limited practical applications owing to poor processability, safety hazards from dust formation, and poor recyclability. In addition, the inherent micro/mesoporosities of MOFs also reduce the accessibility and diffusion kinetics for large molecules. To improve their processability for practical applications, MOFs are often deposited as MOF layers or films (i.e., MOF-coated composites) on supporting materials or are formed into 3D structured composites, such as aerogels and hydrogels. In this article, we review recent researches on these MOF composites, including their synthetic methods and potential applications in energy storage devices, heavy metal ion adsorption, and water purification. Finally, the future outlook and challenges associated with the large-scale fabrication of MOF-based composites for practical applications are discussed.
Objective/Hypothesis
Spindle cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSpCC) is a rare variant of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and ...molecular signatures of such tumors.
Study Design
Retrospective analysis.
Methods
Medical records of patients diagnosed with HNSpCC from 1996 to 2018 were reviewed. The clinicopathologic features, treatment modalities, and survival status were carefully recorded. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed to evaluate the genetic signatures of HNSpCC.
Results
We found that among all 71 patients included in this study, the majority of them were male, with tumors developing predominantly in the oral cavity. The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) rates were 64.6%, 49.5%, and 43.9%, respectively. A high local recurrence (LR) and distant metastasis (DM) rate (47.9%–25.3%, respectively) were observed. A significant proportion (28.2%) of patients with the worst prognosis had history of previous head and neck cancer (HNC) and had been treated with radiotherapy (RT). WES revealed that those post‐RT SpCC shared common mutations with their previous HNC (pre‐RT SCC), but gained additional genetic traits, such as hypoxia and cell‐ECM interaction that were favorable for survival in an irradiated microenvironment. Distinct genetic landscapes in primary and post‐RT SpCC were also found.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that HNSpCC is a unique entity with more aggressive behavior than conventional HNSCC. HNSpCC arising from a previously irradiated field is a predictor of dismal survival. Both genetic and microenvironmental factors contribute to this highly invasive tumor.
Level of Evidence
4 Laryngoscope, 133:2183–2191, 2023
Spindle cell carcinoma arising from a previously irradiated field is a predictor of dismal survival. Both genetic and microenvironmental factors contribute to this highly invasive tumor.
TiO2 (P25)-graphene (P25-GR) hybrids were prepared via solvothermal reaction of graphene oxide and P25 using ethanol as solvent. The as-prepared P25-GR nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray ...diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence emission spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results indicated that P25-GR nanocomposites possessed enhanced light absorption ability and charge separation efficiency. As photocatalysts, P25-GR hybrids were much better than the bare P25, when they were used in the hydrogen evolution from aqueous methanol solution under Xe-lamp illumination. A significant enhancement in the rate of hydrogen production was achieved through using P25-GR as photocatalysts, comparing to bare P25. The optimum mass ratio of GR to P25 in the hybrids was 0.5 wt%. The higher mass ratio of GR in P25-GR would decrease the photocatalytic activity of P25.
Background
Genetic and environmental factors are important determinants of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). NPC is associated with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection. Studies have reported familial ...aggregation of NPC, but evidence has been mixed for elevated rates of cancers other than NPC.
Methods
The authors reassessed their previous evaluation of familial aggregation of cancer in 348 high‐risk Taiwanese multiplex families with 2 or more NPC cases enrolled between 1980 and 2003. Participants were linked to the Taiwan National Cancer Registry and National Death Registry to identify cancers.
Results
In all, 2590 individuals contributed 37,959 person‐years over an average of 15 years of follow‐up; 314 incident cancers were identified. The authors computed multiple primary standardized incidence ratios (MP‐SIRs) to evaluate the overall risk and the risk of infection‐associated, EBV‐associated, and individual cancers. The overall MP‐SIR was 1.24 (95% confidence interval CI, 1.10‐1.38). The exclusion of excess NPC risk led to an overall MP‐SIR of 1.11 (95% CI, 0.98‐1.25). Similarly, the risk of cancers associated with infectious agents was driven by the excess in NPC, and its exclusion led to an MP‐SIR of 1.22 (95% CI, 0.99‐1.48) for infection‐associated cancers and to an MP‐SIR of 1.18 (95% CI, 0.72‐1.82) for EBV‐associated cancers. The authors observed a significant excess of second cancers among NPC cases (oral cancer, mouth cancer, tongue cancer, gum cancer, nasal cavity cancer, bone cancer, and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma).
Conclusions
This reassessment of the largest NPC multiplex family study confirms the presence of NPC coaggregation within families in Taiwan but does not provide evidence for a broader familial syndrome involving NPC and other tumors. Among NPC cases, elevated rates of secondary cancers, mostly at the, head and neck and hematopoietic cancers suggest radiation treatment effects on subsequent cancer risk.
This reassessment of the largest nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) multiplex family study confirms the presence of NPC coaggregation within families in Taiwan but does not provide evidence for a broader familial syndrome involving NPC and other tumors. Among NPC cases, elevated rates of secondary cancers, mostly at the, head and neck and hematopoietic cancers suggest radiation treatment effects on subsequent cancer risk.
Objectives/Hypothesis
In this study, we expanded our previous investigation by testing the efficiency of trans–round window membrane dexamethasone (DEX) delivery mediated by ultrasound (US)‐aided ...microbubbles (MBs) and its preventive effects regarding noise exposure in animal models.
Study Design
Live animal model.
Methods
Forty‐two pigmented male guinea pigs were divided into the following three groups: an US‐MBs (USM) group, in which the tympanic bulla was filled with DEX and MBs and exposed to US; a round window soaking (RWS) group, without the US irradiation; and a control group. The above‐mentioned manipulations were performed 2 hours prior to white noise exposure. The cochlear damage, including auditory threshold shifts, hair cell loss, and expression of cochlear HMGB1, was evaluated.
Results
The enhanced DEX delivery efficiency of the USM group was approximately 2.4× to 11.2× greater than that of the RWS group. After the noise exposure, the RWS group showed significant cochlear protection compared with the control group, and more significant and dominant protective effects were demonstrated in the USM group.
Conclusions
The application of US‐MBs provides a safe and more effective approach than spontaneous diffusion, which is commonly used in clinical practice; thus, this technique holds potential for future inner‐ear drug delivery.
Level of Evidence
NALaryngoscope, 129:1907–1914, 2019
Materials showing second-order nonlinear transport under time reversal symmetry can be used for Radio Frequency (RF) rectification, but practical application demands room temperature operation and ...sensitivity to microwatts level RF signals in the ambient. In this study, we demonstrate that BiTeBr exhibits a giant nonlinear response which persists up to 350 K. Through scaling and symmetry analysis, we show that skew scattering is the dominant mechanism. Additionally, the sign of the nonlinear response can be electrically switched by tuning the Fermi energy. Theoretical analysis suggests that the large Rashba spin-orbit interactions (SOI), which gives rise to the chirality of the Bloch electrons, provide the microscopic origin of the observed nonlinear response. Our BiTeBr rectifier is capable of rectifying radiation within the frequency range of 0.2 to 6 gigahertz at room temperature, even at extremely low power levels of -15 dBm, and without the need for external biasing. Our work highlights that materials exhibiting large Rashba SOI have the potential to exhibit nonlinear responses at room temperature, making them promising candidates for harvesting high-frequency and low-power ambient electromagnetic energy.
The clinical characteristics of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) may be different between endemic and non-endemic regions of betel nut chewing. The impact of combined alcohol ...drinking/betel quid chewing/cigarette smoking (ABC) exposure on the survival of OPSCC remains unclear. We reviewed the medical records of OPSCC patients between 1999 and 2013. Immunohistochemical staining of p16 and HPV genotype detection by DNA Polymerase chain reaction were both performed for each tumor. A total of 300 eligible patients including 74 HPV+ OPSCC patients and 226 HPV- OPSCC patients were enrolled. The 5-year disease-free survival rates for the HPV-, HPV+ OPSCC with and without ABC patients were 49.8%, 58.4% and 94%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates for the patients with HPV-, HPV+ OPSCC with and without ABC patients were 46%, 57.4% and 86%, respectively. Advanced locoregionally disease (T3/T4, N2/N3), HPV- OPSCC, combined 2 or all ABC exposure were the independent adverse prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival. Therefore, our data suggest that in an endemic region of betel quid chewing, HPV- OPSCC comprises the majority of OPSCC and has a worse survival. Combined 2 or all ABC exposure had a significant negative impact on disease-free and overall survival.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is necessary for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). By adulthood, approximately 90% of individuals test EBV-positive, but only a fraction develop cancer. ...Factors that identify which individuals are most likely to develop disease, including differential antibody response to the virus, could facilitate detection at early stages when treatment is most effective.
We measured anti-EBV IgG and IgA antibody responses in 607 Taiwanese individuals. Antibodies were measured using a custom protein microarray targeting 199 sequences from 86 EBV proteins. Variation in response patterns between NPC cases and controls was used to develop an antibody-based risk score for predicting NPC. The overall accuracy area under the curve (AUC) of this risk score, and its performance relative to currently used biomarkers, was evaluated in two independent Taiwanese cohorts.
Levels of 60 IgA and 73 IgG anti-EBV antibodies differed between stage I/IIa NPC cases and controls (
< 0.0002). Risk prediction analyses identified antibody targets that best discriminated NPC status-BXLF1, LF2,BZLF1, BRLF1, EAd, BGLF2, BPLF1, BFRF1, and BORF1. When combined with currently used VCA/EBNA1 IgA biomarkers, the resulting risk score predicted NPC with 93% accuracy (95% CI, 87%-98%) in the general Taiwanese population, a significant improvement beyond current biomarkers alone (82%; 95% CI, 75%-90%,
≤ 0.01). This EBV-based risk score also improved NPC prediction in genetically high-risk families (89%; 95% CI, 82%-96%) compared with current biomarkers (78%; 95% CI, 66%-90%,
≤ 0.03).
We identified NPC-related differences in 133 anti-EBV antibodies and developed a risk score using this microarray dataset that targeted immune responses against EBV proteins from all stages of the viral life cycle, significantly improving the ability to predict NPC.
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Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of a fluorescence probe, 3,6-bis(1-methyl-2-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (o-BMVC), provides an objective method for preoperative diagnosis of ...fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. The key of this o-BMVC test of FNA smears is the measurement of the digital number of o-BMVC foci in the nucleus. Thus, there are three categories classified in the o-BMVC test, which are nondiagnostic for unsatisfactory samples, benign for less numbers of o-BMVC foci, and malignant for more numbers of o-BMVC foci. The discrimination of indeterminate (including atypia, follicular neoplasm, suspicious) cytology into benign or malignant cases can reduce diagnostic uncertainty and benefit clinical decision making. This pilot study strongly suggests that the o-BMVC test is an invaluable method for diagnosing FNA samples. Particularly, the combination of FNA cytology and the o-BMVC test holds great promise to improve the efficacy of diagnosis and reduce the healthcare costs.
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