In Memorium: Dr. Richard Riedman

Richard Riedman, Kathi Hoffer, 1980

Dr. Richard Riedman passed away on January 21, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon, where he had resided for more than two decades. Dr. Riedman, “Dick” to his many colleagues, family and friends, played a central role in the establishment of the Audiology emphasis in what was then largely a Speech Pathology major. That major evolved into the department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, then the department of Communicative Disorders, and is now the School of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences. Dick arrived at what was San Diego State College in 1962, immediately after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to that, he earned a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Redlands. He remained at San Diego State until 1992, when he retired, having served SDSU for 30 years. By the time of his retirement, San Diego State College had become San Diego State University.  As the University grew, so did the Audiology department, adding faculty and staff and enlarging its mission. In 2019, it has a remarkable Ph.D program, outstanding ongoing research, and esteemed clinical services. These began with Dick Riedman,  Dr. Sue Earnest, and President Malcolm Love, among others. Higher education pioneers left a strong legacy. 

 

Dick and his wife, Dr. Kathi Hoffer, were a popular couple, outdoor enthusiasts brimming with health and optimism. Kathi had a connection to SDSU also, serving as a staff member and a lecturer while here. They participated in many sports activities while in San Diego, expanding those adventures once Dick retired. In tune with nature, he loved rivers, oceans and mountains, so he backpacked in the Sierras, cycled through Europe, hiked, planted trees, and worked with horses, continuing to ride horses even after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease in 2009. Dick was a soft spoken man with a wry sense of humor. People listened to him. Quietly confident, he led his life with assurance and grace.   

 

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2I6M0ns
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Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Bx3jbz
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Validation of the Japanese version of the tinnitus functional index (TFI)

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TG2ZOT
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Auditory risk of exposure to ballistic N-waves from bullets

Volume 58, Issue sup1, February 2019, Page S58-S64
.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BrQZcL
via IFTTT

Distorted sound perception and subjective benefit after stapedotomy – a prospective single-centre study

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TGKN7D
via IFTTT

Auditory event-related potentials and function of the medial olivocochlear efferent system in children with auditory processing disorders

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BsmbIW
via IFTTT

Envelope frequency following responses are stronger for high-pass than low-pass filtered vowels

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THMPEr
via IFTTT

Development and evaluation of a hearing aid manual in the Malay language

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BrXSKQ
via IFTTT

Can adults living with dementia complete pure-tone audiometry? A systematic review

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THMLVd
via IFTTT

Objective auditory brainstem response classification using machine learning

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Bsmbsq
via IFTTT

Treatment of military acoustic accidents with N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THYjYH
via IFTTT

What do hearing healthcare professionals do to promote hearing aid use and benefit among adults? A systematic review

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BseQsM
via IFTTT

Influence of subcortical auditory processing and cognitive measures on cocktail party listening in younger and older adults

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TMARtz
via IFTTT

In Memorium: Dr. Richard Riedman

Richard Riedman, Kathi Hoffer, 1980

Dr. Richard Riedman passed away on January 21, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon, where he had resided for more than two decades. Dr. Riedman, “Dick” to his many colleagues, family and friends, played a central role in the establishment of the Audiology emphasis in what was then largely a Speech Pathology major. That major evolved into the department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, then the department of Communicative Disorders, and is now the School of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences. Dick arrived at what was San Diego State College in 1962, immediately after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to that, he earned a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from the University of Redlands. He remained at San Diego State until 1992, when he retired, having served SDSU for 30 years. By the time of his retirement, San Diego State College had become San Diego State University.  As the University grew, so did the Audiology department, adding faculty and staff and enlarging its mission. In 2019, it has a remarkable Ph.D program, outstanding ongoing research, and esteemed clinical services. These began with Dick Riedman,  Dr. Sue Earnest, and President Malcolm Love, among others. Higher education pioneers left a strong legacy. 

 

Dick and his wife, Dr. Kathi Hoffer, were a popular couple, outdoor enthusiasts brimming with health and optimism. Kathi had a connection to SDSU also, serving as a staff member and a lecturer while here. They participated in many sports activities while in San Diego, expanding those adventures once Dick retired. In tune with nature, he loved rivers, oceans and mountains, so he backpacked in the Sierras, cycled through Europe, hiked, planted trees, and worked with horses, continuing to ride horses even after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease in 2009. Dick was a soft spoken man with a wry sense of humor. People listened to him. Quietly confident, he led his life with assurance and grace.   

 

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via IFTTT

Clinical Approaches to Assess Post-extubation Dysphagia (PED) in the Critically Ill

Abstract

Swallowing disorders and respective consequences (including aspiration-induced pneumonia) are often observed in extubated ICU patients with data indicating that a large number of patients are affected. We recently demonstrated in a large-scale analysis that the incidence of post-extubation dysphagia (PED) is 12.4% in a general ICU population and about 18% in emergency admissions to the ICU. Importantly, PED was mostly sustained until hospital discharge and independently predicted 28- and 90-day mortality. Although oropharyngeal/laryngeal trauma, neuromuscular ICU-acquired weakness, reduced sensation/sensorium, dyssynchronous breathing, and gastrointestinal reflux, are all considered to contribute to PED, little is known about the underlying pathomechanisms and risk factors leading to PED in critically ill patients. Systematic screening of all potential ICU patients for oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) seems key for early recognition and follow-up, as well as the design and testing of novel therapeutic interventions. Today, screening methods and clinical investigations for dysphagia differ considerably. In the context of a recently proposed pragmatic screening algorithm introduced by us, we provide a concise review on currently available non-instrumental techniques that could potentially serve for non-instrumental OD assessment in critically ill patients. Following systematic literature review, we find that non-instrumental OD assessments were mostly tested in different patient populations with only a minority of studies performed in critically ill patients. Due to little available data on non-instrumental dysphagia assessment in the ICU, future investigations should aim to validate respective approaches in the critically ill against an instrumental (gold) standard, for example, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. An international expert panel is encouraged to addresses critical illness—related definitions, screening and confirmatory assessment approaches, treatment recommendations, and identifies optimal patient-centered outcome measures for future clinical investigations.

http://bit.ly/2UhOsc4

Happy ears for many years: selected papers from the 2018 Annual Conference of the National Hearing Conservation Association

Volume 58, Issue sup1, February 2019, Page S1-S2
.


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Intravascular embolization versus surgical resection for patients with scalp arteriovenous fistula

Abstract

Background

Scalp arteriovenous fistula (sAVF) is a rare vascular disease; so far, the standard guidelines for the treatment of sAVF are still unclear. Since its complex vascular anatomical structure, surgical management of sAVF remains an enormous challenge.

Methods

Between March 2016 and October 2017, three patients with sAVF admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were reviewed, and clinical characteristics, imaging features, and surgical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Three consecutive patients with sAVF were admitted to our hospital during the study period. Two patients received intravascular embolization and one patient received surgical resection. No procedure-related complications occurred after successfully treatment. During the long-term follow-up period, three patients recovered well and had no recurrence of lesion.

Conclusions

Either intravascular embolization or surgical resection is an effective therapy method for sAVF. Careful identification of angioarchitecture features contributes to successful treatment for the complex sAVF; therefore, it is recommended that neurosurgeons make the best treatment plan based on the location and number of the fistulas, feeding the artery, and draining the vein.

http://bit.ly/2WQffhC

A vertical optimization method for a simultaneous extraction of the five parameters characterizing the barrier height in the Mo / 4H–SiC Schottky contact

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the parameters related to the barrier height inhomogeneities for Mo/4H–SiC Schottky diode in 298–498 K temperature range has been investigated. Due to the barrier height inhomogeneities that prevail at the interface of the Schottky diode, a Gaussian distribution of the barrier height is assumed. We have extracted simultaneously, for every temperature, all the parameters characterizing the barrier height such as the mean barrier height \( \bar{\phi }_0}} \) , the coefficients ρ₂, ρ₃ quantifying the deformation of the barrier height, the corresponding temperature T₀ modeling the divergence of the ideality factor n from the unity, the standard deviation of the Gaussian distribution of the barrier σ_s and also the series resistance R_s using a vertical optimization process on the current without any graphical extraction about ρ₂, ρ₃, \( \bar{\phi }_0}} \) , σ_s and R_s. The extracted parameters like ( \( \bar{\phi }_0}} \) , ρ₂, ρ₃, σ_s, R_s) were found to be a temperature dependent. Moreover, an excellent agreement was obtained between the I–V–T plots calculated with the extracted parameters using a vertical optimization process with the experimental one.

http://bit.ly/2UPZkhG

Possible scenarios for single, double, or multiple kinetic freeze-out in high-energy collisions

Abstract

Transverse momentum spectra of different types of particles produced in mid-rapidity interval in central and peripheral gold–gold (Au–Au) collisions, central and peripheral deuteron–gold (d–Au) collisions, and inelastic (INEL) or non-single-diffractive (NSD) proton–proton (pp) collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), as well as in central and peripheral lead–lead (Pb–Pb) collisions, central and peripheral proton–lead (p–Pb) collisions, and INEL or NSD pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are analyzed by the blast-wave model with Boltzmann–Gibbs statistics. The model results are largely consist with the experimental data in special transverse momentum ranges measured by the PHENIX, STAR, ALICE, and CMS Collaborations. It is showed that the kinetic freeze-out temperature of emission source is dependent on particle mass, which reveals the scenario for multiple kinetic freeze-out in collisions at the RHIC and LHC. The scenario for single or double kinetic freeze-out is not observed in this study.

http://bit.ly/2tnlrQV

Evaluation of the nuclear excitation functions of fast neutron-induced reactions on 52 Cr and 56 Fe isotopes

Abstract

In this article, we present the nuclear excitation functions of the fast neutron-induced reactions ⁵²Cr(n,p)⁵²V, ⁵²Cr(n,α)⁴⁹Ti, ⁵²Cr(n,2n)⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁶Fe(n,p)⁵⁶Mn, ⁵⁶Fe(n,α)⁵³Cr, and ⁵⁶Fe(n,2n)⁵⁵Fe, because these measurements are critical to estimate the level of the neutron activation for the fusion reactor structural materials. The theoretical computer codes TALYS-1.8 and EMPIRE-3.2.2 have been used for the calculation of the excitation functions. The theoretical calculations consider different nuclear reaction models, level density models and optical model potentials. The calculated excitation function results are compared with the existing experimental data obtained from the IAEA-EXFOR database, as well as with those available in the TENDL-2017 and ENDF/B-VIII.0-evaluated nuclear data libraries. The obtained results show the variation in excitation functions for different level density models. Moreover, we have studied the contribution from different reaction mechanisms in total reaction cross-section which varies with the incident neutron energy. These excitation function results can be useful to estimate the important parameters of nuclear reactors, such as nuclear heating, nuclear transmutation rates, and waste management etc. This kind of information can enhance the basic understanding of the mechanism of the fast neutron-induced nuclear reactions.

http://bit.ly/2tglxcS

Observational constraints on EoS parameters of various modified Chaplygin gas models

Abstract

Cosmological models of a class of modified Chaplygin gas as a candidate of unified dark matter and energy are studied to determine observational constraints on its EoS parameters using the background data. These data consist of \(H(z)-z\) (OHD) data, baryonic acoustic oscillations peak parameter data, CMB shift parameter and SN Ia (Union 2.1) data. Best-fit value of present Hubble parameter ( \(H_{0}\) ), present matter density ( \(\Omega _{m0}\) ) and present age of the Universe ( \(t_{0}\) ) has been determined in all these models. The acceptable range of values of the EoS parameters is determined in the analysis. Variations of EoS parameter ( \(\omega\) ), squared sound speed ( \(c^2_{s}\) ) and deceleration parameter (q) with redshift are also studied here. Akaike information criteria and Bayesian information criterion are used to check the suitability of the models. Density perturbation and CMB temperature anisotropy have also been studied.

http://bit.ly/2tglttE

A novel model of all-optical reversible XOR/XNOR logic gate on a single photonic circuit

Abstract

The high speed and high volume of optical data are subjected to electronic conversions at the receiving end of the optical network for processing purposes. This optoelectronic conversion makes the system inefficient in terms of speed and bandwidth. When high-speed data are subjected to electronic processing, heat dissipates from electronic circuits. Another source of heat dissipation is the loss of information from the irreversible processors. The solution of this problem is reversible computing. This research paper proposes a novel 3 × 3 reversible XOR logic gate and XNOR logic gate in a single photonic circuit. The proposed photonic circuit works on the principles of cross-gain modulation and cross-phase modulation, which is introduced by the active regions of two semiconductor optical amplifier in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer structure. The proposed design works at 10 Gbps data rate. The average extinction ratio of the design is 18.58 dB, and the average quality factor is 63.03 dB. The optical cost of the proposed circuit is 1 unit.

http://bit.ly/2tdKC87

Gravitational energy–momentum and gravitational flux of cylindrically rotating solution in the teleparallel gravity

Abstract

In the framework of teleparallel equivalent to general relativity, we study the energy–momentum and its relevant quantities of cylindrically axially symmetric rotating (CASR) space time. We calculate the gravitational energy–momentum and gravitation energy–momentum flux of the derived solution. We show that in specific cases, our results coincide with what the results derived before in general relativity.

http://bit.ly/2UORNPZ

Thermodynamic approach of AlGaN MOVPE growth at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

Al_xGa_1-xN epilayers were grown on GaN/sapphire substrate by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) at atmospheric pressure. Different trimethylaluminum (TMA) flow rates were used in order to vary the solid aluminum (Al) molar fraction. In situ laser reflectometry shows that the higher the TMA flow, the lower the growth rate. The Al molar fraction was determined by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. In order to explain the evolution of the growth rate and Al fraction, we have developed a complete thermodynamic model in which all possible parasitic reactions between TMA and ammonia (NH₃) have been considered. The experimental results are explained by adding a correction factor γ in the definition of the theoretical Al molar fraction. This factor is related to parasitic reactions. Two principal adducts AlCH₃.NH and (AlCH₃.NH)₃ were predicted to form in a temperature range from 300 to 1000 K with a maximum equilibrium partial pressure at 600 K for AlCH₃.NH species. These adducts undergo a thermal decomposition and disappear for temperatures above 700 K and 1000 K for (AlCH₃.NH)₃ and AlCH₃.NH, respectively. We conclude that the parasitic reactions would be avoided or minimized if TMA and NH₃ are mixed in a reactor region where the temperature is above 1000 K. Thus, the growth rate and Al incorporation would be better controlled in a MOVPE reactor designed such a way that the mixing of TMA and NH₃ flows takes place at the latest, in the hottest region.

http://bit.ly/2tgyt2h

Fundamental properties of scandium chalcogenides and their alloys: DFT study

Abstract

The full-potential linearized-augmented plane wave calculations based on density functional theory are performed to study the structural, electronic, optical and thermodynamic properties of scandium chalcogenides ScX (X = S, Se, Te) and their ternary alloys at equilibrium as well as under pressure. The revised Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (GGA) is used to calculate the structural properties. The electronic and optical properties are calculated employing the GGA and the modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ) approaches. Moreover, the calculated lattice parameters agree well with the experiment results. The structure NaCl-type (B1) of the scandium chalcogenides undergoes under pressure a structural phase transition to CsCl-type (B2) and ZnS-type (B3). The binary and ternary alloys indicate a metallic behavior using GGA and mBJ scheme. The interband contribution to the optical properties is investigated by calculating the dielectric parameters ε₁(ω), ε₂(ω) and the index of refraction n(ω). A quasi-harmonic Debye model is applied to calculate the thermal properties.

http://bit.ly/2UQEa2C

Influence of stimulus presentation rate on intraoperative ECAP thresholds in cochlear implant users

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TKOJEE
via IFTTT

Validation of the Japanese version of the tinnitus functional index (TFI)

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TG2ZOT
via IFTTT

Auditory risk of exposure to ballistic N-waves from bullets

Volume 58, Issue sup1, February 2019, Page S58-S64
.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BrQZcL
via IFTTT

Distorted sound perception and subjective benefit after stapedotomy – a prospective single-centre study

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TGKN7D
via IFTTT

Auditory event-related potentials and function of the medial olivocochlear efferent system in children with auditory processing disorders

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BsmbIW
via IFTTT

Envelope frequency following responses are stronger for high-pass than low-pass filtered vowels

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THMPEr
via IFTTT

Development and evaluation of a hearing aid manual in the Malay language

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BrXSKQ
via IFTTT

Can adults living with dementia complete pure-tone audiometry? A systematic review

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THMLVd
via IFTTT

Objective auditory brainstem response classification using machine learning

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2Bsmbsq
via IFTTT

Treatment of military acoustic accidents with N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THYjYH
via IFTTT

What do hearing healthcare professionals do to promote hearing aid use and benefit among adults? A systematic review

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BseQsM
via IFTTT

Influence of subcortical auditory processing and cognitive measures on cocktail party listening in younger and older adults

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TMARtz
via IFTTT

Happy ears for many years: selected papers from the 2018 Annual Conference of the National Hearing Conservation Association

Volume 58, Issue sup1, February 2019, Page S1-S2
.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BvGYem
via IFTTT

Influence of stimulus presentation rate on intraoperative ECAP thresholds in cochlear implant users

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TKOJEE
via IFTTT

Complexiton solutions and soliton solutions: $$(2+1)$$ ( 2 + 1 ) -dimensional Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa equation

Abstract

In this work, we derive the complexiton solutions for Date–Jimbo–Kashiwara–Miwa (DJKM) equation using the extended transformed rational function algorithm that relies on the Hirota bilinear form of the considered equation. Additional solutions such as complex-valued solutions also fall out of this integration scheme. Multisoliton-type solutions, in other words one-soliton, two-soliton and three-soliton solutions, which comprise both wave frequencies and generic phase shifts are presented through the medium of the multiple exp-function methodology which falls out as a result of generalisation of Hirota's perturbation technique.

http://bit.ly/2GxktZX

What do hearing healthcare professionals do to promote hearing aid use and benefit among adults? A systematic review

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BseQsM

Validation of the Japanese version of the tinnitus functional index (TFI)

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TG2ZOT

Investigation on the electrical and optical properties of some zinc titanate ceramics

Abstract

The ceramics of spinel zinc orthotitanate (SZT) and perovskite zinc metatitanate (PZT) sintered at \(800^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) have been prepared using the high-energy ball milling technique. The structural and optical characterisation of the prepared samples has been performed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transformation of infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis. The measurements of frequency-dependent dielectric constant of the PZT and SZT ceramics sintered at \(800^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) have been performed in the \((50{-}600)^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) temperature range. Impedance spectroscopy studies have been reported for the prepared nanocrystalline ceramics. The empirical vibrational frequencies observed from the FT-IR spectra have been compared using the computational method of ORCA program package. Constraints for symmetry, bonds, angles or dihedral angles have not been applied in the geometry optimisation calculations. Hybrid three-parameter exchange-correlation functional of Becke, Lee, Yang, Parr with 20% amount of exact exchange and Ahlrichs triple-zeta valence (def2-TZVP) basis set with polarisation function have been investigated for all atoms without considering the relativistic effects.

http://bit.ly/2GwFmEu

Distorted sound perception and subjective benefit after stapedotomy – a prospective single-centre study

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TGKN7D

Mayer’s convergence and thermodynamics of ideal Bose gas

Abstract

The equation of state for a collection of ideal bosons in both the low-density and high-density regions is found using the method of cluster expansion with a new generating function. The importance of the radius of convergence in the cluster expansion and its connection to the Bose–Einstein condensation phenomenon are studied. The radius of convergence of the partition function is calculated and the values of critical density, fugacity and other thermodynamic properties at condensation are obtained using Mayer's convergence method.

http://bit.ly/2E1Rrjr

Auditory event-related potentials and function of the medial olivocochlear efferent system in children with auditory processing disorders

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BsmbIW

Neutron star cooling via axion emission by nucleon–nucleon axion bremsstrahlung

Abstract

Neutron stars generally cool off by the emission of \(\gamma \) -rays and neutrinos. But axions can also be produced inside a neutron star by the process of nucleon–nucleon axion bremsstrahlung. The escape of these axions adds to the cooling process of the neutron star. We explore the nature of cooling of neutron stars including the axion emission and compare our result with the scenario when the neutron star is cooled by only the emission of \(\gamma \) -rays and neutrinos. In our calculations we consider both the degenerate and non-degenerate limits for such axion energy loss rate and the resulting variation of luminosity with time and variation of surface temperature with time of the neutron star. In short, the thermal evolution of a neutron star is studied with three neutron star masses (1.0, 1.4 and 1.8 solar masses) and by including the effect of axion emission for different axion masses ( \(m_{a}=10^{-5}, 10^{-3}\) and \(10^{-2}\,\mathrm{eV}\) ) and compared with the same when the axion emission is not considered. We compared theoretical cooling curve with the observational data of three pulsars PSR B0656 \(+\) 14, Geminga and PSR B1055-52 and finally gave an upper bound on axion mass limits \(m_{a}\le 10^{-3}\,\mathrm{eV}\) which implies that the axion decay constant \(f_{a}\ge 0.6\times 10^{10}\,\mathrm{GeV}\) .

http://bit.ly/2GwFl3o

Envelope frequency following responses are stronger for high-pass than low-pass filtered vowels

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THMPEr

The FDTD simulation of microring feedback bend-based coupling resonator system for electromagnetically-induced transparency-like effect

Abstract

A microring feedback bend-based coupling resonant system is proposed and is finite difference time domain (FDTD)-simulated to generate electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT)-like transmission and mode distribution. The coupling between the cross-section of the waveguides gives rise to EIT-like spectrum. Most of the mode field energy is concentrated in the coupling region of the feedback bend. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) can be tuned by controlling the gap parameter between two feedback bends. The device enables integration with some photonic devices on a chip and shows great promise in applications such as fast–slow light and optical filters.

http://bit.ly/2E1Rmw9

Development and evaluation of a hearing aid manual in the Malay language

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BrXSKQ

Can adults living with dementia complete pure-tone audiometry? A systematic review

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THMLVd

All single travelling wave patterns to fractional Jimbo–Miwa equation and Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation

Abstract

By the complete discrimination system of polynomial method, we obtain the classification and representation of all single travelling wave solutions to \((3+1)\) -dimensional conformal fractional Jimbo–Miwa equation and fractional Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation. These solutions show rich evolution patterns of models described by these two equations.

http://bit.ly/2E46sBv

Treatment of military acoustic accidents with N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2THYjYH

Truncated q -deformed fermion algebras and phase transition

Abstract

In this paper, we apply the q-deformed fermion theory to the phase transition from the ordinary fermion into the truncated q-deformed fermion at the critical temperature \( T_\mathrm{c}\) .

http://bit.ly/2GwmSEc

The effects of core polarisation on some even–even sd-shell nuclei using Michigan three-range Yukawa and modified surface delta interactions

Abstract

Elastic and inelastic electron scattering from even–even \(Z=N\) sd-shell ( \(^{28}\hbox {Si}, {}^{32}\hbox {S}\) and \(^{36}\hbox {Ar}\) ) nuclei has been studied using the nuclear shell-model configurations. The transition rates \(B\left( {C2\uparrow } \right) \) from the ground 0 \(^{+}\) state to the first excited \(2_{1}^{+}\) state, the electric quadrupole moments Q, the elastic longitudinal C0 and inelastic longitudinal C2 form factors are calculated. SDBA and USDA model spaces have been used. The radial wave functions of the single-particle matrix elements have been calculated in terms of the harmonic oscillator (HO) and Skyrme–Hartree–Fock (SHF) potentials. The configurations higher than the core and the model space are taken into account within a microscopic theory that includes one particle–one hole excitations from the core and model space orbits to higher allowed orbits with 2 \(\hbar \omega \) excitations. These effects are defined as core polarisation (CP) effects. Two-body Michigan three-range Yukawa (M3Y) effective nucleon–nucleon interaction and the modified surface delta interaction (MSDI) have been used as residual interactions for the CP matrix elements. The calculations are performed using the shell-model code Nushell@MSU, where the deduced results, including CP, are more compatible with the available experimental and theoretical results.

http://bit.ly/2E24phf

Influence of subcortical auditory processing and cognitive measures on cocktail party listening in younger and older adults

.


from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TMARtz

Test of isospin conservation in thermal neutron-induced fission of $$^{245}\mathrm{Cm}$$ 245 Cm

Abstract

We have recently shown that the general trends of partition-wise fission fragment mass distribution in heavy-ion-induced compound nuclear (CN) fission of heavy nuclei can be reproduced reasonably well by using the concept of isospin conservation, hence providing a direct evidence of isospin conservation in neutron-rich systems [Jain et al, Nucl Data Sheets 120, 123 (2014); Garg and Jain, Phys. Scr. 92, 094001 (2017); Jain and Garg, EPJ Web of Conference 178, 05007 (2018); Garg et al, Phys. Scr. 93, 124008 (2018)]. In this paper, we test the concept of isospin conservation to reproduce the fission fragment mass distribution emerging from thermal neutron-induced CN fission reaction, \(^{245}\mathrm{Cm}(n_{\mathrm{th}}, \hbox {f})\) . As earlier, we use Kelson's conjectures [I Kelson, Proceedings of the Conference on Nuclear Isospin (Academic Press, New York, 1969)] to assign isospin to neutron-rich fragments emitted in fission, which suggest the formation of fission fragments in isobaric analogue states. We calculate the relative yields of neutron-rich fragments using the concept of isospin conservation and basic isospin algebra. The calculated results reproduce the experimentally known partition-wise mass distributions quite well. This highlights the usefulness of isospin as an approximately good quantum number in neutron-rich nuclei. This also allows us to predict the fragment distribution of the most symmetric Cd–Cd partition and the heavier mass fragment distributions, both not measured so far.

http://bit.ly/2GDJimS

A parametric model to study the mass–radius relationship of stars

Abstract

In static space–time, we solve the Einstein–Maxwell equations. The effective gravitational potential and the electric field for charged anisotropic fluid are defined in terms of two free parameters. For such configurations, the mass of the star as a function of stellar radius is found in terms of two aforementioned parameters subjected to certain stability criteria. For various values of these two parameters, one finds that such a mass–radius relationship can model stellar objects located at various regions of the Hertzsprung–Russel diagram.

http://bit.ly/2E25d5w

Happy ears for many years: selected papers from the 2018 Annual Conference of the National Hearing Conservation Association

Volume 58, Issue sup1, February 2019, Page S1-S2
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from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2BvGYem

Influence of stimulus presentation rate on intraoperative ECAP thresholds in cochlear implant users

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from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2TKOJEE

Widely metastatic IDH1 -mutant glioblastoma with oligodendroglial features and atypical molecular findings: a case report and review of current challenges in molecular diagnostics

Abstract

Background

Gliomas with 1p/19q-codeletion as well as mutation of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 are typically characterized as oligodendrogliomas with comparatively good response to treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 28-year-old man with an IDH1 and TP53 mutant high grade glioma with abnormalities in chromosomes 1 and 19 suggestive of anaplastic oligodendroglioma that rapidly progressed to widespread metastatic disease. Biopsy of a liver lesion confirmed metastasis of the patient's known brain primary and chemotherapy with temozolomide was initiated. The patient's rapidly growing tumor burden with fulminant liver failure and tumor lysis led to multisystem failure of which the patient died. Further molecular testing illustrated features more consistent with glioblastoma: multiple large chromosomal aberrations including loss of whole chromosome 1 and 2q; gain/amplification of MYCN, MET, and CDK4; loss of CDKN2A/B; and an ATRX mutation.

Conclusion

This case illustrates the importance of higher level molecular diagnostic testing for patients with particularly aggressive disease progression that is not concordant with standard prognoses. Additional data on cases with atypical alterations of 1p and 19q are needed to better understand the distinct biology of these cancers so that appropriate therapies can be developed.

http://bit.ly/2SCdl58

2020 vision or myopia? A personal perspective on the future of cancer imaging and an introduction to the sequels to the “How I Read Series”

http://bit.ly/2WRUPVv

CT texture analysis: a potential tool for predicting the Fuhrman grade of clear-cell renal carcinoma

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze the image heterogeneity of clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) by computer tomography texture analysis and to provide new objective quantitative imaging parameters for the pre-operative prediction of Fuhrman-grade ccRCC.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 131 cases of ccRCCs was performed by manually depicting tumor areas. Then, histogram-based texture parameters were calculated. The texture-feature values between Fuhrman low- (Grade I-II) and high-grade (Grade III-IV) ccRCCs were compared by two independent sample t-tests (False Discovery Rate correction), and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of using texture features to predict Fuhrman high- and low-grade ccRCCs.

Results

There were no statistical differences for any texture parameters without filtering (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the entropy (fine) of the corticomedullary phase and the entropy (fine and coarse) of the nephrographic phase after Laplace of Gaussian filtering. The area under the ROC of the entropy was between 0.74 and 0.83.

Conclusions

Computer tomography texture features can predict the Fuhrman grading of ccRCC pre-operatively, with entropy being the most important imaging marker for clinical application.

http://bit.ly/2RQDxVd

Prediction of high nodal burden with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients

Abstract

Background

Although the role of axillary imaging has been redirected for predicting high nodal burden rather than predicting nodal metastases since ACOSOG Z1011 trial, it remains unclear whether and how axillary lymph node (ALN) characteristics predicts high nodal burden. Our study was aimed to evaluate the predictive value of imaging characteristics of ALNs at ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prediction of high nodal burden (≥3 metastatic ALNs) in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients.

Methods

Clinicopathological and imaging characteristics were evaluated in patients with ultrasound (n = 312) and MRI (n = 256). Imaging characteristics include number of suspicious ALNs and cortical morphologic changes (grade 1, cortical thickness < 2 mm; grade 2, 2–5 mm; grade 3, ≥5 mm or fatty hilum loss). Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using multivariate analysis.

Results

For ultrasound, higher (≥2) T stage (OR = 5.65, P = .005), higher number of suspicious ALNs (2 suspicious ALNs, OR = 6.52, P = .019; ≥ 3 suspicious ALNs, OR = 21.08, P = .005), and grade 3 of cortical morphologic changes (OR = 9.85, P = .023) independently associated with high nodal burden. For MRI, higher (≥2) T stage (OR = 5.17, P = .011) and higher number of suspicious ALNs (2 suspicious ALNs, OR = 69.00, P = .001; ≥ 3 suspicious ALNs, OR = 93.55, P < .001) were independently associated with high nodal burden. Among patients with 2 suspicious ALNs, those with grade 3 cortical morphologic change at ultrasound had a higher rate of high nodal burden than those with grade 2 (60.0% [3/5] vs. 25.0% [2/8]).

Conclusions

A higher number of suspicious ALNs is an independent predictor for high nodal burden. Further stratification can be achieved by incorporating assessment of ultrasound-based cortical morphologic changes.

http://bit.ly/2MZuNLE

Computed tomographic features of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the palate

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the computed tomographic features and create a prediction model for clinical diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) in the palate with intact mucosa.

Methods

From March 2016 to May 2018, 102 patients with palatal tumors and intact mucosa, including 28 patients with a pathological diagnosis of ACC after surgery, were enrolled in this study. The patients' clinical symptoms, computed tomographic features and pathological diagnoses were recorded and analyzed. Independent predictors of ACC were determined by using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression, and the discrimination and calibration of the prediction model was evaluated, and internal validation was performed.

Results

Univariate analysis of patients showed that ACC patients were more likely than non-ACC patients to be older (P = 0.019); to have palatine bone destruction (P<0.001) and greater palatine foramen (GPF) enlargement (P<0.001); to have involvement of the pterygopalatine fossa (P<0.001), foramen rotundum (P<0.001), nasal cavity (P<0.001) and maxillary bone (P<0.001); and to have numbness (P = 0.007) and pain (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age and GPF enlargement were independent predictors of ACC in palatal tumors. The diagnostic prediction model showed good discrimination and calibration, as evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.98) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test (P = 0.927).

Conclusions

The palate ACC prediction model based on age and GPF enlargement shows excellent discrimination with no evidence of poor calibration. Older patients with palatal tumors and intact mucosa should be considered for ACC when they have GPF enlargement.

http://bit.ly/2SGnb5P

Expression of cyclin D1 in clear cell sarcoma of kidney. Is it useful in differentiating it from its histological mimics?

Abstract

Background

Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is a rare malignant pediatric renal neoplasm with a heterogeneous histological appearance which often results in misdiagnosis. There are no specific immunohistochemical markers which can help in differentiating CCSK from other pediatric renal neoplasms. Recently Cyclin D1 has been investigated as a possible marker in this regard. In this study, we aim to determine the usefulness of Cyclin D1 in differentiating between CCSK and other pediatric renal neoplasms and to compare our results with those of recently published studies.

Methods

A total of 48 cases of CCSK, Wilms tumor (WT), renal rhabdoid tumor, mesoblastic nephroma, renal Ewing sarcoma and neuroblastoma were included in the study. All cases were stained with cyclin D1. Extent of Cyclin D1 staining was graded according to percentage of positive tumor cells as diffuse (> 70%), focal (5 to 70%), and negative (< 5%). Intensity of Cyclin D1 staining was graded as strong or 3+, moderate or 2+ and weak or 1 + .

Results

Most or all cases of CCSK, neuroblastoma and renal Ewing sarcoma demonstrated diffuse and strong positivity for Cyclin D1. Most cases of Wilms tumor (epithelial component) also demonstrated diffuse and often strong positivity for Cyclin D1. In most cases of WT, blastemal component was negative.

Conclusions

Cyclin D1 is a sensitive but not specific immunohistochemical marker for CCSK and many other pediatric renal malignant neoplasms as well as for neuroblastoma. Hence, careful examination of histological features is important in reaching an accurate diagnosis in CCSKs. However, Cyclin D1 is very helpful in distinguishing between blastema-rich WT and CCSK.

http://bit.ly/2MVDKFu

Role of apoptotic, autophagic and senescence pathways in minor salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma

Abstract

Background

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a salivary gland malignancy with poor long-term survival, which warrants studies aimed at clarifying the pathogenesis of this disease in order to widen the scope of therapeutic options currently available. Alterations in regulatory mechanisms relating to vascular support, cell death and autophagy are important pathways for tumor growth in cancer. Thus, the present study aimed to access vascular supply, apoptosis, autophagy and cell senescence in ACC of minor salivary glands.

Methods

We analyzed 25 cases of minor salivary gland ACC by immunohistochemistry using anti-CD34, anti-CD105, anti-D2–40, anti-Bax, anti-Bcl-2, anti-Beclin-1, anti-LC3B, anti-p21 and anti-p16.

Results

Microvessel density was low and based on anti-CD34, anti-CD105 and anti-D2–40 immunostaining. There was positivity for anti-CD34, anti-Bcl-2, anti-Beclin, anti-LC3B and anti-p21 and a positive correlation between Bcl-2 and Beclin (p = 0.014).

Conclusions

Our results showed that ACC does not depend on neo-angiogenesis and is probably associated to anti-apoptotic, autophagic and anti-senescence events.

http://bit.ly/2SE8WhR

Primary renal well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors: report of six cases with an emphasis on the Ki-67 index and mitosis

Abstract

Background

Primary renal well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNETs) also called carcinoid and atypical carcinoid are extremely rare, and little is known about parameters that may predict prognosis at diagnosis.

Methods

Six cases of primary renal WDNET were collected. After reviewing slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin, proportions of each growth pattern were determined. Synaptophysin, chromogranin, CD56, and Ki-67 immunostaining and Ki-67 morphometric analysis were performed.

Results

Patients included three female and three males, mean age was 53.3 years. The mean tumor size was 4.5 cm, three cases were greater than 5 cm. At the time of initial surgery, lymph node and/or distant metastasis was confirmed in two cases. In a third case, no metastasis was initially found, but lymph node metastasis was identified during follow-up. The remaining three cases did not exhibit metastasis. Histopathologically, the renal WDNETs were primarily composed of ribbon-like and sheet-like growth patterns. Most of the tumors were diffusely positive for neuroendocrine markers. Mitotic count was high (≥2/10HPF) in cases with lymph node or distant metastasis but was low (< 2/10HPF) in non-metastatic cases. Furthermore, the Ki-67 index was also higher (≥3%) in the cases with metastases than in cases without metastasis.

Conclusion

Three out of the six primary renal WDNETs demonstrated aggressive behavior and exhibited increased mitotic counts and Ki-67 indices. These results suggest that mitosis and the Ki-67 index could be used as prognostic indicators for renal WDNET.

http://bit.ly/2SGwnqX

Detection of pagetoid urothelial intraepithelial neoplasia extending to the vagina by cervical screening cytology: a case report with renewed immunochemical summary

Abstract

Background

Pagetoid spread of urothelial carcinoma (UC) to the lower genital tract is quite a rare and diagnostically challenging condition. Pagetoid urothelial intraepithelial neoplasia extending to the vagina is difficult to diagnose, especially in remote recurrences without symptomatic or macroscopic lesions typical to Paget disease. However, its identification by cervical screening cytology is important because UC is often characterized by a long history of relapse.

Case presentation

A 68-year-old Japanese postmenopausal woman developed brown vaginal discharge after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer (high-grade UC, pT2a pN0 cM0 [Union for International Cancer Control, 8th edition]) concomitant with focal in-situ UC in the urethra. She had a history of left renal pelvis UC, which was surgically removed 9 months before the radical cystectomy. Gynecologic examination of the lower genital tract was unremarkable although cervical screening cytology demonstrated severely atypical cells with pleomorphism repeatedly. Cervical colposcopy and diagnostic conization revealed no cervical neoplasm. In retrospect, immunocytochemical p16/Ki-67 dual staining for the previous cervical screening was negative for p16 labeling, and the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratins 7 and 20, p63, and GATA binding protein 3. No high-risk human papillomavirus genotype was identified by an automated DNA chip system using liquid-based cytology samples. Eleven months post-cystectomy, punch biopsy of the vulva and vagina confirmed intraepithelial UC in the juxtaposed squamous epithelium with pagetoid spread demonstrating positivity for specific urothelial markers: uroplakins II and III and thrombomodulin. Concurrent invasive malignancy was ruled out, and CO₂ laser vaporization of the vulvar and vaginal lesion was performed. The patient remained alive without evidence of invasive malignancy for 14 months after the radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Conclusions

To detect recurrent pagetoid urothelial intraepithelial neoplasia with pagetoid spread in the lower genital tract, pathologists should recognize the history of prior UC with special attention to absence of p16 labeling in cervical cytology as a pointer to the diagnosis of urothelial cancer. Using further biopsy and immunohistochemical confirmation of UC relapse, investigation to rule out invasive malignancies and careful follow-up throughout the patient's lifetime is recommended.

http://bit.ly/2MYsh8r

Elevated expression of ciRS-7 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a class of widespread and variety endogenous RNAs that may regulate gene expression. Thousands of mammalian circRNAs harbor miRNA response elements (MREs), suggesting a potential role as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Recent studies have demonstrated that ciRS-7 (circular CDR1 antisense), which acts as a powerful miR-7 sponge, contains more than 70 putative binding sites for miR-7 and may inhibit its target genes. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the expression of ciRS-7 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as the correlation between ciRS-7 and the target genes of miR-7.

Methods

Eighteen patients with RA and 14 healthy controls were enrolled in the current study. The relative expression of ciRS-7, miR-7, miR-671 and mTOR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from these samples were detected by real-time PCR.

Results

We found that ciRS-7 was significantly increased in RA patients and could potentially differentiate the RA patients from healthy controls. Additionally, the expression of mTOR, one of the miR-7 target genes, had positive and negative relationships with ciRS-7 and miR-7 expression, respectively. Notably, the relative expression of miR-671, which mediated the regulation of circular CDR1 antisense homeostasis, was significantly decreased in RA patients.

Conlusion

Downregulated miR-671 may influence the level of ciRS-7 in RA patients. Enhanced ciRS-7 could inhibit the function of miR-7 and further relieve the inhibitory effect of miR-7 on mTOR.

http://bit.ly/2SGmTvL

Pathological diagnosis of thyroid nodules based on core needle biopsies: comparative study between core needle biopsies and resected specimens in 578 cases

Abstract

Background

Pathological diagnosis based on core needle biopsy (CNB) should be different from a resected specimen because it is difficult to apply the histological criteria established for resected specimens to CNB due to sampling limitations. A pathological classification for thyroid nodule on CNB was first proposed by the Korean Group in 2015. The objective of this study was to test the reliability and clinical value of this proposal.

Methods

According to the Korean proposal, the CNB diagnoses were categorized into unsatisfactory, benign, indeterminate, follicular neoplasm, suspicious for malignancy and malignant. A comparative study between the diagnoses of CNB and resected specimens was performed.

Results

The consistency was moderate (κ = 0.448). Combined indeterminate, suspicious for malignancy and malignant into a single group collectively referred to as "malignant" with the remaining merged into "others", CNB demonstrated a 95.93% sensitivity, 97.30% specificity, 62.07% accuracy, 99.81% positive predictive value (PPV) and 62.07% negative predictive value (NPV) for preoperative malignancy evaluation.

Conclusions

The Korean proposal for pathological classification of thyroid nodules on CNB is objective, operable and highly valuable.

http://bit.ly/2WT77wM

Diagnostic errors in fatal medical malpractice cases in Shanghai, China: 1990–2015

Abstract

Background

Medical disputes remain unabated in China. Previous studies have shown the changes of diagnostic discrepancy over time in developed countries, but diagnostic discrepancy remains understudied in China, especially in the setting of medical disputes. We sought to describe the year-based changes of diagnostic discrepancies in medical disputes, and to identify factors associated with classes of diagnostic discrepancy.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all medically disputed cases from 1990 through 2015 in Shanghai, China, with use of necropsy as the gold standard for diagnosis. Cases were grouped based on national legislative eras. Diagnostic discrepancy was classified as major errors (class I and II), minor errors (class III and IV), no discrepancy (class V) and undetermined (class VI) based on discrepancy severity.

Results

There were 482 medical disputes. Cases were predominantly males (male: female = 1.6:1) and concentrated in patients less than 10 years old or between 50 and 70 years. Major and minor discrepancy accounted for 51.7 and 34.8%, respectively. Fifty-five cases (11.2%) were non-discrepant (Class V). The dispute rate remained high before the first round of legislation (mean 0.31 per 1 million patients) but declined dramatically afterwards (R² = − 0.82, p < 0.001 for time trends). Over the national legislative eras, the annual number of cases with diagnostic errors declined steadily. Incidence rates of discrepancy decreased significantly for class I (R² = − 0.73, p = 0.024), II (R² = − 0.48, p = 0.013), III (R² = − 0.69, p < 0.0001), IV (R² = − 0.69, p < 0.0001) and V discrepancy (R² = − 0.58, p = 0.0018). Diseases from the respiratory system had significantly lower risks of any diagnostic errors (OR = 0.48, 95% 0.24–0.95, p = 0.036). A neoplasm carrier increased by 92% the risk of any diagnostic error (OR = 1.92; 95%CI 1.18–3.14; p = 0.009) and hypertension reduced by 78% the risk of minor errors (OR = 0.22, 95%CI 0.06–0.91, p = 0.036). Severity of discrepancy relieved over years and associated with ageing in patients with cardiovascular diseases (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The rate of fatal medical disputes and diagnostic discrepancy declined after stepwise legislations in China. Respiratory diseases, neoplasm carrier and hypertension could be independent predictors for assessing diagnostic errors.

http://bit.ly/2RRCsfB

PD-L1 expression and its clinicopathological correlation in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population

Abstract

Background

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a ligand for the inhibitory programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), which are targeted by several anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 drugs for a variety of human cancers. However, only a few studies have evaluated PD-L1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with a large Chinese cohort. Our present study is to evaluate the association of PD-L1 expression with clinicopathological features on ESCC.

Methods

Using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry, PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells was studied in 378 advanced ESCC patients without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Its correlation with clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.

Results

PD-L1 was expressed on 29.9% (113/378) ESCC tumor cells and 40.2% (152/378) tumor-infiltrating immune cells. PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was significantly correlated with age, degree of differentiation, T stage, N stage and metachronous hematogenous metastasis, and PD-L1 expression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells was significantly associated with N stage (P < 0.05). Patients with PD-L1 expression in tumor cells had poor disease-free survival (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.436, P = 0.009). There was a positive association between tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells for PD-L1 expression (r = 0.16, P = 0.002). However, PD-L1 expression in tumor-infiltrating immune cells was not significantly correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival.

Conclusions

PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and tumor infiltrating immune cells is not only an indicator for immunotherapy, but also significantly related with age, differentiation, stage, metastasis and disease free survival.

http://bit.ly/2WT3s29

RRBP1 overexpression is associated with progression and prognosis in endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background

Currently, ribosome-binding protein 1 (RRBP1) is considered to be a novel oncogene that is overexpressed in colorectal cancer, lung cancer, mammary cancer, esophageal cancer and other carcinomas. However, the relationship between RRBP1 and endometrioid-type endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unknown. Our purpose is to explore the function of RRBP1 in endometrioid-type endometrial carcinoma.

Methods

We investigated the expression of RRBP1 protein by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded surgical specimens from one hundred thirty patients with endometrioid-type endometrial carcinoma. We also evaluated the differences in RRBP1 expression between endometrial cancer samples (n = 35) and normal endometrial tissues (n = 19) by western blotting.

Results

RRBP1 was more highly expressed in endometrial cancer samples than in normal samples (P < 0.05). High levels of expression of RRBP1 were strongly correlated with pathological features, such as the Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Furthermore, RRBP1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with EC (both P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This experiment identifies the utility of RRBP1 in predicting EC prognosis, revealing that it may be a potential target for therapeutics of EC.

http://bit.ly/2RRPtFT

Mediastinal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma: a rare, potentially under-recognized, and often misdiagnosed disease

Abstract

Background

Mediastinal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is extremely rare. Due to potential under-recognization of this disease, it happens to be misdiagnosed, especially on core needle biopsy. We report 3 cases of mediastinal FDCS and provide a literature review to improve better understanding of the tumor and to reduce misdiagnosis.

Methods

Three cases of mediastinal FDCS in our clinic practice were studied, including their core needle biopsy and resected specimens, and those cases reported previously in English literature were retrieved and analyzed.

Results

The core needle biopsy of case 1 showed a tumor reminiscent of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL), while the resected mass was finally diagnosed with FDCS combined with hyaline-vascular Castleman's disease. Both the biopsy and resected tissue of case 2 were constitutive of the clear epithelioid cells with marked atypia. In both cases, definitive diagnoses were not made on core needle biopsy. In case 3, there were some areas morphologically similar to CHL, and some areas contained ovoid to spindle-shaped tumor cells with fascicular pattern. The analysis of 43 cases of mediastinal FDCS showed the age of patients were from 16 to 76 years old, the male to female ratio was 1.5:1, the maximal tumor diameters were 3–17 cm. 18 cases were underwent preoperative biopsy, whereas 15 (83.3%) of which were misdiagnosed initially, often as lymphoma. 32 patients had available follow-up data, the rates of recurrence, metastasis, and mortality were 12.5, 18.8 and 28.1%, respectively. Current limited data suggested no statistical differences between adverse prognosis and gender, age, tumor size, necrosis, or different therapeutics, respectively.

Conclusions

Mediastinal FDCS is a rare malignancy that has yet not been fully understood and been often misdiagnosed, particularly when making a diagnosis on core needle biopsy. Increased awareness of this enigmatic tumor is crucial to avoid diagnostic pitfalls.

http://bit.ly/2WV2J0y

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma with mucinous differentiation: report of a rare and unique case suggesting transition from the “SET” feature of high-grade serous carcinoma to the “STEM” feature

Abstract

Background

High-grade serous carcinoma, a representative high-grade ovarian carcinoma, is believed to be closely associated with a TP53 mutation. Recently, this category of ovarian carcinoma has gained increasing attention owing to the recognition of morphological varieties of TP53-mutated high-grade ovarian carcinoma. Herein, we report the case of a patient with high-grade serous carcinoma with mucinous differentiation.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old postmenopausal woman was referred to the gynecologist because of abnormal vaginal bleeding. The radiological assessment revealed an intrapelvic multicystic mass, which was interpreted as an early right ovarian cancer and then removed by radical surgery. Histologically, the cancer cells were found in the bilateral ovaries and para-aortic lymph nodes. The cancer cells showed high-grade nuclear atypia and various morphologies, including the solid, pseudo-endometrioid, transitional cell-like (SET) pattern, and mucin-producing patterns. Benign and/or borderline mucin-producing epithelium, serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, and endometriosis-related lesions were not observed. In immunohistochemistry analyses, the cancer cells were diffuse positive for p53; block positive for p16; partial positive for WT1, ER, PgR, CDX2 and PAX8; and negative for p40, p63, GATA3, Napsin A, and vimentin. The Ki-67 labeling index of the cancer cells was 60–80%. Direct sequencing revealed that the cancer cells contained a missense mutation (c.730G>A) in the TP53 gene.

Conclusion

Mucinous differentiation in high-grade serous carcinoma is a rare and unique ovarian tumor phenotype and it mimics the phenotypes of mucinous or seromucinous carcinoma. To avoid the misdiagnosis, extensive histological and immunohistochemical analyses should be performed when pathologists encounter high-grade mucin-producing ovarian carcinoma. The present case shows that the unusual histological characteristic of high-grade serous carcinoma, the "SET" feature, could be extended to the solid, transitional, endometrioid and mucinous-like (STEM) feature.

http://bit.ly/2RQdFsn

Histological characteristics of the largest and secondary tumors in radical prostatectomy specimens and implications for focal therapy

Abstract

Background

Pathological features of prostate cancer in Korean men were analyzed to determine whether identification of tumor volume, Gleason score (GS), focality, and location using radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens can provide useful information for the application of focal therapy (hemiablation).

Methods

From January 2016 to December 2017, 913 patients who underwent RP at a single center were selected for analysis. Patients with prostate-specific antigen levels > 15 ng/mL or those who had received hormone therapy prior to surgery were excluded. Preoperative data and the number, volume, location, and GS of each tumor were recorded.

Results

Overall, 762 RP specimens were examined, and 1448 tumors were identified. The majority of the cases were multifocal (60.5%) and bilateral (82%) in nature. Among the 686 secondary tumors, 250 (36.4%) had a GS ≥7 and 122 (17.8%) had a tumor volume ≥ 0.5 mL. Among the 435 bilateral multifocal cases, secondary tumors on the lobes contralateral to the largest tumor were significant by volume (≥0.5 mL) in 91 (20.9%) cases and by grade (GS ≥7) in 179 (41.1%) cases. There were 102 (23.4%) tumors with a small tumor volume (< 0.5 mL) and Gleason pattern 4 on the lobe contralateral to the largest tumor.

Conclusions

Bilateral and multifocal tumors are a common feature and secondary tumors frequently exhibit clinically significant prostate cancer on RP specimens in Korea. In many cases, secondary tumors on the lobe contralateral to the largest tumor had a high GS and small tumor volume.

http://bit.ly/2WQeO6Y

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Related Articles

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Int J Audiol. 2019 Feb 03;:1-15

Authors: Rönnberg J, Holmer E, Rudner M

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current update of the Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model evaluates the predictive and postdictive aspects of speech understanding and communication.
DESIGN: The aspects scrutinised concern: (1) Signal distortion and working memory capacity (WMC), (2) WMC and early attention mechanisms, (3) WMC and use of phonological and semantic information, (4) hearing loss, WMC and long-term memory (LTM), (5) WMC and effort, and (6) the ELU model and sign language. Study Samples: Relevant literature based on own or others' data was used.
RESULTS: Expectations 1-4 are supported whereas 5-6 are constrained by conceptual issues and empirical data. Further strands of research were addressed, focussing on WMC and contextual use, and on WMC deployment in relation to hearing status. A wider discussion of task demands, concerning, for example, inference-making and priming, is also introduced and related to the overarching ELU functions of prediction and postdiction. Finally, some new concepts and models that have been inspired by the ELU-framework are presented and discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: The ELU model has been productive in generating empirical predictions/expectations, the majority of which have been confirmed. Nevertheless, new insights and boundary conditions need to be experimentally tested to further shape the model.

PMID: 30714435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SFzyiy
via IFTTT

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Related Articles

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Int J Audiol. 2019 Feb 03;:1-15

Authors: Rönnberg J, Holmer E, Rudner M

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current update of the Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model evaluates the predictive and postdictive aspects of speech understanding and communication.
DESIGN: The aspects scrutinised concern: (1) Signal distortion and working memory capacity (WMC), (2) WMC and early attention mechanisms, (3) WMC and use of phonological and semantic information, (4) hearing loss, WMC and long-term memory (LTM), (5) WMC and effort, and (6) the ELU model and sign language. Study Samples: Relevant literature based on own or others' data was used.
RESULTS: Expectations 1-4 are supported whereas 5-6 are constrained by conceptual issues and empirical data. Further strands of research were addressed, focussing on WMC and contextual use, and on WMC deployment in relation to hearing status. A wider discussion of task demands, concerning, for example, inference-making and priming, is also introduced and related to the overarching ELU functions of prediction and postdiction. Finally, some new concepts and models that have been inspired by the ELU-framework are presented and discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: The ELU model has been productive in generating empirical predictions/expectations, the majority of which have been confirmed. Nevertheless, new insights and boundary conditions need to be experimentally tested to further shape the model.

PMID: 30714435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SFzyiy
via IFTTT

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Related Articles

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Int J Audiol. 2019 Feb 03;:1-15

Authors: Rönnberg J, Holmer E, Rudner M

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current update of the Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model evaluates the predictive and postdictive aspects of speech understanding and communication.
DESIGN: The aspects scrutinised concern: (1) Signal distortion and working memory capacity (WMC), (2) WMC and early attention mechanisms, (3) WMC and use of phonological and semantic information, (4) hearing loss, WMC and long-term memory (LTM), (5) WMC and effort, and (6) the ELU model and sign language. Study Samples: Relevant literature based on own or others' data was used.
RESULTS: Expectations 1-4 are supported whereas 5-6 are constrained by conceptual issues and empirical data. Further strands of research were addressed, focussing on WMC and contextual use, and on WMC deployment in relation to hearing status. A wider discussion of task demands, concerning, for example, inference-making and priming, is also introduced and related to the overarching ELU functions of prediction and postdiction. Finally, some new concepts and models that have been inspired by the ELU-framework are presented and discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: The ELU model has been productive in generating empirical predictions/expectations, the majority of which have been confirmed. Nevertheless, new insights and boundary conditions need to be experimentally tested to further shape the model.

PMID: 30714435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SFzyiy

The evolution of hearing and balance.

Related Articles

The evolution of hearing and balance.

Elife. 2019 Feb 08;8:

Authors: Weghorst FP, Cramer KS

Abstract
New genetic tools have allowed researchers to compare how the brainstem auditory and vestibular nuclei develop in embryonic chicks and mice.

PMID: 30735124 [PubMed - in process]

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Characterisation of N-glycans in the epithelial-like tissue of the rat cochlea.

Related Articles

Characterisation of N-glycans in the epithelial-like tissue of the rat cochlea.

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 07;9(1):1551

Authors: Nonomura Y, Sawamura S, Hanzawa K, Nishikaze T, Sekiya S, Higuchi T, Nin F, Uetsuka S, Inohara H, Okuda S, Miyoshi E, Horii A, Takahashi S, Natsuka S, Hibino H

Abstract
Membrane proteins (such as ion channels, transporters, and receptors) and secreted proteins are essential for cellular activities. N-linked glycosylation is involved in stability and function of these proteins and occurs at Asn residues. In several organs, profiles of N-glycans have been determined by comprehensive analyses. Nevertheless, the cochlea of the mammalian inner ear, a tiny organ mediating hearing, has yet to be examined. Here, we focused on the stria vascularis, an epithelial-like tissue in the cochlea, and characterised N-glycans by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. This hypervascular tissue not only expresses several ion transporters and channels to control the electrochemical balance in the cochlea but also harbours different transporters and receptors that maintain structure and activity of the organ. Seventy-nine N-linked glycans were identified in the rat stria vascularis. Among these, in 55 glycans, the complete structures were determined; in the other 24 species, partial glycosidic linkage patterns and full profiles of the monosaccharide composition were identified. In the process of characterisation, several sialylated glycans were subjected sequentially to two different alkylamidation reactions; this derivatisation helped to distinguish α2,3-linkage and α2,6-linkage sialyl isomers with mass spectrometry. These data should accelerate elucidation of the molecular architecture of the cochlea.

PMID: 30733536 [PubMed - in process]

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Feasibility of population screening tests to establish a healthy ageing trajectory.

Related Articles

Feasibility of population screening tests to establish a healthy ageing trajectory.

SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312118822440

Authors: Gordon SJ, Grimmer KA, Baker N, Bell E, Coveney J, Jordaan JH, Lind C, Marin T, Murray J, Norton LH, Perimal-Lewis L, Sparrow K, Steffens MA, Thomas J, Kidd M

Abstract
Objectives: There are no agreed comprehensive tests for age-related changes to physical, emotional, mental and social functioning. Research into declining function focuses on those 75 years and older and little is known about age-related changes in younger people. The aims of this project were (1) to ascertain a comprehensive test battery that could underpin community-based health screening programmes for people aged 40-75 years and pilot both (2) community-based recruitment and (3) the utility, acceptability, response burden and logistics.
Methods: A total of 11 databases were searched using a broad range of relevant terms. An identified comprehensive, recent, high-quality systematic review of screening instruments for detection of early functional decline for community-dwelling older people identified many relevant tools; however, not all body systems were addressed. Therefore, lower hierarchy papers identified in the rapid review were included and expert panel consultation was conducted before the final test battery was agreed. Broad networks were developed in one Australian city to aid pilot recruitment of community-dwellers 40-75 years. Recruitment and testing processes were validated using feasibility testing with 12 volunteers.
Results: The test battery captured (1) online self-reports of demographics, health status, sleep quality, distress, diet, physical activity, oral health, frailty and continence; and (2) objective tests of anthropometry; mobility; lung function; dexterity; flexibility, strength and stability; hearing; balance; cognition and memory; foot sensation; and reaction time. Recruitment and testing processes were found to be feasible.
Conclusion: This screening approach may provide new knowledge on healthy ageing in younger people.

PMID: 30728965 [PubMed]

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The role of Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis in pathogenesis of esophageal cancer.

Related Articles

The role of Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis in pathogenesis of esophageal cancer.

Infect Agent Cancer. 2019;14:3

Authors: Malinowski B, Węsierska A, Zalewska K, Sokołowska MM, Bursiewicz W, Socha M, Ozorowski M, Pawlak-Osińska K, Wiciński M

Abstract
Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis are anaerobic, Gram-negative bacterial species which have been implicated in periodontal diseases as a part of red complex of periodontal pathogens. Esophageal cancer is the eight most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Higher rates of esophageal cancer cases may be attributed to lifestyle factors such as: diet, obesity, alcohol and tobacco use. Moreover, the presence of oral P. gingivalis and T. forsythia has been found to be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. Our review describes the role of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia in signaling pathways responsible for cancer development. It has been shown that T. forsythia may induce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 by CD4 + T helper cells and TNF-α. Moreover, gingipain K produced by P. gingivalis, affects hosts immune system by degradation of immunoglobulins and complement system (C3 and C5 components). Discussed bacteria are responsible for overexpression of MMP-2, MMP-2 and GLUT transporters.

PMID: 30728854 [PubMed]

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A multiscale model of mechanotransduction by the ankyrin chains of the NOMPC channel.

Related Articles

A multiscale model of mechanotransduction by the ankyrin chains of the NOMPC channel.

J Gen Physiol. 2019 Feb 06;:

Authors: Argudo D, Capponi S, Bethel NP, Grabe M

Abstract
Our senses of touch and hearing are dependent on the conversion of external mechanical forces into electrical impulses by the opening of mechanosensitive channels in sensory cells. This remarkable feat involves the conversion of a macroscopic mechanical displacement into a subnanoscopic conformational change within the ion channel. The mechanosensitive channel NOMPC, responsible for hearing and touch in flies, is a homotetramer composed of four pore-forming transmembrane domains and four helical chains of 29 ankyrin repeats that extend 150 Å into the cytoplasm. Previous work has shown that the ankyrin chains behave as biological springs under extension and that tethering them to microtubules could be involved in the transmission of external forces to the NOMPC gate. Here we combine normal mode analysis (NMA), full-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and continuum mechanics to characterize the material properties of the chains under extreme compression and extension. NMA reveals that the lowest-frequency modes of motion correspond to fourfold symmetric compression/extension along the channel, and the lowest-frequency symmetric mode for the isolated channel domain involves rotations of the TRP domain, a putative gating element. Finite element modeling reveals that the ankyrin chains behave as a soft spring with a linear, effective spring constantof 22 pN/nm for deflections ≤15 Å. Force-balance analysis shows that the entire channel undergoes rigid body rotation during compression, and more importantly, each chain exerts a positive twisting moment on its respective linker helices and TRP domain. This torque is a model-independent consequence of the bundle geometry and would cause a clockwise rotation of the TRP domain when viewed from the cytoplasm. Force transmission to the channel for compressions >15 Å depends on the nature of helix-helix contact. Our work reveals that compression of the ankyrin chains imparts a rotational torque on the TRP domain, which potentially results in channel opening.

PMID: 30728217 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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StatPearls

Related Articles

StatPearls

Book. 2018 01

Authors:

Abstract
The vestibulocochlear nerve or cranial nerve eight (CN VIII) is the perfect synergy between two nerves: vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve. CN VIII is responsible for maintaining body balance and eye movements in addition to conveying neural impulses related to hearing. Vestibulocochlear nerve injuries can subsist as a result of pathological processes or traumas involving the pontocerebellar angle, the internal acoustic meatus, or the inner ear. In such cases, symptoms such as vertigo and nystagmus may occur due to the involvement of the vestibular part, and tinnitus and hypacusia due to the involvement of the cochlear part.

PMID: 30726044

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via IFTTT

Using Rasch Analysis to Examine the Item-Level Psychometrics of the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scales.

Related Articles

Using Rasch Analysis to Examine the Item-Level Psychometrics of the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scales.

Speech Lang Hear. 2017;20(3):130-143

Authors: Barker BA, Donovan NJ, Schubert AD, Walker EA

Abstract
The Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scales (IT-MAIS; Zimmerman-Phillips et al. 2001) is a popular assessment designed to measure listening skills in children with hearing loss aged 0-3 years. For this study we analyzed the item-level psychometric properties of the IT-MAIS via Rasch analysis to gain further understanding about its validity and reliability. We chose to analyze the psychometric properties of the IT-MAIS because very little information exists regarding its development and validation, although it is widely used to assess listening skills in children with SNHL ages 0 to 3 years pre- and post-CI. Our results indicated that the IT-MAIS items demonstrated less than ideal psychometric properties and the IT-MAIS item order did not reflect the order in which children are expected to develop functional listening skills. Our findings suggest that there is a pressing need for further discussion among researchers and clinicians about 1) how the IT-MAIS is used, and 2) what other valid and reliable outcome measures could be used alongside, or in place of, the IT-MAIS to determine CI candidacy, establish treatment goals, or track progress in listening development in very young children with hearing loss.

PMID: 30680215 [PubMed]

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via IFTTT

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Related Articles

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Int J Audiol. 2019 Feb 03;:1-15

Authors: Rönnberg J, Holmer E, Rudner M

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current update of the Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model evaluates the predictive and postdictive aspects of speech understanding and communication.
DESIGN: The aspects scrutinised concern: (1) Signal distortion and working memory capacity (WMC), (2) WMC and early attention mechanisms, (3) WMC and use of phonological and semantic information, (4) hearing loss, WMC and long-term memory (LTM), (5) WMC and effort, and (6) the ELU model and sign language. Study Samples: Relevant literature based on own or others' data was used.
RESULTS: Expectations 1-4 are supported whereas 5-6 are constrained by conceptual issues and empirical data. Further strands of research were addressed, focussing on WMC and contextual use, and on WMC deployment in relation to hearing status. A wider discussion of task demands, concerning, for example, inference-making and priming, is also introduced and related to the overarching ELU functions of prediction and postdiction. Finally, some new concepts and models that have been inspired by the ELU-framework are presented and discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: The ELU model has been productive in generating empirical predictions/expectations, the majority of which have been confirmed. Nevertheless, new insights and boundary conditions need to be experimentally tested to further shape the model.

PMID: 30714435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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via IFTTT

The evolution of hearing and balance.

Related Articles

The evolution of hearing and balance.

Elife. 2019 Feb 08;8:

Authors: Weghorst FP, Cramer KS

Abstract
New genetic tools have allowed researchers to compare how the brainstem auditory and vestibular nuclei develop in embryonic chicks and mice.

PMID: 30735124 [PubMed - in process]

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2SC9Co5
via IFTTT

Characterisation of N-glycans in the epithelial-like tissue of the rat cochlea.

Related Articles

Characterisation of N-glycans in the epithelial-like tissue of the rat cochlea.

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 07;9(1):1551

Authors: Nonomura Y, Sawamura S, Hanzawa K, Nishikaze T, Sekiya S, Higuchi T, Nin F, Uetsuka S, Inohara H, Okuda S, Miyoshi E, Horii A, Takahashi S, Natsuka S, Hibino H

Abstract
Membrane proteins (such as ion channels, transporters, and receptors) and secreted proteins are essential for cellular activities. N-linked glycosylation is involved in stability and function of these proteins and occurs at Asn residues. In several organs, profiles of N-glycans have been determined by comprehensive analyses. Nevertheless, the cochlea of the mammalian inner ear, a tiny organ mediating hearing, has yet to be examined. Here, we focused on the stria vascularis, an epithelial-like tissue in the cochlea, and characterised N-glycans by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. This hypervascular tissue not only expresses several ion transporters and channels to control the electrochemical balance in the cochlea but also harbours different transporters and receptors that maintain structure and activity of the organ. Seventy-nine N-linked glycans were identified in the rat stria vascularis. Among these, in 55 glycans, the complete structures were determined; in the other 24 species, partial glycosidic linkage patterns and full profiles of the monosaccharide composition were identified. In the process of characterisation, several sialylated glycans were subjected sequentially to two different alkylamidation reactions; this derivatisation helped to distinguish α2,3-linkage and α2,6-linkage sialyl isomers with mass spectrometry. These data should accelerate elucidation of the molecular architecture of the cochlea.

PMID: 30733536 [PubMed - in process]

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via IFTTT

Feasibility of population screening tests to establish a healthy ageing trajectory.

Related Articles

Feasibility of population screening tests to establish a healthy ageing trajectory.

SAGE Open Med. 2019;7:2050312118822440

Authors: Gordon SJ, Grimmer KA, Baker N, Bell E, Coveney J, Jordaan JH, Lind C, Marin T, Murray J, Norton LH, Perimal-Lewis L, Sparrow K, Steffens MA, Thomas J, Kidd M

Abstract
Objectives: There are no agreed comprehensive tests for age-related changes to physical, emotional, mental and social functioning. Research into declining function focuses on those 75 years and older and little is known about age-related changes in younger people. The aims of this project were (1) to ascertain a comprehensive test battery that could underpin community-based health screening programmes for people aged 40-75 years and pilot both (2) community-based recruitment and (3) the utility, acceptability, response burden and logistics.
Methods: A total of 11 databases were searched using a broad range of relevant terms. An identified comprehensive, recent, high-quality systematic review of screening instruments for detection of early functional decline for community-dwelling older people identified many relevant tools; however, not all body systems were addressed. Therefore, lower hierarchy papers identified in the rapid review were included and expert panel consultation was conducted before the final test battery was agreed. Broad networks were developed in one Australian city to aid pilot recruitment of community-dwellers 40-75 years. Recruitment and testing processes were validated using feasibility testing with 12 volunteers.
Results: The test battery captured (1) online self-reports of demographics, health status, sleep quality, distress, diet, physical activity, oral health, frailty and continence; and (2) objective tests of anthropometry; mobility; lung function; dexterity; flexibility, strength and stability; hearing; balance; cognition and memory; foot sensation; and reaction time. Recruitment and testing processes were found to be feasible.
Conclusion: This screening approach may provide new knowledge on healthy ageing in younger people.

PMID: 30728965 [PubMed]

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via IFTTT

The role of Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis in pathogenesis of esophageal cancer.

Related Articles

The role of Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis in pathogenesis of esophageal cancer.

Infect Agent Cancer. 2019;14:3

Authors: Malinowski B, Węsierska A, Zalewska K, Sokołowska MM, Bursiewicz W, Socha M, Ozorowski M, Pawlak-Osińska K, Wiciński M

Abstract
Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis are anaerobic, Gram-negative bacterial species which have been implicated in periodontal diseases as a part of red complex of periodontal pathogens. Esophageal cancer is the eight most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Higher rates of esophageal cancer cases may be attributed to lifestyle factors such as: diet, obesity, alcohol and tobacco use. Moreover, the presence of oral P. gingivalis and T. forsythia has been found to be associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. Our review describes the role of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia in signaling pathways responsible for cancer development. It has been shown that T. forsythia may induce pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 by CD4 + T helper cells and TNF-α. Moreover, gingipain K produced by P. gingivalis, affects hosts immune system by degradation of immunoglobulins and complement system (C3 and C5 components). Discussed bacteria are responsible for overexpression of MMP-2, MMP-2 and GLUT transporters.

PMID: 30728854 [PubMed]

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via IFTTT

A multiscale model of mechanotransduction by the ankyrin chains of the NOMPC channel.

Related Articles

A multiscale model of mechanotransduction by the ankyrin chains of the NOMPC channel.

J Gen Physiol. 2019 Feb 06;:

Authors: Argudo D, Capponi S, Bethel NP, Grabe M

Abstract
Our senses of touch and hearing are dependent on the conversion of external mechanical forces into electrical impulses by the opening of mechanosensitive channels in sensory cells. This remarkable feat involves the conversion of a macroscopic mechanical displacement into a subnanoscopic conformational change within the ion channel. The mechanosensitive channel NOMPC, responsible for hearing and touch in flies, is a homotetramer composed of four pore-forming transmembrane domains and four helical chains of 29 ankyrin repeats that extend 150 Å into the cytoplasm. Previous work has shown that the ankyrin chains behave as biological springs under extension and that tethering them to microtubules could be involved in the transmission of external forces to the NOMPC gate. Here we combine normal mode analysis (NMA), full-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and continuum mechanics to characterize the material properties of the chains under extreme compression and extension. NMA reveals that the lowest-frequency modes of motion correspond to fourfold symmetric compression/extension along the channel, and the lowest-frequency symmetric mode for the isolated channel domain involves rotations of the TRP domain, a putative gating element. Finite element modeling reveals that the ankyrin chains behave as a soft spring with a linear, effective spring constantof 22 pN/nm for deflections ≤15 Å. Force-balance analysis shows that the entire channel undergoes rigid body rotation during compression, and more importantly, each chain exerts a positive twisting moment on its respective linker helices and TRP domain. This torque is a model-independent consequence of the bundle geometry and would cause a clockwise rotation of the TRP domain when viewed from the cytoplasm. Force transmission to the channel for compressions >15 Å depends on the nature of helix-helix contact. Our work reveals that compression of the ankyrin chains imparts a rotational torque on the TRP domain, which potentially results in channel opening.

PMID: 30728217 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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via IFTTT

StatPearls

Related Articles

StatPearls

Book. 2018 01

Authors:

Abstract
The vestibulocochlear nerve or cranial nerve eight (CN VIII) is the perfect synergy between two nerves: vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve. CN VIII is responsible for maintaining body balance and eye movements in addition to conveying neural impulses related to hearing. Vestibulocochlear nerve injuries can subsist as a result of pathological processes or traumas involving the pontocerebellar angle, the internal acoustic meatus, or the inner ear. In such cases, symptoms such as vertigo and nystagmus may occur due to the involvement of the vestibular part, and tinnitus and hypacusia due to the involvement of the cochlear part.

PMID: 30726044

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via IFTTT

Using Rasch Analysis to Examine the Item-Level Psychometrics of the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scales.

Related Articles

Using Rasch Analysis to Examine the Item-Level Psychometrics of the Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scales.

Speech Lang Hear. 2017;20(3):130-143

Authors: Barker BA, Donovan NJ, Schubert AD, Walker EA

Abstract
The Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scales (IT-MAIS; Zimmerman-Phillips et al. 2001) is a popular assessment designed to measure listening skills in children with hearing loss aged 0-3 years. For this study we analyzed the item-level psychometric properties of the IT-MAIS via Rasch analysis to gain further understanding about its validity and reliability. We chose to analyze the psychometric properties of the IT-MAIS because very little information exists regarding its development and validation, although it is widely used to assess listening skills in children with SNHL ages 0 to 3 years pre- and post-CI. Our results indicated that the IT-MAIS items demonstrated less than ideal psychometric properties and the IT-MAIS item order did not reflect the order in which children are expected to develop functional listening skills. Our findings suggest that there is a pressing need for further discussion among researchers and clinicians about 1) how the IT-MAIS is used, and 2) what other valid and reliable outcome measures could be used alongside, or in place of, the IT-MAIS to determine CI candidacy, establish treatment goals, or track progress in listening development in very young children with hearing loss.

PMID: 30680215 [PubMed]

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via IFTTT

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Related Articles

Cognitive hearing science and ease of language understanding.

Int J Audiol. 2019 Feb 03;:1-15

Authors: Rönnberg J, Holmer E, Rudner M

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The current update of the Ease of Language Understanding (ELU) model evaluates the predictive and postdictive aspects of speech understanding and communication.
DESIGN: The aspects scrutinised concern: (1) Signal distortion and working memory capacity (WMC), (2) WMC and early attention mechanisms, (3) WMC and use of phonological and semantic information, (4) hearing loss, WMC and long-term memory (LTM), (5) WMC and effort, and (6) the ELU model and sign language. Study Samples: Relevant literature based on own or others' data was used.
RESULTS: Expectations 1-4 are supported whereas 5-6 are constrained by conceptual issues and empirical data. Further strands of research were addressed, focussing on WMC and contextual use, and on WMC deployment in relation to hearing status. A wider discussion of task demands, concerning, for example, inference-making and priming, is also introduced and related to the overarching ELU functions of prediction and postdiction. Finally, some new concepts and models that have been inspired by the ELU-framework are presented and discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: The ELU model has been productive in generating empirical predictions/expectations, the majority of which have been confirmed. Nevertheless, new insights and boundary conditions need to be experimentally tested to further shape the model.

PMID: 30714435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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via IFTTT