Draft Genome Sequence of the Plant Growth Promoter and Biocontrol Agent Bacillus velezensis Strain BIB0110.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Bacillus velezensis strain BIB0110, a broad-range biocontrol agent isolated from cultivated eucalyptus in Brazil. The genome has a size of 4.19 Mbp, with a GC content of 45.

Are hearing protection devices used in the workplace really efficient? A systematic review.

Background: The most common current hearing protection devices (HPDs) on the market include earplugs and earmuffs. A variety of materials can be used to manufacture these devices, and each offers a level of noise attenuation that is informed by the manufacturer although it does not always correspond to the attenuation observed in real-world use.

Objective: To evaluate the noise attenuation of HPDs available to workers exposed to noise.

Progressive Asymmetry in Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: A Large Population-Based Cohort Study With a 15-Year Follow-Up.

Background: To evaluate interaural differences between the right and left ears at frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz in 3 groups of workers from metallurgy companies.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional cohort study.

Five-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study Determines the Critical Intervals for Periodic Audiometric Testing Based on 5070 Tests of Metallurgical Workers Exposed and Nonexposed to Noise.

Objectives: To compare the progression of 3-, 4-, and 6-kHz thresholds (pure-tone average) over 5 years and determine the most critical period for occupational risk among workers exposed and nonexposed to noise.

Design: Metallurgical workers were divided into 2 groups: noise-exposed and non-noise-exposed groups. The 6 initial audiometric tests of each worker were analyzed as baseline test and annual tests 1 to 5.

Is it necessary to perform occupational audiometric testing at 6-months of employment?

Introduction: Current Brazilian legislation requires that all workers exposed to noise are to be given an audiogram upon hiring, after 6 months of employment (first periodic test), and annually after the first periodic test. In other countries, the regulations of hearing conservation programs do not include the requirement for audiometric testing at 6 months of employment, but only annually. There is no evidence that the periodicity adopted by Brazilian legislation is the most appropriate.

Effect of Noise Exposure on 1,382 Metallurgical Workers in Periodic Audiometric Evaluation: A Cohort Study.

Introduction: Noise-induced hearing loss is the most preventable cause of auditory impairment. Periodic audiometric evaluations are essential to monitor the hearing health of noise-exposed workers.

Objective: To compare the evolution of audiometric thresholds in the initial three evaluations at frequencies of 3, 4, and 6 kHz in groups of workers exposed or not to noise.

Biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea and Calonectria gracilis by eucalypts growth promoters Bacillus spp.

The clonal Eucalyptus plants are commonly obtained by vegetative propagation under a protected environment. This system improves the Botrytis cinerea and Calonectria spp infection on the young eucalypts plantings, resulting gray mold and cutting rot respectively. Currently, the unique available control method is based on chemicals.

Cochlear implants: Insertion assessment by computed tomography.

Background And Objectives: Imaging exams play a key role in cochlear implants with regard to both planning implantation before surgery and quality control after surgery. The ability to visualize the three-dimensional location of implanted electrodes is useful in clinical routines for assessing patient outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate linear and angular insertion depth measurements of cochlear implants based on conventional computed tomography.

Histologic correlation of VEGF and COX-2 expression with tumor size in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx.

The prognosis and survival of patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are related to the clinical staging. Tumor growth and metastasis are closely related to angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) are intimately related to the angiogenic process in which the blood supply required for neoplastic evolution is ensured.

[Auditory Neuropathy: Clinical Evaluation and Diagnostic Approach].

Introduction: Auditory neuropathy is a condition in which there is a change in the neuronal transmission of the auditory stimuli. Our objective was to describe the patients' series within the clinical spectrum of auditory neuropathy.

Material And Methods: We designed a transversal, retrospective study, with a description of a consecutive case series.

Performance of Cochlear Implants in Pediatric Patients with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

Objective: To describe the performance and results of CIs (cochlear implant) in patients with AN (auditory neuropathy) and to present a medical literature review.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with AN who were treated with CI. The mesh terms used for the review in the Pubmed and Scopus databases were as follows: "hearing loss, cochlear implants, rehabilitation of persons with hearing impairment, auditory neuropathy".

Molecular study of patients with auditory neuropathy.

Auditory neuropathy is a type of hearing loss that constitutes a change in the conduct of the auditory stimulus by the involvement of inner hair cells or auditory nerve synapses. It is characterized by the absence or alteration of waves in the examination of brainstem auditory evoked potentials, with otoacoustic and/or cochlear microphonic issues. At present, four loci associated with non‑syndromic auditory neuropathy have been mapped: Autosomal recessive deafness‑9 [DFNB9; the otoferlin (OTOF) gene] and autosomal recessive deafness‑59 [DFNB59; the pejvakin (PJVK) gene], associated with autosomal recessive inheritance; the autosomal dominant auditory neuropathy gene [AUNA1; the diaphanous‑3 (DIAPH3) gene]; and AUNX1, linked to chromosome X.

Evaluation of Audiometric Thresholds and Speech Perception Sentence Test in Adults and Elderly After Cochlear Implantation.

Aim: To compare the audiometric thresholds and speech perception sentence test, between two groups with bilateral post-lingual, severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: Retrospective and analytical study, with 59 patients divided into 2 groups (under 60 years and above 60 years old) implanted between May/2002 and February/2007.

Results: The first group (control) included 30 patients with a mean age of 44 years.

Satisfaction of Children with Auditory Neuropathy and Cochlear Implant.

Objective: In auditory neuropathy (AN) a dyssynchrony in the nerve conduction of the auditory nerve fibers is observed. Typically, patients with AN exhibit moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss, and treatment using cochlear implants (CIs) or hearing aids should be performed as early as possible for a better hearing rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the satisfaction level of patients with AN spectrum disorder treated using CIs.

HiFocus Helix™ electrode insertion: surgical approach.

Background: Cochlear implants have been used for almost 30 years as a device for the rehabilitation of individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss. One of the important aspects of cochlear implantation is the type of electrode selected and proper insertion of the electrode array in scala tympani to minimize cochlear damage. The HiFocus Helix™ electrode is a precurved design aimed at placing the electrode contacts close to the spiral ganglion cells in the modiolus.

High levels of sound pressure: acoustic reflex thresholds and auditory complaints of workers with noise exposure.

Introduction: The clinical evaluation of subjects with occupational noise exposure has been difficult due to the discrepancy between auditory complaints and auditory test results. This study aimed to evaluate the contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds of workers exposed to high levels of noise, and to compare these results to the subjects' auditory complaints.

Methods: This clinical retrospective study evaluated 364 workers between 1998 and 2005; their contralateral acoustic reflexes were compared to auditory complaints, age, and noise exposure time by chi-squared, Fisher's, and Spearman's tests.

Audiogram comparison of workers from five professional categories.

Introduction: Noise is a major cause of health disorders in workers and has unique importance in the auditory analysis of people exposed to it. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the arithmetic mean of the auditory thresholds at frequencies of 3, 4, and 6 kHz of workers from five professional categories exposed to occupational noise.

Methods: We propose a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study to analyze 2.

Hearing preservation and cochlear implants according to inner ear approach: multicentric evaluation.

Introduction: Electroacoustic stimulation is an excellent option for people with residual hearing in the low frequencies, who obtain insufficient benefit with hearing aids. To be effective, the subject's residual hearing should be preserved during cochlear implant surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate the hearing preservation in patients that underwent implant placement and to compare the results in accordance with the approach to the inner ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss in hemorrhagic dengue?

Introduction: Dengue is an acute febrile infectious disease, with high fever followed by symptoms flu-like. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a vascular leak syndrome and could present spontaneous bleeding and worsening of symptoms after some days. Dengue could have some ENT manifestations, however hearing loss is not one of them.

Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and presence of lymph node metastasis in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the larynx, and its evolution depends on tumor staging. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a marker of angiogenesis, and its expression may be related to increased tumor aggressiveness, as evidenced by the presence of cervical lymphatic metastases.

Objectives: To evaluate the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor marker in non-glottic advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (T3/T4) and correlate it with the presence of cervical lymph node metastases.

Association between unilateral tonsillar enlargement and lymphoma in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lymphoma is the most common head and neck malignancy in children, and palatine tonsils asymmetry is the most frequent clinical manifestation of tonsillar lymphoma. However, several studies with children with tonsillar asymmetry found no case of lymphoma, showing that the relationship of tonsillar asymmetry with lymphoma is unclear. In this review, we aimed to identify the association between tonsillar asymmetry and tonsillar lymphoma in children by conducting systematic reviews of the literature on children with palatine tonsil lymphoma and tonsillar asymmetry.