How Does Deep Neural Network-Based Noise Reduction in Hearing Aids Impact Cochlear Implant Candidacy?

Background/objectives: Adult hearing-impaired patients qualifying for cochlear implants typically exhibit less than 60% sentence recognition under the best hearing aid conditions, either in quiet or noisy environments, with speech and noise presented through a single speaker. This study examines the influence of deep neural network-based (DNN-based) noise reduction on cochlear implant evaluation.

Methods: Speech perception was assessed using AzBio sentences in both quiet and noisy conditions (multi-talker babble) at 5 and 10 dB signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) through one loudspeaker.

Early Hearing Outcomes and Audiological Experiences With a Novel Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant.

Objective: To review audiological experiences and early hearing outcomes from the early feasibility study of a fully implanted cochlear implant.

Study Design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

The Impact of Sociodemographic Variables on Functional Recovery following Lower Extremity Amputation.

Background: We hypothesize that sociodemographic variables, particularly disadvantaged financial environments, impact both rate of prosthetic utilization and the achievement of ambulation post major amputation.

Methods: All cases in the Vascular Quality Initiative amputation module were queried between April 2013 and January 2024. Inclusion was limited to patients who underwent below knee, through knee, and above knee amputation.

Immunization with an mRNA DTP vaccine protects against pertussis in rats.

is a Gram-negative bacterium that is the causative agent of the respiratory disease known as pertussis. Since the switch to the acellular vaccines of DTaP and Tap, pertussis cases in the US have risen and cyclically fallen. We have observed that mRNA pertussis vaccines are immunogenic and protective in mice.

Multivalent mRNA-DTP vaccines are immunogenic and provide protection from Bordetella pertussis challenge in mice.

Acellular multivalent vaccines for pertussis (DTaP and Tdap) prevent symptomatic disease and infant mortality, but immunity to Bordetella pertussis infection wanes significantly over time resulting in cyclic epidemics of pertussis. The messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine platform provides an opportunity to address complex bacterial infections with an adaptable approach providing Th1-biased responses. In this study, immunogenicity and challenge models were used to evaluate the mRNA platform with multivalent vaccine formulations targeting both B.

AI model for predicting adult cochlear implant candidacy using routine behavioral audiometry.

Objective: To describe an AI model to facilitate adult cochlear implant candidacy prediction based on basic demographical data and standard behavioral audiometry.

Methods: A machine-learning approach using retrospective demographic and audiometric data to predict candidacy CNC word scores and AzBio sentence in quiet scores was performed at a tertiary academic center. Data for the model were derived from adults completing cochlear implant candidacy testing between January 2011 and March 2023.

BECC438b TLR4 agonist supports unique immune response profiles from nasal and muscular DTaP pertussis vaccines in murine challenge models.

The protection afforded by acellular pertussis vaccines wanes over time, and there is a need to develop improved vaccine formulations. Options to improve the vaccines involve the utilization of different adjuvants and administration via different routes. While intramuscular (IM) vaccination provides a robust systemic immune response, intranasal (IN) vaccination theoretically induces a localized immune response within the nasal cavity.

Pathophysiology of Facial Nerve Stimulation and Its Implications for Electrical Stimulation in Cochlear Implants.

Objectives: A small number of cochlear implant (CI) users experience facial nerve stimulation (FNS), which can manifest as facial twitching. In some patients, this can be resolved by adjusting the electrical stimulation parameters. However, for others, facial stimulation can significantly impair CI outcomes or even prevent its use.

PDZ Domains from the Junctional Proteins Afadin and ZO-1 Act as Mechanosensors.

Intercellular adhesion complexes must withstand mechanical forces to maintain tissue cohesion, while also retaining the capacity for dynamic remodeling during tissue morphogenesis and repair. Most cell-cell adhesion complexes contain at least one PSD95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain situated between the adhesion molecule and the actin cytoskeleton. However, PDZ-mediated interactions are characteristically nonspecific, weak, and transient, with several binding partners per PDZ domain, micromolar dissociation constants, and bond lifetimes of seconds or less.

Intranasal challenge with B. pertussis leads to more severe disease manifestations in mice than aerosol challenge.

The murine Bordetella pertussis challenge model has been utilized in preclinical research for decades. Currently, inconsistent methodologies are employed by researchers across the globe, making it difficult to compare findings. The objective of this work was to utilize the CD-1 mouse model with two routes of challenge, intranasal and aerosol administration of B.

Objective assessment of physician work in infrainguinal arterial bypass surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this study is obtain robust objective data from the Vascular Quality Initiative on physician work in infrainguinal artery bypass surgery. Operative time, patient comorbidities, anatomical complexity, consequences of adverse outcomes, and postoperative length of stay all factor into procedure relative value unit assignment and physician reimbursement.

Methods: Baseline demographics and comorbidities were identified among 74,920 infrainguinal bypass surgeries in Vascular Quality Initiative between 2003 and 2022.

Carotid Endarterectomy for Asymptomatic Stenosis Based on Duplex Ultrasound Alone Achieves Equivalent Perioperative and Long-Term Outcomes Relative to Advanced Imaging Based Endarterectomy.

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare both perioperative as well as long-term outcomes of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for asymptomatic carotid bifurcation stenosis based on duplex ultrasound in isolation relative to a combination of duplex and more advanced imaging.

Methods: All CEA in the VQI between January 2003 and May 2022 were queried. We identified 171,816 CEAs in the database.

Investigation of Combined Carotid Endarterectomy and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Outcomes and Adverse Event Risk Factors in the Vascular Quality Initiative.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate outcomes of simultaneous CEA and CABG utilizing the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Additionally, we seek to investigate risks for both perioperative and long-term mortality and adverse neurological outcomes.

Methods: All carotid endarterectomies in the VQI between January 2003 and May 2022 were queried.

The Impact of Perioperative Morbidities, Lack of Discharge Aspirin, and Lack of Discharge Statin on Long Term Survival Following EVAR.

Objective: Adverse perioperative events and discharge medications both have the potential to impact survival following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). We hypothesize that variables such as blood loss, reoperation in the same hospital admission, and lack of discharge statin/aspirin have significant effect on long term survival following EVAR. Similarly, other perioperative morbidities, are hypothesized to affect long term mortality.

Investigation of Renal Decline and New Onset Dialysis Following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair in the Vascular Quality Initiative.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to identify variables significantly associated with renal function decline after elective endovascular infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and to identify the rate and risks of subsequent progression to dialysis. Specifically, we investigate the long-term impact of supra-renal fixation, female gender, and physiologically stressful perioperative events on renal function following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: Review of all EVAR cases in the Vascular Quality Initiative between 2003 and 2021 was conducted to investigate variable associations with three primary outcomes: postoperative acute renal insufficiency (ARI); greater than 30% decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients beyond 1 year of follow up; and new onset dialysis requirement at any point in follow up.

Can we distinguish the consequences of early maltreatment on child behaviour from idiopathic autism?

Objective: To identify clinical features that could distinguish children presenting with autistic-like features and a history of severe early maltreatment from children with idiopathic autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Design: Matched-comparison study.

Setting: Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK.

Strain Transfer Mechanisms and Mechanical Properties of Optical Fiber Cables.

Understanding the strain transfer mechanism is required to interpret strain sensing results for fiber optic cables. The strain transfer mechanism for fiber optic cables embedded in cementitious materials has yet to be thoroughly investigated experimentally. Interpretation of fiber optic sensing results is of particular concern when there is a displacement discontinuity.

Small molecule binding to surface-supported single-site transition-metal reaction centres.

Despite dominating industrial processes, heterogeneous catalysts remain challenging to characterize and control. This is largely attributable to the diversity of potentially active sites at the catalyst-reactant interface and the complex behaviour that can arise from interactions between active sites. Surface-supported, single-site molecular catalysts aim to bring together benefits of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, offering easy separability while exploiting molecular design of reactivity, though the presence of a surface is likely to influence reaction mechanisms.

Assessing autism spectrum disorder in children with a background of maltreatment: challenges and guidance.

There may be some similarities in the presentation of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and those exposed to maltreatment affecting assessment and diagnosis. Overlapping characteristics include difficulties understanding and maintaining relationships, sensitivity to routine and hyper-reactivity to sensory inputs. Children who have been maltreated are at increased risk of various developmental vulnerabilities with both environmental and genetic factors being relevant.

Modifiable risk factors for occurrence of ipsilateral ischemic events after carotid endarterectomy beyond perioperative period.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of several modifiable variables on the occurrence of stroke after the initial perioperative period for patients who had undergone carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods: The primary outcome for the present study was the development of an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to CEA after the initial hospitalization. All CEAs in the VQI between January 2003 and May 2022 were queried.

The Effect of Smoking Status on Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality after Open and Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background: This study quantifies the extent to which active tobacco smoking is deleterious toward outcomes following open and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair.

Methods: Open and endovascular AAA repairs between January 2003 and June 2020 in the Vascular Quality Initiative were queried. Rupture, symptomatic status, and lack of 90 day follow-up were exclusions.

Implementation Strategy for Highly-Coordinated Cochlear Implant Care With Remote Programming: The Complete Cochlear Implant Care Model.

Objective: To introduce and discuss implementation strategy for the Complete Cochlear Implant Care (CCIC) model, a highly-coordinated cochlear implant (CI) care delivery model requiring a single on-site visit for preoperative workup, surgery, and postoperative programming.

Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, two-arm clinical trial.

Setting: Tertiary referral CI center.

CpG 1018® adjuvant enhances Tdap immune responses against Bordetella pertussis in mice.

Bordetella pertussis is the causative agent of whooping cough (pertussis), a severe respiratory disease that can be fatal, particularly in infants. Despite high vaccine coverage, pertussis remains a problem because the currently used DTaP and Tdap vaccines do not completely prevent infection or transmission. It is well established that the alum adjuvant is a potential weakness of the acellular vaccines because the immunity provided by it is short-term.