Objective: Auditory neuropathy (AN), a complex hearing disorder, presents challenges in diagnosis and management due to limitations of current diagnostic assessment. This study aims to determine whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify the site and severity of lesions in individuals with AN.
Methods: This case-control study included 10 individuals with AN of different etiologies, 7 individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), 5 individuals with cochlear hearing loss, and 37 control participants. Participants were recruited through the University of Melbourne's Neuroaudiology Clinic and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute specialist outpatient clinics. Diffusion-weighted MRI data were collected for all participants and the auditory pathways were evaluated using the fixel-based analysis metric of apparent fiber density. Data on each participant's auditory function were also collected including hearing thresholds, otoacoustic emissions, auditory evoked potentials, and speech-in-noise perceptual ability.
Results: Analysis of diffusion-weighted MRI showed abnormal white matter fiber density in distinct locations within the auditory system depending on etiology. Compared with controls, individuals with AN due to perinatal oxygen deprivation showed no white matter abnormalities ( p > 0.05), those with a neurodegenerative conditions known/predicted to cause VIII cranial nerve axonopathy showed significantly lower white matter fiber density in the vestibulocochlear nerve ( p < 0.001), while participants with NF1 showed lower white matter fiber density in the auditory brainstem tracts ( p = 0.003). In addition, auditory behavioral measures of speech perception in noise and gap detection were correlated with fiber density results of the VIII nerve.
Conclusions: Diffusion-weighted MRI reveals different patterns of anatomical abnormality within the auditory system depending on etiology. This technique has the potential to guide management recommendations for individuals with peripheral and central auditory pathway abnormality.
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Luminescence
December 2024
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
This study investigates the optical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of polypropylene (PP) fibers enhanced with titanium dioxide (TiO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Using a Mach-Zehnder interferometric system, we examined the refractive indices, birefringence, and opto-mechanical behavior of blank PP, PP/TiO, and PP/ZnO nanocomposite fibers under various conditions, including different polarization orientations and during cold drawing processes. The 2D Fourier transform algorithm is employed to analyze interferometric data, enabling precise measurements of refractive index profiles and birefringence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Pollut
December 2024
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo, China; Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, Ningbo, China. Electronic address:
This study investigates the prevalence and impacts of suspended atmospheric microplastics (SAMPs) in the coastal metropolitan city of Ningbo in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China. The sampling was conducted at both urban centre and urban-rural fringe areas, near the coast but distant from large urban populations. SAMP abundance ranged from 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, School of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China. Electronic address:
Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted widespread attention owing to the feature of low cost, inherent safety and eco-friendliness. However, the poor reversibility of Zn anode severely hinders the practical applicability of AZIBs. Separator modification is an effective way to functionalize the electrode/electrolyte interface and improve the cycling performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Neuroradiol
December 2024
Université Lyon I, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France.
Purpose: This study aimed to characterize spinal cord microstructure in healthy subjects using high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) and tractography.
Methods: Forty-nine healthy subjects (18-50 years, divided into 2 age groups) were included in a prospective study. HARDI of the cervical spinal cord were acquired using a 3T MRI scanner with: 64 directions, b‑value: 1000s/mm, reduced field-of-view (zonally magnified oblique multi-slice), and opposed phase-encoding directions.
J Cell Sci
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Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is a weak link in the musculoskeletal system. Here, we isolated the tips of single myofibres from healthy human hamstring muscles for confocal microscopy (n=6) and RNAscope in situ hybridisation (n=6) to gain insight into the profiles of cells and myonuclei in this region, in a fibre type manner. A marked presence of mononuclear cells was observed coating the myofibre tips (confirmed by serial block face scanning electron microscopy and cryosection immunofluorescence), with higher numbers for type I (median 29; range 16-63) than type II (16; 9-23) myofibres (p<0.
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