Involvement and repair of epithelial barrier dysfunction in allergic diseases.

The epithelial barrier serves as a critical defense mechanism separating the human body from the external environment, fulfilling both physical and immune functions. This barrier plays a pivotal role in shielding the body from environmental risk factors such as allergens, pathogens, and pollutants. However, since the 19th century, the escalating threats posed by environmental pollution, global warming, heightened usage of industrial chemical products, and alterations in biodiversity have contributed to a noteworthy surge in allergic disease incidences.

Efficacy and safety of stapokibart (CM310) in uncontrolled seasonal allergic rhinitis (MERAK): an investigator-initiated, placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, phase 2 trial.

Background: There is no trial to assess the benefits of periodically using biologics during the pollen season in patients with uncontrolled seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), who have moderate-to-severe symptoms even after standard-of-care. This trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the add-on administration of stapokibart, a humanised monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-4 receptor alpha, in patients with uncontrolled SAR.

Methods: In this investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, eligible patients received either stapokibart 600-300 mg weekly (QW), every 2 weeks (Q2W), or placebo QW for 4 weeks.

Caffeine Ameliorates Age-Related Hearing Loss by Downregulating the Inflammatory Pathway in Mice.

Objective: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), also known as presbycusis, is a debilitating sensory impairment that affects the elderly population. There is currently no ideal treatment for ARHL. Long-term caffeine intake was reported to have anti-aging effects in many diseases.

Effect of Smoking on Cepstral Parameters.

Smoking exerts certain damage to the voice, which affects sound characteristics. This study explored the effects of smoking, smoking time, and smoking amount on cepstral parameters. We collected the acoustic signals of sustained vowels in 301 participants (135 smokers and 166 nonsmokers).

A Long-Term Follow-Up Study on the Auditory Performance and Speech Intelligibility of Mandarin-Speaking Prelingually Deaf Children With Isolated Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome After Cochlear Implantation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the auditory performance and speech perception of 104 children with isolated large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) and 523 children with no inner ear malformation (IEM) for 5 years after cochlear implantation, in order to explore whether isolated LVAS can affect the long-term hearing and speech rehabilitation of deaf children after cochlear implantation.

Method: A cohort study was established consisting of 627 children who underwent cochlear implantation at Beijing Tongren Hospital from 1999 to 2016. The children were examined at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after cochlear implantation to assess their auditory performance and speech perception using the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) questionnaires.

Expert consensus on odontogenic maxillary sinusitis multi-disciplinary treatment.

Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) is a subtype of maxillary sinusitis (MS). It is actually inflammation of the maxillary sinus that secondary to adjacent infectious maxillary dental lesion. Due to the lack of unique clinical features, OMS is difficult to distinguish from other types of rhinosinusitis.

[Research progress on hereditary endocrine and metabolic diseases associated with sensorineural hearing loss].

Hereditary endocrine and metabolic diseases , caused by genetic factors, exhibit complex and diverse symptoms, including the possibility of concurrent sensorineural deafness. Currently, there is a limited clinical understanding of hereditary endocrine and metabolic diseases that manifest with deafness, the pathogenesis remains unclear,and there is a lack of effective diagnostic and treatment methods. This article summarizes the research progress of hereditary endocrine and metabolic diseases complicated with deafness from the pathogenesis, clinical phenotype, diagnosis and treatment.

[Therapeutic potential of NADH: in neurodegenerative diseases characterizde by mitochondrial dysfunction].

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide（NADH） in its reduced form of is a key coenzyme in redox reactions, essential for maintaining energy homeostasis.NADH and its oxidized counterpart, NAD+, form a redox couple that regulates various biological processes, including calcium homeostasis, synaptic plasticity, anti-apoptosis, and gene expression. The reduction of NAD+/NADH levels is closely linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, which plays a pivotal role in the cascade of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

The mucosal concept in chronic rhinosinusitis: Focus on the epithelial barrier.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common chronic nasal cavity and sinus disease affecting a growing number of individuals worldwide. Recent advances have shifted our understanding of CRS pathophysiology from a physical obstruction model of ventilation and drainage to a mucosal concept that recognizes the complexities of mucosal immunologic variations and cellular aberrations. A growing number of studies have demonstrated the alteration of the epithelial barrier during inflammatory states.

Identification and experimental validation of ferroptosis-related gene lactotransferrin in age-related hearing loss.

Objective: To reveal the relationship between ARHL and ferroptosis and screen ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in ARHL.

Methods: Bioinformatics were used to analyze the hub genes and molecular mechanism of ferroptosis in the aging cochleae. Senescence β-galactosidase staining, iron content detection, and micro malondialdehyde (MDA) assay kits were used to measure β-galactosidase activity, and expression of Fe and MDA, respectively.

No causal association between allergic rhinitis and migraine: a Mendelian randomization study.

Purpose: Allergic rhinitis (AR) and migraine are among the most common public health problems worldwide. Observational studies on the correlation between AR and migraine have reported inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship of AR with migraine and its subtypes, including migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO).

Stiffness promotes cell migration, invasion, and invadopodia in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by regulating the WT-CTTN level.

Matrix stiffness potently promotes the malignant phenotype in various biological contexts. Therefore, identification of gene expression to participate in mechanical force signals transduced into downstream biochemical signaling will contribute substantially to the advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment. In the present study, we detected that cortactin (CTTN) played an indispensable role in matrix stiffness-induced cell migration, invasion, and invadopodia formation.

Effects of Age on the Auditory Cortex During Speech Perception in Noise: Evidence From Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

Objectives: Age-related speech perception difficulties may be related to a decline in central auditory processing abilities, particularly in noisy or challenging environments. However, how the activation patterns related to speech stimulation in different noise situations change with normal aging has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of noisy environments and aging on patterns of auditory cortical activation.

Characteristics of different Mandarin pronunciation element perception: evidence based on a multifeature paradigm for recording MMN and P3a components of phonemic changes in speech sounds.

Background: As a tonal language, Mandarin Chinese has the following pronunciation elements for each syllable: the vowel, consonant, tone, duration, and intensity. Revealing the characteristics of auditory-related cortical processing of these different pronunciation elements is interesting.

Methods: A Mandarin pronunciation multifeature paradigm was designed, during which a standard stimulus and five different phonemic deviant stimuli were presented.

The mA demethylases FTO and ALKBH5 aggravate the malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by coregulating ARHGAP35.

N-methyladenosine (mA) is an RNA modification that can be removed by demethylases [fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5)], which regulate gene expression and cell function. We show that mA levels and m6A demethylase levels are altered in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues vs. normal tissues.

Ukrainian Consensus on Diagnosis and Management of Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a global problem, however, there were no Ukrainian guidelines devoted to its screening, prevention, and treatment, which became the reason for the Consensus creation. This article aimed to present the Consensus of Ukrainian experts devoted to VDD management. Following the creation of the multidisciplinary Consensus group, consent on the formation process, drafting and fine-tuning of key recommendations, and two rounds of voting, 14 final recommendations were successfully voted upon.

Matrix metalloproteinases in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of enzymes that are essential in maintaining extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis, regulating inflammation and tissue remodeling. In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the overexpression of certain MMPs can contribute to chronic nasal tissue inflammation, ECM remodeling, and tissue repair.

Areas Covered: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biological characteristics and functions of the MMP family, particularly focusing on the expression and activity of MMPs in patients with CRS, and delves into their role in the pathogenesis of CRS and their potential as therapeutic targets.

Microvessel barrier dysfunction in sinonasal inverted papilloma-associated squamous cell carcinoma and its manifestation in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Background: To date, an effective means to preoperatively predict the malignant transformation of sinonasal inverted papilloma (SIP) remains lacking due to similarities in clinical appearance. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters and microvessel structure in tumors with histologically confirmed SIP and inverted papilloma-associated squamous cell carcinoma (IP-SCC), as well as correlate DCE-MRI findings with angiogenesis biomarkers.

Methods: Absolute quantitative DCE-MRI parameters (K, K, V) based on the Tofts model and model-free semi-quantitative indices (T, WR, MaxSlope) of SIP (n = 22) and IP-SCC (n = 20) were investigated.

[Exploring the factors affecting music-related quality of life in post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants].

To observe the feelings of listening to music and the importance of music in the daily life of post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants, and to explore the relevant influencing factors. This was a cross-sectional survey study. From January 2021 to August 2021,the Music-Related Quality of Life Scale was used to evaluate the music needs and music experiences of 63 post-lingual deaf adults who met the inclusion criteria, including 27 males and 36 females, aged (40.

Three-dimensional characteristics of nystagmus induced by low frequency in semicircular canals of healthy young people.

Objective: The study aimed to analyze the three-dimensional characteristics of nystagmus induced by different semicircular canal combinations in healthy young people, and to determine the reference range of nystagmus slow phase velocity (SPV) and its asymmetry.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two healthy volunteers (26 males and 26 females, aged 17-42 years, average 23.52 ± 6.

Aberrant expressions of TAM receptors are associated with postoperative recurrence in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Objectives: TAM receptors (TYRO3, AXL, and MER) play important roles in inflammatory responses, but their effects in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remain elucidated. We aim to evaluate the values of TAM receptors in disease severity and postoperative recurrence of CRSwNP.

Methods: We initially enrolled 160 patients with CRSwNP who were treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and postoperative recurrence was evaluated during the follow-up period.

Downregulation of TET2 Contributes to Nasal Polypogenesis Through Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α-Mediated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.

Objectives: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) and Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) have been reported to mediate nasal polypogenesis through the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, HIF1α can regulate the expression and function of TET2. However, the precise mechanism of how TET2 regulates the EMT through HIF1α mediation in nasal epithelial cells is still poorly understood.