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The prevalence of hearing impairment in infants and children with down syndrome a cross sectional study in a Tertiary Care Center
Abstract Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder in humans. Hearing impairment is a common feature of Down syndrome. To assess the prevalence of hearing impairment in children with DS attending the Mansoura University Children’s Hospital. The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study on 170 pediatric patients with genetically confirmed DS. Patients were recruited from the genetic outpatient clinic of the Mansoura University Children’s Hospital from October 2021 to October 2022. All infants and children were subjected to full history taking, and a lateral X-ray on the nasopharynx with open mouth and extended neck. The ears were examined and cleared from accumulated cerumen if present. The presence of middle ear pathology was assessed through an otoscopic examination of the tympanic membrane. Eustachian tube dysfunction and otitis media with effusion (OME) were assessed using tympanometry. Appropriate hearing tests including pure tone audiometry (PTA) and auditory brain stem response (ABR) were used. Conductive hearing loss (CHL) was observed in 48.8% of studied children with DS and 4.1% had sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Among patients with hearing impairment, 86.5% had bilateral affection. The severity of hearing loss was mild in 59.1% of patients with CHL and 71.4% with SNHL. Of the patients with CHL, HL remained stationary in 45.8%, regressed from moderate to mild HL in 15.7%, and normalized in 38.6%. SNHL was permanent in all 7 affected patients with a stationary course in 4 and a progressive nature in 3. OME, upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and adenoid enlargement were commonly associated with CHL in infants and children with DS. Most children with DS have bilateral and mild hearing loss. HL is mostly conductive. Otitis media with effusion, adenoid enlargement, and recurrent upper RTI are common in patients with conductive hearing loss. Hearing assessment should be considered in all infants and children with Down syndrome.
A WYL domain transcription factor regulates Lactiplantibacillus plantarum intestinal colonization via perceiving c-di-GMP
Trichromacy and ultraviolet vision in a nocturnal marsupial
Synthesis of highly effective polyester/polyacrylate compatibilizers using switchable polymerization
Macrolophus pygmaeus induces systemic resistance in tomato against Meloidogyne
Methionine metabolite spermidine inhibits tumor pyroptosis by enhancing MYO6-mediated endocytosis
Disrupted topological organization of brain connectome in patients with chronic low back related leg pain and clinical correlations
Abstract Chronic pain is associated with persistent alterations in brain structure and function. However, existing research has not fully explored the relationship between brain network topological properties and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic low back-related leg pain (cLBLP). In this study, we collected resting-state functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging data, along with clinical symptom evaluation data, from 32 cLBLP patients and 31 healthy controls. A large-scale complex network analysis was conducted to evaluate the global and nodal topological properties of functional and structural brain networks. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the associations between network properties and clinical variables. The results showed significant alterations in both global and nodal topological properties of functional and structural brain networks in cLBLP patients compared to healthy controls. Additionally, a direct correlation was found between structural network properties and spatial discrimination ability, measured by two-point tactile discrimination values, while no significant association was observed between functional connectivity and spatial discrimination. This study demonstrates that cLBLP patients exbibit a decreased local efficiency of functional connectivity network and increased compensatory global efficiency of structural connectivity network. Notably, alterations in the structural connectome, rather than the functional connectome, play a more significant role in deterioration of foot tactile spatial acuity in cLBLP patients. Trial registration : This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number ChiCTR2200055321 on 2022-01-06.
A framework for integrating genomics, microbial traits, and ecosystem biogeochemistry
Breast cancer prediction based on gene expression data using interpretable machine learning techniques
In-situ positive electrode-electrolyte interphase construction enables stable Ah-level Zn-MnO2 batteries
Generalized Gumbel model for r-largest order statistics, with an application to peak streamflow
Crucial roles of Grr1 in splicing and translation of HAC1 mRNA upon unfolded stress response
Fatigue analysis of an energy storage supercapacitor box under random vibration loading
Temporal Contrastive Learning through implicit non-equilibrium memory
Abstract The backpropagation method has enabled transformative uses of neural networks. Alternatively, for energy-based models, local learning methods involving only nearby neurons offer benefits in terms of decentralized training, and allow for the possibility of learning in computationally-constrained substrates. One class of local learning methods contrasts the desired, clamped behavior with spontaneous, free behavior. However, directly contrasting free and clamped behaviors requires explicit memory. Here, we introduce ‘Temporal Contrastive Learning’, an approach that uses integral feedback in each learning degree of freedom to provide a simple form of implicit non-equilibrium memory. During training, free and clamped behaviors are shown in a sawtooth-like protocol over time. When combined with integral feedback dynamics, these alternating temporal protocols generate an implicit memory necessary for comparing free and clamped behaviors, broadening the range of physical and biological systems capable of contrastive learning. Finally, we show that non-equilibrium dissipation improves learning quality and determine a Landauer-like energy cost of contrastive learning through physical dynamics.