Clinical Study on 136 Children with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Background：The prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children （CSSNHL） is consistently increasing.However,the pathology and prognosis of CSSNHL are still poorly understood.This retrospective study evaluated clinical characteristics and possible associated factors of CSSNHL.Methods：One hundred and thirty-six CSSNHL patients treated in Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Institute of Otolaryngology at Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2008 and August 2015 were included in this study.These patients were analyzed for clinical characteristics,audiological characteristics,laboratory examinations,and prognostic factors.Results：Among the 136 patients （151 ears）,121 patients （121 ears,80.1%） were diagnosed with unilaterally CSSNHL,and 15 patients （30 ears,19.9%） with bilateral CSSNHL.The complete recovery rate of CSSNHL was 9.3%,and the overall recovery rate was 37.7%.We found that initial degree of hearing loss,onset of treatment,tinnitus,the ascending type audiogram,gender,side of hearing loss,the recorded auditory brainstem response （ABR）,and distortion product otoacoustic emissions （DPOAEs） had prognostic significance.Age,ear fullness,and vertigo had no significant correlation with recovery.Furthermore,the relevant blood tests showed 30.8% of the children had abnormal white blood cell （WBC） counts,22.1% had elevated homocysteine levels,65.8% had high alkaline phosphatase （ALP）,33.8% had high IgE antibody levels,and 86.1% had positive cytomegalovirus （CMV） IgG antibodies.Conclusions：CSSNHL commonly occurs unilaterally and results in severe hearing loss.Initial severe hearing loss and bilateral hearing loss are negative prognostic factors for hearing recovery,while positive prognostic factors include tinnitus,gender,the ascending type audiogram,early treatment,identifiable ABR waves,and DPOAEs.Age,vertigo,and ear fullness are not correlated with the recovery.Some serologic indicators,including the level of WBC,platelet,homocysteine,ALP,positive CMV IgG antibody,fibrinogen,and some immunologic indicators,are closely related to CSSNHL.

Functional catalysts for polysulfide conversion in Li-S batteries:from micro/nanoscale to single atom

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries have the advantages of low-cost and ultra-high energy density(2600 Wh·kg;),which have attracted considerable attention.However,the practical application of Li-S batteries still suffers various intractable problems,such as low electrical conductivity,significant volume expansion,and the shuttle effect of sulfur cathode.Up to now,many tremendous efforts and significant progress have been devoted to settle these problems.One of the most effective strategies is that introducing metal-based compounds(e.g.,metal oxides,-sulfides,-nitrides,carbides,-phosphate,single-metal compounds) to enhance the electrochemical performance of S cathode benefiting from superior adsorption/catalytic ability toward Li;S;(n=1,2,4,8).In this review,we summarized the recent advances in the application of micro/nanoscale catalysts in Li-S system and highlighted the catalytic effect of single-atom compounds.Finally,the challenges and the future research prospects of single-atom catalysts were discussed.