ObjectivesPrevious reports suggest a strong association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and the etiology of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). However, clinical data regarding the HPV infection rate among LSCC patients remain largely inconsistent.MethodsIn total, 674 LSCC patients from three major hospitals in Shanghai were enrolled in this study. We determined the patients' HPV infection status using immunohistochemistry and the GenoArray HPV genotyping assay and calculated their long-term survival rate using the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsThe total P16-positive rate according to immunostaining results was 7.57% (51/674). None of the P16-negative patients were HPV-positive according to the HPV genotyping test. The rate of HPV infection among patients with LSCC was 4.9% (33/674). HPV infection was more common among nonsmokers (P<0.05), nondrinkers (P<0.05), and patients with supraglottic LSCC (P<0.05). Of the 33 HPV-positive patients, 28 (84.8%) were infected with HPV-16, 2 with HPV-18, 1 with HPV-31, 1 with HPV-33 and 1 with HPV-45. The 3-year overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate were higher in HPV-positive than HPV-negative patients, but the difference was not statistically significant (76.3% vs. 70.7%, P = 0.30 and 65.1% vs. 58.3%, P = 0.37, respectively).ConclusionHPV was not a main causal factor in LSCC carcinogenesis in this Chinese population. HPV infection did not alter patients' overall survival or progression-free survival rates in this study.

The design and fabrication of a tellurite glass multimode optical fiber for magneto-optical applications are presented and discussed. The analysis of the polarization shows that an optical beam, linearly polarized at the fiber input, changes to elliptically polarized with an ellipticity of 1∶4.5 after propagating down the fiber. However, the elliptical distribution remains unchanged with or without an applied magnetic field, demonstrating that no circular dichroism occurs within the fiber. The Verdet constant of the tellurite glass in the fiber is measured to be 28±0.5  rad·(T·m)-1, diverging by less than 3% from the Verdet constant found on the same glass composition in bulk form. These results demonstrate the feasibility to develop reliable tellurite glass fibers by the preform drawing method for magneto-optical applications.

Comparing with the traditional test system based on a QDC and TDC and scaler, a test system based on waveform sampling is constructed for signal sampling of the 8”R5912 and the 20”R12860 Hamamatsu PMT in different energy states from single to multiple photoelectrons. In order to achieve high throughput and to reduce the dead time in data processing, the data acquisition software based on LabVIEW is developed and runs with a parallel mechanism. The analysis algorithm is realized in LabVIEW and the spectra of charge, amplitude, signal width and rising time are analyzed offline. The results from Charge-to-Digital Converter, Time-to-Digital Converter and waveform sampling are discussed in detailed comparison.

The acceptable noise level (ANL) was defined by subtracting the background noise level (BNL) from the most comfortable listening level (MCL) (ANL = MCL − BNL). This study compared the ANL obtained through different methods in 20 Chinese subjects with normal hearing. ANL was tested with Mandarin speech materials using a loudspeaker or earphones, with each subject tested by himself or by the audiologist. The presentation and response modes were as follows: (1) loudspeaker with self-adjusted noise levels using audiometer controls (LS method); (2) loudspeaker with the subject signaling the audiologist to adjust speech and noise levels (LA method); (3) earphones with self-adjusted noise levels using audiometer controls (ES method); and (4) earphones with the subject signaling the audiologist to adjust speech and noise levels (EA method). ANL was calculated from three measurements with each method. There was no significant difference in the ANL obtained through different presentation modes or response modes sound. The correlations between ANL, MCL, and BNL obtained from each two methods were significant. In conclusion, the ANL in normal-hearing Mandarin listeners may not be affected by presentation modes such as a loudspeaker or earphones nor is it affected by self-adjusted or audiologist-adjusted response modes. Earphone audiometry is as reliable as sound field audiometry and provides an easy and convenient way to measure ANL.

Eardrum perforation and associated hearing loss is a global health problem.Grafting perforated eardrum with autologous tissues in clinic can restore low-frequency hearing but often leaves poor recovery of high-frequency hearing. In this study, the potential of incorporating a thin multilayered graphene membrane (MGM) into the eardrum for broadband hearing recovery in rats is examined. The MGM shows good biocompatibility and biostability to promote the growth of eardrum cells in a regulated manner with little sign of tissue rejection and inflammatory response. After three weeks of implantation, the MGM is found to be encapsulated by a thin layer of newly grown tissue on both sides without a significant folded overgrowth that is often seen in natural healing. The perforation is well sealed, and broadband hearing recovery (1-32 kHz) is enabled and maintained for at least 2 months. Mechanical simulations show that the high elastic modulus of MGM and thin thickness of the reconstructed eardrum play a critical role in the recovery of high-frequency hearing. This work demonstrates the promise of the use of MGM as a functional graft for perforated eardrum to recover hearing in the broadband frequency region and suggests a new acoustics-related medical application for graphene-related 2D materials.

Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level has strong relevance to microvascular disorders, which are also thought to be the current main aspect of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), so we aim to elucidate the association of the HbA1c level with the severity, types, and prognosis of SSNHL. In this study, comparative analyses based on propensity score matching of the severity, types, and prognosis of SSNHL with the HbA1c level in 116 patients diagnosed as SSNHL were conducted, where they were divided into diabetes mellitus (DM) group and non-DM group. We finally found that, among patients with SSNHL, diabetic patients had a higher HbA1c level, more severe hearing loss, and poorer prognosis than non-diabetic patients. The HbA1c level was found to be significantly correlated with the severity and types of SSNHL, while no strong relevance was found between the higher HbA1c level and the poorer prognosis of SSNHL.

The tellurite 60TeO2-20PbO-(20-x)ZnO-xBaF2 (x = 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11) series glass samples were prepared. The samples’ SEM, XRD, DSC, density, refractive index, and absorption spectra were tested. A self-made optical platform was used to measure and calibrate the refractive index. The relationship between glass composition and crystallinity was discussed. The effects of density, molar refractive index, and metal standard value on the refractive index of glass samples were studied. The results showed that TPZBF glass has a high refractive index, and the refractive index increases with the increase in BaF2 content.

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