Zinc supplementation may enhance the hearing recovery of SSNHL patients. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce the oxidative stress of the cochlea in SSNHL, implying a new direction in the treatment of this disease.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of plasmacytoma variant translocation gene 1 (PVT1) in the occurrence and development of sepsis-induced inflammation and cardiac dysfunction and its underlying mechanism. A sepsis rat model was first established by cecal ligation and puncture. The mRNA levels of PVT1 and microRNA-143 in the myocardial tissues of rats were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. Cardiac function, levels of myocardial injury markers and inflammatory indicators were detected following PVT1 knockdown. The regulatory effect of microRNA-143 on PVT1 was assessed using a luciferase reporter gene assay and RT-qPCR analysis. The specific role of PVT1 in regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway was detected using western blot analysis. PVT1 was downregulated and microRNA-143 was upregulated in the myocardial tissues of sepsis rats. The left ventricular peak pressure was markedly decreased in the sepsis rats. By contrast, the left ventricular end diastolic pressure, levels of inflammatory indicators, myocardial injury markers and complement proteins of C5 and C5a were increased in the sepsis rats. The above changes were reversed by PVT1 knockdown or the upregulation of microRNA-143. MicroRNA-143 was confirmed as being bound to PVT1 using the luciferase reporter gene assay and RT-qPCR analysis. Upregulated PVT1 was capable of activating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, PVT1 was upregulated in the myocardial tissues of sepsis rats, which inhibited cardiac function and promoted the secretion of inflammatory factors; and the mechanism was associated with the MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

ITS, HBO, and combined therapy offered some benefits in hearing improvement. Combined ITS/HBO may result in a larger WRS improvement and recovery of hearing, especially in lower frequencies. Further randomized prospective studies are needed for confirmation.

Nasal leech infestation rarely occurs in society today and it is usually reported as an anecdote. In this study, we present seven nasal leeches in six patients from 1984 to 2008. All patients initially presented with epistaxis. Four patients were less than 8 years old and two patients were older than 60 years old. All patients had spent time in rural streams 2 weeks to 2 months before the symptoms occurred. All of the seven leeches were removed smoothly and one leech migrated to the oropharynx during the operation. The length of the leeches ranged from 2 to 12 cm with an average length of 4.6 cm. Attention should be given to nasal leech infestation, especially in children and senior citizens who have visited rural streams and have been exposed to freshwater. One of our patients had two leeches lodged in his nasal cavities. Therefore, it is also important to re-examine both nasal cavities after the removal of one leech.