bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cytomegalovirus Seropositivity as a Potential Risk Factor for Increased Noise Trauma Susceptibility
Authors: Groschel Moritz , Voigt Stefan , Schwitzer Susanne , Ernst Arne , Basta Dietmar 
Published: September 2024

Context:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) represents the leading congenital viral infection in humans. Although congenital CMV due to vertically transmitted infections is the main cause of CMV-related diseases, adult CMV infections might still be of clinical significance. It is still discussed how far CMV seropositivity, due to horizontal infection in immunocompetent adults, is able to induce significant dysfunction. The present study investigates in how far CMV seropositivity is an additional risk factor for an increasing susceptibility to sensorineural hearing loss induced by acoustic injury during adulthood in a guinea pig CMV (GPCMV) model of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Methods:
Two groups (GPCMV seropositive vs. seronegative) of normal hearing adult guinea pigs were exposed to a broadband noise (5–20 kHz) for 2 hours at 115 dB sound pressure level. Frequency-specific auditory brainstem response recordings for determination of auditory threshold shift were carried out and the number of missing outer hair cells was counted 2 weeks after the noise exposure.

Results:
The data show a slightly increased shift in auditory thresholds in seropositive animals compared to the seronegative control group in response to noise trauma. However, the observed difference was significant at least at high frequencies. The differences in threshold shift are not correlated with outer hair cell loss between the experimental groups.

Conclusion:
The results point to potential additional pathologies in a guinea pig NIHL model in correlation to GPCMV seropositivity, which should be taken into account when assessing risks of latent/reactivated CMV infection. Due to the relatively slight effect in the present data, the aim of future studies should be a more detailed consideration (e.g., larger sample size) and to localize possible target structures as well as the significance of the infection route.
What is Noise Sensitivity?
Authors: Welch David , Dirks Kim N. , Shepherd Daniel , Ong Jessica 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Noise sensitivity moderates the association between environmental noise exposure and annoyance and health outcomes.

Methods:
In normally hearing adults, we measured noise sensitivity in three ways: using the noise sensitivity questionnaire, a 3-point self-rating, and the loudness discomfort level (LDL; mean reported discomfort level for tone bursts). We then presented recordings of a 15-second 80 dBLAeq aeroplane overflight and participants rated the annoyance and loudness they experienced.

Results:
The three measures of noise sensitivity were not well correlated with each other, and only the overall LDL was associated with the ratings of loudness and annoyance in response to the aeroplane sounds.

Conclusions:
This implies that our current measures of noise sensitivity may only capture parts of the underlying construct, and therefore underestimate effects due to it on the association between environmental noise and annoyance and health outcomes. We developed a theoretical model to describe the set of factors that may influence a person’s sensitivity to noise and propose that interaction between the systems described is the basis for noise sensitivity. This paradigm alters the focus of noise research from the annoyance caused by the sound, to the sensitization to noise that may occur as a result of the interplay of many factors. We hope that our model will allow research to explore the sensitizing factors for noise more easily and systematically.
The Audiologist’s Role in University Hearing Conservation Programs
Authors: Veith Tonya M.H. 
Published: September 2024

Introduction:
All universities that meet state and/or federal requirements for employees’ noise exposure must have a hearing conservation program (HCP). Universities with HCPs and Doctor of Audiology (AuD) programs could reap a range of benefits from interprofessional collaboration between these programs, including enhanced learning opportunities for AuD students; however, it is unclear whether this collaboration occurs consistently in different university settings. Despite a relatively robust literature around occupational audiology and the audiologist’s role in hearing conservation in general, few studies examine this subject in the university setting.

Aim:
This study seeks to provide insights into the role of the university audiologists in university HCPs that could help inform further exploration and potential pilot studies to enhance university-based occupational HCPs, ultimately supporting more rigorous professional training in occupational audiology in AuD programs.

Method:
This study’s primary method was a survey questionnaire delivered to audiologists at U.S. universities. Survey questions explored university audiologists’ role, involvement with their universities’ HCPs, and benefits and barriers to collaboration with the HCPs.

Results:
The results indicate that although audiologists report that they have participated in hearing conservation generally at their universities, the majority of respondents were not actively involved with occupational HCPs.

Conclusion:
Further research is needed to understand how university HCPs are managed and how effective they are. With greater awareness of audiologists’ contributions to university HCPs, their role in this important workplace program could merit expansion.
Calculation of the physiologically developed nighttime noise index from existing noise indices
Authors: Tagusari Junta , Tanaka Yusei , Matsui Toshihito 
Published: September 2024

Background:
The effects of noise on sleep and health have been evaluated in earlier studies using noise indices chosen on the basis of practical considerations and not on the physiologic mechanisms of sleep disturbance due to noise exposure. We investigated the neurophysiologic mechanisms of sleep and found that the arithmetic mean of the sound levels above a threshold (

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM1/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

) may be used effectively to evaluate the effects of nighttime noise exposure. However, the efficacy of using

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM2/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

has only been confirmed in a specific setting; therefore, the reliability of

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM3/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

in other situations should be investigated by applying it in epidemiologic studies. In this study, we aimed to obtain an alternative equation for calculating

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM4/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

from existing noise indices, given that detailed information on fluctuations in sound levels, needed to calculate

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM5/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

according to the definition, is not readily available.

Materials and Methods:
We examined statistical relationships among noise indices namely

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM6/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

, the number of noise events above 60 and 70 dB (N
60 and N
70), and the night equivalent sound level (L
night). The study area was around the Kadena military airfield, where the sound levels were recorded at noise monitoring stations.

Results:

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM7/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

showed a very strong correlation with N
60 and N
70 but not with L
night. Among regression equations, an equation representing N
60 and the interaction between N
60 and L
night, which is equivalent to the product of N
60 and a linear expression of L
night, showed the highest prediction capability.

Conclusion:
We obtained a regression equation to calculate

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM8/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

from N
60 and L
night. Although this alternative equation for

JOURNAL/nohe/04.03/00140329-202123100-00002/math_2MM9/v/2023-09-22T144912Z/r/image-tiff

is only applicable for military aircraft noise, it will aid the re-analysis of existing epidemiologic studies as well as further investigations on the relationship between noise exposure and health effects.
Music Level Preference and Perceived Exercise Intensity in Group Spin Classes
Authors: Lee Lawrance , Shuster Benjamin , Song Yang , Kujawa Sharon G. , Depireux Didier , Hertzano Ronna 
Published: September 2024

Context:
Sound levels in fitness classes often exceed safe levels despite studies that show many participants find high sound levels stressful.

Aims:
The objective is to determine if lower sound levels in spinning classes significantly impact exercise intensity and to determine if class participants prefer the music played at lower levels.

Settings and Design:
Observational study of 1-hour group spin classes.

Methods and Materials:
Sound levels were measured in 18 spin classes over two weeks. No adjustments were made in week-1 and sound levels were decreased by 3 dB in week-2. Participant preferences and data on post-class hearing changes were collected via post-class questionnaires (n = 213) and divided into three terciles based on the total sound exposure of corresponding classes.

Statistical Analysis Used:
Unweighted survey generalized linear models are used to sort the causal relationships between different variables simultaneously and participant responses. The Chi-square test is used to reveal statistically significant relationships between two or more categorical variables.

Results:
When mean sound levels exceeded 98.4 dBC, respondents were 23 times more likely to report the music as too loud than too quiet (P < 0.05), and four times more likely to prefer a decrease, rather than an increase, in sound level (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in respondents reporting high exercise intensity between the middle (95.7–98.1 dBC) and upper (98.4–101.0 dBC) terciles, 67.1% and 71.8%, respectively (P = 0.53). Overall, 25.9% of respondents reported auditory symptoms following classes. Analysis in the context of dBA and dBC produced congruent conclusions and interpretations.

Conclusions:
Sound levels in many fitness classes remain dangerously high. However, music level can be lowered without a significant impact on perceived exercise intensity and many participants prefer lower sound levels than current levels.
Cochlear Synaptopathy Causes Loudness Perception Impairment without Hearing Loss
Authors: Cildir Bünyamin , Tokgoz-Yilmaz Suna , Türkyilmaz Meral Didem 
Published: September 2024

Purpose:
In this study, the development of a quantitative measurement method to predict long-term auditory adaptation through the stimuli that have been modulated according to different short-term modulation types was aimed to form a psychoacoustic test battery. It might be used in the evaluation process of individuals with hidden hearing loss.

Methods:
The individuals participating in our study were separated into two groups: high-risk group (n = 39) and low-risk group (n = 30) according to the noise-exposure score. To all participants, auditory brainstem response (ABR), dichotically digit test, Turkish matrix sentence test, otoacoustic emissions test, amplitude modulation detection test, and loudness adaptation test were applied. Stimuli, used in loudness adaptation tests, were provided in three different experiment pairs (experiment 1–2, experiment 3–4, and experiment 5–6).

Results:
The amplitude of wave I of ABR increased as the intensity level increased in the low-risk group, whereas the amplitude reduced as the intensity level increased in the high-risk group (P < 0.05). When different carrier frequency stimuli were used in amplitude modulation detection test, we found that loudness adaptation was highest at 1 kHz carrier frequency with background noise (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:
We observed that individuals assumed having hidden hearing loss had high adaptation scores. It was thought that this result might be related to auditory nerve fibers with low spontaneous rate and thus distortion in temporal coding skills might lead to abnormal loudness adaptation, especially with contralateral noise.
Evaluation of Anxiety Sensitivity, Anxiety, Depression, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Patients with Tinnitus
Authors: Kumbul Yusuf Çağdaş , Işik Ümit , Kiliç Faruk , Sivrice Mehmet Emre , Akin Vural 
Published: September 2024

Context
There may be a connection between tinnitus, a common disease in society, and psychiatric disorders. When the literature is reviewed, it has been realized that more data are needed to elucidate this issue.

Aims
The aim of this study is to compare the symptoms of anxiety sensitivity, anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in patients with tinnitus with healthy individuals and to investigate the relationship between tinnitus and psychiatric disorder symptoms.

Settings and design
This study was designed as a case–control study.

Materials and methods
Fifty-one patients with tinnitus and 51 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Clinical severity of the psychiatric variables were evaluated by Beck depression inventory, Beck anxiety inventory (BAI), anxiety sensitivity index-3, and adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) in patient and control groups.

Statistical analysis used
Variables are presented as either a number, a percentage, a mean ± standard deviation, or frequency. Chi-squared, Student t tests, and logistic regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between variables.

Results
Logistic regression analysis results indicated that a significant predictive power of BAI for the presence of tinnitus. Based on a backward-elimination regression analysis, ASRSs (inattention subscale scores) were considered to predict a higher tinnitus handicap inventory score.

Conclusion
These findings provide additional evidence that anxiety and attention-deficit (inattentive) symptoms could contribute to the pathophysiology of tinnitus.
The contribution of personal audio system use and commuting by bus on daily noise dose
Authors: Dirks Kim N. , Le Roux L. , Shepherd D. , McBride D. , Welch D. 
Published: September 2024

Background:
For many young people, exposure to music from personal audio system use may represent a significant component of daily noise dose. Moreover, there is increasing concern for the hearing of those who listen at high volumes. The purpose of this study was to determine the noise levels experienced on commuter buses, and to investigate how these impact on the volume-setting behavior of young adult personal audio system users.

Methods:
A questionnaire was used to probe transport use, personal audio system-listening behaviors and the extent of understanding about noise-induced hearing loss. The influence of bus noise on volume-setting behavior was determined by measuring, in a lab setting, the sound-level preferences of participants when listening to their favorite song, a generic song, or a podcast in the absence and presence of various levels of bus noise, simulated using output-adjusted recordings made of bus noise. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance.

Results:
While the bus noise itself was below 85 dB Leq, as the sound level of the buses increased, so did the percentage of commuters who were found to exceed the equivalent of 8 hours of exposure at 85 dB Leq.

Implications:
Investment in buses with lower noise levels or the use of noise-canceling or noise-occluding headphones would help to reduce the likelihood of noise-induced hearing loss for bus commuters.
Impact of Noise Exposure on Risk of Developing Stress-Related Health Effects Related to the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Sivakumaran Kapeena , Ritonja Jennifer A. , Waseem Haya , AlShenaibar Leena , Morgan Elissa , Ahmadi Salman A. , Denning Allison , Michaud David S. , Morgan Rebecca L. 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Exposure to acute noise can cause an increase in biological stress reactions, which provides biological plausibility for a potential association between sustained noise exposure and stress-related health effects. However, the certainty in the evidence for an association between exposures to noise on short- and long-term biomarkers of stress has not been widely explored. The objective of this review was to evaluate the strength of evidence between noise exposure and changes in the biological parameters known to contribute to the development of stress-related adverse cardiovascular responses.

Materials and Methods:
This systematic review comprises English language comparative studies available in PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases from January 1, 1980 to December 29, 2021. Where possible, random-effects meta-analyses were used to examine the effect of noise exposure from various sources on stress-related cardiovascular biomarkers. The risk of bias of individual studies was assessed using the risk of bias of nonrandomized studies of exposures instrument. The certainty of the body of evidence for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.

Results:
The search identified 133 primary studies reporting on blood pressure, hypertension, heart rate, cardiac arrhythmia, vascular resistance, and cardiac output. Meta-analyses of blood pressure, hypertension, and heart rate suggested there may be signals of increased risk in response to a higher noise threshold or incrementally higher levels of noise. Across all outcomes, the certainty of the evidence was very low due to concerns with the risk of bias, inconsistency across exposure sources, populations, and studies and imprecision in the estimates of effects.

Conclusions:
This review identifies that exposure to higher levels of noise may increase the risk of some short- and long-term cardiovascular events; however, the certainty of the evidence was very low. This likely represents the inability to compare across the totality of the evidence for each outcome, underscoring the value of continued research in this area. Findings from this review may be used to inform policies of noise reduction or mitigation interventions.
Barriers to Free Cataract Surgery during a Surgical Outreach Camp in New Karu LGA, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Okudo Adaora C. , Akanbi Oluwatoyin O. 
Published: September 2024

Aim:
To determine the proportion of screened cataract patients with vision ≤6/60 that will utilize the free cataract surgical services and to identify the barriers to uptake of the free cataract surgical services.

Settings and design:
A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Materials and methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 53 cataract patients with vision acuity (VA) ≤6/60 who presented at a cataract surgical outreach camp in New Karu LGA, Nasarawa State from September 10 to 14, 2013, using both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Statistical analysis used:
Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20 using the descriptive analysis.

Results:
Six hundred and sixty-six people registered for the outreach, 552 were examined, 125 had cataract of which 53 had cataract with VA ≤6/60, and were offered the free cataract surgical service. The age range of the participants was 36 to 77 with a mean age of 54 years. Twenty-seven were males and 26 were females. Initially, 64.2% were willing to have surgery, eventually 75.5% took up the free cataract surgical services. Females, residents of New Karu LGA, the uneducated and housewives were less likely to take up the free cataract surgical services and this was statistically significant. The most common barriers identified include 41% were afraid of surgery and 26.1% had heard of a bad outcome previously following cataract surgery.

Conclusion:
There was a high utilization of the free cataract surgical service. Fear of surgery and prior knowledge on poor outcome were major barriers. Community participation played an immense role to increase uptake.
A Study of Ocular Side Effects of Blood Transfusions and Iron Chelators in Thalassemia Patients
Authors: Ramakrishnan Reshma , Choudhary Ayushi , Gandhi Priyanka , Agrawal Mamta , Hastak Aesha , Choudhary Ankita 
Published: September 2024

Aim:
To determine the ocular changes and importance of ophthalmic consults in thalassemia patients on iron chelating agents and regular blood transfusions.

Settings and Design:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among thalassemia patients who were on regular blood transfusion and iron chelators.

Materials and Methods:
A detailed history was obtained from 50 thalassemia patients included in the study including birth history, family history, and treatment history which was taken from the parents. Ophthalmic examination performed included visual acuity test for distant and near vision with Snellen chart, color vision obtained with Ishihara plates, contrast sensitivity performed with Pelli–Robson charts, Schirmer test conducted with Whatman strip, intraocular pressure obtained with Perkins tonometer, detailed anterior segment performed with Appasamy Slit Lamp biomicroscope and posterior segment examination with the aid of 90D lenses, and indirect ophthalmoscopy with 20D lenses performed after dilatation. Fundus photograph was taken for all the patients with ZEISS fundus camera. The findings were recorded and documented. Statistical Package AQ6 for the Social Sciences software was used to analyze data obtained.

Results:
Study group included 26 males (52%) and 24 females (48%) of varying age from 4 years up to 18 years of age. Presence of thalassemia disorder was noted in the family of 10 patients (20%). Five (10%) patients had mild visual impairment for distant vision. While, 18 patients (36%) had mild dry eye disease. Fundus abnormalities were seen in 14 patients as arteriovenous tortuosity, tessellated fundus, and desferrioxamine retinopathy. Decreased visual acuity, dry eye, and fundus abnormalities were seen in patients with serum ferritin levels >1000 ng/mL. Fundus abnormalities were seen in patients with higher serum ferritin levels (>1000 ng/mL) and longer duration of treatment. In total, ocular changes were seen in 31 patients (62%).

Conclusion:
Regular ophthalmic consult is necessary for all thalassemia patients on regular blood transfusion and chelation therapy to unmask ocular changes at an early stage and provide optimum visual care.