BackgroundBoth environmental and genetic factors are attributable to the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between genetic variations in the EYA4, GRHL2 and DFNA5 genes and the risk to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in a Chinese population.MethodsA case–control study was conducted with 476 NIHL workers and 475 normal hearing workers matched with gender, years of noise exposure, and intensity of noise exposure. Twelve tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the EYA4, GRHL2 and DFNA5 genes were genotyped using nanofluidic dynamic arrays on the Fluidigm platform. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the associations of genetic variations with NIHL adjusted by age, smoking/drinking status, and cumulative noise exposure and their interactions with noise exposure.ResultsThe SNPs of rs3777781and rs212769 in the EYA4 gene were significantly associated with NIHL risk. In rs3777781, comparing with the subjects carrying with TT types, the carriers with AT and AA genotypes had the decreased risk of NIHL (OR = 0.721, 95 % CI = 0.522 - 0.996). In rs212769, the AG and AA carriers had increased NIHL risk (OR = 1.430, 95 % CI = 1.014 - 2.016) compared with the subjects with GG genotype. Rs666026 in the associated GRHL2 gene and rs2521758 in the DFNA5 gene were marginally t associated with NIHL (P = 0.065 and 0.052, respectively). Rs2521758 and rs212769 had significantly interacted with noise exposure (P < 0.05).ConclusionsGenetic variations in the EYA4, GRHL2 and DFNA5 genes and their interactions with occupational noise exposure may play an important role in the incidence of NIHL.

BackgroundFlood is common in China and causes extensive loss of property and human lives. Elderly is a vulnerable population prone to the detrimental impacts of floods. This survey aims to investigate the health status and the HRQoL of the elderly in Bazhong city after a major flood in 2011.MethodsA total of 1183 elderly (aged > 60) were surveyed through random sampling from eight villages in Bazhong city. Two-week healthcare-seeking rate and chronic diseases prevalence were recorded anonymously. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36). Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the associated factors of poor HRQoL.ResultsThe two-week healthcare-seeking rate among post-flood Bazhong elderly was significantly higher than the references rate among rural elderly in Sichuan province (59.3% versus 55.7%, χ2 = 5.134, p = 0.013), but Bazhong elderly demonstrated a significantly lower prevalence of chronic disease (33.2% versus 44.4%, χ2 = 48.847, p < 0.001). All dimension scores among Bazhong elderly were significantly lower than the references scores in rural Sichuan elderly. The determinants of poor physical health included older age, singlehood, poor sleep patterns, and chronic diseases and so on.ConclusionsA marked decline in health status among elderly in Bazhong after the 2011 flood. Post-flood management targeting elderly need to be sensitive to their age, gender, married status and status of chronic diseases.

BackgroundOur previous proteomic analysis revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase activator with WD40 repeats (MAWD) and MAWD-binding protein (MAWBP) were downregulated in gastric cancer (GC) tissues. These proteins interacted and formed complexes in GC cells. To investigate the role of MAWD and MAWBP in GC differentiation, we analyzed the relationship between MAWD/MAWBP and clinicopathologic characteristics of GC tissues and examined the expression of E-cadherin and pepsinogen C (PGC)—used as gastric mucosa differentiation markers—in MAWD/MAWBP-overexpressing GC cells and xenografts.MethodsWe measured MAWD, MAWBP, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), E-cadherin, and PGC expression in 223 GC tissues and matched-adjacent normal tissues using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses, and correlated these expression levels with clinicopathologic features. MAWD and MAWBP were overexpressed alone or together in SGC7901 cells and then E-cadherin, N-cadherin, PGC, Snail, and p-Smad2 levels were determined using western blotting, semiquantitative RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence analysis. Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity was measured to investigate the differentiation level of various transfected cells, and the transfected cells were used in tumorigenicity assays and for IHC analysis of protein expression in xenografts.ResultsMAWD/MAWBP positive staining was significantly lower in GC tissues than in normal samples (P < 0.001), and the expression of these proteins was closely correlated with GC differentiation grade. Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated that low MAWD and MAWBP expression was associated with poor patient survival (P < 0.05). The differentiation-related proteins E-cadherin and PGC were expressed in GC tissues at a lower level than in normal tissues (P < 0.001), but were upregulated in MAWD/MAWBP-overexpressing cells. N-cadherin and Snail expression was strongr in vector-expressing cells and comparatively weaker in MAWD/MAWBP co-overexpressing cells. MAWD/MAWBP co-overexpression inhibited Smad2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation (P < 0.05), and AKP activity was lowest in MAWD/MAWBP coexpressing cells and highest in vector-expressing cells (P < 0.001). TGF-beta, E-cadherin, and PGC expression in xenograft tumors derived from MAWD/MAWBP coexpressing cells was higher than that in control.ConclusionsMAWD and MAWBP were downregulated and associated with the differentiation grade in GC tissues. MAWD and MAWBP might induce the expression of differentiation-related proteins by modulating TGF-beta signaling in GC cells.