Body mass index, waist circumference, and risk of hearing loss: a meta-analysis and systematic review of observational study

BACKGROUND@#Emerging evidence implicates excess weight as a potential risk factor for hearing loss. However, this association remained inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to systematically and quantitatively review the published observational study on the association between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and hearing loss.@*METHODS@#The odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled under a random-effects model. Fourteen observational studies were eligible for the inclusion in the final analysis.@*RESULTS@#In the meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, the ORs for prevalent hearing loss were 1.10 (95% CI 0.88, 1.38) underweight, 1.14 (95% CI 0.99, 1.32) for overweight, OR 1.40 (95% CI 1.14, 1.72) for obesity, 1.14 (95% CI 1.04, 1.24) for each 5 kg/m increase in BMI, and 1.22 (95% CO 0.88. 1.68) for higher WC. In the meta-analysis of longitudinal studies, the RRs were 0.96 (95% CI 0.52, 1.79) for underweight, 1.15 (95% CI 1.04, 1.27) for overweight, 1.38 (95% CI 1.07, 1.79) for obesity, 1.15 (95% CI 1.01, 1.30) for each 5 kg/m increase in BMI, and 1.11 (95% CI 1.01, 1.22) for higher WC.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In summary, our findings add weight to the evidence that elevated BMI and higher WC may be positively associated with the risk of hearing loss.

Sophoridine inhibits NF-kappaB signaling pathway activation in kidney tissue of endotoxemia mice / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the effects of sophoridine on NF-kappaB signaling pathway in kidney tissue of endotoxemia mice and the mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caudal vein injection, then sophoridine was administered by intraperitoneal injection. Totally 50 mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, LPS model group, sophoridine treatment 12 mg x kg(-1) group, 6 mg x kg(-1) group and 3 mg x kg(-1) group. All animals were sacrificed at 6 hours after treatment. Kidney and blood samples were harvested. IKKbeta mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression of renal tissue was measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and phosphorylation IKKbeta protein (pIKKbeta) was detected by immunohistochemistry. NF-kappaB P65 protein expression and distribution of renal tissue were observed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. Serum TNF-alpha level was detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the sophoridine significantly reduced the expression of IKKbeta mRNA and pIKKbeta protein, and inhibited the expression of NF-kappaB P65 protein and decreased the entry nuclear rate of NF-kappaB P65 in the renal tissue of endotoxemia mice. Thereby the renal TNF-alpha mRNA expression and serum TNF-alpha level were significantly reduced. These results suggest that sophoridine could inhibit inflammatory reaction induced by LPS through inhibiting activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway.