Noise & Health最新文献

Objective: This study explored the relationship between susceptibility to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in a population exposed to occupational noise.

Methods: Workers exposed to noise in a steel enterprise in Henan Province were included in the study. Workers with a hearing threshold of ≥40 dB (A) for binaural high-frequency (3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz) in the pure tone audiometry were included in the case group (393 workers in total). Individuals whose hearing threshold for any frequency (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz) was ≤25 dB (A) and an average hearing threshold of <35 dB (A) for high frequencies were included in the control group (731 individuals in total). A SNPscan multiple SNP typing kit was used for SNP typing, and PLINK software was used in analyzing the correlation between each gene locus and NIHL susceptibility. Cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was stratified as CNE < 97 dB (A) · year and CNE ≥ 97 dB (A) · year.

Results: Regarding rs11204100, compared with subjects with the TT genotype, subjects with the TC+CC genotype were less susceptible to NIHL (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI] = 0.712 [0.554, 0.913], P = 0.009). After CNE stratification, subjects with the TC+CC genotype were less susceptible to NIHL than those with the TT genotype in the CNE ≥97 dB (A) · year group (OR [95% CI] = 0.614 [0.433, 0.871], P = 0.007). As for the rs10503675, subjects with the AG+GG genotype were less susceptible to NIHL than subjects with the AA genotype (OR [95% CI] = 0.797 [0.541, 0.925], P = 0.011) in the general population. Haplotype results showed that CGT (rs11204100-rs10503675-rs17412009) is associated with lowered susceptibility to NIHL.

Conclusion: The ATP6V1B2 gene plays an important role in the risk of NIHL, and the C allele of rs11204100 and G allele of rs10503675 are associated with lowered susceptibility to NIHL.

Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to explore how music therapy impacts anxiety and pain levels in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted from July 2021 to July 2024. A total of 367 patients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy at our hospital were selected as subjects. After excluding 67 cases, 300 patients were finally included. Based on whether they received music therapy or not, patients were divided into a music therapy group (n = 165) and a routine nursing group (n = 135). The music therapy included listening to music with headphones while waiting for and undergoing endoscopy. Before and 5 minutes after the endoscopy, the anxiety status [State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)], pain level [Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)], and hemodynamic characteristics were compared between the two groups. Results Before the endoscopy, there were no significant differences in STAI scores, NRS scores, and hemodynamic characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). After the endoscopy, the State Anxiety Inventory score of the STAI (37.88 ± 8.12) and the NRS score (3.95 ± 0.95) in the music therapy group were significantly lower than the STAI score (40.85 ± 8.38) and NRS score (4.55 ± 1.03) in the routine nursing group, with t-values of 3.106 and 5.239, respectively (P < 0.05). No significant differences in hemodynamic characteristics-pulse oxygen saturation, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure-existed between the two groups after the endoscopy (P > 0.05). Conclusion This study showed that music therapy effectively reduced anxiety and pain in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy, highlighting its significant clinical value.

Background: Environmental and lifestyle factors may influence hyperthyroidism prevalence. This research sought to explore the association between noise exposure and the risk of hyperthyroidism.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted in two hospitals in China between January 2022 and December 2023. Among the 128 participants enrolled, 64 were hyperthyroidism patients (the hyperthyroidism group), and 64 had normal thyroid function (the control group). The variables compared between the groups included body mass index (BMI), residence areas (urban/rural), average noise levels, noise compliance rates, iodized salt intake, and anxiety levels (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, SAS). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for hyperthyroidism.

Results: The hyperthyroidism group showed significantly higher residential noise level, SAS score, excessive iodized salt intake rate, and urban residential rate compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The hyperthyroidism group also showed a lower noise compliance rate and BMI compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Urban participants exhibited higher noise levels, excessive iodized salt intake rate, hyperthyroidism incidence, SAS score, and lower noise compliance rates compared with the rural participants (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that high noise level (OR = 1.103, 95% CI 1.024-1.187) and high anxiety level (OR = 1.292, 95% CI 1.136-1.329) are risk factors for hyperthyroidism. High noise compliance rate (OR = 0.787, 95% CI 0.060-0.845) and rural residence (OR = 0.643, 95% CI 0.078-0.829) are protective factors for hyperthyroidism.

Conclusion: This study underscored noise exposure and anxiety as modifiable risk factors for hyperthyroidism. Strict environmental noise regulations and enhanced public health education are necessary to reduce the risk of hyperthyroidism.

With the rapid development of industrialisation, noise exposure is becoming increasingly prevalent. The detrimental effects of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) have become clinically relevant. Therefore, effective drug therapeutic strategies for NIHL are urgently needed. This article reviewed the pathophysiology and potential molecular mechanisms of NIHL and classified and summarised the drug therapeutic strategies. Drug therapeutic strategies of NIHL can be further studied in agents such as corticosteroids, antioxidants, neurotrophic factors, herbal medicine, magnesium and statins. Given the current research progress, ongoing positive test results and pilot studies may lead to new pharmacological regimens to alleviate NIHL.

Objective This study aimed to explore the effects of noise reduction on the physical and mental state of patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in an orthopedic clinic.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients with LDH who received conservative treatment in the orthopedic outpatient clinic of Tsinghua University Hospital from February 2022 to February 2023. The orthopedics department underwent noise reduction renovations in August 2022 and has implemented noise control management since then. Sixty patients admitted before the renovations were assigned to the conventional group, and 60 patients admitted after the renovations were assigned to the noise reduction group. The two groups were compared in terms of noise levels during treatment, subjective negative perceptions of noise, pain level (visual analog scale [VAS] scores), negative emotions (self-rating anxiety scale [SAS] and self-rating depression scale [SDS]], sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI]) and quality of life (36-item short-form health survey [SF-36]) before and after a 2-week treatment.

Results: Noise level and negative perception of noise in the noise reduction group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the noise reduction group had lower VAS, SAS, SDS, and PSQI scores (P < 0.05) but higher a SF-36 score than the conventional group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Noise reduction in an orthopedic clinic can reduce pain levels and negative emotions and improve the sleep quality and quality of life of patients with LDH.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) poses significant psychosocial challenges to patients during recovery, especially for young and middle-aged patients returning to work. This study examines the effects of music therapy combined with dyadic coping (DC) on the psychosocial adaptation and marital well-being of patients with AMI and their spouses.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 60 couples of young and middle-aged patients with AMI admitted to Wuxi Second People's Hospital from January 2024 to June 2024 and their spouses. The subjects were divided into the following two groups: 30 couples received DC care (DC group), and 30 couples received music therapy combined with DC care (DCMT group). The treatment course was 2 weeks. Outcomes were measured using the Multidimensional Infarction Assessment Scale (MIDAS), the Psychological Adjustment to Illness Scale Self-report (PAIS-SR), the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (LWMAT) and the General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS).

Results: Compared with the DC group, the DCMT group demonstrated significant improvements across all measured scales, including higher scores on the physical activity and emotional response dimensions of MIDAS, 10 dimensions of DCI and lower scores of all seven dimensions of PAIS-SR (P < 0.05). The total LWMAT and GWBS scores and the nursing satisfaction level in the DCMT group were higher than those in the DC group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Music therapy combined with DC significantly enhances psychosocial adaptation and marital well-being in patients with AMI and their spouses.

Objective: Research has established a mental health impact of exposure to environmental noise, but specific mechanisms driving this association are poorly understood. Several plausible mediating factors have been proposed, including noise annoyance and sleep disturbance. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to synthesize the existing evidence on possible mediating pathways between exposure to environmental noise and poor mental health in adults.

Methods: We systematically searched Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies published up to May 2023. Studies of the mental health impact in adults of environmental noise at home that examined at least one mediator were included. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias. Findings from included studies were synthesized narratively. Study heterogeneity and high risk of bias precluded meta-analysis.

Results: Of the 892 studies retrieved, 14 met the inclusion criteria. These spanned 13 unique mediators. Some studies examined multiple mediators. The most commonly examined mediators were noise annoyance (nine studies), sleep disturbance (four studies), and physical activity (two studies). Taken together, these studies provide support for noise annoyance and sleep playing a role in the mediation of the noise-mental health association, while evidence was limited or absent for other mediators. The small number of studies and high risk of bias leads to low certainty of evidence.

Conclusions: Noise annoyance and sleep disturbance are likely mediators of the relationship between exposure to environmental noise at home and poor mental health. However, higher quality and longitudinal researches are needed to clarify these and other potential mediating pathways.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association of conicity index (C-index), a marker of abdominal obesity, with hearing impairment (HI) in US adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional investigation using data from nine NHANES cycles spanning from 2001 to 2018. The C-index was used as the independent variable, whereas HI-defined as a pure-tone average hearing threshold exceeding 25 dB HL-was the outcome measure. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between C-index and HI, adjusting for potential confounders including age, sex, race/ethnicity, hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol, haemoglobin and blood urea nitrogen. Dose-response relationships were evaluated using trend tests (P for trend) and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess potential interaction effects.

Results: A total of 7394 adults aged 20-69 were included. Higher C-index values were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of HI. In the fully adjusted model, each unit increase in C-index was associated with 7.35-fold higher odds of HI (95% CI: 3.03-17.82, P < 0.01). When stratified into tertiles, individuals in the highest tertile had a 57% higher likelihood of HI compared to the lowest tertile (Odds Ratio = 1.57, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.14-2.18, P < 0.01). RCS analysis indicated a significant non-linear association (P for non-linearity < 0.05) with an inflection point at a C-index of 1.17. Subgroup analysis revealed significant interaction effects of C-index with gender, diabetes and hypertension (P for interaction < 0.05) but not with age (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Higher C-index values are independently associated with greater odds of HI. Given the rising burden of obesity and its metabolic consequences, the C-index may serve as a practical tool for HI risk assessment, especially in populations with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of long-term noise exposure on the mental health and sleep quality of medical staff in an emergency department and noise-coping strategies.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 126 emergency medical staff (49 doctors and 77 nurses) and 100 medical staff (40 doctors and 60 nurses) from the general inpatient department of two hospitals in China were selected as subjects. The research period was from January to October 2024. The daytime and night-time noise levels in the emergency department and general inpatient department were collected. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was used to assess the mental health status. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and polysomnography were used to evaluate sleep quality. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation amongst variables.

Results: The daytime and night-time noise-exposure levels in the emergency department were significantly higher than those in the general inpatient department (P < 0.05). The scores for somatisation, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, hostility, terror, psychoticism, PSQI and SCL-90 in the emergency department were higher than those in the general inpatient department (P < 0.05). The sleep duration and sleep efficiency of medical staff in the emergency department were significantly lower than those in the general inpatient department. The sleep latency time and awakening time were significantly higher than those in the general inpatient department (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that daytime noise-exposure level was positively correlated with the SCL-90 total score (r = 0.326, P < 0.001) and total PSQI score (r = 0.298, P = 0.021). Meanwhile, the night-time noise-exposure level was positively correlated with the SCL-90 total score (r = 0.435, P < 0.001), PSQI total score (r = 0.515, P < 0.001), sleep latency time (r = 0.422, P<0.001) and awakening time of emergency medical staff (r = 0.261, P < 0.001). Night-time noise exposure had negative correlations with sleep duration (r = -0.503, P < 0.001) and sleep efficiency (r = -0.293, P < 0.001).