A scoping review: Identifying targeted intervention strategies for workers with occupational hearing loss

An apparent disconnect exist in workplaces regarding identification of occupational hearing loss (OHL) and implementation of specific strategies to prevent progression of OHL, evident through continued high incidence of OHL. This scoping review aimed to identify evidence regarding targeted intervention used by industry, specifically to prevent the progression of OHL for workers. The scoping review was undertaken using the PRISMA-ScR methodology. Search terms were based on three broad categories, hearing loss, workplace, and intervention. Initially 1309 articles were identified for screening and 1,207 studies not meeting the criteria were excluded. Full text reviews of 102 articles were completed and a further 93 studies excluded. The scoping review produced nine studies which were quantitatively analysed. All interventions focused primarily on lower order controls, specifically administrative and personal protective equipment. Eight studies focused on awareness training, health monitoring, mandating hearing protection device use and fit testing, and using personal attenuation ratings as a predictor to OHL. Only one study mentioned isolation of workers from noise sources, and this was an interview study with workplace managers, not a specific intervention at a workplace. The result of the review highlights the lack of published literature on targeted interventions for workers with OHL. There is insufficient evidence to inform effective, impactful change in practice to prevent the progression of OHL. It is recommended that a system of collecting and assessing specific interventions and controls for workers with OHL be developed to better inform industry on strategies that will provide adequate protection for these workers

Unconventional Low-Cost Fabrication and Patterning Techniques for Point of Care Diagnostics

The potential of rapid, quantitative, and sensitive diagnosis has led to many innovative ‘lab on chip’ technologies for point of care diagnostic applications. Because these chips must be designed within strict cost constraints to be widely deployable, recent research in this area has produced extremely novel non-conventional micro- and nano-fabrication innovations. These advances can be leveraged for other biological assays as well, including for custom assay development and academic prototyping. The technologies reviewed here leverage extremely low-cost substrates and easily adoptable ways to pattern both structural and biological materials at high resolution in unprecedented ways. These new approaches offer the promise of more rapid prototyping with less investment in capital equipment as well as greater flexibility in design. Though still in their infancy, these technologies hold potential to improve upon the resolution, sensitivity, flexibility, and cost-savings over more traditional approaches

What is the level of evidence for the use of currently available technologies in facilitating the self-management of difficulties associated with ADHD in children and young people? A systematic review

A number of technologies to help self-manage Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and young people (YP) have been developed. This review will assess the level of evidence for the use of such technologies. The review was undertaken in accordance with the general principles recommended in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. 7545 studies were screened. Fourteen studies of technology that aim to manage difficulties associated with ADHD in children and YP were included. Primary outcome measures were measures that assessed difficulties related to ADHD. Databases searched were MEDLINE, Web of Science (Core collection), CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest ASSIA, PsycINFO and Scopus. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed. This review highlights the potential for the use of technology in paediatric ADHD self-management. However, it also demonstrates that current research lacks robustness; using small sample sizes, non-validated outcome measures and little psychoeducation component. Future research is required to investigate the value of technology in supporting children and YP with ADHD and a focus psychoeducation is needed

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Fitness instructors and noise exposure : spreading the hearing health message

This study investigated self-reported indicators of noise exposure, symptoms of hearing loss and awareness of hearing problems in 76 Australian fitness instructors working in the Newcastle area (NSW) 1997–1998 and Sydney in 2009–2011. Nineteen Newcastle instructors also submitted for audiometry. Instructors spent an average of 11.5 h/week in fitness classes, 30.3 % did other paid work involving noise exposure for all or most of the time and for an average of 25 h/week and 72.4 % attended music entertainment venues for an average of 4 h/week. The loudness categories and previously recorded noise levels were used to estimate Pascal-squared hours of noise exposure, and instructors were classified into low- and high-exposure groups. 64 % of instructors reported experiencing at least one of the symptoms of tinnitus, temporary hearing loss, dizziness, or the need to turn up the volume on the radio and there was a non-significant correlation between the occurrence of symptoms and noise exposure. More instructors reported no symptoms in the low- compared with the high-exposure group. Audiogram hearing thresholds were compared against the 10th percentile of gender- and age-matched normal subjects. 68.8 % of audiograms revealed an elevated threshold in at least one ear and 37.5 % showed an auditory notch at 6000 Hz. Overall the findings showed that more than half of fitness instructors had signs or symptoms of hearing loss and were potentially exposed to excess noise. It is important to communicate the risks of loud music in fitness classes and partner with media outlets to publicise research findings and raise awareness amongst those at risk.7 page(s

Noise levels in fitness classes are still too high: evidence from 1997-98 and 2009-11

Fitness instructors routinely use high music volumes that may be harmful to hearing. This study assessed noise levels during 35 low-intensity and 65 high-intensity fitness classes in 1997–1998 and 2009–2011. Questionnaires examined instructors’ and clients’ preferred music volumes and whether they found loud music “stressful” or “motivating.” Noise levels in 1997–1998 and 2009–2011 were similar, frequently exceeding 90 dB(A). Although noise levels in low-intensity classes dropped from 88.9 to 85.6 dB(A), they remained high for high-intensity classes, averaging 93.1 dB(A). In 2009–2011, instructors preferred significantly higher volumes than clients for high-intensity classes. In both time periods, about 85% of instructors found loud music motivating, whereas about one fifth of clients found it stressful. The results suggest that noise exposure from fitness classes, particularly high-intensity classes, continues to pose a potential risk to hearing

Hearing threshold levels of Australian coal mine workers: a retrospective cross-sectional study of 64196 audiograms

Objective This study examined the hearing threshold levels (HTL) of workers commencing employment in Australian coal mines in the State of New South Wales (NSW). The aim was to establish if some degree of hearing loss was identifiable in the mandatory pre-employment audiograms of workers. Design This was an observational, retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study. Study Sample De-identified audiometric records of 64196 employees entering NSW coal mining in three representative five-year periods between 1991–2015 were utilised Results Although HTLs were lower (better) in more recent years, the results showed clinically significant hearing loss ( ≥ 25dBHL) for older workers, 45–60 years. Pure tone average (PTA) hearing losses were greater at the higher frequencies associated with excessive noise exposure (3–6 kHz), than at the speech frequencies (0.5–4 kHz). Hearing loss in the left ears were higher compared to the right ears, with higher prevalence of audiometric notches in males