8 research outputs found
Translated or culturally adapted audiology tests and questionnaires : balancing regional and international interests and resources
No abstract available.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iija20hj2023Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog
Trans-ancestry genome-wide association study identifies 12 genetic loci influencing blood pressure and implicates a role for DNA methylation
We carried out a trans-ancestry genome-wide association and replication study of blood pressure phenotypes among up to 320,251 individuals of East Asian, European and South Asian ancestry. We find genetic variants at 12 new loci to be associated with blood pressure (P = 3.9 × 10-11 to 5.0 × 10-21). The sentinel blood pressure SNPs are enriched for association with DNA methylation at multiple nearby CpG sites, suggesting that, at some of the loci identified, DNA methylation may lie on the regulatory pathway linking sequence variation to blood pressure. The sentinel SNPs at the 12 new loci point to genes involved in vascular smooth muscle (IGFBP3, KCNK3, PDE3A and PRDM6) and renal (ARHGAP24, OSR1, SLC22A7 and TBX2) function. The new and known genetic variants predict increased left ventricular mass, circulating levels of NT-proBNP, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (P = 0.04 to 8.6 × 10-6). Our results provide new evidence for the role of DNA methylation in blood pressure regulation
The development of an Afrikaans test for sentence recognition thresholds in noise
OBJECTIVE: The development of a valid and reliable Afrikaans test of sentence
recognition thresholds in noise.
DESIGN: A collection of sentences was developed, rated for naturalness and
grammatical complexity, and digitally recorded using a female speaker. Sentences
found to have similar psychometric curve slopes, with equivalent intelligibility at three
different noise levels, were arranged into 22 phonemically matched lists of ten
sentences each. List equivalence was evaluated in normal-hearing listeners in full
and reduced bandwidth conditions. Test-retest reliability of the remaining lists was
evaluated in a second group of listeners.
STUDY SAMPLE: All listeners were native speakers of Afrikaans with normal hearing.
For evaluation of list equivalence, ten listeners were used. Twenty other listeners
were used to evaluate test-retest reliability.
RESULTS: A collection of eighteen phonemically matched lists was produced. Lists
were found to be of equivalent difficulty in full and reduced bandwidth conditions, and
to have good test-retest reliability in normal-hearing listeners. The average
recognition threshold of these lists was -2.73 dB signal-to-noise ratio (standard
deviation = 0.64 dB), and within-subject variability was 1.22 dB.
CONCLUSIONS: The developed test provides a valid and reliable means of measuring
sentence recognition thresholds in noise in Afrikaans.This project was financially supported by the National Research Foundation of South
Africa
Sentence recognition in noise: Variables in compilation and interpretation of tests
Tests of sentence recognition in noise constitute an essential tool for the assessment of auditory abilities that are representative of everyday listening experiences. A number of recent articles have reported on the development of such tests, documenting different approaches and methods. However, both the development and interpretation of these tests require careful consideration of many variables. This article reviews and categorizes the stimulus, presentation, subject, response, and performance variables influencing the development and interpretation of tests of sentence recognition in noise. A systematic framework is utilized to document published findings on these variables. Recommendations and guidelines, based on test performance requirements and test objectives, are provided concerning the interpretation of results and the development of new test materials
The effect of enhancing temporal periodicity cues on Cantonese tone recognition by cochlear implantees
Effect of smoking on blood pressure and resting heart rate:a Mendelian randomisation meta-analysis in the CARTA Consortium
Background—Smoking is an important cardiovascular disease risk factor, but the mechanisms linking smoking to blood pressure are poorly understood.
Methods and Results—Data on 141 317 participants (62 666 never, 40 669 former, 37 982 current smokers) from 23 population-based studies were included in observational and Mendelian randomization meta-analyses of the associations of smoking status and smoking heaviness with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, and resting heart rate. For the Mendelian randomization analyses, a genetic variant rs16969968/rs1051730 was used as a proxy for smoking heaviness in current smokers. In observational analyses, current as compared with never smoking was associated with lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and lower hypertension risk, but with higher resting heart rate. In observational analyses among current smokers, 1 cigarette/day higher level of smoking heaviness was associated with higher (0.21 bpm; 95% confidence interval 0.19; 0.24) resting heart rate and slightly higher diastolic blood pressure (0.05 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval 0.02; 0.08) and systolic blood pressure (0.08 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval 0.03; 0.13). However, in Mendelian randomization analyses among current smokers, although each smoking increasing allele of rs16969968/rs1051730 was associated with higher resting heart rate (0.36 bpm/allele; 95% confidence interval 0.18; 0.54), there was no strong association with diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, or hypertension. This would suggest a 7 bpm higher heart rate in those who smoke 20 cigarettes/day.
Conclusions—This Mendelian randomization meta-analysis supports a causal association of smoking heaviness with higher level of resting heart rate, but not with blood pressure. These findings suggest that part of the cardiovascular risk of smoking may operate through increasing resting heart rate
Trans-ancestry genome-wide association study identifies 12 genetic loci influencing blood pressure and implicates a role for DNA methylation
We carried out a trans-ancestry genome-wide association and replication study of blood pressure phenotypes among up to 320,251 individuals of East Asian, European and South Asian ancestry. We find genetic variants at 12 new loci to be associated with blood pressure (P = 3.9 × 10 -11 to 5.0 × 10 -21). The sentinel blood pressure SNPs are enriched for association with DNA methylation at multiple nearby CpG sites, suggesting that, at some of the loci identified, DNA methylation may lie on the regulatory pathway linking sequence variation to blood pressure. The sentinel SNPs at the 12 new loci point to genes involved in vascular smooth muscle (IGFBP3, KCNK3, PDE3A and PRDM6) and renal (ARHGAP24, OSR1, SLC22A7 and TBX2) function. The new and known genetic variants predict increased left ventricular mass, circulating levels of NT-proBNP, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (P = 0.04 to 8.6 × 10 -6). Our results provide new evidence for the role of DNA methylation in blood pressure regulation