Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is extensively expressed in the cochlea, including the strial vascularis (StV). ANP may participate in the regulation of the water‑electrolyte balance. However, the functional significance of ANP in the cochlea is less understood and little is known regarding the exact mechanisms. Studies suggest that the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is important for regulating sodium transport across epithelia. ENaC may be involved in the clearance of endolymphatic Na+ and maintenance of a K‑rich and Na‑poor composition in the endolymph. Whether ANP has a regulatory effect on the Na+ channel in the StV remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether ANP affects the expression of the α‑subunit of the ENaC (α‑ENaC) mRNA in the mouse StV, using the reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) technique. The mouse StV tissues were incubated with 10‑6 mol/l ANP for different times (2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h) and were subsequently harvested. α‑ENaC mRNA was extracted for RT‑qPCR analysis of the expression. The study demonstrated the existence of α‑ENaC in the mouse StV. Tissues treated with ANP (10‑6 mol/l) showed a significant reduction in α‑ENaC mRNA expression (n=3, P<0.05). A maximum effect was reached at 2 h after treatment. The present results indicate that ANP may regulate cochlear ion transport and endolymph fluid balance in the inner ear via reducing expression of the α‑ENaC mRNA in the mouse StV.

Hearing aids are effective at improving listening ability and health-related quality of life. Recently, we observed that there are many hearing aids-related videos published on TikTok. However, the quality of the information they offer remains unstudied. This study aimed to evaluate the information quality of hearing aids videos on TikTok. We collected a sample of 155 hearing aids-related videos in Chinese and extracted the basic information. First, we identified the source of each video. Two independent raters assessed the quality of the information in the videos, using the PEMAT-A/V tool and DISCERN instrument. Regarding content, the results showed that the video contents on TikTok mainly about features, functionalities, and suggestions of purchase or fitting of hearing aids, while the information about the disadvantages and complications of hearing aids was limited. The overall quality of the hearing aids-related videos was acceptable on average, although the quality varies greatly depending on the type of source. Patients should be cautious in obtaining information about hearing aids on TikTok.

Previous studies have reported the relationship between effect of caffeine and many diseases. However, studies to evaluate the association between caffeine and hearing loss are contradictory. To examine the relationship of urinary caffeine metabolites with the hearing threshold in US adults, a total of 849 adults aged 20–69 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2011–2012) were enrolled in this study. Urinary caffeine and its 14 metabolites were applied as biomarkers to assess caffeine exposure. Hearing loss was defined as mean pure tone averages > 25 dB HL at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in both ears (low frequency); and 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz in both ears (high frequency). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of urinary caffeine metabolites with low- and high-frequency hearing thresholds, respectively. Low-frequency hearing loss were 5.08% and 6.10% in male and female participants, respectively; and high-frequency hearing loss were 31.81% and 15.14% in male and female participants, respectively. In the unadjusted model, the P value for trend shows that urinary caffeine metabolites 137X and AAMU were significantly associated with low-frequency PTA, and that 17X, 137X, AAMU were significantly associated with high-frequency PTA, but when the model was adjusted for sex, age, education level, firearm noise exposure, occupational noise exposure, recreational noise exposure, serum cotinine, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, these were no longer statistically significant. In conclusion, urinary caffeine metabolites were not associated with the hearing threshold shifts in US adults.