Chungbuk National University

Certain factors associated with developing age-related hearing loss differ by sex, including weight, smoking behavior, and hormone exposure, according to a new study. Certain factors associated with developing age-related hearing loss differ by sex, including weight, smoking behavior, and hormone exposure, according to a study published on March 6, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Dong Woo Nam from Chungbuk National University Hospital, South Korea, and colleagues. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), slowly-advancing difficulty in hearing high-frequency sounds, makes spoken communication more challenging, often leading to loneliness and depression. Roughly 1 in 5 people around the world suffer from hearing loss, and this number is expected to rise as the global population ages. Since ARHL is irreversible, identifying it early and taking preventative measures are especially important. To better understand the factors associated with ARHL, and how the relative influence of these factors is shaped by sex, the researchers analyzed check-up health examination data from 2,349 participants aged over 60. After gathering each participant's medical history and performing blood tests, a body composition test, and a basic hearing test, they ran statistical analyses to identify factors most strongly associated with ARHL risk for males and females. The researchers found that while some factors -- such as age -- were associated with ARHL regardless of gender, others were differently associated with ARHL risk in males and females. For example, while being underweight showed a significant association with ARHL in males, both low weight and obesity showed significant associations in females. Smoking was associated with increased ARHL risk in males only, who were far more likely than females to identify as smokers in this sample population. Females who started menstruating at an earlier age were less likely to develop ARHL later in life, pointing towards a possible protective effect of the hormone estrogen. This study does not allow elucidation of causal relationships between these factors and hearing loss, and further experimental studies will be necessary to confirm and better interpret these findings. However, the authors propose that assessing and counseling patients about their smoking behavior, weight, and menstruation may help improve screening and preventative treatment for ARHL. The authors add: "Hearing loss should be prevented, even it is related to aging."

SEOUL, South Korea, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- J INTS BIO announced the successful dosing of the first patient in its global multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical study of 'JIN-A02' on 31st July at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. More clinical sites will follow suit, including seven more hospitals in Korea (National Cancer Center, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital, Asan Medical Center), two in the United States, and one in Thailand. Continue Reading J INTS BIO CI This global phase 1/2 clinical trial seeks to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor activity of "JIN-A02" in advanced NSCLC patients carrying EGFR mutations. 'JIN-A02' is a novel orally administered 4th Generation EGFR TKI, which is highly selective for and strongly inhibits NSCLC with C797S double or triple mutations, showing efficacy even against intracranial tumors by exhibiting high blood-brain barrier penetrance. Anna Jo, CEO of J INTS BIO, said, "We expect the positive results of 'JIN-A02' in the pre-clinical studies to translate to positive outcomes for patients in the clinical trial" adding that, "We hope also to proceed with the application for designation of orphan drug, and thereby quickly occupy the global NSCLC therapy market through conditional use." About J INTS BIO J INTS BIO is a bio company specialized in developing innovative anti-cancer and orphan drugs to realize the goal of changing lives and improving health for patients around the world. J INTS BIO's teams have prior multi-year experience in multinational pharmaceutical companies and CROs and track records in medical, regulatory affairs, drug discovery and development. About 'JIN-A02' 'JIN-A02' is a novel orally administered 4th Generation EGFR TKI targeting C797S mutations in NSCLC. Although 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Generation EGFR TKIs have been used with some success, recurrence occurs in most patients including those on 3rd Generation TKIs such as Osimertinib. Currently, there are no approved therapies for patients who developed EGFR C797S mutations due to the use of 3rd Generation EGFR TKIs and with the high propensity of these cancers to metastasize to the brain, there is an urgent need to develop an effective drug with high blood-brain barrier permeability as well. 'JIN-A02', a novel oral EGFR TKI, which is effective against C797S double and triple mutations and have a high brain penetrance, is therefore expected to become the most promising Best-in-Class 4th-generation EGFR TKI in NSCLC patients with limited or no viable treatment options. SOURCE J INTS BIO