Background: Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) disrupts neural coordination despite normal outer hair cell function, impairing speech comprehension, especially in noisy environments.
Objectives: This review explores the genetic mechanisms underlying ANSD.
Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from 2010 to 2023 for studies on ANSD genetics, excluding those focused on non-genetic causes or lacking relevant data.
Results: ANSD is associated with conditions such as Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere Syndrome and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, often resulting from mutations in the auditory nerve. Non-syndromic ANSD is associated with genes such as OTOF and PJVK, which are essential for neural function.
Conclusions: ANSD is a multifactorial condition resulting from genetic mutations in key genes, which disrupt auditory pathways and impair sound signal transmission. Further research is needed to identify additional genes and understand molecular mechanisms contributing to ANSD. This knowledge will improve diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies, and could lead to innovative treatment approaches in the future.

Background: In recent years, exergames have emerged as a potential rehabilitation tool to address balance dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Although preliminary findings have shown promise, their overall effectiveness remains inconclusive, primarily due to their reliance on commercial games. This underscores the critical need for user-centered games tailored to the specific needs of patients. Despite this necessity, existing literature lacks established frameworks that guide the development of such games, highlighting a gap in literature.  Therefore, the objective of this research was to propose the first evidence-based framework to guide the development of user-centered games for balance rehabilitation in PwMS.
Materials and Methods: A two-step method was used to achieve this objective. The first step involved the examination of commercial games used in clinical studies, identifying their mechanics and limitations. The second step involved reviewing the literature to identify relevant findings that could inform the development of user-centered games.
Results: A set of targeted recommendations was proposed, emphasizing the necessity of developing adaptable games with focused therapeutic designs to effectively address the distinct balance impairments observed in PwMS. A game prototype was also presented to illustrate the practical applications of these recommendations.
Conclusion: This research establishes the first structured framework to guide the design of user-centered exergames for balance rehabilitation in PwMS. Beyond its theoretical insights, this framework provides actionable guidelines for developing clinically effective exergames aligned with patient impairments and therapeutic needs. Ultimately, this will contribute to improved therapeutic outcomes, enhanced patient care, and advancements in both rehabilitation and game design fields.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that physical environments play a critical role in regulating behavior, and information processing in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aims to identify architectural features of rehabilitation environments and examine their relationship with the information processing abilities of children with ADHD.
Material and Methods: Thirty five children (mean age: 7.6m range: 5-10) diagnosed with ADHD from 10 rehabilitation centers in Tehran were recruited for this descriptive-analytical study. Data was collected via a researcher-designed questionnaire for evaluating important architectural elements in the rehabilitation centers and was validated for content and construct (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.81). The total score and the score for each item of the questionnaire were evaluated by a Professional architects. The sensory improvement of the children was also evaluated by short sensory profile questionnaire 2 times; at the base line and after 1 month of their treatment. Correlation between each architectural items and the improvement in the children’s sensory profiles were assessed by Pearson’s correlation tests.
Results: A significant positive and moderate correlation between elements such as natural light (r=0.58), calming color schemes (r=0.55), noise reduction (r=0.49), with improved information processing speed ability in children with ADHD (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: The results indicate that careful and intentional architectural design of rehabilitation environments can play an effective role in enhancing cognitive performance in children with ADHD. It is recommended that architects and rehabilitation professionals collaborate more closely to meet the perceptual and cognitive needs of these children in space design.

Background and aim: Repetition rate of stimulus as an audiological assessment criterion plays important role in differential diagnosis in some special populations. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate normal variation of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) parameters including latency, amplitude, morphology and component’s duration (width) by using two different rates with tonal stimuli at different frequencies in Wistar rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, forty-five young adult male Wistar rats were subjected to ABR measurements with tone burst stimuli in octave frequencies from 2 to 16 kHz with two rates of 11.1 and 57.1/sec, following the relevant protocols. The stimuli were delivered at an intensity of 80 dB SPL and through a speaker.
Results: At high rate, latency changes in later waves were greater than earlier components whereas amplitude changes in later waves were smaller than earlier ones. Rate-dependent changes as a function of frequency were uniform for latency versus amplitude. Morphologically, ABR components were broadened in a frequency-dependent way. Duration of wave I was shorter than wave IV as well as wave duration changes influenced by frequency. These findings were statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results can be likely due to differences in adaptation mechanisms in auditory system, additive synapse theory and, desynchronization by increasing stimulation rate. Knowledge of the various effects of rate as a function of frequency on ABR parameters in normal rats is basic to understanding how different changes of these parameters at each wave could lead to more precise diagnosis in neuro-pathologic conditions.

Introduction: Soccer is the most popular sport globally for both men and women. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a seven-part standardized tool created by experts to evaluate movement quality. This research compared FMS scores and performance between male and female soccer players.
Materials and Methods: A total of sixty semi-professional soccer players (30 males and 30 females) participated in this study. All participants completed the FMS test, Y-Balance Test, Davies Test, Single hop for distance, and Crossover Hop Test. Between-group comparisons were performed using independent t-tests for normally distributed variables and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-normally distributed variables.
Results: There were no significant differences between male and female players in Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, In-Line Lunge, or Overall FMS Score (P>0.05). However, significant differences were found in Shoulder Mobility, Active Straight Leg Raise, Trunk Stability Push-Up, and rotary stability (P<0.05). Males performed better in Trunk Stability, while females excelled in Shoulder Mobility and Active Straight Leg Raise. Males outperformed females in Single hop for distance and Cross-over hop. In upper extremity performance, males performed better in the Davies test and dynamic balance in the superolateral direction, with no significant differences in other upper extremity dynamic balance directions.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the necessity of gender-specific training programs, as they are crucial in enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury. According to the findings, it is recommended that flexibility and mobility exercises be implemented for male soccer players and core stability and strength training for female soccer players.

Objectives: Between ages 2-7, children develop the ability to narrate stories with improved detail and organization, including main characters, events, responses, efforts, and settings. Narrative assessment, a tool for evaluating language development, allows speech pathologists to examine syntax, vocabulary, and complexity. This study aimed to develop a tool for evaluating storytelling skills in children aged 4-5.
Results: The speech therapists evaluated and confirmed the face validity of the story and images, implementing necessary adjustments.. Construct validity was significant (P = 0.000), indicating alignment with typical development. Inter-evaluator reliability (k=0.712) and test-retest reliability (r=0.591) were moderate to good. Internal consistency varied, with α > 0.5 in one story and α < 0.5 in others.
Discussion: The findings indicate that the test demonstrates validity and moderate reliability, suggesting its suitability for practical applications

Purpose: To compare objective clinical signs and subjective symptoms of dry eye disease in patients with and without primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS).
Methods: This study included patients diagnosed with dry eye disease (DED) due to primary Sjögren’s syndrome and patients with DED without SS (non-SS DED), all meeting the inclusion criteria at Helal Hospital (Tehran, Iran). Objective clinical assessments—including tear film breakup time (TBUT), Oxford corneal staining, tear osmolarity, and Schirmer's test I—were conducted in both groups. Subjective symptoms were assessed with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Correlation coefficients were calculated using linear regression analysis.
Results: This study was conducted from January 2023 to February 2024. Forty patients were included: 20 with SS DED and 20 with non-SS DED. The non-SS DED group had a significantly higher OSDI score (41.66 ± 7.50) than the SS DED group (37.29 ± 6.04; p = 0.05). Tear secretion measured by Schirmer I was significantly higher in the non-SS DED group (p = 0.00), while corneal staining scores were higher in the SS DED group (p = 0.00). The association between OSDI scores and objective clinical test results was weak in both groups. Among SS DED patients, OSDI scores showed a significant moderate correlation with disease duration (r = −0.529, p = 0.017). Additionally, within this group, higher tear osmolarity showed a very weak correlation with lower OSDI scores (r = −0.383, p = 0.096).
Conclusion: There is a weak and inconsistent association between subjective symptoms (OSDI scores) and objective clinical signs of DED in both patients with and without primary SS. Patients with SS may underreport their discomfort despite having more severe clinical signs of DED. 

Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases that considered as a progressive and debilitating disorder. One of the main problems in these patients is frequent hospitalizations due to the exacerbation of symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the simultaneous effect of muscle electrical stimulation and exercise therapy on quality of life and functional capacity in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure.
Material and Methods: The present study included 40 hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure among the volunteers and randomly divided into two groups of 20 patients. The first group underwent cardiac rehabilitation based on resistance training along with muscle electrical stimulation (RT+ES). The second group received only resistance training program (RT). Resistance training consisted of performing three leg presses, cuff presses, and triceps movements with Traband. Functional capacity and quality of life evaluated before and after intervention.
Results: Quality of Life Index in the RT+ES increased more than RT (P≤0.05). Although the functional capacity in both groups had increased relative to the pre-test (P≤0.05). However, there were no meaningful differences between the two groups (P≥0.05).
Conclusion: Resistance training with electrical stimulation during hospitalization improves the quality of life and functional capacity of patients with chronic heart failure.