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Objective: Hearing decline in ageing increases the risk of loneliness and social isolation. This correlation is most often observed when hearing is measured by subjective self-report, and less often for objectively measured speech listening ability, raising questions about differences between self-assessments and behavioural performance. This study compared self-reported hearing ability and objective speech-in-noise performance as predictors of loneliness and social isolation in adults older than 60., Design: This was an observational, cross-sectional online study. Participants were instructed to complete a speech-in-noise task to measure objective listening ability, as well as four questionnaires that measured subjective self-rated hearing, feelings of loneliness, perceived social support, and depression and anxiety., Study Sample: One-hundred fifteen individuals aged above 60 with no treated hearing loss., Results: No correlation was found between loneliness scores and subjective self-rated hearing or objective speech-in-noise perception after adjusting demographic variables and overall psychological distress (anxiety and depression). However, self-rated hearing was positively correlated with social support when anxiety/depression scores were low. When anxiety/depression scores were high, this relationship was attenuated. Objective speech-in-noise perception did not correlate with perceived social support., Conclusions: Self-rated hearing ability positively predicts ratings of social support in older adults with low levels of psychological distress.

C-phycocyanins, major biliproteins of blue green algae (cyanobacteria), widely used as colourants in food and cosmetics are known for their antioxidant as well as therapeutic potential. Recent claims indicating phycobiliproteins exert stronger photodynamic action on tumor cells than clinically approved hematoporphyrin derivatives motivate us to investigate the photodynamic action of two newly isolated C-phycocyanins from Phormidium [PHR] and Lyngbya [LY] spp, respectively in comparison with known C-phycocyanin from Spirulina sp. [SPI]. Photolysis of air saturated solutions of PHR, LY and SPI in the presence of 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl piperidinol (TEMPL) generated three line EPR spectrum characteristic of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl (TEMPOL). The increase in intensity of the EPR spectrum with time of irradiation and decrease in intensity, in the presence of 1O2 quencher DABCO confirm the formation of 1O2. Photoirradiation in the presence of spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) generated EPR signal characteristic of O2(-) adduct. Efficiency of 1O2 generation is of the order LY > PHR> SPI. The yield of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is found to be 1O2>O2(-) indicating type II mechanism to be the prominent pathway for photosensitation by phycocyanins.