Objective The aim of this study is to study the musical ability,auditory ability and speech intelli-gibility and their relationship in children with artificial hearing devices,and to provide clinical evidence for the hear-ing and speech rehabilitation for children with hearing loss.Methods A total of 27 children (14 boys and 13 girls) with prelingual sensorineural hearing loss from Zibo participated in this study.Their hearing levels were from mod-erate to profound.Their chronological ages at evaluation ranged from 9 to 95 months with a mean of 42 months. Their chronological ages at intervention ranged from 1 to 72 months with a mean of 26 months.Their hearing ages at evaluation ranged from 1 to 60 months with a mean of 16 months.They all wore bilateral aids.Musical Ears, CAP and SIR were used to evaluate their musical ability,auditory ability and speech intelligibility,respectively.A linear and regression analysis was done in the statistic procedure.Results The means and standard deviations of the scores of musical ability,auditory ability,and speech intelligibility were 27.1±16.7,4.4±1.9,2.8±1.4,respec-tively.The scores of musical ability and auditory ability were significantly correlated (r= 0.856,P<0.001).The scores of musical ability and speech intelligibility were also significantly related (r= 0.827,P<0.001).Conclusion The musical ability is closely related to auditory ability in children with bilateral aided hearing.The musical ability is also closely related to speech ability for this group of children.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of electrocorticographic (ECoG) monitoring and the application of different surgical approaches in the surgical treatment of solitary supretentorial cavernous malformations with secondary epilepsy.
Methods This study enrolled a consecutive series of 36 patients with solitary supratentorial cavernous malformations and secondary epilepsy who underwent surgery with intraoperative ECoG monitoring in the Department of Neurosurgery between January 2004 and January 2008. The patients were composed of 15 males and 21 females, aged between 8 and 52 years (mean age 27.3±2.8 years) at the time of surgery. Epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy at the presentation, lesion location, the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated.
Results Histopathological examination indicated cavernous malformations and hippocampal sclerosis in 36 and 5 cases, respectively. Neuronal degeneration, glial cell proliferation, and neurofibrillary tangles were found in all the resected cerebral tissues of extended lesionectomy of residual epileptic foci. Lesionectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy, anterior temporal lobectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation, extended lesionectomy, extended lesionectomy plus cortical thermocoagulation were performed in 4, 4, 1, 14, and 13 cases, respectively. Residual epileptiform discharges were captured in 9 out of the 14 patients who had additional cortical thermocoagulation. According to Engle class for postoperative outcomes, 27 cases were class I (75.00%), 5 were class II (13.89%), 2 were class III (5.56%), and 2 were class IV (5.56%), thus the total effective rate (class I+class II) was 88.89%. Neither of epilepsy history, the type of epilepsy, and the location of cavernous malformation was significantly related to outcomes (P>0.05). A significant relationship was found between the incidence of residual epileptiform discharges and outcomes (P=0.041).
Conclusions Intraoperative ECoG monitoring, the application of different surgical approaches, and the resection of residual epileptic foci could produce good result in the surgical treatment of supratentorial cavernous malformation with secondary epilepsy. Postoperative residual epileptiform discharges could be a useful predictor for evaluating the outcomes.

UNLABELLEDObjective: In order to assess the integrative cardiopulmonary function after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), we used symptom limited maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

METHODSAll 59 patients diagnosed stable CAD by coronary angiography and echocardiography from August to December of 2014 in our hospital, were divided two groups. PCI group, 31 patients received PCI and drugs. Control group, 28 patients received drugs therapy only. All patients performed CPET before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAll patients safely completed CPET without any complications. The control group, all functional parameters were unchanged (P > 0.05). PCI group, the anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen uptake and peak oxygen pulse increased significantly (P < 0.05) from baseline,but not for others (P > 0.05). For individual analysis, PCI group had higher rates of increase (≥ 10% of baseline) in both peak oxygen uptake and peak oxygen pulse than those of control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCPET is an objective, quantitative, safe and effective method to evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficiency. PCI can improve the integrative cardiopulmonary function in CAD patients.

Anaerobic Threshold ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Staging ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; methods ; trends

In order to study the microstructure characteristics of normal lunate bones,eight fresh cadaver normal lunates were scanned with micro-computed tomography.High-resolution images of the micro-structure of normal lunates were obtained and we analyzed the nutrient foramina.Then nine regions of interest (ROI) were chosen in the central sagittal plane so that we could obtain the parameters of trabecular bones of ROIs.The distal lamellar-like compact structure had statistically significant differences when it was compared with the ROIs in the volar and dorsal ends of the distal cortex.The difference of diameter between the volar and dorsal foramina was significant (P＜0.05).However,there was no significant difference regarding the number.The trabecular bones of the volar and dorsal distal ends had lower intensity than those of the distal central subchondral bone plate.The diameters of the nutrient foramina on the volar cortex were larger than those on the dorsal.This research provided more detailed information about microstructure of normal lunate and the nutrient foramina on cortex,and a reference for further study about diseased lunate.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the head injuries in Wanchuan earthquake and review the experience with on-filed emergency diagnosis and treatment of such injuries. Methods The clinical data were reviewed for 120 patients sustaining head injuries during Wenchuan earthquake in Beichuan and Anxian Counties, Sichuan Province. All the patients received on-filed emergency medical care within one day after the earthquake. The epidemiology, causes and types of trauma, complications and treatment of the injuries were analyzed. Results Of the 120 patients with head injuries, 70 had scalp injuries which were managed with emergency debridement and suture with favorable outcome. The other 50 patients were transferred to general hospitals for intensive medical care, among which 40 received craniotomy and 10 had conservative treatment;46 of these hospitalized patients showed good recovery 5-16 days after admission and were discharged, and death occurred in 4 cases. Conclusion Early and accurate evaluation of the condition of the trauma and effective on-filed emergency management is critical to improving the outcome of head injuries and minimizing the mortality rate related to the injuries in earthquake.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of head injuries in children in Wenchuan earthquake. Methods The clinical data of 36 children (21 boys and 15 girls, aged 3 monthsto 14 years with a mean age of 8.1 years) with head injuries in the earthquake receiving treatment in West China Hospital were analyzed. The children sustained mild (30 cases), moderate (4 cases) or severe (2 cases) head injuries due to building collapse (30 cases), cuts (3 cases), or falling (3 cases). The injury types, causes of the injury, treatment methods and outcomes of the children were retrospectively analyzed. Results Building collapse was the most common cause of head injuries in the children in earthquake, accounting for 83.3% of the cases involved. All the 36 children survived the injuries, and upon discharge or transfer, 33 of the children had Glasgow outcome scores (GOS) indicating good recovery, and 3 had moderate disabilities. Conclusion Building collapse was the most common cause of head injuries in Wenchuan earthquake. The majority of the children with head injuries had mild injury with favorable outcomes. Attention should be given to appropriate management of skull fractures in these children.

BACKGROUNDCraniopharyngioma of the third ventricle is difficult to treat and its therapeutic regimens and operative approaches have been controversial. This study was undertaken to probe indications for microsurgical resection of craniopharyngioma of the third ventricle via an improved transventricular approach, its surgical procedures and therapeutic effects, and prevention of postoperative complications.

METHODSFifty-one patients with craniopharyngioma of the third ventricle were treated from January 2000 to October 2004 by an improved transventricular approach for removing the tumor via the interventricular foramen, the intermedius of the septum pellucidum or choroid fissure. Symptoms and signs of the patients, and results of imaging, operation, and follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 51 patients who had received the improved transventricular resection, 4 underwent a combined approach with an entrance of the pterion. Forty patients (78.43%) underwent total resection and others subtotal resection, without an operative death. Epileptic seizures were found in 3 patients (5.88%) and subdural effusion in the operative field in 4 (7.84%). All patients showed good general conditions after operation, and follow-up for an average of 27.52 months showed relapse of the tumour in 8 patients (15.69%).

CONCLUSIONSMicrosurgical resection of craniopharyngioma of the third ventricle by an improved transventricular approach has advantages of operative safety and efficacy, lower mortality and disability, and less complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Craniopharyngioma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Third Ventricle

OBJECTIVEThe prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has markedly increased. Insulin resistance has been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. This study was aimed at observing the relationship between insulin resistance and NAFLD, and evaluating the role of pioglitazone (PGZ) acting as insulin-sensitizing agents in the prevention and treatment of rat fatty liver induced by high fat feeding.

METHODSThe rats were separated randomly into 6 groups: model group I were fed high fat diet for 8 weeks, PGZ prevention group were given PGZ 4 mg/(kg.d) simultaneously, while control group I were fed normal food for 8 weeks; model group II were fed high fat diet for 16 weeks, PGZ treatment group were given PGZ 4 mg/(kg.d) orally simultaneous with high fat diet for 8 weeks after high fat feeding for 8 weeks, control group II were fed normal food for 16 weeks. The rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks and 16 weeks respectively. Liver weight, body weight, serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting plasma insulin (FINS), HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and the liver histology of rats of all groups were assayed.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks, the liver in model group I showed typical steatosis, accompanied with mild to moderate lobular inflammatory cell infiltration, liver indexes and serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TNF-alpha were significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with control group I. Whereas, the degree of hepatic injury was attenuated in PGZ prevention group, liver indexes and serum levels of ALT, ALP were significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with model group I. After 16 weeks, notable steatosis, and lobular inflammation were observed in model group II rat liver, while the degree of hepatic injury was attenuated in the PGZ treatment group. Liver index, serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, FINS and HOMA-IR were significantly increased (P<0.05) in model group II compared with control group II. Whereas, in PGZ treatment group, serum levels of AST and FINS showed decreasing tendency, liver indexes, serum levels of ALT, ALP, TNF-alpha and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased compared with model group II.

CONCLUSIONInsulin resistance plays a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in rats. Pioglitazone can attenuate insulin resistance and biochemical and histological injury in high fat-induced fatty liver in rats.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Objective To investigate the effects of nonlinear frequency compression (NLFC) on sound quality perception by the Mandarin-speaking subjects with high-frequency hearing loss.Methods Twenty-three listeners with sensorineural hearing loss with no previous experiences of using hearing aids participated in this study.They were all fitted binaurally with Phonak Bolero Q hearing aids.The stimuli,including male voice,female voice,bird chirping,music,and self-voice,were presented in a random order with a custom software via a loudspeaker at 65 dB SPL.Regarding NLFC parameters,cut-off frequency (CF) ranged from 4.9 to 6 kHz and compression ratio (CR) was programed as 1.5.Subjects evaluated the sound quality of the stimulus in loudness,clearness,naturalness and overall preference under the conditions of NLFC-on and NLFC-off.A paired-sample t-test was conducted to assess the group differences in sound quality rating between NLFC on and off conditions.Results Paired test showed significant difference of high-frequency hearing threshold under the condition of NLFC-on and NLFC-off at 6 and 8 kHz(P＞0.05).No significant statistical difference was found in subjects' sound quality ratings between NLFC-on and NLFC-off conditions (all P＞0.05).Conclusion NLFC technology resulted in no significant impact on sound quality perception for the non-experienced hearing aid users.