Inner ear malformations are anomalies linking to development insults at different periods of embryogenesis,which are common causes of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The evaluation of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss mostly depends on high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which can excellently depict the temporal bones and inner ear malformations.
Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; embryology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; congenital ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Temporal Bone ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the correlation between BODE index with fatigue symptoms on COPD patients,and provide new ways for clinical evaluation,prediction,symptom control and establishment of effective management mode.Methods 120 COPD patients of stable stage were selected to be investigated and analyzed by the Fatigue Scale-14(FS-14),six-minute walking distance(6MWD),pulmonary func-tion test and the body mass index (BMI).Dyspnea was measured using the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale.Results The fatigue symptoms showed high positive linear correlation with BODE index and mMRC,and significant negative correlation with 6 MWD,FEV1％ and BMI.Conclusions The study shows that fatigue symptoms had a higher prevalence in COPD patients of stable stage.There were a high correlation between fatigue symptoms with the BODE index,mMRC,6MWD,FEV1％ and BMI.The BODE index was a good predictor and evaluation of fatigue symptoms.

Objective To develop a digital video system for esophageal variceal manometry and to evaluate its reliability. Methods The system consists of esophageal variceal manometer, pressure transducer, video capture card and special computer programs. An artificial esophagus containing water-filled latex tube was designed, in which the pressure had been measured by this system in vitro. The pressures of esophageal varices had been measured by using the method in five patients. Results In vitro study, a good correlation was showed between the actual pressure and measured pressure in the artificial varices with different diameter (3,6,9 mm)(r=0.975, P

2 years;appearedrigh quadrent abdominal signs,thickness of gallbladder wall≥3 mm;and hydrops of gallbladder.Conclusions The risk factors for conversion of LC to OC were attacks of acute cholecystitis,the length of disease,tenderness of upper abdomen,thickening of gallbladder wall and hydrops of gallbladder.A detailed history,clinical examination with suitable imaging test,proper selection of patients and improving the skill of operators,may decrease the occurrence of the LC conversion rate and the complicationafter operation.OC should be selected for the patients with the above risk factors.

Objective To present the clinical and pathological features of carcinosarcoma of ureter and renal pelvis. Methods Three cases of carcinosarcoma of ureter and renal pelvis were reviewed. Results The clinical symptoms of carcinosarcomas of ureter and renal pelvis are hematuria and flank pain.The neoplasm consists of an admixture of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements on histological studies.The immunohistochemical studies demonstrated obvious epithelial and mesenchymal reactivity.Three patients died of the disease 8 months,14 months and 2.5 months after operation. Conclusions Carcinosarcoma of ureter and renal pelvis is a rare occurrence and is usually associated with a poor prognosis.It is sometimes difficult to make certain the diagnosis and the immunohistochemical studies are essential in pathological examinations.This lesion should be differentiated from sarcomatoid carcinoma.

Objective To explore the clinical features of patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD).Methods Patients diagnosed with posterior circulation ischemia in our hospital from October 2008 to January 2012 were consecutively collected and were divided into the VBD group and the non-VBD (NVBD) group.Clinical manifestations,risk factors,hemodynamic parameters and neuroimaging features were collected.Results (1) Statistical difference was observed in dyslipidemia,hypertension and the history of diabetes in the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).(2) The cerebral hemodynamic features of the VBD patients were as the following:decreased peak systolic velocity of vertebral artery and basilar artery and decreased systolic/diastolic ratio.Statistical difference was showed in the average peak flow velocity(Vm),pulsatility index(PI) and resistance index(RI) (P =0.036,0.032,0.032,respectively).(3) The main clinical manifestations of VBD were ischemic cerebrovascular disease,hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease,oppression,brain damage symptoms and hydrocephalus.(4) The diagnosis in most of the VBD patients was confirmed by neural imaging and MRI was the first choice.Conclusion The VBD patients have relative unique clinical features.MRI should be the first choice for neuroimaging.

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect of escitalopram on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats and its possible mechanisms.Methods Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:sham operation,saline control and escitalopram intervention groups (n =25 in each group).A focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion model in rats was induced by the intraluminal suture method.The modified neurological severity scale was used to evaluate neurological deficit in rats (n =5 in each group).Laser confocal technology was used to observe the microvascular diameter,density,and total area in ischemic region (n =5 in each group).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (n =5 in each group).Immunohistochemical staining (n =5 in each group) and Western blotting (n =5 in each group) were used to detect the expression of VEGF in the ischemic brain tissue.Results At day 14 after modeling,the neurological deficit improved more significantly in the escitalopram intervention group than that in the saline control group (4.39 ±0.92 vs.6.57 ± 1.13; P =0.015).The 3D confocal vascular imaging showed that capillary diameter in the escitalopram intervention group was significantly smaller than that in the saline control group (2.93 ± 0.19 μm vs.3.56 ± 0.22 μm; P ＜0.01); the vascular density was significantly higher than that in the saline control group (232.68 ±12.54/0.002 mm3 vs.176.26 ± 10.87/0.002 mm3; P=0.000); the total microvascular area was significantly greater than that in the saline control group (89 154± 3 298 μm2/0.002 mm3 vs.75 368.14± 3 519 μm2/0.002 mm3; P=0.000).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the plasma VEGF concentration in the escitalopram intervention group was significantly higher than that in the saline control group (50.35 ± 5.44 pg/ml vs.13.75 ± 4.12 pg/ml; P =0.000).Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the VEGF expression in ischemic brain tissue in the escitalopram intervention group was significantly higher than that in the saline control group (P =0.000).Western blotting showed that the VEGF expression in ischemic brain tissue in the escitalopram intervention group was significantly higher than that in the saline control group (0.94 ±0.18 vs.0.62 ±0.22; P =0.006).Conclusions Escitalopram may reduce neurological deficit in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.Its mechanisms may be associated with VEGF-mediated angiogenesis.

ObjectiveTo research the hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and immune tolerance status of transgenic mice for elucidating the pathogenesis of hepatitis B and evaluating new drugs against HBV.Methods SPE grade HBsAg negative nontransgenic and transgenic mice with the same genetic background were recruited in this study.HBsAg,HBeAg and HBV DNA were detected by chemiluminescent method.Pre-S1 and HBcAg were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbont assay (ELISA).Liver pathology was examined and HBsAg expressions at different stages were determined by immunohistochemical staining.The lymphocyte proliferation of mice was detected by flow cytometry and interferon (IFN)γ-producing T lymphocytes was determined by enzyme linked immunospot (ELISPOT).The expressions of Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR9 in splenocyte suspension and splenic dendrite cells (DC) were determined by double-labeling immunofluorescence.The data were analyzed by t test and F test.ResultsHBsAg,preS1,HBeAg,HBcAg were expressed and HBV DNA was replicated in HBV transgenic mice,while anti-HBs,anti-HBc,and anti-HBe were all negative.There were no obvious pathological changes in liver tissues.HBsAg was expressed in cytoplasm and HBcAg in nucleus of hepatocytes.After stimulated with HBsAg,T lymphocyte proliferation capacity of HBV transgenic mice was (697.6±67.3) cpm,which was much lower than that of nontransgenic mice [( 1315.5 ±191.6) cpm].The number of spot forming cells of IFNγ-producing splenocytes from transgenic mice after HBsAg stimulation was 8.25 ± 1.10,which was obviously lower than that of nontransgenic mice (28.50±4.21) (F=155.967,P=0.000).The expressions of CD11c+,TLR2 and TLR9 on DC from both HBV transgenic and nontransgenic mice were not different significantly (all P＞0.05).The HBsAg expressions in liver tissues were observed in 18-day-old fetal mice and 1-day-old newborn mice.ConclusionsThe HBV transgenic mice can express HBV-related antigens,and are immune tolerant to the antigens.The innate and acquired immunity of the HBV transgenic mice are normal,which is similar to chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers of human.Therefore,HBV transgenic mouse is an ideal animal model.

Purpose To study the clinic-pathological features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of extragastrointestinal stromal tumor ( EGIST) arising in the vulva and the rectovaginal septum. Methods Clinical manifestations, pathological features, immunohisto-chemistry, gene mutations, treatment and prognosis were analyzed in 1 case of EGIST arising in the vulva and 2 cases of EGIST arising in the rectovaginal septum with review of related literature. Results Case 1 was a 59-years-old woman who was found to have a 4. 4 cm × 3 cm × 3 cm recurrent mass in the right vulva after 6 months of the first resection. Case 2 was a 58-years-old woman who presen-ted with a 7. 3 cm × 6. 1 cm × 4. 6 cm mass in the rectovaginal septum. Case 3 was a 41-year-old woman who presented with an 8. 6 cm × 7. 4 cm × 6. 7 cm mass in the rectovaginal septum. Histologically, the uniform spindle cells showed the interlacing fascicular, whirl-pool and palisade patterns with high cellular density. Mitotic figures were readily identified. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that the tumor cells exhibited strong and diffuse staining for CD117, CD34, NES, H-Caldesmon and DOG-1. Molecular analysis showed the gene mutation of c-Kit exon 11 in all 3 cases. Conclusion EGIST should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the mesenchymal tumors arising in the vulva and the rectovaginal septum. The immunohistochemical evaluation and molecular genetic tes-ting are crucial tools for the differential diagnosis and assessment of the prognosis and targeted therapy of EGIST.

Objective To explore and evaluate the clinical value of MRI for status of axillary lymph node after neoadju-vant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with breast cancer. Methods Forty-four patients with 1ocally advanced breast cancer (LABC) were underwent NAC for four cycles. The longest diameter of axillary lymph node (ALN) measured by MRI scan. Val-ue of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and their correlation were compared before NAC and four cycles after NAC. Re-sults of MRI and pathological data for ALN were compared between two groups of patients. Results All patients finished four cycles of NAC. The total response rate (CR+PR) was 72.7% (32/44), and the total non-response rate (SD+PD) was 27.3%(12/44). The longest diameter of ALN was significantly shortened in response group. The longest diameter was (1.37± 1.06) cm before NAC and (0.90±0.76) cm after NAC (P<0.01). The ADC value of the tumor was significantly increased in re-sponse group [(0.91±0.28) ×10-3 mm2/s before NAC and (1.01±0.32)×10-3 mm2/s after NAC, P<0.01)]. There was no signifi-cant correlation between ADC value change (△ADC) and the longest diameter change of ALN (△L, r=0.131, P=0.413). The sensitivity, specificity and Kappa value of ALN evaluation after NAC were 100%, 62.5%and 0.68 measured by MRI. Con-clusion The change of tumor longest diameter reflects the effect of chemotherapy directly. The tumor ADC value of MRI can not be used as an independent indicator of chemotherapy effect of ALN, eventhouth MRI was the sensitive index for eval-uating the status of axillary lymph node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.