Objective To observe and measure the facial nerve canal(FNC) in curved planar reformation by multislice spiral CT.Methods High resolution computed tomography (HRCT)of temporal bone was performed in 40 cases (80 ears) by multislice spiral CT. Curved planar reformation of FNC was performed separately in axial, coronal and sagittal plane of multiplanar reconstruction. The morphology and measurement of FNC were studied.Results The mean length of FNC was (29.73?1.07)mm. The mean length of the labyrinthine, tympanic and mastoid segment was (5.6?0.74)mm, (10.66?0.79)mm and (13.47?1.01)mm respectively. The mean diameter of the l-abyrinthine, geniculate fossa, tympanic and mastoid segment was (0.76?0.16)mm, (2.37?0.63)mm, (1.03?0.16)mm and (1.57?0.31)mm respectively. The mean angle of first and second genu was 67.04??9.41? and 114.25??8.44? respectively. The distance between the tympanic segment and ampulla of the lateral semicircular canal was (0.57?0.19)mm. The distance between the tympanic segment and arch of the lateral semicircular canal was (1.59?0.61)mm. The mean angle between the tympanic segment of the facial nerve canal and the lateral semicircular canal was 10.63??3.60?. The tympanic course of the facial nerve canal formed an angle of 34.65??5.39? with the sagittal plane. Dehiscences was found in 89% FNC, 73.7% of them only located in the tympanic portion and 26.3% both in the mastoid and tympanic portions. Conclusion Curved planar reformation of FNC by multislice spiral CT is the good method to study the anatomy of FNC,and in combination with HRCT axial scan and multiplanar reconstrution can obtain more valuable information.

Exhalation ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Nose

BACKGROUND:The main component of cartilage, type Ⅱ col agen gene expression in chondrocyte is positively correlated with SOX9 concentration in a dose-dependent manner.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the variation of SOX9 and type Ⅱ col agen mRNA content at different periods in the differentiation process (osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic induction) of mesenchymal stem cel s, and to explore the correlation of SOX9 expression and type Ⅱ col agen.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s were isolated from 4-week-old Kunming mice, and cultured in vitro to passage 3. The cel phenotype was identified with flow cytometry. Cel s were divided into three groups and subjected to three kinds of induction conditions favorable for adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation, and each group was observed at three time points. In addition, the non-induced cel s were used as a control group. The total RNA of cel s was extracted at 3, 7, 14 days after induction, and SOX9 and type Ⅱ col agen mRNA was quantified with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The induced cel s were stained by immunofluorescence to observe the differentiation and perform statistical analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s grew wel , and cel phenotype was confirmed as stem cel s by flow cytometry. The staining results showed that, the cel s differentiated into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts. The SOX9 mRNA levels in the induced cel s were the highest in chondrogenic differentiation group, then in osteogenic differentiation group, and the lowest in adipogenic differentiation group. Type Ⅱ col agen mRNA levels in the induced cel s were the highest in chondrogenic differentiation group, then in adipogenic differentiation group, and the lowest in osteogenic differentiation group. SOX9 expression in chondrogenic differentiation group increased at 3 and 7 days, and then decreased at 14 days. While type Ⅱ col agen expression increased at 3, 7, 14 days. SOX9 mRNA levels increased as the osteogenic differentiation, while type Ⅱ col agen expression gradual y decreased. There was no significant difference in the SOX9 mRNA expression between adipogenic differentiation group and control group (P>0.05), while type Ⅱ col agen expression was not regularly changed. Experimental findings suggest that, critical effect of SOX9 in chondrogenic differentiation is better than that in osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. SOX9 is associated with type Ⅱcol agen, which may alter along with the SOX9 in the early chondrogenic differentiation;SOX9 may play a fine-tuning role in the process of chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation.

AIM: Humanized-NOD/SCID(hu-NOD/SCID) mouse model was established and the level of immune reconstitution was assessed in this model. METHODS: Mononuclear cells (MNC) and CD34+ cells were isolated or sorted from cord blood(CB). Human CD45, CD19, CD3 markers on cells from NOD/SCID murine peripheral blood(PB), bone marrow(BM), thymus were detected by FCM from 4 to 10 weeks after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. After 10 weeks, the gene expressions of the human ?2M and RAG2 were detected by RT-PCR in PB or bone marrow of mice model. RESULTS: Human CD45, CD19, CD3 cells populations in PB and BM were found by flow cytometry in mice model transplanted with CD34+ cells or CB MNC from 4 to 10 weeks. The highest positivity of human lymphocytes was at 8 week after transplantation. The levels of human cell engraftment in mice transplanted with CD34+ cells were higher than those in mice transplanted with CB MNC. The mRNA of human ?2M and RAG2 were found by RT-PCR in BM.CONCLUSION: The higher level of human lymphocyte engraftment is established in NOD/SCID mouse model transplanted with CD34+ compared with CB MNC. The maturation of T lymphocytes could be happened in bone marrow of mice model.

Objective To observe the effect of the three active ingredients of a Chinese traditional medicine compound named Kang Fu Ling( KFL) against PC12 cells oxidative damage induced by microwave radiation.Methods PC12 cells were differentiated into neuros induced by nerve growth factor ( NGF ) .PC12 cells were incubated for 48 hours after astragalosides,total paeony glycoside and tanshinones were added at different concentrations (1, 3, or 9 μg/ml) .The cells in the control group were cultivated with the only medium of the same volume.Then, cells were irradiated with 30 mW/cm2 microwave for 6 minutes.The morphology of PC12 cells was observed under an inverted microscope soon before and after irradiation and the cell viability was measured by methylthiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) colorimetry.Reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) was determined using active oxygen probe 2′, 7′-dichlorodihyarofluolescen diacetde ( DCFH-DA ) while malonyldialdehyde(MDA) was measured in the homogenate of PC12 cells through thiobarbituric acid ( TBA) reactive substance assay.Results The cell morphology of each group showed no obvious difference.6 h after irradiation, the viability of irradiation control group measured by MTT declined apparently(P<0.01)compared with the normal control group.The 3 μg/ml astragalosides treatment group increased the viability of PC12 cells after microwave exposure ( P <0.01).The contents of ROS and MDA were increased after irradiation(P<0.01).However, in the three active ingredients of Kang Fu Ling treatment groups, both ROS and MDA were much lower than in irradiation control group.Conclusion Astragalosides, total paeony glycoside and tanshinones, which are the three active ingredients of Kang Fu Ling, all have protective effect against PC12 cell injury caused by microwave radiation,possibly by scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress injury.

[Summary] A total of 128 individuals with type 2 diabetes underwent continuous glucose monitoring for 3 consecutive days.The dawn phenomenon was defined by three different parameters according to the previous research:(1)the absolute increase of glucose level from nocturnal nadir to prebreakfast value(?G) above 20 mg/dl;(2)?G above 10 mg/dl;( 3 ) insulin requirement increased at least 20%.The participants were secondarily separated by presence/absence of a dawn phenomenon based on the definitions above.The impact on blood glucose fluctuation of different groups was assessed according to the standard deviation of blood glucose( SDBG) , the area under curve above 10 mmol/L ( AUC ) , and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions ( MAGE ) , etc.The frequencies of dawn phenomenon were 64.8%(?G≥20mg/dl), 85.2%(?G≥10 mg/dl), and 59.4%(rise in insulin requirement≥20%)respectively.The impacts on SDBG, AUC, MAGE, and MODD were without statistical difference(P>0.05) between the presence and absence of the dawn phenomenon patients when?G≥10 mg/dl.However, the differences reached statistical significance(P<0.05) when ?G≥20 mg/dl and the increase in insulin requirement≥20%. Besides, the incidence of dawn phenomenon was positively correlated with HOMA-IR, HbA1C , and free C-peptide.Dawn phenomenon is a very frequent event in type 2 diabetes and not only impacts the overall glycemic control but also exaggerates glucose fluctuation.To be clinically relevant, ?G≥20mg/dl should be taken as the quantitative criterion of the dawn phenomenon.

OBJECTIVETo explore a step-by-step exclusive diagnosis and analyze the clinical characters of non-allergic rhinitis (NAR).

METHODSPatients with symptoms (nasal itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion) were selected to take four-step exclusive diagnosis for NAR and we tried to eliminate the false NAR and retain the true NAR. First step was to exclude the patients who were not suitable for skin prick test (SPT, such as during pregnancy, breastfeeding, asthma, oral antihistamine medication in 7 day, severe skin diseases). The second step was to exclude the patients with positive SPT and the third step was to exclude the patients with 1 level or above of specific sero-immunoglobulin E (sIgE). The fourth step was to exclude the patients with infection rhinitis, clear abnormal nasal structure, drug-induced rhinitis, nasal neoplasm. The remained patients were finally diagnosed as NAR and who were further differential diagnosed as vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) or non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) according to the eosinophilia counts in nasal secretion and venous blood. The common characters of patients with NAR were analyzed and their symptoms and quality of life were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and rhino-conjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) separately.

RESULTSOne thousand four hundred and thirty-seven patients were included after first step exclusion and 735 cases with negative SPT were remained after second step exclusion. Of 735 patients, 302 were tested in vitro for sIgE and 93 cases with 0 level of sIgE and total IgE were remained after third step exclusion. Sixty-two patients were finally diagnosed as NAR after fourth step exclusion. The NAR diagnosis rate was 51.15% (735/1 437) with negative SPT alone and the NAR diagnosis rate was 29.06% (93/302) with combination of negative SPT and sIgE. Of 62 patients with NAR, 47 patients (75.81%) were diagnosed as VMR and 15 cases (24.19%) as NARES. There were 23 males and 39 females in the 62 patients aged 11 - 77 years. The history was 11-47 months. The biggest numbers of patients with VMR or NARES were among 41-50 years. Their onset ages were among 21-30 years in both two groups. VAS scores of nasal congestion in VMR patients were the highest with significant difference among nasal symptoms (F = 3.958 0, P = 0.009 1). VAS scores of sneezing in NARES patients were the highest but without significant difference among nasal symptoms. There were no difference in seven domain scores of RQLQ and the total mean scores between VMR group and NARES group but the nasal symptoms got the highest scores with significant difference among the seven domains in each group (VMR group, F = 9.771 2, P = 0.000 0;NRAES group, F = 3.226 9, P = 0.006 2).

CONCLUSIONSSPT combined with sIgE may exclude much more patients with AR. Females with NAR are much more than males. Patients with NAR aged 21-30 years. The characters of NAR are helpful to improve our knowledge about NAR. VAS and RQLQ may be a suitable tool in assessment of NAR.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis ; diagnosis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; diagnosis ; Rhinitis, Vasomotor ; diagnosis ; Skin Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of spectinomycin?minocycline?azithromycin and sparfloxacin to mycoplasma(Uu and Mh)and therapeutic effect of spectinomycin to my-coplasma infection in genitourinary tract.Methods①The susceptibility test:each of the4drugs was divided into two concentrations.One was at1?g/mL(sensitive concentration)and the other was at4?g/mL(resistant concentration).If mycoplasma does not grow in both concentrations,it means the drug tested is sensitive.If it grows in both concentrations,the drug tested is resistant.If mycoplasma grows in lower concentration and does not in higher concentration,it means moderate sensitive.②Treatment regimen:Spectinomycin was injected,2g/d IM,for7-10days as a course of treatmeant.Patients were followed-up7days later and2~4weeks after treatment.Results①Among1658specimens,519were found Uu positive,and61Mh positive.The resis-tance rates of Uu to4different drugs were:7.7%for minocycline,21.4%for sparfloxacin,13.9%for azithromycin and7.3%for spectinomycin.Whereas,those of Mh were:18.0%,45.9%,54.1%,and29.5%re-spectively.②The clinical effect of spectinomycin was:out of43treated patients,37(86.0%)cured,4(9.3%)markedly improved,2(4.7%)failed.Total effective rate was95.3%and so was the elimination rate of my-coplasma.Conclusion The resistant rate of mycoplasma to spectinomycin is lower than that to minocycline?azithromycin and sparfloxacin,and the former is widely used in the treatment of mycoplasma(especially Uu)infection,with a satisfactory clinical effect.

OBJECTIVE: To study the early gene diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) induced severe nosebleed. METHOD: Clinical features of 23 family members in two HHT pedigrees were examined. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. PCR amplification was conducted to screen ENG and ACVRL-1 genes with their specific primers. Direct sequencing was performed to detect the mutation. Mutation analysis was carried out to evaluate its significance. RESULT: A heterozygous c. 263A > G mutation was identified in exon 3 of ACVRL-1 in 6 out of 11 members in NMG-1 pedigree. In GD-2 pedigree, 5 of 11 members carried c. 199C > G mutation. Mutation detection rate was 100% in subjects with nosebleed history and 25% in family members without epistaxis. CONCLUSION Gene diagnosis characterized by high sensitivity and specificity is of great practi-cal significance and early genetic screening should be a clinical routine test for HHT induced severe nosebleed.
Activin Receptors, Type II ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Endoglin ; Epistaxis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Young Adult

Objective To find out the differences in regional characteristics of heat vulnerability between people living in urban centers and urban-fringe areas of Jinan city so as to provide basis for the development of adaptation measures to heat. Methods A cross-sectional survey on heat vulnerability was conducted in urban center and urban-fringe areas of Jinan city,using a self-designed questionnaire among 801 residents at the age of 16 years or older in August 2013. Data of 23 indicators related to heat vulnerability were collected and aggregated to 7 dimensions:health and medical insurance,social networks,heat perception and adaptive behavior,economic status,resources, living environment and working environment. An index score was calculated using a balanced weighted average approach for each dimension,ranging from 0 to 1,with the closer to 1 as greater vulnerability. Results The scores on heat perception and adaptive behavior,economic status, resources and working environment dimensions for urban-fringe areas were 0.42,0.63,0.55 and 0.62, statistically significantly higher than the urban center area of 0.41,0.51,0.26 and 0.41. Scores of living environment,social networks and health/medical insurance dimensions for urban center area were 0.57,0.49 and 0.31,which were all higher than the urban-fringe areas of 0.50,0.46 and 0.25, with differences statistically significant. Conclusion Residents living in the urban center might be more vulnerable to heat in terms of living environment,health/medical insurance and social networks while residents living in the urban-fringe areas might more be vulnerable in terms of heat perception and adaptive behavior,economic status,life resources and working environment. These facts indicated that heat vulnerability among residents could be quite different,even at a fine geographic sale. We would thus suggest that intervention strategies on protecting people from heat,should be more targeted.