OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes and determine the difference of electrode impedance and neural response telemetry ( NRT) value with cochlear implants in children with malformed inner ear and normal inner ear. METHOD: Eighty-eight children with multi-channel cochlear implants participated in this study. Children were divided into malformed inner ear group and normal inner ear group. To test the electrode impedance values and NRT value. RESULT: The changes of electrode impedance showed the similar changing pattern in two groups. There was not different in electrode impedance values between the two groups (P > 0.05). The changes of electrode neural response telemetry values showed the similar changing pattern in two groups. There was significantly different in electrode impedance values between the two groups (P < 0.05). The NRT were going up higher from electrode 22 to electrode 1. CONCLUSION The values vary are different programming sessions and electrodes during the first 3 months of cochlear implant use. To acquire better hearing frequent programming sessions are necessary.
Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Cochlear Nerve ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Electric Impedance ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Toad venom as a Chinese traditional natural medicine with a kind of effective chemical components has been widely used for many disease.Recently more and more research was focused on its remarkable antitumor efforts, new studies have found that the mechanism was closely associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress,tumor-related inflammation, autophagy, mitochondria-induced apoptosis pathway, heat chock protein and immuneomodulatory.In this article we reviewed the antitumor research advances of toad venom and its active compounds from several aspects mentioned above.

Extracorporeal shock wave treatment is capable of providing a non-surgical and effective treatment modality for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. The major objective of current works is to investigate how the shock wave (SW) field would change if a bony structure exists in the path of the acoustic wave. Firstly, a model of finite element method (FEM) was developed based on Comsol software in the present study. Then, high-speed photography experiments were performed to record cavitation bubbles with the presence of mimic bone. On the basis of comparing experimental with simulated results, the effectiveness of FEM model could be verified. Finally, the energy distribution during extracorporeal shock wave treatment was predicted. The results showed that the shock wave field was deflected with the presence of bony structure and varying deflection angles could be observed as the bone shifted up in the z-direction relative to shock wave geometric focus. Combining MRI/CT scans to FEM modeling is helpful for better standardizing the treatment dosage and optimizing treatment protocols in the clinic.
Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Models, Theoretical ; Osteoarthritis ; therapy ; Photography ; Software ; Sound

The present study was performed to investigate the relationship between the countercurrent of portal vein and intrahepatic cancerometastasis in patients with hepatic carcinoma under color Doppler flow imaging.To display the situation of portal carcinomatous thrombosis and intrahepatic cancerometastasis, two dimensional ultrasound was carried out in patients with hepatitis hepatocarcinoma and non hepatitis hepatocarcinoma. Also, color Doppler flow imaging was employed to examine the incidence of the pylic countercurrent and the portal vein hepatic artery fistula in four groups: hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group, non-hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group, hepatocirrhosis group and control group. The results showed that the incidences of portal carcinomatous thrombosis,intrahepatic cancerometastasis and the incidences of the countercurrent in portal vein were higher in hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group than those in non hepatitis hepatocarcinoma group ( P

The electrochemical behaviors of parathion(PT) on nano-Al2O3 film modified electrode(nano-Al2O3/GCE/CME) were investigated. It was found that the redox peak currents of PT remarkably increased and the oxidation peak potential negatively shifted at the nano-Al2O3/GCE/CME. All the experimental parameters were optimized and a simple and sensitive electroanalytical method was developed for the determination of PT. The oxidation peak current was linear with the concentration of PT over the range from 2.5×10-9 to 1.0×10-7 mol/L and 1.0×10-7 to 1.0×10-5 mol/L. A low detection limit of 1.0×10-9 mol/L was obtained for 30 s accumulation at open circuit(S/N=3). The relative standard deviation(n=10) was 3.8% for 1×10-5 mol/L PT. The proposed method was used for the quantitative analysis of PT in some vegetables and the results were satisfactory.

Both microRNA and DNA methylation are the important contents of epigenetic modification.Lots of studies have confirmed that mutual regulation of microRNA and DNA methylation involve in tumorgenesis and development of cancer.The studies of their mechanisms bring some new ideas for investigating the pathogenesis of tumors,and provide a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To explore the relationship between cholecystoadenomyomatosis and gallbladder cancer.Method The expression of p53,bcl-2,EGFR oncoproteins were examined by method of immunohistochemistry in benign lesions and carcinomas in gallbladder.Results The study revealed that overexpressions of p53,bcl-2,EGFR oncoproteins were detected in 0,4,3 cases of 21 patients with chronic cholecystitis;0,5,3 cases of 20 patients with cholecysto-adenomyomatosis and 16,14,11 cases of 25 patients with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder respectively.There were significantly differences in single or multiple oncogene expression rates among groups,but not in chronic cholecystitis to adenomyomatosis.Conclusions These results suggests that oncogenic changes of p53,bcl-2,EGFR expression may play a role in gallbladder oncogenesis,cholecystoadenomyomaltosis should not be considered as an important precancerous lesion of gallbladder.

The occurrence of malignant tunors is increasing annually around the world.In every year,8.2 million patients died of malignant tumors in which about 90％ patients died of malignant tumors associated multiple organs metastases.Inhibiting tumor metastasis is the key event to prolong the survival time of patients.With the further research,tumor-vessel associated extravascular tumor metastasis is playing an increasingly important role in the clinical application.This paper summarizes the new developments of tumor-vessel associated extravascular tumor metastasis to provide possible ideas for the therapy of malignant tumors.

Objective To detect the expression of the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBP-α) in the epidermis of psoriasis vulgaris lesions,and to investigate its correlation with abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and disease severity.Methods Biopsy specimens were obtained from the lesions of 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin of 30 healthy human controls.A two-step immunohistochemical procedure was performed to detect the expressions of C/EBP-αt and Ki-67 in these specimens,and Western blot to quantify the expression of C/EBP-α.The proliferation index of keratinocytes was calculated according to the expression intensity of Ki-67.Statistical analysis was carried out by using the SPSS 17.0 software,and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship of C/EBP-α expression level with proliferation index of keratinocytes and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score.Results C/EBP-α was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes,while Ki-67 in the nuclei of keratinocytes.Compared with the normal skin,the psoriatic lesions showed a significantly lower expression of Ki-67 (t =7.82,P ＜ 0.05),but higher proliferation index of keratinocytes (t =4.54,P ＜ 0.05).The expression level of C/EBP-α was negatively correlated with the proliferation index of keratinocytes and PASI score in the patients (both P ＜ 0.05).Western blot also showed an obvious decrease in the expression of C/EBP-α in psoriatic lesions.Conclusions The expression of C/EBP-α is decreased in lesions of psoriasis vulgaris,which might be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with cerebral tuberculosis.MethodsTen SLE patients with cerebral tuberculosis admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH) from January 1995 to October 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe median duration from onset of SLE to cerebral tuberculosis was 1.5 years(range from 0.6 to 30 years).All patients had received higher doses of steroid therapy (equal to prednisolone l mg· kg-1·d-1 ),and 3 of them had received methylprednisolone pulse therapy.Nine patients had taken immunosuppressant.When cerebral tuberculosis was diagnosed,the most common features were fever and headache,followed by nausea/vomiting and focal neurological signs.Nine patients were complicated with extra-cerebral infections.The cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) pressures was(247±66) cm H2O(range from 180 to 350 cm H2O),which was higher than normal.The mean CSF protein level was(1.4±0.7) g/L (0.15～0.45 g/L),which was normal or increased.Image examinations were helpful for the diagnosis of cerebral tuberculosis in SLE patients.Pointenhanced or ring-enhanced lesions were found in enhanced magnetic resonance imaging( MRI ) of brain in all patients who had donethis test (8 patients).After treated with targeted antibiotics and specific adjuvant therapies,the symptoms had relieved in 7 patients,however,I patient died,and 2 patients were lost during the follow-up.ConclusionWhen SLE patients with stable disease have unexplained fever,headache,and focal neurological signs,cerebral tuberculosis should be considered.Enhanced MRI of brain and chest X ray are helpful for the diagnosis of infectious cerebral lesions and should be performed promptly.Extracerebral tuberculosis infections can provide clues forthe identification of the causativeagents.Anti-tuberculosis treatment should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed,and early treatment can markedly improve the outcomes.