Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL),which is a common and frequently encountered disease,is considered to be a medical emergency in otolaryngology.The prevalence of SSHL is increasing in China.The pathogenesis of SSHL is not clear yet.Microcirculatory disorder of inner ear is considered as one of the most important causes of SSHL.In recent years,several reports have found the levels of serum lipids were changed in patients affected by SSHL.The relationship between SSHL and serum lipids was reviewed to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of SSHL.

ObjectiveTo inyestigate the effect of miRNA-155 expression on the differentiations and functions of CD4 + T lymphocyte in patients with unstable angina pectoris. MethodsTwenty-one patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) were enrolled in this study, and another 18 patients with normal coronary arteries evidenced by angiography were assigned as control group. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miRNA-155 in CD4 + T lymphocyte of the peripheral blood. And the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in serum were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CD4 + T lymphocyte were isolated from mononuclear cells prepared with Ficoll-Hypaque density-gradients centrifugation from human peripheral blood by magnetic cell sorting system. Then, the CD4 +T cells (2 × 106 cells/mL) were seeded in culture plates with 6 wells.The CD4 + T lymphocytes were divided into 3 groups in experiment: control group, miRNA-155 group, and miRNA-155 inhibitor group. The numbers of Th1 and Th2 cells were measured by flow cytometry analysis (FACS).The protein levels and expressions of IFN-γRα, T-bet, GATA-3 mRNA were measured by using western blotting and qRT-PCR, respectively. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 in culture supernatants of CD4 +T lymphocytes were detected by using ELISA. ResultsIn comparison with the control group, there was significant increase in the expression of miRNA-155 and serum level of IFN-γ in the UAP group (P ＜0. 01 ). There was a positive correlation between miRNA-155 and serum IFN-γ ( r =0. 842, P ＜ 0. 0l ).However, in vitro, the number of Th1, the protein level and expression of T-bet mRNA, and supernatant IFN-γ increased, and the protein level and expression of IFN-γRα protein decreased in miRNA-155 group in comparison with the control group (all P ＜0. 01 ). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the number of Th2 cells, the expressions of GATA-3mRNA and IFN-γRα mRNA, GATA-3 protein and supernatant IL-4 between control group and miRNA-155 group ( all P ＞ 0. 05 ). And the miRNA-155 inhibitor could attenuate the effect of miRNA-155 effectively. ConclusionsThe miRNA-155 can promote differentiations and improve the function of Thl, playing an important role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND:Cell transplantation can repair damaged myocardial tissue.However,whether transplaned cells and host cells formed an effective electricity and mechanical couple or whether reconstruction of connexin (Cx) and arrhythmia formed,are still unclear.OBJECTIVE:It is hypothesized that arrhythmia can be treated by changing Cx levels and intervening abnormal GJ channel.Moreover,to explore the effects of bone marrow mesenchyma stem cells (MSCs) on the expression of Cx43 and Cx45 in rata with myocardial infarction.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The randomized controlled animal study was performed at the Experimental Center,Guangxi Medical University from January 2008 to May 2009.MATERIALS:A total of 180 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal control,sham operation,myocardial infarction,and MSCs,with 45 animals in each group.Each group was then divided into 3 subgroups (n=15) according to 4 weeks,8 weeks and 12 weeks post-transplantation.Additional 20 healthy,Wistar rats,aged 1 month,were selected to harvest MSCs.METHODS:The third passage of MSCs was induced by 5-aza like cardiomyocytes for 4 weeks,labeled with DAPI at 2 hours before transplantation.Models of acute myocardial infarction were established in all groups except sham operation group.At day 7 after model preparation,2×10~(10) /L MSCs were infused into the edge and center of myocardial infarcted region by multipoint injection.Rats in the myocardial infarction group were subjected to an equal volume of saline as wall as those in the normal control and sham operation groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The mRNA expressions of Cx43,Cx45 were assayed by fluorescence quantitative PCR.RESULTS:The mRNA expression of Cx43 among each groups had no difference at weeks 4,8 and 12 after intervention in the normal areas.Compared to the normal areas,Cx43 mRNA reduced significantly at ischamic zone in the myocardial infarction group and MSCs group (P＜0.01),with notably increased of Cx45 mRNA expression (P＜0.01).Compared to myocardial infarction group,Cx43 mRNA expression was statistically higher in the MSCs group at the same points (P ＜ 0.01),and the Cx45 mRNA dramatically declined (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION:Acute myocardial infarction reduces the mRNA expression of Cx43 and increases the Cx45 mRNA expression.The exogenous cells transplantation can upturn the mRNA expression of Cx43 in the border-zone of the infarcted area,and down-regulate the Cx45 mRNA expression in the border-zone of the infarcted area.

Objective:To explore the effects of voriconazole on the proliferation and morphology of Acanthamoeba cultivated in vitro,and to clarify the killing effects of voriconazole against the trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba.Methods:The Acanthamoeba polyphaga at logarithmic phase were selected and divided into control group and experiment groups(2.5 and 25.0 mg·L-1).The Acanthamoeba in each group was collected at 24,48,72,and 96 h after drug administration,respectively.Then the concentrations of Acanthamoeba were calculated and the proliferation curves were drawn;inverted microscope was used to observe the morphology,activity and adherence of Acanthamoeba;the ultrastructures of Acanthamoeba were observed under electron microscope.Results:Compared with control group,the numbers of Acanthamoeba polyphaga in experiment groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The morphology of Acanthamoeba changed significantly under inverted microscope,and the shape of Acanthamoeba transformed from the trophozoites with irregular spiny filopodia to circular cysts.Even a large number of cell debris was observed.Different degrees of damage and even necrosis of Acanthamoeba in experiment groups were found under electron micro scope.Conclusion:Certain concentration of voriconazole can effectively inhibit the proliferation of Acanthamoeba and change the morphology and ultrastructure and kill the trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba cultivated in vitro.

Objective To understand the molecular epidemiology of penicillin resistance Streptococcus pneumonia (PNSP) isolated from children in Guangzhou area to provide the experimental basis for clinical prevention and control of Streptococcus pneumonia infectious diseases.Methods Specific primers were designed according to Genebank,penicillin binding protein(PBP) genes PBP1A,PBP1B,PBP2A,PBP2B,PBP2X,PBP3 were amplified by PCR.The sequencing analysis was performed.The PCR products were digested by Hinf I,and the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was analyzed.Results DNA of PNSP was successfully extracted,the PCR results showed that in 50 strains of PNSP,the positive rates of bacterial strains containing PBP1A,PBP1B,PBP2A,PBP2B,PBP2X and PBP3 were 48.9%,64.4%,71.1%,31.1%,40.0% and 31.1% respectively.The sequencing showed that their homologies with known sequences in GenBank were 99%,98%,100%,97%,95% and 100% respectively.Using RFLP in Hinf I showed that PBP1A,PBP1B,PBP2A and PBP3 only had one kind of genotype,PBP2B and PBP2X had two kinds of genotypes,the positive rates were 71.4%,28.6%,66.7% and 33.3% respectively.Conclusion The gene distribution of PNSP strains among children in Guangzhou is dominated by PBP2A,PBP1B and PBP1A,there are two subtypes in PBP2B,PBP2X when digested by Hinf I,in which the predominant subtype >65%.

This paper elaborated the research progress on transduction mechanisms of obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance (IR). The action mechanisms of kidney-tonifying, spleen-invigorating and phlegm-resolving in the treatment of obese PCOS and IR were explored. It provided new ideas for the treatment of obese PCOS patients in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) gynecology. Literatures on TCM theories and modern signal pathways were used in the analysis of spleen-kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness retention, which were the key pathogenesis of obese PCOS and IR. The scientific nature of treating obese PCOS and IR from the method of kidney-tonifying, spleen-invigorating and phlegm-resolving was demonstrated. The results showed that the scientific nature of treating obese PCOS and IR from the method of kidney-tonifying, spleen-invigorating and phlegm-resolving was initially demonstrated by the organic combination of TCM and modern medicine theories. It innovatively proposed that the treatment study strategy of transduction molecular mechanism took the interactive dialogue between PI-3K/Akt signal pathway and TNF-α signal pathway as its target. The regulatory role and action mechanism of this method in the treatment of obese PCOS and IR were discussed.

Objective To investigate the alterations of connexin 43 (Cx43) expression and its distribution at different stages of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats after transplantation of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).Methods Wistar rats were ligated on the left anterior descending coronary artery to make MI models.They were injected with allogenic MSCs,which were induced by 5-aza and labelled by DAPI,during the second operation after 7 days of MI.In subgroups,MSCs were detected by fluorescence microscope.Cx43 expression and GJ distribu-tion were examined by immunohistochemistry after 4,8 or 12 weeks respectively.Results MSCs differentiated into cardiac muscle cell-like cells which were capable of pulsing spontaneously,expressing cTnT and forming myofilament in vitro.Transplanted MSCs can survive in MI host and upregulate Cx43 expression and normalize Cx43 distribution at ischemic zones after 4,8 and 12w.No change of Cx43 was seen at infarcted zones.Conclusion MSCs have the plasticity of differentiating into cardiac muscle cell-like cells which can continuously upregulate Cx43 expression and normalize Cx43 distribution at ischemic zones after 4,8 and 12w.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical application of head impulse test with video recording eye movements in the diagnosis of vertigo. METHOD: The video head impulse test(vHIT) was used to measure the eye saccades and velocity gain in 95 patients with vertigo which were divided into two groups, peripheral vertigo (47 cases) and central vertigo(48 cases); the characteristics of eye saccades and velocity gain of six semicircular canals in different patients with vertigo were analyzed, and were compared between the two groups. RESULT: The vHIT result in patients with peripheral vertigo: in 22 patients (23 affected ears) with Meniere's disease, 21 ears were abnormal (91. 3%); the vHIT results in 4 patients with vestibular schwannoma, 2 patients with vestibular neuritis, 5 patients with delayed endolymphatic hydrops, 6 patients with sudden hearing loss accompanied vertigo, and 8 patients with vestibular dysfunction, were abnormal with correct saccades and/or lower velocity gain of vHIT. The abnormal vHIT results were also found in 35 of 48 patients (72. 9%) with central vertigo, which including posterior cerebral circulation ischemia(7 patients), cerebral infarction/stroke(6 patients), and dizziness with vertigo(17 patients) and others(18 patients). Abnormal rate of vHIT in patients with peripheral vertigo was 95. 7% (45/47), which was significantly higher than that (72. 9%) in patients with central vertigo. CONCLUSION It is easy to perform the vHIT which without adverse reactions. We can record high-frequency characteristics of vestibular-ocular reflex among six semicircular canals through vHIT. The vHIT results which show the function of vestibular ocular reflex in different diseases with vertigo, can help discriminate peripheral vertigo from central vertigo, and it is a practical assessment method for vertigo.
Dizziness ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; diagnosis ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; diagnosis ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Saccades ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo ; diagnosis ; Vestibular Neuronitis ; diagnosis ; Video Recording

OBJECTIVETo establish objectively biomechanical criteria for temporomandibular joint disc tissue engineerings.

METHODSEight temporomandibular joint discs from a four-month-old goat were separated completely. A cylindrical sample with diameter of 3 mm in the anterior, intermediate, and posterior bands was obtained, and the samples underwent pre-compression test with three cycles under a speed of 0.025 mm · s⁻¹. With the end condition for the maximum load of less than 4.9 N and 1.5 mm compression displacement, the formal compression test was performed with the same speed. Moreover, this test obtained the stress-strain relationship and elastic modulus of each disc band. Ultrastructure and collagen fiber orientation of the district zone were observed by scanning electron microscope and polarized light microscope.

RESULTS1) The physiological strain range of an articular disc was within 10%, and the quasilinear constitutive equation of articular disc tissues can be fitted with the polynomial function: y = ax + bx² + cx³. 2) The elastic modulus of the intermediate disc zone was the largest (P < 0.05). No significant difference existed between the anterior and posterior bands (P = 0.361). 3) Scanning electron microscope and polarized light microscope showed an annular disc collagen network structure, which was the internal part of the goat temporomandibular joint disc. The collagen arrangement of intermediate bands was tensely arranged anterior-posteriorly. The collagen of anterior and posterior bands went through mediolaterally with intersection of anterior-posterior branch fibersd.

CONCLUSIONAnnular collagen network structure is the basis for goat temporomandibular joint disc compression resistance properties. The intermediate band demonstrated higher compression resistance performance than the anterior and posterior bands.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of [11C]CFT PET in the diagnosis and severity assessment of Parkinson disease (PD). Methods Thirty-eight patients with PD at various Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stages were included and underwent a [11C]CFT PET scan. The correlation between [11C]CFT uptake and unified Parkinson disease rating scale part III (UPDRS III) of PD patients was evaluated by calculating Pearson’s regression coefficient. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis was performed to compare the difference of dopamine transporter (DAT) distribution between ear-ly and advanced PD patients. Results There was a significant reduction of [11C]CFT uptake in the bilateral striatum of PD patients. There was a significant negative correlation between clinical scores of UPDRS III, rigidity, bradykinesia, pos-ture, gait and [11C]CFT uptake in the striatum. The SPM analysis revealed a significant and asymmetric decrease of [11C] CFT uptake in the striatum, predominantly on the putamen and caudate nucleus contralateral to the onset limb, in the posterior area of ipsilateral putamen in early PD (H&Y 1-2) patients compared with the normal controls. There was a sig-nificant symmetric decrease of [11C]CFT uptake in both putamen and caudate nucleus in advanced PD (H&Y 3-5) pa- tients, compared with normal controls. Compared with early PD patients, the reduction of DAT was more severe in bilater-al caudate nucleus and the ipsilateral putamen in the advanced PD patients. Conclusions [11C]CFT PET is a sensitive biomarker in the diagnosis and assessment of disease severity of PD patients.