Objective To investigate the effects of posterior focus on the voice quality of hearing-impaired children.Methods A total of 15 cases of 3~6 years old hearing-impaired children with posterior focus and 20 cases of 3~6 years old without oral resonance disorders were included in this study.Fundamental frequency (F0), frequency standard deviation (F0SD), fundamental frequency perturbation (jitter), amplitude perturbation (shimmer) and normalized noise energy (NNE) on each group of children of /(ae)/ were extracted and analyzed by Dr.Voice.Results Hearing-impaired children with posterior focus problems mainly showed the voice disorder of the hyperthyroidism type.The abnormal rate of shimmer values was the highest of hearing-impaired children with posterior focus, followed by F0, jitter and F0SD,and the minimum was NNE.The average value of the voice parameters was greater than hearing-impaired children without oral resonance disorders.The jitter and shimmer of children with posterior focus showed significant differences (P<0.05) compared to the hearing-impaired children without oral resonance disorders.Conclusion Children with posterior focus have a high rate of voice disorders and mainly change the voice jitter and shimmer.

Objective To compare the oral resonance differences between normal children and children with spastic cerebral palsy,and to explore the oral resonance characteristics of children with spastic cerebral palsy.Meth-ods A total of 15 cases of preschool children with spastic cerebral palsy and 25 cases of normal preschool children were included in this study.The first and second formants on each group of children of Chinese vowels/a/,/i/,/u/core,were extracted and analyzed by Dr speech software.Results There were no significant difference of/a/F1,/a/F2,/u/F1 between two groups (P>0.05);/i/F1 and/u/F2 had a significant difference (P<0.05);/i/F2 had a high degree of statistical significance (P<0.01).Conclusion Children with spastic cerebral palsy are prone to oral resonance while most oral resonance disorder of children with cerebral palsy is post focusing and mixed oral res-onance disorder;/i/F2 and/u/F2 can provide a meaningful reference for speech and oral resonance disorders evalua-tion of children with cerebral palsy.

Background and purpose: Postoperative chemotherapy targets the metastatic cancer in the remaining lymph nodes, but the heterogeneity in multidrug resistance (MDR) of metastatic cancer cells is a main factor affecting chemotherapeutic efficacy. Recent studies only examined the primary lesion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). There is no report about heterogeneity between the primary tumor and metastases lymph node. The purpose of this study was to explore the heterogenous expression and clinical signiifcance of multidrug resistance (MDR) associated proteins in primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes in patients with thoracic ESCC. Methods:The expressions of lung cancer associated resistance protein (LRP), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), topoisomeraseⅡ(TOPO-Ⅱ), thymidylate synthase (TS), glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π) were examined by immunohistochemistry in primary lesions and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes in 54 patients with thoracic ESCC. The differences between expression of primary lesions and matched metastatic lymph nodes were compared and analyzed in relationship with tissue differentiation degree. Results: The discordant rates of the expression and drug resistance between primary lesions and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes in LRP, P-gp, TS, TOPO-Ⅱ and GST-π were 63.0% and 26.9%, 42.6%and 22.2%, 48.1%and 25.9%, 50.0%and 29.6%, 18.5%and 1.9%respectively. The expression of LRP showed signiifcant difference between the primary tumors and lymph nodes (P=0.026). No signiifcant differences were found for the other four proteins, and GST-πwas expressed in all patients in both the primary tumors and lymph nodes. Protein expression was not associated with degree of differentiation. Conclusion:There is evident of heterogenous expression of MDR associated proteins in metastatic lymph nodes compared to the primary tumors of ESCC. The examination of expression levels of MDR associated proteins in metastatic lymph nodes is helpful to select the postoperative rational chemotherapy plan.

Objective To investigate the association of HLA-DRB31*03,*04 and *11 alleles with alopecia areata(AA)in Han Nationality in East China.Methods Polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCR-SSP)method was conducted in 158 Chinese Han patients with AA as well as in 172 healthy human controls in East China.The relationships of HLA-DRB1 polymorphism to age of onset,episode frequency,clinical course,family history,and severity of AA were evaluated.Results No significant differences were observed for the frequency of HLA DRB1*03,*11 alleles between the patients and human controls,while increased frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 was observed in patients(OR=1.99,Pc=0.01).Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that HLA-DRB1*04 was more prevalent in patients with an onset after 16 years of age(OR=1.94,Pc=0.02),those without family history(OR=1.97,Pc=0.02),those with recurrent AA(OR=2.49,Pc=0.02),those with a clinical course of more than 1 year(OR=2.94,Pc=0.01),those with severe AA(OR=3.53,Pc=0.00)and tbose with single episode of AA(OR=1.83,Pc=0.04)in comparison with the normal human controls.Conclusion This study demonstrates that HLA-DRB1*04 allele is associated with the occurrence and clinical types of AA in Han Nationality in East China.

OBJECTIVETo compare thoracoscopic esophagectomy with traditional esophagectomy in radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer, and to explore the feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic mediastinal lymphadenectomy for esophagectomy.

METHODSClinical data associated with perioperation and mediastinal lymph nodes clearance of 304 patients undergoing radical operation of esophageal cancer via left neck-right chest-upper abdomen in our department from June 2009 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 304 cases, 199 received traditional open radical resection and 105 thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The intrathoracic mediastinal lymph node metastasis rate, extent of metastasis, time of operation, blood loss and complications between two groups were compared.

RESULTSAll the 304 cases completed their operations successfully. A total of 3724 mediastinal lymph nodes were removed, mean 12.3±7.0 per case, including 1065 in thoracoscopic group, mean 10.1±5.5 per case, and 2659 in open group, mean 13.3±7.5 per case, whose difference was significant. But further analysis according to the postoperative pathologic staging showed no significant difference of above lymph nodes removed between two groups. Mediastinal lymph node metastasis was found in 126 patients with a rate of 41.4%, which was 35.6% and 44.7% in thoracoscopic and open groups respectively without significant difference(P>0.05). The left laryngeal recurrent nerve lymph node metastasis rate in open group and thoracoscopic group was 16.1% and 6.7% respectively, and the difference was significant(P<0.05). Differences of lymph node metastasis rate in other regions were not significant between the two groups. There were 365 positive lymph nodes, and the lymph node metastasis degree was 9.8%. which was 8.2% and 10.5% in thoracoscopic group and open group respectively(P<0.05), besides metastasis degree of open group was much higher in right laryngeal recurrent nerve and subcarinal lymph node region. The overall complication rate was 36.8%, which was 28.6% in thoracoscopic group and 41.2% in open group respectively with significant difference(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in operative time and blood loss between the two groups(both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONRadical mediastinal lymphadenectomy with thoracoscopic esophagectomy is technically safe and feasible for early to moderate stage esophageal cancer with similar lymph nodes removed and lower complication morbidity. In the early period of carrying out thoracoscopic radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy, laryngeal recurrent nerve and subcarinal lymph node region should be identified to prevent incidental injury.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Mediastinum ; pathology ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of lung cancer in the elder increases gradually recently, and lung cancer has become the main cause of cancer-related death. The aim of this study is to analyse the operative indication, complication, perioperative management and surgical measures, results and specificity for lung cancer in the elderly patients.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-seven elderly patients with lung can-cer, aged from 70 to 83 years old with mean age of 74 were analysed. Of the 137 cases, 13 patients were in the stage I, 76 in stage II, 48 in stage III. Surgical procedures included pneumonectomy for 4 patients, lobectomy for 122 patients, segmentectomy and wedge resection for 7 patients, sleeve lobectomy for 19 patients, bronchoplastic procedure and pulmonary artery reconstruction for 2 patients. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed in 13 cases for segmentectomy and wedge excision

RESULTSThere was no operative death. The resection rate was 97.1%, and postoperative complication rate was 29.9%. The follow-up rate was 88.3% . The 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rate was 62%, 35%, 28% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSElderly patients with lung cancer can obtain good therapeutic results and prognosis undergoing surgical therapy, but the operative indications will be limited. Exquisite surgical technique and application of respirator after operation may expand the operative indications.

Objective To compare thoracoscopic esophagectomy with traditional esophagectomy in radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer , and to explore the feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic mediastinal lymphadenectomy for esophagectomy. Methods Clinical data associated with perioperation and mediastinal lymph nodes clearance of 304 patients undergoing radical operation of esophageal cancer via left neck-right chest-upper abdomen in our department from June 2009 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 304 cases, 199 received traditional open radical resection and 105 thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The intrathoracic mediastinal lymph node metastasis rate , extent of metastasis, time of operation, blood loss and complications between two groups were compared. Results All the 304 cases completed their operations successfully. A total of 3724 mediastinal lymph nodes were removed, mean 12.3±7.0 per case, including 1065 in thoracoscopic group, mean 10.1±5.5 per case, and 2659 in open group, mean 13.3 ±7.5 per case, whose difference was significant. But further analysis according to the postoperative pathologic staging showed no significant difference of above lymph nodes removed between two groups. Mediastinal lymph node metastasis was found in 126 patients with a rate of 41.4%, which was 35.6% and 44.7% in thoracoscopic and open groups respectively without significant difference (P>0.05). The left laryngeal recurrent nerve lymph node metastasis rate in open group and thoracoscopic group was 16.1% and 6.7% respectively , and the difference was significant (P<0.05). Differences of lymph node metastasis rate in other regions were not significant between the two groups. There were 365 positive lymph nodes , and the lymph node metastasis degree was 9.8%. which was 8.2% and 10.5% in thoracoscopic group and open group respectively (P<0.05), besides metastasis degree of open group was much higher in right laryngeal recurrent nerve and subcarinal lymph node region. The overall complication rate was 36.8%, which was 28.6% in thoracoscopic group and 41.2% in open group respectively with significant difference (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in operative time and blood loss between the two groups (both P>0.05). Conclusion Radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy with thoracoscopic esophagectomy is technically safe and feasible for early to moderate stage esophageal cancer with similar lymph nodes removed and lower complication morbidity. In the early period of carrying out thoracoscopic radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy, laryngeal recurrent nerve and subcarinal lymph node region should be identified to prevent incidental injury.

Objective To compare thoracoscopic esophagectomy with traditional esophagectomy in radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer , and to explore the feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic mediastinal lymphadenectomy for esophagectomy. Methods Clinical data associated with perioperation and mediastinal lymph nodes clearance of 304 patients undergoing radical operation of esophageal cancer via left neck-right chest-upper abdomen in our department from June 2009 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 304 cases, 199 received traditional open radical resection and 105 thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The intrathoracic mediastinal lymph node metastasis rate , extent of metastasis, time of operation, blood loss and complications between two groups were compared. Results All the 304 cases completed their operations successfully. A total of 3724 mediastinal lymph nodes were removed, mean 12.3±7.0 per case, including 1065 in thoracoscopic group, mean 10.1±5.5 per case, and 2659 in open group, mean 13.3 ±7.5 per case, whose difference was significant. But further analysis according to the postoperative pathologic staging showed no significant difference of above lymph nodes removed between two groups. Mediastinal lymph node metastasis was found in 126 patients with a rate of 41.4%, which was 35.6% and 44.7% in thoracoscopic and open groups respectively without significant difference (P>0.05). The left laryngeal recurrent nerve lymph node metastasis rate in open group and thoracoscopic group was 16.1% and 6.7% respectively , and the difference was significant (P<0.05). Differences of lymph node metastasis rate in other regions were not significant between the two groups. There were 365 positive lymph nodes , and the lymph node metastasis degree was 9.8%. which was 8.2% and 10.5% in thoracoscopic group and open group respectively (P<0.05), besides metastasis degree of open group was much higher in right laryngeal recurrent nerve and subcarinal lymph node region. The overall complication rate was 36.8%, which was 28.6% in thoracoscopic group and 41.2% in open group respectively with significant difference (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in operative time and blood loss between the two groups (both P>0.05). Conclusion Radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy with thoracoscopic esophagectomy is technically safe and feasible for early to moderate stage esophageal cancer with similar lymph nodes removed and lower complication morbidity. In the early period of carrying out thoracoscopic radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy, laryngeal recurrent nerve and subcarinal lymph node region should be identified to prevent incidental injury.

Objective To study the characteristics of spontaneous speech pauses in individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods A total of 20 patients with AD,exhibiting a Minimum Mental State Examination(MMSE)score ranging from 10 to 20 and a disease duration of 6 months to 5 years,were selected for the AD group.Twenty five cognitively normal and mentally healthy participants were chosen as the control group.Spontaneous speech was elicited from each participant,and 1-minute continuous audio recordings were used to tally pause counts categorized by duration into short pauses(0.25 s≤t＜0.50 s),medium pauses(0.50 s≤t＜0.90 s),long pauses(0.90 s≤t＜2.00 s),and silences(＞2.00 s).Mean values of each pause type were computed for in-ter-group and intra-group comparisons.Correlation and regression analyses between MMSE scores and pause counts were conducted within the AD group.Results Significant statistical differences were observed between the AD and control groups concerning the counts of short pauses,long pauses,and silences(P＜0.05).Within the AD group,significant differences were found in the counts of short pauses versus medium pauses and short pauses versus long pauses(P＜0.05).In the AD group,the count of medium pauses positively predicted MMSE scores(β=0.515,P＜0.05),whereas the count of silences negatively predicted MMSE scores(β=-0.626,P＜0.01).Conclusion Individuals with AD exhibit a higher frequency of longer duration pauses in spontaneous speech and a lower frequen-cy of shorter duration pauses.Higher cognitive functioning in AD patients is associated with increased occurrences of shorter pauses,whereas lower cognitive functioning is linked to more extended pauses.

This paper presents a design of multifunctional portable automated external defibrillator based on STM32F103VC SCM. The defibrillator mainly realizes the defibrillation and ECG analysis function, and according to the clinical actual need, increases information storage and transmission function, query of local records, the function of synchronous LCD display and voice prompt in the defibrillation process. The device uses the defibrillating electrodes to measure body resistance, ECG and so on. We detailedly researched and achieved the discharge module of biphasic defibrillation apparatus based on the damping of two order discharge circuit, and finished the real-time LCD display and voice prompt modules of defibrillation information based on the control of PIC24FJ256DA210 chip.
Automation ; Defibrillators ; Electric Countershock ; Electrodes ; Equipment Design