Aged ; Ear, Middle ; Eustachian Tube ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans

Objective To explore the relationship between distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test and pure tone audiometry (PTA), and the application of DPOAE test in occupational health inspection of noise-exposed work. Methods Using the judgment sampling method, 510 noise-exposed workers in an automobile engine factory were selected as the observation group. The observation group was divided into 5 subgroups according to the characteristics of PTA threshold and frequency of hearing loss. Another 50 non-noise-exposed workers in the factory were selected as the control group. DPOAE and PTA were used to detect the pure tone hearing threshold and DPOAE amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio and pass rate of each frequency in the two groups of workers. Results At 0.5-6.0 kHz, the pure tone hearing threshold value of each subgroup was higher than the control group (all P<0.05). At 3.0-6.0 kHz, the DPOAE amplitude and signal-to noise ratio of each subgroup were lower than that of the control group (all P<0.05). At 1.5 kHz, the pass rate of DPOAE in subgroup 1, subgroup 2 and subgroup 3 were higher than the control group (all P<0.05). At 2.0-6.0 kHz, the pass rate of DPOAE in subgroup 4 and subgroup 5 were lower than the control group (all P<0.05). The area receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the observation subgroups and control group were 0.71-1.00 by the PTA. The AUC values of the observation subgroups and control group were 0.57-0.97 by DPOAE. The AUC value in subgroup 5 and control group had a significant difference between the two examination methods (P< 0.01); while the subgroup 1, subgroup 2, subgroup 3, subgroup 4 and control group were no significant differences respectively (all P>0.05). Conclusion DPOAE is easy to operate and can objectively reflect the hearing level of workers exposed to noise. It can be used as a supplementary means of PTA and applied to occupational health examination and hearing monitoring screening.

Background and purpose: Peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer is mainly discovered in the ad-vanced cancer. Nonetheless, the clinical applicability of each tumor biomarker in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer is still ambiguous. Therefore, this study investigated the diagnostic value and clinical significance of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 in gastric carcinoma patients with peritoneal metastases. Methods: A total of 108 gastric carcinoma patients with peritoneal metastases from Jan. 2008 to Dec. 2013 were studied. All patients were diagnosed by imaging, operations and pathological examination, and also received intravenous or intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Serum tumor markers such as CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 were determined during diagnosis and before each chemotherapy. The diagnostic sensitivity of single marker and combined detection with 2 or 3 markers were analyzed. The correlations among the serum tumor markers and clinical pathological factors, chemotherapeutic effects and survival time were analyzed. Results: Positive rates of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 were 20.4%, 46.3% and 45.4% in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastases, respectively. For these patients, the positive rates of CEA/CA125, CEA/CA72-4, CA125/CA72-4 and CEA/CA125/CA72-4 were 54.7%, 52.8%, 69.5% and 79.6%, respectively. The combined detection of 3 tumor markers was much better than single marker detection (P<0.05). Positive rates of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 were correlated with the ECOG scale (P<0.05). Positive rate of CA125 was associated with ascites (P<0.001), while positive rate of CA72-4 was associated with ovarian metastasis (P<0.05). Median survival time of patients with positive rates of CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 was significantly lower than that of the patients with normal levels of these markers (P<0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, the levels of all three tumor markers significantly declined after three cycles of chemo-therapy (P<0.05). The decline in CA125 level after chemotherapy was significantly correlated with decreased amount of ascites (P<0.05). The tumor markers turned negative after 3 cycles chemotherapy in patients with positive markers upon initial diagnosis, their survival was significantly prolonged (P<0.001). Conclusion: Combined detection of serum CEA, CA125 and CA72-4 can significantly promote diagnostic rate of gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis, and may be helpful in evaluating chemotherapeutic effects and predicting prognosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the endoscopic and clinical characteristics of gastrointestinal Behcet's disease (BD). MethodsWe analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 27 patients with gastrointestinal BD retrospectively.Results Most common locations involved were esophagus and ileocecum,74. 1％ (20/27) and 59. 3％ (16/27), respectively. The most common parenteral symptoms were oral ulcers (85.2％), genital ulcers (25.9％), ophthalmitis (7. 4％ ) and skin damage (7. 4％ ). The most common gastrointestinal symptom was chest pain (48. 1％, 13/27). Ulcer was the basic endoscopic feature,most of which were with uneven bottom and peripheral inflammatory response. There was no difference in endoscopic features between typical BD and atypical BD. Pathology showed typical small vasculitis (44. 4％,12/27). ConclusionClinical manifestations of intestinal BD vary. Symptoms are not necessarily consistent with the involved locations. A small number of patients with BD present with gastrointestinal symptoms as the first and only symptom, with serious complications in some patients. Physicians need to be fully aware of the disease.

Objective To study the relationship between the stenosis content of carotid artery and the degree of homocysteine (Hcy) by analyzing the level changes of Hcy in ischemic stroke patients.Methods One hundred and thirty patients of carotid artery stenosis with ischemic stroke were divided into four groups based on the degrees of carotid artery stenosis determined by ultrasound Doppler flow imaging:the slight stenosis group (32patients),the moderate group (35 patients),the severe group (33 patients) and the total occlusion group (30 patients).Meanwhile,30 healthy people were chosen as the control group.The levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy),total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of each group were measured,and the results were compared with those of the control group.Results It was found that the serum Hcy level in ischemic stroke group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05),whereas the variations ofTC,TG,HDL and LDL levels between the ischemic stroke group and the control group could be neglected (P＞0.05).An obviously increased order of serum Hcy levels was observed as the following,the control group,the slight stenosis group,the moderate group,the severe group as well as the total occlusion group.The difference between every two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The level of serum Hcy was positive correlated to the content of carotid artery stenosis (r=0.835,P＜0.05).However,no correlation was found between the carotid artery stenosis and each level of TC,TG and LDL (r=0.031,0.012,0.018,respectively,P＞0.05).Conclusions The serum Hcy level is closely related to the degree of carotid artery stenosis,and high level Hcy is suggested to be one of major risk factors for ischemic stroke.

Objective To explore the technique and the clinical value of Neuroform stents in combination with Guglielmi detachable coil(GDC) to treat wide-necked basilar artery aneurysms.Methods 30 cases with wide-necked basilar artery aneurysms were treated with Neuroform stent combined with GDC.Of 30 wide-necked basilar artery aneurysms,the location of lesions was at basilar tip in 16,basilar trunk in 9 and the beginning of the basilar in 5.Results In 30 cases,total occlusion was achieved in 25 and partial occlusion in 5 patients.The thrombosis within stent occurred in 2 patinets,and remainder of patients recovered well.There were no thromboembolic events in 20 cases followed up for 3~6 months.Twenty-two patients were angiographically followed up for 3 months after the procedure,among them,the aneurysms visualized and the arteriae burdened aneurysms were passed free in densely packed and 3 aneurysms with neck remnant.Conclusion The Neuroform stent is a easy and safe intracranial stent for embo1ization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms,especially suitable for wide-necked basilar artery aneurysms with severely tortuous intracranial artery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent of endolymphatic hydrops as shown by three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D FLAIR MRI) performed 24 hours after bilateral intratympanic gadolinium administration and discuss the positive rate of endolymphatic hydrops in vestibule and cochlea. METHOD: Twenty-four hours after bilateral intra-tympanic 8 times diluted gadolinium administration, three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI, using a three-Tesla unit, was performed in 48 patients, and then assessed the extent of endolymphatic hydrops in the MRI images. RESULT: Forty-eight patients showed different levels of enhancement of perilymth in the inner ear. In these patients, obvious signs of endolymphatic hydrops were visualized in vestibule,including 8 slight hydrops, 17 mild hydrops and 23 severe hydrops with a diagnostic rate of 83.3%. There were almost no complications in all 48 patients after bilateral intra-tympanic injection except short vertigo in some of them. CONCLUSION 3D FLAIR MRI resonance imaging has a high positive diagnostic rate in assessing endolymphatic hydrops of Ménière's disease and provides direct imaging evidence for diagnosing Ménière's disease.
Cochlea ; Contrast Media ; Ear, Inner ; Ear, Middle ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Injections ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; Vestibule, Labyrinth

0.05).Conclusion The results suggested that the polymorphism of CCR2-64I was not associated with hypertension in Han Chinese elders.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to detect microRNA-17(mir-17) expression on the osteogenic differentiation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-stimulated hunman periodontal ligament stem cells (HPDLSCs) and to analyze the influence of these cells on this process.

METHODSHPDLSCs were isolated using limited dilution technique. After osteogenic differentiation occurred, different time points of mir-17 expression in the experimental groups were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mir-17 overexpression and inhibition were evaluated using cell transfection technique. Differences in gene expressions were detected by real time PCR; differences in protein expressions were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSThe mir-17 expression was reduced after osteogenic differentiation occurred at 3, 7, and 14 d compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of bone sialoprotein (BSP), Runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx-2)and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the experimental groups were lower than those in the mimic control group when mir-17 expression increased. In addition, the protein expression levels of Runx-2 in the experimental groups were lower than those in the control group. The expression levels of BSP, Runx-2 and ALP in the experimental groups were higher than those in the inhibitor control group when mir-17 expression decreased. Likewise, the protein expression levels of Runx-2 in the experimental groups were higher than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAGEs inhibit the osteogenic differentiation of HPDLSCs by affecting mir-17 expression.

Adult ; Coal Mining ; Dust ; analysis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Workplace