Hepatitis C ; immunology ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology

Objective The purpose of this study was to edit and psychometrically equate a set of Mandarin bisyllabic word lists. Methods 964 bisyllabjc words were recorded by male talker of standard Mandarin,352 words were selected to compose 10 lists. Percentage of correct word recognition was measured for each word at four intensity levels using 20 normal hearing subjects. The order of the presentation of the lists was randomized for each subject. U-sing Statistica7.0 Performance-Intensity function for each word was plotted,slopes and thresholds of them were calculated. 242 words were chosen after that, The thresholds and slopes of these words were in Guassian distribution. These words were ligitally adjusted and included in six Mandarin bisyllabic word lists of 40 words each. Two of them were for practice, four of them for test. 36 subjects with normal hearing served in our equivalent test. The orders of the presentation of the lists were randomized far each subject and results were expressed as thresholds. Results Two-factor ANO-VA was used to compare the thresholds of the 4 lists, F=1.978,P = 0.209. Conclusion These lists were considered to be primarily equivalent with each other.

Objective To study the correlation between the polymorphisms of NR3C1 gene and aggressive behavior in Yunnan Han population.Methods Five SNPs of the NR3C1 gene (rs6190,rs6191,rs6198,rs41423247 and rs56149945) were genotyped in 194 unrelated prisoners who committed violent-crimes and 301 healthy controls using improved Multiplex-ligase-detection reaction(iMLDR) method,and the data were statistically analyzed with the SPSS19.0soflware and PHASE2.1platform.Results Single locus analysis showed that the allelic distribution of rs6191and rs41423247did not show significant differencesbetween the control groupand the aggressive-behavior group as well as the robbery sub-group and intentional injury sub-group.However,significant difference was foundin the rs41423247 genotype distribution betweencontrol groupand robbery sub-group (p=0.048).In addition,there were no significant differences for the four haplotypes between the control group,the attack group,the robbery subgroup and the intentional injury subgroup.Conclusion These findings indicate that rs41423247 polymorphism of the NR3C1gene might play a role in susceptibility to aggressive behavior and rs6191 polymorphismmay not be correlated withaggressive behavior.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of Narcotrend-guided application of small dose of dexmedetomidine ( DEX) for sedation during combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for elderly patients. Methods Fifty cases of ASA II or Ⅲelderly patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group (25 patients of each group). After combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, both groups received continuous intravenous infusion of DEX, at 0. 4 μg·kg-1 in 10 min, and then the rate was lowered to 0. 4 μg·kg-1 per hour. For the treatment group, infusion rate was adjusted to reach a Narcotrend Index (NTI) of 75-85, and for the control group, infusion rate was adjusted to reach an OAA/S score of level 3-4. MAP, HR, RR, SpO2 , NTI and OAA/S score were recorded at the beginning of DEX treatment ( t0 ) , 10 min ( t1 ) , 20 min ( t2 ) , 30 min ( t3 ) , and 60 min ( t4 ) after the beginning of DEX treatment, and at the end of surgery ( t5 ) . The incidence rates of adverse events including bradycardia, hypotension, low oxygenation, and respiratory depression were also recorded. The patients were followed up until 24 h after surgery to record loss of memory about the surgical events. Results In comparison with t0 , NTI and MAP of both groups significantly decreased at t1-t5(P<0. 01). Comparison between the two groups showed no difference in MAP at each time point, and NTI of treatment group was higher than that of control group at t2-t5(P<0. 05). In comparison with t0, OAA/S of both groups significantly decreased at t1-t5(for t1, P<0. 05;for t2-t5, P<0. 01). Comparison between the two groups showed no difference in OAA/S at each time point (P>0. 05). Follow-up at 24 h after surgery observed total amnesia in 72. 0% of DEX group patients and in 76. 0% of the control group, without significant difference (P>0. 05). Conclusion Sedating elderly patients undergoing spinal-epidural anesthesia with DEX under the guidance of Narcotrend is safe and feasible, and the patients can be sedated properly.

Objective To construct recombinant adeno-associated virus and lentivirus carrying siRNA of TIMP-1 and to investigate the efficiency of infection and short-term inhibitory effect of TIMP-1 gene expres-sion on rat hepatic stellate cells. Methods One pair of siRNA which could effectively inhibit expression of the TIMP-1 gene in HSC-T6 was screened and cloned into AAV vector and lentiviral vector to construct the recombinant AAV/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP and Lenti/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP. AAV/GFP and Lenti/GFP as neg-ative control were also obtained. Experiments were assigned to five groups: AAV/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP, AAV/GFP, Lenti/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP, Lenti/GFP group and mock group. Rat HSC-T6 cells were infected by these recombinant viruses at a concentration of MOI by 10. To monitor the efficiency of infection, fluores-cence microscope and flow cytometer were used. After 7 d post-infection, Western blot was used to detect the TIMP-1 protein expression. Results HSC-T6 had no significant changes after infection. The efficiency of infection in AAV/GFP and Lenti/GFP group were 72.7% and 70.0%, AAV/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP and Lenti/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP group were 64.58% and 61.86%. The protein expression levels of TIMP-1 in HSC-T6 cells at 7 d post-infection by the recombinant AAV and Lentivirus were decreased 40.0% compared with those in mock control and normal HSC-T6 (P<0.05). Conclusion Recombinant AAV/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP and Lenti/siRNA-TIMP-1/GFP could effectively infect HSC-T6 with similar efficiency and suppress the expression of TIMP-1 in rat HSC-T6 remarkably.

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in China and poses high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated that microRNAs played important functions in the occurrence and development of tumors. The purpose of this study was to identify the biological mechanisms of miR-362 in CRC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR was carried out to assess the expression of miR-362 and SIX1. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to evaluate the 5-year overall survival of CRC patients. The proliferative and invasive abilities of CRC cells were assessed by MTT and transwell assays. RESULTS: miR-362 was significantly decreased in CRC tissues and cell lines, compared to the normal tissues and normal cells. A significant connection was confirmed between the overall survival of 53 CRC patients and low expression of miR-362. Downregulation of miR-362 inhibited the proliferation and invasion through binding to the 3′-UTR of SIX1 mRNA in CRC. Additionally, we discovered that SIX1 was a direct target gene of miR-362 and that the expression of miR-362 had a negative connection with SIX1 expression in CRC. SIX1 could reverse partial functions in the proliferation and invasion in CRC cells. CONCLUSION: miR-362 may be a prognostic marker in CRC and suppress CRC cell proliferation and invasion in part through targeting the 3′-UTR of SIX1 mRNA. The newly identified miR-362/SIX1 axis provides insight into the progression of CRC.
Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; China ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Methods ; MicroRNAs ; Mortality ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the clinical application of alternating click evoked electrocochleography (ECochG) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the diagnosis of auditory neuropathy (AN) subjects. METHOD: ECochGs and ABRs were recorded in 16 patients (32 ears) with AN/AD as AN group and 20 patients (26 ears) with sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL) as control group. Test stimuli were alternating polarity clicks. (1) To compare the occurrence rate of ECochGs and ABRs in AN patients. (2) To compare the peak latency of CAPs, absolute amplitude of CAPs, and amplitude ratios of -SP and CAP between AN group and control group. RESULT: ECochGs (--SPs or CAPs) presented in 78.1% (25 among 32 ears) of AN patients. CAPs latency of AN group was shorter than control group (P < 0.05), CAP absolute amplitude of AN group was lower than normal group (P < 0.05), while --SP/CAP was higher than control group (P < 0.01). Deformed ABRs presented in only 5 ears among 32 tested AN ears, while relative good ABR waveforms were evoked in control group. The occurrence rate of ABRs (15.6%) was significantly lower than that of ECochGs in AN patients (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Both ECochGs and ABRs play important role in the diagnosis of AN. The capacity of temporal processing is significantly impaired while the intensity perception related capability is intact in AN patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Audiometry, Evoked Response ; Auditory Threshold ; Case-Control Studies ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing Loss, Central ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To analyze two groups of patients with migrainous vertigo (MV )and vertigo resulting from posterior circulation ischemia (PCIV) and investigate the differential diagnosis between them. METHOD: There were 60 patients with MV and 64 patients with PCIV. Clinical tests include high risk factors of posterior circulation ischemia (PCI), cerebral MRI, ocular motion and high stimulating rate ABR. RESULT: Among 64 patients with PCIV, 29 had abnormal blood pressure and 14 had abnormal blood fat and/or pathoglycemia; 37 had abnormality in cervical vascular ultrasound; 14 suffered from amaurosis or dizziness upon fast getting up. Twenty two had abnormal high stimulating rate ABR and 4 had cerebral lacunar infarction in MRI. As for 60 patients with MV, 45 suffered from motion sickness; 20 were sensitive to motion; 32 had photophobia and (or) phonophobia; 45 had migraine; 16 had abnormal ocular motion function; 3 had abnormal cerebral MRI and 40 had abnormal results in high stimulating rate ABR. The percentage of abnormal high stimulating rate ABR in MV and PCIV were 53% (22/42) and 67% (40/60) respectively. CONCLUSION The mean age of MV is younger than that of PCIV. Female is more prone to MV than male (2.75 : 1. 00); the sex difference in PCIV is lesser (1.46 : 1.00). Motion sickness, motion sensitivity, photophobia and (or) phonophobia are principal differential highlights to MV. The major characteristics of PCIV include abnormal blood pressure, abnormal blood fat, pathoglycemia and arteriosclerosis. Vestibular function tests could not serve as a differential point; Cerebral MRI might be helpful to differential diagnosis. The results of high stimulating rate ABR is not a differential point between PCIV and MV, but it might play a role in differentiating other kinds of vertigo.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders ; complications ; Sex Factors ; Vertigo ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To focus on the prevalence of rare Meniere's disease in the elderly(> or = 60 yrs) and to investigate its clinical characteristics. METHOD: To observe the elderly with Meniere's disease from 2004-01-2007-7 and to investigate its clinical manifestation, electrocochleography (ECoG), vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP), caloric test and pure tone audiogram. RESULT: There were 13 cases of Meniere's disease in the elderly. And the prevalence of Meniere's disease was 2.22% (13/586). The initial symptoms were as following: 2 cases with cochlear and vestibular symptoms, 9 cases with mere cochlear symptoms, 1 cases with mere spinning vertigo and 1 case with mere drop attack. The audiogram in the elderly were varied: low and high frequency hearing loss, flat, and high-frequency hearing loss. And the high frequency hearing loss had no relation with the duration of Meniere's disease. The results of vestibular function were varied. The percentage of positive result of ECoG was 63.6% (7/11, 2 cases not determined). CONCLUSION The prevalence of Meniere's disease in children was 2.22%. The initial symptoms was cochlear and vestibular symptoms, mere cochlear symptoms, mere spinning vertigo and mere drop attack, respectively. The audiogram showed prominent high frequency hearing loss. The percentage of positive result of ECoG was high. And the results of vestibular function tests were varied.
Aged ; Audiometry, Evoked Response ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Cochlea ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged

Objectives: To study an effects on hearing ability and speech performance of the patients with auditory neuropathy (AN) after cochlear implantation (CI). Methods: Thirty-five AN patients (26 males and 9 females) after CI in our center since 2007 were chosen, including 5 postlingual patients (implanted age from 14.3 to 38.6 years old) and 30 prelingual patients (implanted age from 1.1 to 13.7 years old). Hearing sensitivity and speech performance were estimated via following methods: (1) implanted hearing thresholds by sound field audiometry; (2) speech audiometry, including monosyllable, disyllable and sentences recognition test by computer-controlled software and sentence recognition test under noise condition (signal to noise ratio=+ 10dB); (3) Mandarin Early Speech Perception test (MESP), Mandarin Pediatric Speech Intelligibility test (MPSI), MAIS, or IT-MAIS for prelingual AN implantees. Results: The average implanted hearing threshold (250-4 000 Hz) was (41.1±11.7) dBHL in 22 AN implantees, while those prelingual implantees was (39.1±10.9) dBHL, and (44.9±12.3) dBHL in postlingual implantees. Speech audiometry were implemented in four of 5 postlingual AN implantees, the results showed increasing tendency in monosyllable recognition scores, dramatic individual variation in computer-controlled disyllable and sentences recognition test, and poor scores (<30%) in speech recognition test in noise condition. Four of 30 prelingual implantees reconstruct their speech recognition ability within 1-3 years after switch-on, characterized as recognition scores (>60%) in monosyllable, disyllable and sentences. The one of prelingual implantee gained recognition scores of speech in noise within 1 year after switch-on. MAIS or IT-MAIS were implemented in twenty-five prelingual implantees, the average score in these patients was 28.6±11.7. Conclusion Cochlear implant can improve the hearing thresholds of AN patients, however, the improvement in speech performance presented significant variations among the implanted individuals.