Objective To explore the correlation between Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Methods One hundred and twenty patients with SSHL were enrolled as SSHL group, and another 120 healthy subjects were served as control group. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and the expression of Cpn-specific antigen (Cpn-Ag) and Cpn-DNA in PBMCs was detected by direct immunofluorescence test and PCR, respectively. Specific antibodies (IgA, IgG and IgM) to Cpn were determined by microimmunofluorescence test.Results There was no significant difference in the positive findings between direct immunofluorescence test and PCR (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the positive rates of Cpn-Ag and Cpn-IgM for acute infection between these two groups (P＜0.01), and there were significant differences in the positive rates of Cpn-IgA and Cpn-IgG for chronic infection between these two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion There is a significantly higher prevalence of Cpn in patients with SSHL. Cpn infection may be a possible cause for SSHL.

Objective To study the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristic of bone bruises associated with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and to investigate the correlation between bone bruises and cartilage lesions. Methods The MRI findings of 37 cases of acute ACL ruptures associated with bone bruises were studied retrospestively. The classification and distribution of bone bruises were analyzed and the cartilage lesions were also observed under arthroscopy. Results A total of 57 independent bone bruises(type Ⅰ:14, type Ⅱ:32, type Ⅲ:3, type Ⅳ:6 and type Ⅴ:2) were documented by MRI in the 37 patients. 54 (94.7%) bone bruises located in lateral joint compartment with involvement of lateral femoral condyle in 31 and lateral tibial plateau in 23. Nine cases (15.8%) of articular cartilage lesions were found under arthroscopy in the area overlying bone bruises. Conclusion Bone bruises associated with acute ACL ruptures mainly located in the lateral compartment of knee, especially in anterior portion of lateral femoral condyle and posterior portion of lateral tibial plateau. Arthroscopic cartilage lesions were not corresponding to bone bruises.

Objective To study the effect of folic acid on decreasing level of plasma total homocysteine(tHcy)in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHL) and the optimal dosage of folic acid. Methods Ten randomized controlled trials involving treatment data on 210 patients with SSHL were retrospectively studied.They were divided into seven groups according to the daily dosage of folic acid: group A to group G,0.2 mg,0.4 mg,0.8 mg,2.0 mg,5.0 mg,10.0 mg and 15.0 mg,respectively.Besides oral administration of folic acid,Vitamine B6 and B12were supplemented,and other routine treatment were performed.Fluorescence polarization immunoassay was employed to detect the plasma tHcy before and 3 months after the treatment.And the data of plasma tHcy of 210 patients without SSHL were collected and served as controls.The levels of plasma tHcy were statistically analysed between the SSHL group and control group and among group A to group G. Results The level of plasma tHcy in the SSHL group was significantly higher than that in the control group,(18.07?1.58)?mol/L vs(13.63?1.33) ?mol/L(P0.05). Conclusion The levels of plasma tHcy are significantly increased in SSHL.Folic acid may play an important role in decreasing the levels of tHcy in patients with SSHL,and a dosage of 10 mg/d for oral adminstration is well suggested.

Electrophysiology examination is an important technique in studying amblyopia, which mainly includes electrooculography( EOG), electroretinography ( ERG), visual evoked potential( VEP). This study does not only summarizes the definition, the mechanisms and the meaning of these indexes in the relevant research progress in recent years, but also makes a comment on the controversies among the relevant research conclusions.

Objective·To investigate and compare the clinical characteristic of non-organic dyspnea and asthma both with complaint of dyspnea.Methods·Seventy-four consecutive patients with non-organic dyspnea,and 74 age-,height-,weight and sex-matched patients with asthma were recruited for investigation in the study.The self-assessment surveys were conducted for the two groups by means of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,Nijmegen Questionnaire and Athens Insomnia Scale.The words for describing dyspnea,clinical symptoms,effective sleep hours and items of pulmonary function test were collected and analyzed Results·Non-organic dyspnea patients tended to describe psychogenic aspects.Asthma patients tended to describe airflow limitation.Non-organic dyspnea group mainly performed psychogenic symptoms.The sleeping time in non-organic dyspnea group was significantly lower than that in asthma group(P＜0.05).The score of anxiety,depression,Nijmegen Questionnaire,Athens Insomnia Scale,FEV1,FEV1％Pred,FVC％Pred,FEV1/FVC in non-organic dyspnea group were significantly higher than those in asthma group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in FVC between two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion·The non-organic group feel more anxiety,depressed and insomnic than the asthma group.Lung function test of asthma group is often abnormal.To discriminate non-organic dyspnea with asthma,clinicians should pay more attention to emotion,sleep,somatoform symptoms,medical history and so on,and do pulmonary function test,improve the understanding of the characteristics of the two diseases,decrease misdiagnosis and wrong diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of metallic intratracheal stent placement in relapsing polychondritis with severe tracheobronchial malacia.Methods Five tracheal stents had been implanted in three patients with traeheobronchial malacia.One patient was implanted with two tubular steuts in trachea and one“Y”shaped stent for bilateral bronchi.Another patient used a tubular stent in total tracheal segment.The last patient used a tubular stent in the upper segment of trachea.Results All the stents were implanted successfully with obvious improvement of dyspnea after the treatment. Conclusions Metallic intratracheal stent placement can really relieve symptoms and improve the life quality in patients with tracheobronchial malacia caused by relapsing polychondritis.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum testosterone levels and the plaque formation of the carotid artery in a population-based cohort of independently living healthy women above 60 years of age.

METHODSAnalysis of the healthy elders from a population-based cohort study in 9 communities of Beijing. Carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques were determined ultrasonographically. Serum testosterone levels were measured by immunoassay. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThere was an inverse correlation between testosterone and plaque formation in old females (P < 0.01), while no association was found in males. Female with testosterone levels in the lowest quartile (< 0.49 nmol/L) had more risk of plaque formation (OR = 3.805, P < 0.01) after adjusted with age and other traditional factors of atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONTestosterone concentrations are negatively associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in old women in Beijing, experimental and prospective studies are needed to determine the possible therapeutic role of testosterone in atherosclerosis.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Carotid Stenosis ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood

This study is to establish the methods for determination of iridoid glycosides and triterpenic acids in Corni Fructus and provide technical support for the quality control of Corni Fructus. Morroniside, loganin and sweroside were determined by HPLC-UV method with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase, and the detective wavelength was set at 240 nm. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were determined by HPLC-ELSD method with methanol-0.5% ammonium acetate (87:13) as the mobile phase. The results showed that the linear ranges of morroniside, loganin and sweroside were 5.335-213.4 mg · L(-1) (r = 0.9999), 5.515-220.6 mg · L(-1) (r = 1.0000), 1.992-79.68 mg · L(-1) (r = 1.0000), respectively. The average recoveries of the above three iridoid glycosides were 98.49%-99.28% with RSDs of recoveries being less than 2%. The linear ranges of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were 7.74-154.8 mg · L(-1) (r = 0.9964), 10.82-216.4 mg · L(-1) (r = 0.9996), respectively. The average recoveries of the above two triterpenic acids were 98.11%-99.27% with RSDs of recoveries being less than 3%. The method established in this research is simple, rapid and reliable, and can be used for quality control of Corni Fructus. Furthermore, the research provided experimental data for the improvement of present quality standard of Corni Fructus, which has important significance to guarantee its quality and clinical curative effect.
Cornus ; chemistry ; Drug Stability ; Oleanolic Acid ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Triterpenes ; analysis

From September 2002 to May 2006, five patients ( age range, 24 to 46; mean, 32) with tibial defect underwent transplantation of free latissmus dorsi osteocutaneous flap using bridge-like vascular anastomosis. All the osteocutaneous flaps survived without any serious complications, and tibial defects were improved completely. After 1.5 to 4.5 years' follow-up ( mean, 2.6), no remarkable dysfunction was found at donor sites, and local injury was reduced. This study indicates that transplantation of free latissmus dorsi osteocutaneous flap using bridge-like vascular anastomosis might be useful in leg reconstructive surgery if only one vessel is remained.

Objective To summarize clinical application of the medial sural artery perforator pedicled flap for the coverage of soft tissue defects around the knee and upper one third of lower leg.Methods From May 2003 tO January 2007,16 patients(11 men,5 women)with soft tissue defects around the knee and upper one third of lower leg underwent reconstruction with the medial sural artery perforator pedicled flap.Of them,4 eases recipient site were located on the prepatellar region,2 cases were located on the anterolateral pateflar,1 case was located on the anteromedial patellar,and 9 cases upper one third oflowerleg.They ranged in age from 23 to 52 years(mean,36 years).The donor leg was ipsilateral in all cages. Results One ca8e sustained superficial infection postoperative and the gradual wound healed by daily wound dressings.All the flaps had survived completely without major complication with satisfactory clinical results. Follow-up period ranged from 3.0 months to 3.5 years(mean, 1.7 years)postoperatively.There was no remarkable donor site morbidity.All cases had good appearance and function in recipient site.There was no remarkable donor site morbidity. Conclusion The medial sural artery perforator flap is nourished by the musculocutaneous perforater of the medial sural artery.The flaps seem to has highly vascularize,a constant vascular anatomy and a long vascular pedicle.The flap is thin and suitable for the coverage of soft tissue defects around the knee and upper one third of lower leg.