By analyzing the mechanism of pronunciation, traditional acoustic parameters, including fundamental frequency, Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC), linear prediction cepstrum coefficient (LPCC), frequency perturbation, amplitude perturbation, and nonlinear characteristic parameters, including entropy (sample entropy, fuzzy entropy, multi-scale entropy), box-counting dimension, intercept and Hurst, are extracted as feature vectors for identification of pathological voice. Seventy-eight normal voice samples and 73 pathological voice samples for /a/, and 78 normal samples and 80 pathological samples for /i/ are recognized based on support vector machine (SVM). The results showed that compared with traditional acoustic parameters, nonlinear characteristic parameters could be well used to distinguish between healthy and pathological voices, and the recognition rates for /a/ were all higher than those for /i/ except for multi-scale entropy. That is why the /a/ sound data is used widely in related research at home and abroad for obtaining better identification of pathological voices. Adopting multi-scale entropy for /i/ could obtain higher recognition rate than /a/ between healthy and pathological samples, which may provide some useful inspiration for evaluating vocal compensatory function.
Acoustics ; Humans ; Sound ; Speech Acoustics ; Voice Disorders ; Voice Quality

Purpose To investigate the expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in prostate cancer ( PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) , and to analyze their correlation with clinicopathological parameters of PCa. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to de-tect Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 protein in 45 cases of PCa and 60 cases of BPH. Results The positive rate of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in PCa tissues was significantly lower than that in BPH (P<0. 05). The expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 was not correlated with the age of patients and distant metastasis (P>0. 05), but it was correlated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa (P<0. 05). Conclusion Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 are lowly expressed in PCa. There is positive correlation between the expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 (rs =0. 645, P<0. 01). Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 might be correlated with the carcinogenesis and development of PCa.

BACKGROUND:Research on ethyl pyruvate detection methods is reported rarely, and moreover, literature about reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for detection of ethyl pyruvate is less.
OBJECTIVE:To establish an RP-HPLC method for determination of ethyl pyruvate in ethyl pyruvate-chitosan nanoparticles.
METHODS: The chromatographic analysis was performed on a ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 column (4.6 mm× 150 mm, 5μm) at 25℃, with the mixture of acetonitrile and water (40:60, V/V) as the mobile phase at the flow rate of 1 mL/min. The determination wavelength wasset at 210 nm and the injection volume was 20 μL.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The peak of ethyl pyruvate and the peaks of auxiliary materials and solvent were separated wel. The linear rang of ethyl pyruvate was 1-100 mg/L (r=0.999 6). The relative standard deviation of both the intra-and inter-day precision was less than 3% for low-, moderate-, and high-concentration ethyl pyruvate. The relative standard deviation of reproducibility test and stability test was 1.25% and 1.3%, respectively. Sample average recovery rates were (91.5±1.0)%, (3.5±0.2)%, (94.4±0.4)%, respectively. Encapsulation efficiency of samples were (87.2±0.22)%, (90.5±0.15)%, (91.1±0.17)%, respectively. The relative standard deviation of different sample content were 0.9%, 0.5%, 0.3%, respectively. The RP-HPLC method for determination of ethyl pyruvate is sensitive, accurate and highly specific with wide linear range and high sample average recovery.

Objective To investigate the expressions and significances of Bcl-2 and Bax in basal-like breast carcinoma (BLBC).Methods The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected in 43 cases of BLBC, 57 cases of non-BLBC and 60 cases of normal breast tissues by immunohistochemistry,and their relationships with physiological and pathological characteristics of patients were analysized.Results The positive rate of Bcl-2 in BLBC was 69.77%,higher than 43.86% in non-BLBC (χ2 =6.647,P =0.01 0)and 21 .67% in normal breast tissues (χ2 =23.831 ,P =0.001 ).The positive rate of Bax in BLBC was 20.93%,lower than 45.61 % in non-BLBC (χ2 =6.564,P =0.01 0)and 76.67% in normal breast tissues (χ2 =31 .270,P =0.001 ).The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were correlated with lymphnode metastasis (χ2 =6.927,P =0.008;χ2 =6.203,P =0.01 3)and pTNMstaging of BLBC (χ2 =6.331 ,P =0.01 2;χ2 =5.972,P =0.01 5).There was negative correlation between the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in BLBC (r = -0.408,P <0.01 0). Conclusion High expression of Bcl-2 and low expression of Bax interact with each other leading to unbalance of cell deferation and apoptosis,resulting in promoting genesis and progress of BLBC.

Purpose To study the expression of HIF-1αand Glut-1 in the molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma and their correlation with basal-like breast carcinoma. Methods 803 cases of invasive breast carcinoma from our database were identified. The clinicopath-ologic findings and the biologic markers including estrogen receptor ( ER) , progesterone receptor ( PR) , and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status were reviewed. Immunohistochemical MaxVision stains for cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) and epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) were performed. All breast carcinomas were subclassified into Luminal A, Lumincal B, HER-2 over-expression, normal-like, and basal-like subtypes according to Nielsen criteria. Immunohistochemical stain was also used to detect the expression of HIF-1αand Glut-1. Results Positive expression rates of HIF-1αprotein in basal-like, HER-2 over-expression, normal-like, Luminal A and Luminal B substypes were 77. 89% (74/95), 56. 06% (37/66), 55. 76% (92/165), 31. 97% (141/441), 25. 00% (9/36), respectively. The positive expression rates of Glut-1 protein were 80. 00% (76/95), 57. 58% (38/66), 58. 18%(96/165), 34. 01% (150/441), 25. 00% (9/36), respectively. The positive expression rates of HIF-1α and Glut-1 in the basal-like, HER-2 over-expressing and normal-like subtypes were remarkably higher than that in Luminal A and Luminal B subtypes ( P<0. 004 5) and the expression of HIF-1a and Glut-1 was negatively correlated with the expression of ER (P<0. 01). In the ER-negative breast cancers, the positive expression rates of HIF-1a and Glut-1 in basal-like substype were much higher than that in the other sub-types (P<0. 004 5), and the expression of HIF-1α was positively correlated with expression of Glut-1 in basal-like breast carcinoma (P<0. 01). Conclusion The overexpression of HIF-1αand Glut-1 may be closely related to the ER-negative breast cancer and HIF-1α and Glut-1 might play an important role in the development of basal-like breast carcinoma.

Objective To study the expressions of apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1)and astrocyte elevated gene-1(AEG-1)in colonic carcinoma,and to explore their correlations with the clinical path-ological features. Methods The expressions of Apaf-1 and AEG-1 were detected in 63 colonic carcinoma sam-ples and 30 normal colonic mucosa adjacent to tumor nest by immunohistochemical method,and their correla-tions with clinical features of colonic carcinoma were analyzed. Results The positive expressions of Apaf-1 and AEG-1 in colonic carcinoma were 23. 81%(15 / 63)and 68. 25%(43 / 63),respectively. The positive expre-ssions of Apaf-1 and AEG-1 in normal colonic mucosa were 76. 67%(23 / 30)and 26. 67%(8 / 30),respec-tively. The positive expression rate of AEG-1 was significantly higher in colonic carcinoma than that in normal tissue(χ2 = 14. 192,P = 0. 000). However,the expression of Apaf-1 was signi-ficantly lower in colonic carci-noma than that in normal tissue(χ2 = 23. 497,P = 0. 000). The expression of Apaf-1 was negatively correlated to the expression of AEG-1(r = - 0. 339,P = 0. 007). The expressions of AEG-1 and Apaf-1 were associated with differentiation degree(χ2 = 4. 643,P = 0. 031;χ2 = 12. 034,P = 0. 001)and clinical stage(χ2 = 6. 628, P = 0. 010;χ2 = 8. 246,P = 0. 004),but they were not correlated with age(χ2 = 1. 462,P = 0. 227;χ2 =2. 401,P = 0. 121)and tumor size(χ2 = 0. 333,P = 0. 564;χ2 = 0. 590,P = 0. 442). Conclusion The expression of AEG-1 is up-regulated in colonic carcinoma,but the expression of Apaf-1 is down-regulated,with a significant negative correlation. Apaf-1 and AEG-1 may be closely related to the occurrence and development of colon carcinoma. Therefore,combination detection of Apaf-1 and AEG-1 may be more valuable for the prog-nosis evaluation of colonic carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) and bax in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Apaf-1 and bax in the tissues from 45 PCa patients and 60 BPH patients. Results The positive rates of Apaf-1 and bax in PCa tissues were 22.22%(10/45) and 20.00 % (9/45), respectively, while those in BPH tissues were 48.33 % (29/60) and 46.67 % (28/60). There was a statistically significant difference in the expressions of Apaf-1 and bax between two groups (P< 0.05). The expressions of Apaf-1 and bax were not correlated with the age of patients and distant metastasis (P>0.05), but they were correlated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa (P< 0.05). The expressions of Apaf-1 and bax in PCa tissues were lower than those in BPH tissues. There was a positive correlation between the expression of Apaf-1 and bax (r=0.535, P<0.01). Conclusion Apaf-1 and bax might be correlated with the carcinogenesis and development of PCa.

Objective To investigate the expression levels and clinical significances of ubiquitin-like with PHD and ring finger domains 1 (UHRF1) and P53 in colon carcinoma.Methods The expressions of UHRF1 and P53 in 70 colon cancer tissues and 30 normal colon ones were detected by means of immunohistochemistry to analyze the correlation of these two proteins in the occurrence and development of colon carcinoma,and the relationship between their expressions and clinico-pathological factors as well as prognosis was discussed.Results The expression levels of UHRF1 and P53 in cancer tissues were significantly higher than those of cancer-adjacent tissues (87.1％ vs.56.7％,x2 =11.366,P =0.001;64.3％ vs.6.7％,x2 =27.988,P =0.000) and showed a positive correlation between the two proteins (r =0.248,P =0.038).Both UHRF1 and P53 were associated with TNM stages (x2 =4.426,P =0.049;x2 =6.000,P =0.016) and the depth of invasion (x2 =12.553,P =0.002;x2 =4.904,P =0.036).However,they were irrelevant with the age (x2 =0.473,P=0.494;x2 =0.090,P=0.799) and gender (x2 =2.297,P=0.166;x2 =0.512,P=0.617) of patients,as well as the size (x2 =0.638,P =0.481;x2 =2.392,P =0.215) and histological grading of tumors (x2 =2.088,P =0.352;0.303,P =0.859).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the median survival time of patients with UHRF1,P53 positive expression was 21.83 months that was lower than patients with UHRF1 positive expression of 24.49 months (Z =-0.624,P =0.533).Both former of which was distinctly lower than that of negative ones of 37.33 months (Z =-2.856,P =0.004;Z =-2.694,P =0.007).Conclusion Both UHRF1 and P53 are highly expressed in colon cancer tissues,which imply that UHRF1 and P53 may be strongly related with colon cancer development and can be a predictor for colon cancer prognosis.

Objective:To compare the clinical effect of 0.02% atropine eye drops once every two days and 0.01% atropine eye drops once every day in myopia control and adverse reactions in children.Methods:A randomized controlled study was performed.The 231 Han nationality myopic children wearing full-corrected single-vision spectacle lenses enrolled from June 2016 to June 2017 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Eye Hospital were divided into two groups by random number table, with 110 children in the 0.02% atropine group and 121 children in the 0.01% atropine group.The subjects were treated with 0.02% atropine eye drops once every two days or 0.01% atropine eye drops once every day to each eye before bedtime for one year.Ninety-two cases and 101 cases were followed up for one year in the 0.02% and 0.01% atropine group, respectively.The right eyes were selected as experimental eyes, and the spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL), amplitude of accommodation (AMP), pupil diameter (PD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and corneal curvature were recorded at baseline and 12 months after treatment.Discomfort symptoms were also observed during the 1-year follow-up.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (No.2016-35). Written informed consent was obtained from guardians prior to any treatment.Results:After 1 year of treatment, the mean SER change was (-0.46±0.49)D and (-0.48±0.46)D, and the mean AL change was (0.38±0.21)mm and (0.39±0.19)mm, and the mean AMP change was (-1.49±0.29)D and (-1.61±0.26)D, and the mean PD change was (0.72±0.44)mm and (0.70±0.40)mm in the 0.02% atropine group and 0.01% atropine group, respectively.There was no significant difference in the change of SER, AL, AMP, PD between the two groups (all at P>0.05). There were 21 cases (19.1%) in the 0.02% atropine group and 25 cases (20.7%) in the 0.01% atropine group that represented mild photophobia in bright sunlight, which disappeared in 12 and 13 cases during 1-6 months respectively.The photophobia symptoms of the remaining children were alleviated.There existed 5 cases (4.5%) and 6 cases (5.0%) in the two groups that developed mild near blurred vision that lasted no more than 1 month. Conclusions:Compared with 0.01% atropine eye drops once a day, 0.02% atropine once every two days has the same efficacy on controlling myopia progression in children with no more adverse reactions.

Objective: To study the imaging performance and pulmonary function of pneumoconiosis patients at stage three. Methods: 89 cases of pneumoconiosis patients at stage three for high thousand volt back chest, chest CT, pulmonary function, analysis the relationship of high thousand volt back chest, chest CT manifestations and pulmonary function. Results: In patients with chest X-ray progressive massive fibrosis range of 2.31-102.95 cm², divide patients according to the X-ray performance into three groups, the difference of each group pulmonary function index FVC、FEV₁、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV is statistically significant (P<0.01) , the difference of FEV₁/FVC%、RV/TLC、DLCO is no statistical significance (P>0.05) . Checked by related, in pneumoconiosis patients at stage three, the X-ray manifestations and pulmonary function index FVC、FEV₁、FEV₁/FVC%、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV、DLCO showed a negative correlation (r=-0.326, -0.438, -0.251, -0.344, -0.317, -0.337, -0.425, -0.347, -0.230) . With the deterioration of the X-ray imaging findings, pulmonary function index FVC、FEV₁、FEV₁/FVC%、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV、DLCO is a trend of decrease (P<0.05) . The X-ray changes is not associated with RV/TLC. By linear regression analysis, FVC、FEV₁、FEV₁/FVC%、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV、DLCO regression equation are meaningful. The RV/TLC regression equations is meaningless. The volume of the patients with chest CT progressive massive fibrosis range of 4.86~179.74 cm³, divide patients according to the chest CT performance into three groups, the difference of each group pulmonary function index FVC、FEV₁、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV、RV/TLC is statistically (P<0.05) , the difference of FEV₁/FVC%、DLCO is no statistical significance (P>0.05) . Checked by related, in pneumoconiosis patients at stage three, chest CT manifestations and pulmonary function index FVC、FEV₁、FEV₁/FVC%、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV showed a negative correlation (r=-0.360, -0.419, -0.256, -0.432, -0.366, -0.326, -0.254, -0.405, ) , It is not associated with the RV/TLC、DLCO. With the deterioration of the chest CT imaging findings, pulmonary function index FVC、FEV₁、FEV₁/FVC%、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV is a trend of decrease (P<0.05) . By linear regression analysis, FVC、FEV₁、FEV₁/FVC%、PEF、MEF_75%、MEF_50%、MEF_25%、MVV regression equations are meaningful. The RV/TLC、DLCO regression equations are meaningless. Conclusion It is correlated with chest X-ray, chest CT manifestations and pulmonary function in pneumoconiosis patients at stage three, that could help guide clinicians comprehensive evaluation in patients with pulmonary function status.