Coronary Occlusion ; surgery ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Thrombosis ; complications

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Stents ; Vascular Malformations ; therapy

Objective:To develop and evaluate the improved Chinese hearing questionnaire for school children(CHQS)for mass epidemiology study on hearing impairment in China.Method:Using the probability proportion to size(PPS) method, 8 412 residents were investigated in 40 clusters in Jiangsu province with the WHO ear diseases and hearing disorders survey protocol.87.9% of the residents aged 7 years and over answered the questionnaire and accepted the pure tone audiometry.Result:The prevalence of hearing impairment was 12.9% by the questionnaire. Compared with golden standard(pure tone audiometry), Sen=58.5%, Spe=96.7%, PV+=78.9%, PV-=91.7%, overall accuracy=90.0% . The sensitivity for women was higher than men.Conclusion:The questionnaire produced high efficiency and specificity values.It could be used in mass hearing screening, particularly in remote and rural area, although the sensitivity was as low as most questionnaires.

OBJECTIVETo explore the etiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL).

METHODSThirty patients (31 ears) with ALHL were selected for this study. Detailed history collection, otological examination and systematic audiological evaluations were conducted. The hearing tests included pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance, auditory brainstem response (ABR) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). All cases received therapeutic trial of corticosteroid for 15 days with 6 to 14 months' following-up.

RESULTSALHL mainly affected young people. Low-tone tinnitus, a sensation of ear fullness and hearing impairment were the frequent complains. Otological examinations showed normal results. Mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss at low frequencies and type "A" tympanograms were found in all patients. Acoustic stapedial reflexes were elicited in 26 of 31 affected ears, and 14 of them had positive results on the Metz test. ABR responses were normal in all 20 tested ears. In 14 out of 20 ears, TEOAEs were absent and DPOAE grams at low frequencies (0.5, 0.75 kHz) were abnormal on the first visit. After steroid therapy, 24 ears demonstrated complete recovery, but 4 ears showed partial recovery and 3 ears unchanged. The total improvement rate was 90.3%.

CONCLUSIONSALHL patients are clinically characterized by low-tone tinnitus, aural fullness and hearing loss, which mainly involved unilateral ear. Audiological findings indicate a cochlear impairment, which only invades low frequency region. The basic pathological feature may be endolymphatic hydrops involves immune response. Conflicting data exist on whether ALHL is an independent disorder or a subtype of Meniere's disease. Ideal therapeutic strategy has not been established by now and corticosteroid is probably an effective agent.

Acute Disease ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Audiometry, Evoked Response ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; etiology ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the OTOF gene contributes to the non-syndromic hearing loss of a Chinese pedigree with dominantly inherited auditory neuropathy (AN). METHOD: The subjects included were 9 live individuals in an autosomal dominant AN pedigree, 3 sporadic AN patients and 3 normal-hearing controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral leukocytes of the subjects using the Pure gene DNA Isolation Kits. Firstly, the whole coding sequence of OTOF gene of one family patient were PCR amplified using specific primers. Each fragment was purified and subsequently analyzed by direct sequencing in an Applied Biosystems 3 730 automated DNA sequencer. The resultant sequence data were compared with the standard sequence to identify deafness-associated mutations. Other DNA samples were then screened for these mutations by PCR amplification and sequence analysis. RESULT: PCR amplifications were successfully conducted in all the subjects. Comparison of the resultant OTOF sequence in one family patient with the standard sequence identified 10 nucleotide variants which do not lead to amino acid change. These mutations were also detectable in other family individuals, 3 sporadic AN patients and 3 normal-hearing controls. CONCLUSION The OTOF does not seem to contribute to the pathogenesis of this Chinese AN family, which suggest new gene(s) involvement.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromosome Disorders ; ethnology ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases ; ethnology ; genetics

Total cases of organophosphorous (dichlorvos, methamidophos, dimethoate) poisoning outpatients from six hospitals during four years were collected consecutively for lethal blood concentration study. Blood samples were detected with gas chromatography. The probabilities of death, coma were analyzed with Bliss method and their linear regressive equations of probit were obtained respectively, their 50% lethal concentrations (LC50) and 50% coma concentrations(CC50) were calculated by the formulas above. As the death rate was influenced by therapy, its natural death probability has been discussed and estimated their natural LC50 were between the LC50 and CC50 themselves. Combined LC50 and CC50, their natural LC50 were calculated.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chromatography, Gas ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides/poisoning* ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Poisoning/mortality*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the DFNB59 gene contributes to the hearing loss of a Chinese pedigree with dominantly inherited auditory neuropathy (AN). METHOD: Nine members in four generations of the family were selected for this study. Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral leukocytes of the patients using the pure gene DNA isolation kits. Firstly, the subjects DNA fragment was PCR amplified using specific primers corresponding to exon 2 and 4 of the DFNB59 gene. Each fragment was purified and subsequently analyzed by direct sequencing in an applied biosystems 3730 automated DNA sequencer. The whole coding sequence of DFNB59 gene of one family patient were then PCR amplified and submitted for sequence analysis as described above. The resultant sequence data were compared with the standard sequence to identify deafness-associated mutations. RESULT: PCR amplifications were successfully conducted in all the subjects. We failed to detect the presence either of mutations T54I and R183W in the exon 2 and exon 4 that have been reported, or any other deafness-associated mutations in the whole DFNB59 gene, by sequence analysis. CONCLUSION The DFNB59 gene seems not contribute to the pathogenesis of this Chinese AN family, which suggesting new gene(s) involvement.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the improved Chinese hearing questionnaire for school children (CHQS) for mass epidemiology study on hearing impairment in China. METHOD: Using the probability proportion to size (PPS) method, 8412 residents were investigated in 40 clusters in Jiangsu province with the WHO ear diseases and hearing disorders survey protocol. 87.9% of the residents aged 7 years and over answered the questionnaire and accepted the pure tone audiometry. RESULT: The prevalence of hearing impairment was 12.9% by the questionnaire. Compared with "golden standard" (pure tone audiometry), Sen = 58.5%, Spe = 96.7%, PV+ = 78.9%, PV- = 91.7%, overall accuracy = 90.0%. The sensitivity for women was higher than men. CONCLUSION The questionnaire produced high efficiency and specificity values. It could be used in mass hearing screening, particularly in remote and rural area, although the sensitivity was as low as most questionnaires.
China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hearing Disorders ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of associating mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA gene mutations with non-syndromic and aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss happening to Chinese families.

METHODSThe diagnosis was validated by hearing tests. Blood samples were collected from 20 family members (13 subjects from pedigree A and 7 from pedigree B) and 32 sporadic deafness cases. DNA was extracted from the leukocytes in blood samples. The gene fragments of mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA, tRNA(Ser(UCN)) and GJB(2) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were analyzed by sequencing.

RESULTSThe target gene fragments of all individuals were successfully amplified by PCR. The mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA 827 A to G transition was detected from all maternal members including 12 patients with hearing loss, which was the homoplasmic mutation. Non-maternal members in two pedigrees did not carry this mutation. However, the tRNA(Ser(UCN)) A7445G, 12SrRNA A1555G and GJB2 gene mutations were not found from both the family members of two pedigrees and sporadic patients. One sporadic individual (1/32) who was diagnosed as aminoglycoside-induced hearing impairment carried A827G mutation too.

CONCLUSIONIt is confirmed that the mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA gene is a hot spot for mutations associated with non-syndromic inherited hearing loss. The 12S rRNA nt827 A to G mutation may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of hearing impairment in two Chinese pedigrees.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Deafness ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare the characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and stable angina pectoris (SAP) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODSOCT was performed in 47 patients (23 UAP and 24 SAP) undergoing coronary angiography. Lipid-rich plaque (defined by > or = 2 quadrants of the cross-section area), thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), thickness of fibrous cap, plaque rupture, calcification and thrombus visualized by OCT were compared between UAP and SAP patients.

RESULTSOCT imaging was successfully in 44 out of 47 patients (22 UAP, 22 SAP). Proportion of lipid-rich plaques was similar between UAP and SAP groups [91% (20/22) vs. 73% (16/22), P = 0.741]. The minimum thickness of fibrous cap in the UAP group was significantly thinner than that in SAP group [(69.5 +/- 34.7) microm vs. (141.1 +/- 68.5) microm, P = 0.000] and the rate of fibrous cap erosion in the UAP group was significantly higher than that in the SAP group [59% (13/22) vs. 9% (2/22), P = 0.000]. Percents of TCFA [73% (16/22) vs. 14% (3/22), P = 0.000] and plaque rupture [50% (11/22) vs. 9% (2/22), P = 0.003] were significantly higher in UAP group compared those in SAP group. Incidence of thrombus and calcification were similar between two groups.

CONCLUSIONSOCT imaging can clearly define plaque characterization of coronary atherosclerosis. UAP patients have thinner fibrous cap, higher incidences of fibrous cap erosion, plaque rupture and TCFA compared patients with SAP.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; diagnostic imaging ; Angina, Unstable ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence