OBJECTIVE: To perform morphometric analysis of bilateral cochleae in all subjects based on computed 3-dimensional reconstruction tomographic data and assist the surgeon in diagnosing the inner ear abnormality or surgical strategies. METHOD: Two hundred normal developed cochleae from 100 patients were divided into 5 groups according to age. Morphometric analysis of bilateral cochleae was performed in all subjects by 3D reconstructions and 2D multiplanar reformation. The length and width of the cochlear base, the length within the cochlear base, the height of the cochlea, the angle between the first and second turn of the cochlea, and the cochlear orientation within the cranial base were measured and compared in different age, sex and bilateral groups. RESULT: The length of the cochlear base was (8.56 +/- 0.52)mm, the width was (6.63 +/- 0.56)mm, the length within the cochlear base was (7.33 +/- 10.56)mm, the height of the cochlea was (3.76 +/- 0.28)mm, and the angle between the first and second turn of the cochlea was (15.82 +/- 2.78)degrees. All index above did not change significantly in different aging, sex or side (P > 0. 05). Variability in the angle between the first and second turn of the cochlea was considerable, and a smaller angle (from the midsagittal line) was showed in the older age groups than the younger groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION 3D and 2D volume rendering enables us to evaluate the features of cochlear morphology and orientation that may assist the surgeon in diagnosing the inner ear abnormality or surgical strategies.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlea ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

Background Asthma is a complex disease involving genetic and environment interactions.Atopy is a strong risk factor for asthma.The airway epithelium not only forms a physical barrier but also provides immune defense against harmful materials.To explore the effects of airway epithelium on asthma,we hypothesized that environmental injuries could act on bronchial epithelial cells and damage the physical barrier,which might facilitate allergens to stimulate immunoreactions and play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma.Methods Thirty eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups with six rats in each group:control group,asthma group,ovalbumin (OVA)+OVA group,lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group and LPS+OVA group.In the control group,0.9％ saline was injected intraperitoneally on day 1.Fourteen days later,the rats were exposed to aerosolized 0.9％ saline.In the asthma group,the rats were sensitized with an injection of 10 mg of OVA,followed by an aerosolized 2％ OVA challenge14 days later.The OVA+OVA group was sensitized by an inhalation 2％ OVA,20 minutes a day,from day 1 to day 7,and then OVA challenged in the same way as the asthma group.In the LPS group,LPS (200 μl,1 μg/μl) was given by airway on day 1 and day 3,with a simultaneous aerosol inhalation of 2％ OVA for 20 minutes a day from day 1 to day 7.Fourteen days later,the rats were challenged with saline as in the control group.While in the LPS+OVA group,LPS (200 μl,1 μg/μl) was given by airway on day 1 and day 3,with a simultaneous aerosol inhalation of 2％ OVA for 20 minutes a day from day 1 to day 7.Fourteen days later,the rats were challenged with OVA as in the asthma group.The expression of interleukin (IL)-4,interferon-gamma (IFN-y) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in the lungs was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the pulmonary pathological changes were also observed.The level of IL-4,IFN-γ and IgE in plasma was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected to conduct differential cell counts.Flow cytometry analysis was also used to count Th1 and Th2 cells.Results The pathological changes in the LPS+OVA group were similar to the asthma group,while in other groups,the pathological changes were not obvious.The ratio of lymphocytes in BALF,IL-4/IFN-γ in plasma and the expression of the TSLP and IL-4 in the asthma and LPS+OVA groups were higher than in the control group and the OVA+OVA group (P ＜0.05).The level of IgE was higher in the asthma,LPS and LPS+OVA groups than in the control group and the OVA+OVA group (P ＜0.05).By flow cytometry analysis,the Th1/Th2 ratio was lower in the LPS+OVA and asthma groups than in other groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The experiment results show that the injury to the bronchial epithelial layer may be the initial event of allergic responses.This finding implies that a rational approach to therapeutics would be to increase the resistance of the airways to environmental injuries rather than concentrating on suppressing inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Educative instruction is good for the improvement of learning and behavior disorder in children with learning disorder. If this educative instruction were individualized, i. e. different education is provided for different individual, it would receive even better effects.OBJECTIVE: To explore the method and effect of educative instruction for children with learning disorder to accumulate experiences for the development of their learning potentials.DESIGN: A paired(pairing the subjects with similar age and learning disorder) case analysis based on the suffers .SETTING: A medical college of some university.PARTICIPANTS: Eight children with learning disorder were selected from Zhenjiang City Dongwu Kindergarten or Zhenjiang City Dagang Central Primary School. These 8 cases suffered from 4 types of disorders including clumsiness, seclusive personality, language disorder, and poor learning ability. Eight cases were randomly divided into education group and control group.METHODS: Cases of control group received normal educations without specific interventions. Cases of education group received individual customized educative instructions. The educative effects were observed after 3 months.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The improvement of clumsiness, seclusive personality, language disorder or poor learning ability in children with learning disorder.RESULTS: Cases of education group had better psychological and behavior improvements than that of control group after individual educative instruction.CONCLUSION: Individual educative instruction for children with learning disorder is an effective approach for the development of their learning potentials.

Objective To study the effects of TRβ△ on apoptosis and proliferation of liver cancer cell line RH-35 from rat in vitro. Methods RH-35 cells were transfected by empty vector pcDNA3. 1 and expression plasmid pcDNA3. 1-TRβ△, then exposure to 10 nmol/ L T3 . RH-35 cells apoptosis and proliferation were observed by flow cytometry and MTT colorimetric assay; Levels of catenin β-1(CTNNB1), senescence marker protein-30(SMP-30) and BCL2-antagonist/ killer ( BAK ) mRNA evaluation were detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). Results In the presence of T3 , overexpression of TRβ△ significantly inhibited the proliferation, increased the percentage of apoptotic, down-regulated CTNNB1and SMP-30 expression, up-regulated BAK expression in RH-35 cells( P < 0. 05). Conclusion TRβ△ could inhibit the proliferation of RH-35 cells and promote their apoptosis, which may be related to upregulation of BAK genes expression and downregulation of CTNNB1 and SMP-30 gene expression, and these effects could be regulated by T3 .

The historical contributions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was discussed in this paper. Firstly, TCM is the unique medical science created by working people of China. Secondly, TCM contributes greatly to the prosperity of the nation. Thirdly, TCM shows positive influences on promoting the process of world civilization. Finally, TCM is the outstanding representative of traditional Chinese culture. In the way, it guided people to treat TCM in an objective way, to make people follow its own development rule and to promote its inheritance and innovation.

BACKGROUND: Chitosan is one of the most significant non-viral vector materials with the advantages of outstanding biocompatibility. Quarternary chitosan derivatives can improve transfection efficiency and solubility of chitosan in a broader range of pH values. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize a new vector of quarternary chitosan and to study its complex conditions with plasmid and transfection efficiency compared with chitosan. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A contrast observational study was performed in Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine of Zhejiang University between August and October 2008. MATERIALS: Quarternary chitosan was synthesized in Polymer Materials Lab of Beijing Institute of Technology. Plasmid pEGFP-C1 was presented friendly by Mr. Zheng of School of Medicine of Zhejiang University. Hela cells were provided by Miss. Cheng of School of Medicine of Zhejiang University. METHODS: Quarternary chitosan was prepared according to mass concentration of 0.2 g/L, pH value 5.5 (or 6.9, 7.6) and sodium acetate concentration of 50 mmol/L, and rapidly mixed with pEGFP-C1. The mixture was swirled for 15-30 second and stood at room temperature for 30 minutes at least. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The impacts of pH values and time on complex ability of quarternary chitosan and plasmid were studied by gel retardation test. Transfection efficiency of quarternary chitosan on Hela cells was observed by inversed fluorescence microscope and also compared with chitosan. RESULTS: Quarternaty chitosan could form complex with plasmid in acidic, neutral and basic conditions. It could be used in a broader range of pH values. In an acidic condition, the combination of quarternary chitosan with plasmid was superior to chitosan. A stable complex was formed via a combination of quarternary chitosan or chitosan with plasmid within 30 minutes, and the stability lasted for 12 hours. Transfection efficiency of quarternary chitosan on Hela cells demonstrated that transfection efficiency of quarternary chitosan was superior to chitosan. CONCLUSION: Quarternary chitosan has a broader range in use and higher transfection efficiency than chitosan; however, there is no significant difference in stability between quarternary chitosan and chitosan. Additionally, transfection efficiency of quarternary chitosan on Hela cells is superior to chitosan, which needs a further research.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the preparation of a pulmonary self-expanding valved stent and the percutaneous implantation of a valved stent in the pulmonary valve position without cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods A bovine jugular valve conduit was trimmed to remove the extraneous materials to reduce profile,and then was sutured onto nitinol stents to form a pulmonary self-expanding valved stent.In vitro,it was tested by a pulsatile mock loop system.Through a 24F delivery system,the valved stents were deployed in the pulmonary valve position of 8 pigs,and then in vivo assessment with echocardiography and a postmortem examination were carried out.Results The pulmonary self-expanding valved stent has an inner diameter of (21.9 ± 1.6) mm,an outer diameter of (24.6 ± 1.5 ) mm,a length of (27.9 ± 4.3 )mm,and an effective orifice area of ( 1.8 ±0.2) cm2.7 of the 8 valved stents were exactly deployed in the native pulmonary valve position,1 valved stent failed.The transvalvular pressure gradient was (7.9 ± 3.3 ) mm Hg by catheter measurement,(9.3 ±4.1 ) mm Hg by Doppler echocardiography.The angiography showed no migration,no regurgitation and no paravalvular leak.The echocartiography showed all the new valves opened and closed well with 2 cases of mild regurgitation.Postmortem examination confirmed the valved stent straddled the pulmonary annuli without migration,the native valve was locked between the stent and arterial wall.Conclusion The acute study demonstrates that the self-expanding valved stent can be successfully implanted in the pulmonary position by a catheter delivery system and function well.Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation without cardiopulmonary bypass is feasible and has a wide clinical perspective.

Objective To study whether osteoblast is necessary for IGF-Ⅰ to promote bone resorption by osteoclast.Methods Mouse MC3T3 osteoblast cells and mature osteoclasts induced by RANKL were cultured in vitro.These osteoblasts and osteoclasts were subjected to treatment with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-Ⅰ),and the activation of IGF-Ⅰ receptor was verified by Western blotting.Thereafter,osteoclasts were cultured individually or co-cultured with osteoblast,in the absence or presence of rhIGF-Ⅰ.Osteoclast proliferation and apoptosis were observed by MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry.Cathepsin K gene expression was detected by real-time PCR; bone adsorption activity of osteoclast was determined by resorption pits formation on calf cortex slice with toluidine blue staining.Results Western blotting result confirmed that rhIGF-Ⅰ could effectively activate IGF-Ⅰ receptors either in osteoblast or osteoclast.In co-cultured group,in the presence of rhIGF-Ⅰ osteoclast showed inhibited apoptosis,enhanced proliferation and up-regulated cathepsin K expression (P ＜ 0.05).The functional experiment revealed that osteoclasts collected from IGF-Ⅰ treated co-cultured group resulted in more resorption pits formation (P ＜ 0.05); rhIGF-Ⅰ did not show any significant effect on the individually cultured osteoclasts.Conclusion Osteoblast is necessary for osteoclast induced bone resorption resulting from IGF-Ⅰ treatment.

Objective To analyse the secondary structure of glutathions S-transferase of Echinoccocus granulosus(EgGST)and predict the B cell and T cell epitopes with informatics tools,in order to provide basic data and references for the following design of epitope vaccine.Methods The B cell and T cell epitopes of EgGST were predicted by DNAstar,Biosun software and Propred MHC class-Ⅱ Binding Peptide Prediction Server software.Results Many distinct antigenic epitopes of EgGST were identified by comput-er,there existed 8 B cell epitopes and 7 T cell epitopes.Conclusion Analysis of predicted epitopes of EgGST antigenic might be sig-nificant for future research of epitope vaccine.

Objective: To study the influence of Centipede Acidic Protein(CAP) on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts(CFb) induced by angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ),and to explore the mechanisms of CAP on cardiac fibrosis.Methods: Neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were treated with AngⅡ to produce fibrosis model.The effects of CAP on proliferation of CFb were observed by MTT colorimetric assay,synthesis of collagen was observed by the hydroxyproline concentration.The NO contents were measured by Nitric acid reductase method.The c-myc expression was examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis.Results: Compared with that of control group,the proliferation,collagen synthesis and the levels of c-myc mRNA expression of CFb in the model group increased,while the NO contents decreased obviously(P