OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the ear protective measures during winter swimming and the prevalence, severity of the incidence of external auditory canal exostoses. METHOD: Three hundred and fifteen people who enjoyed swimming were recruited as research subject (62.2% males and 37.8% females; age distribution: 4.4% were ≤ 40, 40.3% were 41 to 60, and 55.2% were > 60 years). People fill in the questionnaires including personal information, the ear protection measures, the time of winter swimming, the history of ear infections and so on, and questionnaires were correlated with otoscopic findings. We classify external auditory canal exostoses according to the degree of the stenosis of external auditory canal s. Grades of normal,mild, moderate and severe corresponded to 100%, 99% to 66%, 65% to 33%, and less than 33% respectively. RESULT: Of 110 ears with exostoses, 63.6% were mild, 23.6% were moderate, and 12.7% were severe. Among the group of without ear protection during winter swimming, about 33.0% have auditory canal exostoses and 4.6% were severely affected. In comparison, in the group that had ear protection, only 2.8% had external auditory canal exostoses and no one had severely obstructed auditory canal. CONCLUSION A negative association exists between the ear protection measures during winter swimming and the prevalence and severity of exostoses of the external auditory canal. That means taking ear protective measures when having winter swimming can prevent the onset of the external auditory canal exostoses and reduce its severity.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Ear Canal ; pathology ; Ear Diseases ; epidemiology ; Exostoses ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Seasons ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Swimming

Objective To explore the clinical diagnostic value of serum human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit (β-HCG) and alpha fetoprotein ( AFP) in mediastinal germ cell tumors .Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the patients who were definitely diagnosed as mediastinal tumors or mediastinal neoplastic lesions .A total of 133 patients were included for analysis between January 2008 and May 2014, divided into two groups.42 cases of mediastinal germ cell tumor patients were marked as case group while 91 cases of other mediastinal tumor or mediastinal neoplastic lesion patients were marked as control group ( including 31 cases of thymoma , 10 cases of mediastinal neurogenic tumor , 2 cases of intrathoracic goiter , 25 cases of mediastinal cyst , 2 cases of mediastinal lipoma , 11 cases of mediastinal lymphoma and 10 cases of thymic carcinoma ) .AFP was detected by chemiluminescence detection , and -HCG was detected by electrochemical luminescence .K-S test was performed to investigate normality of data , non-normally distributed data were described as Median ( interquartile range ) .Mann-Whitney U test was done for measurement of data between two groups .Logistic regression analysis was performed as multivariate analysis.Receiver operating characteristic curve ( ROC) was used to determine the cut-off values.Results The levels of serum AFP and β-HCG in case group were 13.26 (2.39-48.09) ng/ml and 1.99 (0.10-15.7) IU/L, respectively, significantly higher than those in control group [AFP:2.47 (1.78-3.16) ng/ml,β-HCG:0.10 (0.10-0.55) IU/L].The difference of levels of AFP and β-HCG between the case group and the control group were statistically significant ( P=0.000 ) .There were no significant difference when it comes to β-HCG between the case group and intrathoracic goiter patients in control group .Apart from it, the difference of levels of AFP and β-HCG between the case group and every single control group were statistically significant .Cut-off values of AFP and β-HCG for distinguishing mediastinal germ cell tumors from mediastinal tumors were 5.07 ng/ml and 2.32 IU/L.In this scenario, for AFP and β-HCG, sensitivity were 57.1%and 50%, specificity were 97.8%and 96.7%, accuracy were 54.9%and 46.7%, area under the curve ( AUC ) were 0.773 and 0.755, positive likelihood ratios were 26.00 and 15.17respectively.Parallel experiments contributed to increase the sensitivity to 71.4%. Predictive probability (P) =1/[1+exp ( -0.319AFP-0.253HCG+2.850)] was obtained by logistic regression model.When cut-off value of predictive probability ( P ) was 0.30, specificity, AUC, and positive likelihood ratio were increased to 98.9%, 0.835 and 65.00respectively, negative likelihood ratio was decreased to 0.29, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were increased also (96.8%and 88.2%respectively).Conclusion Serum β-HCG, AFP and predictive probability ( P ) is valuable in the diagnosis of mediastinal germ cell tumor .

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and related mechanism of triptolide pretreatment to prevent from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice liver. MethodsSixty male C57BL/6 mouse were randomized into four groups (15/group): A:sham group with saline , B: sham group with triptolide, C: saline I/R group, D: triptolide I/R group. The mice were pretreated with either saline or triptolide (0. 1 mg/kg/d) through intraperitoneal (ip) injection for one week. The mouse partial liver model of I/R injury was established, and samples were collected at 24 h after the I/R injury. ResultsSerum ALT and AST levels were significantly decreased and histological damage was significantly alleviated in the triptolide I/R group as compared with the saline I/R group (P＜0.05), the concentration of MDA in the triptolide groups was significantly decreased, while SOD activity was significantly increased compared with that of the saline I/R group (P＜0.05). The percentages of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) cells among CD4+ T cells in groups A, B, C, and D were(7. 55 ± 1.87)%, (12. 59±3. 87)%,(7. 85±1.07)%, and(12. 02±3. 16)% in liver tissue, respectively. The expression levels of Foxp3 mRNA were significantly higher in the triptolide I/R group than those of saline I/R group (P＜0. 05). ELISA showed that triptolide could significantly inhibit the levels of IL-6, IL-Iβ and TNF-αand promoted the level of IL-10 in the serum (P＜0.05). Conclusion Pretreatment with triptolide could effectively prevent from liver I/R injury, which may be related to the induction of Treg cells by triptolide, the increase in the level of IL-10 in serum, and the inhibition of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α production in serum.

Objective To explore a new high-throughput method with internal standards for analyzing the methylation profiles of lung cancer related genes. Methods The promoter sequences of 7 lung cancer related genes were cloned into plasmids and the target segments were amplified by their special primers respectively. The products were treated with M. Sss Ⅰ methylase and bisulfite. The multiplex ligation PCR method was established by designing probes containing CpGpCpG(for methylatedsequence) at the 3' ends and choosing the optimal ligation enzyme, annealing and ligation temperatures. The standard calibrators and clinic samples were tested by fluid chip platform. The results were validated by methylationspecific PCR. Results We successfully set up the standard calibrators for methylation and unmethylaiton of 7 lung cancer related genes and established a multiplex ligation PCR combined with fluid chip method, which was used to detect methylation status of 7 genes simultaneously. The fluorescence value of p16INK4A, APC,DAPK, RARIβ, RASSF1 A, MGMT and GSTP1 methylation standard calibrators were 863,909,703,701,901,1 060 and 885, much higher than that of unmethylation standard calibrators. The results were consistent with the results of methylation-specific PCP. ConclusionThe new high-throughput method can be used to evaluate the methylation status of 7 lung cancer related genes simultaneously and might be useful for clinical practice.

In this article is reported a study on the optimal complexity of the long electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. At first, the original signal sequence was symbolized, then its complexity was calculated by Lempel-Ziv algorithm, and different factors of the complexity were discussed, and three different kinds of ECG signals, i.e., normalcy, angina and myocardial infarction, were studied. The results indicate that the optimal threshold-value to symbolize the original signal and the optimal signal length are two main factors that affect the complexity value, and the optimal complexity value can effectively distinguish normal ECG and patients' ECG.
Algorithms ; Angina Pectoris ; diagnosis ; Biomedical Engineering ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Humans ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To investigate the effect of bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC)transplantation on microenvironments in a murine model of chronic vein thrombosis.EPCs transplantation was evaluated whether it can up-regulate thrombus organization and recanalization associated cytokines(VEGF,ANG-1 and MCP-1). Method EPCs from immature Wister rats' bone marrow were isolated using a Ficoll density gradient centrifugation,and cultured in fibronectin-coated plate in EGM-2M Vmedium.EPCs were harvested on the 10th day,then were transplanted into chronic inferior vens cava thrombus of adult Wister rat through the femoral vein.Rats were divided into three groups:blank control group(group A,sham operation),the control group(group B,the medium injected)and the experimental group(group C,EPCs injected).The rats were sacrificed after 28 days.VEGF,ANG-1 and MCP-1 mRNA was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and protein expression change by Western blotting from IVC and thrombus tissue. Results EPCs were identificated successfullv by immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence and function,then were transplanted into chronic inferior vena cava thrombus of adult rats.After EPCs transplantation,the VEGF,ANG-1 and MCP-1 mRNA expression in group C expression was significantly up-regulated with statistical significance(P＜0.01)compared with group A and group B in IVC and thrombus tissue by real-time PCR.There was no significant difference between group A and group B (P＞0.05).VEGF,ANG-1 and MCP-1 protein expression were similar to mRNA expression.There was significant increase in group C compared to group A and group B(P＜0.01)and no statistical significance between group A and group B(P＞0.05).Conclusion EPCs deriving from bone marrow may change the microenvimnment of chronic vein thrombus through up-regulating thrombus organization and recanalization associated cytokines(VEGF,ANG-1 and MCP-1).

Three different kinds of ECG data including the healthy, angina and myocardial infarction from the ECG database were analyzed to obtain the morphological difference sequence of their P-waves, QRS-wave and T-wave, and their RR interval sequences. Then the variability of these four sequences was analyzed by detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) method. The results indicate that, the changing pattern in the DFA index of RR interval sequence from the healthy to the morbidity is different from those of the P-wave, QRS-wave and T-wave. The DFA indices of the RR interval sequence are about 1 in all three states, while the DFA indices of the other three sequences are about 0.5 in the healthy and all decrease from the healthy to morbidity.
Angina Pectoris ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology

Objective A new method for detecting K-ras mutations based liquid chip was used to evaluate K-ras mutations associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients,to direct the personalized treatment and prognosis evaluation.Methods Take the diagnosis technology research methods,the sensitivity and repeatability of the liquid chip K-ras gene mutation detection method were assessed.A total of 100 NSCLC patients from Nov 2011 to Feb 2012 in Shanghai Chest hospital were included in this study,the fresh tumor tissues were collected for DNA extraction.The 2nd exon 12 and 13 codons,containing 8 K-ras mutations occuring in high frequency were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),followed by ligation of the PCR products to a series of special probes using ligase detection reaction (LDR),then the PCR-LDR products were analyzed by liquid chip platform.Direct sequencing was applied to compare with the detection results.Results The sensitivity of liquid chip technology detection was 10％-20％,higher than the traditional sequencing method by 1％.Average CV value was 4％-15％ and showed good repeatability.5 K-ras mutations in 100 patients (5％) were detected using multiplex PCR-LDR combined fluid chip methods,including 3 Glyl2Val and 2 Gly12Asp mutations in exon 2.The 5 K-ras mutations were verified accurately by direct sequencing.Conclusions The novel detection method of K-ras mutations based PCRLDR and fluid chip shows high throughput,high sensitivity,good repeatability and the results are reliable and accurate.This method can be used to accurately identified K-ras mutations for NSCLC patients prior to their targeted therapy with TKIs.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of triptolide (TPT) pretreatment against liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice and the possible mechanism. Methods Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (15/group): ( 1 ) TPT I/R group: The mouse partial liver model of I/R injury was established by the method of Koba-yashi. The portal triad (hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct) was occluded with a microvascular clamp for 90 min and 24 h reperfusion; (2) Sham group with TPT: Mice underwent surgical procedures including isolation of the portal triad without occlusion; (3) Saline I/R group: Surgery was performed as the same in the TPT I/R group, (4): Sham group with saline: Surgery was performed as the same in the TPT sham group, and the mice were pretreated with either saline or TPT (0. 1 mg · kg-1 day-1 ) by intraperitoneal injection for one week. The samples were collected at the 24th h after the I/R injury.The serum ALT and AST levels were determined, the histologic changes were observed by HE staining, the percentage of Th17 cells among mononuclear cells in liver tissue was analyzed by flow cytometry, the expression of IL-17 and ROR-γt mRNA was detected by real-time PCR, and the serum IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly decreased and the histological damage was significantly alleviated in the TPT I/R group as compared with saline I/R group (P＜0. 05). The percentage of Th17 cells among mononuclear cells in TPT I/R group, TPT sham group, saline I/R group, TPT saline group was ( 1.77 ± 0. 53)％, (0. 41± 0. 18)％, (4. 26 ± 0. 82)％ and (0. 72 ± 0. 23) ％ in liver tissue, respectively. The expression levels of the IL-17 and ROR-γt mRNA in the liver tissue, and IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β levels in the serum were significantly lower in TPT I/R group than in saline I/R group (P＜0. 05). Conclusion Pretreatment with low dose of TPT could effectively protect the liver from I/R injury in mice, which may be related to the inhibition of Th17 cells.

Objective To study the activation induced cell death (AICD) of CD4+ T cells in primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC)murine model induced by poly I∶C. Methods Thirty female C57BL/6 mice were divided into model and control group randomly, and the former were injected with 5 mg/kg of poly I∶C, the later with PBS. PBC mice were detected 16 weeks after injection. CD4+ T cells isolated from spleen were stimulated in vitro by Con A and anti-CD3, and the apoptosis were determined by Annexin-V and PI staining. The expression of Fas, FasL and TRAIL were assayed by relative quantitative real-time PCR. Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. Results Compared with control group, the portal areas of mice in model group were infiltrated with mononuclear cells obviously. The positive rate of serum antimitochondrial antibody(AMA) and the level of alkali phosphatase (ALP) were higher than that in control group (P<0.001). AICD of splenic CD4+ T cells in model group was lower than that of control group (P<0.001). The mRNA of FasL and TRAIL in model mice was down-regulated. Simultaneously, the anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 was up-regulated in model group. Conclusion These observations suggest that a defect in AICD of auto-reactive TH1 cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of PBC model. Furthermore, this defect in AICD may results from the change of Fas/FasL, TRAIL pathway and the up-regulation of Bcl-2.