BACKGROUND: Formerly, it was thought that the damaged hair cells could not have the repair ability. Recent studies demonstrate that mammal vestibule hair cells also possess certain repair ability after being destroyed.Then, whether mammalia animal cochlea hair cells possess regenerative ability after being destroyed is disputed.OBJECTIVE: To observe cochlear hair cells condition and threshold value change of auditory brainstem response (ABR) at different time following gentamicin ototoxicity by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique combined with ABR test, so as to investigate whether cochlear hair cells of mammals can be regenerated after being injured.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Shenyang Medical College.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Hearing Research Room of China Medical University from November 2001 to May 2002. Totally 60 healthy adult white Guinea pigs, with red eyes and sensitive auricle reflex, of clean degree, were used and randomly divided into gentamicin group and normal control group with 30 guinea pigs in each one.METHODS: 100 mg/kg gentamicin was intraperitoneally daily injected into the guinea pigs, serving as gentamicin group. Same volume of normal saline (2.5 mL/kg) was intraperitoneally daily injected into the guinea pigs,serving as normal control group. All the guinea pigs were given medication for 10 successive days. Threshold value of ABR was detected respectively pre-operatively and at the 1st, 3rd, 30th days postoperatively; after withdrawal and execution, scanning electron microscope was used to observe cochlear hair cells of guinea pigs in each group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Threshold value of ABR. ②Cochlear hair cell change of guinea pigs at different time following gentamicin ototoxicity.RESULTS: All the 60 experimental animals entered the stage of result analysis with no loss in the midway. ①At 1,3 and 30 days after withdrawal of gentamicin, threshold value of ABR was significantly higher as compared with normal control group, with significant difference [(38.00±3.75), (2.22 ±3.63) dB nHL,t=30.651, P ＜ 0.001];[(39.09±4.22), (2.50±3.54) dB nHL, t=29.708, P ＜ 0.001];[(14.50±3.69), (1.50±2.42) dB nHL,t =13.175, P ＜ 0.001]. Threshold value of ABR recovered obviously on day 30, but did not reach the normal level. ②On the first day after withdrawal of gentamicin , stereocilium of hair cells in second turn of cochlea of guinea pigs presented fusion, distortion, lodging, loss or incompetence and other pathological changes , especially severe in the third turn , also cystic form protrutions appeared outside the stereocilium of inner hair cell; On day 3 after withdrawal of gentamicin, stereocilium of outer hair cells in the second turn of cochlea of guinea pigs still presented fusion, loss, lodging and other pathological changes. Stereocilium of inner hair cell still showed lodging,but the outside cystic form protrutions decreased; On day 30 after withdrawal of gentamicin, stereocilium of outer hair cells in the second turn of cochlea presented fusion, loss , lodging and other pathological change ,which were obviously weaker than those on the 1st day and 3rd day after withdrawal of gentamicin , and at the same time , new born stereocilium appeared in the third turn of cochlea.CONCLUSION: Cochlear hair cell morphology recovery appears in those which survive for 30 days after cochlear hair cells of guinea pigs are damaged following gentamicin ototoxicity, and threshold value of ABR also recovers to some extent, suggesting that cochlear hair cells possess regenerative and repair ability following gentamicin ototoxicity. Hair cells after gentamicin-induced cochlear damage possess regenerative ability.

Objective To evaluate the activities of four demestic macrolides against C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae by antimicrobiai susceptibility testing. Methods Cell culture and immunoflourescence staining of chlamydial inclusions were used to determine MICs of four demestic macrolides against C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. Results MIC (0.5 μg/ml) was found for acylspriramycin,erythromycin and azithromycin against C. trachomatis serovar B while it was 4 μg/ml for acetylspiramycin. Agaisnt C. trachomatis serovar D, MIC was 0.25 μg/mi in both acylspriramycin and azithromycin, and MICs were 0.5 μg/ml and 2 μml in erythromycin and acetylspiramycin, separately. Agaisnt C. pneumoniae TWAR, erythromycin was the most active with MIC≤0. 016 μg/ml, acylspriramycin and azithromycin were the second with same M1C of 0.032 μg/ml. However, acetylspiramycin was less active with 0.5 μg/ml of MIC. Conclusion Except acetylspiramycin, acylspriramycin erythromycin and azithromycin had reliable activities against both C. trachomatis (serovar B and D) and C. pneumoniae.

Objective To investigate the expression and the effect of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) in neonatal sepsis.Methods We separated 77 newborn infants into 3 groups, which were septic group (26 cases),non-septic group (31 cases) and control group (20 cases). NF-?B existed in PBMC was detected in 3 different periods, including at admission, after the 24th hour and 48th hour of admission, of the septic group and the non-septic group by flow cytometry. At the same time, the sample of the septic group and the non-septic group were drawn for blood cultures at admission before using antibiotics.Results The expression of NF-?B in septic group was more significant than that in the other 2 groups (P

We treated 40 cases of stubborn constipation by puncturing Zhongwan (CV 12),Qihai (CV 6), Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral), Daheng (SP 15, bilateral). After 20 times of treatment, 16 cases were cured(accounting for 45%) ,18 cases were significantly improved(accounting for 45%),4 case were improved(accounting for 10%),2 cases were ineffective(accounting for 5%).The total effective rate was 95%.

ObjectiveTo analyze the seroepidemiologic of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and evaluate antibiotics medication of some positive patients by follow-up. Methods Serodia-MycolⅡ particle agglutination assay was used to detect serum antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 3 134 clinically suspected infections. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was determined and seroepidemiologic was analyzed by results of the test, including positive antibody rates in whole subjects, in male or female groups, in different seasons or age groups as well as in different sources. Evaluate antibiotics medication of some positive patients by follow-up. The average days of medication were counted, different antibiotics medication and medication effect were analyzed. Results In 3 134 serum samples from clinically suspected Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 350 ( 11.2％ ) were tested with positive antibodies. The positive antibody rate in female patients was 12. 3％ ( 198/1 604), which was higher than 9. 9％ ( 152/1 530) in males (X2 =4. 58,P ＜0. 05). The peak season was found in the fourth quarter (October-December) with 13.2％ of positive antibody and the highest positive rate (32. 8％, 45/137 ) was found in school aged (5 -9 years old )children. Samples from pediatrics clinic and ward were tested to have highest positive rates ( 27. 9％ and 26. 5％, respectively ), comparing that from other sources. Infection due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 28％ (7/25) of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients, which is higher than other diseases. Based on the follow-up of 91 antibody positive patients, between 5 to 120 days ( mean 24. 2 days )were counted from appearance of clinical symptoms to clinic visiting/testing. 71 of 91 (78. 0％ ) patients was medicated with macrolide antibiotics, 4 (4. 4％ ) with quinolones, 4 (4. 4％ ) with cephalosporin, and the rest 12 ( 13.2％ ) patients were medicated with other antibiotics or only symptomatic treatment. The average period of antibiotics medication was between 3 to 21 days (mean 8. 2 days). Medication effect results by follow-up were cure in 35 ( 38. 5％ ), improvement in 50 (54. 9％ ), and poor responses in 6 (6. 6％ ).ConclusionsMycoplasma pneumoniae positive rate in female patients was higher than in males, and peak rate was found in the fourth quarter and in school aged children. Samples from pediatrics clinic and ward were tested to have highest positive rates. Physicians could choose first line antibiotics according to laboratory test results of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and gain good effect.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenesis and pathophysiological changes of chronic compressive cervical myelopathy havenotbeen completely clarified.OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of experimental chronic compressive cervical myelopathy for the exploration of the pathological and electrophysiological changes after chronic spinal compression.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled observatory study using experimental animals as subjects.SETTING: An Animal Experimental Center of a University and an Orthopaedic Laboratory of Affiliated Hospital of a Military Medical University MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the Animal Experimental Center of Nantong Medical University and the Orthopaedic Laboratory of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital from June 2002 to April 2003. Sixty 12-week healthy Chinese rabbits of either gender with a bodymass between 2.5 kg and 3.0 kg were randomly divided into control group( n = 6) and study group( n = 54).METHODS: Titanic metal screw was put into C5 vertebra through cervical anterior approach for progressive compression to establish chronic cervical myelopathy model.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Principal consequences: ①histological examination ;②electrophysiological examination. Secondary consequence:neural function evaluation.RESULTS: Totally 48 rabbits entered into result analysis, in which 6 rabbits from control group and 42 rabbits from study group. Modified Tarlov's motor function evaluation was 3 in 31 rabbits with compression signs, and 4 in 11rabbits without compression signs. The latency of N1 wave in cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (CSEP) was (9.11 ± 1.61 ), ( 11.36 ± 2.17)and (17.55 ± 3.73) ms respectively in animals of control group, animals of study group without compression signs and animals of study group with compression signs. The lantency of CSEP N1 wave was significantly longer in animals of study group with compression signs than that of the animals in the control group and study group without compression signs (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: This animal model can simulate clinical invasion process of chronic compressive cervical myelopathy. The severer the spinal compression is, the more often the compression signs appear, the longer the lantency of CSEP N1 wave is, and the more serious the spinal pathological damages are.

Objective To study the impact of vegetation changes on the distribution of Oncomelania hupensis in the marshland and lake regions.MethodsA bottomland from the 14 bottomlands along the Qiupu River in the Guichi District,Chizhou City,Anhui Province was selected,and a 50 m?50 m area of uniform vegetation was choosed as the research field.Low-grass group,boundary-grass group,hay group and control group were designed to represent four types of vegetation's status and the snail density,soil temperature and soil moisture were surveyed half a month after the design.The change of Oncomelania hupensis's distribution due to the vegetation change was analyzed statistically.ResultsThe snail density of the hay group was nearly 0 with high soil moisture and low soil temperature.The snail density of the low-grass group was obviously decreased(32.1/0.1 m2),and the snail density of the boundary group slightly increased,which had no statistical significance compared with the snail density of the control group.ConclusionsOncomelania hupensis moves from the low-grass group to the boundary group after the vegetation is cut down,which changes the distribution of snail.Hay group is the worst environment for Oncomelania hupensis to survive and the method of cut-overlay grass may be used to improve the effect of molluscicide.

Objective To explore a possible method for determining the appropriate sample size of Oncomelania hupensis in the marshland and lake regions. Methods Four bottomlands were selected randomly along the Qiupu River in Guichi District, Anhui Province. Oncomelania snails were surveyed carefully in these bottomlands and brought back to the laboratory to judge whether they were alive or not with mild water. All the data of Oncomelania hupensis were doubly input into the EpiData software and checked for the errors. Repeated sampling was performed in the four databases according to different sample sizes by using SAS software and the corresponding snail density was also calculated. According to the values of sample size and corresponding snail density, sample size-snail density absolutely changing curve and relatively changing curve were drawn to determine the appropriate sample size of snail survey. Results The appropriate sample sizes of snail survey were 40,200,100 and 200 frames in Gutan bottomland, Caizi bottomland, Qiupu bottomland and Ouyang bottomland, respectively. Conclusion Sample size-snail density absolutely changing curve and relatively changing curve could provide some instructions for choosing the appropriate sample size during the process of snail survey in the marshland and lake regions.

Objective Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9 ) and serum level of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected to investigate their distributions between patients with stable stroke and those with asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis and to explore their clinical significance. Methods The mean level of the serum hs-CRP of the group with recurrent stroke (2.34 mg/L)was the highest, followed by that of the group with the stable stroke( 1.45 mg/L),asymptomatic intracranial artery stenosis ( 1.31 mg/L) and control group (0.96 mg/L) ( P = 0.001 ). The level of the MMP-9 was in sequence of recurrent stroke group ( 121.82 ± 72.99 ) μg/L ＞ asymptomaticintracranial artery stenosis group ( 119.18 ± 80.01 ) μg/L ＞ stable stroke group( 112.76 ± 59.66) μg/L,while no statistical significance was found among groups( P = 0.947 ). However, the level of MMP-9 of three patient groups( 118.08 ± 71.06 ) μg/L was significant higher than control group( 57.55 ± 10.44 )μg/L (P ＜0.001 ). The spearman analysis for the relationship showed that the concentration of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP ( r = 0.337, P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusions The hs-CRP maintained a high level in stable stage of stroke. The MMP-9 level in the patients group was significant higher than control group and the level of MMP-9 was positively associated with that of hs-CRP which suggested MMP-9 might be correlated with atherosclerosis other than stroke occurrence.

AIM:To establish the quality standard for Xuesaitong Granule(total saponins of Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng). METHODS:The contents of notoginsenoside R1,ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 were determined on the Shim-Pack C 18 (250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m) column,with CH3CN—H2O gradual elution and monitored at 203 nm. RESULTS:The average recovery of notoginsenoside R1 was 100.0% (RSD=1.00%,n=6),the minimum detection quantity cannot be lower than 5% labelled weight. The average recovery of ginsenoside Rg1 was 99.8 % (RSD=0.47%,n=6),the minimum detection quantity cannot be lower than 20% labelled weight. The average recovery of ginsenoside Rb1 was 99.8% (RSD=0.79%,n=6),the minimum detection quantity cannot be lower than 30% labelled weight. CONCLUSION:The method is simple,reliable,accurate and can be applied to the quality control of Xuesaitong Granules.