OBJECTIVETo investigate the spiral ganglion degeneration and the expression of EFR3A in the cochlea of the deaf mice induced by co-administration of kanamycin and furosemide.

METHODSEight weeks old C57BL/6J mice were administered with a single dose of kanamycin followed by furosemide, then fluorescent immunohistochemistry staining and transmission electron microscopy were applied to observe the SGNs' degeneration process and extent characteristics at 1, 5, 15, 30 and 60 days following treatment. We detected the expression of EFR3A during the degeneration of SGNs via fluorescent immunohistochemistry and western blotting.

RESULTSCo-administration of kanamycin and furosemide quickly induced cochlear hair cell death in mice, and then caused progressive degeneration of SGNs. Our results showed that the abnormal morphology of SGNs occurredat day 5 following administration, and the number of SGNs began to decrease at day 15. Compared to the control group, it was found the remarkable increase of the EFR3A protein at the fifth day after co-administration, then decreased to the nearly normal at 15 days following treatment, and no further significant changes thereafter.

CONCLUSIONThe changes of the EFR3A protein expression in the spiral ganglion of the cochlea in mice are coincidence with the time of the SGNs degeneration to happen, which imply that EFR3A may play an important role in the occurrence of the SGNs' degeneration in the cochlea in mice following hair cells loss.

Animals ; Cochlea ; metabolism ; Furosemide ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; Kanamycin ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins ; metabolism ; Spiral Ganglion ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the personality and character of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients.

METHODSSubjects, recruited from May 2013 to February 2014, were assigned to the severe OSAHS group (56 cases), mild-moderate OSAHS group (59 cases), and control group (42 cases) on the basis of apnea hyponea index (AHI). Subjects were assigned to the severe hypoxemia group (24 cases), mild-moderate hypoxemia group (91 cases) on the basis of PaO2. The psychological aspects of subjects were assessed by using the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI).

RESULTSCompared between OSAHS group and the control group, differences of 6 clinical scales depression (D), hysteria (Hy), masculinity (Mf), paranoia (Pa), anxiety (A), ego strength (Es) were significant (t value was 2.609, 2.133, -2.294, 2.520, 2.041, 2.675 respectively, all P < 0.05). The scores of OSAHS group were higher than the control group on five clinical scales, depression (D), hysteria (Hy), paranoia (Pa), anxiety (A), ego strength (ES). The scores of OSAHS group were lower than the control group on clinical scale masculinity (Mf). Compared between severe OSAHS group and mild-moderate OSAHS group, differences of 6 clinical scales depression (D), paranoia (Pa), psychasthenia (Pt) anxiety (A), manifest anxiety scale (MAS), dependency (Dy) were significant (t value was 2.460, 2.086, 2.181, 2.121, 2.954, 1.982, respectively). The scores of severe OSAHS group were all higher than the mild-moderate OSAHS group on these six clinical scales. Compared between severe hypoxemia group and the contrast group, differences of 4 clinical scales depression (D), masculinity (Mf), paranoia (Pa), ego strength (Es) were significant (t value was respectively 2.992, -2.221, 2.164, 2.165, all P < 0.05). The scores of severe hypoxemia group were higher than the control group on 3 clinical scales, depression (D), paranoia (Pa), ego strength (ES), and lower than the control group on clinical scale masculinity (Mf). Compared between severe hypoxemia group and mild-moderate hypoxemia group, psychasthenia (Pt) were significant (t value was 1.984). The scores of severe hypoxemia group were higher.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with health people, OSAHS patients have special personality and character. The degree of OSAHS can infect the personality and character of OSAHS patients.

Case-Control Studies ; Depression ; complications ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; complications ; MMPI ; Personality ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo explore the best administration for the differentiated thyroid cancer in children under 14 years by reviewing of their clinical characteristics, treatment methods and results.

METHODSClinical data of 29 patients under 14 years with differentiated thyroid cancer in Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between January 1998 and July 2014 were reviewed respectively.

RESULTSNeck mass was the chief complaint in 27 of 29 patients. Unilateral thyroid carcinoma was found in 16 cases, and bilateral in 13 cases. Solid tumor with multiple punctate calcification was observed in 21 cases (72.4%). Cervical lymph nodes enlargement was found in 24 cases (82.8%), and 15 cases (62.5%) were bilateral. Among 20 patients received primary thyroid surgery in our hospital, 18 cases presented with T2 or advanced diseases and 16 cases had cervical lymph nodes enlargement. The resection of unilateral lobe with isthmus was performed in 2 cases, and total thyroidectomy in 18 patients, including 1 case with partial trachea resection. Neck dissection was performed in 16 patients. Of 9 patients received primary thyroid surgery in other hospitals, 8 cases presented with cervical lymph node enlargement after surgery and 6 cases with pulmonary metastasis, of them 5 patients received neck dissection, 4 patients underwent resection of residual thyroid cancer plus neck dissection. Twenty-seven of all patients were treated postoperatively with 131I. All patients received follow-up, and the meaning follow-up time was 6 years and 10 months (0.5 years-16 years). No cases with death, local recurrence, and metastasis were observed in the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSDifferentiated thyroid cancer is more invasive in children compared with adults. Comprehensive treatment including total thyroidectomy, neck dissection and postoperative 131I therapy may be a basic approach for the differentiated thyroid cancer in children.

Child ; China ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm, Residual ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy