Traditionally, a novice ear doctor acquires the skillfully operative ability through dissecting cadaveric temporal bone in ear surgical training lab. For conceivable reasons donated bodies are always short in supply, virtual reality-based simulator provides a new model for surgical training. It has been proven that the simulator is a useful tool for surgical training. And it can be used in the rehearsal of operation procedures, real-time operation guidance, and remote surgery. Our design is different from the existing virtual surgical system. It has a parallel, distributed multi-workstation with the vivid three-dimensional model of temporal bone, and it can be used not only to learn the ear surgical skills in the virtual environment, but also preoperative plan and surgical consultation.
Ear Diseases ; surgery ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Otolaryngology ; education ; User-Computer Interface

Objective: To investigate whether plasma microRNAs has-let-7d and has-let-7e can be used as potential molecular markers for workers with occupational exposure to mercury. Methods: October 2013, the workers with occupational exposure to mercury who worked in a mercury thermometer factory and participated in occupational health examination were selected as subjects, and biological samples and basic data were collected. The subjects were divided into chronic mercury poisoning group,mercury absorption group,and control group,with 30 individuals in each group. AmicroRNA microarray combined with RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of has-let-7d and has-let-7e in the three groups, the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the values of has-let-7d and has-let-7e in the diagnosis of occupational chronic mercury poisoning,a software platform was used to predict target genes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were also performed. Results: Compared with the control group, the chronic mercury poisoning group and the mercury absorption group had significant increases in the expression of has-let-7d and has-let-7e(P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curve for microRNAs has-let-7d and has-let-7e in the diagnosis of occupational chronic mercury poisoning were 0.912(95% confidence interval[CI]0.843-0.981)and 0.908(95%CI0.837-0.979),respectively,and there was a significant difference between them(P<0.001). Conclusion Plasma microRNAs has-let-7d and has-let-7e can be used as potential molecular markers for workers with occupational exposure to mercury.

Objective: To explore the effect of occupational exposure to glyphosate on hepatorenal function. Methods: 526 workers who were occupationally exposed to glyphosate from 5 glyphosate-producing factories were selected as cases; and another 442 administrative staffs who were not exposed to glyphosate were selected as controls from April to November, 2014. All the subjects accepted occupational health examination. The concentration level of glyphosate in the air of workshop was detected and the time weighted average concentration (TWA) was calculated. And analyze the difference of hepatorenal fuction between case group and control group. Result: The age of the subjects in the case and control groups were separately (35.6±10.3), (34.3±9.7) years old, with the length of working for (6.5±5.7), (7.7±6.8) years. The TWA of glyphosate in the case group was between <0.03-48.91 mg/m³, with the geometric mean at 3.78 mg/m³. The overall rates of abnormal hepatic and renal function in the case group were 14.4% (76 cases) and 16.2% (85 cases), respectively; while those were 5.0% (22 cases) and 4.8% (21 cases), respectively in control group, and the difference showed statistical significance (P<0.05). When TWA reached <0.03-6.00 mg/m³, the difference of hepatorenal fuction between case group and control group showed statistical significance, and the rates of abnormal hepatic and renal function was 8.0% (36/447) and 9.8% (44/447) respectively in case group. When cumulative exposure level reached <1.56-68.64 g, the difference of hepatorenal fuction between case group and control group showed statistical significance, and the rates increased to 9.2% (37/404) and 10.4% (42/404) respectively in group of cases. Conclusion Glyphosate can affect the hepatic and renal function among occupational exposure population, and there was an association between the effect and the exposure dose.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic alternatives and evaluate the related clinical results of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) treated with gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS).

METHODSFrom January 1995 to December 2001, 44 patients suffering from PCNSL, who had undergone stereotactic biopsy or craniotomy, and who had received a confirmed diagnosis through pathological examination, were treated with GKS. All cases were followed up for 1 - 46 months with an average postoperative period of 27 months. The clinical materials, image features, treatment methods and results of follow-up, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThe symptoms and signs of the patients were markedly improved within 1 - 3 weeks after GKS. The Kanofsky performance status was also improved from a preoperative average of 40% to a postoperative one of 90%. Thirty-eight patients (86.36%) were in complete remission (CR), the other six (13.63%) were in partial remission (PR). The local control rate reached 100%, and the median survival time was 26.5 months. The main side effect was brain edema, which can be treated with dexamethasone and mannitol.

CONCLUSIONGKS is a safe and effective method in multimodality treatment of PCNSL. A stereotactic biopsy coupled with GKS is the first choice for diagnosis and treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy should then be given according to the patient's condition.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Neoplasms ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Previous studies suggest that NGAL (neutro phil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) is involved in the transformation and development of esophageal carcinoma. Alteration of NGAL expression can trigger the change of cellular morphology in esophageal carcinoma cells. However, the mechanisms remain unclear. To get a better understanding of NGAL function in esophageal carcinoma, NGAL protein was expressed in methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, and purified by chromatography. EC1.71 cells expressed high levels of NGALR (NGAL receptor) and EC109 cells expressed low levels of NGALR were used as cells model. The trafficking and the possible function of NGAL protein were then analyzed in the esophageal carcinoma cells. The results showed that 5-FAM-labeled recombinant NGAL protein could internalize into the EC1.71 and EC109 cells. Furthermore, the internalized NGAL protein could induce the alteration of cellular morphology, resulting in generation of autophagosome, transcriptional up-regulation of genes associated with autophagy and increase of phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2). Interestingly, the treatment with the NGAL protein did not affect the intracellular iron level. These data indicate that induced autophagy by exogenous NGAL protein is a mechanism that internalized NGAL plays important roles in esophageal carcinoma cells, independent with NGAL-mediated iron transport process, while ERK1/2 signal pathway is involved in activation of autophagy by exogenous NGAL protein.

Objective: To investigate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms of rs12212067 in FOXO3 gene and the susceptibility to occupational noise-induced deafness in a Chinese Han population. Methods: A total of 1 066 cases of noise exposure workers from a large chemical fiber factory in Jiangsu Province were selected as the study subjects. All subjects’ basic data and field exposure data were collected through questionnaires and occupational health surveys. The subjects were divided into case group (531 persons, double ear high frequency average hearing threshold>25 dB) and control group (535 persons, double ear high frequency average hearing threshold≤25 dB) according to their results of pure tone hearing test .2ml fasting venous blood was collected for DNA extraction and genotyping was performed by TaqMan-PCR technique. Results: Genotyping results suggested that the GT+GG genotype is a risk factor for occupational noise-induced deafness, with an adjusted OR 95% confidence interval of 2.044 (1.51-2.78) . After the noise exposure intensity was stratified, the adjusted OR values and the 95% confidence intervals of noise intensity ≤85, 85-92 and>92 dB respectively 2.43 (1.52-3.90) , 2.17 (1.03-4.59) and 1.74 (1.07-2.83) . Conclusion GT-GG genotype in rs12212067 of FOXO3 gene may be a risk factor for occupational noise-induced deafness.

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic test strip incorporating a colloidal gold-labeled recombinant Nsp7 antigen probe was successfully developed for the detection of anti-porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) antibodies in swine. Recombinant Nsp7 protein of PRRSV labeled with colloidal gold was dispensed on a conjugate pad for use as the detector. Staphylococcal protein A and purified porcine anti-Nsp7 antibodies were blotted on a nitrocellulose membrane to form test and control lines, respectively. A comparison of the strip with standard diagnostic tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoperoxidase monolayer assay, was also performed. The immunochromatographic test strip was shown to be of high specificity and sensitivity. Furthermore, the strip assay is rapid and easy to perform with no requirement for professional-level skills or equipment. It is suggested that the immunochromatographic test strip can be used to quickly and accurately detect PRRSV antibody and to be suitable for diagnostic purposes in the field.
Antibodies* ; Collodion ; Colloids ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gold Colloid ; Immunochromatography ; Membranes ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome* ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Swine

Objective To compare the coding sequences (CDS) of Yersinia pestis D106004 strain from Yulong County in Yunnan Province and Z176003 strain from Qing-Tibet Plateau in order to find the differences between their genomes and the genetic characteristics. Methods The CDS of Yersinia pestis D106004 strain and Z176003 strain were searched and compared by BLAST. Twenty-two differential CDS were selected to design 22 pairs of primers. PCR amplification was carried out in 119 representative plague strains from different isolation sources (natural foci of Himalayan marmot plague in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, natural foci of Apodemus chevrieri and Eothenomys miletus plague in Yunnan), time span of about 50 years, and distribution in six ecological types including Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan, and PCR products were sequenced and verified. The strains were all from the State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Results In 119 representative plague strains of 6 ecological types, the cumulative sequence length of 22 differential CDS PCR amplification products was 2.13 × 106 bp. Among the 119 representative plague strains in the foci of Yulong D106004 strain and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Z176003 strain, 22 differential CDS had high homology, there was no difference in 78.2％ (2047/2618) sequences of differential CDS, and 21.8％ (571/2618) sequences had three types of gene mutations ( deletion , missense and frameshift mutations). The characteristics of the differences were stable in the 6 ecological plague strains of the foci, and they were divided into 6 geographical distributions. Conclusion Yulong D106004 strain and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Z176003 strain have high homology, close genetic relationship, and little difference in genome, but the genetic characteristics of different ecotype strains are stable.

Objective: To investigate the association between the whole blood riboflavin level and the occurrence, development and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in China. Methods: From March 2014 to September 2018, ESCC patients from three hospitals (the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou Central Hospital in Southern Chaoshan area and First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in Northern Taihang Mountain) were selected as a case group; non-esophageal patients who had a physical examination were selected as a control group. The case and control group were paired by age (±5 years) and a 1:1 ration. A total of 1 528 subjects were enrolled including 764 patients in the case group and 764 patients in the control group. About 3-5 ml venous blood samples were collected, and the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (GRAC) was measured to assess the whole blood riboflavin level. A multivariate conditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between the GRAC and the risk of ESCC. The association between the GRAC and the prognosis of ESCC was analyzed by using Cox proportional risk regression model based on 288 patients with complete survival data. They were divided into two groups, the high GRAC group (GRAC≥7.87) group and the low GRAC group (GRAC<7.87) according to the strongest correlation between the total survival time, survival outcome and GRAC (GRAC=7.87). Results: Among the 1 528 patients, 958 patients were from Southern Chaoshan area, including 479 patients in the case group with an average age about (59.90±9.34) years and 479 patients in the control group with an average age about (59.55±8.77) years. Other 570 patients were from Northern Taihang Mountain area, including 285 patients in the case group with an average age (58.39±5.19) years and 285 patients in the control group with an average age about (58.74±4.57) years. The multivariate conditional logistic regression showed that the OR (95%CI) of the GRAC and the risk of ESCC was 1.009 (0.998-1.019). The Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that the HR (95%CI) of the high GRAC group was 1.712 (1.034-2.824) compared with the low GRAC group in the 50-70 years group. Conclusion The whole blood riboflavin level might not be associated with the occurrence of ESCC. The high whole blood riboflavin level would be more beneficial to the prognosis of ESCC patients aged 50-70 years.