Tinnitus is the most common disease in Otology, and extremely difficult for treatment in clinic, abnormal events in the cochlea (the abnormal events can result in abnormal neuronal activity in central auditory pathways that can then be finally perceived as tinnitus). Neuroplasticity events at the auditory cortex (AC) have been reported to include hyperactive of cortical neurons and an increase in neuronal synchronization. Our recent studies showed the changes markedly, in the expression of the excitatory glutamate receptor subtype NR2B in mRNA and protein levels, and also some changes in synaptic ultrastructure of neurons in auditory cortex of tinnitus animal. We propose that the mechanisms of tinnitus centralization may arise from abnormal events in the cochlea, and result in abnormal neuronal activity at multiple levels which promote abnormal propagation of neural activity in the central auditory pathway. The plastic change may be positive and adaptive as with learning or memory, or in the compensation after abnormal events in the cochlea that results in new neuronal networks that restore normal function. Alternatively, the neuroplasticity changes might be maladaptive leading perhaps to an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory events in the brain. Indeed, tinnitus may be the consequence of such maladaptive neuroplasticity brain alterations (synaptic structure) has even gone a step further and described tinnitus as the perceptual manifestation of plastic brain changes that result in abnormal neuronal activity. The neuroplasticity changes may also make tinnitus persists, eventually leading to the existence of tinnitus cochlear-originated in the central pathway. They may also extend to non-sensory areas of the brain giving rise to the attentional and emotional aspects that often accompany the disorder. New pathophysiological insights maybe prompt the development of management approaches to directly target the neuroplasticity processes correlates of tinnitus.
Auditory Cortex ; Humans ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy

China ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening

Objective To explore the water quality of the product water from the centralized water supply system in Hunan, 2006. Methods The sanitary quality of the product water samples collected from 28 centralized water supply system in cities and 39 centralized water supply system in counties in Hunan, 2006, which distributed among the area of Xiangjiang River, Zishui River, Yuanjiang River and Lishui River, were determined and evaluated according to the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB5749—2006). Results The eligible rate of the water sample was 70.1%. Among 74 water quality indexes, 12 indexes (such as antimony,aluminum,pH value,manganese and so on) exceeded the standard limits in degrees in some centralized water supply systems. Most of the routine indices of water quality were unqualified and the reference indices were qualified. The quality of some water samples presented statistical difference in some indices (such as aluminum, sulphate, arsenic, et al) among 4 different river areas in Hunan province (P

Objective To detect the double DNA of trisomy 21 syndrome patients by denaturing high-performance liquid chro-matography(DHPLC) in order to rapidly diagnose trisomy 21 syndrome .Methods To amplify DNA fragments of three short tan-dem repeats of D21S111 ,D21S1411 and D21S1412 using corresponding primers .Then DHPLC was introduced to analyze the DNA fragments in the temperature of 50 ℃ .Results DHPLC elution profiles of D21S111 ,D21S1411 and D21S1412 of normal control showed one peak or two peaks with the same altitude .However DHPLC elution profiles of 21 trisomy syndrome patients showed two peaks of different altitudes ,which one′s altitude was twice than another .Conclusion DHPLC is a sensitive ,convenient ,auto-matic and highly-efficient method to diagnose trisomy 21 syndrome and can be widely used in the clinic diagnosis .

Objective To investigated the neuroprotective effect of PTEN inhibitor BPV on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and its mechanism. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to induce a reperfusion model of middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 h. During the reperfusion, the BPV solution (0. 2 mg/kg daily) or the equal volume of saline was injected intraperitonealy immediately. The neurological deficit scores were conducted at day 1, 3,5, and 7 after ischemia-reperfusion. At day 4, triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess cerebral infarction volume. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) in cortical ischemic border zones. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression level of PTEN mRNA. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and p-GSK-3β. At day 7, Bielschowsky silver staining was used to detect the axonal distribution in the ischemic border zone of the striatum. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP). Results At day 4 after ischemia-reperfusion, the infarct volume (32. 27% ± 1. 71% vs. 45. 49% ± 2. 12% ; P < 0. 001), TNF-α concentration in the cortical ischemic border zones (134. 17 ± 10. 38 pg/ml vs. 264. 17 ± 24. 84 pg/ml; P < ), and PTEN mRNA level (1. 19 ± 0. 08 vs. 2. 50 ± 0. 06; P < 0. 001) in the rats of the BPV group were al significantly lower than those of the normal saline group. The IL-10 concentration (186. 83 ± 10. 83 pg/ml vs. 147. 83 ± 11. 62 pg/ml; P < 0. 001), and the expression levels of PI3K (0. 43 ± 0. 08 vs. 0. 26 ± 0. 06; P = 0. 004), Akt (0. 52 ± 0. 05 vs. 0. 40 ± 0. 04;P = 0. 001), and p-GSK-3β (0. 75 ± 0. 08 vs. 0. 38 ± 0. 06; P < 0. 001) were al significantly higher than those of the normal saline group. At day 7 after ischemia-reperfusion, the neurological deficit score (4. 83 ± 0. 41 vs. 6. 33 ± 0. 52; P < 0. 001) in the rats of the BPV group was significantly lower than that of the normal saline group. The axon densities in the ischemic border zones (35. 51% ± 2. 45% vs. 25. 31% ± 2. 79% ; P < 0. 001) and the expression level of MBP (32. 56% ± 3. 46% vs. 27. 81% ± 4. 18% ; P = 0. 037) were significantly higher than those of the normal saline group. Conclusions BPV has neuroprotective effect for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Its mechanism may be associated with the up-regulation of PTEN downstream proteins PI3K, Akt and p-GSK-3β expression to regulate inflammatory mediators and reduce the inflammatory response.

Objective To compare the value of (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy and planar X-ray mammography in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods A total of 32 patients with suspected breast cancer were enrolled into this study. All patients underwent (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy and planar X-ray mammography. The diagnostic efficiency of (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy and planar X-ray mammography were compared based on the post-surgery pathology. Results The sensitivity of (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy and planar X-ray mammography in the diagnosis of breast cancer was 91.67% and 66.67%, the specificity was 100% and 37.50%, the accuracy was 93.75% and 59.38%, respectively. Combining (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy with planar X-ray mammography, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predicting values and negative predicting values for breast cancer was 95.83%, 100%, 96.88%, 82.14% and 47.06%, respectively. Conclusion The diagnostic efficiency of (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy for breast cancer is superior to planar X-ray mammography. (~99m) Tc-octreotide scintigraphy combined with planar X-ray mammography, the diagnostic efficiency for breast cancer will be further improved.

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis for patients with acute cerebral infarction in a second-grand class-A hospital and a third-grand class-A hospital. Methods Twenty-one consecutive patients with cerebral infarction treated with alteplase for intravenous thrombolysis were enrolled in a second-grand class-A hospital (Fengtai Hospital,Beijing)prospectively from January 2012 to December 2013 as the study group,and 65 patients in a third-grand class-A teaching hospital (Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University,Beijing)admitted at the same period for intravenous thrombolysis were used as a control group. The differences of efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis in patients of both groups were compared. The primary outcome measures were Barthel Index (BI)at day14 after onset and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS)scores at discharge. The main safety indicator was the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs)after thrombolysis (symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and death). Results (1 )In the primary outcome measures,the proportions of mRS≤2 at discharge in the study group and the control group were 71. 4%(n=15)and 58. 5%(n=38)respectively. At day 14 after thrombolysis,the proportions of BI ≥60 were 61. 9%(n=13)and 64. 6%(n=42)respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P>0. 05). (2)The incidences of the primary serious adverse events were 4. 8%(n=1)and 6. 2%(n=4). There was no significant difference (P>0. 05). Other secondary outcome measures,such as the early reperfusion rate,recanalization rate,and the proportion of neurological improvement at day 14 after thrombolysis and the overall incidence of cerebral hemorrhage had no significant differences. The case referral proportion (9. 5%,n=2)of the study group had a trend of lowering than the control group (27. 7%,n=18)P=0. 09. (3)The out-hospital time delay, in-hospital time delay,and overall time delay of the study group were less than those of the control group, and the mean time was 75 ± 33 vs. 102 ± 50 min,and 72 ± 41 vs. 111 ± 38 min,147 ± 41 vs. 212 ± 47 min. There were significant differences (P<0. 01). Conclusion The second-grand hospital selected by our study can relatively safely and effectively perform intravenous thrombolysis for acute cerebral infarction with alteplase. Moreover,the intravenous thrombolysis of the second-grand hospitals may reduce the case referral ratio and visiting time.

Objective To study the applications and outcomes of using autogeneic cartilage in hearing recon-struction surgery in patients with chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma .Methods A total of 165 patients (173 ears) in whom autogeneic cartilage was used were analyzed retrospectively .Forty -three patients (48 ears) had simple tympanic membrane perforations ,61 patients (61 ears) had cholesteatomas including 12 retraction pockets ,23 pa-tients (23 ears) had tympanoscleroses and 38 patients (41 ears) had otitis media with granulations .The cartilage grafts were used for tympanic perforation reparing in 133 patients (139 ears) ,for ossiculoplasty in 102 patients (104 ears) ,for attic reconstruction in 31 patients (31 ears) and for canal wall reconstruction of external auditory canal in 3 patients (3 ears) .The auditory outcome (0 .5 ,1 ,2 ,and 4 kHz pure tone average hearing threshold ,the average air-bone gap) and local architecture status were followed up for 1 year after surgery .Results In 133 patients (139 ears) with tympanic perforation ,the rate of successful repair of a tympanic membrame perforation in one -stage was 97 .84% with perforation repair in 136 ears and postoperative perforation in 3 ears .In 102 patients (104 ears) of os-siculoplasty ,there was no ossicular prostheses prolapse .In 31 patients (31 ears) of attic reconstruction ,no local graft shift or collapse was found .In 3 patients (3 ears) of external auditory canal repair ,no canal wall collapse occurred . In myringoplasty group (43 patients ,48 ears) ,preoperative and postoperative air -bone gap (ABG) was 23 .8 ± 3 .1 dB and 11 .6 ± 8 .7 dB ,respectively .In cholesteatoma group (61 patients ,61 ears ) ,preoperative and postoperative ABG were 39 .2 ± 24 .7 dB and 19 .0 ± 12 .1 dB ,respectively .In tympanosclerosis group (23 patients ,23 ears) ,pre-operative and postoperative ABG were 31 .2 ± 12 .4 dB and 19 .8 ± 11 .2 dB ,respectively .In otitis media with granu-lation group (38 patients ,41 ears) ,preoperative and postoperative ABG were 41 .6 ± 9 .9 dB and 15 .3 ± 13 .4 dB ,re-spectively .Conclusion Autogeneic cartilage is very valuable in hearing reconstruction surgery ,especially in compli-cated tympanic perforation ,combination with ossiculoplasty prostheses ,or reconstruction of mastoid cavity or exter-nal call wall defect .

Objective To analyze the features of intracrayze the features of intracranial cystic diseases on ~1H MRS,and to evaluate the applicable value of ~1H MRS.Methods Fifty-two patients were examinated by single voxel ~1H MRS,included Ⅰ-Ⅱ graded astrocytomas(n=8),glioblastomas(n=9),metastasis(n=13),brain abscesses(n=10),epidermoids(n=4),anachnoid cysts(n=5),brain Cysticerciasis(n=3).Results(1)There was only Lac in Ⅰ-Ⅱ graded astrocytomas.But in glioblastomas,as were as all showed Lac,4 cases showed low Cho and NAA and 2 cases Lip.(2) In(13 metastasis) patients,7 cases only presented Lac,6 cases showed Cho,3 cases showed low NAA and(6 ones) Lip.(3) In brain abscesses,all showed Lac,9 cases displayed AA,6 cases showed Ace,5 cases appeared Suc and Ala,2 cases had Lip.(4) Four cases of epidermoid showed Lac,one showed Lip.In(4 arachnoid) cysts,2 cases had low Lac,one showed Lip.Three cases of cysticerciasis showed Lac,Ace,Suc,Ala and no AA,Cho,NAA.Conclusion Lac is the most common resonance peak on ~1H MRS in intracranial cystic diseases and for no diagnostic specificity.AA combined Ace,Suc,and Ala are highly specificity for brain abscess.Ace,Suc and Ala appearance cues the the possible existence of cysticerciasis.~1H MRS is helpful for the qualitative diagnosis of intracranial disease.

Objective:To study the cytokine mechanism of Jiawei Xuanfei Toujie Ji(JXT)therapy to influenza infected mouse.Methods:Mice were inoculated intranasally with mouse lung-adapted influenza virus strain(FM1),and were treated with JXT. At 5th days after postinoculation were sacrificed, and IL-2,TNF-?,IL-6,IFN-? in their sera were measured with ELISA kits, their lungs sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Results:Compared with model group ,the levels of IL-2 and IFN-? in JXT group were dramatically higher,and the levels of TNF-? and IL-6 were lower,and pathological effects of influenza pneumonia showed less lung injury.Conclusion:Regulative effects on cytokine may be one of the factors that JXT decrease the pathogenesis of influenza-induced acute lung injury.