Cochlear Implants ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Aging ; Humans ; Presbycusis ; genetics

China ; Deafness ; genetics ; Humans

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells ( MDSC) are a bone marrow-derived heterogeneous cell population with immuno-suppressive activity.Although there is convincing evidence that autoimmune diseases are associated with MDSC expansion ,controversies remained regarding the role of MDSCs in controlling autoimmune responses .Recent studies have shown that the expansion of MDSCs , which are capable of inhibiting effector cell function in vitro ,does not always lead to alleviation of autoimmune diseases ,and in some ca-ses paradoxically exacerbates the disease progression .This review summarizes recent insights into the role of MDSCs in the development of autoimmune responses and the potential of using MDSCs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases .

Objective To determine pharmacokinetics profiles of sodium alginate dexamethasone in perilymph after trans-round window administration of the sodium alginate dexamethasone gel in vivo.Methods 30 healthy guinea pig were randomly divided into 6 groups.Alg-Dex gel was placed into the niche of the round window of the guinea pig on the right ear.The perilymphetic samples were harvested on day 1,2,3,4 and 5 after administration of Alg-Dex gel respectively.The concentrations of dexamethasone in perilymph were assayed with high performance liquid chromatograph(HPLC).Results Concentrations of dexamethasone in perilymph on day 1,2,3,4 and 5 after administration of Alg-Dex gel were 0.49?0.06,1.32?0.28,0.65?0.08,0.66?0.05,0.53?0.17 mg/L respectively.Concentrations of dexamethasone in perilymph reached a peak on the second day and maintained 0.61?0.07 mg/L steadily on following days after administration.Conclusion Dexamethasone can be released from the sodium alginate dexamethasone gel persisitently and steadily in vivo.

Congenital malformations of the external and middle ear is the common reason of pediatric hearing impairment and cosmic problem. The treatment composes of auricular plastic surgery and auditory reconstruction surgery. The use of BAHA, vibrant sound-bridge and tissue engineering materials can significantly improve the treatment outcomes.
Contraindications ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Ear, Middle ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the expression levels of RAS-interacting protein 1 (RASIP1) mRNA and protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its cell lines,and to analyze the relationship between RASIP1 and tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The expression levels of RASIP1 mRNA and protein in 29 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and the corresponding adjacent non-cancer liver tissues (ANLTs),as well as those in the HCC cell lines such as LO2,HEPG2,MHCC97-H and HCCLM3 were detected using real-time PCR and western blot.Results The RASIP1 expression levels decreased significantly in HCC tissues when compared with the corresponding ANLTs; The expression levels of RASIP1 mRNA and protein in LO2 were significantly higher than those in other HCC cell lines (P ＜ 0.05) ; The expression levels of RASIP1 mRNA and protein in MHCC97-H and HCCLM3 were significantly lower than those in HepG2 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HCC tissues had lower expression than those in ANLTs.On analyzing the RASIP1 levels of HCC tissues and its cell lines,we speculated that RASIP1 might suppress recurrence and metastasis of HCC.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Chinese medical (CM) syndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor II-antibody fusion protein (etanercept) for treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

METHODSTotally 35 AS patients were treated with syndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs and etanercept. Reinforcing Shen and strengthening Du channel, activating meridians to stop pain was principle used in syndrome differentiation based treatment. Etanercept was subcutaneously injected, 25 mg each time; twice per week for the first three months and once a week for the latter three months. The clinical efficacy was evaluated after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Meanwhile, ASAS20 and ASAS50 standards arriving rates were also observed. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), visual analog score (VAS) for spine pain, VAS for night pain, patient global assessment (PGA), VAS for physician global assessment, CM syndrome score, finger-ground distance, thoracic activity, tragus-wall distance, lumbar scoliosis, cervical rotation, Schober improved test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, BASDAI, BASFI, VAS for spine pain, night pain, physician global assessment, PGA, CM syndrome score, finger-ground distance, thoracic activity, tragus-wall distance, lumbar scoliosis, Schober improved test, ESR, and CRP all decreased after 3 and 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Cervical rotation also decreased after 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with 3 months of treatment, total effective rate of CM syndrome, ASAS20 and ASAS50 standards arriving rates increased after 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences in all indices mentioned above between after 3 months of treatment and after 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSyndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs combined etanercept could alleviate inflammatory reaction favorably, control the progression of active AS, and improve joint functions.

Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Etanercept ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Pain Management ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

As known so far,Sporosarcina pasteurii,or formally termed as Bacillus pasteurii,was considered as one of the most efficient biosystem which is capable of inducing biological mineralization through breaking down urea.Taking advantage of the ‘super power’ of bio-mineralization,Sporosarcina pasteurii has been successfully utilized in application of solidifying sand as a novel biological construction technology,termed as ‘bio-cementation’ Due to the nature of Sporosarcina pasteurii isolated from soil,non-pathogenicity has been observed,it was considered as a very environmentally friendly method.Recently,Sporosarcina pasteurii has been further applied into fields including environmental improvement and biomedicine.However,the mechanism under the strong Sporosarcina pasteurii mediated bio-mineralization is still not well understood.Here,the knowledge and the up-to-date studies about the biological mechanism of Sporosarcina pasteurii mediated bio-mineralization,and the utilization in construction,environment,and biomedicine are reviewed.

Objective To understand the homology of clinical isolates from patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection and isolates from environment in a medical institution.Methods One CRKP strain isolated from a patient in this hospital and 4 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae(K.pneumoniae)isolated from patient's surroundings were collected,susceptibility of 5 strains to commonly used antimicrobial agents was detected,production of carbapenems in 5 strains were detected by modified Hodge testing and carbapenem inactivation method(CIM),homology analysis was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE).Results Antimicrobial susceptibility testing results showed that 5 strains of K.pneumoniae(1 from patient,4 from the patient's ward surroundings,including hands of nursing aides,solution bottle opening,handle for lifting and dropping bed,and bedrail)were all resistant to other antimicrobial agents except to cephamycin and aminoglycosides.The modified Hodge testing and CIM confirmed that 5 strains all produced carbapenemases;PFGE results showed that electrophoretogram of CRKP isolated from solution bottle opening of ward,bedrail,and handle for lifting and dropping bed were the same as CRKP isolated from patient,while electrophoretogram of CRKP isolated from hands of nursing aides had 2 different bands,there was a close relationship between the strains.Conclusion The same type of CRKP were isolated from patient and his surroundings,it is necessary to implement healthcare-associated infection(HAI)control system,isolate infected patient,and strengthen environmental cleaning and disinfection,so as to avoid the outbreak of HAI.