Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palpation ; Tonsillar Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary

Aged, 80 and over ; Dyspnea ; etiology ; Glottis ; pathology ; Hematoma ; complications ; Hemophilia A ; complications ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; complications ; Male

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of iatrogenic functional aphonia.

METHODSTwenty three patients who either lost their voice or only could whisper after surgery in other hospitals were included in this study as the first group, history was well collected and laryngostroboscopy performed. All cases were confirmed as iatrogenic functional aphonia patients and received phonation therapy. In another group of patients who received vocal cord surgery in our hospital from 2003 to 2005, speaking was restricted while not prohibited after surgery, voice quality was closely observed, and 1028 cases were included.

RESULTSAll 23 cases of functional aphonia were cured with phonation therapy. No iatrogenic functional aphonia occurred in the second group of patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe iatrogenic functional aphonia can be caused by post operative mistreatment and could be cured with phonation therapy, and it is preventable if speaking is not strictly prohibited after surgery.

Adult ; Aphonia ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged

AIMTo investigate intermittent hypoxia effects on splenocyte mitogen-induced proliferation.

METHODSRats were exposured to intermittent hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber 4 h/d for 1 d, 2 d, 5 d and 15 d.

RESULTS5 km (10.8% O2) hypoxia for 1 d significantly inhibited ConA-induced splenocytes proliferation by--74.57% +/- 7.33% (P < 0.05). Hypoxia (5 km) for 2 d, 5 d and 15 d did not markedly affect splenocyte proliferation (97.03 +/- 7.18%, 104.5% +/- 8.38%, 99.55% +/- 3.8% respectively). Hypoxia 2 km (16.0% O2) for 1 d, 2 d, 5 d and 15 d had no influence on splenocytes proliferation (93.19% +/- 11.88%, 96.43% +/- 7.9%, 99.03% +/- 10.97%, 100.54% +/- 9.54% respectively). We also demonstrated that acute hypoxia exposure (5 km) 4 h significantly suppressed DNA contents of rat splenocytes by 76.22% +/- 7.06% (P < 0.05). The suppressed DNA synthesis were returned to control level after the hypoxia for 5 d and 15 d.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the acute hypoxia (5 km, 4 h) induces a transient suppression on splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and the intermittent hypoxia may induce an adaptation response of the splenocytes proliferation.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Hypoxia ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; immunology

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of polyesters biosynthesized by microorganisms (esp. Ralstonia eutropha) under an unbalanced growth condition, and which are supposed to partly take the place of traditional plastics made from petroleum in the near future since they are harmless to the environment and biodegradable. Organic acids (mainly butyrate, lactate, propionate and acetate) produced from anaerobic digested food wastes, industrial wastes and sewage may be used as cheap carbon sources since the large amounts of the above wastes disposed by industry and family each year. In order to better understand the process of PHAs formation with acids as carbon sources, so as to increase the yields of PHAs. Biosynthesis of PHAs by R. eutropha during the dual nutrient-limitation-zone was investigated with mixed organic acids (the mass ratio of the four component acids was butyrate: propionate: acetate: lactate = 3: 3: 1: 1, which was simulated as once the result of anaerobic digestion of food wastes) as carbon sources and (NH4)2 SO4 as nitrogen source. Two different manners of maintaining the dual-nutrient-limitation zone were adopted by feeding mixed acids and (NH4 )2SO4 at determined rates to the fermentation culture which were free of carbon sources (manner A) or nitrogen sources (manner B) firstly. The results suggest that, first of all, the meaning of the limitation of mixed acids or (NH4)2 SO4 does not mean to limit the supply of them, but mean to feed as more as possible of carbon and nitrogen sources in order to meet the cell growth and PHAs formation of R. eutropha by the largest extent. However, it's indispensable to make the residual concentration of carbon and nitrogen sources as low as possible since organic acids are inhibitive to the cell growth, and most importantly, only under the presence of nitrogen during the PHAS formation period of the fermentation could R. eutropha produce more PHAs than any other unbalanced growth condition. Secondly, with the increase of the width of the dual-nutrient-limitation zone, the yield of PHAs would also increase, it suggest that most of the PHAs were biosynthesized during the dual-nutrient-limitation zone. Finally, in contrast with the dual-nutrient-limitation manner of limiting the nitrogen source at first (manner B), the dual-nutrient-limitation manner of limiting the carbon source at first (manner A) was more favorable for the production of PHAs, and the maximum production of PHAs of these two manners are 3.72 g/L and 2.55 g/L, respectively. It may be because that PHAs formation required enzymes could not be well developed when R. eutropha grow under the state of nitrogen limitation from the beginning of fermentation. Besides, yield of PHAs produced by the dual-nutrient-limitation fermentation is larger than that of the single-nutrient-limitation batch culture. Therefore, it seems that to increase the output of PHAs production, the strategy of maintaining as wide as possible the width of dual-nutrient (C, N)-limitation zone may be effective.
Acetates ; metabolism ; Butyrates ; metabolism ; Cupriavidus necator ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; physiology ; Lactates ; metabolism ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates ; biosynthesis ; Propionates ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the aerodynamic characteristics of low-resistance Groningen voice prosthesis for total laryngectomees and the related clinical significance.

METHODSThree aerodynamic parameters were measured in 24 laryngectomees implanted with low-resistance Groningen voice prosthesis: the sound pressure level (SPL), intratracheal pressure (pressure) and airflow rate (flowrate). Among them, 6 cases were initially implanted with other prosthesis which was replaced by the Groningen buttons later. The parameters were measured for both old and new prosthesis. The relationship between the variables were computed with means of Pearson' s product-moment correlations.

RESULTSThe parameters were measured repeatedly among all cases, 180 group data were collected. Screening test showed that the median of sound pressure level, intratracheal pressure and airflow rate are respectively 88.0 dB, 73.6 cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.098 kPa) and 123.2 ml/s. Thirty times measurement of patients phonation showed that the correlation between SPL and pressure was not significant (r = -0.058, P > 0.05). The relationship between flow rate and SPL was not significant(r = -0.119, P > 0.05). The correlation between pressure and flow rate was significant(r = 0.699, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS When pseudoglottis vibration is produced by sub pseudoglottis air flow, pseudoglottis vibration and voice loudness can not be increased by continuous air flow.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; rehabilitation ; Larynx, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Design ; Speech Articulation Tests ; Speech, Alaryngeal

OBJECTIVETo establish strategies for preventing graft versus host disease (GVHD) and reducing treatment associated morbidity while preserving graft versus leukemia (GVL) effect in nonmyeloablative allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT), with or without donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) after BMT.

METHODS3 x 10(7) bone marrow cells mixed with 1 x 10(7) spleen cells from the same BALB/c mouse were transplanted into the nonablative irradiated inbred 615 mouse which received a single subcutaneous injection of 1 x 10(6) L615 leukemia cells three days before. The experiments were designed as follows (ten mice in each group): myeloablative BMT control group (group A), nonmyeloablative conditioning without BMT group (group B), nonmyeloablative BMT group (group C), and nonmyeloablative BMT + DLI group (group D). GVL effects were assessed by survival time, white blood cell count and L615 cells in peripheral blood and histologic changes. GVHD was assessed by signs of weight loss, ruffled fur, diarrhea and histologic changes of skin, liver and small intestines. Chimerism was detected by cytogenetic analysis and PCR technique.

RESULTSThe survival time of group A, B, C and D was (20.3 +/- 13.4), (15.9 +/- 1.1), (21.6 +/- 1.7) and (37.8 +/- 2.0) days, respectively, being no significant difference between group A and group C (P > 0.05). The survival time of group C was longer than that of group B (P < 0.01). And among group B, C and D, group D had the longest survival time (P < 0.01). GVHD signs and histologic changes were observed in 60% of control group mice at + 14 day, but none of group C and group D. 40% of mice in group A died of treatment associated morbidity within two weeks, but none in group C and group D. Allogeneic chimerism was kept in group A, but excluded gradually in group C.

CONCLUSIONGVL effect seems preserved in nonmyeloablative BMT mice, but weaker than that in myeloablative BMT mice. GVL effect seems to be enhanced by DLI after nonmyeloablative BMT. GVHD and transplantation associated morbidity seems to be reduced in nonmyeloablative BMT.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; immunology ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Graft vs Leukemia Effect ; Leukemia, Experimental ; therapy ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; therapy ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Heterologous

Objective To investigate the efficacy of phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa complicated with cataract.Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 52 patients (101 eyes) who admitted in Leshan People's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2016 after diagnosed with primary retinitis pigmentosa combined with cataract and underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation,and then the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were examined for the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),intraocular pressure,slit lamp anterior segment examination,fundus examination under cycloplegia and optical coherence tomography before and after treatment.The preoperative and postoperative variables were compared by paired t-test,and the correlation between visual acuity and the macular thickness was analyzed by Pearson correlation test.Results Cataract surgery was completed successfully,and all patients were followed-up for (3-12) months,with an average (5.09 ± 2.20) months.The average BCVA of 101 eyes was increased from (0.12 ± 0.09)before surgery to (0.21 ± 0.16) after surgery,and the difference was statistically significant (t =-8.016,P =0.000).Postoperative visual acuity was significantly correlated with macular thickness.Furthermore,there was a negative correlation of macular thickness with macular cystoid edema,macular epiretinal membrane and visual acuity (r =-0.866,P =0.001),but a positive correlation with macular atrophy (r =0.928,P =0.000).Unfortunately,anterior capsule contraction occurred in 2 eyes after cataract surgery,and secondary intraocular hypertension appeared in 2 eyes.Visual acuity was improved and stable for a long time after radial incision of anterior capsule and medication control of intraocular pressure.Conclusion Phacoemuisification combined with intraocular lens implantation can improve the vision of patients,and is a safe and effective method for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa complicated cataract.

BACKGROUNDAccurate knowledge of the spinal structural functions is critical to understand the biomechanical factors that affect spinal pathology. Many studies have investigated the human vertebral motion both in vitro and in vivo. However, determination of in vivo motion of the vertebrae under physiologic loading conditions remains a challenge in biomedical engineering because of the limitations of current technology and the complicated anatomy of the spine.

METHODSFor in vitro validation, a human lumbar specimen was imbedded with steel beads and moved to a known distance by an universal testing machine (UTM). The dual fluoroscopic system was used to capture the spine motion and reproduce the moving distance. For in vivo validation, a living subject moved the spine in various positions while bearing weight. The fluoroscopes were used to reproduce the in vivo spine positions 5 times. The standard deviations in translation and orientation of the five measurements were used to evaluate the repeatability of technique. The accuracy of vertebral outline matching with metallic marks matching technology was compared.

RESULTSThe translation positions of the human lumbar specimen could be determined with a mean accuracy less than 0.35 mm and a mean repeatability 0.36 mm for the image matching technique. The repeatability of the method in reproducing in vivo human spine six degrees of freedom (6DOF) kinematics was less than 0.43 mm in translation and less than 0.65° in rotation. The accuracy of metallic marks and vertebral outline matching did not show significant difference.

CONCLUSIONSCombining a dual fluoroscopic and computerized tomography imaging technique was accurate and reproduceable for noninvasive measurement of spine vertebral motion. The vertebral outline matching technique could be a useful technique for matching of vertebral positions and orientations which can evaluate and improve the efficacy of the various surgical treatments.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Fluoroscopy ; methods ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; physiology

Adult ; Epithelioid Cells ; pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Middle Aged ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery