Mitochondrial DNA mutations are one of the most important causes of sensorineural hearing loss. A1555G and C1494T mutations of mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene are the molecular basis for aminoglycoside hyper- sensitivity and can lead to aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. Primary mutations in tRNA such as tRNA(Ser(UCN))7472insC are associated with syndromic hearing loss. While other mutations such as tRNA"(Se(UCN) )G7444A were considered synergy with the primary RNA mutations, modulating the phenotypic manifestation. This review de- scribes a detailed summary of hearing loss associated with mtDNA mutations and/or aminoglycoside antibiotics, and provides the possible molecular mechanisms in deafness expression.
Aminoglycosides ; adverse effects ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics

Objective To explore the effects of galantamine on function of learning and memory and cholinergic neurons in cortex and hippocampus in rat models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) so as to further investigate the mechanism of cholinesterase inhibitors in improving the cognitive ability of AD patients. Methods The AD rat models established by injecting amyloid-beta protein (A? 1-40) into the bilateral Meynert nucleus were intervened with galantamine, and their abilities of learning and memory were measured with a behavioral test. Meanwhile, the changes in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the rats were examined with immunohistochemical technique. Results In the AD model rats administered with galantamine, the performances in the test were significantly improved and ChAT immunoreactive positive neurons were increased significantly in hippocampus and cortex fields. Conclusion Galantamine can significantly improve the function of learning and memory of the AD model rats, and enhancing the survival characteristics of cholinergic neurons may be one of the important mechanisms, indicating a new possible mechanism of cholinesterase inhibitors as a remedy for AD.

AIM: To investigate the influence of compatibitity in Fengshi Maqian Tablet [ABD group(Semen strychni,Bombyx batryticatus,Herba ephedrae,Scorpio,Rhizoma atractylodis,Radix et Rhizoma glycyrrhizae) E group(Olibanum;Myrrha)]. METHODS: In the use of orthogonal design(5 factors and 2 levels).HPLC method were used to determine the main chemical componets such as strychnine,brucine and ephedrine.And anti-inflammation was adopted as pharmacological experiment. RESULTS: In the inhibitive experiment of granuloma,ABD group was superb to E group.In the tumescence experiment,otherwise. CONCLUSION: The minister,assistant and guide herbs in Fengshi Maqian Prescription had a significant effect on the toxicity of monarch medicines-Semen strychni.

0.05). Estrogen was lower in the patients with AD than in the normal controls and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P

Objective To analyse the levels of estrogen in women patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD),and the relationship of estrogen level,menarche age,age of menopause,pregnancy times with severity of AD.Methods A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted.The study subjects were given neuropsychological test face to face in questionnaire,including MMSE,ADL,POD,FOM,WISE and HMT depression scale.All the women subjects accepted another questionnaire concerning menarche age,age of menopause and pregnancy times.Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the sex hormone level of all the subjects.Results The level of estrogen in serum was obviously lower in AD group than in the control group(P

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of HMME-SDT therapy for the treatment of hypertrophic scar (HS) of rabbit ear.Methods 60 white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups.The model group and HMME-SDT treatment group were used to establish the models of hypertrophic scar in ears.Results The effect of HMME-SDT on the fibroblastic density in the hypertrophic scarring models was observed in rabbit ears.The HMME-SDT could lower the fibroblastic density,compared with the model group,with significant difference (P＜ 0.05).The effect of HMME-SDT on the collagen area density was noted in the hypertrophic scarring models in rabbit ears.The HMME-SDT could lower the collagen area density,compared with the model group,with significant difference from the fourth week of the epithelialization (P＜0.01).Conclusions HMME is an effective sonosensitizer.HMME-SDT can significantly inhibit hypertrophic scar of rabbit ear.

Objective To evaluate diagnosis and surgical treatment of carotid body tumors.Methods It was retrospectively reviewed that the diagnostic approaches, surgical operation methods and its related complications in 70 carotid body tumor cases treated in our hospital from May 1986 to May 2008.Results Diagnosis was established by computer tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Surgical excision was successfully performed in 63 cases with 72 tumours. There were no postoperative deaths. Two cases developed hemiplegia following surgery. Temporary cranial nerve palsy occurred in 17 cases while permanent nerve palsy occurred in 4 cases. Sixty-two cases were followed-up from 6 months to 5 years. There were no deaths in operative cases, with local tumor recurrence in 2 cases and 3 cases died due to remote metastasis. Conclusion CTA or MRA is sufficient for the diagnosis and preoperative assessment of carotid body tumor and its related structures. Surgical modality should be adjusted according to the relationship between the tumor and the carotid artery. Full exposure of the surgical area,careful control of intraoperative bleeding and persistent maintainance of blood flow to the brain are important measures for successful surgery.

Objective To study the closure time of neonatal ductus venosus and the Z score regression equation, and to explore the variation of closure time of neonatal ductus venosus with gestationalage.Methods Color doppler ultrasound was applied to detect the closure time of neonatal ductus venosus in normal newborns, Z score regression equation ( lnY =a +bX +cX2 ) for the closure time of neonatal ductus venosus ( Y ) was developed by regression analysis which used gestational age ( X) as an independent variable. The Z scores of the closure time of neonatal ductus venosus in different gestational age were calculated by the formula [ Z = ( M - Y )/S x , M for observation value, Y for predictivevalue].Results There were 432 cases in our study.The closure time of neonatal ductus venosus was negatively related to gestational age ( r = -0. 938 , P <0. 001 ) . The nonlinear regression equation was lnY= -5. 228+0. 089X-0. 000228X2, R2 =0. 854, Sx =0. 214(P<0. 001). Based on the predicted mean of the closure time and Sx related to different gestational age, Z scores for specific closure time of neonatal ductus venosus could be calculated by the formula [ Z =( M -Y)/Sx ] . The Z scores were normally distributed,and did not change with gestational age.Conclusions Theclosure & nbsp;time of neonatal ductus venosus is negatively related to gestational age. The Z scores obtained by the predicted nonlinear regression equation are normally distributed.

BACKGROUND: Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDD) has been assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine infusion and digital subtraction angiography. However, its applications in continuous observing on early onset, progression and outcomes of clinical interventions of the disease are limited due to the potential trauma of the method. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the changes in brachial EDD in patients with hyperlipidemia using high-resolution ultrasound and to compare the outcomes of the patients to those of the healthy individuals. DESIGN: Case-control study SETTING: This study was carried out at the Cardiology Department and the Ultrasound Department of Xinyang CentralHospital PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients with hyperlipidemia, 37 males and 23females, with an age ranging from 36 to 75 years old, were selected at the Cardiology Department of Xinyang Central Hospital from May 2001 to March 2002. They were divided into 3 groups according to abnormalities in blood lipid, as hypercholesterolemia group (HC, 20 cases),hypertriacylglycerolemia group (HTG, 20 cases) and mixed hyperlipidemia group (HLP,20 cases). Twenty voluntary individuals with normal physical examination findings were allocated into control group, 12 males and 8 females. Informed consents were obtained from all the eligible. METHODS: The brachial artery inner diameter and the changes in blood flow of the brachial artery were assessed using high-resolution ultrasound.After the patients having a rest for more than 10 minutes, the inner diameter (D0) and the baseline blood flow of their brachial artery were measured. The blood pressure cuff was placed under the elbow with a pressure at 300 mm Hg, lasting for 4 to 5 minutes and followed with a sudden deflation. 15 s after deflation, the reactive brachial artery inner diameter (D1) and the blood flow of the brachial artery were detected. The patients took another rest for more than 15 minutes and after the artery restored to a normal condition,the patients took nitroglycerol sublingually at a dose of 400 μg. Three to four minutes later, the brachial artery inner diameter (D2) and the blood flow of the brachial artery were detected. The increasing rate of the inner diameter of brachial artery were calculated, the increasing rate of reactive brachial artery inner diameter (%)= (D1-D0)/D0×100% and the increasing rate of post-treatment brachial artery inner diameter (%)=(D2-D0)/D0 ×100%.Meanwhile, the increasing rate of reactive blood flow (%)=(reactive blood flow-baseline blood flow)/ baseline blood flow (100% and the increasing rate of post-treatment blood flow (%)=(the post-treatment blood flow-baseline blood flow)/baseline blood flow×100%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:In three hyperlipidemia groups and the control group, the inner diameter of the brachial artery were measured under resting conditions, in reactive congestion status and after sublingual nitroglycerol treatment respectively using high-resolution ultrasound. RESULTS: All the 60 patients with hyperlipidemia and 20 healthy controls entered the analysis procedure. In HC group, HTG group and HLP group, the increasing rate of reactive brachial-artery inner diameter were significantly lower than that in control group [(5.7±3.2)%, (5.4±3.0)%,(3.8±2.4)%, (11.3±3.1)%,P ＜ 0.05], which was most significant in HLP group. The increasing rate of both the reactive and the post-treatment blood flow in three experimental groups and the increasing rate of the post-treatment brachial-artery inner diameter were not significant (P ＞ 0.05). CONCLUSION:EDD were impaired significantly in patients with hyperlipidemia. High-resolution ultrasound is capable of assessing EDD accurately and reliably.

Objective To investigate the clinical, neuroimaging and serum risk factors of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in patients with ischemic stroke and find the associations between these risk factors and the location and num?bers of CMBs were also analyzed. Methods One hundred and fifty-three patients with acute ischemic stroke were re?cruited in this study and their data werewas retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients underwent MRI- susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI). The location and numbers of CMBs were recordedexamined. The severity of WMLs was assessed using the Fazekas scale. Logistic regressions were performed to find the predictors of the presence of CMBs. The relation?ships between these risk factors and the location and numbers of CMBs were also analyzed. Results Fifty-nine(38.6%) cases had at least one CMB. The frequency of cortical-subcortical, deep and infratentorial CMBs were 34.0%, 24.8%and 27.5%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that male sex, hypertension and moderate-to-severe deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMH) were independent risk factors of the presence of CMBs. Adjusted with age and sex, partial correlation showed that hypertension only correlated with the numbers of deep CMBs significantly (r=0.174, P=0.032). Moderate-to-severe DWMH significantly correlated with the numbers of cortical-subcortical and deep CMBs (r=0.285, P<0.001 and r=0.258, P=0.001, respectively). Conclusion Male sex, hypertension and moderate-to-severe DWMH were are independent risk factors of CMBs in patients with ischemic stroke. Hypertension correlates with Deep deep CMBs, while Moderatemoderate-to-severe DWMH correlates with cortical-subcortical and deep CMBs.