OBJECTIVE: To discuss the scoring formula and evaluate the lists equivalence of Mandarin Quick Speech-in-Noise (M-Quick SIN) test materials in mainland China, and for standardizing our research. METHOD: Double 39 subjects with normal hearing were participated in part one and part two of our experiments, respectively. 20, 18, 15, 13, 10, 8, 5, 3, 0, -2, -5, -7, -10 dB SNR were presented in part one; and 20, 15, 10, 5, 0, -5 dB SNR were presented in part two. The results were analyzed by SPSS 13.0. RESULT: SNR-50 was -2.24 dB SNR and "SNR loss = 24.5--correct words" was defined as the scoring formula. All the 13 lists had the e quivalent difficulty. CONCLUSION Defined "SNR loss = 24.5--correct words" as the scoring formula of M-Quick SIN, and the 13 lists had better difficulty equivalence, which could be used in our further clinical research.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Noise ; Speech ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; standards ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the short monosyllabic list of Mandarin speech test materials (MSTMs) which have been evaluated the equivalence of difficulty, and to establish the performance-intensity function (P-I function) for people with normal hearing as clinical reference of hearing recovery and individuals ability to perceive and process speech. METHOD: Thirty-seven subjects (the age ranged from 18 to 26 years old) who speak Mandarin well in their daily lives with normal hearing participated in this study. Eight lists of the Short Mandarin Monosyllabic materials (20 words per list) with equal difficulty were utilized. The results were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 17.0. RESULT: P-I function for short monosyllabic word list was x = 98.557/(1 + 12.243 exp (-0.17(P-15, x(max) = 98.557. And the sound pressure level of speech corresponding to a 50% recognition score was 29.6 dB SPL or 9.6 dB HL. The results showed P-I function of 3.1 per dB for Mandarin materials. CONCLUSION The study established the P-I function of the Mandarin short monosyllabic word list materials with equal difficulty, which provides the normative data for identifying the normal hearing in a clinical setting.
Adult ; Auditory Perception ; Female ; Hearing Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Speech ; Speech Perception ; physiology

Aortic dissection is a dangerous and critical disease with extremely high mortality and disability rate.In clinical practice,aortic dissection should be highly suspected when patients developed dying-like severe chest and back pain.CT and MRI have been the reliable tools for diagnosing aortic dissection.In recent years,endovascular therapy has become the preferred treatment for Stanford type B aortic dissection,and some patients with Stanford type A dissection who cannot receive open surgery may also be treated with endovascular therapy.In order to improve endovascular treatment,to develop new instruments and to study the pathogenesis of aortic dissection,the preparation of stable and reliable animal models is very necessary.This paper aims to make a brief review about the research status concerning the preparation of animal models of aortic dissection.

Objective To investigate the association between aortic calcification and risk of vertebral fracture in Chinese postmenopausal women.Methods This study recruited 561 postmenopausal women aged 60 or older who were prospectively followed for 3 years.Based on the ACS,the patients were divided into aortic calcification group (n =236) and non-aortic calcification group (n =325).Extent of aortic calcification and incidence of vertebral fracture were quantified on the baseline lateral radiographs of lumbar spine.Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was utilized to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD).Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations between aortic calcification and risk of vertebral fracture.Results In aortic calcification group incidence of vertebral fracture was significantly higher than that in non-aortic calcification group (P ＜ 0.01).Moreover vertebral fracture presented an increased incidence while the ACS was higher.After the adjustment of age,body mass index,BMD,current smoking,current drinking,hypertension,diabetes,total cholesterol,myocardial infarction,stroke and 25-hydroxy vitamin D,aortic calcification with ACS ＞ 6(HR =3.03,95％CI 1.42-6.24),BMD (HR =2.82,95％ CI 1.75-5.68),age (HR =1.96,95％ CI 1.38-4.52),history of two or more falls (HR =1.45,95％ CI 1.24-2.79) and adiponectin (HR =1.07,95％ CI 1.22-2.31) were associated with increased risk of vertebral fracture.Conclusion Severe aortic calcification is closely associated with vertebral fracture for postmenopausal women.

Background:Studies showed that neuropeptide S receptor 1(NPSR1)gene polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease( IBD)in Europe’s populations,however,there is no study on the relevance in Chinese population. Aims:To investigate the association of NPSR1 gene polymorphisms with IBD in Chinese Han population. Methods:A total of 457 IBD patients[355 cases of ulcerative colitis(UC)and 102 cases of Crohn’s disease ( CD)]from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and 500 healthy controls were recruited. Genotyping of 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of NPSR1,rs323922(C→G mutation)and rs740347(G→C mutation)was performed by using PCR and sequencing techniques. Results:Differences of the frequencies of genotypes and alleles for rs323922 and rs740347 between UC,CD patients and controls didn’t reach statistical significance(P >0. 05). Genotype-phenotype analysis showed that there were some impact of genotypes for rs323922 and rs740347 on clinical phenotypes of IBD:( i) For rs323922,mutant CG genotype was correlated with male CD patients(OR:0. 441,95% CI:0. 230-0. 844)and CD involving the colon(OR:0. 425,95% CI:0. 199-0. 911),and might be a protective factor.(ii)For rs740347,mutant CC genotype was correlated with early onset CD patients( <16 years old)(OR:15. 019,95% CI:2. 634-86. 470)and mutant C allele was correlated with CD involving the colon(OR:2. 142,95% CI:1. 709-4. 294),both were risk factors. Conclusions:Polymorphisms of NPSR1 rs323922 and rs740347 are not contributors of IBD susceptibility in Chinese Han population,but might be correlated with some clinical phenotypes of IBD.

Objective To evaluate the forecasting capability of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ( NT-proBNP) level for Left ventricular ( LV) remodeling of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) through observation of the relationship between serum NT-proBNP on the 3rd day and LV remodeling following onset of AMI. Methods Electrochemilumin-escence was adopted to determine the serum NT-proBNP level on the 3rd day after AMI attack for 106 cases of patients with anterior, anteroseptal and anterolateral AMI, with echocardiography performed to detect LV end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) and leftventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) respectively on the 3rd day and 3 months after the attack. Results The serum NT-proBNP level of AMI patients on the 3rd day averaged 1039. 28 (241. 50-1 184. 25) ng/L For AMI patients on the 3rd day and 3 months after, LVDd rose to (53?7) mm (P 0.05) from (53?8) %. NT-proBNP concentration on the 3rd day after AMI onset was positively correlated with△LVDd significantly, r =0. 403 (P 5mm during the 3 months and LVEF at the 3rd month≤40 % , AUC was 0. 893. Conclusion The test results showed serum NT-proBNP level for AMI patients on the 3rd day may be used as one of forecasting indexes of LV remodeling for AMI of advanced stage.

Objective To establish a stable primary culture of rat cerebellar granule neurons in vitro for further study the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.Methods Cerebellar cortices were taken from brain of Wistar rat 5-7 day old after born under stereoscopic microscope.Single cell suspension was acquired after digestion and washing with trypsin (0.25％) and DNase Ⅰ solution,respectively.Granule cells were purified from other cells by differential velocity adherence method for two times.Rat cerebellar granule neurons were seeded in culture plate pre-coated with poly-L-lysine.Neurons growth,development and synaptic connections were observed daily.The neurons were identified by neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunofluorescence technique.Results The neurons were affixed to the culture plate in 24 hours,in reticular arrangement observed under contrast microscope.Granule cells gradually turned round from oval and outlines became clearer in 2-3 days.In 4-6 days,there were a wide range of synaptic connections among the neurons and a mature nerve cell network formed.A large quantity of cerebellar granule neurons was seen by NSE identification.Few bigger cells such as purkinjes cells and glial cell outlines were also seen in the same visual field.Conclusions This is a successful primary culture method for acquirement of rat cerebellar granule neurons.The method can provide experimental basis for future studies the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.

Objective:To investigate the effect of scutellarin on P-gp protein expression and activity in Caco-2 cells. Methods:Scutellarin(25,50 and 100 μmol·L-1 )was incubated with Caco-2 cells respectively for 24 h,48 h and 72 h. The expression of P-gp was determined by western blot assay and the activity of P-gp was determined by Rhodamine-123 assay. Results:P-gp protein ex-pression levels were significantly increased by scutelarin. After the incubation for 24 h with scutellarin,P-gp protein expression was up-regulated 2. 34-,2. 65-and 2. 00-fold in Caco-2 cells. After the incubation with scutellarin for 48 h,P-gp protein expression was up-regulated 2. 70-,4. 66-and 3. 13-fold. After the incubation with scutellarin for 72 h,P-gp protein expression was up-regulated 2. 82-, 2. 62-and 1. 84-fold. The intracellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 was significantly decreased by scutellarin,indicating that the ef-flux transport activity of P-gp was increased by scutellarin in Caco-2 cells. Conclusion:Scutellarin can significantly up-regulate P-gp protein expression and increase the efflux transport activity of P-gp in Caco-2 cells.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Danggui Yinzi (DY) on delayed allergy in model mice with qi-blood deficiency syndrome (QBDS).

METHODSQBDS model was established in 48 Kuming mice of SPF grade by using reserpine and acetophenone hydrazine. Forty of them were then randomly divided into the model group, the loratadine group, the high dose DY group, the middle dose DY group, and the low dose DY group, 8 in each group. Another 8 in line with the same standard were recruited as a blank group. Mice in high, middle, and low dose DY groups were administered with DY concentrated solution at 60, 30, 15 g/kg by gastrogavage. Mice in the loratadine group were administered with loratadine solution at 1.66 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to mice in the model group and the blank group by gastrogavage. All medication was given once per day for 1 successive week. Except those in the blank group, the rest mice were evenly smeared with 1% DNCB solution on the abdomen. Five days after skin allergy, 1% DNCB solution was smeared to right ear of all mice to stimulate allergic reaction. Mice in the blank group were smeared in the same way without allergenic reaction. The auricle swelling and the inhibition ratio were determined at 24 h after attack. Blood was collected from orbit and serum IgE level detected using double-antibody sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, auricle swelling obviously increased and serum IgE level was obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, auricle swelling obviously decreased and serum IgE level was obviously reduced in the 3 dose DY groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the auricle swelling degree was superior in high and middle dose DY groups to that in the loratadine group (P < 0.05). The inhibition ratio of auricle swelling was sequenced from high to low as 67.3% in the high dose DY group, 56.0% in the middle dose DY group, 48.1% in the low dose DY group, 47.3% in the loratadine group.

CONCLUSIONSDY could inhibit auricle swelling and lower serum IgE level. It also could inhibit delayed allergic reaction in model mice with QBDS to some extent.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; drug therapy ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Loratadine ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Qi ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo explore combination rules of Chinese herbal prescriptions from effective cases for treatment of unstable angina (UA).

METHODSPrescription data from 156 UA patients effectively treated at Cardiovascular Diseases Centre of Xiyuan Hospital were analyzed using complex network method.

RESULTSAccording to multi-scale analysis of backbone network and pointwise mutual information analysis, core prescriptions from the 156 UA patients were presented as follows: Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Radix Paeoniae rubra, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Pinelliae, poria, and Angelica sinensis. Meanwhile, core couplet medicines for these patients covered Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and Radix paeoniaerubra, Angelica sinensis and Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Radix Codonopsis and Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and Rhizoma Pinelliae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and poriacocos, Bulbus Alli Macrostemi and Rhizoma Pinelliae. Among different primary symptoms, there was slightly difference in core prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONThe core prescriptions for the treatment of UA include blood-activating drug, phlem-resolving drugs. As an exploration of combination rules of Chinese herbal prescriptions in treating UA based on complex network, it can be used as a reference for further researches.

Angelica sinensis ; Angina, Unstable ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pinellia ; Plant Roots ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prescriptions ; standards