Objective:To discuss the effect of cochlear implant and hearing aid to voice quality.Method:Four groups of randomly selected 73 subjects were compared. The groups comprised: cochlear implant children, children using hearing aids, normal hearing children and deaf children with no hearing instrumention. The latter two groups were control groups. Each subject was required to phonate // about 3 s using 'voice assessment' to record the sound, and following voice acoustice variables were analysed: F0,SDF0,Jitter,Shimmer,NNE,HNR,SNR.Result:Voice F0 of children with cochlear implant was significantly lower that the other three groups(P<0.05);there were no significant difference between hearing aid group, normal hearing gourp, and deaf children group with no intervention(P>0.05);SDF0 of cochlear implant group and hearing aids group were significantly larger than the normal hearing group and deaf children group with no intervention(P<0.05),and the interaction of two factors(hearing and sex ) was close to the critical level of significance(P>0.05),which means that cochlear implant and hearing aid could have affected the SDF0 of female children more than those of male children. There were no significant difference among all the four groups about voice quality variables: Jitter,Shimmer,NNE,HNR,SNR.Conclusion:Cochlear implant and hearing aid mainly change the voice F0 and/or SDF0, and have no effect on the voice quality variables.

Aim To study effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) on learning and memory in mice. Methods After po GSP 10,20,40 mg?kg -1 respectively and contemporaneously sc D-galactose 1.25 g?kg -1 for 6 weeks, step down test and Y-type electric maze were used to examine the efficacy of GSE on learning and memory of mice first. Then lipoperoxide(LPO) level in blood and brain of these mice was measured. After po GSP 10,20,40 mg?kg -1 respectively for 2 weeks, the ability of learning and memory was measured by Morris Water Maze task. Results GSP significantly prolonged step-down latency in the mice and decreased number of errors in 5 minutes in step down test; and significantly decreased number of errors of these mice in Y-type electric maze test. LPO level in blood and brain of these mice was lower than that of model group. GSP also increased crossing platform times(CPT) and crossing platform percentages(CPP) in normal mice rested for 30 days in morris water maze test. Conclusion GSP can elevate the ability of learning and memory in mice treated with D-galactose, also improve memory retrieval at the spatial probe trials in normal mice. Mechanisms of these actions may probably be attributable antioxidative activity of GSP.

Objective To investigate the interference and associated mechanism of hnman tissue kallikrein (HK) gene on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy. Methods Human kallikrein cDNA was packed in a recombinant adeno-associated virus(rAAV)-based plasmid vector. The rAAV-HK was produced by transfection in 293 cells. Twenty-four male Wistsr rats were divided into sham operation and operation groups. The rats with 5/6 nephrectomy were randomly divided into simple operation, control and experiment groups. The rats in experiment group received single dose rAAV-HK via the tail vein with 1×1011 pfu. Before nephrectomy and every month after surgery until the rats were sacrificed, the caudal arterial pressure was measured using tail cuff blood pressure determinator. Three months after HK gene delivery, the rats were sacrificed. The expression of HK in rats was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes of renal interstitium were evaluated by Masson stainning, and the distribution of bradykinin B2 receptor (BKB2R) and angiotensin Ⅱ typel receptor (ATIR) was examined by immunohistochemistry. The expressions of BKB2R, AT1R, p-MAPK protein in renal tissue were detected by Western blot. Results Three months after HK gene delivery, the systolic blood pressure of experiment group was significantly decreased compared with the control group [(163±13) nun Hg vs (217±16) mm Hg, P<0.01](1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa). Compared with sham rats, the rats in simple operation group and control group had much more renal interstitial collagen deposition and more serious fibrosis performance, but renal interstitial collagen deposition and fibrosis were significantly ameliorated in the rats of experiment group. In addition, the tubulointerstitial injury index of HK transgenic rats was significantly lower than that of the rats in control group (1.33±0.73 vs 3.01±0.62, P<0.01). Up-regnlating expression of bradykinn B2 receptor protein and down-regulating expression of AT1 receptor and p-MAPK protein were found in renal tissues of experimental group after three months (P<0.05). Conclusion HK gene delivery significantly alleviates renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy through regulating the expression of bradykinin B2 receptor, AT1 receptor and p-MAPK in renal tissue.

Objective To report the clinical, myopathological and genetic features of a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS)/Leigh syndrome (LS) overlap syndrome who carried m.10158 T>C mutation. Methods The patient′s clinical and imaging materials were collected. An open biopsy of right biceps brachii was performed. DNA samples were prepared from the patient and her mother′s blood. Direct sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genome was performed to detect the mtDNA mutation.Western blotting was used to estimate the content of respiratory complexes in the patient′s muscle. Results The patient was a 40-year-old female. She had seizures and lost consciousness for 9 months. Brain MRI findings consisted of asymmetrical lesions in the cerebral cortex of the frontal and temporal lobes, as well as symmetrical lesions bilaterally in the basal ganglia. Muscle biopsy showed typical ragged red fibers. Direct sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genome from blood and muscle of the patient revealed the T-to-C transition at nucleotide position 10158 in the MT-ND3 gene.The mutation rate was 9.31% and 70.0%, respectively.Western blotting demonstrated that the contents of complexes Ⅰ and Ⅳ were significantly lower in the patient′s muscle mitochondria compared with the normal controls (53.1%±1.2% vs 88.6%±1.7%, t=4.08, P<0.05;57.3%±2.4% vs 80.1%±2.1%, t=3.39,P<0.05).Conclusion We reported a case of MELAS/LS overlap syndrome who carried m.10158 T>C mutation in MT-ND3 gene and DNA test is very important for the diagnosis of the disease.

Summary: The changes in the expression of cardiac bradykinin B2 receptors (BKB2Rs) and endogenous nitrix oxide synthase (eNOs) mRNA were studied in rats with remnant kidneys. Thirty-two rats were divided into sham-operated and experimental groups randomly (n=16 in each group). The remnant kidney model was established by 2-stage 5/6 nephrectomy. Blood pressure and serum Cr were measured before operation and 15, 30, 60, 120 days after 5/6 nephrectomy. Eight animals in each group were killed at the first month and 4th month after the operation. The expression of BKB2Rs and eNOs mRNAs was detected by using RT-real time PCR from isolated left ventricle, and their correlation was also analyzed. The results showed that blood pressure and serum Cr were increased significantly 15 days after 5/6 nephrectomy (both P<0.01), and the hypertension and azomia existed constantly till 120 days but had no significant fluctuation. Cardiac BKB2Rs and eNOs mRNA was declined time-dependently (both P<0.05). And there was a close positive correlation between cardiac BKB2Rs and eNOs mRNA (r=0.82, P<0.01). It was suggested that a significant chronic renal failure can be produced at least 15 days after 5/6 nephrotomy and can sustain more than 4 months. The expression of BKB2Rs and eNOs was down-regulated time-dependently in this model, and there was a significant correlation between them.

Ten compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the stem bark of Toona sinensis by silica gel, ODS Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies and preparation TLC methods. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical properties as betulinic acid(1), stigmastane-3, 6-dione(2), stigmast-4-en-3-one(3), 7β-hydroxysitosterol(4), 6-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one(5), stigmast-4-ene-3β, 6β-diol(6), ergosterol peroxide(7), 7-methoxy-2-(3, 4-methylenedioxyphenyl)benzofuran-5-carboxylate(8), canthin-6-one(9), and α-acetylamino-phenylpropyl α-benzoylamino phenylpropionate(10). All compounds were isolated from T. sinensis for the first time.

This study examined the anti-viral effect of ursolic acid on guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) and explored the steps of viral replication targeted by ursolic acid. Cytopathic effect assay and MTT method were employed to determine the 50% cellular cytotoxicity (CC(50)), 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) and therapeutic index (TI) with GPCMV. To investigate the specific anti-viral effect of ursolic acid at different temperatures and time points, two other medicines, ganciclovir and Jinyebaidu (JYBD), serving as controls, were studied for comparison. Our results showed that the CC50 of ganciclovir, JYBD and ursolic acid were 333.8, 3015.6, 86.7 μg/mL, respectively; EC(50) of ganciclovir, JYBD and ursolic acid was 48.1, 325.5 and 6.8 μg/mL, respectively; TI of ganciclovir, JYBD and ursolic acid was 7, 9, 13, respectively. Similar with ganciclovir, ursolic acid could inhibit the viral synthesis, but did not affect the viral adsorption onto and penetration into cells. We are led to conclude that the anti-cytomegalovirus effect of ursolic acid is significantly stronger than ganciclovir or JYBD, and the cytotoxic effect of ursolic acid lies in its ability to inhibit viral synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of cochlear implant and hearing aid to voice quality. METHOD: Four groups of randomly selected 73 subjects were compared. The groups comprised: cochlear implant children, children using hearing aids, normal hearing children and deaf children with no hearing instrumentation. The latter two groups were control groups. Each subject was required to phonate /ae/ about 3 s using 'voice assessment' to record the sound, and following voice acoustic variables were analysed: F0, SDF0, Jitter, Shimmer, NNE, HNR, SNR. RESULT: Voice F0 of children with cochlear implant was significantly lower that the other three groups (P<0.05); there were no significant difference between hearing aid group, normal hearing group, and deaf children group with no intervention (P>0. 05); SDF0 of cochlear implant group and hearing aids group were significantly larger than the normal hearing group and deaf children group with no intervention (P<0.05), and the interaction of two factors (hearing and sex) was close to the critical level of significance (P>0.05), which means that cochlear implant and hearing aid could have affected the SDF0 of female children more than those of male children. There were no significant difference among all the four groups about voice quality variables: Jitter, Shimmer, NNE, HNR, SNR. CONCLUSION Cochlear implant and hearing aid mainly change the voice F0 and/or SDF0, and have no effect on the voice quality variables.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Female ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Disorders ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Voice Quality

A 48-year-old female patient was treated with hydroxychloroquine sulfate and methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.After two weeks,tender erythema and papules appeared on the trunk and limbs,accompanied by fever.Skin biopsy was suggestive of neutrophilic infiltration in the superficial mesodermal layer of the dermis.After hydroxychloroquine sulfate withdrawal and 18 days of methylprednisolone sodium succinate and halometasone cream treatment,she improved and was diagnosed with acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis.By correlation analysis,the causal relationship between acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis and hydroxychloroquine sulfate was evaluated as"most likely",which had not been reported in China.The pathogenesis of hydroxychloroquine sulfate-induced acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis may be related to elevated granulocyte-colony stimulating factor levels,abnormal cytokine regulation,and genetic susceptibility.Discontinuation of the suspected drug and application of glucocorticoids are currently the most effective treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study the in vitro anti-human cytomegalovirus effect and the cytotoxicity of Forsythia suspensa and its main active ingredient quercetin.

METHODThe 0% toxic dose (TD0), minimum effective concentration (MEC) and therapeutic index (TI) of anti-human cytomegalovirus activity by F. suspensa and quercetin were detected with the cytopathic assay and MTT method. Ganciclovir was used as the control drug for comparison.

RESULTThe TD0 of ganciclovir, F. suspensa and quercetin were 10, 30, 30 mg L(-1), the MEC were 10, 30, 0.3 mg x L(-1), TI were 1, 1 and 100, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-human cytomegalovirus effect of quercetin is much higher than ganciclovir and F. suspensa, and the cytotoxicity is equivalent to F. suspensa but lower than ganciclovir. Therefore, quercetin has the potential advantages of anti-human cytomegalovirus effect.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; Cytomegalovirus ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Forsythia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; toxicity