Objective To investigate the possible role of leukocytes, a important cellular component of the blood, in the induction of microcirculatory disturbances in noise-exposed cochleae. Methods Guinea pigs were exposed to a 4 kHz narrow band noise at 115 dB SPL for 4 hours, and the exposed cochleae were collected at 2 or 4 days after the noise exposure. Several techniques (cell viability assay, fluorescent labeling for blood plasma and for hair cell nuclei) were used to examine morphological changes in microvessels in the spiral lamina and in the stria vascularis as well as the hair cell nuclei. Results In noise-exposed cochleae, aggregatad leukocytes were found in the vessels of the spiral lamina. In the up-stream of the vessels with aggregated leukocytes, red blood cells were tightly packed, causing an increase in vessel diameters. Most leukocytes were located within the lumen of vessels, but some of them infiltrated the spiral lamina, usually alongside the vessels. Cell viability, assessed by trypan blue staining, showed that these plugged leukocytes lost their viability. In contrast, no leukocytes aggregated in the vessels of the stria vascularis, nor did leukocytes lose their viability. Conclusion In the cochleae exposed to intense noise, leukocytes were trapped in the vessels of the spiral lamina, leading to disturbance of blood flow. The involvement of leukocytes in local damaging processes and the fate of leukocytes need further studies.

To observe the effect of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19 kDa lipoprotein (Mtb P19) upon the expression and distribution of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) on the surface of macrophages, Mtb P19 was prepared from the cultured M.tuberculosis H37 Ra strain , and phorbol myristatye acetate (PMA)-differentiated THP-1 cells were co-cultivated with Mtb P19 at concentration of 10 g/mL and at 37 ℃ temperature and a condition containing 5% CO_2.for 6 hours.. The distribution of TLP-2 on the surface of macrophages was investigated by immuno-cellular chemical method (ICC) while the effect of Mtb P19 upon the expression of TLR on the surface of macrophages was assayed by fluorescent antibody staining. In addition,the changes of TLR-2 expression before and after the effect of Mtb P19 were investigated by flow cytometry analysis and change of TLR-2 arrangement after stimulation with Mth P19 was determined by co-focal microscopy. It was found that the TLR-2 molecules were evenly distributed on the surface of macrophages as demonstrated by ICC. The mean fluorescent intensity increased significantly after stimulation with Mtb P19 for 6 hours in comparison with that of the control group, and the patchy surface with fluorescent staining positive zones could be detected on the surface of macrophages. Nevertheless , the distribution of TLR-2 molecule in the control group appeared to be randomly dynamic. It is evident that the Mth P19 not only can induce the surface expression of TLR-2 molecules, but also cause a functional aggregation of this receptor.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 320-detector CT in interventional treatment of bronchial artery hemoptysis. Methods CTA and DSA images of 30 patients with bronchial artery hemoptysis were retrospectively analyzed.Spatial anatomical characters of the bronchial arteries,such as the type of branches,origin and opening positions of the bronchial arteries were observed and recorded.Results In 30 patients,6 bronchial arteries distribution patterns were found,and the most common type was R1 L1 (43.3%).83 bronchial arteries were identified using CTA,including 38 on the right and 45 on the left.The right bronchial arteries mainly originated from the intercostal artery (52.6%),while the left bronchial arteries mainly from the descending aorta and aortic arch (82.2%).The opening positions of right and left bronchial arteries were mainly located at the right wall of the descending aorta (78.9%),and anterior wall of the descending aorta (62.2%),respectively.When the cacarina of trachea was used as the reference position,the left and right bronchial arteries were mainly located in the range of above 2 cm to below 1 cm from tracheal bifurcation, accounting for 80% and 89.5%,respectively.Compared with DSA,the sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 97.5% and 100%, respectively.Conclusion 320-detector CT can be used to clearly display the distribution patterns,origin and opening positions of bronchial arteries,and especially to find bronchial arteries with ectopic origin.It is possible to apply 320-detector CT in preoperative routine examination and postoperative evaluation of massive hemoptysis.

Objective To assess the value of CT in identification and diagnosis of benign and malignant calcified thyroid nodules.Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the CT data of 313 surgically and pathologically confirmed cases with 378 calcified nodules.Based on the size,morphology,and number,calcification was divided into microcalcification (d≤2 mm and axis displayed in only one cross-section),coarse calcification (d＞2 mm or displayed in two or more cross-sections),annular calcification (arc or annular),and multiple microcalcifications (solitary multiple microcalcification without a soft tissue lump);a distribution of microcalcification,coarse calcification,and annular calcification as well as a clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data in benign and malignant thyroid nodules were observed.Results The 378 nodules consisted of 259 benign nodules (68.5％) (all were nodular goiters) and 119 malignant nodules (31.5％) (including 111 papillary thyroid carcinomas,4 follicular carcinomas,3 medullary thyroid carcinomas and 1 lymphoma).Microcalcification was more common in malignant nodules (MNs) than in benign nodules (BNs),with a rate of 43.6％ vs 12.4％,respectively (P≤0.05),and its sensitivity,specificity,positive predicted value,and negative predicted value were 42.9％,87.6％,61.4％ and 76.9％,respectively.Coarse calcification,annular calcification,and clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data were more common in BNs than in MNs,with rates of 52.9％ vs 20.2％ (P≤0.05),66.0％ vs 42.0％ (P≤0.05) and 43.2％ vs 19.3％ (P≤0.05),respectively,whose sensitivity,specificity,positive predicted value and negative predicted value were 66.0％ vs 22.4％ vs 43.2％,58.0％ vs 86.6％ vs 80.7％,77.4％ vs 78.4％ vs 83％,and 43.9％ vs 33.9％ vs 39.8％,respectively.Two multiple microcalcifications without a soft tissue lump were MNs (papillary thyroid carcinoma).Conclusions Microcalcification and multiple calcifications are conducive to the diagnosis of MNs,whereas coarse calcification,annular calcification,and clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data benefit the diagnosis of BNs,but the low specificity and high false positive rate suggest that the judgment of BNs or MNs should not depend on coarse calcification alone.

Objective To analyze the therapeutic outcomes and adverse effects of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (hd-IVIg) in the treatment of some severe skin diseases (toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug hypersensitivity syndrome, connective tissue disease, autoimmune bullous disease, acute graft-versus-host disease). Methods Twenty-five cases of severe skin diseases were treated with hd-IVIg (0.4 g/kg/day for a course of 5 days). Results The therapeutic outcomes were different from each other. Of all the cases, 21 improved, especially those of acute onset of toxic epidermal necrolysis and drug hypersensitivity syndrome; 1 adult dermatomyositis and 2 elder bullous pemphigoid were not relieved. A patient with acute graft-versus-host disease died. Three patients presented with minor adverse effects (headache and blood pressure rising). Conclusions hd-IVIg is effective and safe in the treatment of some severe skin diseases. More importantly, it has a substantial effect on shortening disease course and decreasing the dosage of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants as well as on preventing infections.

To observe the influence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19-kDa lipoprotein (Mtb P19) on function and phenotype of macrophage,the Mtb P19 was prepared from cultured Mtb H37Ra and the phorbol myristate acetate-differentiated THP-1 cells were incubated with P19 at the concentration of 10 μg/mL with 5% CO_2 at 37℃ for up to 48 hours.Supernatants were collected for TNF-α and IL-6 detection by ELISA,then the phenotype fluorescent antibodies were stained to analyze HLA-DR expression changes between control group and experimental group.Flow cytometry and microscopy was used to assay the phagocytosis in macrophages stimulated by Mtb P19.IL-6 and TNF-α in collected supernatants were detected.Results indicated that both were found significant increases and their phagocytosis were enhanced.Comparing to the control group,the mean fluorescence intensity showed a significant increase 24hs after stimulation.It presents that Mtb P19 could be able to induce macrophages activation,and it would be significantly important for protection during infection period.

Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic value of CT scan minimum attenuation values (minAVsCT) in adrenal adenomas and non-adenomas.Methods CT scan data of 89 cases of clinical and pathologically confirmed adrenal adenomas were subjected to retrospective analysis and compared with data of 46 cases involving 50 non-adenomas (25 metastases,20 pheochromocytomas,3 lymphomas,and 2 cortical carcinomas).The distributions of mean attenuation values (meanAVs) ￥ 10 Hu and minAVs ￥0 Hu and CT histogram analysis with ≥ 10％ negative pixels were observed in adrenal adenomas and non-adenomas,and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these 3 methods for adenomas were calculated.Results The distributions of unenhanced meanAVs ￥ 10 Hu,minAVs ￥0 Hu,and CT histogram analysis with ≥ 10％ negative pixels among cases of adenoma and non-adenoma were 62.9％ (56/89) and 0％ (0/50) (x2=52.687,P=0.000),84.3％ (75/89) and 2％ (1/50) （x2=83.917,P=0.000),and 77.5％ (69/89) and 0％ (0/50) (x2=83.917,P=0.000),respectively.The respective diagnostic sensitivities,specificities,false negative rate (FNR),false positive rate (FPR),positive pre dictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of these 3 methods for adenomas were 62.9％vs 84.3％ vs 77.5％,100％ vs 98.0％ vs 100％,37.1％ vs 15.7％ vs 22.5％,0 vs 2％ vs 0,100％ vs 98.7％ vs 100％,60.2％ vs 77.8％ vs 71.4％,and 76.3％ vs 89.2％ vs 85.6％.Conclusion Although the specificity and PPV of minAVs≤0Hu is slightly less than meanAVs≤10Hu and CT histogram analysis with ≥ 10％ negative pixels,it exhibits the best sensitivity and accuracy with a simple operation,and is thus suitable for clinical application.

Objective To study the ability of standard strain and clinical isolates of Ureaplasma spp. to form biofilms in vitro and to compare the antibiotic susceptibility of sessile cells and their planktonic counterparts. Methods A total of 21 Ureaplasma wealyticum(Uu) isolates recovered from female patients diagnosed with cervicitis and Uu serovar 3 and Uu serovar 8( Uu3, Uu8) were included. Scanning electron microscope and confocal scanning laser microscopy were used to identify biofilm formation. Conventional antibiotic susceptibility tests and biofilm susceptibility assays for tetracycline, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin were carried out. The paired rank sum test and was applied to analyze the statistical differences between the MIC and the minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration. The x2 test was applied to analyze the statistical differences of global resistance percentages between planktonic cells and sessile cells. Results Uu3, Uu8 and 21 Uu isolates all can form biofilms in vitro. Minimal inhibitory concentration of sessile cells compared with planktonic cells were obviously higher for tetracycline, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin (P <0.001). Global resistance percentages between planktonic cells and sessile cells were different for erythromycin (9.52% vs 61.90% , P < 0. 001), ciprofloxacin ( 80. 95% vs 100% , P = 0. 035 ) and tetracycline (4. 76% vs 14.29% , P =0.293). Conclusion Uu isolates and Uu1, Uu8 all can form biofilms in vitro, and biofilm formation can strengthen resistance of Uu to antibiotics, even multidrug resistance was observed.

Objective To study the resistance mechanism of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) to erythromycin.Methods The susceptibility of 73 clinical isolates of Uu to erythromycin was evaluated by using broth dilution techniques. PCR and DNA sequencing were carried out to screen hot spot mutations at the variable region of 23S ribosomal RNA in erythromycin-resistant strains of Uu. Moreover, erythromycin resistance methylase genes (ermA, ermB, ermC) and efflux pump genes (mefA/E, msrA/B, mreA) were screened by using PCR with specific primers. Results There were 35 (47.95%) resistant Uu strains out of the 73 isolates, and the minimal inhibitory concentration varied from 8 to 32 mg/L among these resistant strains. The ermB gene was detected in 19 (54.29%) resistant strains, and msrA/B gene in 9 (25.71%) resistant strains. Two resistant strains harbored both ermB gene and msrA/B gene. No mutation at 23S ribosomal RNA or amplification of resistance-associated genes was noted in sensitive or reference strains of Uu. Conclusion The ermB and msrA/B genes may be responsible for the erythromycin resistance of Uu.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) histogram analysis for thyroid malignant solitary coarse calcification nodules (MSCN).Methods A total of 89 thyroid solitary coarse calcification nodules (coarse calcification ≥5 mm,no definite soft tissue around calcification) confirmed either by surgery or histopathological examination in 86 patients enrolled in this study from Jan.2009 to Dec.2015 were evaluated,including 33 MSCN from 32 patients and 56 benign solitary coarse calcification nodules (BSCN) from 56 patients.Overall,27 cut-off values were calculated by N (4 ≤ N ≤ 30) times of 50 Hounsfield units (HU) in the range of 200 HU to 1500 HU,and each cut-off value and the differences in the corresponding area percentages in the CT histogram were recorded for MSCN and BSCN.The optimal cut-off value and the corresponding area percentage were established by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results In the 24 groups with an ROC area under the curve (AUC) of more than 0.7,at a cut-off value of 1150 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 98.4％,the ROC AUC reached a maximum of 0.86,and the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 70.8％,93.9％,and 57.1％,respectively.At a cut-off value of 450 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 46.3％,the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 76.4％,48.5％,and 92.9％,respectively.At a cut-off value of 550 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 81.5％,the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 75.3％,33.3％,and 100％,respectively.Conclusions In comparison with the cut-off value of 1150 HU with an area percentage of no less than 98.4％,the sensitivities for the cut-off value of 450 HU with an area percentage of no less than 46.3％ and for the cut-off value of 550 HU with an area percentage of no less than 81.5％ were lower;however,the specificities increased significantly,providing an important basis for reducing the misdiagnosis of MSCN.