OBJECTIVETo explore evaluation strategies for middle ear dysfunction in cleft palate patients, to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of this dysfunction, and ultimately to improve the comprehensive treatment of cleft palate.

METHODSThe relationship among abnormal tympanic types (B, C, and Anomaly), effusion rate, tympanic pressure, and hearing loss were analyzed. We collected relevant information on 469 ears of cleft palate patients and traced one-year longitudinal changes in the tympana of 124 ears from 62 patients with both cleft lip and cleft palate.

RESULTSThe effusion rates of cleft palate patients with type B, type C, and type Anomaly were 50.3% (97/193), 34.8% (8/23), and 20.9% (53/253), respectively. The tympanic pressure of the ears with and without effusion showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The hearing loss in type B cleft palate patients with middle ear effusion was worse than that in patients without effusion (P=0.001). However, the hearing loss in type Anomaly showed no difference (P>0.05). The constituent ratio of each tympanic type remained constant during the period between cheiloplasty and palatoplasty for cleft lip and palate patients (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCleft palate patients of all tympanic types may all suffer from middle ear effusion at different rates. Examination by centesis is suggested for ears with abnormal tympanic types. Early aggressive therapy is essential for type B cleft palate patients with middle ear effusion to avoid hearing loss. However, catheterization may be not necessary for type Anomaly patients, and conservative observation should be performed instead. Myringotomy with grommet insertion during palatoplasty does not delay treatment timing for patients with both cleft lip and cleft palateg.

Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Ear, Middle ; physiology ; Humans ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Objective To study the protein expressions of Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and caspase-8 in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage ,and the effects of erythropoietin tp reveal the mechanism of neu-m-protection by EPO. Methods 126 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham-operated group, intracerebral hemorrhage group, and EPO group. Each group was divided into seven subgroups according to the differ-ent time points (3,6,12,24,48,72 h and 7 d). The model of intracerebral hemorrage was established in rats by in-tracerebral injection of autogenous blood. The protein expressions of FADD and caspas-8 in rats tissue around the hemorrhagic and the normal brain tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The protein expressions of FADD and caspase-8 were increased [(4.66±0.46 ) and ( 15.89±1.81)] at 3 h after intracerebral hemorrhage, and peaked at 48 h [ (35.88±4.24 ) and (45.04±3.99)], the expressions of FADD and caspas-8 in the region around hematoma in EPO group significantly decreased compared with model group[ (3.92±0.64) and (28.24±1.90), (13.32±2.01 ) and (35.08±2.82)] at 3 h and 48 h. Conclusion The protein expressions of FADD and easpase-8 are markedly increased after intracerebral hemorrhage. EPO can protect the neurons by signifi-cantly reducing the expressions of FADD and caspase-8.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that many American women who are at high risk of developing osteoporosis have higher levels of serum phosphorus. This indicates that some substances which can lower the serum level of phosphorus will supply a new and effective method to prevent and treat osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE: To observe the influences of porcine bone protein on bone mineral density (BMD) and serum levels of calcium and phosphorus in a rat model of osteoporosis.METHODS: Wistar rat models of osteoporosis were established by intramuscular injection of dexamethasone. Rat models were randomly divided into physiological saline, Jiegu Qili tablet, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg porcine bone protein groups. Rats that did not receive any treatments served as normal controls. After 12 weeks of treatment, serum was collected and serum levels of phosphorus and calcium were determined by biochemistry method. At the same time, tibia sections were made to determine tibial DMD by QDR-400 dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and to observe tibia marrow cavity by hematoxylin-eosin staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in serum level of calcium among groups (P＞0.05).Compared with the physiological saline group, serum level of phosphorus in the 50, 100, 200 mg/kg porcine bone protein groups was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05). BMD was significantly higher in the 50, 100, 200 mg/kg porcine bone protein, Jiegu Qili tablet groups than in the physiological saline group (P ＜ 0.05). The tibia marrow cavity was smallest in the normal control group and largest in the physiological saline group. The tibia marrow cavity was larger in the 50, 100, 200 mg/kg porcine bone protein,Jiegu Qili tablet groups than in the physiological saline group. These results indicate that porcine bone protein cannot change the serum level of calcium, but it lowers serum level of phosphorus, and increases BMD, in a rat model of osteoporosis. However, the dose-dependent effect of porcine bone protein was not observed within the present experimental dosage. In addition, porcine bone protein can also reduce the marrow cavity of the tibia of rats with osteoporosis.

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have shown that the functional brain activity in the resting state is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, most studies focused on the relationship between different brain areas, rather than the amplitude or strength of the regional brain activity. The purpose of this study was to explore the functional brain changes in AD patients by measuring the amplitude of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) signals.

METHODSTwenty mild AD patients and twenty healthy elderly subjects participated in the fMRI scan. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was calculated using REST software.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy elderly subjects, the mild AD patients showed decreased ALFF in the right posterior cingulate cortex, right ventral medial prefrontal cortex, and in the bilateral dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. No brain region with increased ALFF was found in the AD group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe reduced activity in the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex observed in the present study suggest that the functional abnormalities of those areas are at an early stage of AD. The ALFF analysis may provide a useful tool in fMRI study of AD.

Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gyrus Cinguli ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prefrontal Cortex ; physiopathology

China ; Disaster Medicine ; Disasters ; statistics & numerical data ; Earthquakes ; statistics & numerical data ; First Aid ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Mass Casualty Incidents ; statistics & numerical data ; Rescue Work

ObjectiveTo observe the thyroid status of pregnant women during the 1st and 2nd trimester of gestation,and its role in brain and neural development of their offspring's.MethodsFrom 2008 to 2009,pregnant women from nine townships of two counties in Wushi and Baicheng in Aksu prefecture of Xinjiang were selected as research subjects according to the survey standard.After informed consent signed,their urinary iodine,serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) and free thyroxin(FT4) were analyzed.The value of thyroid hormone of normal pregnant women was used in diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia in pregnant women.From 2010 to 2011, The brain and neural development status among offspring born by those pregnant women were evaluated with DDST.In accordance with the results of Denver Development Screen Test (DDST) screening,pregnant women were classified into survey and control groups,and the survey group was the suspicious and abnormal of the result of DDST screening(delay),the control group was normal of the result.According to gestational age,pregnant women were divided into 4 gestation groups:G1(6 to 13 weeks),G2(14 to 18 weeks),G3 ( 19 to 23 weeks) and G4(24 to 28 weeks).ResultsA total of 396 cases of pregnant women during the 1st and 2nd trimester of gestation were investigated(survey group 102 cases,control group 294 cases).The median value of urinary iodine concentration among pregnant women in survey group was 152.4 μg/L The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia among pregnant women was 10.78％(11/102) and 3.93％(4/102),respectively.In control group,the median value of urinary iodine concentration was 180.0 μg/L The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia among pregnant women was 7.48％ (22/294) and 4.42％ (13/294),respectively.During the pregnant period from G1 to G3,the median serum TSH of pregnant women in DDST survey group (2.24,3.49,2.85 mU/L) was higher than that of DDST control group( 1.59,2.70,2.28 mU/L).Especially,the difference of TSH between the two groups during the period of G3 was statistically significant (t =4.906,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsHypothyroidism tendency of pregnant women during the period from gestation week 19th to 23rd may be an important factor in the development of brain abnormalities of their offsprings.

OBJECTIVETo investigate neuron regeneration of aged rats after intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).

METHODSICH model was induced by intracerebral infusion of 100microL autologous blood in adult and aged (3 and 18 m of age, respectively) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Doublecortin(DCX), polysialylated neural cell adhesion protein(PSA-NCAM) and Bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) in brain tissue were detected by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical examination.

RESULTIn aged rats, DCX levels in the ipsilateral basal ganglia and subventricular zone started to increase at 7d after ICH, peaked at 14 d [(670+/-145)% of controls, P<0.01]. Most DCX positive cells in ipsilateral striatum were BrdU positive. Though DCX content in ipsilateral basal ganglia [(2560+/-758) pixels]of ICH aged rats was much higher than that of aged rat controls [(450+/-97)pixels, P<0.01], it was still lower than that in adult rats.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrate that neuron regeneration occurs in subventricular zone in the aged rats following intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH).

Age Factors ; Animals ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in megakaryocyte progenitor ex vivo expansion between CD34+ cells derived from human umbilical cord blood (CB) and bone marrow (BM). Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were obtained from CB or BM by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient separation. CD34+ cells were purified by magnetic cell sorting (MACS). The selected CD34+ cells were seeded in serum-free conditions stimulated with thrombopoietin (TPO), TPO+interleukin 11 (IL-11), or TPO+IL11+heparin for 14 days. Amplification product (CD34+, CD41a+, and CD34+ CD41a+ cells) immunophenotypes, megakaryocyte apoptosis rates and the DNA content were measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The colony-forming units of granulocytes and monocytes (CFU-GM), burst-forming units of erythrocytes (BFU-E), and colony-forming units of megakaryocytes (CFU-Mk) were also evaluated by the colony-forming units (CFU) assay. The results indicated that CD34+ cells derived from CB showed higher expansion ability of total cell counts, CD41a+ and CD34+ CD41a+ cells than those derived from BM for all days 14 of culture (p<0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in CFU-GM, BFU-E, and total CFU-Mk counts between CB and BM-derived CD34+ cells on day 0 (p>0.05, respectively), but CB-derived CFU-Mk seemed mainly large colonies, and the number of large colonies was higher than that from BM (p<0.05) on day 0. There were no significant differences in expansion ability of CFU-GM between CB and BM-derived cells on days 7, 10, and 14 of culture (p > 0.05, respectively), but the expansion ability of BFU-E and CFU-Mk derived from CB cells was higher than that from BM (p<0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in apoptosis rates of megakaryocyte from two source cells for days 14 of culture. Megakaryocytes derived from CB mostly showed the 2N DNA content (>90%) for days 14 of culture, while those cells derived from BM showed the increased DNA content, and 4N, 8N or more ploidy cells gradually increased with prolonging of culture time. It is concluded that CB-derived CD34+ cells have a greater proliferation potential than that derived from BM, which is therefore proven to be a better cell source for megakaryocyte progenitor expansion in vitro.
Antigens, CD34 ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; cytology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; immunology

This study was purposed to investigate the biological characteristics and immunogenicity changes of ex vivo expanded megakaryocyte progenitors from human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells in order to provide experimental basis for clinical application of ex vivo expanded umbilical cord blood megakaryocyte progenitor cells. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were obtained from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll-Hyapaque density gradient separation. CD34(+) cells were enriched by magnetic cell sorting (MACS). The selected CD34(+) cells were seeded in serum-free medium stimulated with thrombopoietin (TPO, 50 ng/ml), interleukin 11 (IL-11, 50 ng/ml), and heparin (25 U/ml) for 14 days. The immunophenotyping (CD34(+), CD41a(+), CD61(+), CD34(+) CD41a(+) and CD34(+) CD61(+) cells) of amplificated products, matured megakaryocyte apoptosis, and expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and class II molecules were measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). The number of colony-forming units-megakaryocyte (CFU-Mk) was also evaluated by CFU-Mk assay. The results showed that the umbilical cord blood CD34(+) mononuclear cells could be effectively differentiated into megakaryocytes. The peak expression ratios of CD41a(+) and CD61(+) cells were all at 14th days, while that of CD34(+) CD41(+) and CD34(+) CD61(+) cells were at 7th day [(3.41 +/- 2.80)% and (1.89 +/- 1.43)%, respectively]. The expansion times of large and small CFU-Mk reached peak at 7th day (20.66 +/- 32.79) and 10th day (435.62 +/- 482.65), respectively. The apoptotic rates of megakaryocytes at 7th, 10th, 14th day were (19.48 +/- 9.64)%, (26.87 +/- 9.03)%, and (52.46 +/- 11.74)%, respectively. The apoptotic rate of megakaryocytes had no significant difference in 7 and 10 days culture (p > 0.05), while that significantly increased in culture for 14 day culture, compared with culture for 7 and 10 days (p < 0.05, respectively). The expression of HLA class I and class II molecules on megakaryocytes decreased along with the prolongation of expansion time and sharply decreased in 0 to 10 days. It is concluded that the cytokines of TPO, IL-11, and heparin can promote the expansion of megakaryocyte progenitors from umbilical cord blood CD34(+) mononuclear cells effectively in vitro. The peaked expansion times of large CFU-Mk, the peaked expression ratios of CD34(+) CD41(+) and CD34(+) CD61(+) cells were all at 7th day. So the culture for 7 days appeared to be the optimal duration of expanding megakaryocyte progenitors.
Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; cytology

BACKGROUNDThe GlideScope videolaryngoscope (GSVL) has been shown to have no special advantage over the Macintosh direct laryngoscope (MDL) in attenuating the circulatory responses to orotracheal intubation, but no study has compared the circulatory responses to nasotracheal intubation (NTI) using the two devices. This prospective randomized clinical study was designed to determine whether there was a clinically relevant difference between the circulatory responses to NTI with the GSVL and the MDL.

METHODSSeventy-six adult patients were randomly allocated equally to the GSVL group and the MDL group. After induction of anesthesia, NTI was performed. Non-invasive blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before induction (baseline values) and immediately before intubation (post-induction values), at intubation and every minute for a further five minutes. During the observation, times required to reach the maximum values of systolic BP (SBP) and HR, times required for recovery of SBP and HR to postinduction values and incidence of SBP and HR percent changes > 30% of baseline values were also noted. The product of HR and systolic BP, i.e. rate pressure product (RPP), and the areas under SBP and HR vs. time curves (AUC(SBP) and AUC(HR)) were calculated.

RESULTSThe NTI with the GSVL resulted in significant increases in BP, HR and RPP compared to postinduction values, but these circulatory changes did not exceed baseline values. BPs at all measuring points, AUC(SBP), maximum values of BP and incidence of SBP percent increase > 30% of baseline value during the observation did not differ significantly between groups. However, HR and RPP at intubation and their maximum values, AUC(HR) and incidence of HR percent increase > 30% of baseline value were significantly higher in the MDL group than in the GSVL group. Times required for recovery of SBP and HR to postinduction values were significantly longer in the MDL group than in the GSVL group.

CONCLUSIONSThe pressor response to NTI with the GSVL and the MDL was similar, but the tachycardiac response to NTI was lesser and of a shorter duration when using a GSVL than when using an MDL.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Laryngoscopes ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Video Recording ; instrumentation ; methods