OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical features, pathologic diagnosis and laboratory test of otologic manifestation in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG).

METHODSFourteen eases of WG with ear involvement were reviewed. The clinical course, method of treatment and outcomes in all cases were evaluated. Diagnosis of WG was made when the patients had clinical findings, clear histologic findings and a positive titer of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA). RESULTS In all 14 cases, the most frequent finding was chronic otitis media Sensorineural hearing loss was present in 1 case and facial nerve paralysis was present in 2 cases separately. There were 5 patients whose otologic manifestations were the primary involvement of WG. Fourteen cases had positive histologic diagnosis of WC while 13 cases were confirmed positive for ANCA. All patients were treated with glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive drugs, and finally got marked improvement.

CONCLUSIONSWG should he included in the differential diagnosis in cases of atypical inflammatory states of the ear, facial nerve paralysis and sensorineural hearing loss. Early diagnosis was made basing on the histologic findings and a positive titer of ANCA. Appropriate treatment were important to improve the otologic manifestations of WG.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; Female ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis ; complications ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the impact of non-dilated coronary artery wall lesion on myocardial perfusion.

METHODSDoppler tissue image (DTI) was used to measure regional ventricular wall motion in 43 Kawasaki children with non-dilated coronary arterial wall echocardiographic abnormalities (rough intima and arterial wall thickening) detected by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) at acute phase. A total of 31 cases who had both non-dilated coronary lesion and lowered ventricular wall motion velocity at subacute and convalescence phase underwent submaximal exercise single photon emitting computerized tomography (SPECT) for the evaluation of myocardial perfusion.

RESULTSIn 43 cases of Kawasaki disease with non-dilated coronary arterial wall abnormalities, 36 cases (83.7%) still had such lesions at subacute phase and 32 (74.4%)at convalescence. At the same time, lowered regional ventricular wall motion (RVWM) was found in 34 cases at subacute phase and in 31 cases at convalescence. DTI and 2DE had a very good correlation in the detection of such abnormalities (chi(c)2 = 9.64, P < 0.01 in subacute period, and chi(c)2 = 7.14, P < 0.01 in convalescence). In 31 cases accepting SPECT, 17 were positive. A total of 22 ischemic regions were detected. Eighteen out of 22 cases having ischemic regions had abnormal RVWM on DTI. SPECT ischemic regions were significantly in accordance with lowered RVWM in ventricular septum and anterior wall (chi(c)2=5.07 and 7.48, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) noted in DTI.

CONCLUSIONNon-dilated coronary arterial wall abnormality is one of the forms of coronary artery wall lesions which could reduce myocardial flow perfusion. Its clinical significance is worthy of attention.

Child ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ventricular Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and immunoreactivity in experimental acute inflammatory brain injury.

METHODSTen rats were inoculated with pneumococcus to establish the model of bacterial inflammatory brain injury and other 6 rats were used as normal controls. At 24 h after inoculating, the expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in brain tissue was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

RESULTThe necrosis of neuron in cerebral cortex and hippocampus was observed after infection. The increase of BDNF mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of experimental animals was demonstrated at 24 h after inoculation: (0.1194 +/- 0.02941 compared with 0.0662 +/- 0.01176)A and (0.1608 +/-0.01854 compared with 0.0680 +/- 0.00946)A (P<0.01), respectively. Compared with controls the expression of BDNF protein in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was enhanced at 24 h of inoculation:(177.04+/-43.66 compared with 79.79+/-7.23)mm(2) (P<0.01) and (81.78 +/-37.47 compared with 42.98 +/-20.44)mm(2) (P<0.01), respectively. Strong positive hybridization and immunoreactivity were observed in the infiltrated inflammatory cell in leptomeninges, subarachnoid cavity, ventricles and brain parenchyma in the brain from the experimental rats.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein increases following brain inflammatory injury, which supports the hypothesis that BDNF may constitute intrinsic neuroprotective mechanism as a part of the inflammatory response.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the best entry points, direction and length of screw in acetabular anterior column plate technique, and to prevent the serious complications of screw penetrating the joint surface.

METHODSTwenty male cadaveric adult semi-pelvic specimen were taken, and the distance from anterior acetabular margin, posterior acetabular margin to anterior inferior iliac spine, iliopubic eminence and pubic tubercle were measured respectively. Determine and make serial cross-sections of the acetabular anterior column, measure the safe angle of screw entry on all entry points of each cross-section, and put all data into software SPSS 10.0 for statistics process.

RESULTSThe distance from anterior acetabular margin to anterior inferior iliac spine, iliopubic eminence and pubic tubercle was (25.4 +/- 1.4) mm, (11.8 +/- 0.7) mm and (37.4 +/- 1.5) mm respectively, the distance from posterior acetabular margin to anterior inferior iliac spine, iliopubic eminence was (15.5 +/- 0.9) mm and (29.1 +/- 1.6) mm respectively. On each cross-section, the maximum of the safe entry angle of inclination in 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm and 1.5 cm entry point lateral to the linea terminalis of pelvis was (8.2 +/- 2.2) degrees , (14.9 +/- 3.4) degrees and (26.1 +/- 4.5) degrees respectively.

CONCLUSIONSWhen plate for internal fixation on acetabular region of anterior column is used, there are three ways to avoid screw penetrating the joint surface. The first way is using short screw in any direction; the second way is using long screw close to the linea terminalis of pelvis, the direction of the screw is parallel to the quadrilateral plate; the third way is using different entry angle and length according to different entry point.

Acetabulum ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Cadaver ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Anatomic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of liver X receptors (LXRs) on endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced murine HL-1 cardiomyocytes hypertrophy.

METHODSCultured murine HL-1 cardiomyocytes were divided into four experiment groups: (1) CONTROL GROUP:treated with DMSO; (2) T0901317 group:treated with LXRs agonist T0901317 (1 µmol/L); (3) ET-1 group:treated with ET-1 (1 nmol/L); (4) T0901317 + ET-1 group:treated with T0901317 (1 µmol/L) for 8 hours, then treated with ET-1 (1 nmol/L). Twenty-four hours later, immunofluorescent staining was performed on HL-1 cells, the surface area of HL-1 cells was analyzed with NIH Image J software, and the synthetic rate of protein in HL-1 cells was detected by (3)H-leucine incorporation. The mRNA level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MyHC) was measured by quantitative realtime PCR. The effect of T0901317 on mRNA expression of ANP was also detected after LXRs gene silencing.

RESULTSThe surface area of HL-1 cells, mRNA expression of ANP and β-MyHC, and (3)H-leucine incorporation in ET-1 group were 2.00 ± 0.29, 1.98 ± 0.47, 2.13 ± 0.39 and 1.79 ± 0.17, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of control group (1.00 ± 0.26, 1.00 ± 0.21, 1.00 ± 0.31 and 1.00 ± 0.03, respectively, all P < 0.05). Compared with ET-1 group, the surface area of HL-1 cells, mRNA expression of ANP and β-MyHC, and (3)H-leucine incorporation were significantly decreased in T0901317 + ET-1 group (1.24 ± 0.25, 1.19 ± 0.21, 1.48 ± 0.27 and 1.15 ± 0.11, respectively, all P < 0.05). After inhibition of LXRα/β expression in HL-1 cardiomyocytes using the specific siRNAs, the mRNA expression of ANP in T0901317 + ET-1 group was 1.78 ± 0.05, which was similar as that in ET-1 group (1.94 ± 0.17, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONT0901317, an agonist of LXRs, could inhibit ET-1 induced cardiac hypertrophy in vitro, and LXR ligand-mediated inhibition on ANP mRNA expression by T0901317 is receptor dependent.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated ; pharmacology ; Liver X Receptors ; Mice ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; agonists ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology

Methods for analyses of protein-protein interactions include: yeast two hybrid (Y2H), phage dis- play (PD), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), glutathione S-transferase pull-down (GST pull-down), cellular co-localization, far-western blotting, virus overlay protein binding assay (VOPBA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Technologies for the detection of protein-nucleic acid interactions include: yeast one hybrid (Y1H), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Southwestern blotting, reporter gene, Co-IP, GST pull-down, and PD. These methods are often used in the study of the human enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) by our research team. Reviews in the Chinese literature in this field are lacking, so we reviewed applications of these methods in the study of EV-A71. This review may impart important knowledge in the research of other viruses with regard to protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions.
Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Enterovirus A, Human ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Viral Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanical characteristics of new anatomic plate of distal tibia from view of biomechanics.

METHODSTwelve fresh adult moist ankle specimens were randomly divided into four block groups (every group had 3 specimens), 3 tibial specimens as a normal control (normal group N), 9 specimens were resulted in unstable distal tibial Pilon fracture. Using steel plate fixation with a new anatomic distal tibial plate (group A), reconstruction plate (group B), clover plate (group C). Group B and group C as control group to test the remote axial compressive strength, remote axial stiffness, reversing biomechanical properties, contacted characteristics of the tibial astragaloid articular surface.

RESULTSThe remote axial compressive strength, remote axial stiffness, reversing biomechanical properties, contacted characteristics of tibial astragaloid articular surface the in distal tibial Pilon fracture instability of group A were near normal group N (P>0.05). Group A was best than group B and C (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe new anatomic plate of distal tibia was relatively strong, which can reach effective and stable fixation for unstable distal tibial Pilon fracture.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Tibia ; chemistry ; injuries ; surgery ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Objective To investigate the relationship between the Apolipoprotein(Apo)A5-1131T>C polymorphism and strokes.Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)and polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis(PAGE)wefe used to analyze the genotypic polymorphism in 327 patients with stroke(including 194 cerebral infarction patients and 133 cerebral hemorrhage patients)and 311 healthy controls.The levels of serum lipids profiles were also measuredby enzymatic methods. Results The frequency of the-1131C allele in cerebral infarction patients was significantly higher than that of the control group(44.1% vs 32.3%,P<0.05),but there was not statisticai difference between cerebral hemorrhage patients and controls on the-1131C allele frequeney(35.4%vs 32.3%,P>0.05).Compared with the noncamers,the C carriers also had a higher triglyceride(TG)levels in stroke group[(1.45±0.77)vs(1.69±1.06)mmol/L,P<0.05],but the total cholesterol(TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)levels did not show statistical differences in various genotypes(P>0.05).Unadjusted Logistic regression analysis indicated that TC+CC genotype of A5-1131T>C was significantly associated with the presence of cerebral infarction,but not with hemorrhage stroke.Logistic regression analysis adjustedfor BMI,presence of hypertension or diabetes and HDL-C levels revealed that TC+CC genotype was an independent risk factor for cerebralinfarction(OR=1.932,95%CI:1.057-3.532,P=0.032). Conclusion The ApoA5-1131C allele frequency of the patients with cerebral infarction is significantly higher than controls.ApoA5-1131T>C polymorphism has a significant influence on serum TG levels.The ApoA5-1131T>C variant is associated with an increased susceptibility for ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVETo observe the primary clinical result of digital template as navigation to the upper cervical pedicle instrumentation.

METHODSCT scan of upper cervical vertebrae was performed. 3-D model of upper cervical vertebrae was reconstructed by software Amira 3.1 and was preserved in STL format. Then 3-D model was run in software UG Imageware 12.0, the best pedicle channel was extracted according to the reverse engineering principle. A virtual navigational template was established according to he lamina anatomic trait, and the best pedicle channel. The virtual vertebrae and navigational template were manufactured using rapid prototyping. The navigational template was sterilized and used intra operative to assist with the placement of pedicle screw. The Accuracy of screw placement was confirmed with postoperative X-ray and CT scanning.

RESULTSThe digital navigational template had been established and used in the 3 cases, the good trajectory of cervical pedicle had been showed by the CT scan of post operation. There were not complications of related pedicle screw insertion.

CONCLUSIONSA novel method of upper cervical pedicle location using Reverse Engineering and rapid prototyping has been developed; the navigational template is found to be highly accuracy and has great expectation.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Middle Aged ; Models, Anatomic ; Neuronavigation ; Spinal Fusion ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic