Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the imported malaria cases in 20 counties at the bor?der region of Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2014,so as to provide the evidence?based proof for adjusting the strategies in the elimination stage. Methods The malaria epidemic data of the 20 border counties in Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2014 were collected and analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results From 2012 to 2014,a total of 1 558 malaria cases were report?ed in the 20 border counties in Yunnan Province,among which,1 336 were imported cases,accounting for 85.75%(1 336/1 558),and 222 were indigenous cases,accounting for 14.25%(222/1 558). The number of the imported cases in the above years took up 80.00%(544/680),89.10%(425/477)and 91.52%(367/401)of the total reported cases in the whole year,re?spectively. Among all the 1 336 imported cases,1 045(78.22%)were infected with Plasmodium vivax,284(21.26%)were in?fected with P. falciparum,3 were infected with P. malariae,3 were mixed infection and 1 was an unclassified case;2 patients died. And 95.58%of the cases were mainly infected in Myanmar(1 277 cases). Young and middle?aged adult of 20-40 years who worked overseas were the predominant(802 cases,60.03%)and most of the cases occurred from April to June of the year (679 cases,50.82%). Those cases mainly distributed in Tengchong(459 cases),Ruili(366 cases),Yingjiang(191 cases)and Mangshi(78 cases). Conclusions The epidemic situation of imported malaria is serious in the border region of Yunnan Prov?ince. Therefore,the surveillance system of malaria control needs to be well planned and managed to ensure timely case detection and prompt response at the elimination and post?elimination stage.

Objective To investigate the changes in serum level of microparticles (EMPs) in mice with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), and explore its significance in VILI. Methods Forty-eight grade SPF male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups, with 24 mice in each group: the mice in mechanical ventilation (MV) group were given high tidal volume (VT 30 mL/kg) MV for 4 hours after tracheal intubation, and those in spontaneous breathing group were spontaneously breathed for 4 hours. The apical blood of 12 mice in each group were collected, and serum levels of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and serum EMPs levels were determined by flow cytometer. The correlations between EMPs and IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were analyzed by linear regression analysis. The lung tissues of other 12 mice in each group were harvested, and wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was assessed. After hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the morphological changes in lung tissue were observed under light microscope. After double staining of uranium acetate and lead citrate, the ultrastructural changes in lung tissue were observed with electron microscope. Results Compared with spontaneous breathing group, the levels of lung W/D ratio in MV group was significantly increased (5.47±0.14 vs. 4.34±0.11), the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and EMPs were also significantly increased [IL-1β (ng/L): 42.4±4.4 vs. 7.7±3.6, IL-6 (ng/L): 1 239.5±66.3 vs. 21.7±4.6, TNF-α (ng/L):237.6±25.8 vs. 37.1±19.1, EMPs (cells/μL): 28.6±1.8 vs. 5.9±1.8, all P < 0.01]. It was shown by correlation analysis that EMPs were positively related with IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α (r value was 0.968, 0.932, 0.945, respectively, all P = 0.000). It was shown by fitting linear regression analysis that when EMPs increased by 1 cell/μL, IL-1β increased by 2.4 ng/L [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.9-2.8, P < 0.001], IL-6 increased by 34.5 ng/L (95%CI = 25.1-44.0, P < 0.001), and TNF-α increased by 13.6 ng/L (95%CI = 10.3-16.9,P < 0.001). It was shown by light microscope that the structure of lung tissue and alveolar of mice in spontaneous breathing group appeared normal, while the shrinks of alveolar and disappearance of alveolar architecture were found in MV group. It was shown by electron microscopy that alveolar wall edema and thickening and broken alveolar septa were found in MV group, by contrast, the structure of alveolar was normal in spontaneous breathing group. Conclusion 30 mL/kg VT ventilation for 4 hours could induce VILI with increase in EMPs, suggesting EMPs closely related to VILI, and EMPs level may be putative biomarker of VILI.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the right-to-left shunt(RLS)detected with contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (c-TCD) and recurrent stroke in patients with cryptogenic stroke.Methods The consecutive patients w ith ischemic stroke w ere enrol ed. The patients w ith cryptogenic stroke w ere screened according to the TOAST criteria. They w ere divided into either a RLS positive group or a RLS negative group according to the c-TCD findings, and then they w ere fol ow ed up for a period of one year. They w ere also divided into a recurrent group and a non-recurrent group according to w hether they had recurrence or not. Results A total of 118 patients w ith cryptogenic ischemic stroke w ere enrol ed, including 46 in the RLS positive group, 72 in the RLS negative group, 10 in the recurrent group, and 108 in the non-recurrent group. There w ere no significant differences in demographic and baseline data betw een the RLS negative group and the RLS positive group. There w ere significant differences in RLS positive rate (7/10 vs.39/108; P=0.046) and proportion of patients with server RLS (2/10 vs.1/108; P=0.019) betw een the recurrent group and the non-recurrent group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis show ed that the positive RLS w as an independent predictor of recurrent stroke (odds ratio 4.896, 95% confidence interval 1.135-21.120;P=0.033). Conclusions The positive RLS may be an independent risk factor for the recurrence in patients w ith cryptogenic ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hearing results and the effects of the prognostic factors following myringoplasty. METHOD: Retrospective cohort 165 inpatients (175 ears) with preoperative conductive hearing loss were analyzed using multiple linear regression statistical analysis. They have undergone sandwich temporalis fascia myringoplasty between January 1999 and November 2003. Patients have been followed-up for more than 2 years. RESULT: The average air-bone gap improvement for all 175 myringoplasty procedures was 7.1 dBHL. Multiple linear regression statistical analysis was subsequently carried out on these prognostic factors on hearing outcomes and yielded the following relative importance of the predictive is as follows: mean preoperative air conduction threshold, duration of dry ear, duration of disease, age. There is a strong correlation between subjective audition and pure tone threshold audiometry. CONCLUSION A relatively better preoperative hearing, a relatively longer duration of dry ear, a relatively shorter duration of disease and a relatively younger age were found to be significant prognostic factors influencing the postoperative air-bone gap improvement of myringoplasty. Subjective audition improvement coupled with objective pure tone threshold audiometric improvement.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Child ; Female ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myringoplasty ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE Congenital aural atresia repair is difficult owing to unpredictable anatomy. Benefits may be gained from image-guided surgery(IGS) . its exact role and surgery indication were def ined. METHODS From 2001 to 2004,36 ears with bony type C(Schuknecht classification) congenital atresia were performed. In the IGS group(n=18) ,repair surgery was performed with IGS,while in the control group(Non-IGS,n=18) ,similar intervention was applied without IGS. IGS group:aged from 12-29 years,follow-up from 6 months to 1 year. Non-IGS group:aged from 10-27 years,follow-up from 6 months to 3 years. Intra-and post-operative clinical and audiometric findings were compared. RESULTS All of the patients had congenital bony aural atresia,ossicles malformation,tympanic cavity hypoplasia and facial nerve malformation. IGS revealed a malformed horizontal semicircular canal hidden in the bony atresia plate during the operation while computed tomography(CT) did not show preoperatively. IGS computed tomography images correlated well with intra-operative findings,gave the surgeon more securityand reduced operative time(2 hours and 24 minutes) by 25 minutes. The prepare time increased 20 minutes(15-30 minutes) ,but total time decreased 5 minutes in IGS group. The registration accuracy was 0.6-1.3 mm,average 0.84 mm,which was suitable for the otologic surgery. There were 1 case in IGS group and 3 cases in Non-IGS group happened local aural restenosis after operation. But there were no facial nerve paralysis and hearing injury happened in both groups,and all of the patients got the satisfactory hearing after the hearing reconstruction(the air-bone gap with an average of IGS is 31.8dB,Non-IGS is 30.5dB) . CONCLUSION In our estimation,IGS is valuable for type C congenital aural atresia repair. It serves as an educational tool and a guide both for the experienced and inexperienced surgeons in critical situations where anatomical landmarks are distorted and approach is limited. There is no statistically significant between two groups on hearing improvement after operation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the T helper cells (Th) predominant differentiation and the modulation of nuclear transcription factors kappa B (NF-kappaB) in middle ear of rat model of otitis media with effusion (OME). METHOD: Sixteen SD rats were randomly divided into OME (Exp group) and control group (Con group). The expression of NF-kappaB were observed by immunohistochemistry. The level of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in tympanic lavage fluid (TLF) were determined by ELISA. RESULT: As compared to the Con group , the level of IL-4 and the ratio of Th2/Th1 (IL-4/IFN-gamma) in TLF of Exp group significantly increased (P<0.05), when no significant difference in IFN-gamma levels in TLF was found. The ratio of NF-kappaB p65 positive cells to white cells in temporal bone marrow smears and middle ear mucosa of Exp group was significantly higher than that of Con group (P<0.05). The expression of NF-kappaB p65 in temporal bone marrow smears and middle ear mucosa was signficantly positively correlated with the concentration of IL-4 in TLF of Exp group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The middle ear is capable of mounting an allergic response and subsequent formation of effusion. There is Thl/Th2 immune response imbalance, which polarizes toward Th2 response in the middle ear microenvironment of allergic OME rat model. Moreover , NF-kappaB may participate in regulating Th2 predominant reaction.
Animals ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; chemically induced ; immunology ; metabolism ; Ovalbumin ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology