Objective This study was aimed at investigating the ability of temporal gap detection (TGD) in listeners with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD ) .Methods The temporal gap detection thresholds were measured for subjects using a TGD program developed by University of California ,Irvine .Three groups of subjects were recruited in this study ,including 12 subjects with normal hearing ,12 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) ,and 15 subjects with ANSD .The differences of TGD thresholds among the three groups of subjects were analyzed using a one - sample ANOVA method .Results No significant difference of the TGD thresh‐old was observed between two ears for all the subjects .The mean and standard deviation of the gap - detection threshold for both ears was about 3 .9 ± 1 .1 ms ,3 .6 ± 1 .1 ms ,and 13 .7 ± 9 .9 ms for normal - hearing subjects , subjects with SNHL ,and subjects with ANSD ,respectively .The TGD threshold in subjects with ANSD was sig‐nificantly higher than those of in normal hearing group (P< 0 .01) and SNHL group (P< 0 .01) ,while no signifi‐cant difference was found in TGD thresholds between normal - hearing subjects and subjects with SNHL .Conclusion For listeners with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder ,their ability to resolve temporal information was de‐graded with a large individual variability .

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the ability of lexical tone perception in listeners with sensorineural hearing impairment and auditory. neuropathy spectrum disorder. METHOD: Three groups of subjects were recruited in this study, including 11 subjects with normal hearing, 14 subjects with sensorineural hearing impairment, and 25 subjects with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. Ten monosyllabic syllables were selected, and combined with four lexical tones which were made up of 40 tone tokens as the original test materials. Then, these original words were recorded using one adult male and one adult female native Beijing Mandarin speaker. The speakers were asked to record these 40 monosyllabic words multiple times, and the 80 tokens in which the durations of four tones in each monosyllabic word were within 5ms precision were chosen as the test tone tokens. The subjects were asked to perform a four-alternative forced-choice study and select which tone they had heard. RESULT: The mean and standard deviation of the tone perception correct scores for normal-hearing subjects, subjects with sensorineural hearing impairment, and subjects with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder were (97.3 ± 2.8)%, (88.0 ± 9.9)%, and (65.7 ± 17.1)%, respectively. Significant differences in tone perception scores were found to be between subjects with normal hearing and subjects with sensorineural hearing impairment (P < 0.01) and between subjects with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (P < 0.01). In addition, a significant difference was found to be between subjects with sensorineural hearing impairment and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (P < 0.05). A significantly negative correlation was observed between tone perception score and pure tone hearing thresholds for both subjects with sensorineural hearing loss (r = -0.756, P < 0.01) and subjects with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (r = -0.546, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION As the hearing loss became more severe, the ability to perceive lexical tone for both subjects with sensorineural hearing loss and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder reduced. Subjects with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder had more degraded ability to perceive lexical tone and a larger individual difference, in comparison with subjects with sensorineural hearing loss.
Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Central ; physiopathology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Speech Perception

Objective: To preliminarily explore the teaching content reformation of medical ultrasound course of undergraduates of biomedical engineering(BME)based on the perspective of clinical engineering(CE)so as to enhance competitive capability of graduate of BME in applying jobs.Methods: Self-designed questionnaire was adopted to investigate graduation plan,knowledge degree of medical ultrasound equipment and learning interests of senior undergraduates of BME.Results: The survey results showed that 22.85％(7 in 31 valid questionnaire)students hope to find a job in a hospital after they graduated.Before course starts,77.42％(24 in 31 valid questionnaire)respondents said they know nothing about the quality control(QC)of ultrasound diagnostic equipments,which is one of the most important tasks in CE.Comparing with other technical knowledge about medical ultrasound,the knowledge degree of QC is the lowest level.Meanwhile,in the rank of learning interest,students have very high learning interesting at relative QC and management.Conclusion: According to students' employment intension and learning interesting,the relative teaching contents of CE can meet the demand of position of BME students,and it is benefit to improve the job competitiveness of the graduates.Therefore,it is necessary to reform teaching content of medical ultrasound course of BME according to the point of CE.

Objective:To study the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on sepsis in patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).Methods:The clinical data of 116 patients with PLA treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from January 2021 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 64 males and 52 females, aged (62.3±12.6) years old. Patients were divided into DM group ( n=56) and non-DM group ( n=60), which were also divided into the sepsis group ( n=29) and the non-sepsis group ( n=87). The clinical features were compared among the groups, the risk factors of PLA complicated with sepsis were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Mediation model was used to analyze how DM affects the development of sepsis. Results:Compared with the non-DM group, patients in DM group had higher incidences of hypertension and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II, a higher proportion of blood neutrophil count, a higher serum levels of triglyceride, urea nitrogen, fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin at admission. The DM group also higher incidences of hypoproteinemia, pleural effusion, and sepsis, with longer hospital stay and higher hospitalization cost (all P<0.05). The levels of hemoglobin, albumin and hematocrit were lower in DM group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that comorbidity of DM ( OR=3.431, 95% CI: 1.245-9.455) and abscess with a larger diameter ( OR=1.664, 95% CI: 1.258-2.220) were associated with a higher risk of developing sepsis (all P<0.05). Mediation model showed that neutrophil count and triglyceride were the mediating variables of sepsis in patients with PLA. Conclusion:Comorbidity of diabetes is an independent risk factor of developing sepsis in patients with pyogenic liver abscess. Diabetes may induce sepsis by affecting the neutrophils and triglyceride.

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of pretreatment with Danshensu (DSS) on rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) senescence and the underlying mechanisms. Cultured RAECs at fourth and twelfth passages were taken as young and old groups, respectively. DSS and DSS+nicotinamide (DSS+N) groups were incubated with DSS and DSS in combination with nicotinamide, an inhibitor of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), from the fourth to twelfth passage, respectively. The cell status of senescence was determined by the senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal) staining, and 4,6-diamino-2-phenyl indole (DAPI) fluorescent dye was used to detect senescence associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF) formation; Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and colorimetric methods were used to evaluate malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂contents; Western blot was employed to analysis the expressions of xanthine oxidase (XOD), SIRT1 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD₂) in the RAECs. The results showed that, in comparison with young group, the old group exhibited higher SA β-gal positive and SAHF formation rates, as well as higher MDA and H₂O₂levels (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), whereas DSS pretreatment reduced SA β-gal positive and SAHF formation rates, decreased MDA and H2O2 contents (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The protection of DSS was reversed by nicotinamide. Compared with the young group, the old group showed higher expression levels of XOD, but lower SIRT1 and SOD₂expression levels (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). With the pretreatment of DSS, the expression of XOD was declined, and the expression levels of SIRT1 and SOD₂were elevated, while nicotinamide reversed the effects of DSS. These results suggest that DSS delays senescence of RAECs via up-regulation of SIRT1.
Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Lactates ; pharmacology ; Niacinamide ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the auditory performance of infants with cochlear implants at the early stage after surgery, summarize the development of auditory ability, investigate the effect of age at cochlear implantation on auditory performance within the first year after surgery and provide a reference for their habilitation program. METHOD: A total of 272 infants with prelingually profound hearing loss participated in this study, ranging in age at cochlear implantation from 18 to 36 months. The mean age was 21 months with a standard deviation of 7 months. Infants with cochlear implants were divided into three groups according to their age at implantation. Infants in group A were implanted under 18 months of age. Infants in group B were implanted between 18 and 24 months of age. Infants in group C were implanted between 25 and 36 months of age. Categories of auditory performance (CAP) was used to evaluate the auditory performance, which rates auditory abilities in eight categories for a scale of 0 to 7. RESULT: The mean scores of CAP for all infants at each interval were significantly different after implantation. Significant differences were observed in mean scores of CAP among these three groups in 1 and 3 months after switch-on. However there were no significant differences in pre-operation, 6, 9 and 12 months after switch-on. CONCLUSION There is a significant improvement in auditory performance of infants with prelingually profound hearing loss within the first year after cochlear implantation. The age at cochlear implantation has no critical influence on the development of auditory capabilities at the early stage after surgery. CAP is a practical tool which can be used in clinic in China.
Age Factors ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Deafness ; surgery ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Infant

Objective:To explore the relationship between cardiac radiation dose and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:From August 2015 to September 2018, the clinical data and cardiac dose parameters of 180 patients with locally advanced NSCLC who received radiotherapy in Tangshan people′s Hospital of Hebei Province were analyzed retrospectively.The relationship between cardiac dose parameters and overall survival rate was analyzed by K-M analysis, and the prognostic factors of NSCLC patients were identified by multivariate Cox regression.Results:The median survival time of NSCLC patients was 33.4 months.Univariate analysis indicated prescription dose≥56Gy ( HR 1.54, 95% CI1.28-2.86, P=0.011), hypertension ( HR 1.42, 95% CI1.34-1.89, P=0.012), mean cardiac dose≥13.9Gy ( HR 1.12, 95% CI1.05-2.61, P=0.031), V5≥70% ( HR 1.08, 95% CI1.01-2.16, P=0.044), and V30≥40% ( HR 1.16, 95% CI1.04-3.01, P=0.041), V50≥20% ( HR 1.23, 95% CI1.11-2.81, P<0.001), and V60≥5% ( HR 1.03, 95% CI1.00-1.89, P=0.037) were the prognostic factors of NSCLC patients.After multi-factor adjustments, receiving chemotherapy was a favorable factor for the prognosis of NSCLC patients ( HR 0.711, 95% CI0.35-0.89, P=0.005); hypertension was a factor of poor prognosis ( HR 1.641, 95% CI1.56-1.86, P=0.034); V50≥20% in cardiac dose ( HR 1.161, 95% CI1.13-3.82, P=0.002) was a poor prognostic factor in NSCLC patients. Conclusion:The cardiac dose V50 is an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with advanced NSCLC.The increase of cardiac radiation dose may increase the potential risk of death.In clinical practice, the prognosis of patients may be improved by reducing the cardiac radiation dose.

To understand the maintenance and transmission of SFTS virus, the potential vector ticks were collected from sheep, cattle and dogs in the endemic areas of SFTSV in Shandong Province. Among the collected ticks, the dominant species was H. longicornis ticks. Real-time PCR for RNA detection, virus isolation and characterization, genomic sequencing, phylogenetic and antigenic analysis were performed in this investigation. The results showed that the SFTS viral RNA was detected in 2.14% H. longicornis, and a SFTS virus was isolated from one of viral RNA positive ticks collected from sheep. Whole genome analysis of the SFTSV isolates with 11 human-origin SFTS virus revealed a highly pairwise similarity, and the growth curve analysis showed nearly identical in virus yield and the dynamic of virus reproduction compared to human derived viral isolates. Immunofluorescence and neutralization test showed identical serological reaction character of the two different origin viral strains. In this study, the characters of a SFTSV isolate was firstly described, which suggested that the tick species H. longicornis acting important vector role in the transmission of SFTS virus.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; parasitology ; Arachnid Vectors ; virology ; Bunyaviridae Infections ; transmission ; virology ; Cattle ; Cell Line ; Dogs ; Humans ; Livestock ; parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phlebovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Sheep ; Ticks ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between anatomic abnormalities and malfunction of Oddi sphincter with formation of bile duct pigment gallstone.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-three patients with a T tube after cholecystectomy and choledochotomy were divided into reflux group and control group by measuring the amounts of radioactivity of (99m)Tc-DTPA in the bile. Among them 53 were selected randomly to undergo choledochoscopic manometry. Basal pressure of Oddi's sphincter (SOBP), amplitude of Oddi's sphincter (SOCA), frequency of contraction (SOF), duration of contraction (SOD), duodenal pressure (DP), common bile duct pressure (CBDP) were scored and analyzed. The level of plasma motilin and serum gastrin of 45 patients and 12 healthy volunteers were measured by radioimmunoassay. The incidence rates of duodenal descending part diverticulum in patients with bile duct pigment stones, patients without alimentary tract diseases, patients with gallbladder polyps, patients with gallbladder stones were studied by means of barium meal examination. The incidence rates of intraduodenal peri-ampullary diverticulum in patients with primary bile duct pigment stones, patients with bile duct stone and gallbladder stones, patients with bile duct stones originating from the gallbladder, patients with inflammation and stricture of the extremity of bile duct and papilla, patients with cancer of the extremity of bile duct and papilla, patients with post-cholecystectomy syndrome were detected by duodenoscope.

RESULTSOf the patients, 44 were detected with duodenal-biliary reflux (35.8%). SOBP, SOCA and CBDP in the reflux group were much lower than those in control group (P < 0.001). The level of serum gastrin and plasma motilin of the reflux group were much lower than those of control group (P < 0.01). Positive correlation was found between level of motilin and SOBP while level of gastrin was positively correlated with SOBP and CBDP. The incidence of duodenal diverticulum in patients with bile duct pigment stone was 36.62%, which was higher than that of the other 3 groups. The incidence rate of intraduodenal peri-ampullary diverticulum in patients with primary bile duct pigment stone was higher than that of patients with inflammation and stricture of the extremity of bile duct and papilla, patients with cancer of the extremity of bile duct and papilla and patients with bile duct stones originating from the gallbladder.

CONCLUSIONSThe patients with bile duct pigment stone have apparent duodenal-biliary reflux and infection of the bile duct. The state of structure and function of Oddi's sphincter is correlated significantly with bile duct pigment stone. The anatomic abnormalities and malfunction of Oddi's sphincter played an important role in the formation of bile duct pigment stone.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Pigments ; metabolism ; Cholelithiasis ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastrins ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motilin ; blood ; Pressure ; Radioimmunoassay ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincter of Oddi ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevention of hepatolithiasis and biliary stricture post choledochojejunostomy using choledochoscopy technique and evaluate feasibility and efficacy of choledochojejunostomy and artificial valve of efferent loop in preventing reflux.

METHODSTo analyze the data of 47 patients with hepatolithiasis who had been operated with Roux-en-Y cholangiojejunostomy and artificial valve of efferent loop to prevent bilio-intestinal regurgitation. Of the patients, 19 were marked with silver nip at the jejunum export of bilio-intestinal anastomosis. The regurgitation, recurrence, anastomotic stricture and their managements after the surgery were investigated.

RESULTSThe bilio-intestinal regurgitation were found in 32 cases (32/47, 68.1%), it suggested that artificial valve could not prevent bilio-intestinal regurgitation efficiently. Two cases of hepatolithiasis recurred and were cured by sinus tract placement with the aid of silver nip mark under choledochoscope instead of re-operation. Of the 6 cases with anastomotic stricture, 5 cases were treated successfully with stone extraction, biliary stent dilatation under the percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) and the other one case died.

CONCLUSIONSSilver nip mark provides safe and simple path for the cholangioscopy, it made the treatment of the recurrent biliary stricture and stone safe and brief, made the cholangioscopy play more important role in the hepatolithiasis, residual stone and biliary stricture. PTCS is mini-invasive, safe, simple and effective.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; adverse effects ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholelithiasis ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; etiology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Secondary Prevention ; Treatment Outcome