Objective To study the changes of cell motility of outer hair cells in the cochlear of guinea pigs under treatment of sodium nitroprusside(SNP). Methods By using the whole cell patch clamp recording technique in normal external and internal cell solution, the cell motility of outer hair cells under stimulation of voltage was observed in different concentration of SNP. Results Sodium nitroprusside apparently inhibited outer hair cells' motility when SNP concentration was higher than 100 ?Mol/L ( P

Objective To investigate the cytokine spectrum of cultured human amniotic-derived mesenchymal stem cells (A-MSC) for understanding its basis of molecular biology in hematopoietic in vitro.Methods Their hematopoietic cytokines expression was analyzed using RT-PCR in the mRNA level. Results It showed that in vitro subcultured human amniotic-derived mesenchymal stem cells were capable to express many important hematopoietic cytokines such as LIF, SCF, M-CSF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-6, IL-11 and so on. Conclusion Production of abundant of hematopoietic cytokines by human amniotic-derived mesenchymal stem cells may be effective for hematopoietic support and HSC transplantation.

Objective To observe the role and mechanism of CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) -2in the injured lung induced by ischmia-reperfusion (IR) of hind limbs of rat.Methods The rat model of lung injury was made by ischemia in hind limbs of rat for two hours and then reperfusion for two hours as well.There were 40 SD rats randomly ( random number) divided into 5 groups ( n =8 ),namely sham ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group,sham I/R + CORM-2 group,I/R group,I/R + CORM-2 group and I/R + DMSO (Dimethylsulfoxide) group. Rats in sham I/R group underwent laparotomy without infrarenal aorta occlusion.The lung tissue structure,polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) count,wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1 ),nuclear IκBα degradation and NF-κB activity in the lung were measured.Results Compared with the sham I/R group,the number of PMNs in lung,W/D,MDA content,MPOactivity,ICAM-1 and NF-κB activity significantly increased in I/R group,whereas nuclear IκBα decreased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the I/R group,the number of PMNs in lung,W/D,MDA content,MPO activity and ICAM-1 significantly decreased in I/R + COMR-2 group ( P ＜ 0.01 ), while nuclear IkBαincreased. Conclusions These data demonstrate that CORM-2 attenuates limb I/R-induced lung injury by inhibiting ICAM-1 protein,NF-κB pathway and the leukocytes sequestration in the lung following limb I/R in rats,suggesting that CORM-2 could be used as one of the most valuable therapeutic agents.

Objective To study the values of quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI in diagnosis of benign and malignant liver tumors and to explore its diagnostic efficacy.Methods Consecutive 25 patients with benign or malignant liver tumors underwent plain scanning and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI,and total 28 lesions were confirmed by pathology or follow-up.The DCE-MRI quantitative parameters (Ktrans ,Kep ,Ve and iAUC)of the lesions and the surrounding normal liver tissue were acquired.The inde-pendent sample t test was used to compare the quantitative parameters between different tumors.The optimal parameters values of benign and malignant liver tumors were determined by plotting ROC curves.Results The mean quantitative parameters of HCC and benign lesions were larger than those of the surrounding normal liver tissue.Ktrans ,Kep and iAUC between HCC and surrounding nor-mal liver tissue had significant differences (P <0.05),Ktrans and iAUC between benign lesions and surrounding normal liver tissue had a significant difference (P <0.05).Ktrans ,Kep and iAUC between HCC and benign lesions had significant differences (P <0.05). The diagnostic effectiveness of Ktrans = 0.21 5 min-1 ,with sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 66.7%,was greater than that of Kep =0.477 and iAUC=24.706.Conclusion The DCE-MRI quantitative analysis can provide a reference for the differential diagnosis of HCC from benign liver tumors.

Objective We tried to observe the effects of Chinese herb fumigation and washing combined with electromyographic biofeedback on stroke patients with muscle cramp on limbs.Methods 84 patients who had muscle cramp on limbs were selected and divided into two groups randomly,namely the intervention group and the control group and both groups had 42 stroke patients.The intervention group was treated with routine treatment,Chinese herbal fumigation and washing and electromyographic biofeedback treatment.The control group received only routine treatment and electromyographic biofeedback treatment.We had compared and analyzed the Ashworth Spasticity Scale and the Daily Life Abihty Score (Barthel index) of the two groups at the time of the pre therapy,two weeks after the treatment and at the end of the treatment(after four weeks),respectively.Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in Barthel index,however,there were significant differences in Ashworth Spasticity Scale scores between the two groups four weeks after treatment,t=-3.84,P ＜ 0.05.Conclusions The effect of Chinese herb fumigation and washing combining with the electromyo-graphic biofeedback treatment is better than usage of the electromyographic biofeedback treatment alone on stroke patients with muscle cramp on limbs.

Objective:To study the effects of effective herbs in Yinchenhao Decoction(YD)on fatty deposition and TNF-?secretion of hepatic lipo-toxicity model in vitro.Methods:TG and TNF-?as the inspection target,apply the steatosis with TNF-?secretion lipo-toxicity model in vitro of HepG2 induced by long-chain FFA and uniform design U7(76)form for YD,which had 3 herbs,to compound 6 kinds of different prescriptions,in order to look for the effective herbs or optimized group in YD.Results:The Chinese medicine Yinchen and its optimized group-Yinchen and Zhizi combination can remarkably reduce the TG and TNF-?content.Conclusion:The Chinese medicine Yinchen and its optimized group-Yinchen and Zhizi combination were effective herbs in YD for inhibiting fatty deposition and TNF-?secretion of hepatic lipo-toxicity model in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the occupational health condition in a shipyard in Guangzhou, China, and to provide a basis for improving the working environment.

METHODSThe monitoring data on occupational harmful factors in the workplace and the data on health examination of the workers were analyzed, and the occupational health condition in the shipyard was evaluated with the related occupational health standards.

RESULTSExcept benzene, toluene, and electromagnetic radiation, the dust (2.02%), grinding wheel dust (3.85%), wood dust (2 out of 4 workers exceeded the standard), welding fume (16.85%), manganese dioxide (17.98%), dimethylbenzene (8.00%), and noise (53.20%) were all out of limits to different degrees. The health examination results of 2450 workers in the shipyard showed that the respiratory impairment of dust-exposed workers (3.19%) and the hearing impairment of noise-exposed workers (12.21%) were comparatively severe.

CONCLUSIONThe occupational health condition in this shipyard is not good. In order to protect the workers from health hazards, it is urgent and necessary to improve the working environment and strengthen the personal protective measures.

Air Pollutants ; Benzene ; China ; Construction Industry ; Dust ; Humans ; Noise ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Ships ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Welding ; Workplace

Recent studies have demonstrated that five subtypes (M1-M5) of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) are expressed in the vestibular periphery. However, the exact cellular location of the mAChRs is not clear. In this study, we investigated whether there is the expression of M1-M5 muscarinic receptor mRNA in isolated type II vestibular hair cells of guinea pig by using single-cell RT-PCR. In vestibular end-organ, cDNA of the expected size was obtained by RT-PCR. Moreover, mRNA was identified by RT-PCR from individually isolated type II vestibular hair cells (single-cell RT-PCR). Sequence analysis confirmed that the products were M1-M5 mAChR. These results demonstrated that M1-M5 mAChR was expressed in the type II vestibular hair cells of the guinea pig, which lends further support for the role of M1-M5 mAChR as a mediator of efferent cholinergic signalling pathway in vestibular hair cells.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the balance function of the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) during standing. METHOD: In this study 41 patients with posterior semicircular canal BPPV (PC BPPV) and 11 patients with horizontal semicircular canal BPPV (HC BPPV) were recruited. Dynamic balance during standing was measured in Sensory Organization Test (SOT). Static balance during standing was measured in modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (mCTSIB). Data of BPPV patients were compared to that from 44 normal controls. RESULT: Scores of the patients with PC BPPV were lower than that of the normal controls in the last three test conditions of SOT. Patients with PC BPPV demonstrated greater sway velocity in stance on foam with eyes open and eyes closed in mCTSIB. No postural deficit was observed in neither SOT nor mCTSIB when the patients with HC BPPV were compared to the normal controls. CONCLUSION Disorders of the horizontal semicircular canal do not influence postural control. Both dynamic and static posturography can detect the postural imbalance caused by posterior semicircular canal dysfunction.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Postural Balance ; Semicircular Canals ; physiopathology

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of specific immunotherapy (SIT) with standardized dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract for allergic rhinitis (AR)accompanied with asthma.Method:One hundred and fifty-five patients(40 AR with asthma, AR & asthma) in accordance with the inclusion criteria of SIT, were allocated to receive standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract (SIT group, n=89) or medical treatment(control group, n=66). AR with or without asthma was observed separately. Symptom and medicine scores, quality of life were recorded and analyzed before and after 1 year treatment. Side effects were registered. Subjective evaluation of symptoms was made by the patients.Result:Rhinitis and asthma symptom scores, medicine scores and quality of life were greatly improved in SIT group of AR & asthma after 1 year, which were not significant changed in control group except for medicine scores. The subjective evaluation of symptoms was also significantly improved in SIT group. In patients of AR without asthma, the symptom scores, medicine scores and quality of life were both improved. The SIT group improved greater than that of control group.Conclusion:The clinical efficacy of patients with AR & asthma was not good with simple medical treatment, while great clinical efficacy could be acquired with SIT.