OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study compared clinical manifestations of idiopathic sudden hearing loss between children and the elderly. METHOD: 44 pediatric patients and 76 elderly patients diagnosed with idiopathic sudden deafness in our clinic from December 2009 to September 2014 were enrolled. Different clinical parameters were compared. RESULT: The incidence of initially profound hearing loss was highest and mild hearing loss was lowest in both groups (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the proportion with initially mild, moderate, severe, and profound hearing loss between both groups (P > 0.05). The number of patients was the most in initially profound type of audiogram pattern and the fewest in ascending type in both groups (P < 0.05). Hearing recovery rates in children (27/44, 61.4%) was higher than that in elderly patients (32/76, 42.1%) (P < 0.05). There were no differences in hearing recovery rates of the patients with initially level of hearing loss in both groups (P > 0.05). The highest recovery rate in children was in those with descending type and the lowest was in those with profound type (P < 0.05). There were no differences in hearing recovery rates in elderly patients with initially different types of audiogram pattern (P > 0.05). Hearing recovery rates of descending type in children were higher than that in elderly patients. Presence of tinnitus in pediatric patients was not relavent to the outcome (P > 0.05). Presence of tinnitus in elderly patients was associated with favorable outcomes. (P < 0.05). Presence of dizziness in pediatric patients was not relavent to the outcome (P > 0.05). Presence of dizziness in elderly patients was associated with poor outcomes (P < 0.05). Presence of initially different degrees of opposite side hearing loss in elderly patients was not relavent to the outcome (P > 0.05). Presence of chronic diseases in elderly patients was not associated with the outcome (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The clinical manifestion of idiopathic sudden deafness is respective in Children and in elderly patients.
Aged ; Child ; Dizziness ; complications ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; physiopathology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; complications ; Vertigo ; complications

Objective To study the correlation between expression level of als3 gene and the in vivo biofilm formation of Candida albicans in mice.Methods The real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect als3 gene expressions of the clinical Candida albicans isolates from February 2016 to August 2016 in Tianjing No.1 Central Hospital.According to the expression levels of als3 gene, Candida albicans isolates were divided into high and low-expression groups.Thirty C57 mice were randomly assigned to high-expression group (n=15), low-expression group (n=5) and blank group (n=5).Animal model of Candida albicans biofilm was established based on venous catheter and intraperitoneal injection of Candida albicans.Catheters were removed after two weeks;inverted microscope was used for the observation of Candida albicans biofilm formation and transmission electron microscope was used for the observation of its ultrastructure.After irrigating the catheter, the growth of Candida albicans was observed;real-time PCR was used to detect the expression levels of als3 gene 12, 24, and 48 h after the catheter being removed.In this study, t test was used for measurement data and chi-square test was used for rate comparisons.Results In high-expression group, 11 strains (11/15) formed biofilms.In als3 low-expression group, only one strain (1/10) formed biofilm.The difference between these two group was statistically significant (x2=9.64,P<0.05).In als3 high-expression group, two mice died and 8 strains (8/13) formed biofilms, while in low-expression group, there were only 2 strains (2/10) formed biofilms.The difference between these two group was statistically significant (x2=4.02,P<0.05).Thickened Candida albicans membranes and increased mitochondria in high-expression group were observed under transmission electron microscope.In als3 high-expression group, 9 of 13 catheter cultures were positive.However, in als3 low-expression group, 5 of 10 catheter cultures were positive.The difference between these two group was not statistically significant (x2=0.99, P>0.05).In the als3 high-expression group, the expression of als3 gene declined gradually during the biofilm formation.In the als3 low-expression group, the change of als3 gene expression was not obvious.The expressions of als3 gene over time between two groups were significantly different (t=8.7, 10.3 and 9.2, respectively, all P<0.05).Conclusion The high expression of als3 gene in Candida albicans facilitates the formation of biofilm in vivo.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to measure the concentration of adiponectin (APN) in serum and induced sputum in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD during acute exacerbation (AECOPD) and at stable stage and to determine the role of APN as a marker of inflammation in the pathogenesis of COPD. METHODS: All the patients in this prospective study were enrolled from October 2008 to October 2009, including 30 male AECOPD patients from the emergency department, 30 male stable COPD patients from the department of respiratory diseases, and 30 healthy non-smoking male controls from the department of medical examination. The serum and induced sputum were collected from each patient. All of the patients had normal weight (BMI range 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Patients with severe bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis or autoimmune disease were excluded. Cell count and classification was performed for the induced sputum. The concentrations of APN, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Pulmonary function was tested among the three groups. Comparisons between the groups were conducted by Student's t test, ANOVA analysis or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient test or Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient test. RESULTS: The concentrations of APN in the serum or induced sputum in AECOPD patients were significantly higher than those in stable COPD patients or healthy non-smoking controls (P<0.01). The concentration of APN in stable COPD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy non-smoking controls (P<0.01). For the AECOPD patients, APN was positively correlated with IL-8 and TNF-α in the serum and induced sputum (r=0.739, 0.734, 0.852, 0.857 respectively, P<0.05). For the stable COPD patients, APN was also positively correlated with IL-8 and TNF-α in the serum and induced sputum (r=0.751, 0.659, 0.707, 0.867 respectively, P<0.05). In addition, for the AECOPD patients, APN was positively correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in the induced sputum (r=0.439, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: APN is involved in the process of systematic and airway inflammation of COPD. This process is related to neutrophils in the airway, IL-8 and TNF-α. APN could be used as a new marker for inflammation of COPD.

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: As a cytokine highly expressed in internal organs, visfatin could be used as a biomarker of systemic inflammation response for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, but few studies have reported the use of visfatin in severe pneumonia. The present study was undertaken to determine the plasma levels of visfatin in patients with severe pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 70 patients, including 40 patients with severe pneumonia (group A) and 30 patients with non severe pneumonia (group B) who had been admitted to the ICU from June 2009 to June 2010, were enrolled in this prospective study. And another 30 healthy physical examinees served as healthy controls (group C). Patients were excluded if they suffered from severe diseases of the heart, brain and kidney, cancers, autoimmune diseases, or received special treatment in the latest month. The plasma levels of visfatin, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA, while the level of CRP was determined by immuneturbidimetry, and the routine blood test was performed. Blood gas analysis and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) were performed in patients with pneumonia. Comparisons between the groups were conducted by Student's t test, ANOVA or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson's correlation test or Spearman's rank-order correlation test. RESULTS: The plasma level of visfatin in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.001), and the level of visfatin in group B was significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.001). The plasma level of visfatin was positively correlated with CRP, TNF-α, APACHE II and PMN％ in patients with severe pneumonia (rho=0.653, r=0.554, r=0.558, r=0.484, respectively, P<0.05 for all), while it was negatively correlated with PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 (rho=?0.422, r=?0.543, respectively, P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Visfatin may be involved in the systematic inflammation response in patients with severe pneumonia as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and it is valuable in assessing the severity of pneumonia..

OBJECTIVETo study the rehabilitation effects ergometry on COPD patients.

METHODSThirty COPD out-patients in our Hospital were randomly divided into 2 groups. Rehabilitation group, 15 patients, performed leg ergometry exercise of 80% peak Watt x 30min/d x 3d/w x 12w. Another 15 patients were control group without exercise. All patients received conventional therapy. Pulmonary function testing (PFT), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), Borg and CAT sores were done at both baseline and 12 w.

RESULTSThere was no statistically difference in lung function testing, blood gas analysis and cardiopulmonary exercise test when pre- exercises between 2 sub-groups. The IC, peak VO2 and peak, W of rehabilitation group significantly increased (P < 0.05); and Borg and CAT.scores significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from baseline; and other PFT and ABG did not change (P > 0.05). While there was no difference in control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLeg submaximal ergometry rehabilitation improves health condition and ameliorate dyspnea symptoms in COPD patients.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Dyspnea ; therapy ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Therapy ; Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; therapy ; Respiratory Function Tests

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Esophagitis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To explore the potential risk factors to Ymman endemic sudden cardiac death (YESCD) and provide evidence for prevention. Methods Twenty-two cases and 24 controls were randomly selected from YESCD areas and non-YESCD areas, respectively. Both cases and controls were interviewed with unified questionnaires. Univatiate X2 test and multivariate conditional logistic stepwise regression was conducted with SPSS 13.0. The optimal regression model was established and evaluated. Results The univariate X2 teat revealed that presence or absence of 5 potential factors might possibly be associated to YESCD: appropriate places for storing dining utensils, pens for livestock, consumption of mushrooms, exposure to any pesticides, and sudden climate changes before onset(X2=12.206,4.779,5.741,6.120,10.754, P<0.05). Multivariate conditional logistic stepwise regression demonstrated that consumption of mushrooms was a protective factor(OR=0.115, P<0.05) and sudden climate change was a risk factor(OR=36.592, P<0.01). Conclusions Sudden climate change might be a risk factor contributing to YESCD, and eating mushrooms before the prevalence seasons may provide some protection.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of trichloroethylene (TCE) on cultured normal human epidermis keratinocytes (NHEK) in vitro.

METHODSNR(50) values (the concentration of neutral red absorbed is reduced to 50%) of TCE on NHEK were assayed by neutral red uptake (NRU), and the administered dose of TCE was determined. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative stress were assessed by measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) contens and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to observe morphologic changes, flow cytometer (FCM) was used to measure DNA contents and calculate cell apoptosis rate and proliferation index (PI).

RESULTSNR(50) values of TCE on NHEK was found to be 4.53 mmol/L (95% CI: 3.92-5.13 mmol/L). The increase in MDA content and inhibition of SOD activity in a concentration-dependent manner were shown after NHEK was treated with a series of dose of TCE 4 h later, and typical morphologic changes of apoptosis were also observed by TEM examination. FCM analysis revealed a sub-G(1) peak in the apoptotic cells. The apoptotic rate in TCE 0.125, 0.500, 2.000 mmol/L exposed groups (31.83%, 38.63%, 44.35%, respectively) were significantly higher than that in blank control (18.42%), while PI in TCE 0.125, 0.500, 2.000 mmol/L group (3.26%, 2.48%, 2.07%, respectively) were significantly lower than that in blank control (4.99%).

CONCLUSIONTCE may induce apoptosis of cultured NHEK in vitro, and inhibit cell proliferation through lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermis ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; drug effects ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Oxidative Stress ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

Aortic Valve ; surgery ; Endocarditis ; surgery ; Humans