Objective:To investigate the effects of chitosan on experimental rabbit atherosclerosis(AS).Methods:The models of rabbit AS were produced by a high fat diet.The rabbits were randomly assigned into normal diet(ND) group,high fat diet(HFD) group,chitosan and high fat diet(CHFD) group,chitosan and normal diet(CND) group.Fasting blood samples were collected for serum lipid assay on 0,4,8 weeks;the animals were killed on the 8th week to make aorta samples.AS plaque areas were estimated in the descending aorta dyed with oil red O and the ascending aorta dyed with H E.Results:TG,TC,LDL C in the CHFD group were lower than those in HFD group on 4 and 8 weeks;serum lipid concentration in ND group was similar with that in CND group;plaque areas in CHFD group were smaller than those in HFD group;intima thickness in CHFD group was thinner than that in HFD group.Conclusion:Chitosan reduces AS degree in rabbits of HFD group,which might be related to the decrease of serum lipid.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the abnormal conditions of the affected ear and the contralateral ear of patients with unilateral Meniere's disease and the prevalence of bilateral abnormalities among these unilateral Meniere disease population, providing reference for the clinical treatment strategies for Meniére disease. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 106 Meni6re disease cases was performed, the abnormal incidence of the affected ears, the contralateral ears and the bilateral abnormalities were calculated, and the disease characteristics were analyzed. RESULT: The bilateral ears abnormal incidence of unilateral Meniére disease was 35. 85% (38/106); the cochlear symptoms of the contralateral ears often occurred 2. 25 years later of the symptoms of Meni6re disease; contralateral cochlear symptoms included at least two symptoms of tinnitus, deafness and ear fullness; 39. 47%(15/38) patients with bilateral abnormalities would appear binaural hearing impairment. CONCLUSION This study showed that about one-third of unilateral Meniére diseases have binaural symptoms, among which about one-third would occur bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the course of disease and the symptoms of the contralateral ear before taking damage or destructive method for treating Meniére's disease clinically.
Cochlea ; physiopathology ; Deafness ; Ear ; abnormalities ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Meniere Disease ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus

Objective To investigate the prevalence of BPPV in patients with Meniere’s Disease(MD),and to investigate the diagnostic and predictive values of VEMP in patients with MD and BPPV.Methods A total of 1 1 6 patients previously diagnosed MD were followed up through telephone about their BPPV-like attacks.We recorded the detailed history of BPPV-like attacks,and provided them with complete Dix-Hallpike and roll tests if patients were on their BPPV-like attacks.Results In all,4 patients'histories supported BPPV,and 4 patients were found with BPPV.The prevalence of BPPV in patients with MD was 3 .4%(4/1 1 6 ).Meniere's symptoms preceded the on-set of BPPV in 8 patients.In 4 confirmed BPPV patients with Meniere's disease,BPPV was limited to the same ear as the MD in 2 cases,and 1 had contralateral BPPV,and 1 was uncertain.Six histories supported or confirmed BP-PVpatients with high abnormal oVEMP rates (5/6).Four in this 5 (80%)had abnormal oVEMP of the same MD ear.The single repositioning procedures can improve vertigo and eliminated positional nystagmus in cases of BPPV associated with MD.Conclusion In the present study,the prevalence of BPPV in patients with MD was 3 .45%.De-tailed medical histories combined with Dix-Hallpike and roll tests and VEMP tests can identify BPPV in patients with MD.

Objective To understand the correlative factors of impacting schistosomiasis prevalence so as to provide the scientific evidence for drawing up the control project in Three Gorges Reservoir areas.Methods The report system of schistosomiasis was set up,and the cases were investigated.The population were screened by indirect haemagglutination test(IHA),and the serum-positive people were examined with Kato-Katz technique.The livestock and plants imported from the schistosomiasis endemic areas were investigated.Results Eighty-eight floating people returning from schistosomiasis endemic areas and 107 floating persons from endemic areas were investigated,and the serum positive rates were 1.14% and 1.87%,respectively.No schistosome eggs were found in stool examinations.There was no livestock and plant imported from schistosomiasis endemic areas.The production of local inhabitants depended on mainly cattle,and the river water contact was popular.Conclusions There are infection resources of schistosomiasis imported from endemic areas,which has a potential risk of schistosomiasis prevalence.

Objective To explore the potential risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission so as to provide evidence for setting up the surveillance scheme of schistosomiasis prevention and control. Methods The schistosome infection of local inhabitants, mobile population and stock from endemic areas were investigated from 2002 to 2007 by using IHA or ELISA technique. The historical endemic reports of Chongqing City and the schistosomiasis cases, and the plants imported from schistosomiasis endemic areas and Oncomelania snails were investigated. The behavior of local inhabitants was also investigated. Results The investigated people included 5 112 local inhabitants, 1 455 mobile people from schistosomiasis endemic areas and 1 744 residents returned from the endemic areas. The sero-positive rates of them were 0.57%, 1.44% and 0.86%, respectively. Eighteen cases of imported schistosomiasis were found. There were many plants and stock imported from the schistosomiasis endemic areas. No imported snail was found. The farming of local inhabitants depended on the cattle chiefly. The rate of the harmless lavatories was 14.88%. The local residents had the habit of water contact. Conclusion There are potential risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas. The local residents have potential risk behavior of getting infection of Schistosoma japonicum. The surveillance should be emphasized on the mobile population, imported plants and stock from endemic areas.

AIM: To investigate the effects of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) on vasoconstriction of the vascular vessels. METHODS: The contractile effects of PDGF-BB at different concentrations on the rat thoracic aortic rings and the effects of verapimil, indomerthacin, phentolamine and propranolol on the response of the thoracic aortic rings were observed by using the technique of vascular perfusion in vitro, and norepinephrine was used to severe as control. RESULTS: PDGF-BB showed a remarkable contractile effect on the thoracic aorta rings of rats in a dose-dependent manner, more potent than norepinephrine at the same molar concentration. Verapimil and propranolol inhibited the contractile effect of PDGF-BB on the rat thoracic rings, but the effect of indomerthacin and phentolamine on the vasoconstriction of PDGF-BB was not observed. CONCLUSION: PDGF-BB significantly contracts the thoracic aorta rings of rats in dose-dependent and non-endothelium-dependent manners. Verapimil and propranolol inhibits the contractile effect of PDGF-BB on the rat thoracic rings.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the result of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) of primary benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV)and to identify the characteristics in VEMP examination of the primary BPPV and to observe the relevance of patients with primary BPPV and abnormal VEMP with hearing loss. METHOD: Patients with primary BPPV were tested with pure tone audiometry, videonystagmograph and VEMPs test. We analyzed the difference in the two groups with normal hearing and hearing loss, discussed the etiology and pathogenesis. RESULT: Primary BPPV comprised 23.0% with hearing lost, 77.0% hearing normal. The results of oVEMP were abnormal in 79. 7% (59/74) of the cases; and the results of cVEMP were abnormal in 66. 2% (49/74) of the cases; oVEMP and cVEMP differences to the diagnosis of primary BPPV (P<0. 05); oVEMP and cVEMP differences to the diagnosis primary BPPV with hearing lost (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION oVEMP detection positive rate of primary BPPV is higher than cVEMP,which may be due to otolithic particles falling from the utricle; positive rate of cVEMP in primary BPPV with hearing loss is higher than that of oVEMP, which may related to the cochlear and sacculus occured in the same embryonic tissue structure.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; physiopathology ; Cochlea ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Otolithic Membrane ; Saccule and Utricle ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of vestibular migraine (VM), in order to understand the auditory and vestibular function. METHOD: One hundred cases of confirmed or suspected VM patients were observed. Routine examination including pure tone test, vestibular dual temperature test and vestibular evoked myogenic potential(VEMP) and video head impulse test(v-HIT) Were conducted. RESULT: The incidence of male and female was about 1.00 : 2. 57. The average age of onset was 47 years, of which the youngest was 19 years old, and the oldest was 74 years old. Ninty-three cases of patients presented with vestibular sensitive performance, including photophobia, phonophobia,or motion sensitive. Fourty-two patients had migraine at the onset of the disease. Thirty-four patients had cochiear symptoms, including tinnitus, ear fullness, or epicophosis. In seventeen cases of fatigue, tension or poor sleep can cause vertigo. Nine patients had low blood pressure, 7 patients presented with hypertension. Two cases of vertigo were closely related to the change of position, and 1 case had visual aura. In the experiment, 94 patients had undergone VEMP test,with 44 cases of abnormal VEMP value. Seventy-nine patients had been examined v-HIT,of whom 2 patients were abnormal (both of which were reduced). Pure tone audiometry was abnormal in 35 cases. Five cases of patients showed abnormal vestibular-double temperature test. CONCLUSION Vestibular migraine is more prone to female, with young middle age, and can be accompanied by cochlear symptoms. Vestibular function tests (low frequency and high frequency) are normal.
Adult ; Aged ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders ; diagnosis ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effects of prevention and control measures on coal-burning endemic fluorosis in Wulong County of Chongqing.Methods At a county level investigation,seven of the disease affected villages were investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control measures on coal-burning endemic fluorosis in Wulong County from October 2012 to April 2013.Dental fluorosis of all children aged 8-12 was examined in every selected village.Urine samples of 50 children were collected and urinary iodine level was determined.The installed improved stoves,the drying of corn and pepper were investigated in every household surveyed.Ten samples of corn and pepper were collected and iodine level was determined.At a city level survey,seven of the disease affected villages were investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control measures on coal-burning endemic fluorosis in April 2013.Dental fluorosis of all children aged 8-12 was examined in all villages.Ten households were selected for investigation of the installation of improved stoves,drying of corn and pepper.Children dental fluorosis was diagnosed based on the standard for Diagnosis of Dental FIuorosis (WS/T 208-2011).The fluoride concentration of children's urine was measured according to the standard for Urine-determination of Fluoride-ion Specific Electrode Method (WS/T 89-1996).The fluoride concentration of corn and pepper was measured by the method of fluoride-ion selective electrode.Results The field survey results at the county level showed that the prevalence rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 was 8.01％ (44/549).The qualified rate of installed improved stoves was 99.56％(3 186/3 200) and the rate of correct usage of improved stoves was 99.78％(3 179/3 186).The correct drying rates of corn and pepper were all 100.00％(2 390/2 390).Three hundred and fourteen urine samples were collected and the fluoride content was 0.25 mg/L.Fifty-eight corn and 58 pepper samples were collected.The fluoride contents of corn and pepper were 0.70,2.09 mg/kg,respectively.At the field survey at city level,seven of the disease affected villages were investigated,the prevalence rate of dental fluorosis of children was 11.28％ (38/337).Seventy households were surveyed for the improved stoves.The qualified rate of installation of improved stoves and the rate of correct usage of improved stoves were all 100.00％(70/70,70/70).The drying of 56 corn and 58 pepper samples was surveyed.The correct drying rates of corn and pepper were all 100.00％(56/56,58/58).Conchsion All villages have reached the elimination criteria of coal-burning endemic fluorosis areas in Wulong County.

Objective To determine the frequency of depression in patients with Parkinson' s disease(PD) and healthy controls over 50 years of age and to analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of PD with depression(PDD) in Nanjing.Methods One hundred and twenty-six PD patients were diagnosed and assessed using Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD).The frequency,characteristics and influencing factors of depression were statistically analyzed,and the factor analysis of HAMD was carried out.Also,one hundred and twenty-four healthy subjects over the age of 50 were selected as the control group.Ressults The incidence of depression in PD group was 48.4％ ( 61/126):15.1％ (19/126) for mild depression,27.8％ (35/126) for moderate depression,5.6％ (7/126) for severe depression.The incidence of depression in the control group was 9.7％ (12/124):5.7％ (7/124) for mild depression,2.4％ (3/124) for moderate depression,1.6％ (2/124) for severe depression.There was a significant difference between these two groups( x2 =45.36,P ＜ 0.01 ).Univariate and Logistic regression analysis revealed that a high frequency of depression occurred in patients with long PD duration,high H-Y stage and UPDRS Ⅲ.According to each factor analysis of HAMD,the scores of cognitive impairment,tardiness,anxiety and sleep disturbances of the PD patients with depressive syndromes were higher than that of the control group.Conclusion Depression is a relatively common complication of PD in Nanjing which is associated with long PD duration,severity of motor disturbances and increasing H-Y stage.