OBJECTIVE: To research advanced glycation end-product receptors (RAGE), NF-kappaB, p21 expressions in C57BL/6j mice cochlea spiral ganglion cells(SGC) ,and then to investigate the presbycusis pathogenesis. METHOD: To take C57BL/6J mice:2 month 25,and 10 month 25. Histological sections were observed the SGC. RAGE, NF-kappaB, p21 were immunohistochemical in the SGC,with IPP6 to IOD. RESULT: (1) The count SGCs of 10 month-old was obviously decreased comparing to 2 month-old, the count of 2 month SGC is 39 +/- 5, 10 month group is 20 +/- 6, P < 0.01; (2) RAGE, NF-kappaB, p21 expressed in spiral ganglion cell,different place with different age,and the means optical density in the 10 month are higher than the 2 month, respectively. The IOD of RAGE expression in 2 month SGC: 0.179 +/- 0.025, 10 month IOD: 0.308 +/- 0.050; The IOD of NF-kappaB expression in 2 month SGC: 0.181 +/- 0.045, 10 month IOD: 0.335 +/- 0.120; The IOD of p21 expression in 2 month SGC: 0.160 +/- 0.023, 10 month IOD: 0.365 +/- 0.031, compare with 2 group, respectively, P < 0.05, and the difference has statistics sense. CONCLUSION RAGE,NF-kappaB, p21 expressions are in SGCs and increases with the aging of SGCs, suppose RAGE, NF-kappaB, p21 may participate in the process of presbycusis pathogenesis.
Aging ; Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Presbycusis ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; metabolism ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Spiral Ganglion ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the relationship between chest radiographic changes and clinical manifestations in patients with scrub typhus in Guangdong area.MethodsA total of 148 cases of scrub typhus admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Ji′nan University,Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital and the Second People′s Hospital of Yuebei between 1999 and 2010 was retrospectively reviewed.The patients were divided into two groups based on the findings of the chest X-rays (with or without radiographic abnormalities).Furthermore,the clinical characteristics and prognosis in two groups were compared.The statistical analysis was done using t test,chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test.ResultsChest X-rays showed abnormalities in 66 (44.6％) cases,and the chest X-ray features were diverse.The incidences of cough,severe thrombocytopenia,hypoalbuminemia,shock,acute respiratory failure,jaundice and acute renal failure were all significantly increased in group of patients with chest X-rays abnormalities compared with the other group of patients without chest X-rays abnormalities (χ2 =18.193,6.872,17.138,5.608,4.318,7.982 and 7.932,respectively; all P＜0.05).The hospitalization day was longer in patients with chest X-rays abnormalities compared with the patients without chest X-rays abnormalities,but there was no statistical difference [(11.7±7.1)d vs (9.9±5.0)d,t=1.717; P=0.088)],while the mortality was higher(6.1 ％ vs 0; Fisher′s exact test,P =0.038).Conclusions The clinical manifestations of the patients with scrub typhus are diverse,and the presence of abnormal chest X-rays is shown to be associated with the disease severity.Physicians should have the awareness of scrub typhus to make the diagnosis and treatment properly.

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.

The volume change of tumor during radiotherapy processes indirectly reflects the short-term efficacy and the quality of radiotherapy planning. We analyzed clinical data of radiotherapy using a mathematical model in our study. First, we selected eight esophageal carcinoma patients with only using 3DRT and conventional dose fractionation schemes. And then we observed and measured the change of tumor volume during the radiotherapy. Based on the LQ model, repopulation and re-oxygenation in 4Rs, and the kinetics of doomed tumor disintegration, we established the mathematical model of tumor evolution in radiotherapy. And then we used the model to analyze the clinical trial data about esophageal carcinoma with radiotherapy. It was proved that the results of the model almost coincided with the clinical trial data. According to the analysis results, we could get the related radiobiology parameters to estimate biological effective dose and repopulation of patients. The mathematical model could provide reference for assessment of prognosis and further scheme of treatment.
Algorithms ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tumor Burden

Objective To investigate the surgical technique and outcomes of replacement of chordae tendineae in mitral valve repair, and evaluate the value of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the perioperative period. Methods Thirty-one patients with mitral valve prolapse underwent mitral valve repair using chordae tendineae replacement concomitant with implantation of valveplasty ring. A 4-0 Goretex sutures was used for reconstruction of artificial chordae. Realtime three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was performed in all the patients during the preoperative, intraoperatire, and postoperative periods. The length of the chordae tendineae under the A1 section of the anterior leaflet and the P1 section of the posterior leaflet were measured and considered the normal length of chordae tendineae by real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography preoperatively. These pre-determined normal chordal lengths helped intraoperatively to approximate the length of the artificial chordae used and postoperatively to gauge the success of the procedures. The same values were used again postoperatively to gauge the success of intervention. Full flexible valveplasty rings were used in all the patients.Results There was no operative death. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross clamp time were ( 142. 0 ±31.2 ) min and (98.0 ± 22.5 ) min, respectively. One patient' s intraoperative echocardiography upon termination of CPB showed persistent severe mitral regurgitation and was converted to mitral valve replacement. This patient was not included in the study group. The mean number of artificial chordae per patient was (2.0 ± 1.5 ) , range from 1 to 3. The mean preoperatively measured normal chordal length was ( 21.0 ± 2.5 ) mm, and the mean postoperative artificial chordal length was ( 20.0 ± 2.2 )mm. The difference was not significant. The follow-up interval was from 3 to 30 months and the follow-up rate was 98%. During the follow-up period, there was no late death. Trace mitral regurgitation (MR) was detected in 15 patients, mild and moderate MR were detected in 1 for each. No severe MR was detected. The freedom from reoperation was 100% during follow-up.There were no documented artificial chordae ruptures. Conclusion Conclusion Artificial chordal replacement with Gore-tex suture in mitral valve repair in this group of patients with mitral valve prolapse appears to have satisfactory early and mid-term results. Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography plays a critical role in this technique. Real-time threedimensional transesophageal echocardiography can exactly predict the length of artificial chordae, which is helpful to improve the outcomes of mitral valve repair. However, longer term follow-up and larger series are required to validate our findings.

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.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; complications ; immunology ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; complications ; immunology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of maternal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier status on the occurrence of preterm birth.

METHODSWe analyzed pregnancy-related complications, outcomes and fetal growth index in 188 HBsAg positive singleton pregnant women during the period of May 2009 to July 2011, with 265 HBsAg-negative women with singleton pregnancies in the same period serving as controls.

RESULTSThe HBsAg-positive pregnant women showed a significantly higher incidence of placenta praevia than the control group (2.66% vs 0%, P=0.03), and the incidence of preterm delivery (<37 weeks) was also significantly higher in HBsAg-positive group (12.23% vs 6.04%, P=0.02). The incidences of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, abnormal glucose tolerance, premature rupture of membranes, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05), nor did the fetal birth weight, height, head circumference or Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 min (P>0.05). Logistic regression identified HBsAg positivity, abnormal ALT, placenta praevia, and severe preeclampsia as the risk factors for preterm delivery.

CONCLUSIONHBsAg carrier status can increase the risk of preterm delivery in pregnancy, but it does not seem to affect the fetal growth.

Adult ; Carrier State ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Premature Birth ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the effect of hybrid intensity modulated radiotherapy (Hy-IMRT) on immune function in patients with locally advanced breast cancer surgery and the treatment efficacy.Methods:A total of 94 patients with locally advanced breast cancer who underwent modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer and required postoperative radiotherapy in Changzhou Cancer Hospital in Jiangsu Province from January 2015 to January 2017 were selected. The patients were divided into Hy-IMRT group (observation group, 47 cases) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) group (control group, 47 cases) according to the random number table method. The dose and related radiophysical parameters of the respective target areas of the two groups, adverse reactions during and after radiotherapy, cytokines and T lymphocyte subsets before and after radiotherapy, 3-year local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate and mortality were observed and compared between the two groups.Results:The dose obtained by 95% (D 95%) [(4 945.6±36.1) Gy vs. (4 754.0±35.6) Gy] and target area conformity (CI) of the target volume (0.7±0.1 vs. 0.5±0.1) in the observation group were greater than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05); the target volume of 110% of the prescription dose (V 110%) [(1.6±0.5) cm 3 vs. (8.4±1.2) cm 3], the target volume of more than 105% of the prescription dose (V 105%) [(19.3±3.5) cm 3 vs. (26.6±5.6) cm 3] and the heterogeneity index (HI) (1.1±0.1 vs. 1.3±0.1) in the observation group were all smaller than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The incidence of acute skin adverse reactions [53.2% (25/47) vs. 74.5% (35/47)] and the incidence of bone marrow suppression [40.4% (19/47) vs. 70.2% (33/47)] in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), CD4 +, CD8 +, and CD4 +/CD8 + between the two groups before radiotherapy (all P > 0.05). At the end of radiotherapy, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CD8 + were higher in both groups than before radiotherapy (all P < 0.05), and CD4 + and CD4 +/CD8 + were lower than before radiotherapy (both P < 0.05). The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CD8 + in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, while the CD4 + and CD4 +/CD8 + were higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The 3-year local recurrence rate [34.04% (16/47) vs. 42.55% (20/47)], distant metastasis rate [25.53% (12/47) vs. 38.30% (18/47)] and mortality rate [14.89% (7/47) vs. 19.15% (9/47)] in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:Compared with 3DCRT, the Hy-IMRT has less effect on the immune function of locally advanced breast cancer patients after modified radical resection, and the incidences of acute skin reaction and bone marrow adverse reaction are low.