Objective To investigate the risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods From January 2012 to January 2013,29 patients with histopathologically confirmed NPC who received radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy were included in this study.All patients underwent hearing tests,including pure tone audiometry and acoustic immittance measurement,before and after the IMRT.The cochlear doses for each ear were also collected for analysis.A prospective analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between cochlear dose and SNHL in patients with NPC,and the effects of other factors,including time after radiotherapy,chemotherapy,T stage,and age,were also analyzed.Results Of the 58 ears studied,6(10％) had low-frequency SNHL,and 17 (29％) had highfrequency SNHL.There were significant differences in mean cochlear doses between the patients who developed SNHL after radiotherapy and those who did not (left ears:46.1 Gy vs.35.5 Gy,P =0.006;right ears:45.0 Gy vs.35.8 Gy,P =0.009).When the mean cochlear dose was less than 44 Gy,only 15％ (6/38) of ears had high-frequency SNHL.The invasion of skull base bone was also a significant risk factor for SNHL(P =0.047),but age,chemotherapy,and time after IMRT were not significant risk factors.Conclusions The mean cochlear dose and invasion of skull base bone are significant risk factors for SNHL in patients with NPC after radiotherapy.It is recommended that the mean cochlear dose should be limited to 44 Gy to minimize the incidence of SNHL after IMRT.

Objective To investigate question comprehension and production among agrammatic aphasics, and to explore the mechanisms of any dysfunction in questioning.Methods Twenty aphasics were recruited in this study.According to the Chinese Agrammatism Battery,10 were classified as agrammatic (the agrammatic group) and 10 as non-agrammatic (the non-agrammatic group).Ten normal subjects served as a control group.All the subjects were tested in terms of their comprehension and production of questions using a set of general and what-where-who- why questions (wh-questions).Results No significant difference was found between the two experimental groups with regard to the correct comprehension and production of both general and wh-questions.However,there was a sig- nificant difference in correctness between comprehension and production.The performance of the agrammatic aphasics was worse than that of the non-agramatics and the normal subjects.Conclusion The impaired question comprehen- sion and production of Chinese agrammatic aphasics has its own characteristies which can form a basis for rehabilita- tion planning and outcome prediction.

Objective To evaluate the safety and therapeutic effect of covered expandable metallic stent placement combined with interventional chemotherapy in treating malignant esophago-tracheal fistulae. Methods A total of 60 patients with esophago-tracheal fistula were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into control group (n=28) and study group (n=32). Patients of the control group were treated with covered stent implantation only, while patients of the study group were treated with combination use of covered stent implantation and interventional chemotherapy. All the patients were followed up regularly, the short-term and long-term results were determined, and the effect rate, median survival time and complications were statistically analyzed. Results Among the 60 patients, successful obstruction of the fistula was obtained in 58 with a success rate of 96.7%. The median survival time of the 58 patients was 5.8 months. The median survival time of the control group and the study group was 3.6 months and 8.7 months respectively, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The one-month, 3-month and 6-month effect rates were 78.1%, 68.8% and 62.5% respectively. The incidence of esophageal stent re-stenosis in the study group was much lower than that in the control group. Conclusion The combination use of covered stent implantation and interventional chemotherapy can effectively improve the median survival time of patients with malignant esophago-tracheal fistula, and reduce the occurrence of stent-related complications. Therefore, covered expandable metallic stent placement combined with interventional chemotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for malignant esophago-tracheal fistulae.

In order to study the therapeutic time window of dimethylaminoethyl ginkgolide B mesylate(XQ-1H) in the permanent focal ischemia of rat,we used the rat model of the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO).Doses of 15.6,7.8 and 3.9 mg/kg of XQ-1 H were intravenously administered at 0.5,1,2,3 h after MCAO,respectively.Neurological scores,infarct sizes,water contents and pathological changes in each interval were determined at 72 h after MCAO.It was observed that XQ-1 H administered at 0.5 and 1 h after MCAO significantly reduced the cerebral infarct size and edema,and produced significant reductions in the neurological deficits.The protective effect of XQ-1H on the neuron cells was proved by pathological observations.In addition,the contents of MDA,lactate,and the activities of SOD were measured.Reduction in the contents of MDA and lactate and enhancement in the activities of SOD were attributed to the pretreatment of XQ-1H at 0.5 and 1 h.Our results showed that the therapeutic time window of XQ-1H extended for up to 1 h after MCAO.

Objective · To detect the vitamin D2 and D3 levels in the patients with moderate and severe depression. Methods · Eighty-five patientswho met the criteria for major depressive disorder were recruited (53 patients with moderate depression, 32 patients with severe depression). Fifty agematchedhealthy volunteers were recruited as controls. Serum 25 (OH) D2, 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levels were detected by using liquidchromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The risk factors which might influence the severity of depression were screened by Logisticregression analysis. Results · The serum 25 (OH) D2, 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levels in the case group was lower than those in the controlgroup (P=0.012, P=0.000, P=0.000). The patients with moderate depression presented significantly lower serum 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levelsthan the controls did (P=0.000), although no significant difference in serum 25 (OH) D2 levels was found between these two groups. As well, the serum 25 (OH) D2, 25 (OH) D3 and total 25 (OH) D2/D3 levels in patients with severe depression were significantly lower than those in patients with moderate depression and controls (P<0.05). The body mass index of severe depression group was much higher than that of moderate depression group and control group (P=0.002). Both overweight/obesity and the concentration of vitamin D may be the major influencing factors of depression severity (P=0.034, P=0.011). Conclusion · Vitamin D2 and D3 deficiency in depressive patients, particularly in those patients with severe depression, was shown in the present study. In addition, overweight/obesity as well as the concentration of vitamin D may exert the significant influence on the severity of depression. Vitamin D supplementation and weight control may be needed to be considered in making therapeutic strategies of major depressive disorder.

Objective This objective of the study was to analyze the factors related to being recaptured and condom use among low-fee female sex workers (FSWs) to provide reference in developing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) intervention strategy. Methods Physical examination certificates were designed by Zhongshan County Center for Disease Control and Prevention to record HIV and syphilis test results for low-fee FSWs from 2013 to 2015. Low-fee FSWs were asked to show physical examination certificates in the next intervention and test. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with being captured with physical examination certificates. Generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze factors associated with condom use with clients. Results A total of 220 low-fee FSWs were recruited by using physical examination certificates and received 389 interviews from 2013 to 2015. The proportions of HIV positive and syphilis positive were 4.2% (9/213) and 30.0% (64/213) respectively among those who had HIV and syphilis test. Results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that low-fee FSWs who had been FSWs for more than 4 years (OR=2.95, 95% CI：1.35-6.45), and worked in the local county in the past 30 days (OR=11.74, 95% CI: 5.26-26.20), were more likely to be captured with physical examination certificates. Results of generalized linear mixed model showed that those who were captured at least once (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 1.34-8.27), had junior middle school education and above (OR=22.79, 95% CI: 3.75-138.57), had high HIV knowledge (OR=3.57, 95% CI: 1.52-8.38), and charged more than 30 yuan for vaginal sex (OR=30.68, 95% CI: 12.57-74.90), were more likely to use condom consistently. Conclusions Physical examination certificates could be used for low-fee FSWs surveillance and intervention and tracking their HIV and syphilis status. The intervention strategy should take these into consideration.

Objective To explore the application effect of nursing supporting system on the construction of excellent nursing service project.Methods To organize and coordinate the establishment of infusion medication distribution center and central transportation center.Dining hall and other logistical support measures were socially managed.To actively serve the clinical to alleviate the nurse human resource pressure and implement a nursing program to reduce negative jobs.Nursing time,nursing quality and patient satisfaction were compared before and after the establishment of nursing supporting system.Results After the establishment of nursing supporting system,direct nursing time rose from (2.97 ±0.40) h to (3.86 ±0.50) h,infusion preparation time decreased from (5.03 ±0.40) h to (3.46 ±0.12) h,and average nursing quality rose from (96.11 ±0.70) points to (99.38 ±0.53 ) points.The differences were statistically significant (t =13.9138,13.9137,10.44,respectively;P ＜0.01 ).Patient satisfaction increased from 95.13％ to 99.72％.The difference was statistically significant ( x2 =15.03,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Nursing supporting system could alleviate the pressure of nurses,improve nursing quality,increase direct patient care time and enhance patient satisfaction.

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics of refractory systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA)and the efficiency of glucocorticoid in therapy on this kind of disease.Methods Thirty-nine children with systemic JIA were divided into low dose group 0.5-1.0 mg/(kg?d)and high dose group 1.0-1.5 mg/(kg?d).And the efficiency was observed by change of active index after 10 and 20 days.Results The effective power was 58.8% and 72.7% after 10 days,respectively.After 20 days,the power was 76.5% and 90.9%,respectively.The power in high dose group was significantly higher than that in low dose group.It had no difference in statistical analysis for efficiency of 2 kind of glucocorticoid dosage to control fever,but it had obvious difference to control arthralgia,arthrocele,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP).Conclusion Glucocorticoid therapy is very effective to control the activity of disease in patients with systemic JIA.

Objective To evaluate the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI)in detecting experimentally induced testicular ischemia. Methods Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into 6 groups. There were 5 rabbits in each of the following experimental groups: ( 1 ) Normal control, (2) Sham-operated, (3) ischemia of 3 h group, (4) ischemia of 6 h group, (5) ischemia of 12 h group, (6) ischemia of 24 h group. In all experiment groups, the right testis served as the internal control while the left testis served as the experimental side. DCE-MRI for each animal lasts about 10 minutes. Signal enhanced ratios (SERs) of ROI for both sides of each group were calculated by a computer, and parameters of SERs of 30 s, 75 s, 120 s and maximal SER were used for statistical analysis.Time intensity curves (TICs) were made for two sides of each group via Excel 2003 software and classified into 4 types. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the differences of SERs between left and right testis by two independent Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results In group I and 2, significant enhancement was observed on both testes of 10 rabbits. The enhancement decreased gradually with the elongation of ischemia in torsion groups. Three cases of type Ⅰ and 2 cases of type Ⅱ were observed in group 1,5 cases of type Ⅰ in group two, 2 cases of type Ⅰ and 3 cases of type Ⅱ b in group three, 2 cases of type Ⅰ and 2 cases of type Ⅱ b in group four, 5 cases of type Ⅱ b in group five and 5 cases of type Ⅲ in group six were noticed in the left testes. And in TICs of right testes, all cases showed TICs of type Ⅰ except 2 cases of type Ⅱ a in group six. In four torsion groups, the values for SER75 of the left side were 0. 084%, 0. 076%, 0.164% and 0.065%, while the right side were 0.255%, 0.410%, 0.586% and 0.302% (P ＜0.05). The values for SER120 in group three, five and six were 0.221% , 0.158% and 0.059% for the left side, and 0.405%,0.522% and 0.207% for the right side(P ＜0.05). The values for MSER in group three, five and six were 0.217% ,0.164% and 0.072% for the left side, and 0.405%, 0.586% and 0.302% for the right side(P ＜0.05). Conclusion DCE-MRI technique may be useful in the diagnosis of testicular torsion, which shows potential in the clinical application.

To investigate the effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) on cell of high-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in vitro, the growth inhibition of MUTZ-1 cell induced by 5-Aza-CdR was detected by MTT method; apoptosis was detected by morphological observation and translocation of phosphatidylserine (PS) was examined by flow cytometry assay; the expressions of P15INK4B, DNA methyltransferases (DNMT)(1), DNMT(3A) and DNMT(3B) gene on mRNA level were detected by RT-PCR; methylation of p15INK4B gene in MUTZ-1 cells was detected by PCR using methylation specific primer (MSP). The results showed that 5-Aza-CdR inhibited the growth of MUTZ-1 cells. The IC(50) values of 24, 48 and 72 hours were 6.75, 2.82 and 5.45 mmol/L respectively. Characteristic changes of apoptosis emerged in MUTZ-1 cells after being exposed to 5-Aza-CdR in the different concentration from 0.8 mmol/L to 3.2 mmol/L, and the positive cells of annexin V on the membrane of MUTZ-1 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. 5-Aza-CdR could activate the p15INK4B gene expression in MUTZ-1 cells by demethylation of the p15INK4B gene in a dose-dependent manner after the cells were treated for 48 hours. Furthermore, 5-Aza-CdR could significantly down-regulate the expressions of DNA methyltransferase genes DNMT(3A) at mRNA level in a dose dependent manner. However, it had no effects on DNMT(1) gene and DNMT(3B) gene. It is concluded that 5-Aza-CdR can inhibit the growth of MUTZ-1 cells and induce the apoptosis of these cells within the range of concentration from 0.8 mmol/L to 3.2 mmol/L, which may be one of the mechanisms of antitumor effects of 5-Aza-CdR. The drug can activate the expression of p15INK4B gene in MUTZ-1 cells by demethylation of the p15INK4B gene through inhibiting the expression of DNMT(3A) gene. It may be the mechanism of 5-Aza-CdR in the treatments of MDS.
Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics