Objective To explore whether the patients aged over 65 years with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) are able to tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)while compared with patients aged less than 65 years.And to investigate the factors that affect compliance to CPAP in OSAHS patients.Methods A total of 147 OSAHS patients diagnosed with overnight polysomnography (PSG) were divided into two groups:≥65 years old group (n=46),<65 years old group (n = 101 ).Clinical data and PSG parameters were included in a computerized database.The pressure level of CPAP,the duration of respirator use were followed up.Results Compared with <65 years old group,there were higher prevalences of COPD (16% vs.4%,P=0.02),cardiovascular disease (23% vs.10%,P=0.04),apnea (43% vs.26%,P=0.03),regular alcohol consumption (61% vs.38%,P=0.007) and lower incidence of snoring (31% vs.54%,P= 0.03),shorter total sleeping time (378 min vs.423 min,P=0.001),longer wake after sleep onset periods (162 min vs.115 min,P=0.004),lower sleep efficiency (69% vs.77%,P<0.001),higher percentage of stage 1 sleep (29% vs.20%,P=0.001),lower percentage of stage 3-4 sleep (6% vs.9%,P=0.016) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (12% vs.15%,P=0.001) in ≥65 years old group.The percentages of acceptance to CPAP at 3 months,6 months,1 year,2 years and 3 years were 91%,89%,84%,82% and 82% respectively in ≥65 years old group,and were 92%,86%,81%,72% and 67% in <65 years old group.Average use time of CPAP were (5.1±1.5) h/night in ≥65 years old group,and were (3.9±1.2) h/night in <65 years old group (P=0.022).By analysis of multivariate logistic regression,a high pressure CPAP was associated with higher objective CPAP compliance in OSAHS patients.Conclusions Compliance to CPAP in older OSAHS patients is not decreased when compared to younger adults.A high CPAP pressure is the only significant independent predictor of better CPAP compliance.

Flocculent gene FLO1 and its truncated form FLO1c with complete deletion of repeat unit C were expressed in a non-flocculent industrial strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae CE6 to generate recombinant flocculent strains 6-AF1 and 6-AF1c respectively. Both strains of 6-AF1 and 6-AF1c displayed strong flocculation and better cell growth than the control strain CE6-V carrying the empty vector under acetic acid stress. Moreover, the flocculent strains converted glucose to ethanol at much higher rates than the control strain CE6-V under acetic acid stress. In the presence of 0.6% (V/V) acetic acid, the average ethanol production rates of 6-AF1 and 6-AF1c were 1.56 and 1.62 times of that of strain CE6-V, while the ethanol production rates of 6-AF1 and 6-AF1c were 1.21 and 1.78 times of that of strain CE6-V under 1.0% acetic acid stress. Results in this study indicate that acetic acid tolerance and fermentation performance of industrial S. cerevisiae under acetic acid stress can be improved largely by flocculation endowed by expression of flocculent genes, especially FLO1c.
Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; Fermentation ; Flocculation ; Glucose ; Industrial Microbiology ; Mannose-Binding Lectins ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins ; genetics

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a reliable, innocuous and sensitive new index to measure cardiac autonomic nervous function. Anxiety disorder is often accompanied by autonomic nerve dysfunction and its main sign is abnormal HRV. Acupuncture can affect HRV indices, correct abnormal HRV and improve cardiac autonomic nerve dysfunction to relieve anxiety. This article sorts out and analyzes recent years’ studies on abnormal HRV in anxiety disorder, the effect of acupuncture on HRV and acupuncture regulation of abnormal HRV in anxiety disorder to provide a therapeutic basis for clinical acupuncture intervention in abnormal HRV in anxiety disorder.

Objective To investigate the correlation between Toll-like receptor2 (TLR2) gene promoter region -597T/C polymorphism and primary ANCA associated small vasculitis (AAV) in Guangxi Han people. Methods A case contrastive control study was adopted in the study. Patients with AAV (patients group, n=110) and healthy people (control group, n = 200) were recruited. Associated serum indexes were detected and polymorphisms of TLR2 gene promoter 597T/C were analyzed by polymerase chain restricted fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Results (1)Three TLR2-597T/C genotypes were discovered in 110 AAV patients, namely, TT, TC and CC, with the frequency of 54.55%,40.00% and 5.45% respectively. And the frequencies of allele T and C were 74.55% and 25.45%. In control group, the genotype frequencies of TT, TC and CC were 56.00%,40.50% and 3.50%, with 76.25% of allele T and 23.75% of allele C. No significant differences were found in neither genotype distribution nor allele frequencies between the patients group and control group ( P > 0 . 05 ) . ( 2 ) Significant differences were found in the incidence of proteinuria rate and the hemoglobin (P< 0.05)in AAV patients. (3)There was no significant difference between AI and CI in TT, TC and CC genotype in AAV patients. Conclusions Polymorphism of TLR2-597T/C may be correlated with the incidence of proteinuria and the level of hemoglobin, while no obvious correlation with the genetic susceptibility of ANCA in vasculitis patients of Guangxi Han people.

Objective To establish a rat model of tympanosclerosis(TS) by myringotomy and inoculation of streptococcus pneummoniae, and to observe the morphological change in the tympanic membrane (TM) and middle ear mucous.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=20/group) and then ten in each group were chosen to serve as the control and the other ten were set up for the TS model.Group A (myringotomy): myringotomy was performed on the bilateral TMs of all rats except the control group.Group B (bacterial inoculation): streptococcus pneumoniae was inoculated into the bilateral middle ear cavity of all rats except the control group.The condition of the TMs and the middle ears in the two groups were respectively examined at 2 weeks after myringotomy and at the five time points (1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks) after bacterial inoculation.Then the rats were decapitated and the morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Results One rat in group B died two weeks after the inoculation.In the two experimental groups, the calcifications were observed in 70%of the TMs (14/20) in group A and in 33.33%of the TMs (6/18) at 8 weeks in group B.At the same time, the inflammatory infiltration and hyaline degeneration markedly appeared in the tympanic membrane and middle ear mucous membrane.In the two control groups, neither morphological changes nor calcifications occurred.Conclusion The current study indicated that the animal model of TS was successfully accomplished by myringotomy and inoculation of streptococcus pneummoniae, and their morphological changes were basically consistent.However, the method of myringotomy is easier to use and can obtain a higher modeling rate in a relatively short time.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the composite acoustic therapy is effective to treat tinnitus in patients with sudden deafness and to explore the mechanisms. METHOD: Ninety-six cases (96 ears) were divided into experimental group and control group, and all the patients underwent drug treatment. The patients in experimental group were given personalized composite acoustic therapy in the first 30 days, music therapy in next 31-90 days, however, the patients in control group were not given sound therapy. Additionally, pure tone audiogram, tinnitus pitch and loudness as well as questionnaires (including THI, VAS, and SAS) were conducted for each patient before treatment, at day 30 and day 90 posttreatment. RESULT: Eighty-nine patients (n = 47 for experimental group and n = 42 for control group) completed the trial. The results of day 30 posttreatment showed there were no significant differences in VAS and hearing recovery rate between these two groups, but THI and SAS showed significant differences. The results of day 90 posttreatment showed significant differences in VAS (P < 0.05), THI (P < 0.01) and SAS (P < 0.01), and no significant difference of hearing recovery rate was detected. The most significant changes of VAS appeared in the first 30 days of treatment. The hearing and tinnitus recovery in experimental group were better for the first 30 days of treatment than for the next 31-90 days, and similar results were obtaind in control group. (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Composite acoustic treatment combined with drug therapy can improve the tinnitus and anxiety symptoms of patients with sudden deafness, and the effect on hearing recovery still need to be confirmed in further studies.
Acoustics ; Anxiety ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; therapy ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; complications ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the correlation between multi-slice spiral CT(MSCT)perfusion imaging parameters and gastric carcinoma differentiation.Methods MSCT perfusion parameters including blood flow(BF),patlak blood volume(PBV),time to peak (TTP)and patlak permeability surface(PPS)were obtained in 44 patients with pathologically confirmed gastric carcinoma before sur-gery.Patients were divided into two groups;26 well differentiated and 18 poorly differentiated.According to the extent of cell differ-entiation ,BF,PBV,TTP and PPS were investigated in two groups.Results Parameters in the well differentiated gastric carcinoma group BF 101.8±6.7 (mL·min-1 ·100 mL-1 ),PBV 85.9±3.4 (mL/1 000 mL ),TTP 121.6±1 1.5(0.1 s),PPS 82.7±1 1.0 (0.5 mL·min-1 ·100 mL-1 )respectivily,Parameters in the poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma group,BF 105.3 ±7.7,PBV 92.1±7.1,TTP 113.0±10.5,PPS 94.3±22.9 respectivily.There was no statistic difference in BF value between the two groups(P >0.05). There were statistic differences in TTP、PBV and PPS between the two groups(P <0.05).Conclusion MSCT perfusion parameters may reflect the degree of differentiation of gastric carcinoma or a certain extent in vivo.

The aim of this study was to determine if the potassium aspartate and magnesium (PAM) prevent reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias (RIVA) in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) rabbit heart. Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into control, ischemia and PAM groups. Arterially-perfused rabbit left ventricular preparations were made, and transmural ECG as well as action potentials from both endocardium and epicardium were simultaneously recorded in the whole process of all experiments. In control group rabbit ventricular wedge preparations were continuously perfused with Tyrode's solution, and in ischemia group and PAM groups the perfusion of Tyrode's solution was stopped for 30 min. Then the ischemia group was reperfused with Tyrode's solution and the PAM group with Tyrode's solution containing 2.42 mg/L PAM, respectively. ECG, QT interval, transmural repolarization dispersion (TDR) and action potentials from epicardium and endocardium were simultaneously recorded, and the RIVA of the wedge preparation was observed. Compared with control group, TDR and incidence of RIVA were significantly increased in ischemia group (P<0.05). The incidence of RIVA in control, ischemia and PAM group was 0/10, 9/10 and 1/10, respectively. Compared with ischemia group, TDR and incidence of RIVA were significantly reduced in PAM group (P<0.05). Potassium aspartate and magnesium significantly reduce TDR and prevent ventricular arrhythmia in ischemic rabbit heart.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/*prevention & control ; Myocardial Ischemia/*complications ; Myocardial Ischemia/physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/*complications ; Potassium Magnesium Aspartate/*therapeutic use ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of tinnitus complaint. METHOD: The information of 628 patients with subjective tinnitus was collected using questionnaires from October, 2013 to June, 2014. Among them, 453 cases were included in this study, whose quality of life and sleep were significantly affected. Then we elucidated the features of tinnitus, tinnitus incentives and systemic diseases and analyzed their relationship. RESULT: The proportion of the patients complaint was highest in gruop ≤ 30 y. The patients with tinnitus complaint were more likely to have persistent tinnitus with higher loudness VAS scores than their counterparts. 65.4% of the total patients had at least one treatment (52.2% of patients can tolerate, and only 13. 2% can not tolerate). More patients had cranial Ming on the left than on the right ear. The proportion of patients with polyphony in bilateral tinnitus was higher than those with unilateral tinnitus (P < 0.05). Moreover, 59% patients had tinnitus inducing factors, and 44% patients had systemic comorbidities (The three most frequently involved systems were otolaryngologic, cardiovascular and digestive system). There was no significantly statistical difference of the tinnitus severity between patients with other systematic diseases and those without. CONCLUSION Patients with tinnitus complaint were younger in age (≤ 30 y) and more likely to have persistent tinnitus with higher loudness VAS scores Predisposing factors are closely associated with mental or physical trauma. The accompanied diseases can be classified by organ system.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of fruquintinib combined with sintilimab in the treatment of advanced microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer. Methods A retrospective study of 44 patients with MSS colorectal cancer treated with fruquintinib and sintilimab was conducted.The patients were divided into the fruquintinib alone (n=22) and fruquintinib combined with sintilimab (n=22) groups.The treatment regimen was as follows: The patients in the fruquintinib alone group consumed oral fruquintinib capsules at 5 mg/d once for three consecutive weeks with a one week stop in 28 day cycles.The patients in the fruquintinib combined sintilimab group were injected intravenously with sintilimab (200 mg) once per three weeks, and fruquintinib was used in the same manner as the fruquintinib alone group. Results The objective response rate (ORR) of the fruquintinib alone group was 9.09%, the disease control rate (DCR) of the fruquintinib alone group was 45.45%.The ORR of the fruquintinib combined with sintilimab group was 18.18%, and the DCR was 63.64%.The median PFS of the fruquintinib alone and fruquintinib combined with sintilimab groups were 4.4 months (IQR: 2.1-8.2) and 6.7 months (IQR: 3.9-12.6), respectively (χ²=4.372, P=0.037).Most of the adverse reactions during the treatment of the two groups were grades 1-2.In addition, no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions was found between two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Compared with fruquintinib alone, fruquintinib combined with sintilimab in the treatment of patients with MSS colorectal cancer after the failure of standard treatment has better clinical efficacy, and adverse drug reactions can be controlled.