Objective To study the clinical application of the complete audiologic evaluation battery consisting of ABR,ASSR and behavioral audiometry in sound field for the identification of sensorineural losses in children.Methods In the study 48 children were divided as group PTA of the children assessed by pure tone audiometry and ABR and ASSR test,and group BA of the children unable to perform on behavioral evaluations.Results The analysis of the audiometric results of group PTA showed significant correlation between the ASSR thresholds and pure tone thresholds(P＜0.01) at various frequencies.The correlation coefficients were 0.75,0.76,0.76,and 0.83 at different frequencies.The ASSR-PTA linear regression was utilized.The comparison of the ABR and ASSR results of group BA indicated that 23 ears responded in ASSR but without responses in ABR.Those without ASSR responses also had no ABR There were 116 tests in total four frequencies for the 29 ears.83 responses were obtained from ASSR,89 responses from behavior audiometry and 96 from the use of the both tests.Conclusion The comprehensive audiologic evaluation battery could be used to test younger children with severe heating loss children as compared to the pure tone audiometry alone.More detailed data can be obtained thus from children to assist in rehabilitation in a more effective mariner.

Objective To investigate effects of volume,distribution and leakage of bone cement in ver- tebroplasty on the adjacent intervertebral bodies using an experimentally calibrated and anatomically accurate fi- nite-element model of elderly L4-L5 vertebral bodies.Methods Computed tomography(CT)scanning was done,at 1 mm intervals,on L4-L5 vertebral bodies of the lumbar spine of an old man cadaver that had no abnormal findings on rnentgenograms.The L4-L5 motion segment data were obtained from the CT scans to establish in computer a three-dimensional finite element model of L4-L5 functional spinal unit(FSU)with the software Ansys 7.0.Compressive load after virtual vertebroplasty on the damaged model,unipedicular and bipedieolar injections and leakage of cement into the intervertebral space,and the resulting endplate and disc stresses of the adjacent vertebral bodies were analyzed in various spatial distributions of the filling material and different loading conditions. An anatomically accurate finite-element model of elderly L4-L5 vertebral bodies was developed.Results The FSU study suggested that changes in stress and strain at adjacent levels were minimal.Furthermore,endplale and disc stresses of the adjacent vertebral bodies were not influenced by bone cement filling volumes or distributions except under bending,whereas asymmetric distribution and leakage of bone cement to the disk increased the stress of adjacent endplates.Conclusion Since asymmetric distribution and significant leakage of cement into the intervertebral space can increase the stresses of endplates of adjacent vertebral bodies and may lead to a fracture, symmetric placement of cement in operation should be achieved and leakage of cement avoided.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the osteoinductivity of cationic liposome mediated recombined human bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene (rhBMP-2) transfer in skeletal muscle stem cells (SMSCs) of rabbits. MethodsSMSCs were transfered by pAGFP rhBMP-2 liposome complex. Gene transferred SMSCs were evaluated with immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe transfection rate of SMSCs transferred by cationic liposome mediated pAGFP-rhBMP-2 was 14.18%. Positive stain of rhBMP-2, alkaline phosphatase(ALP),collegenⅠhad been found in the transferred SMSCs.ConclusionQuantity of SMSCs is enough to be target cells of gene therapy. Cationic liposome can mediated bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfected SMSCs in vitro. Compared with AdrhBMP-2,the transfection rate of liposome mediated bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfected SMSCs is lower.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of rabbit skeletal muscle stem cells (RSMSCs) modified by adenovirus mediated bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) gene ex vivo in combination with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on repair of longer bone defect in rabbit.MethodsModel of radial bone defects (20 mm) of rabbits was established. 50 rabbits were divided into 5 groups, group A (AdrhBMP-2 trusduced RSMSCs/DBM group), group B (adGFP trusduced RSMSCs/DBM group), group C (not trusduced RSMSCs/DBM group), group D (DBM group), and group E (untreated group). Roentgenographic, histologic, biomechanical, bone density of all animals were examined at the end of 4th and 6th week after surgery.ResultsAt 4th week, radial bone defects healed in group A. The healing rates from group A to group E were 100%, 50%, 33%, 0%, and 0% respectively at 6th week.ConclusionRSMSCs modified by AdrhBMP-2 ex vivo in combination with DBM can repair radial longer segemental defect in rabbit. It's possible to be used in the clinical treatment of longer segemental bone defect.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of electroacupuncture on exercise-induced immunosuppression in rats and its mechanism.

METHODSSports immunosuppressive model was established successfully by the rats were conducted high intensity swimming training 150 min/day, 6 days/wk for 8 weeks in this study. Forty-three SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (group A, n = 10), a high intensity swimming training group (group B, n = 17), and a high intensity plus electroacupuncture group (group C, n = 16). Group A did not receive any intervention. Group B was conducted 150 min/day, 6 days/wk swimming training for 8 weeks. Group C was treated with electroacupuncture at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) after every exercise-time from the second week, once each day for 7 weeks. The changes of the rats' weight, gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), interleukin-2 (IL-2), solubility IL-2 receptor (SIL-2R) and nature killer cell (NKC) were detected.

RESULTS(1) Compared with group A, gamma-IFN and IL-2 in group B were significantly decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and NKC in group C was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, gamma-IFN and NKC in group C were both significantly higher than that in group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Compared with group A, the weight of the rats in group B and group C were significantly decreased (both P < 0.01), but SIL-2R in group B was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The weight of the rats in group C was significantly higher than that in group B (P < 0.05) and SIL-2R in group C was significantly lower than that in group B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLasting gravis exercise stress does decrease the immune function in rats and is even inhibited significantly, but electroacupuncture can up-regulate the exercise-induced immunosuppression.

Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; physiology ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; physiology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; immunology

Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Prostaglandins E ; therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design

Objective To investigate the causes and managements of dys-seal syndrome (DSS) developed after esophageal stent placement. Methods From June 2001 to June 2008, esophageal stenting was performed in 98 consecutive patients with malignant esophageal obstruction. A total of 99 metallic stents were used. Of 98 patients. gastroesophageal anastomosis stricture was seen in 19, preoperative radiotherapy history in 26 and tracheoesophageal fistula in 34. Results DSS occurred in 7 patients, with an occurrence rate of 7.14% ,which was significant higher than that in patients with preoperative radiotherapy history and in patients showing marked dilated esophagus proximal to the obstructed site (X~2=0.017, 0.005, P=0.036, 0.013, respectively). After treatment, such as fasting, IPN or nasogastric feeding,only 1 case retumed to semi-liquid diet. Among the rest 6 cases of DSS, an additional stent was employed in one (but in vain), nasogastric feeding tube was used in 2, and removal of the stent under endoscopic guidance was carried out in 3. Conclusion DSS is one of the complications developed after esophageal stent placement, its prognosis is rather poor. Removal of the inserted stent may be the optimal treatment. The prevention of DSS includes proper pre-operation evaluation, selection of suitable stent, enhancement of perioperative nutritional support, etc.

Objective To investigate audiological characteristics of patients with intact tympanic membranes and conductive or mixed hearing loss .Methods A retrospective study was carried out among 30 patients (42 ears) with intact tympanic membranes and conductive or mixed hearing loss who underwent exploratory tympanotomy . The preoperative outcomes of pure tone audiometry ,tympanometry ,resonant frequency of middle ear and temporal bone CT scan were analyzed .Results Among 42 ears ,30 ears with otosclerosis and 12 ears with ossicular chain dis-ruption were confirmed in exploratory tympanotomy ,but only 5 ears showed positive findings in CT scan .The mean thresholds of bone conduction ,air conduction and air -bone gap at frequencies of 0 .5 ,1 and 2 kHz were 27 .5 ± 1 .3 dB HL ,67 .0 ± 1 .8 dB HL ,39 .5 ± 1 .1 dB HL ,respectively .An analysis of tympanometric data of all patients re-vealed that 50% of all ears (21/42) were type A tympanograms ,42 .9% (18/42) were type As tympanograms ,and 7 .1% (3/42) were type Ad tympanograms .The mean of the resonant frequency of the middle ear in otosclerositic patients (1 079 .0 ± 67 .4 Hz) was significantly higher than ossicular chain disruption patients (633 .3 ± 43 .6 Hz) . Conclusion Otosclerosis is the most common in the patients with intact tympanic membranes and conductive or mixed hearing loss .The middle ear resonant frequency of otosclerositic patients is significantly higher than that of ossicular chain disruption patients .

Objective To investigate the effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) on the expression of nm23, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and extrahepatic metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The specimens were collected from resectable HCC in 72 patients. Patients were divided into two groups. In one group, TACE was performed before tumor resection (Group A, n=36). In another group, the tumors were resected directly without preoperative TACE (Group B, n=36). The expression and distribution of nm23, TIMP-2 in the tumor tissue and liver parenchyma in the two groups were compared. All patients were followed up for 24 months,and the incidence of extrahepatic metastasis was compared between the two groups. Chi-square test was applied to compare the expression levels of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2. Results The number of cases of strong, moderate and no expression of nm23 were 24, 6 and 6 cases in group A respectively, and were 9, 6 and 21 cases in group B. Statistical differences were found between the two groups(X~2=15.52, P<0.01). The number of cases of strong, moderate and no expression of TIMP-2 were 21,3 and 12 cases in group A respectively, and were 9, 9 and 18 cases in group B. Statistical differences were demonstrated between them (X~2=9.00, P<0.05). There were 13 cases in group A and 15 cases in group B being diagnosed to have extrahepatic metastasis within 24- month period of follow up, but there was no significant difference between the two groups(X~2= 0.23, P>0.05). Conclusions TACE could enhance the expression of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2 in tumor tissues. Therefore, the potential of metastasis of tumor cells might be prohibited by TACE.

Objective To investigate the influence of acupuncture therapy on neural stem cell (NCS) proliferation and differentiation in the hippocampus of the senescence-accelerated prone-8 (SAP8) mouse. Methods Twenty-four SAP8 mice were randomly and equally divided into a model group and an acupuncture group. Twelve senescence-accelerated resistant ( SAR1 ) mice served as the control group. Acupuncture was administered at the Baihui (DU20) point to mice in the acupuncture group once daily for 21 consecutive days. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to detect the proliferation and differentiation of NCSs in the hippocampus through double-labeled immunofluoresSAR1 group, the positive cells in the SAP8 group were significantly fewer Compared to the SAP8 group, positive cells markers of neuron or glia cell positive cells appeared. Compared to the SAR1 group, the expression of BrdU/GFAP increased in the SAP8 group, and decreased after acupuncture but not significantly. BrdU/S-100 β cells decreased significantly in the SAP8 group, and increased after acupuncture, but again not significantly. Compared to the SAR1 group BrdU/GalC positive cells increased significantly in the SAP8 group and decreased significantly after acupuncture.Conclusions After acupuncture treatment for 21 days, the differentiation of hippocampal NSCs into oligodendrocytes was inhibited, but there was little effect on their differentiating into neurons and immature astrocytes.