Chronic cough is a multi-factorial symptom,postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common causes of chronic cough, which is closely associated with the otolaryngologist. The aim of this paper is to highlight the issues in clinical features, diagnosis and management of chronic cough from the otolaryngologist perspective.
Chronic Disease ; Cough ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Objective To study the association of V249I and T280M polymorphisms of fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 with carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Methods 318 patients with CAS diagnosed using color Doppler ultrasound criteria were studied and compared with 292 subjects without CAS. V249I and T280M polymorphic genotypes of CX3CR1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) and sequencing analysis. Results The genotypes of MM and TM were associated with reduced risk of CAS,the frequency of genotype MM + TM in the two groups being 22. 6% and 31.2% respectively ( OR = 0. 646, 95% CI 0. 451-0. 928, P = 0. 017), the frequency of M allele was significantly lower in patients with CAS than in those without CAS ( 13.8% and 19. 2% respectively, OR = 0. 677, 95%CI 0.499--0. 918,P=0. 010). No differences were observed in the Ⅱ, Ⅵ, or VV genotype, the frequency of genotype Ⅱ + Ⅵ in the two groups being 39. 0% and 43.8% respectively ( OR = 1. 012, 95% CI 0. 731-1. 403 ,P = 0. 940), the frequency of Ⅰ allele was significantly lower in patients with CAS than in those without CAS (28. 6% and 32. 7% respectively, OR = 0. 842, 95% CI 0. 660-1. 076, P = 0. 034). The genotypes of Ⅱ and Ⅵ in patients with stable plaques were more frequent than in vulnerable plaques( OR = 0. 610, 95% CI 0. 387-0. 962, P = 0. 033 ). Multiple Logistic regression analysis revealed that the genotypes of MM and TM were an independent risk factor for CAS ( OR = 1. 847,95% CI 1. 091- 3. 127 ,P = 0. 022). Conclusion The genotypes of MM and TM are independent risk factors for carotid artery stenosis, and the genotypes of Ⅱ and Ⅵ are associated with the stability of carotid artery plaques.

Objective To investigate the effects of substance P on anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury to cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats.Methods Cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 1-3 days,and were cultured in 6-well plates for 72 h.The cardiomyocytes were then assigned into 4 groups (n =3 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),A/R group,substance P group (group SP) and substance P + D-SP group (group SP + D-SP).The cells were cultured routinely for 6 h in group C and the cells were exposed to 99.9 ％ N2 in an incubator at 37 ℃ for 3 h followed by reoxygenation for 2 h in the other groups.The cells were incubated with substance P with the final concentration of 10-7 mol/L for 1 h before anoxia in group SP.The cells were incubated for 1 h with substance P with the final concentration of 10-7 mol/L and D-SP (a specific antagonist of neurokinin-1 receptor) with the final concentration of 10-6 mol/L before anoxia in group SP + D-SP.The apoptosis rate and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were detected at the end of reoxygenation using TUNEL assay and LDH assay kit,respectively.Results Compared with C group,the apoptosis rate and LDH activity were significantly increased in A/R,SP and SP+ D-SP groups.Compared with A/R group,the apoptosis rate and LDH activity were significantly decreased in SP and SP + D-SP groups.Compared with SP group,the apoptosis rate and LDH activity were significantly increased in SP + D-SP group.Conclusion Substance P can attenuate A/R injury to cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats,and activation of neurokinin 1 receptors is involved in the mechanism.

Objective To evaluate the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on anoxiareoxygenation (A/R)-induced injury to neonatal rat cardiomyocytes incubated in high glucose medium.Methods Cardiomyocytes were obtained from 1-3-day old Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured in the culture medium containing 15％ bovine calf serum and then seeded onto 6-well plates at a density of 10 × 105/ml (3 ml/well).The cells were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =9 each):normal glucose medium control group (NG group),high glucose medium group (HG group),high glucose medium + A/R group (HG+ A/R group),high glucose medium + A/R + CGRP group (HG + A/R + CGRP group),and high glucose medium + A/R + CGRP+ CGRP8-37 group (HG + A/R + CGRP + CGRP8-37 group).The cells were incubated in normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L) medium for 72 h in NG group.In HG group,the cells were incubated in high glucose (25.0 mmol/L) medium for 72 h.In HG + A/ R group,the cells were incubated in high glucose medium for 72 h and then exposed to 3 h of anoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation.In group HG + A/R + CGRP,the cells were incubated in high glucose medium for 72 h,CGRP (final concentration 10-8 mol/L) was then added to the culture media and the cells were incubated for 1 h and then underwent A/R.In HG + A/R + CGRP + CGRP8-37 group,the cells were incubated in high glucose medium for 72 h,CGRP (final concentration 10 8 mol/L) was then added to the culture media and the cells were incubated for 1 h and then underwent A/R.In HG + A/R + CGRP + CGRP8-37 group,the cells were incubated in high glucose medium for 72 h,CGRP8-37 (final concentration 10-8 mol/L) and CGRP8-37 (CGRP receptor antagonist,final concentration 10-7 mol/L) was then added to the culture media and the cells were incubated for 1 h and then underwent A/R.Apoptosis in cardiomyocytes was detected using TUNEL and apoptosis index (AI) was calculated.The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium was analyzed.Results AI and LDH activity were significantly higher in HG group than in NG group,and in HG + A/R group than in HG group.Compared with HG + A/R group,AI and LDH activity were significantly decreased in HG + A/R + CGRP group,while no significant changes were found in HG + A/R + CGRP + CGRP8-37 group.Compared with HG + A/R + CGRP group,AI and LDH activity were significantly increased in HG + A/R + CGRP + CGRP8-37 group.Conclusion CGRP attenuates A/R-induced injury to neonatal rat cardiomyocytes incubated in high glucose medium via combing with CGRP receptor.

Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; diagnosis

Aged ; Bronchogenic Cyst ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infection ; complications ; Mediastinal Cyst ; complications

Objective To investigate the findings and prognosis of head MRI and brain parenchymal lesions in patients with intracranial venous sinus thrombosis. Methods The clinical manifestations and imaging data of 41 patients with intracranial venous sinus thrombosis were analyzed retrospectively. According to the head MRI,the patients were divided into a brain parenchymal lesion positive group (n = 21)and a negative group (n =20). The clinical manifestations and the difference of the affected venous sinus in patients of both groups were analyzed. Results The proportion of dehydration,epilepsy,motor disorders,and psychiatric symptoms in the positive group were 28.6% (n =6)vs. 0% (n =0),57. 1% (n =12)vs. 15. 0%(n = 3),47. 6% (n = 10)vs. 5. 0% (n = 1),and 33. 3% (n = 7)vs. 5. 0% (n = 1),respectively. There were significant differences (all P < 0. 05). The proportion of the occurrence of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in the positive group was lower than that in the negative group (47. 6% [n = 10]vs. 80. 0%[n = 16];P = 0. 031). At discharge,the proportion of complete recovery (modified Rankin score 0 -1)in the positive group was lower than that in the negative group (71. 4% [n = 15]vs. 100% [n = 20];P =0. 032). Conclusion Compare with the clinical symptoms of the positive patients,the patients with intracranial venous sinus thrombosis and those with negative brain parenchymal lesions are relatively minor,their prognoses are better,and the thrombi are more involved in superior sagittal sinus.

AIM: To establish an animal model for studying the development and metastasis of melanoma. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were used as host to receive melanoma cell transplantation. Three kinds of melanoma cell lines, B16F0, B16F1 and B16F10, cultured to prepare the cell suspensions, were transplanted into the mouse anterior chamber (AC) of the eye. The time of eyeball diabross, time of survival and metastasis of lymph node and lung were observed. RESULTS: The time of eyeball diabross in F10 group was earlier than that in other groups. The time of eyeball diabross was no difference between F0 and F1 groups. Metastasis was developed 18 days after transplantation in F1 and F10 groups, where the tumor cells was found in ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes. The melanoma cells metastasized to lung in all three groups 28 days after transplantation. The survival time in F0 group was longer than F1 and F10 groups. There was no difference in survival times between F1 and F10 group. CONCLUSION: The differences of three kinds of melanoma cell lines in tumor development and metastasis provided the evidence that was useful for choosing suitable animal model further to study the eye melanima.

The ?-radioactive seed brachytherapy source has been widely employed in the implantation therapy for the prostatic carcinoma and the ophthalmic lesions.In this study the dosimetric parameters for characterization of a low-energy interstitial brachytherapy source 125I were calculated according to dose calculation formalism recommended by AAPM TG-43U1.For data processing,a 0.28 cm active length was used for the geometry function.The dosimetry parameter air-Kerma strength,dose rate constant,radial dose function and anisotropy function were estimated by means of the EGS5 Monte Carlo code.The results obtained from this study are in good agreement with the corresponding values recommended by TG-43U1 and with the data reported by Dolan,et al.