ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of asubunit isforms of Na,K-ATPase in stria vascularis of guinea pig, and the effect of gentamicin on it. MethodsThe expression of a subunit isoforms of Na, K-ATPase in stria vascualris of guinea pig and its change after gentamicin exposure were identified immunocytochemically using the specific mouse antibodies a gainst the α1 ,α2 and α3 subunits of rat Na,K-ATPase. ResultsAll marginal cells,intermediate cells and basal cells of stria vas cualris showed positive expression of α1 isoform and negative expression of α2 and α3 isoforms. The immunostaining of α1 isform was attenuated significantly after gentamicin esposture. ConclusionGentamicin significantly inhibits the expression of Na, K-ATPase α1 subunit isoform of the stria vascularis, sequentially inhibits the activity of Na,K-ATPase.

Objective To investigate the distribution and its significance of ? subunit isoforms of Na,K-ATPase in the inner ear of guinea pig.Methods The expression of ? subunit isoforms of Na,K-ATPase in labyrinth was studied immunocytochemically with the specific mouse antibodies against the ? 1?? 2 and ? 3 subunits of rat Na,K-ATPase.Results The expression of Na,K-ATPase ? subunit isoforms varied among different cell regions of the inner ear. The ? 1 subunit isoform was widely distributed in almost all regions, and was most abundant in the stria vascularis, sensory cells of the crista ampullaris and macula of the saccule, and the spiral ganglion cells, while the ? 2 and ? 3 subunit isoforms were present primarily in the spiral ganglion cells,the organ of Corti and stria vascularis.Conclusion The differential expression of Na,K-ATPase subunit isoforms presumably reflects different K + and Na + transport capacities among inner ear cells which, working in concert, serve to maintain homeostasis in inner ear.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of combined oral and intratympanic glucocorticoids treatment for severe to profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL).METHODSFifty-four patients with severe to profound SSNHL were retrospectively studied. They were treated with oral steroids, vasodilators, anticoagulants. The patients who accepted intratympanic methylprednisolone sodium succinate were included the therapy group, the others were included in the control group. Hearing improvements were analyzed respectively after two weeks.RESULTSHearing in both groups were improved significantly after treatment(P<0.01), but there was no difference in hearing improvements between two groups(P=0.194). The efficacy for severe SSNHL patients in therapy group was equal to those who were in control group (P=0.251), so was the efficacy for profound SSNHL patients in both groups(P=0.380).CONCLUSIONThe combined systemic and intratympanic glucocorticoids treatment was effective for patients with severe to profound SSNHL, but while with no better efficacy than oral glucocorticoid alone.

Objective To investigate the cellular localization of aquaporins(AQPs) and its significance in various subregions of the cochlea and endolymphatic sac of guinea pig.Methods Adult guinea pigs were used and the expression patterns of AQP1,2,3 and 4 in the cochlea and endolymphatic sac were studied immunocytochemically. Paraffin- embedded sections were labeled with the specific polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the rat AQP1, 2, 3, and 4.Results In the cochlea, AQP1, 3, 4 were widely distributed in various subregions including the stria vascularis, spiral ligament, organ of Corti and spiral ganglion in the similar patterns except that AQP3 in the stria vascularis was weaker than AQP1 and AQP4. AQP2 was labeled only in the Reissner's membrane. In the endolymphatic sac, AQP1, AQP3 and AQP4 were strongly expressed in the epithelial cells and subepithelial cells with the exception that AQP3 was a little weaker than AQP1 and AQP4. No AQP2 immunoreactivity was detected in the endolymphatic sac.Conclusion Our immunohistochemical results suggest that different members of AQPs family in labyrinth may work in concert to regulate endolymph and to maintain homeostasis in the inner ear.

Objective To investigate the cellular localization of the neural precursor cell-expressed, developmentally downregulated isoforms(Nedd4), Nedd4- 1/2 and Nedd4- 2, and the serum glucocorticoid- inducible kinasel(SGK1) in various subregions of the rat cochlea. Methods The expression patterns of Nedd4-1/2, Nedd42 and SGK1 in the cochlea of rat were studied by immunohistochemistry with the specific polyclonal rabbit antibodies against the rat Nedd4-1/2, Nedd4-2 and SGK1. Results All three proteins were extensively expressed in various regions of the rat cochlea. They were found in the stria vascularis, spiral ligament, organ of Corti, spiral limbus, spiral ganglion and Reissner's membrane. Conclusion Our findings suggest that there exists a Na+ transport system in the cochlea consisting of SGK1, Nedd4 isoforms and ENaC, which may work in concert to transport Na+ and to maintain homeostasis in the inner ear as they do in other tight epithelia.

Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporin 2 (AQP2) in an endolymphatic hydrops ani-mal model .Methods Forty adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into experiment group and control group (20 animals in each group ) . Guinea pigs in the experiment group were treated with deamino arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) intraperitoneally at the dosage of 4 μg · kg -1 · d-1 for 7 days ,while those in the control group were treated with physiological saline .The endolymphatic hydrops and expression of AQP2 in cochleas of all animals were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin stain ,immunohistochemistry and Western blot .Results The endolymphatic hydrops in the experiment group were more severe than that in the control group(P<0 .05) .Expression of AQP2 were found in the stria vascularis and spiral ganglions in both groups with similar patterns .Both immunohistochem-istry and Western blot showed that the expressions of AQP2 in the experiment group were significantly stronger(P<0 .05 ) .Conclusion DDAVP can up-regulate the expression of AQP2 in the cochleae of guinea pigs ,thus may be closely related to the pathogenesis of endolymphatic hydrops .

This paper discussed the current status of hearing aids fitting practitioners in China and proposed some proposals on how to cultivate qualified practitioners.The proposals includes setting up short-term training program,launching hearing aids fitting major in occupational schools and cultivating the hearing aids fitting practitioners from the would-be audiologists or otologists in an aim to meet the urgent hearing aids fitting need of Chinese deafness.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical features of 8 patients with sigmoid sinus diverticulum and to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment. METHODS The tinnitus patients were asked in detail about the history, and performed a series of routine hearing tests (pure tone audiometry, acoustic impedance audiometry, otoacoustic emission inspection and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) etc.) and temporal bone HRCT scan. Eight cases were diagnosed with sigmoid sinus diverticulum, in which six cases undertook a surgery to reconstruct the sinus wall while the other 2 cases chose conservative treatment. RESULTS The diagnosis of 6 cases was proved to be correct by surgery, and the pulsatile tinnitus disappeared after reconstructing the sinus wall. No one recurred after following up from 2 to 12 months. Two cases of conservative treatment had no obvious improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSION Clinical manifestation, hearing examination, temporal bone CT/HRCT and Cranial CTA/CTV contributed to the diagnosis of sigmoid sinus diverticulum. Sinus wall reconstruction is a better approach.

To explore the organ-system oriented integrated program, this project constructed a new clinical skill training program of sensory system for"5+3" medical students. According to the current trend and requirement of medical teaching reform, taking into consideration of the present status of clinical skills teaching, this project integrated the basic and clinical teaching contents of otolaryngology, ophthalmology and dermatology to design a new training program of clinical skills for"5+3"medical students. Specifically, the project group edited a new textbook and syllabus, and set up a specialized teaching group. In this system, the training models included simulation training and practical bedside training, the assessment included operation ability and analyzing ability for clinical cases, and the training contents involved all conventional skills of each specialty. It has been demonstrated that the new training program is capable of promoting the clinical skills of students quickly and effectively.

Objective To investigate the possible factors related to recurrence and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).Methods Four hundred and ninety-five patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss between January 2013 to April 2014 were analyzed retrospectively(34 patients lost to follow-up with a dropout rate of 6.87％).Twenty of the 495 patients were diagnosed as recurrent SSNHL and treated again in the same hospital.The data of the patients were summarized to analyze the related factors which might influence the recurrence and prognosis of SSNHL.Results In the 20 patients with recurrent SSNHL,19 had the second attack in same ear as the first attack,and the other one had in both ears.There were seven male patients,and thirteen female patients.Patients ranged in age from 24 to 77years,with a median age of 39.5 years.Types of hearing loss:low frequency in eight patients,high frequency in two patients,fiat frequency in eight patients,total deafness in two patients,the types of the second attack in 17 patients were same as the first attack,only one patient was changed from total deafness to fiat frequency,one case was changed from fiat frequency to high frequency,one case changed from fiat frequency to total deafness.The intervals between of the first attack time and the second attack time were 1-36 months with the median time of 3.5 months.After systemic oral and (or) transtympanic steroid treatment,recovered in three cases,effective in three cases and 14 cases invalid,the cure rate was 15％,and the total effective rate was 30％.There were statistically significant differences in the recovery rate(x2 =8.640,P ＜ 0.05) and the overall response rate(x2 =12.379,P ＜ 0.01) between the first and the second treatments.For the patients with vertigo and/or dizziness,with a history more than seven days,with hypertension or diabetes mellitus,and with a type of hearing loss except low frequency type,the treatment effect was invalid.The patients with hearing loss at low frequency had the best outcomes.The total effective rates were significant different between patients younger and old than 34 years old (P ＜ 0.05).There was no difference in the total effective rate between genders,and patients with or without tinnitus and/ or aural fullness in the recurrent SSNHL(P ＞0.05).The recurrence rates of patients with various types of hearing loss were different(F =7.744,P ＜0.05),with a highest recurrence rate in patients with hearing loss at low frequency.Other factors such as gender,age,accompanied diseases (hypertension or diabetes mellitus),associated symptoms,interval from onset to treatment had no effects on the recurrence rate.Conclusiors Recurrence of SSNHL is more likely to be found in patients with hearing loss of low frequency and flat type.The prognosis of recurrent SSNHL is poorer than that of the first episode,and may be related to the age and type of hearing loss.