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.

[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 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.

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.

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.

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To examine survival differences in prognosis and survival between patients with HPV-positive and those with HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

METHODSPubmed, Embase, Web of science and Medline databases were searched from their inception till June 2014. A random-effect meta-analysis was used to pool study estimates evaluating overall (all-cause mortality), disease-specific (death from OPSCC), disease-free (recurrence free), progression-free survival outcomes and local regional control rate in HPV-positive vs HPV-negative OPSCC. After study selection, two reviewers assessed and extracted data independently. Meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 11.0 software.

RESULTSThirty-seven studies were included. HPV-positive OPSCC patients had a better overall survival compared to HPV-negative patients (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.32-0.46). HPV-positive OPSCC patients had a significantly lower disease specific mortality (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.22-0.39) and were less likely to experience progression or recurrence of their cancers than HPV-negative patients (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.25-0.42). Both disease-free survival and progression-free survival were significantly improved in patients with HPV-positive OPSCC ( HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.29-0.47 and HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29-0.63, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSHPV infection is an important prognostic factor of OPSCC. Stratified therapies can be applied in OPSCC based on HPV status of tumours.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Prognosis

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.