OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of aging on air-conducted sound elicited cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential(oVEMP) in normal people. METHOD: Sixty normal subjects were recruited for the vestibular evoked myogenic potential examination. Among them, 20-40 year-old group was setted as the first group, 41-60 year-old group was setted as the second group, > 60-year-old group was setted as the third group. Each group included 20 normal subjects. SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data. RESULT: As the age growing, P1 latency prolonged, N1-P1 amplitude decreased, and amplitude asymmetric ratio increased in cVEMP; N1 latency prolonged, P1-N1 amplitude decreased, and amplitude asymmetric ratio increased in oVEMP. CONCLUSION With the age growing, the time of otolithic organ input pathways prolonged, the function of otolithic organ decreased and the decrease level may be asymeetrical on both sides.
Adult ; Aging ; Eye ; Head ; Hearing ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Otolithic Membrane ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate rational management for pregnant women with intermediate risk of Down syndrome (DS) through a retrospective analysis of second trimester maternal screening results for DS.Methods Second-trimester triple maternal serum screening for DS was performed.High risk ( ≥ 1/270) pregnant women received prenatal diagnosis.Intermediate (1/1000 to 1/270) and low (＜1/1000) risk pregnant women received routine obstetric examination.Data of ultrasound diagnosis,karyotype analysis of amniotic fluid and postpartum follow-up were collected.Outcomes of pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed.The incidences of DS among three groups were compared.Data of different groups were compared with Fisher exact or Chi-square test.Results Eighty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-four pregnant women accepted maternal serum screening and outcomes of 86 126 cases were followed up,among which 4342 cases were DS high risk,8196 intermediate and 73 588 low risk.The incidence of DS was 6.22‰(27/4342) for high risk,0.73 ‰ (6/8196) for intermediate risk and 0.04 ‰ (3/73 588) for low risk group.The incidence of DS was higher in high risk group than in intermediate risk group (Fisher exact probability,P=0.000),and was higher in intermediate risk group than in low risk group (Fisher exact probability,P=0.000).Comparison among the three subgroups within intermediate risk group showed no significant differences (x2 =0.047,P =0.977).Conclusions Pregnant women with intermediate risk of DS should be paid more attention.Reasonable management such as ultrasound diagnosis and prenatal consultation should be provided.

Objective To analysis and summary the chromosome abnormal existing in old pregnant women from 2002 to 2013,and to provide basis for clinicians intervene the fetus with chromosome disorders.Methods The 4 539 pregnant women in Ningbo city from 2002 August to 2013 October accepted the fetal karyo type detection,were retrospective analyzed,the frequency of abnormal chromosomal karyotypes was calculated according to different age groups,and the pregnancy outcomes of the old pregnant women were followed up.Thechi-square testswere performed on the frequency dateof the abnormal chromosome karyotype,polymorphism,and serum screening of high risk for fetal chromosome detection of less than 35-years-old pregnant women.Results The total of advanced maternal age pregnancyduring the past 11 years in Ningbo City is 32 080,and the follow-up rate was 99.90％,there are 10 infants borned with chromosomal abnormalities,the 1 290 caseswere detected withadverse pregnancy.A total of 4 539 advanced maternal age pregnancyaccepted amniocentesis,in those we found 107 cases of chromosome abnormality fetus,116 cases of polymorphism.A total of 5 232 high-risk pregnant women accepted the serum screening in the same period (less than 35 years old),finding 135 cases of fetal chromosome abnormal and 69 cases of polymorphism.Conclusion To strengthen the prenatal diagnosis,especially for puerperae above the age of 39,will lower the birth rate of infants with chromosome disease and will be conducive to the high quality of population in Ningbo.

Objective To investigate the effects of growth-discordant twin pregnancies on neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level and congenital hypothyroidism (CH).Methods A total of 3 444 live-birth twin neonates born between January 1,2012 and December 30,2014 in Ningbo City were enrolled.Blood samples via heel puncture were collected and tested.Incidence of CH in singleton and twin neonates was compared.Deviation of birth weight larger than 25％ in twin neonates was set as the criteria for discordant growth.TSH and 17 α-hydroxylase levels in CH twins and normal twins,with or without discordant growth,were compared.Chi-square and non-parametric statistics were performed for data analysis.Results The incidence of CH in twin neonates was 0.56％ (19/3 444),higher than that in singleton neonates [0.09％ (203/225 712),x2=76.225,P＜0.01].Among nineteen CH twins,CH occurred in both twins in eight cases (four twins) and in one of the twins in eleven cases.The gestational age at birth in the eight CH twins were less than 37 weeks,with four males and four females;five were low birth weight infants;one twin were dichorionic,and three twins were monochorionic.In the eleven cases of CH occurring in one of the twins,the gestational age was less than 37 weeks in nine cases,eight were low birth weight infants,six were male and five female;seven were monochorionic and four were dichoronic twins.Five cases of temporary hypothyroidism were all low birth weight infants among the growth-discordant twins.CH cases in growth-discordant group had lower birth weight than their normal twins [M(P25-P75),2 100 (1 800-2 600) vs 2 770 (2 530-2 960) g,Z=4.369],and a higher TSH level [15.4 (11.8-18.5) vs 6.4 (4.8-7.9) mU/L,Z=6.339] (both P＜0.05).In normal twins with or without discordant growth,the neonates with a lower birth weight had a higher TSH level [3.6(2.5-4.7) vs 2.4(1.8-2.9) mU/L,Z=0.962] in weight consistent group,compared with 6.0(4.4-7.8) vs 3.4(1.9-4.1) mU/L in weight inconsistent group (Z=4.369),both P＜0.05.Conclusions In the growth-discordant twins,neonates with a lower birth weight have a higher TSH level and a higher risk of temporary hypothyroidism.

Immunotherapy which has been in practice for more than 20 years proves effective for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Anti-angiogenesis-targeted therapy has recently been identified as a promising therapeutic strategy for mRCC. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway-targeted therapy for mRCC by comparing its effectiveness with that of immunotherapy. The electronic databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on comparison of VEGF inhibiting drugs (sorafenib, sunitinib and bevacizumab) with interferon (IFN) or placebo for mRCC treatment were included. Data were pooled to meta-analyze. A total of 7 RCTs with 3451 patients were involved. The results showed that anti-VEGF agents improved progression-free survival (PFS) and offered substantial clinical benefits to patients with mRCC. Among them, sunitinib had a higher overall response rate (ORR) than IFN (47% versus 12%, P<0.000001). Bevacizumab plus IFN produced a superior PFS [risk ratio (RR): 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76-0.97; P=0.01] and ORR (RR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.72-2.78; P<0.00001) in patients with mRCC over IFN, but it yielded an increase by 31% in the risk of serious toxic effects (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.20-1.43; P<0.00001) as compared with IFN. The overall survival (OS) was extended by sorafenib (17.8 months) and sunitinib (26.4 months) as compared with IFN (13 months). It was concluded that compared with IFN therapy, VEGF pathway-targeted therapies improved PFS and achieved significant therapeutic benefits in mRCC. However, the risk to benefit ratio of these agents needs to be further evaluated.

Objective To evaluate the influence of belly beard device and the distended bladder on the dose distribution of PTV and the dose-volume histograms(DVHs)of organs at risk(OARs)for postoperative radiation tIlerapy of rectal cancer.Methods A total of 23 patients(8 and 15)with distended bladder receiving 3-field postoperative radiation therapy were dealed with or without a special belly beard in the prone position.At the same time,15 cages with belly board were scanned with empty bladder.The volume of irradiated small bowel was calculated for doses between 5-50 Gy at 5 Gy intervals.With prescription dose in plan target volume(PTV)of 50 Gy,we compared the dose distribution,DVH of OARs,conformity index(CIPTV),the volume of irradiated small bowel and the acute toxicity under the condition of thlee different moulds.Results There was no significant difference in PTV's converge,DVHs of femoral head and CI among 3 moulds(P＞0.05).With the belly board,the high-dose volume of irradiated small bowel(V20-V52.5)was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),specially with distended bladder.However,the low dose volume(V5-V15)was slightly increased.The bladder distension significanfly decreases the volumes of the irradiated small howel at dose levels from 15-52.5 Gy(P＜0.05).Furthermore,the mean volume(V5-V30)of irradiated small bowel differed significantly between patients experiencing Grade 0.1 and ≥2 diarrhea(P＜0.05).Conclusions The combination of belly board and distended bladder was more effectively to reduce the irradiated small bowel volume among 3 moulds,so as to minimized acute diarrhea toxicity.

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) with bilateral positive Dix-Hallpike test.Methods This is a retrospective study based on the clinical data of BPPV patients diagnosed in the Dizziness Clinic of Changzheng Hospital from January 2012 to December 2012.Totally 490 patients with vertigo and nystagmus provoked by Dix-Hallpike maneuver were included in the present analysis.Results Among all the patients,55 (11.2％) of them presented with bilateral nystagmus by the provocative test.According to the type of nystagmus provoked by DixHallpike maneuver,the 55 patients can be divided into the following four categories.(1) Bilateral geotropic (n =16) and apogeotropic nystagmus (n =5):all these patients were diagnosed with horizontal canal BPPV and free of vertigo after head side-shaking exercise in supine position and Barbecue maneuver.(2) Bilateral predominant down-beating nystagmus (n =2):patients in this group were diagnosed with anterior canal BPPV,and got recovered after Kim maneuver.(3) Bilateral torsional up-beating geotropic nystagmus (n =20):after a lying-down test,6 of the patients manifested as vertical up-beating nystagmus and 14 patientsremained torsional up-beating nystagmus.The formerwere diagnosed with bilateral posterior canal BPPV,and were cured after bilateral PRM therapy,and the latter were diagnosed with horizontal canal BPPV,who were cured after Barbecue maneuver.(4) Torsional up-beating geotropic nystagmus on one side and down-beating nystagmus on the other side (n =12).The down-beating nystagrnus on the other side disappeared when the patients was firstly seated up with head down in 30 degrees for half an hour before second Dix-Hallpike maneuver.These patients were diagnosed with unilateral posterior canal BPPV and cured by PRM therapy.Conclusions It is common for vertigo patients with bilateral nystagmus induced by Dix-Hallpike test.The diagnoses should be made by the types of nystagmus provoked step by step before maneuver therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the feature of horizontal semicircular canal function at high and low-frequencies in Meniere's disease. METHOD: Thirty patients suffering from unilateral Meniere's disease were included in the research from 2013 June to 2014 June. Caloric test and video head impulse test were performed to evaluate the high low-frequency function of horizontal semicircular canal. RESULT: these patients were devided by the severity of unilateral weakness in caloric test. The gain value in video head impulse test, which reflects the high-frequency function of semicircular canal, were not different between the normal and mild abnormal group (P > 0.05), but were obviously different between the normal and mild-severe abnormal group, slight abnormal and mild-severe abnormal group (P < 0.05). Gain asymmetry, which reflects the high-frequency function of both side, has no difference between three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION A part of Meniere's disease may have normal high, low-frequency function of horizontal semicircular canal. As patient suffering slight injury of low-frequency function, the high-frequency function keeps normal. As the injury of low-frequency function become mildly to severely, the damage of high-frequency function appears, but the symmetry still keeps balance.
Caloric Tests ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; physiopathology ; Semicircular Canals ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to find whether inreversible function damage of saccule was exist and correlated in Meniere's patients with different audition. METHOD: Senenty-nine patients with unilateral Meniere's disease, who visited the Dizziness Diagnosis and Treatment Centre of the Second Military Medical University from January to July in 2015 were included. They were grouped as slightly audition damage group (41 cases), mildly-severely audition damage group(38 cases). Meanwhile 20 normal controls underwent the research. The cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were conducted in symptom free period. RESULT: There was no significant difference of the C-VEMP inducing rate between slightly audition damage group and normal control group. While a statistically difference showed between mildly-severely audition damage group and normal control group or slightly audition damage group. P1, N1 latency had no statistically difference between three groups. The P1-N1 amplitude and asymmetric ratio had no difference between slightly audition damage group and normal control group, but had a statistically difference between mildly-severely audition damage group and slightly audition damage group, normal control group. CONCLUSION The function of saccule in Meniere's patients decreased with the aggravation of audition damage.
Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

Since human society entered the 21st century, the rapid development of medical technology also gave birth to a series of negative effects:medical service technology first, trust crisis of the doctor-patient relation-ship, and medical industry money worship. Especially in recent years, due to the lack of humanistic spirit in medi-cal institutions, the doctor -patient relationship is of the worst state in the history. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen the medical humanities education in the construction of hospital culture. Aiming at the problems existing in the current medical industry, this paper expounds the importance of strengthening the humanistic education in the construction of hospital culture.