Humans ; Otitis Media ; classification ; diagnosis ; therapy

ObjectiveTo determine whether glutamate induces the alteration of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression in cultured rat astrocytes. MethodsThe secondary cultured astrocytes were treated with 1 mmol/L L-glutamate for 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. The morphologic changes of astrocytes were observed through microscope after GFAP immunostaining and AQP4 mRNA expression were detected with real-time PCR. ResultsThe astrocytes swelled when exposed to glutamate for 1 h and remained with prolonged treatment. Meanwhile, the AQP4 mRNA expression were early down-regulated and subsequently up-regulated, featured with the lowest AQP4 mRNA level at 12 h after treatment (P<0.01) and higher at 48 h (P<0.05). ConclusionAquaporin 4 may be involved in the occurrence and development of astrocyte swelling induced by glutamate.

The relationship of insulin dosage during transition from continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion(CSII)to subcutaneous injections of premixed human insulin in 197 type 2 diabetic patients was analyzed. Positive correlation(r=0.60,P

Objective To reproduce a scratch-wound model in cultured rat astrocytes (AST).Methods The secondary cultured AST prepared from newborn Wistar rat cerebral cortex were scratched with plastic pipette tips. The morphologic change of AST was observed through microscope at 10 min before and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after injury, meanwhile the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakages in the cultured medium were determined.Results Immediately after injury the edge of the scratch was lined with irregularly shaped cell. 6 h after injury the AST processes began extending to cell-free area, and elongated further at 12 and 24 h after injury, with presented of new generated cells in the denuded area. At different times after injury, the LDH leakages of the experiment group were higher than that before injury ( P<0.05), and were higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05).Conclusion According to observed AST morphologic changes and determined LDH leakages in culture medium, the scratch-wound model in cultured rat AST is successfully reproduced.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Huanglian Jiedu decoction (EAHD) on hyphae development of Candida albicans.

METHODInverted microscope, fluorescence microscope, SEM were applied to inspect the Morphological change of C. albicans treated by EAHD at different concentrations. Solid agar plate was utilized to evaluate the colony morphology. Quantitative Real-ime PCR(qRT-PCR) was adopted to observe the expression of hyphae-specific genes such as HWP1, ALS3, UME6, CSH1, SUN41, CaPDE2.

RESULTEAHD with concentration of 312 and 1 250 mg . L-1 could inhibit formation of hyphae and colony morphology. The expression of HWP1, ALS3, UME6, CSH1 were downregulated 4. 13, 3. 64, 2. 46, 2. 75 folds ,while the expression of SUN41 were upregulated 7. 26 folds, CaPDE2 keep unchanged.

CONCLUSIONEAHD could inhibit formation of hyphae and colony morphologies of C. albicans through downregulating HWP1, ALS3, UME6 and CSH1.

Acetates ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Candida albicans ; cytology ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; drug effects ; Hyphae ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

AIM:To investigate the cause of blindness, except those caused by cataract, in Haimen city.METHODS:According to the WHO`s criteria of blindness, the blindness level was decided through ophthalmic tests by associate chief or chief ophthalmologists who were trained especially for disability evaluation.The analysis of the the leading cause were taken too.RESULTS:Totally 3 266 persons were blindness, in which 2 118 were first level blindness, 1 148 persons were second lever blindness, and 1 308 persons were male, 1958 were female.The leading cause of blindness were retina and uveitis diseases (31.58%), genetic diseases(23.47%), cornea disease(14.49%).CONCLUSION:The leading cause of blindness are retina and uveitis diseases, genetic diseases, cornea diseases in Haimen city of Jiangsu province.Early prevention and treatment should be strengthened to reduce the occurrence of blindness.

Objective To examine the sensitivity of human glioblastoma multiforme cell line BT325 to 5 antineoplastic drugs, including cisplatin (DDP), teniposide (VM26), nimustine (ACNU), temozolomide (TMZ) and vincristine (VCR). Methods BT325 cells were incubated in DMEM with 10% or 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or without FBS respectively. The cell numbers were counted at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h,96 h, 120 h, and 144 h, then platting and growth curve were drafted. Cell counting kite-8 was used to detect the influence of 5 drugs with different concentrations on human glioma cell line BT325. Results DDP and VM26 significantly suppressed BT325 cells(>75%) viability in a dose-dependent manner, while VCR inhibited BT325 cells (50%) growth without dose-effect relationship. In contrast, ACNU and TMZwere not effective on the viability of BT325 cells. Conclusion BT325 cells were very sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs DDP amd VM26.

Objective: To study the biocompatibility of CFR/PEEK composite in bone tissue after implanted in lumbar intervertebral space and to evaluate its role in the interbody fusion compared to the allograft bone. Methods: Thirteen beagles were chosen among which 7 were implanted with the disk-like CFR/PEEK composite in the lumbar intervertebral space and the other 6 were implanted with allograft bone. X-ray, QCT and histological examination were employed at 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Results: The X-ray results of fusion segment were in conformity with the QCT's as well as that of histological results. All animals obtained a complete fusion at 24 months. Histological examination revealed that the anterior soft tissue to the implant exhibited a nonspecific foreign body reaction with connective tissue embed the biomaterials. Carbon fragment were seen in the surrounding tissue and some of the debric were phagocytosed by foreign body giant cell. Histological examination of bone and material revealed that new bone grew along the hole of CFR/PEEK implant. Conclusion: CFR/PEEK has an excellent biocompatibility to bone tissue.

Objective To improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of the sharp injury in the back. Methods 47 cases which were treated from Jan 1991 to May 2000 were reviewed. ResultsAmong 37 cases who underwent the exploration, 5 cases died. Among 10 cases who underwent conservative treatment, 2 cases died. ConclusionThe condition of sharp injury in the back is very complicated,it is easy to be misdiagnosed, the mortality is high. Saving should be equalled with the diagnosis and treatment. The application of wound exploration, abdominal puncture, ultrasound examination and X-ray checking is valuable to the diagnosis. The patients with operation indications should be operated at once,while the others should be observed for some time to prevent the delayed clinical manifestation.

Objective This paper is to validate a speech intelligibility test in Chinese mandarin for the evaluation of speakers with cleft palate, and to determine the intelligibility deficit patterns based on minimal pairs. Methods Thirty cleft palate patients with dysarthria were included as speakers for the test. Then the speech intelligibility of each speaker was rated and the error proportions of each minimal pair were analyzed by SPSS 16.0. The stepwise multiple regression analysis was employed to determine which minimal pairs were the best predictors of reduced speech intelligibility. Results The intelligibility scores were obtained form the thirty speakers ranged from 37% to 92.4%. The error proportion of the minimal pairs was ranged from 0. 13 to 0. 80. The three most problematic pairs, from the most to least severe were dental versus retroflex pair (0.80), retroflex versus palatal pair(0.68), and aspirated versus un-aspirated affricative pair(0.66). The speech intelligibility from cleft palate patients could be predicted at 71.5% accuracy using two pairs, aspirated versus un-aspirated affricative pair, dentals versus palatal pair. Conclusion The speech intelligibility test for Chinese Mandarin speakers with cleft palate can be used as an effective evaluation method, both qualitatively and quantificationally.