Presbycusis is a disease characterized by hidden and slowly progressive bilateral sensorineural hear-ing loss.Its occurrence and development is a multifactorial process.The expression of each factor varies greatly a-mong individuals.Currently,there have been some studies on the pathogenesis of presbycusis,which can be catego-rized into ion channel abnormalities,cochlear synaptopathy,reactive oxygen species,hormone effects,mitochondrial abnormalities,genetic factors and vari other factors.This review summarizes the pathogenesis of presbycusis in re-cent years.

Cholesteatoma of the middle ear is a common disease in otolaryngology that is receiving increasing attention. It is estimated that over five million people around the world have suffered from middle ear cholesteatoma. The annual incidence of middle ear cholesteatoma has been reported to be 9.2 per 100,000 in adults and 3 per 100,000 in children. Without timely discovery and intervention, cholesteatomas can become perilously large and damage intratemporal structures, causing various intracranial and extracranial complications. No practical nonsurgical treatments are currently available. Although multiple hypotheses exist, research directions have consistently focused on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and bone destruction. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have recently received increasing attention because of their key roles in gene expression, cell cycle regulation, and the development of many diseases. Although ncRNAs are not involved in protein translation, they are abundant in the genome, with only approximately 2% of genes encoding proteins and the remaining approximately 98% encoding ncRNAs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the specific role of ncRNAs in middle ear cholesteatoma.

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies with the highest incidence rate and mortality rate worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85%. Only 5% NSCLC patients are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement positive NSCLC, but the prognosis of these patients is poor, and treatment is urgent. Ensartinib (X-396), a next-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ALK-TKI), has shown greater potency on inhibiting ALK activity and controlling brain metastases than crizotinib, which is indicated for the treatment of crizotinib-resistant, ALK-positive NSCLC patients. Several phase I to III clinical trials included both healthy volunteers and NSCLC patients have been conducted both in China and abroad. In this review, we briefly summarized the results of these trials, and preliminary efficacy, safety, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of ensartinib were discussed.

Objective: The radiological and audiological results of patients with hearing loss associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) were analyzed statistically to explore the association between them. Methods: In this retrospective study, we screened 64 patients (128 ears) with EVA diagnosed in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2012 to June 2016, who met the inclusion criteria and the exclusion criteria at the same time, including 37 males (74 ears) and 27 females (54 ears), aged from 6 months to 17 years, all of whom showed varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The imaging observations included the midpoint measurement (MP) and the operculum measurement(OP) of the temporal bone HRCT, the long signal area cross-sectional area (ES_L), the short signal area cross-sectional area (ES_S), as well as the largest total signal area cross-sectional area (ES_T) of the endolymphatic sac(ES) of the cochlear MRI. The audiological observations included collecting detailed medical history and subjective and/or objective audiological examinations to determine the character and degree of hearing loss. According to the progress and changes of hearing loss, they were divided into hearing stability group (86 ears) and fluctuation/progression group (42 ears). SPSS22.0 statistical software was used to carry out statistical analysis of the imaging measurement results. Results: The sizes of MP and OP were smaller in the stable group than those in the fluctuating/progressive group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). For ES_L, ES_S or ES_T, there was no significant difference between the stable group and the fluctuating/progressive group (P>0.05). For the 13 patients with asymmetric hearing loss, the sizes of MP, OP, ES_L, ES_S or ES_T were not significantly different between the mild side and the serious side (P>0.05). For the ears whose ES_L/ES_S was>2 or the ES_S/ES_L was>2, the proportion was not significantly different between the stable group and the fluctuating/progressive group (P>0.05). Conclusions For patients with EVA,the smaller the enlarged vestibular aqueduct is,the more likely it is congenital severe sensorineural hearing loss. Patients with significantly enlarged vestibular aqueduct often exhibit volatility/progressive hearing loss. The degree of enlargement of the endolymphatic vessels and endolymphatic sac is not related to the degree of hearing loss. For EVA patients with asymmetric hearing loss, the mild or serious side of hearing loss is random, which is not affected by the degree of enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct and endolymphatic sac. The degree of hearing loss in patients with EVA is not related to the ratio of ES_L/ES_S.

Objective To study the clinical effect of interventional therapy and cryosurgery by bronchoscopy in the treatment of bronchial tuberculosis.Methods 70 cases with bronchial tuberculosis were randomly divided into two groups 35 cases in each group.The drug treatment group was treated by internal medicine,and the combination therapy group was treated by the interventional therapy of the bronchus mirror on the basis of the drug treatment group.The total effective rate,the improvement time of cough and dyspnea,the number of treatment,the quality of life of patients were compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate of the combination therapy group was higher than the drug treatment group (94.24％ vs 77.14％,x2 =4.200,P =0.04).The improvement time of cough and dyspnea in the comprehensive treatment group was shorter than those in the drug treatment group,the treatment times was less than that in the drug treatment group[comprehensive treatment group:(7.51 ± 1.41) d,(4.51 ± 1.61) d,(5.62 ± 1.21) times;drug treatment group:(9.39 ± 2.77) d,(5.39 ± 2.57) d,(7.61 ± 2.59) times;t =8.213,9.153,10.242,all P =0.00].Before treatment,the life quality scores between the two groups had no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).After treatment,the improvement of quality of life in the combination therapy group was more significant[before treatment and after treatment of combination therapy group:physiological function:t =15.539,P ＜ 0.001;emotional function:t =11.789,P ＜ 0.001;social function:t =8.753,P ＜ 0.001.Before treatment and after treatment of drug treatment group:physiological function:t =10.128,P ＜ 0.001;emotional function:t =8.132,P ＜ 0.001;social function:t =6.931,P ＜ 0.001.After treatment,combination therapy group compared with drug treatment group:physiological function:t =7.433,P ＜ 0.001;emotional function:t =4.692,P ＜0.001;social function:t =3.297,P ＜ 0.001].Conclusion The clinical efficacy of bronchoscopic interventional cryotherapy in the treatment of bronchial tuberculosis is effective,it can effectively improve the clinical symptoms,improve lesions absorption,shorten symptoms subsided time,reduce the number of treatment,it is helpful to improve the quality of life of patients and worthy of popularization and application.

BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) can differentiate into insulin-producing cellsafter induced by chemical drugs or co-culture methods, but insulin secretion is extremely low. Therefore, to inducemature pancreatic beta cell differentiation from stem cells by adenovirus transfection of specific genes involved in thedevelopment of pancreas is a research hotspot in recent years.OBJECTIVE: To study the differentiation potential of HUMSCs into insulin-producing cells after transfection withmusculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A (MafA).METHODS: Ad-MafA-EGFP was transferred into passage 3 HUMSCs. After 7 days of induction, changes of cellmorphology were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope. Expression of pancreatic cell-specific genes(glucagon, PDX1, Nkx2.2) was detected by PCR technique.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After Ad-MafA-EGFP transfection, no significant morphological changes were observedin the HUMSCs under inverted phase contrast microscope. It was confirmed by fluorescence microscope thatAd-MafA-EGFP was transferred into the HUMSCs. After induction, the expression of human pancreatic precursorcell-related genes, including glucagon, PDX1 and Nkx2.2, was increased as detected by PCR. To conclude, thesefindings could provide experimental evidence for further differentiation and maturation of pancreatic β cells fromHUMSCs.

This paper was aimed to study traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome distribution characteristics of HIV infection in Xinjiang region based on the Clinical Medical Research Information Sharing System (CMRISS).CMRISS was used to establish a database (data were from 1151 hospital electronic medical records from May 2011 to March 2012).Oracle and ETL software were used in the data processing.Visualization analysis was used in the data mining.The results showed that syndrome distribution of HIV infection in Xinjiang region was concentrated in four categories with the blockade of dampness due to qi deficiency,deficiency of both qi and yin,yin deficiency of liver and kidney,and the stagnation of liver qi.The syndrome of blockade of dampness due to qi deficiency was relatively concentrated in the range of 20-30 years old,with the majority of female population.The proportion of sexually transmitted infection was more.The syndrome of deficiency of both qi and yin was relatively concentrated in the age range of 30-40 years old,with the majority of male population.The large proportion of infection was due to intravenous drug use.Among different TCM syndromes,Uyghur population occupied relatively large part.Stratified analysis on disease course due to the change of TCM syndrome according to 1 year,3 years and 5 years revealed the disease development rule from excess syndrome,deficiency combined with excess,to deficiency syndrome.It was concluded that the application of CMRISS was able to process a large amount of clinical data.The data mining results can be used to guide clinical practice.It provided a better platform for the scientific research of TCM clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of nerve growth factors in the treatment of sudden deafness.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 124 cases of hospitalized patients who suffered from unilateral sudden deafness from November 2013 to February 2015.The patients were divided into two groups: 59 in the treatment group and 65 in the control group.Each group was further divided into four subgroups according to different audiometric curves: the low-frequency declining type, the high-frequency declining type, the flat type, the completely deafness type.The control group: the patients were treated with the conventional therapy according to different audiometric curves.The treatment group: intramuscular mouse nerve growth factor treatment was added on the basis of conventional therapy mentioned above.The both treatments lasted 10 days.The total efficiency of two groups was compared ,and the efficiency of the subgroups was also compared.Results The total efficiency of the treatment group was 64.40% and 44.62% for the control group.The total efficiency of the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group.The analysis revealed as having statistically significant differences (x2=4.877,P=0.032<0.05).The total efficiency of the sub-groups by different audiometric curves was further analyzed.All the total efficiency of the sub-groups in treatment group were higher than the sub-groups in the control group, but the results were notconsidered as significantly different(P>0.05).Conclusion The mouse nerve growth factor has a positive effect on the treatment of sudden deafness, and has shown the acceptable clinical efficacy without side-effect.Thus the mouse nerve growth factor is a safe and effective drug for treating sudden deafness.

Objective To evaluate factors influencing pass rates for newborn hearing screening under the same test conditions and using the same test methods.Methods Newborn hearing screening was carried out in 1 045 randomly selected newborns in Shengjing Hospital from January to June 2014.The newborns were screened at 2 days of age using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE).Related factors,including the number of embryos,birth weight,gestational age,gender,and mode of delivery were recorded.Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 software.Results Of 1 045 newborns,860 (82.3％) passed the hearing screening test and 185 failed.The number of embryos,ear-side tested,gestational age,and birth weight significantly influenced the pass rate using TEOAE.Term infants had a higher pass rate than premature ones (P ＜ 0.001).Heavier infants were more likely to pass (P =0.003).Right ears had a higher pass rate than left ears (P ＜ 0.001).Single babies had a higher pass rate than twins (P ＜ 0.001).Gender (P =0.361) and delivery mode (P =0.892) did not affect the pass rate.Conclusion The number of embryos,birth weight,gestational age,and ear-side tested affect newborn hearing screening results,but gender and mode of delivery show no significant effects on screening.

Objective To investigate the relationship between T?cell death?associated gene 8 ( TD?AG8) and endogenous neuron?protective mechanism against oxygen?glucose deprivation and restoration ( OGD∕R)?induced apoptosis in rat neurons. Methods The primary cortical neurons obtained from fetal rats were seeded in 6?well plates at a density of 1×105 cells∕ml and divided into 5 groups using a random number table: control group ( group C, n=24 ) , group OGD∕R ( n=48 ) , TDAG8 agonist BTB09089 group (group BTB, n=24), TDAG8?siRNA group ( group siRNA, n=24), and blank vehicle group ( group V, n=24) . The medium was replaced with glucose?and serum?free Locke′s buffer, and the neu?rons were exposed to 95% N2?5% CO2 in an air?tight incubator at 37℃ for 60 min followed by routine cul?ture to establish the model of OGD∕R. In BTB, siRNA and V groups, 20 μmol∕L TDAG8 agonist
BTB09089, 200 pmol∕L TDAG8?siRNA, and 6 μl∕200 μl transfection reagent were added, respectively, at 24 h before oxygen?glucose restoration. At 6 h of oxygen?glucose restoration, the neuronal viability and a?mount of lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) released were measured, and the expression of TDAG8 and caspase?3 mRNA in neurons was detected by fluorescent quantitative real?time polymerase chain reaction. In group OGD∕R, the expression of TDAG8 and caspase?3 was measured by Western blot at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h of oxygen?glucose restoration. In C, OGD∕R, BTB, siRNA and V groups, the expression of TDAG8, caspase?3 and p?Akt was detected at 6 h of oxygen?glucose restoration. Results In group OGD∕R, the ex?pression of TDAG8 was gradually up?regulated after oxygen?glucose restoration, and the expression of caspase?3 peaked at 6 h of oxygen?glucose restoration. Compared with group C, the neuronal viability was significantly decreased, the amount of LDH released was significantly increased, and the expression of TD?AG8 and caspase?3 protein and mRNA and p?Akt was significantly up?regulated in OGD∕R, V and siRNA groups ( P<0?05) . Compared with group OGD∕R, the expression of TDAG8 protein and mRNA and p?Akt was significantly up?regulated, the expression of caspase?3 protein and mRNA was significantly down?regu?lated, the neuronal viability was significantly increased, and the amount of LDH released was significantly decreased in group BTB, the expression of TDAG8 protein and mRNA and p?Akt was significantly down?regulated, the expression of caspase?3 protein and mRNA was significantly up?regulated, the neuronal via?bility was significantly decreased, and the amount of LDH released was significantly increased in group siR?NA ( P<0?05) , and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group V ( P>0?05) . Conclusion TDAG8 is partially involved in the endogenous neuron?protective mechanism against OGD∕R?induced apoptosis in rat neurons, which may be related to activation of Akt signaling pathway.