ABSTRACT
Objective To study the characteristics and influencing factors on hearing impairment among elderly population in the community of Taiyuan city. Methods 384 ageing people above 60 years old were selected from Chaoyang and Guandi community in Taiyuan city by multi-stage sampling. Data on influencing factors of hearing impairment were collected by questionnaire. 5 ml fasting blood samples were drawn to detect the level of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterin in the blood samples. All the objects were tested with binaural hearing. The level of binaural hearing threshold at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz were measured by GVSLN-TC-GK2000 hearing-assistant evaluative apparatus. The level of 3 kHz, 4 kHz, average hearing threshold from ear with better audition was chosen as dependent variable. Socio-demographic data, environmental factors and biochemical indicator were chosen as independent variables, t test, ANOVA and accumulative logistic regression were performed to analyze the influencing factors on hearing impairment by software SPSS 13.0. Results The prevalence of hearing impairment among elderly population was 90.9%. The hearing disorder was 78.6% with 1.3% of them using hearing-assistant apparatus. Results from single factor analysis showed that the average levels of 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz hearing thresholds were significantly different among elderly with different age, sex, education background and the levels of glucose and cholesterin (P<0.01). Results of accumulative logistics regression showed that except glucosein which was the only one included in regression model of lower median frequency group, all the others were included in regression model of frequency group. Being male, older age and with higher level of glucose and cholesterin in blood were risk factors causing hearing impairment. Higher education level seemed to be a preventive factor. Conclusion Hearing impairment appeared in higher prevalence among the elderly population, suggesting that proper measures should be taken. It is beneficial for abating hearing impairment to decrease the level of glucose and cholesterin in blood.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the toll-like receptors (TLR) profile of human epidermal keratinocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We cultured the immortalized human epidermal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) and separated epidermis with dispase from foreskins. TLR 1-10 mRNA expression was detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). TLR 2 and 4 protein expressions on surface of HaCaT cells and NHEK were detected using flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HaCaT cells, NHEK, and epidermis all expressed TLR 1-10 mRNA with different intensity. TLR 4 protein was detected on the surfaces of HaCaT cells and NHEK, while the expression of TLR 2 protein was few.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Human epidermal keratinocytes constitutively express all TLR 1-10 mRNA, which may enable human keratinocytes to respond to a wide range of pathogenic micro-organisms.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Cell Line , Cell Line, Tumor , Epidermis , Cell Biology , Flow Cytometry , Keratinocytes , Metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Toll-Like Receptor 2 , Genetics , Metabolism , Toll-Like Receptor 4 , Genetics , Metabolism , Toll-Like Receptors , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the down-regulation of fibroblast proliferation in normal skin (NFb) and hyperplastic scar (SFb) by adrenaline.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human NFb and SFb cells were cultured in vitro. Phentolamine (in final concentrations of 0 and 3 x 10(-6) micromol/L) was added to the culture medium. One hour later, adrenaline in different final concentrations (0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 micromol/L) was added to the culture medium and incubated for 24 hours. The cellular proliferation activity and cell viability rate were determined with MTT. The cell culture supernatant was harvested for the determination of LDH activity to assess the toxicity of phentolamine and adrenaline. The phosph-PKC activity was determined with Western-blotting and was semiquantitatively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) After stimulation with adrenaline alone, or combined 0.20 micromol/L adrenaline with 3 x 10(-6) micromol/L phentolamine, the cell viability of both NFb and SFb decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or 0.01). (2) There was no difference in the LDH activity between the cells either stimulated by adrenaline in all concentrations or by combination of adrenaline and phentolamine (P > 0.05). (3) The phosphorylation of PKC in NFb and SFb cells stimulated by 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 micromol/L adrenaline was obviously higher than that before stimulation (P < 0.01). When phentolamine in the concentration of 3 x 10(-6) micromol/L was used alone for stimulation, the phosphorylation of PKC in NFb cells (123 +/- 5) was also evidently higher than that before stimulation (80 +/- 5, P < 0.01). But there was no such effect on SFb cells (P > 0.05). When adrenaline in the concentration of 0.05, 0.10 or 0.20 micromol/L was separately added together with phentolamine in the dose of 3 x 10(6) micromol/L for the stimulation, the phosphorylation of PKC in NFb and SFb cells was evidently lower than that when 3 different concentrations of adrenaline was used alone for stimulation (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adrenaline can inhibit the proliferation of NFb and SFb by activating PKC through binding alpha adrenaline receptor.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Cell Proliferation , Cells, Cultured , Cicatrix, Hypertrophic , Metabolism , Down-Regulation , Epinephrine , Fibroblasts , Cell Biology , Phentolamine , Phosphorylation , Protein Kinase C , Metabolism , SkinABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of adrenaline on the expression of TGFbeta1, bFGF and procollagen for human normal and hypertrophic scar dermal fibroblasts cultured in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human normal and hypertrophic scar dermal fibroblasts were propagated in a serum-free in vitro model with adrenaline for 24 hours. The human mRNA levels of bFGF, TGF-beta1 and I procollagen in fibroblasts were determined by RT-PCR. Levels of bFGF and TGF-beta1 in the supernatants of fibroblasts cultured in vitro were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In our study, adrenaline caused statistically significant increase in the peak levels of bFGF for normal and hypertrophic scar fibroblast cell lines (P < 0.01). It also caused statistically significant decrease in the level of TGF-beta1 for normal and hypertrophic scar fibroblast cell lines. Modulation of normal fibroblasts with 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 micromol/L adrenaline resulted in a statistically significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the expression of I procollagen mRNA. However, only 0.20 micromol/L adrenaline can decreased the mRNA expression of I procollagen in the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We conclude from these results that adrenaline can increase the production of bFGF and decrease production of TGF-beta1 and I procollagen in human normal dermal and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts cultured in vitro.</p>