Application of supraclavicular fasciocutaneous island flap for reconstruction after removal of tumors in parotid and auricle area / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of supraclavicular fasciocutaneous island flap (SIF) for repairing the defect of parotid or auricle regions after tumor resection. Methods: From February 2019 to June 2021, 12 patients (11 males and 1 female, aged 54-77 years old), of whom 4 with parotid adenoid cystic carcinoma and 8 with auricular basal cell carcinoma underwent reconstruction surgery for postoperative defects in the parotid gland area and auricular area with SIF in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Size of the SIF, time for harvesting SIF, neck lymph node dissection and postoperative complications were recorded. Results: The flap areas were (6-9) cm × (8-13) cm, and the harvesting time for SIF ranged from 40 to 80 min, averaging 51.7 min. The donor sites were directly closed. All patients underwent ipsilateral levels Ⅰ-Ⅲ neck dissection, with 4 cases undergoing additional level Ⅳ neck dissection and 2 cases undergoing level Ⅳ-Ⅴ neck dissection. Of the 12 SIF, 10 were completely survival and 2 had flap arterial crisis with partial flap necrosis, in addition, 1 had donor site wound dehiscence. With follow-up of 10-42 months, there were no tumor recurrences in 10 patients, 1 patient was lost to follow-up at 10 months postoperatively, and 1 patient experienced local tumor recurrence at 11 months after surgery and died 15 months later. Conclusion: SIF is an easily harvested flap with good skin features matching the skin in parotid and auricle regions and less damage to donor site, and this flap has no need for microvascular anastomosis technique. SIF is feasible and effective for repairing defects in parotid and auricle area.

Bouche decompression and implantation of acellular tissue engineered bone with titanium rods for treating early necrosis of the femoral head / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: For the Ficat Ⅱ of femoral head necrosis especially with osteoporosis, core decompression with or without acellular tissue engineered bone can result in a higher incidence of femoral head collapse. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effect of core decompression plus implantation of acellular tissue engineered bone with titanium rods in the treatment of early necrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: Thirty-five hospitalized patients with early necrosis of the femoral head (40 hips) were enrolled in the study and assigned into a observation group (15 cases with 20 hips, including 10 hips of Ficat I, 10 hips of Ficat Ⅱ) and a control group (20 cases with 20 hips, including 11 hips of Ficat Ⅰ, 9 hips of Ficat Ⅱ). Core decompression plus implantation of acellular tissue engineered bone with titanium rods were conducted in the observation group, while Bouche decompression with implantation of acellular tissue engineered bone was done in the control group. All the patients were followed up for 1 year. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Harris hip function score, and progression in necrosis of the femoral head were compared between two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: VAS scores and Harris scores at 1-year follow-up in both groups showed better outcomes (P ＜ 0.001). At the end of 1-year follow-up visit, the Harris score was significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (P＜0.05), while there was no difference in the mean VAS scores between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05). For Ficat II patients, the excellent/good rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group at the last follow-up (80% vs. 40%, P＜0.05). According to the Ficat staging, the effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (90% vs. 80%, P＜0.05). During the postoperative 1-year follow-up visit, Ficat Ⅰ patients presented with better repair of lesions, no degeneration of the hip joint, and no subchondral bone collapse. Overall, it is an effective treatment for early necrosis of the femoral head by core decompression plus implantation of acellular tissue engineered bone with or without titanium rods; however, co-implantation with titanium robs can show better short-term outcomes.

Role of Methylprednisolone in Treatment of Spinal Cord Injured with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation in Rats and Its Effect on the Expressions of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1β / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the role of methylprednisolone (MP) in treatment of spinal cord injured (SCI) with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation in rats and its effect on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) at the local tissues.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were used to establish the models of SCI according to the modified Allen's contusion method and then divided into four groups (n=10 in each group) by using random numbers table:MP group,BMSCs group,BMSCs+MP group,and control group.MP was intravenously administrated immediately after SCI.BMSCs labeled by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine(BrdU)were transplanted into the injured sites of spinal cord after two hours of SCI.On the 1 st,7 th,and 14th days after SCI,when functional outcome measurements were evaluated by the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score.On the 14th day after treatment,the spine cord tissues were harvested for the TNF-α/IL-1β immunohistochemistry,and Tunel staining method was used to detect cell apoptosis rate.BrdU-positive BMSCs were examined in BMSCs group and BMSCs+MP group.Results Functional recovery of hind limb in MP+BMSCs group was the best among the four group.On the 1 st day after injury,the BBB scores showed no significant difference among four group(χ=1.0756,P=0.7829).On the 7th and 14th day,the BBB score of MP+BMSCs group was significantly higher than MP group (χ=17.7186,P=0.0002;χ= 24.7259,P<0.0001) and BMSCs group (χ=15.8110,P=0.0024;χ=25.6014,P<0.0001),respectively.The BBB score of the control group was significantly lower than MP group (χ=8.3265,P=0.0325;χ=13.5060,P=0.0062) and BMSCs group (χ=14.1166,P=0.0036;χ=8.9613,P=0.0299),respectively.On the 14th day,immunohistochemical staining presented that the TNF-α and IL-1β-positive cells in MP+BMSCs group were significantly lower than MP group (q=5.573,P=0.0004;q=4.596,P=0.0025) and BMSCs group (q=13.780,P<0.0001;q=8.456,P<0.0001),and control group was significantly higher than MP group (q=14.710,P<0.0001;q=6.710,P<0.0001) and BMSCs group (q=6.502,P=0.0001;q=2.849,P=0.0514).Tunel staining showed the apoptotic rate of spinal cord cells in four group were (48.47±5.70)%,(31.95±3.58)%,(41.39±2.33)%,and (23.48±2.69)%.The number of apoptotic cells in MP+BMSCs group was least in four groups;compared with the control group,the apoptotic rate significantly decreased in MP group (q=14.840,P<0.0001) and BMSCs group (q=6.716,P=0.0002);compared with the MP+BMSCs group,the apoptotic rate was significantly increased in the MP group (q=7.332,P=0.0001) and BMSCs group (q=15.460,P<0.0001). BrdU staining revealed BrdU-positive rate in MP+BMSCs group [(9.3000±0.5175)%] was significantly higher than that in BMSCs group [(6.6000±0.3399)%](t=4.361,P=0.0004).Conclusion MP can improve the function of the hind limbs of SCI rats treated with BMSCs transplantation and lower the expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β in injured tissue.

Effects of combining tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand with PI3-K-Akt inhibition on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of combinative therapy of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and PI3-K-Akt inhibitor on the growth and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and underlying mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With cell growth assay, flow cytometric analysis and Western blotting, the effects of TRAIL and PI3-K-Akt special inhibitor (LY294002) on cell growth, apoptosis and related proteins expressions in CNE-2 cell lines were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When concentrate of TRAIL>1 ng/ml, viability rate of cells in combinative treatment group with TRAIL and LY294002 was higher than that in the single treatment group with TRAIL (all P<0.05). When concentrate of TRAIL were 10 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml, the combinative treatment induced CNE-2 apoptosis more obviously than single treatments (t were 7.167 and 7.206, all P<0.05). The combination group showed more cleavage of Caspase-8, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 than single treatment groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combinative application of TRAIL and PI3-K-Akt pathway inhibitor inhibits the growth of CNE-2 and induces apoptosis. The mitochondrial dependent pathway is implicated for the underlying mechanism.</p>

Feasibility and clinical application of design about the hollowed titanium stick supporting the femoral head and preventing it from collapsing / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility and the clinical practicality of the design about the hollowed titanium stick supporting the femoral head and preventing it from collapsing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Jan.2003 to Jun.2007, 36 patients (46 hips) diagnosed as cystis degeneration of the femoral head were treated by surgical operation, including 20 males and 16 females with an average age of 40 years ranging from 18 to 56 years old, and the course of the disease was from 10 to 24 months (16 months on average). According to ARCO staging,there were 24 patients (34 hips) in NFH II, of which 11 hips were II a stage, 13 hips were II b stage and 10 hips were II c stage; there were 6 patients diagnosed as osteofibrous,4 patients as simple bone cyst and 2 patients as chondromyxoid fibroma. Under X-ray the percutaneous narrow core decompression and focus infection elimination were performed and supported the sclerotin under the cartilage with titanium stick. The patients were followed-up at the first, third, sixth, twelfth, twenty-fourth and thirty-sixth month after the operation. The clinical evaluation was done by X-ray and the indexes included stable, unstable and abortive. The data was analyzed by Fisher exact probility and the suviaval rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier suviaval curve using statistical soft ware SPSS13.5.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no unstable or failure cases on each period from the 1st month to the 12th month after the operation, indicating that the supporting effect of the titanium stick was exact during 12 months after the operation. There were unstable and failure cases from the 12th month to the 24th month after the operation, which were mainly in stage NFH II c but the comparision of the stable rate in this period and 12 months after the operation had no obvious statistical differences (P>0.05) indicating that the supporting effect of the titanium stick was feasible during the stage. One of the unstable cases deteriorated and failed but there were no new unstable cases, both the stable rate and the unstable rate had no change and the failure rate rose on the 36th month after the operation. The compar- ision of the stable rate on each period after the operation had no obvious difference (P=0.197>0.05), which indicated that the supporting effect of the titanium stick was persistent. By the difference of the etiology the three-year survival rate of the relevant NFH II c pathological changes was the lowest-70% and the survival rate of the pathological changes induced by other etiological factors was 90.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The design about the hollowed titanium stick supporting the collapsed femoral head is feasible. Using the hollowed titanium stick to support the femoral head and prevent it from collapsing is pragmatic in the clinical and the effect is positive, however, when it comes to the NFH II c pathological changes, the choice should be made discreetly.</p>

Synchronous occurrence of extramedullary plasmacytoma and squamous cell carcinoma in situ in the larynx: a case report / 癌症

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx is rare, especially when coexisted with squamous cell carcinoma in situ. We report a 56-year-old woman with hoarseness for 6 months and dysphonia for a week. Fiberoptic laryngoscopic examination showed a red, smooth-surface swelling in the submucous region of the left ventricle and ventricular band of the larynx. The patient underwent vertical laryngectomy and modified left neck dissection. Postoperative pathologic examination revealed coexisting plasmacytoma and carcinoma in situ. Bone marrow biopsy and systemic radiogram showed no positive findings. The hepatic and renal functions were normal. Monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain of type kappa was detected in urine. Hence, a laryngeal extramedullary plasmacytoma with carcinoma in situ was diagnosed. No recurrence or progression was observed during a 2-year follow-up. Here, we discussed the risk factors, diagnosis, and therapy for this rare disease.

Projecting from the superior olivary complex to the inner ear in the cat: a retrograde fluorescent labelling study / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution and projective feature of cat olivocochlear neurons.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven adult cats were divided into two groups randomly. The experimental group of eight cats was injected of 1% cholera toxin B (CTB) to the left cochlea, while injected of 5% fluoro gold (FG) to the right cochlea. The control group of three cats was injected of saline to bilateral cochlea. After a survival time of 7 days, serial frozen sections were cut in the cat brainstem. All the sections were processed by immunofluorescent procedure for CTB and FG, and the labeled olivocochlear neurons were observed by fluorescent microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the experimental group, the mean total of olivocochlear neurons labeled by CTB and FG was 3210 +/- 168, including lateral olivocochlear neurons (LOC, 2298 +/- 120) and medial olivocochlear neurons (MOC, 913 +/- 64). The labeled neurons were divided into three different types according to their feature of projection: neurons which only projected to the ipsilateral cochlea, neurons which only projected to the contralateral cochlea, and double-labeled neurons which projected both to the ipsilateral and contralateral cochlea, but the double-labeled neurons comprised 3.9% and 15.1% in the LOC and MOC system respectively. No labeled neurons were found in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are three types of neurons in the cat olivocochlear system. The neurons which projected to the bilateral cochlea may distribute both in the LOC and MOC system.</p>

Expression of stathmin mRNA and protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical implication / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of stathmin gene and its coding protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and to explore the relationship between stathmin gene and the biological behaviors of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma for understanding the tumorigenicity and development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Laryngeal carcinoma tissues (studying group) in the tumors center and laryngeal normal tissues (control group) parted from 1.0 cm of the safe borderline of the tumors were took from 38 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma while they were in operation. Semiquantitative method of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze the expression level of stathmin mRNA, and immunohistochemical staining (frozen section) was used to detect the expressions of stathmin protein, in laryngeal carcinoma tissues and laryngeal normal tissues of 38 cases, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>mRNA of stathmin gene was all positively expressed in laryngeal carcinoma tissues and in laryngeal normal tissues of 38 cases by RT-PCR. However, stathmin mRNA was obviously overexpressed in laryngeal carcinoma tissues than that in laryngeal normal tissues (t = 9.655, P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed stathmin protein was positively expressed in laryngeal carcinoma tissues of 26 cases (26/38, 68.4%), and mild-positively expressed in laryngeal normal tissues in 13 cases (13/38, 34.2%). There was significant difference between the expression rate of stathmin protein in laryngeal carcinoma tissues and in laryngeal normal tissues (chi2 = 8.901, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression level of stathmin mRNA and the positive-expressed rate of stathmin protein in laryngeal carcinoma tissues of the advanced stage patients group (III stage and IV stage) were significantly higher than these in laryngeal carcinoma tissues of I and II stage patients group (t = 6.284, chi2 = 5.810, P < 0.05), and they were also significantly higher in laryngeal carcinoma tissues of the patients group with cervical lymph node metastasis than in laryngeal carcinoma tissues of the patients group without cervical lymph node metastasis (t = 9.350, chi2 = 6.923, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression levels of stathmin gene and protein were significantly higher in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma than these in laryngeal normal tissues, the levels are also significantly higher in advanced stage patients group (III stage and IV stage) than in the early stage patients group (I and II), and they are also related to the cervical lymph node metastasis of carcinoma. Stathmin gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of laryngeal carcinoma and may be related to its prognosis.</p>

Effects of cryptotanshinone in lowering androgens synthesis for the prenatally androgenized male rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of cryptotanshinone on androgen synthesis for the prenatally androgenized male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On days 16-18 of pregnancy, rats were injected s. c. with testosterone propionas continuously for 3 days; male offspring were studied as subject. Serum concentrations of testosterone (T), 17a-hydroxy progesterone (17-OHP), blood glucose, and insulin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Then, the rats were treated with cryptotanshinone by gavage for 14 days, and the levels of serum T, 17-OHP and insulin were detected and the 17a-hydroxylase protein expression in interstitial cell was measured using the method of immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no difference between the male groups who were prenatally androgenized in serum levels of T, but the 17-OHP, fasting insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) elevated significantly (P < 0.05). Cryptotanshinone could lower the levels of 17-OHP (P < 0.05) but had no effect on 17a-hydroxylase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prenatally androgenized male rats exhibit elevated 17-OHP and diminished insulin sensitivity. Cryptotanshinone could decrease 17-OHP, but has no effect on insulin, indicating it may reduce androgen synthesis.</p>

Distribution of projection neurons of the superior olivary complex in the auditory brainstem in cats / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the distribution and morphology of olivocochlear neurons of superior olivary complex in cats.@*METHODS@#Eight adult cats were divided into 2 groups randomly. Cholera toxin B subunit was injected to the left cochlea and fluoro-gold was injected to the right cochlea in the experimental group (n=5). Saline was injected to bilateral cochlea in the control group (n=3). Brainstem tissue was sectioned serially. All of the sections were immunohistochemically treated with ABC and stained with DAB, and then the labelled olivocochlear neurons were observed.@*RESULTS@#The labelled olivocochlear neurons in the experimental group were 2 518 in total. Of them, the number of lateral olivocochlear (LOC) neurons was 1 738 (69.0%), mainly located in the middle of the pons, predominantly projected ipsilaterally. The total of medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons was 780 (31%), mainly located in dorsomedial periolivary nucleus, medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body, mainly distributed in the rostral extent of the pons, predominantly projected contralaterally.@*CONCLUSION@#In the distribution of olivocochlear neurons in cats, LOC neurons mainly project to the ipsilateral. While the projection of MOC neurons is predominantly contralateral, the distribution of MOC neurons is more adjacent to the rostral extent of the pons than LOC neurons.

Investigation on the curative effect of brucellar spondyfitis / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the curative effect of brucellar spondylitis,so as to provide scientific proof for improving the curative level of the disease.Methods Epidemiological information was collected from 113 patients diagnosed as brucellar spondylitis,who were divided into 5 groups according to different drugs and drug combinations of doxycycline,gentamicin,sulfamethoxazole and rifampicin.Then the curative effect was investigated.Twenty-one patients who had greater paoas muscle abscess or Para vertebral abscess,intraspinal abscess of spinal canal,necrotic intervertebral disk and major osteolasia received the minimal invasive surgery and the focus removal surgery.Results The occurrence of the disease in female was much higher than that in male.Grazing and breeding beasts was the principal route of infection.Lumbars was mostly involved.they usually was infected in the adjacent 2 piece.L4 was the most common and seriuous one.The curative effect of doxycycline group was better than that without doxycycline(72.60% vs 35.00%,X2=15.14,P＜0.05).Doxycyeline+gentamicin+sulfamethoxazole was reeommended as the first choice.However,the curative effect did not increase despi~course of the treatment prolonged.The heMing rate and effective rate after 1 course was 52.21%(59/113)and 92.04%(104/113).that after 2 courses 58.41%(66/113)and 95.58%(108/113),that after 3 courses 59.29%(67/113)and 95.58%(108/113).The healing rate in different course did not present differences(P＞0.05).21 patients undergoing surgery were followed-up,12 patients were after 2 years and 9 patients were between 1-2 years.The healing rate was 95.24%(20/21),1 case was healed basically,the effective rate was 100%.None reoccurred.Conclusions There are characterized features in clinical epidemiology of the brucell spondylitis.Long term,adequate in dosage,combination and multi-approach use of antibiotics is the most reliable way to treat and prevent it from recurring.But fof the patients soitable for surgery.the minimal invasive surgery or the focus removal could shorten the course of therapy,decrease the complications and increase the cure rate.

Advances in antidepressants and research methods of depression / 中国中药杂志

Depression, a mental illness marked by feeling of extreme sadness, hopeless and inadequately, has been attached much importance. In this review, we summarized the research development of antidepressants, especially the active constituents, the extracts and the compound Chinese medicine of nature medicine, through consulting the relevant papers; and animal models of depression, have been utilized to screen novel drugs with antidepressant, were compared with clinical efficacy to evaluate the concordance, weak links and clinical values. Although animal models of depression fail to be unequivocally valid, also depression models generally lack both clinical and scientific credibility, they represent the tool to define potential antidepressant activity of drugs by far. Animal modeling remains a potentially important approach towards understanding neurobiological mechanisms in depression.

Reconstructive methods for hypopharynx and cervical esophagus / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To review the surgical treatment for reconstructing hypopharynx and cervical esophagus after hypopharyngo-oesophagectomy, and to evalue its efficacy.@*METHODS@#Different methods were adopted to reconstruct the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus among 25 cases, including 14 cases of carcinoma of the hypopharynx and 11 of carcinoma of hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. In accordance with the standard of the International Union Against Cancer in 1997, the 25 cases were divided into different clinic stages, among which 5 were in T(2)N(0), 2 in T(2)N(1), 4 in T(3)N(0), 3 in T(3)N(1), 7 in T(4)N(1) and 3 in T(4)N(2). Treatment protocol was as follow: Pure operation for 5 cases, re-operation after radiotherapy for 2 cases, operation plus radiotherapy for 18 cases, laryngeal conservation operation for 8, and neck dissection for 21 cases. Reconstruction was done by using free jejunal transplantation, gastric pull-up, the laryngotracheal flap, and myocutaneous flap.@*RESULTS@#After the reconstruction, 3 cases of free jejunal graft and gastric pull-up, 4 of laryngotracheal flap recovered oral fleeding within 2 weeks. No serious complications occurred. After 18 cases underwent the myocutaneous flap reconstruction, no complications occurred in 10 patients, but there were different complications in 8 cases, including pharyngocutaneous fistula (6 cases), haryngoesphageal stenosis (7 cases), and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap necrotic (1 case). The 3-year survival rate was 38.9% (7/18).@*CONCLUSION@#Reconstruction with free jejunal graft, gastric pull-up, and laryngotracheal flap constitutes is a safe and reliable method to restore the continuity of the upper digestive tract after pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy. After the reconstruction with myocutaneous flap, there is high incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula and haryngoesophageal stenosis.

A dopaminergic projection from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the inner ear / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efferent pathway from the dorsal raphe nucleus to the inner ear.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven adult cats weighing 2.0 - 3.0 kg were used. The animals had no middle-ear disease and their auricle reflex was sensitive to sound. They were divided into experimental group (8 cats) and control group (3 cases). The fluorescent tracer cholera toxin subunit-B (CTB) was injected into cat cochlea and the CTB-labelled neurons of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were identified using an immunofluorescence technique after a survival period of 7 days. For studying other fluorescence labelling, the sections containing CTB-labelled neurons were divided into four groups and incubated in antisera directed against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), serotonin (5-HT), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine B-hydroxylase (DBH), respectively. Single-and double-labelled neurons were identified from the DRN.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) A subpopulation of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) neurons were intensely labelled with CTB and these CTB-labelled neurons were densely distributed in a dorsomedial part of the DRN; (2) Four immunolabelling, TH, 5-HT, GABA and DBH were presented throughout the DRN. Of the total population of CTB-labelled neurons, 100% were TH-labelled neurons (double labelling) and no double-stained neuron with 5-HT, GABA and DBH was observed in the DRN.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was a projection from DRN to the inner ear and this pathway might be a dopaminergic projection.</p>

Orientation of three lysosomal enzymes in the mouse inner ear and hearing loss in enzyme gene deficiency / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the distribution and influence of lysosomal neuraminidase (Neul), protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA) and beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) in the inner ear of the mouse, and to observe their auditory alterations in enzyme deficiency.@*METHODS@#Six wild type (2 months postnatal) (Neu1+/+, PPCA+/+ and beta-gal+/+) mice were used, and Neu1, PPCA and beta-gal homozygous (Neu1-/-, PPCA-/- and beta-gal-/-) mice at the same age used as control in this experiment. The auditory thresholds were examined through the auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to click, which tone pips were 8, 16, and 32 kHz. The mice were intracardically perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. The bulla were further fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, processed and sectioned with paraffin embedded method. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the cellular localizations of Neu1, PP-CA, and beta gal in the inner ear.@*RESULTS@#There was a similar distributive pattern of Neu1, PPCA and betagal in the inner ear. Neu1 intense staining was observed in the cochlear spiral ganglion cells, spiral limbus, spiral ligament, vestibular ganglion cells, cristae, maculae hair cells, and weak staining in inner hair cells, outer hair cells, supplying cells of the organ of Corti and stria vascularis. The intense staining of PPCA and beta-gal were observed in the spiral ganglion and vestibular ganglion cells, and weak staining in the spiral limbus, spiral ligament, stria vascularis and organ of Corti. The inner ear exhibited no staining when Neul, PPCA and beta-gal were deficient, respectively. A positive staining of PPCA and beta-gal was presented in Neu1-/- mice, and as well as Neu1 and PPCA in beta-gal-/- mice. However, the staining of Neu1 was not presented, and only very weak staining of beta-gal in PPCA-/- mice. The auditory thresholds of Neul, PPCA, and beta-gal mice were elevated for 60-69 dB, 40-48 dB, and 7-10 dB above those of wildtype littermates, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Neu1 PPCA and beta-gal are distributed in the inner ear of mouse, and the three enzymes also form a lysosomal multi-enzyme complex in the inner ear. The respective enzyme deficiencies can induce the hearing the loss of different levels.

Clinical observation of sensorineural hearing loss in patients suffering from nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the extent and incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) after radiotherapy (RT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-eight patients with diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were selected. The pure-tone audiography, auditory brain stem evoked response (ABR), impedance audiometry and evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) recordings were performed before RT, 1 month, 1, 2 and 5 years after RT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 1 month after RT, there were 7.1 and 25.7 dB increased mean bone conduction (BC) thresholds at speech (0.5 - 4.0 kHz) and at high frequency (8.0 kHz), and their BC thresholds were statistically significant increase than those before RT, respectively (P < 0.001). At 1 year after RT, there were 17.6 and 28.1 dB increased respectively, and their thresholds were statistically significant increase than those at pre-irradiation (P < 0.001). There were also significant increases in thresholds than those at 1 month of post-irradiation (P <0.001 or P < 0.05). At 2 years after RT, 21 and 27.4 dB were increased at respective those two frequencies, and there was a statistically difference only at speech frequencies when compared with those at 1 year after RT (P < 0.05). At 5 years after RT, 26.7 and 35.8 dB were increased at these two frequencies, and there were significant increases in threshold than those before, 1 month, 1 and 2 years after RT, respectively (P < 0.001). From 1 month to 5 years after RT, 37. 5% to 94. 7% of ears had a BC hearing threshold of at least 15 dB losses at speech frequency, whereas the percentage at high frequency was 85.4 to 97.4%. Up to 63.2% and 73.7% of ears had 30 dB SNHL at least at speech and high frequency, respectively. Furthermore, the degree of mean threshold loss was greater at high frequency than at speech frequency. The mean value of wave I, III and V latency, and I -V interpeak latency intervals of ABR had no significant difference between at 1 month after RT and before RT (P > 0.05). The wave I , III and V latency, and I - V interpeak latency intervals at 1 year and 2 years were significantly prolonged when compared with those before and 1 month after RT (P < 0.05), but there were no significant difference between 1 year and 2 years after RT (P > 0.05). The wave I, III and V latency, and I -V interpeak latency intervals at 5 years after RT were also significantly longer than those before RT (P < 0.001). There were significant difference in wave I , III and V latency (P < 0.05), and no significant difference in wave I - V interpeak latency intervals (P > 0. 05) between 5 years after RT and 1 year or 2 years after RT. Seven of 10 ears at 1 year after RT and 4 of 7 ears at 5 years after RT had normal EOAE, but they all had abnormal ABR response.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SNHL in NPC patients start soon after completion of RT, especially more commonly in high frequency. The incidence and the extent of hearing loss are increased with time of follow-up. The hearing impairment could occur in the cochlea and/or the retrocochlear auditory pathway, which show that the sensitivity of radiation damage may be different in different patient and anatomic site of auditory system.</p>

Morphological and functional alterations of ear in lysosomal neuraminidase gene deficient mouse / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the alterations of the auditory function and morphology of the ear in the mouse sialidosis models which has been generated by targeted deletion of lysosomal neuraminidase gene (Neul) and closely resembled the phenotypes in corresponding human conditions, and to explore pathophysiological mechanisms of hearing impairment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Neul homozygous (Neul -/-) mice at 3 weeks, 2 and 4 months of age, and their wildtype littermates (Neu1 +/+) were examined for auditory thresholds through auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to click, 8, 16, and 32 kHz stimuli. Morphological analyses in ears were performed by series temporal bone section and light microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neul -/- mice at 3 weeks of age showed an elevated ABR threshold, 50-55 dB above those of Neul +/+ mice. Up to 2 and 4 months of age, their thresholds were further elevated for 60-68 dB. There were distinct pathological changes of middle and inner ear of 3 weeks of age in Neul -/- mice, especially at 2-4 months of age there were significant cerumen occlusion in the external auditory canal and severe otitis media. Vacuolation associated with lysosomal storage was observed within ossicles and cochlear bone cells, stria vascularis cells, spiral ganglion neurons and macrophages, spiral limbus, spiral prominence, Reissner's membrane cells, and the mesothelial cells of the perilymphatic scala and basilar membrane, but not within the organ of Corti. Vestibular ganglion neurons, hair cells and supporting cells in cristae and maculae also showed vacuolation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The deficiency of lysosomal neuraminidase may result in a serious hearing loss and morphological alterations of ear. The external auditory canal obstruction, otitis media and ossicle changes may cause conductive hearing loss, and the defects in lysosomal storage of neurons, stria vascularis, spiral limbus, Reissner's membrane and basilar membrane cells may contribute to sensorineural deafness.</p>