Association between PM2.5 concentrations and the daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria in Beijing city / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the association between concentrations of environmental air pollutants and the daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria in Beijing. Methods Time series analysis in combination with distributed lag non?linear model(DLNM)and Spearman′s rank correlation test was used to analyze the association between PM2.5 concentrations and the daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria. All effect estimates were expressed as a risk ratio(RR)for the daily number of outpatient visits with an interquartile range(IQR)increase of 82.8 μg/m3 in PM2.5. Results From January 1st 2013 to June 30th 2014, the daily average PM2.5 concentration, temperature, relative humidity and number of visits for urticaria were 89.3 μg/m3, 12.7 ℃, 51.9% and 27.3 respectively. Spearman′s rank correlation test showed that the daily average PM2.5 concentration and number of visits for urticaria were correlated with daily mean temperature(rs =-0.21, 0.36, respectively, P 0.05). There was no significant correlation between daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria and daily PM2.5 concentration lagged by 0-14 days(RR=1, 95%CI:0.89, 1.13). After potential confounding factors were adjusted, an 82.8μg/m3 increase in daily PM2.5 concentration at lag 0-20 days was significantly associated with a 22%(95%CI:3%, 46%)increase in daily number of outpatient visits for urticaria, suggesting that the lagged effect of PM2.5 was obviously increased. Conclusion The association between PM2.5 concentrations and the number of visits for urticaria is easily affected by meteorological factors and biological confounding factors, and relative humidity and mean temperature are both positively correlated with the number of visits for urticaria.

Association between air pollution and the number of outpatient visits for dermatitis in a hospital in Beijing city / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the association between air pollution and the daily number of outpatient visits for dermatitis in Beijing city, and to evaluate the sensitivity to air pollution in populations of different gender and age. Methods Time-series data on daily outpatient visits for dermatitis between April 2012 and April 2014 were collected from Air Force General Hospital of PLA. The daily average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), and particulate matters(PM2.5, PM10)were obtained from Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center, and routine meteorological data (including daily mean temperature, relative humidity and wind speed)were collected from the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System. A generalized additive model was used to analyze the association between daily average concentrations of air pollutants and the number of daily outpatient visits for dermatitis. Results In single-pollutant models, an increase of 10 μg/m3 in daily concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 was associated with the number of outpatient visits for dermatitis with the relative risk being 1.003 1 (95% CI, 1.001 6 - 1.004 5), 1.0025 (95% CI, 1.001 4 - 1.003 7), 1.0057 (95% CI, 1.001 5 - 1.009 9)and 1.009 7 (95% CI, 1.005 6 - 1.013 8)respectively. Similarly, multipollutant models showed that air pollutant concentrations were significantly associated with the daily number of outpatient visits for dermatitis. Distributed lag models showed that the effects of PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 on daily outpatient visits for dermatitis were mainly observed on the day of exposure, while the effect of SO2 increased along with the increment of lag days. Stratification analysis showed that people aged less than 60 years and females were relatively more sensitive to particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10), while NO2 affected all groups of people at the same degree, and SO2 mainly affected people aged 35 - 60 years. Conclusion Air pollutants PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and NO2 may all increase the risk of dermatitis in Beijing area.

Peperphentonamine hydrochloride protects against gentamicin-induced cochlea damage by lowering cochlear caspase-3 expression in guinea pigs / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of peperphentonamine hydrochloride (PPTA) against gentamicin-induced cochlear damage and its mechanism to inhibit cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Guinea pigs with normal hearing were randomized into control, gentamicin, and PPTA treatment groups, and the guinea pigs models of gentamicin-induced cochlear damage received intraperitoneal injection of PPTA. The changes of hearing of the guinea pigs were evaluated with auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, and the protein expression of caspase-3 in the cochlear tissue was detected using Western blotting. TUNEL staining, scanning and transmission electron microscopy were performed to observe the morphological changes of the cochlea.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The threshold in ABR in PPTA treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) but significantly lower than that in gentamicin group. Western blotting showed a significantly increased caspase-3 expression in gentamicin group (P<0.001); caspase-3 expression in PPTA group was obviously higher than that in the control group but much lower than that in gentamicin group (P<0.001). TUNEL assay and electron microscopy revealed serious damages of the hair cells in gentamicin group with numerous apoptotic cells in the organ of Corti, stria vascularis and spiral ganglion, and such cochlear damages were obviously alleviated in PPTA group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PPTA can protect against gentamicin-induced cochlear damage in guinea pigs by decreasing the protein expression of caspase-3 to inhibit cell apoptosis.</p>

Protective effect of peperphentonamine hydrochloride on the gentamicin-induced cochlear afferent nerve system damage of guinea pigs / 实用医学杂志

Objective To study the protective effect of peperphentonamine hydrochloride (PPTA) on the cochlea afferent nerve system damage induced by gentamicin (GM) of guinea pigs. Methods Thirty-six health guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups:the normal group with saline; GM group with muscle injection of GM [100 mg/(kg·d),14 d] and PPTA group with peritoneal injection of PPTA [10 mg/(kg·d),14 d] on the ABR was analyzed , and the expression of Caspase-3 was tested by Western blot. TUNEL (after coloration)was performed to observe the apoptotic index,and its morphological changes were observed by TEM. Results After trial, the threshold of control group, GM group, PPTA group were 14.58 ± 1.16, 65.95 ± 1.17, 36.13 ± 1.17;the apoptosis index: 1.09 ± 0.14, 23.17 ± 0.88, 8.84 ± 0.49; the Caspase-3:1.09 ± 0.11, 2.55 ± 0.20, 1.67 ± 0.07. There were significantly difference among three groups (P<0.05). Morphological changes: cells apoptosis and the synapase were damaged seriously in GM group; the injury was less serious in PPTA group. Conclusion PPTA plays a protective role on GM-induced cochlea afferent nerve system damage of guinea pigs.

The Protective Effect of PPTA Injection through Scala Tympani Fenestration on the Cochlea Damage of Guinea Pigs Induced by Gentamicin / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

Objective To inject PPTA into the cochlea of guinea pigs through scala tympani fenestration ,to study the protective effect of PPTA injection on the cochlear damage induced by gentamicin and mechanism of oxy-gen free radical .Methods Randomly divided were the guinea pigs with normal hearing into three groups :the con-trol group ,GM group and PPTA group .We injected the artificial perilymph 10μl /d into cochlea through scala tym-pani fenestration on control group for 3 days ,injected GM 160 mg · kg -1 · d-1 on GM group for 3 days ,injected the PPTA 10 μl /d into the cochlea through scala tympani fenestration and injected GM 160 mg · kg -1 · d-1 at the same time on PPTA group for 3 days .We tested ABR and analyzed the hearing changes .We tested the OFR level reacted by SOD and GSH of the cochlea tissue .SEM and TEM were performed to observe the change of cell mor-phology .Results For ABR ,the control group was 12 .75 ± 3 .796 ,GM group 28 .230 ± 4 .953 ,PPTA group23 .47 ±9 .211 dB SPL(P<0 .05) .For SOD ,the normal group was 50 .241 ± 9 .080 ,GM group 28 .230 ± 4 .953 ,PPTA group 43 .089 ± 4 .587 U/mgprot(P<0 .05) .For GSH ,the normal group was 3 .03 ± 0 .33 ,GM group 1 .51 ± 0 .13 ,PP-TA group 2 .50 ± 0 .16 Ggsh/L(P<0 .05) .The changes of hair cells of PPTA group were obviously less severe than that of GM group .For TEM ,the changes of spiral ganglion and stria vascularis of PPTA group were obviously less severe than that of GM group .Conclusion Injecting PPTA through scala tympani fenestration can protect cochlea by generating the excess of OFR when confronting against GM .

Effect of piperphentonamine hydrochloride on expressions of interleukin-1β and TNF-α mRNA and Fas protein in guinea pigs with cochlear ischemia/reperfusion injury / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA and Fas protein expressions and cochlear ischemia reperfusion injury and investigate the protective mechanism of PPTA against cochlear reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control group, blank control group, ischemia/reperfusion (by clamping the bilateral vertebral artery and right common carotid artery for 1 h) control group, and ischemia/reperfusion with PPTA treatment group. In PPTA group, PPTA was injected via the femoral vein immediately after reperfusion, and ischemia/reperfusion control group received saline injection. In 6 guinea pigs from each group, the cochlear tissues were removed after 24 h of reperfusion for examination of expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA by real-time PCR, and the rest animals were used for immunohistochemical detection of Fas protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those of normal group and blank control group, the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-β mRNA increased significantly after cochlear ischemia/reperfusion (P<0.001), but were lowered significantly by PPTA (P<0.001). Positive expression of Fas protein expression was detected in the Corti organ, spiral ganglion and stria vascularis in ischemia/reperfusion control group with significantly higher IOD values than those of the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The IOD value showed no significant difference between PPTA-treated group, normal control group, and blank control group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PPTA can suppress the expression of Fas protein and IL-1β and TNF-β mRNAs in the cochlea of guinea pigs with cochlear ischemia/reperfusion. The protective effect of PPTA against cochlear ischemia/reperfusion is mediated probably by inhibition of inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis.</p>

Electron-Microscopic Studies in Guinea Pig with Tympanosclerosis / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

Objective To study the middle ear mucosa of guinea pigs with tympanosclerosis by electron microscope and try to obtain some insights into the feature and pathogenesis of tympanosclerosis.Methods Eight healthy variegated guinea pigs were devided into 2 groups.Six(8 ears) guinea pigs were subjected to inoculation of 1×10~8/L of staphylococcus aureus solution 100 μl into the middle ear cavities under the microscope.All the guinea pigs were observed for more than 6 months with no farther treatment.For electron-microscopic studies,the mucosa tissues were taken from the tympanic mucosa in 6 guinea pigs (8 ears) with tympanosclerosis from various sites,while the middle ear mucosa of two healthy guinea pigs (4 ears) were taken as a control.Results Uhrastructural examination of the normal middle ear mucosa revealed a few collagen fibers,normal morphous of fibrocyte,rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria,and there was no lysosome.However,the tympanosclerosis specimens showed that irregular deformation,elongation,and degeneration of fibrocytes and oval nucleus were darkly stained,lots of mitochondria and lysosomes gathered into the cytoplasm around the nuclear and cystic expansion of the endoplasmic reticulum.In the submucosa extracellular matrix,there were a large number of collagen fibers containing lots of amorphous high-density electron-rich body.Conclusion Electron-microscopic studies of the middle ear mucosa of guinea pigs with tympanosclerosis revealed evident proliferation of collagen fibers,and calcifications were seen in the structures such as extracellular matrix vesicle,lysosomes,myelin structures within lipid granules,which mainly in extracellular matrix vesicles.

A Comparison Study in the Normal Youth Between High-Frequency Audiometry (HFA) and Conventional-Frequency Audiometry(CFA) / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

Objective To investigate the different characters between conventional frequency audiometry (125 Hz～8 kKHz) and high frequency audiometry (9～16 kHz)in the normal youth and provide the references for the clinical application of the HFA.Methods 52 male and 48 female normal-hearing subjects were tested with both conventional-frequency (0.25～8 kHz) and high-frequency (10～18 kHz) audiometry.Results Data showed that no difference between male and female in different frequencies. However, the threshold of HFA went up gradually with the frequency increasing. The average threshold of HFA was significantly higher than that of CFA and speech frequency (SFA) and had a positive correlation with both CFA and SFA. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that HFA might be used as an early indicator for CFA and SFA hearing loss resulting from acoustic trauma, ototoxicity and presbycusis.