Effect of vasopressin on aquaporin 7 expression in rat inner ear / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of vasopressin on aquaporin 7 (AQP7) expression in rat inner ear and reveal the possible role of aquaporins in the formation of endolymphatic hydrops induced by vasopressin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with 50 microg/kg arginine vasopressin once a day for one week. Differentially expressed genes of aquaporins induced by vasopressin injection in rat inner ear were filtered by cDNA microarray. The changes of mRNA expression level of AQP7 in inner ear of rats treated with vasopressin injection were measured by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Differentially expressed gene AQP7 of aquaporins induced by vasopressin injection was screened out in rat inner ear. The expression level of AQP7 mRNA in inner ear of rats treated with vasopressin injection was significantly lower.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vasopressin may down-regulate the expression of AQP7 mRNA in the endolymphatic sac and induce a decreased absorption of endolymph, which decreases the water permeability in the potassium ions recycle pathway in the organ of Corti and disturbs the circulation of endolymph, resulting in endolymphatic hydrops.</p>

Clinical analysis of normal subjects and dizzy patients with postural sway test / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of the normal subjects with postural sway test and discuss the value of postural sway test in the diagnosis of dizzy patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 112 normal subjects, 72 patients with peripheral vertigo, and 30 patients with central vertigo were examined using a stabilometer (EAB-100, Anima Co., Japan). Items include patterns, length of locus, envelope area, deflection average center displacement, and romberg rate were recorded and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The postural sway was classified into the following five patterns: centripetal, forward and backward, right and left, diffuse, and multicentric. Centripetal pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the normal subjects, while diffuse pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the patients with central vertigo. When the normal subjects closed their eyes, age was linearly correlated with the length of locus, envelope area, rectangel area, and unit area path length (P < 0.05). Sex was not correlated to all of these parameters. The length of locus and envelope area in the patient groups were significantly increased when compared with the normal subjects (P < 0.0167). Romberg rate was not significantly different between the patients and the normal subjects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The pattern of postural sway is useful for the diagnosis of vertigo. Age is an important factor that affects the balance function. Sex seems has no influence. Visual input plays an important role in maintaining postural balance. Stabilometer is a useful tool for evaluating balance function, and postural sway test may be a valuable assistant examination.</p>

Isolation and identification of arboviruses in Hebei Province / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To study the arboviruses carried by mosquitoes collected in Hebei Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples were collected from mosquito active sites and stored in liquid nitrogen till use. Pools of 20 to 30 mosquitoes were ground after sterilization, centrifugal supernant was inoculated onto C6/36 cell, cytopathic effect was observed for three sequential passages. Positive isolates were identified by IFA and RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 1310 mosquitoes were collected from two villages of She county, Hebei province. They were divided into 46 pools and ground respectively. Thirteen positive isolates were obtained. Two isolates reacted with alphaviral antibodies and were amplified by alphaviral primers, nucleotide sequence showed the highest homology (98%) to Getah virus (AY702913.1), so the two isolates were identified as Getah virus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Getah virus was isolated from mosquitoes in Hebei Province. This is the first report of isolating Getah virus from inland of China.</p>

Effect of nitric oxide in vestibular compensation / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) in vestibular compensation after unilateral vestibular deafferentation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen animals were divided into two groups, 6 of group a as control, 12 of group b received gentamicin intratympanic injection in the left ear. Half of the animals were killed respectively after 5 days and 10 days. Vestibular endorgan and brainstem tissue sections were subjected to NADPH-d reactive test of NOS for histochemical examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group a, NOS-like reactivity in both sides of vestibular endorgan and nucli. In group b during 5 days, NOS-like reactivity in right side of vestibular endorgan and nucli, those of the left side were negative. During 10 days, NOS-like reactivity only in the right side of vestibular endorgan.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Changes of NOS expression in the contralateral vestibular nucli might have played a role in vestibular compensation.</p>

Surgical management of metastatic disease in the conjunctive area between neck and thorax / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the surgical management of metastatic disease in the conjunctive area between the neck and thorax and its efficacy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen cases with metastatic node disease in the area between neck and thorax were collected and analysed. Eleven tumors were from the thyroid cancer, and the other three were from the hypopharyngeal cancer, esophagual cancer and malignant pheochromocytoma, respectively. The clavicle was displaced or resected, and the upper half of the manubrium might also be resected when necessary. The recurrent laryngeal nerve and phrenic nerve were exposed and protected. The metastatic disease was completely removed with the internal jugular and/or the brachiocephalic vein resected or spared, depending on the disease condition.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 10 cases with metastases from the thyroid, no local recurrence was found within the follow-up period from 2 to 5 years. In contrast, no patient with metastatic disease from hypopharyngeal or esophageal cancer survived more than 11 months. No serious complications were found in this group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The surgical treatment of node metastases in the conjunctive area between neck and thorax from the well-developed thyroid cancer has promising effect and is comparatively safe.</p>

Endolymphatic hydrops of both ears of guinea pig produced by aldosterone / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop endolymphatic hydrops in both ears of guinea pigs by aldosterone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty animals were divided into 3 groups with 10 in each group. Group A received left ears operation following Kimura', with right ears non-operated as control; group B received introperitonal injection of aldosterone (0.1 mg.0.1 kg-1.d-1) for continuous 5 days; group C received introperitonal injection of 0.5 ml 0.9% NS. Five out of group A,B and C were killed 1 month and 2 months later respectively for analysis of blood K+, Ca2+, Na+ and pathological examination of inner ear, heart, lung, brain, liver and kidney.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group A' moderate to severe endolymphatic hydrops developed in the operated ears during 1 and 2 months. In group B, mild endolymphatic hydrops developed in the both ears during 1 month, and within 2 months it was moderate and severe. No endolymphatic hydrops developed in group C. In contrast to group C, No significant changes could be found in blood analysis of group A, but the concentrations of K+ and Ca2+ were declined, and that of Na+ were increased in group B. The heart, lung, brain, liver, and kidney of all animals were normal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aldosterone may induce endolymphatic hydrops in both ears.</p>

The use of muscle autograft denatured by microwave for repair of gap in removal of facial neuroma / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical value of muscle autograft denatured by microwave for repair of gap in removal of facial neuroma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case of patient with a larger facial nerve Schwann cell neuroma was reported. Based on the good results of our experimental research on rats recently, we completed the operation by transmastoid approach for removal of facial neuroma, and the gap of the nerve was repaired with muscle autograft denatured by microwave.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patient was followed up for one year, and her facial function recovery on the affected side was satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Muscle autograft denatured by microwave technique is convenient, highly efficient for repairing facial nerve gap after removal of facial neuroma.</p>