Alterations of resting-state functional network connectivity in patients with noise-induced hearing loss: A study based on independent component analysis.

Functional reorganization is a response to auditory deficits or deprivation, and less is known about the overall brain network alterations involving resting-state networks (RSNs) and multiple functional networks in patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). So this study evaluated resting-state functional network connectivity (FNC) alterations in occupational NIHL using an independent component analysis (ICA). In total, 79 mild NIHL patients (MP), 32 relatively severe NIHL patients (RSP), and 84 age- and education- matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All subjects were tested using the Mini-mental State Examination scale, the tinnitus Handicap Inventory scale, the Hamilton Anxiety scale (HAMA) and scanned by T1-3DFSPGR, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging sequence in 3.0 T and analysed by the ICA. Seven RSNs were identified, compared with the HC, the MP showed increased FNC within the executive control network (ECN) and enhanced FNC within the default mode network (DMN) and the visual network (VN); compared with the HC, the RSP showed decreased FNC within the ECN and auditory network (AUN), DMN and VN; no significant changes in FNC were found in the MP compared with the RSP. Furthermore, the correlation analysis between the noise exposure time and hearing loss level, HAMA were both negative, and there were no significant correlations between the abnormal RSNs and the hearing level, noise exposure time and HAMA. These findings indicate that different degrees of NIHL involve different alterations in RSNs connectivity and may reveal the neural mechanisms related to emotion-related features and functional abnormalities following long-term NIHL.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, and appropriate cut off values forprediction of early-stage diabeticnephropathy / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To investigate and compare predictive diagnostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and mean platelet volume,for early-stage diabetic nephropathy (EDN).Methods 245 patients with T2DM were divided into patients with EDN(EDN group,n=120) and patients without DN (T2DM group,n=125).116 healthy people were also enrolled in our study.Their clinical and biochemical data were collected.Results NLR (2.14±0.73 vs 1.78±0.58 vs 1.46±0.48,P＜0.05),PLR (116.11±36.43 vs 100.65±27.83 vs 90.24±26.17,P＜0.05) and MPV (11.29± 1.16 vs 10.37 ± 1.01 vs 9.78 ± 1.28,P＜0.05) were significantly higher in EDN group and T2DM group than those of the control group.NLR,PLR and MPV were significantly higher in EDN group than those of T2DM group.Logistic regression analysis showed that after correction of diabetes duration,blood pressure,lipid,and so on,NLR(OR=3.77,95％ CI 2.12-6.08,P＜0.01),PLR(OR=1.81,95％ CI 1.02-2.89,P=0.04) and MPV (OR=2.08,95％ CI 1.22-5.04,P=0.01) were all positively correlated with EDN.According to the analysis of ROC curves,the value of NLR for predicting EDN was higher than PLR and MPV.The cut off value of NLR for predicting EDN was set at 1.82,with the sensitivity of 79.20％ and the specificity of 68.60％.Conclusion NLR has the greatest diagnostic value for EDN,patients whose NLR is over 1.82 need further test in order to diagnose and therapy DN earlier.

The performance of MRI about the annular ligament injuries in pediatric patients / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the MRI features about the annular ligament injuries in pediatric patients. Methods The appearance of MRI about annular ligament injuries in 15 pediatric patients diagnosed clinically were retrospectively analyzed. All patients (aged 4 years 8 months to 12 years 11 months) were scanned by MRI in 2-4 days after injury. Patients were divided into three groups according to the annular ligament injuries severity, which were simple annular ligament injuries, annular ligament injuries combined dislocation, annular ligament ruptures combined dislocation. Results Simple annular ligament injuries were showed in 2 cases, which appeared high signal but continuous configuration. Annular ligament injuries combined dislocation were showed 9 cases. Bald head sign, thickening and continuous ligment were found on axial image, together with compression of the radial joint space on sagittal and coronal view. Annular ligament ruptures combined dislocation were showed in 4 cases. The ligment showed"bald head sign", tortuosity and uneven thickening on axial view and compression of the radial joint space on sagittal and coronal view. Combining with the other tissue injuries were detected in 15 cases. Conclusion The annular ligament injuries show some MRI characteristics. Bald head sign is specific in the annular ligament injuries of pediatric patients.

The performance of MRI about the annular ligament injuries in pediatric patients / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the MRI features about the annular ligament injuries in pediatric patients. Methods The appearance of MRI about annular ligament injuries in 15 pediatric patients diagnosed clinically were retrospectively analyzed. All patients (aged 4 years 8 months to 12 years 11 months) were scanned by MRI in 2-4 days after injury. Patients were divided into three groups according to the annular ligament injuries severity, which were simple annular ligament injuries, annular ligament injuries combined dislocation, annular ligament ruptures combined dislocation. Results Simple annular ligament injuries were showed in 2 cases, which appeared high signal but continuous configuration. Annular ligament injuries combined dislocation were showed 9 cases. Bald head sign, thickening and continuous ligment were found on axial image, together with compression of the radial joint space on sagittal and coronal view. Annular ligament ruptures combined dislocation were showed in 4 cases. The ligment showed"bald head sign", tortuosity and uneven thickening on axial view and compression of the radial joint space on sagittal and coronal view. Combining with the other tissue injuries were detected in 15 cases. Conclusion The annular ligament injuries show some MRI characteristics. Bald head sign is specific in the annular ligament injuries of pediatric patients.

Marginal bone loss around tissue level implants in the posterior part of the mandible / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clarify the related factors of marginal bone loss (MBL) around tissue level implants in the posterior part of the mandible.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 116 tissue level implants were implanted in the mandibular posterior region of 76 patients. Patients' information, including general characteristics, implant characteristics, implant site characteristics, and prosthesis characteristics, was recorded. Their cone beam computed tomography data were measured immediately after implant placement, 3 months later, and 3 and 12 months after prosthesis loading. The measurement of MBL was conducted by One Volume Viewer software. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Smoking, cortical bone thickness (CBT), collum angle (CA), and implant local sanitation showed significant differences with body mass loss (P<0.05). No significant differences were found among sex, age, length of implant, diameter of implants, implant systems, bone height, prosthesis type, and MBL (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The risk factors that caused MBL were smoking, thicker CBT, larger CA, and poor implant local sanitation. Among them, poor implant local sanitation had the highest correlation with MBL.</p>

Effect of Levothyroxine on Spatial Working Memory Impairments in Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism:Functional MRI Observation / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose To explore the effect of Levothyroxine on spatial working memory in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) using blood oxygenation level dependent-functional MRI (BOLD-fMRI). Materials and Methods Sixteen patients with SCH before and after 6 months levothyroxine (LT4) treatment and 16 matched euthyroid volunteers underwent n-back task fMRI scanning. AFNI software was used for localization and quantification. Results All the subjects demonstrated activated areas including bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), bilateral premotor area (PreMA), supplementary motor area/anterior cingulate cortex, bilateral parietal area (PA) and right caudate nucleus/thalamus, with right hemisphere dominance. Quantitative analysis of regions of interests showed that all these regions had load effect related to memory load in the control group (P<0.001), whereas only left DLPFC, left PA, bilateral PreMA and right caudate nucleus/thalamus showed the same effect in SCH group. After 6-month treatment with LT4, BOLD signal change was observed in SCH patients within the right DLPFC, right PA and anterior cingulate/supplementary motor cortex (P<0.001). The activation intensity of working memory related brain regions was lower in SCH group compared with that of the control group. Conclusion Spatial working memory impairments in SCH patients are likely related to decreased right DLPFC and right posterior parietal function. LT4 replacement therapy is important to improve and reverse the memory impairment.