[Exploring the factors affecting music-related quality of life in post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants].

Objective: To observe the feelings of listening to music and the importance of music in the daily life of post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants, and to explore the relevant influencing factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study. From January 2021 to August 2021,the Music-Related Quality of Life Scale was used to evaluate the music needs and music experiences of 63 post-lingual deaf adults who met the inclusion criteria, including 27 males and 36 females, aged (40.7±12.3) years, at the time of surgery (36.8±13.1) years, and with a preoperative hearing aid ineffective time of (3.9±5.8) years. Indicators analyzed included age, duration of ineffective preoperative hearing aid wear, preoperative music preference, duration of postoperative cochlear implant use, current hearing aid modality, and auditory rehabilitation outcomes. Whether the six factors mentioned above constituted an influence on the subjects' music listening was investigated using SPSS 25.0 statistical software. Results: All of the observations in the scale were correlated with a single factor. The two sub-dimensions of music experience section were related to the effect of auditory rehabilitation. In the importance section, the effect of auditory rehabilitation was the influential factor of the dimension of "participation importance", and the preoperative enjoyment of music was the relevant influential factor of the dimension of "perceived importance". There was a significant difference between the groups when they were grouped by the above factors (P value<0.05), while there was no statistically significance between the groups when they were grouped by other factors (P value>0.05). Conclusions: Post-lingual deaf adults show the need and attempt to listen to music after cochlear implantation. The effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation and the degree of music preference preoperatively are two important factors that influence music listening in implant recipients. Once the level of auditory communication has been restored to a certain degree, it is important to pay more attention to the needs of music for implant recipients and train them in time, especially for those with music preferences preoperatively.

Effect of sequential vs. non-sequential early enteral nutrition therapy on nutritional status, recovery, and quality of life of patients with esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of early sequential enteral nutrition (ESEN) therapy and early non-sequential enteral nutrition (EN) therapy on the nutritional status, recovery, and quality of life of patients who undergo postoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 90 patients who underwent postoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer in Gansu Provincial Cancer Hospital from January 2018 to June 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided the Test group and the Control group (n=45 each) based on the method of nutritional support. Patients in the Control group were treated with non-sequential early enteral nutrition and the Test group treated with sequential early enteral nutrition until the discharge. Nutritional status, recovery, and quality of life of the chemotherapy patients in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: After the intervention, the pre-protein, albumin and hemoglobin levels were higher in the Test group than in the control group (p<0.05). Postoperative exhaustion, incision healing and length of hospital stay were significantly lower in the Test group than in the Control group (p<0.05), while the scores on all dimensions of the short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36) and the total score were higher than in the Control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sequential early enteral nutrition may be used for patients who undergo chemotherapy after esophageal cancer surgery to promote their early recovery and improve their quality of life and nutritional status.

HMGN5 promotes invasion and migration of colorectal cancer through activating FGF/FGFR pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of high-mobility group nucleosome-binding domain 5 (HMGN5) in colorectal cancer tissues, to explore the function of HMGN5 on the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells, and to further study the molecular mechanism of HMGN5 in the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cancer tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were harvested from 40 patients with CRC. The expression of HMGN5 was detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the relation between HMGN5 and clinical indexes of CRC patients was further analyzed. The CRC HT29 and HCT116 cell lines with high expression levels of HMGN5 were selected, and the HMGN5 knockdown model was established. The functions of HMGN5 on CRC cells were stated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell migration assay. Then, the association between HMGN5 and fibroblast growth factor 12 (FGF12) was further explored via Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and reverse assay. RESULTS: The qRT-PCR showed that HMGN5 expression was significantly rising in cancer tissues compared to the control group. The incidence rate of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis was higher in higher expression HMGN5 group than the lower expression HMGN5 group. The results of cell function experiments revealed that silence of HMGN5 could suppress the proliferation and migration of HT29 and HCT116. In addition, it was found using qRT-PCR that knockdown of HMGN5 could significantly down-regulate the expressions of FGF12, FGFR, PI3K and AKT in HT29 and HCT116 cells. The targeted binding relation between HMGN5 and FGF12 was also indicated by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The consequence of qRT-PCR manifested that FGF12 expression markedly rose in CRC tissues, which had a positive correlation with HMGN5. Moreover, reverse assay indicated that the inhibitory effect of HMGN5 knockdown on the malignant progression of CRC could be reversed by recombinant FGF12, indicating once again that there is a mutual regulatory effect between HMGN5 and FGF12. CONCLUSIONS: HMGN5 can increase the proliferative and migrative capacity of CRC cells via targeted binding to FGF12. In addition, clinical data analyses demonstrate that HMGN5 is intimately related to the incidence rate of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in patients with CRC.

I-level positive airway pressure ventilation for patients with hypoxemia after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an effective scheme for treatment of myocardial ischemia. Hypoxemia is a common complication of CABG, which can affect surgical effect and prognosis and even induce multiple organ failure. To explore the clinical efficacy of bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation in the treatment of CABG-associated hypoxemia, 216 patients who were admitted to our hospital between August 2015 and April 2017 and developed CABG-associated hypoxemia were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups, an observation group (n=108) and a control group (n=108). Patients in the control group were given conventional treatment including continuous oxygen inhalation through nasal tube, anti-infection, bronchodilation, phlegm resolving, nutrition support, analgesia, cardiac function maintenance, coronary dilatation, anticoagulation and maintenance of stable internal environment, while patients in the observation group were given positive airway pressure ventilation via a breathing machine or nasal mask besides the conventional treatment.

[The application of short stent in root of aorta for the treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection].

Objective: To explore the effect of implanting short stent in root of aorta for the treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection. Methods: Clinical data of 39 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection who underwent surgical procedure at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Luoyang Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, between January 2013 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 31 males and 8 females aged 27 to 75 (49.3±10.3) years. All patients received short stent implanting in aortic root, total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation were performed at the same time. Results: All the operations were successfully performed. Two patients died during hospitalization. Four patients underwent reexploration for postoperative bleeding. Postoperative mortality was 5.1%(2/39). Follow-up duration was 3 to 24 months, with a median time of 14 months. One patient died of lung infection, gastrointestinal bleeding and renal faliure during follow-up. Conclusion: Patients with aortic intimal tear located at higher root of aorta may be suitable for short stent implanting, and the procedure has satisfactory clinical outcomes.

A retrospective analysis of ovarian stimulation with letrozole in women undergoing artificial insemination by donor.

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical pregnancy rate in women undergoing letrozole ovarian stimulation and artificial insemination by donor (AID). Between 2012 and 2015, 130 natural cycles, 939 letrozole cycles and 130 letrozole plus gonadotrophin cycles were conducted. Letrozole cycles were divided into three groups according to LH concentration on the day of HCG administration (LH <10 mIU/ml and follicle size ≥18 cm; LH ≤10 to <20 mIU/ml; and LH ≥20 mIU/ml). Pregnancy rates were 17.3%, 22.4% and 26.8%, respectively (P = 0.012). In women given 10 mIU/ml LH or more, logistic regression identified oestradiol (OR 1.002, 95% CI, 1.000 to 1.004, P = 0.029) and leading follicle size (OR 0.861, 95% CI, 0.772 to 0.960, P = 0.007) as significant predictive factors of pregnancy rate; the higher the oestradiol and the smaller the follicles, the better the pregnancy rate. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the letrozole plus gonadotrophin group than the letrozole group (P = 0.04). Better pregnancy rates can be achieved if LH surge occurs before HCG administration, especially with higher oestradiol and lower follicle size; treatment with letrozole plus gonadotrophin was significantly more effective than letrozole alone in AID.

[Identification of a novel mutation of SLC26A4 gene with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome].

Objective:To explore the mutation spectrum of SLC26A4 in Chinese patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome.Method:Genomic DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood of the cochlear implant recipients associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. The SLC26A4 mutations were analyzed by direct sequencing.Result:A novel missense mutation(347G>A) of SLC26A4 gene was found in a male patient,which led to a substitution of codon 116 from glycine to asparagic acid. This mutation was not observed among 60 normal controls.Conclusion:The 347G>A of SLC26A4 gene was a novel pathologic mutation,contributing to the mutation spectrum of SLC26A4 of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome.

Comparative analysis of bilirubin in correlation to albumin between nephrotic syndrome patients and postoperative gastroparesis syndrome patients.

This study aimed to disclose the potential causality of low bilirubin in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Correlation analysis was carried out on total bilirubin (TBIL) to serum albumin (ALB), urine protein (Upr), and urinary microalbumin/creatinine (Umalb/cr) for three groups in a case-control study. P < 0.001 was observed for TBIL, ALB, Umalb/cr, and Upr between the NS and chronic nephritis (CN) groups, and P values of 0.0001, 1.000, 0.0001, and 0.0001 were observed for TBIL, ALB, Umalb/cr, and Upr, respectively, between the postoperative gastroparesis (PGS) and CN groups. The values of r and P in correlation to TBIL were 0.549 and 0.000 for ALB, -0.405 and 0.000 for Umalb/cr, and -0.448 and 0.000 for Upr in the NS group; -0.007 and 0.959 for ALB, 0.213 and 0.091 for Umalb/cr, and -0.082 and 0.519 for Upr in the PGS group; and 0.509 and 0.000 for ALB, -0.431 and 0.000 for Umalb/cr, and -0.362 and 0.002 for Upr in the CN group. A probable causality is implied between the low level of blood bilirubin and its loss in urine in NS patients. This conclusion may provide a theoretical basis for the feasibility of therapies against oxidative stress in NS patients.

Ultrasound bone densitometry of the calcaneus in healthy Chinese children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluate reference data to examine whether there are sex-, age-, height-, weight- and BMI-related differences of quantitative ultrasound parameters (QUS) for healthy Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 726 healthy children and adolescents (360 male and 366 female) aged from 10-21 years were examined with a Lunar Achilles Express densitometer. The measurements on the right heel included speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), and a calculated stiffness index (SI). RESULTS: Our results found that there were no significant differences for BUA, SOS and SI between males and females, except in the age range of 12 to 13 years. The values of all parameters were significantly higher in the 12-year-old females compared to males, and BUA values were significantly higher in 13-year-old females compared to males. A spurt in QUS parameters were observed at 12 years in females and at 14 years in males. A steady increase of BUA, SOS, and SI was seen with increasing body height and weight in both sexes. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present results can be used as reference data for children and adolescents in China.

Assessment of low quantitative ultrasound values of calcaneus in Chinese mainland women.

Calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) assessment is a safe and reliable method for evaluating skeletal status. Until now, considerable data have been accumulated on the distribution of QUS in Caucasian populations, whereas such data are still insufficient in Asian populations, especially in Chinese mainland. The present study aimed to obtain the distribution characteristic of calcaneus QUS in healthy Chinese women, and to further investigate the distribution of low bone mass by QUS stiffness index (SI). This study included 2,498 healthy Chinese females aged 10-87 yr. The QUS exhibited a characteristic mild rise and then fall pattern with increasing age. Age, body height, and weight were significant influencing factors on SI, especially age and weight. The prevalence of osteoporosis detected using instrument-derived T-score or internal T-score was different from that calculated according to calcaneus bone mass density (BMD) previously reported. Furthermore, between instrument-derived T-scores and internal T-scores, there were also significant differences. We concluded that the World Health Organization criteria from BMD may not be appropriate for QUS, and the instrument-derived T-score may also not be appropriate for the studied population. The results will be useful for predicting fracture risk of Chinese women and determining diagnostic criteria of osteoporosis by QUS.

Characteristics of calcaneus quantitative ultrasound normative data in Chinese mainland men and women.

INTRODUCTION: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) assessment at the calcaneus, as a safe and reliable method for evaluating skeletal status, is rapidly gaining in popularity. Assessment by QUS provides three parameters of skeletal status: broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) and derived data-stiffness index (STI). The objective of the present study was firstly to determine the normative QUS data on healthy Chinese mainland men and women and secondly to investigate the effects of sex, age and body size on these three QUS parameters. METHODS: A study cohort consisting of 725 healthy Chinese women and 568 men aged 10-83 years participated in this investigation. The three QUS parameters all exhibited a characteristic mild rise-then-fall pattern with increasing age in both sexes. Younger men and women had similar QUS values, while older women had lower values than older men. Age-related differences were more pronounced among females. Pearson's correlation and regression analysis showed that weight was a major determinant of QUS in both sexes, along with age. RESULTS: There were some discrepancies between our data and results from other populations, even when the same type of QUS instrument was used, probably as a result of various factors, including ethnic, life-style environment and diet, among others. CONCLUSIONS: These normative data will be useful for comparing the results of individual studies, predicting fracture risk of Chinese men and women and determining diagnostic criteria of osteoporosis by QUS.

Cloning of UGT1A9 cDNA from liver tissues and its expression in CHL cells.

AIM: To clone the cDNA of UGT1A9 from a Chinese human liver and establish the Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell line expressing human UGT1A9. METHODS: cDNA of UGT1 A9 was transcripted from mRNA by reverse transcriptase-ploymerase chain reaction, and was cloned into the pGEM-T vector which was amplified in the host bacteric E.Coli DH5(alpha). The inserted fragment, verified by DNA sequencing, was subcloned into the Hind III /Not I site of a mammalian expression vector pREP9 to construct the plasmid termed pREP9-UGT1A9. CHL cells were transfected with the resultant recombinants, pREP9-UGT1A9, and selected by G418 (400 mg x L(-1)) for one month. The surviving clone (CHL-UGT1A9) was harvested as a pool and sub-cultured in medium containing G418 to obtain samples forUGT1A9 assays. The enzyme activity of CHL-UGT1A9 towards propranolol in S9 protein of the cell was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: The sequence of the cDNA segment cloned, which was 1666 bp in length, was identical to that released by Gene Bank (GenBank accession number: AF056188) in coding region. The recombinant constructed, pREP9-UGT1A9, contains the entire coding region, along with 18 bp of the 5' and 55 bp of the 3' untranslated region of theUGT1A9 cDNA, respectively. The cell lines established expressed the protein of UGT1A9, and the enzyme activity towards propranolol in S9 protein was found to be 101+/- 24 pmol x min(-1) x mg(-1) protein (n=3), but was not detectable in parental CHL cells. CONCLUSION: The cDNA of UGT1A9 was successfully cloned from a Chinese human liver and transfected into CHL cells. The CHL-UGT1 A9 cell lines established efficiently expressed the protein ofUGT1A9 for the further enzyme study of drug glucuronidation.

[Diagnosis and treatment of cornual obstruction by transcervical fallopian tube cannulation under hysteroscopy].

Transcervical cannulation of the proximal oviduct was performed with a tube catheter and flexible guidewire under hysteroscopic guidance to evaluate and treat intramural fallopian tube obstruction in 37 patients. Hysteroscopic cannulation with direct visualization by laparoscopy was successful in 69.2% of the obstructed tubes, 77.4% of the cases. 74% of the obstructed tubes diagnosed by HSG and/or laparoscopy was patent after hydrotubation and cannulation by hysteroscopy. Transcervical cannulation of the proximal oviduct is an effective method for evaluation and treatment of cornual obstruction.

[Dynamic changes in fibrinolytic system in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Dynamic change of serum tissue-type plasminogen, activator (t-PA) and PAI activity was studied in 22 cases with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 11 cases with unstable angina (UA) and 24 healthy persons. The group of AMI was divided into two subgroups, one with severe complications, AMI-A subgroup and the other without complication, AMI-B subgroup. The results revealed: t-PA activity was decreased in AMI group, especially in AMI-A subgroup; PAI activity was markedly increased in AMI-A subgroup in first three days after onset; there was a marked decrease of active type in AMI-A subgroup. The study confirms that the function of fibrinolytic system is abnormal in patients with AMI and UA. The change of activity of t-PA and PAI is closely related with the severity of AMI. It is important to augment the activity of the fibrinolytic system in the treatment of AMI.

A preliminary study of the inhibiting mechanism of anisodamine on rabbit platelets activated by E. coli endotoxin.

In this study, we observed the endotoxin induced platelet aggregation, 5-HT and beta-g releases, cellular cAMP decrease, and also the changes of morphology and membrane fluidity of platelet. These changes play an important role in septic shock, especially in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). After anisodamine (654) intervention all the parameters mentioned above were improved to a certain extent. This preliminary study of the inhibiting mechanism of 654 on rabbit platelets activated by ET supports the clinical possibility of using 654 for relieving DIC and RDS.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator release in response to epinephrine in perfused rat hindlegs.

We have studied the mechanism of release of plasminogen activator (PA) activity induced by epinephrine in the perfused rat hindleg model. Epinephrine perfusion at the dose of 12.5 microM caused a slighter effect on PA activity but an immediate increase in the perfusion pressure. At 25 microM, epinephrine induced a marked increase in PA activity that reached the maximum level at the end of the drug perfusion. The same response was induced by repeated stimulations with epinephrine (25 microM) only if the second stimulus was given 20-25 min apart from the first one. PA release could be blocked by propranolol (300 microM), a nonspecific beta-blocker, and not by phentolamine, a nonspecific alpha-blocker, unless used at very high concentrations (1,250 microM). Perfusion with dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (DbcAMP) alone induces an immediate and transient increase in PA activity, but no potentiation could be demonstrated if theophylline was perfused together with epinephrine. The released PA has been characterized on the basis of molecular weight and immunological criteria as t-PA- and u-PA-like molecules in basal conditions. Epinephrine perfusion induced an increase only in the t-PA-like protein. These data indicate that the release of t-PA-like activity observed after epinephrine perfusion is mainly mediated by beta-receptors and is independent from its vasoactive action.