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.

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.

Antigen selection, optimized expression and polyclonal antibody preparation of O-GlcNAcase / 生物工程学报

In order to probe the biological function of O-GlcNAc and the pathogenesis of associated diseases, it is essential to prepare a potent and specific O-GlcNAcase (OGA) antibody. Based on protein sequence analysis, we found N terminal 1-350 amino acids of OGA (sOGA) has high antigenicity and hydrophilicity and then constructed it into plasmid pET28a vector. First, we optimized the expression of sOGA in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) (0.05 mmol/L IPTG, 10 hours) and purified it with the Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and size exclusion chromatography respectively. SDS-PAGE verified the molecular weight (45 kDa) and the purity (>95%) of sOGA and the purified protein was subjected to immunize New Zealand rabbits. Finally, we obtained OGA polyclonal antibody by affinity purifying the antiserum with CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B beads. Western blotting and ELISA assay showed that this antibody could recognize three OGA isoforms with high specificity and the sensitivity was 0.11 ng/mL (the titer was 1:80 000). These results indicated the prepared polyclonal antibody of OGA can be used for the biological function study of OGA.