[Interaction of Cd and Zn Affecting the Root Morphology and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Sedum aizoon].

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to study the interaction of Cd and Zn affecting the root morphology and accumulation of Cd and Zn in Sedum aizoon. The results show that S. aizoon exhibits a high tolerance to single stress of Cd and Zn and the concentrations of Cd and Zn in the leaf, stem, and root of S. aizoon increase as the stress levels increase. A strong phytoextraction capacity in S. aizoon was also observed for the Cd concentration in the aboveground part reaching 133.0 mg·kg-1. The combined stress of Cd and Zn has a greater effect on the growth of S. aizoon than single stress to which the root is more sensitive. The root length, surface area, root volume, and tips significantly decrease under combined stress of Cd and Zn; the effect on the tips is most significant. The low-level Zn application (10 mg·L-1) has a synergistic effect on the Cd accumulation in the shoot of S. aizoon because of the promotion of Cd translocation from root to shoot. However, the addition of Cd leads to a notable antagonism of the Zn absorption of S. aizoon. The concentration ratio of Zn and Cd also has a significant effect on the Cd uptake of S. aizoon. A high ratio promotes the Cd accumulation in the shoot, while the latter is inhibited by a low Zn/Cd ratio. Therefore, S. aizoon possesses a strong potential of Cd phytoextraction and can be applied for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil, while the adjustment of the ratio of Cd and Zn in the growth medium will help to enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of S. aizoon.

[One case of auricle cartilage calcification].

The patient complained of painless mass in the right ear for 3 months. The ipsilateral ear was 1/2 thicker than contralateral one and felt stiff without elasticity. There was limited eminence in cavum conchae about 1 mm in height and about 6 mm x 10 mm in size with clear boundary. which felt hard without tenderness. X-ray showed a long oval nodular calcification with clear but irregular boundary in cavum conchae under the right auricle, the size of which was about 4 mm x 7 mm. The patient was diagnosed right auricle cartilage calcification.

[Clinical characteristics of multiple myeloma involving sphenoid sinus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and management of multiple myeloma involving sphenoid sinus. METHOD: The clinical data of 2 patients with multiple myeloma involving sphenoid sinus were reported and the relevant literatures were also reviewed. RESULT: Diplopia and headache were the common symptoms of the patients, and there were also some symptoms related to other organs. Patients often had repeated medical treatments and were finally diagnosed by the biopsy of sphenoid sinus. The disease progressed rapidly in the young patient. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of multiple myeloma are complicated. Biopsy of the sphenoid sinus is meaningful for patients with both sphenoid sinus tumor and systematic symptoms, especially those with rapid progress.

[Non-distinctive features on CT scan of fungal sinusitis].

OBJECTIVE: This article was a retrospective analysis on the preoperative CT scan of fungal sinusitis patients. The non-distinctive clinic feature was suggested to improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was made for 176 patients with fungal sinusitis,which were confirmed by postoperative pathologic diagnosis from January 2000 to January 2008. Every patient was performed both CT examination and nasal endoscopy preoperatively. All patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and the lesions in sinus were cleared and confirmed fungal infection by pathology. Thirty-five cases fungal infection located in sphenoid sinus, 84 cases in maxillary sinus, 49 cases in both maxillary and ethmoid sinus, 3 cases in all sinus, 5 cases in both ethmoid and sphenoid sinus. There were 179 sinuses in 176 patients were infected. RESULT: This group totally had 175 cases (179 sides). One hundred and seventy-three cases had unilateral lesion,3 cases had bilateral lesion. The CT scan showed non-distinctive features including uniform dense, uneven dense in the sinus and bone resorption of the inner side bone wall. Five cases in sphenoid sinus lesion were found calcification in CT scan but 8 cases didn't show such features. Among these cases, 5 cases showed uniform dense and 3 cases showed uneven dense. In 84 cases maxillary sinus lesion, there were 12 cases without distinctive change, among these cases,8 cases showed uniform dense, 4 cases showed uneven dense and 5 cases had bone resorption. In 49 cases both ethmoid and maxillary sinus lesion, 13 cases didn't show distinctive change, among these cases, 9 cases showed uniform dense, 4 cases showed uneven dense and 6 cases had bone resorption. Five cases had calcification in the both sphenoid and ethmoid sinus. Totally 81.56% of these patients had calcification feature in the CT scan. CONCLUSION: The calcification in the lesion of sinus is usually featured as characteristic manifestation of fungal sinusitis. But in clinic, the calcification does not exit in some patients CT scan. When being absent of the featured sign in CT scan, the fungal sinusitis have to be diagnosed by other detecting means,even postoperative pathology.

[The effect of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of aspergillosis of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of aspergillosis of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. METHOD: Fifty four patients with non-allergic fungal sinusitis were included in this study. There were 25 males and 29 females, ranging in age from 26 to 77. All patients were diagnosed and treated with endoscopic technique. Accordingly, the typical clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings were summarized. RESULT: All patients were cured and no one has a recurrence. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic technique can decrease the damage of the operation and shorten the time of diagnosis and treatment, and can reduce the recurrence of this disease. Endoscopic technique is an ideal way of the treatment of aspergillosis of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus.

[Immunohistochemical study of the epithelial hyperproliferation in middle ear cholesteatoma].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the growth of cholesteatoma, and to investigate the biological behaviour of cholesteatoma. METHODS: The expression of EGF receptor (EGFR), proliferating cell nuclear antigen Ki-67, collagen IV protein and laminin in 18 specimens of cholesteatoma was stained immunohistochemically and compared with that in epidermis of 8 specimens of normal external auditory meatus skin. RESULTS: The immunostaining for EGFR showed two patterns: strong linear or granular cell surface staining and granular cytoplasmic staining. In epidermis of normal skin, EGFR appear to be highly expressed on the basal layer. Cholesteatoma epithelium showed increased positive reactions in the super basal layers. The Ki67 was expressed in nuclei, and a dot-like as well as a diffuse nuclear staining pattern was detected. The Ki67 expression was restricted in the basal layer of normal epithelium, and the positive of Ki67 in nuclei was rare. The expression of Ki67 in cholesteatoma extended to the suprabasal and upper layers of the epithelium with an increasing frequency of positive cells. Collagen IV and Laminin were similary localized in the basement membrane of normal epithelium with a continuously staining pattern and a similar staining pattern was also found in the cholesteatoma, and the vas is abundant under basement membrane in some cholesteatoma samples. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of EGFR suggest a hyperproliferative state in cholesteatoma and there is a close relationship between the EGF and hyperproliferation of cholesteatoma. The increased expression of Ki67 confirms the hyperproliferative nature of cholesteatoma. The results of expression of Collagen IV and Laminin in cholesteatoma indicate it is a benign disease.