SOD2 Alleviates Hearing Loss Induced by Noise and Kanamycin in Mitochondrial DNA4834-deficient Rats by Regulating PI3K/MAPK Signaling.

Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2)-mediated gene therapy has significant protective effects against kanamycin-induced hearing loss and hair cell loss in the inner ear, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Herein, an in vivo aging model of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)4834 deletion mutation was established using D-galactose, and the effects of noise or kanamycin on inner ear injury was investigated. Rats subjected to mtDNA4834 mutation via D-galactose administration showed hearing loss characterized by the disruption of inner ear structure (abnormal cell morphology, hair cell lysis, and the absence of the organ of Corti), increased SOD2 promoter methylation, and an increase in the degree of apoptosis. Exposure to noise or kanamycin further contributed to the effects of D-galactose. SOD2 overexpression induced by viral injection accordingly counteracted the effects of noise and kanamycin and ameliorated the symptoms of hearing loss, suggesting the critical involvement of SOD2 in preventing deafness and hearing-related conditions. The PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways were also regulated by noise/kanamycin exposure and/or SOD2 overexpression, indicating that they may be involved in the therapeutic effect of SOD2 against age-related hearing loss.

Efficacy of inhaled budesonide on serum inflammatory factors and quality of life among children with acute infectious laryngitis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute infectious laryngitis is commonly occurred among children. Our study sought to investigate the effect of inhaled budesonide on among children with acute infectious laryngitis. METHODS: A total of 92 children with acute infectious laryngitis were randomly allocated to either the study (46 cases, treated with inhaled budesonide) and control group (46 cases, treated with dexamethasone). The disappearance time of symptoms, therapeutic effect and adverse reactions were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: The therapeutic effect was significantly better in the study group than in the control group (97.83% vs 82.61%). After 3 days of treatment, the disappearance time of symptoms, such as hoarseness/barking cough, singing sound in the throat, three-concave sign and dyspnea in the study group was significantly less than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-4, IL-17, MMP-9, IL-33, IFN-γ and IgE in the two groups decreased, and evidently lower levels were found in the study group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhaled budesonide exerted obvious better effect in terms of reducing serum inflammatory factors and improving the quality of life with safety profile.

[The progress of clinical research on the causes and treatments of pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis].

Pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis is a refractory disease in the present otorhinolaryngological head and neck surgery, including congenital stenosis caused by laryngotracheal deformities and acquired stenosis. The incidence of congenital laryngotracheal malformation has a rising trend.But acquired stenosis is still more common,which is mostly caused by iatrogenic injury (e.g. endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy).So prevention and early intervention are very important.and the standardization of the endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy operation and follow-up care are necessary. The treatments and recovery of pediatric laryngotracheal stenos is more complex and difficult than adults. Operation method is varied, and appropriate treatment plan depends on the degree of stenosis, position as well as the general condition.

Characteristics and outcome of impacted button batteries among young children less than 7 years of age in China: a retrospective analysis of 116 cases.

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of button batteries occurs in about ten persons per one million persons each year, with most of them children, and one in every 1000 battery ingestions leads to serious injuries. This study aimed to describe the clinical features and outcome of ingestion or inhalation of button batteries in children spanning a decade from January, 2006 to December, 2016 at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of children who sought treatment for inhaled or ingested button batteries at our hospital during the study period. Data on gender, age, time from ingestion to treatment, site of impaction, imaging findings, and outcomes were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 116 pediatric cases of ingestion or inhalation of button batteries. Their mean age was 26 months. The time from ingestion or inhalation of button batteries to treatment was 0.5 hours to 2 weeks. Ninety-seven (83.6%) button batteries were located in the nasal cavity, 13 (11.2%) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including 6 in the esophagus, and 7 in the stomach and lower GI tract, and 6 (5.2%) in the auditory tract. Twenty-one (21.6%) children with nasal button batteries had preoperative septal perforations and one (1.0%) had postoperative septal perforation. One child with esophageal button battery developed esophageal stricture and one died of sudden cardiac arrest perioperatively. One child had auditory damages in the right tympanic membrane and ossicles. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation or ingestion may occur in the nasal cavities, the esophagus and GI tract and the auditory tract. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are required for a satisfactory outcome and ingested or inhaled button batteries require different treatment protocols.

[Value of arterial lactic acid and buffer excess in predicting the prognosis of patients with paraquat poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early prognostic values of arterial lactate and base excess (BE) in patients with paraquat poisoning. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with paraquat poisoning were divided into sudden death group (n = 10) who died within 24 h after admission, recent death group (n = 31) who died more than 24 h after admission, and survival group (n = 34). Arterial lactate and BE were measured on admission and at 24 h after admission. The prognostic values of arterial lactate and BE were analyzed. RESULTS: The arterial lactate measured on admission was significantly higher in the sudden death group than in the recent death group and survival group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in arterial lactate between the recent death group and survival group (P = 0.309). The BE measured on admission was significantly lower in the sudden death group than in the recent death group and survival group, and it was significantly lower in the recent death group than in the survival group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). At 24 h after admission, the recent death group had a significantly higher arterial lactate (P < 0.01) and a significantly lower BE (P < 0.01), as compared with the survival group. The logistic regression analysis showed that the two indices were significantly associated with prognosis (P < 0.01). On admission, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of arterial lactate and BE for predicting death were 0.692 and 0.787, respectively, and the cut-off values were 3.25 mmol/L and -1.75 mmol/L, respectively; the AUCs of arterial lactate and BE for predicting sudden death were 0.995 and 1, respectively, and the cut-off values were 7.1 mmol/L and -12.8 mmol/L, respectively. At 24 h after admission, the AUCs of arterial lactate and BE for predicting death were 0.743 and 0.822, respectively, and the cut-off values were 2.15 mmol/L and -5.55 mmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Arterial lactate and BE have certain values in predicting the death, especially the sudden death, in patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

[Efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy of allergic rhinitis in children between 4 and 5 years age group and 11 and 12 years age group].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the sublingual immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides fannie drops on children with allergic rhinitis of different age groups (4 - 5 years old group and 11 - 12 years old group). METHODS: Sixty-two children aged 4 - 5 years, and 71 children aged 11 - 12 years, who suffered from dust mite induced allergic rhinitis, was randomly divided into the sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) + drug group and drug group. SLIT + drug group was treated with a standardized sublingual immunotherapy drops of Dermatophagoides fannie and combined with symptomatic therapy, drug group was treated with mometasone furoate nasal spray and desloratadine tablets as symptomatic treatment. These children were followed up for 2 years with one visit in every 3 months, then visited at the end of the study and 2-years after the treatment ended. Symptom scores and medication scores were recorded at each visit. Comprehensive evaluation of symptoms, medication, and patients' degree of satisfaction were used. RESULTS: Two years after SLIT finished, symptom scores (SLIT + drug group: 1.13 ± 1.05; drug group: 4.68 ± 3.09), medication scores (SLIT + drug group: 0.07 ± 0.04; drug group: 0.36 ± 0.25) of SLIT + drug group were significantly lower than those in drug group (t value were -8.43, -8.87, respectively, all P < 0.01). Also, the subjective assessment of patients' symptoms, medication, and treatment satisfaction in SLIT + drug group was significantly lower than those in drug group. Subjective assessment symptoms, medication, and treatment satisfaction in age group 4 - 5 was the same as in age group 11 - 12. After SLIT ended for 2 years, subjective assessment and treatment satisfaction in age 11 - 12 group was better than those in age 4-5 group in medication score. CONCLUSIONS: SLIT demonstrated clinical improvement in children of different ages during 2 years treatment. Two years after withdrawal, the symptom scores, medication score and subjective satisfaction in 11 years old group are better than those in 4-5 years old group.

[Anti-HBV effect of fusion protein (TA1-IFN) in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-HBV effect of fusion protein thymosin alpha1-interferon alpha (TA1-IFN) in vitro and to compare its effect with a combination of interferon alpha and thymosin alpha1. METHODS: After 2.2.15 cells were seeded for 24 hours, drugs of five serial concentrations (8000, 4000, 2000, 1000, 500 U/ml) were added to the wells, then the medium was changed every three days. After 2.2.15 cells were treated with drugs for 6 days, the medium was collected. The inhibitory rates on HBsAg and HBeAg were determined using Abbot kit, and the cytotoxicity of different drugs by means of MTT colorimetric assays was also observed. RESULTS: The inhibitory rate of fusion protein on HBsAg, HBeAg was dose-dependent and reached the maximum at 8000 U/ml concentration. In the meantime, the inhibitory rates of fusion protein on HBsAg and HBeAg were 72.2% +/- 0.8% and 60.4% +/- 1.1% respectively, and the cell survival rate was 85.2% +/- 2.0%; In the corresponding concentration, the inhibitory rates of combination thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha on HBsAg and HBeAg were 40.0% +/- 0.7%, 34.5% +/- 3.2% respectively. The results showed significant statistical differences between them; cell survival rate 70.0% +/- 1.9%, and the difference of the results was also significant. Cytotoxicity of fusion protein was weaker than a combination of thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha. CONCLUSION: Fusion protein TA1-IFN exerted stronger anti-HBV effects in vitro. Its anti-HBV effects in vitro were stronger than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha, and its cytotoxicity was weaker than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha. Our studies provided important evidence for clinical research on TA1-IFN, and also brought new hope for hepatitis B therapy.