[The characteristic of vestibular ocular reflex in patients with vestibular migraine]

Objective:Analysis of vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) in patients with vestibular migraine (VM) by vestibular autorotation test (VAT). To explore the clinical value of VAT technology in the diagnosis of vestibular migraine.Method:Sixty-nine patients with VM, 73 patients with posterior circulation (PCI) vertigo and 65 normal people were examined by VAT test. The characteristics of vestibular ocular reflex were analyzed by using VAT gain, phase and asymmetry among them.Result:①Among the 69 cases of VM patients,54 cases (78.3%) were horizontal or vertical gain abnormalities, 66 cases (95.7%) were horizontal or/and vertical phase delay, and 13 cases (18.8%) were asymmetric abnormalities. ②Among the 54 (78.3%) cases of abnormal gain, 46 (66.7%) cases demonstrated high gain, 42 had high gain combined with high phase, and 36 cases were simple horizontal high gain (and mainly concentrated at 2-4 Hz, 26 cases), 8 cases (11.6%) showed low gain. ③VAT characteristics in PCI group:47 cases (64.4%) were high gain, and 11 cases (15.1%) were low gain. There was no significant difference in high gain and low gain between PCI group and VM group (χ² was 0.07 and 0.37, P>0.05). Both VM group and PCI group are high-gain, but there was significant difference in the phase delay and asymmetric indicators. ④VAT characteristics in normal people group: The four indices have low abnormally positive rates. There were statistically significant differences of the high gain and the low gain between the normal people group and VM group(χ² were 56.17 and 97.57, P<0.01).Conclusion:The vestibular ocular reflex of VM is high-gain based and was mostly in the 2-4 Hz frequency,and accompanied by phase delay. Vestibular central system was mainly involved in VM. VAT detection can provide a clue for VM diagnostics.

[Experimental model study on Li's repositioning maneuver for horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo]

Objective:Based on the standard spatial semicircular canal model, the scientificity and feasibility of Li's repositioning maneuver for horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were analyzed.Method:The standard space semicircular canal model was established. The significance and shortcomings of each step were analyzed by simulating and observing the Li's repositioning maneuver for horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.Result:According to the model of semicircular canal, the otoliths of horizontal semicircular canal are more likely to return to the ampulla instead of moving into the utriculus through the semicircular canal after using Li's repositioning maneuver.Conclusion:The experimental model suggests that Li's repositioning maneuver omits the necessary steps of repositioning method, and can not simulate the result of the reposition of otoliths.

[The exploration on optimization of two alternatives between roll test and Dix-Hallpike test in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo]

Objective: To analyze the objective characteristics of roll test and Dix-Hallpike test in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV)patients, discussing the premier solution of positional test. Methods: A total of 230 patients with BPPV, whereas 170 posterior semicircular canal canalithiasis (PSC-Can) BPPV and 60 horizontal semicircular canal canalithiasis (HSC-Can) BPPV were involved respectively. The induced nystagmus in roll test and Dix-Hallpike test was recorded by video nystagmuo graph (VNG), and the direction, intensity and time characteristics of nystagmus were compared in various BPPV.SPSS19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Vertically upward nystagmus was induced by hanging in 170 PSC-Can Dix-Hallpike test, and the nystagmus reversed and turned weaker when the subjects came to sit. The intensity of nystagmus at turning to lesion side by hanging and sitting were (30.3±14.1)°/s and (12.6±7.5)°/s respectively, the difference was statistically significant (t=20.153, P<0.05). However, no nystagmus was induced in PSC-Can roll test. Horizontal nystagmus in the same direction with turning was induced in 60 HSC-Can roll test. The intensity of nystagmus at turning to lesion side and normal side was (42.0±18.0)°/s and (20.3±8.7)°/s respectively, the difference was statistically significant (t=12.731, P<0.05). Furthermore, horizontal nystagmus in the same direction with turning was induced in 57 HSC-Can Dix-Hallpike. The coherence was 95% with the results of roll test. Conclusions: Dix-Hallpike test can not only be used to diagnose PSC-Can, but also induce nystagmus in HSC-Can effectively. Whereas the roll test only show significance in diagnosing HSC-Can. To avoid uncomfortable stimulation to patients as much as possible, we suggest to use Dix-Hallpike test at first, and to judge whether using roll test based on the result of the horizontal nystagmus.

Radiographic progression with nonrising PSA in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: post hoc analysis of PREVAIL

BACKGROUND

Advanced prostate cancer is a phenotypically diverse disease that evolves through multiple clinical courses. PSA level is the most widely used parameter for disease monitoring, but it has well-recognized limitations. Unlike in clinical trials, in practice, clinicians may rely on PSA monitoring alone to determine disease status on therapy. This approach has not been adequately tested.

METHODS

Chemotherapy-naive asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic men (n=872) with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who were treated with the androgen receptor inhibitor enzalutamide in the PREVAIL study were analyzed post hoc for rising versus nonrising PSA (empirically defined as >1.05 vs ⩽1.05 times the PSA level from 3 months earlier) at the time of radiographic progression. Clinical characteristics and disease outcomes were compared between the rising and nonrising PSA groups.

RESULTS

Of 265 PREVAIL patients with radiographic progression and evaluable PSA levels on the enzalutamide arm, nearly one-quarter had a nonrising PSA. Median progression-free survival in this cohort was 8.3 months versus 11.1 months in the rising PSA cohort (hazard ratio 1.68; 95% confidence interval 1.26-2.23); overall survival was similar between the two groups, although less than half of patients in either group were still at risk at 24 months. Baseline clinical characteristics of the two groups were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-rising PSA at radiographic progression is a common phenomenon in mCRPC patients treated with enzalutamide. As restaging in advanced prostate cancer patients is often guided by increases in PSA levels, our results demonstrate that disease progression on enzalutamide can occur without rising PSA levels. Therefore, a disease monitoring strategy that includes imaging not entirely reliant on serial serum PSA measurement may more accurately identify disease progression.

[The analysis of the value of spontaneous nystagmus in peripheral vestibular hypofunction]

Objective:To study the characteristics and clinical value of spontaneous nystagmus in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction.Method:Sixty cases with acute unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction were studied.All were diagnozed as vestibular neuritis(VN) . The relationship between SN and disease duration,DP and UW were analyzed.Result:SN was present in49 patients(81.7%)and absent in the remaining 11(18.3%).The intensity of SN ranged from 0.5°/s-20.4°/s and had negative correlation with the disease duration(r=-0.478，P<0.01). The patients were divided into 3 groups (mild,medium and severe) according to SN intensity,with median duration of disease being 6.5 d，5 d and 3 d respectively. The difference between groups was statistically significant(χ²=9.071，P<0.01).The result of the caloric test were as following：caloric test revealed DP in 44 cases（89.8%） of SN ;DP values were normal in 8 cases（10.2%）;SN intensity was positively correlated with DP value（r=0.513,P<0.01） ;unilateral weakness was found in 35 cases（71.4%）,with the direction of SN towards the weakness side in 4 cases and towards the opposite direction in the remaining 31 cases; 7 cases（14.3%）had bilateral weakness and 7 cases（14.3%）normal. There were no relationship between the intensity of SN and UW value（r=-0.321,P>0.05）.The UW value of patients with SN (40.9±26.3）% was compared to the group without SN（29.9±18.2）% . The difference was statistically significant (F=4.497,P<0.05).Conclusion:The intensity of SN in patients with acute unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction was often moderate and severe. The intensity of SN waned as the disease progressed or the direction reversed,The vestibular injury in patient with SN was more severe than those without. SN is useful in clinical assessment of vestibular injury and compensatory status.

Recent advances in the detection of specific natural organic compounds as carriers for radionuclides in soil and water environments, with examples of radioiodine and plutonium

Among the key environmental factors influencing the fate and transport of radionuclides in the environment is natural organic matter (NOM). While this has been known for decades, there still remains great uncertainty in predicting NOM-radionuclide interactions because of lack of understanding of radionuclide interactions with the specific organic moieties within NOM. Furthermore, radionuclide-NOM studies conducted using modelled organic compounds or elevated radionuclide concentrations provide compromised information related to true environmental conditions. Thus, sensitive techniques are required not only for the detection of radionuclides, and their different species, at ambient and/or far-field concentrations, but also for potential trace organic compounds that are chemically binding these radionuclides. GC-MS and AMS techniques developed in our lab are reviewed here that aim to assess how two radionuclides, iodine and plutonium, form strong bonds with NOM by entirely different mechanisms; iodine tends to bind to aromatic functionalities, whereas plutonium binds to N-containing hydroxamate siderophores at ambient concentrations. While low-level measurements are a prerequisite for assessing iodine and plutonium migration at nuclear waste sites and as environmental tracers, it is necessary to determine their in-situ speciation, which ultimately controls their mobility and transport in natural environments. More importantly, advanced molecular-level instrumentation (e.g., nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI-FTICRMS) were applied to resolve either directly or indirectly the molecular environments in which the radionuclides are associated with the NOM.

[Application of narrow band imaging in laryngeal tumor]

Objective:To explore the application of narrow band imaging(NBI) technology in laryngeal tumor.Method:From Appril 2014 to Otober 2016, three hundred and twenty-two patients with suspected laryngeal cancer or precancerous lesions were enrolled in the First Central Hospital of Tianjin. Each patient was examined by electronic nasopharyngolaryngoscope under white light and NBI model. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of laryngeal tumor diagnosis under white light mode and NBI mode was compared based on pathological results. Result:The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of white light mode in laryngeal tumor diagnosis were 77.17%,62.07% and 74.36%, respectively whereas the NBI model were 92.91%,77.59% and 90.06%, respectively.The sensitivity and accuracy of NBI model in laryngeal tumor diagnosis were significantly higer than white light model(P<0.05),but not the specificity. Conclusion:The electronic nasopharyngolaryngoscope of NBI technology not only found early lesions of laryngeal cancer, but also can improve the sensitivity and accuracy of laryngeal tumor diagnosis.

Systems Pharmacology-Based Discovery of Natural Products for Precision Oncology Through Targeting Cancer Mutated Genes

Massive cancer genomics data have facilitated the rapid revolution of a novel oncology drug discovery paradigm through targeting clinically relevant driver genes or mutations for the development of precision oncology. Natural products with polypharmacological profiles have been demonstrated as promising agents for the development of novel cancer therapies. In this study, we developed an integrated systems pharmacology framework that facilitated identifying potential natural products that target mutated genes across 15 cancer types or subtypes in the realm of precision medicine. High performance was achieved for our systems pharmacology framework. In case studies, we computationally identified novel anticancer indications for several US Food and Drug Administration-approved or clinically investigational natural products (e.g., resveratrol, quercetin, genistein, and fisetin) through targeting significantly mutated genes in multiple cancer types. In summary, this study provides a powerful tool for the development of molecularly targeted cancer therapies through targeting the clinically actionable alterations by exploiting the systems pharmacology of natural products.

[Frequency characteristics of the semicicular canals damage in patients with Meniere disease]

Objective: To evaluate semicircular canal damage and its frequency characteristics in Meniere disease patients. Methods: Sixty-seven Meniere disease patients accepted the video-head impulse test(vHIT)which responses to semicircular canal function of high frequency area, head shaking test(HST) which responses to semicircular canal function of middle frequency area, and caloric test(CT) which responses to semicircular canal function of low frequency area.Preferences were recorded including the video head impulse test gain (vHIT-G), head shaking nystagmus (HSN) and parameters of the unilateral weakness (UW) as observation index, and results of all the three tests were analyzed according to Meniere disease patients. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyzed the data. Results: The positive rate of CT, HSN and vHIT were 70.1%(47/67), 41.8%(28/67) and 23.9%(16/67) respectively. Comparation of the positive rate among CT, HST and vHIT showed statistically significant difference (χ²=10.93, P=0.001; χ²=28.79, P=0.000). Comparation of the positive rate between HST and vHIT showed statistically significant difference(χ²=4.87, P=0.027). Conclusions: Semicircular canal function damage in Meniere disease patients mainly presents in the low frequency area, which indicates a characteristic phenomenon that low-frequency function area (caloric test results) is more predisposed to be involved than that of middle-frequency function area (head shaking testing)and high-frequency function area (video head impulse testing) in Meniere disease patients.

Impact of metabolic syndrome on the survival of Chinese patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the impact of MetS on survival has not been evaluated. A retrospective review was performed on 596 consecutive Chinese patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received surgery between January 2005 and October 2007. The clinical data and pretreatment information related to MetS were reviewed. The impact of MetS on overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses. MetS was a significant and independent predictor for better survival in patients with resectable ESCC. The 3-year OS and 5-year OS for patients with and without MetS were 75.0% versus 57.8% and 65.1% versus 44.6%, respectively (P = 0.005 in the univariate analysis, P = 0.010 in multivariate analysis). However, there was no apparent influence of any single component of MetS on OS. The other independent prognostic factors identified in the univariate analysis included the following: gender, smoking status, alcohol use, the extent of radical surgical resection, T and N stage, and tumor differentiation. The results of the multivariate analysis included the extent of radical surgery resection, T and N stage, and tumor differentiation. MetS was also associated with greater tumor cell differentiation (P = 0.036). There was no association found between MetS status and postoperative complications. MetS is an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with ESCC and is associated with better tumor cell differentiation.

[The evaluation of hearing aid effect in presbycusis]

Objective:To evaluate the effect of hearing aid in presbycusis. Method:Using the method of international outcome inventory for hearing aids(IOI-HA)and medium acoustic intensity(65 dBSPL) word recognition score(WRS), to evaluate the effect of hearing aid in moderate and severe presbycusis. Result:After the hearing aid of moderate presbycusis, The improved value of monosyllabic words and recognition rate in quite and noise statement(SNR=5) were 31.15%, 23.21%, 44.11%.However, improved values in severe presbycusis were 37.51%, 48.47%，50.17%, before and after hearing aid, the difference of the improved average value was statistically significant(P <0.05); Both the moderate and severe presbycusis were satisfacted with hearing aid.The IO-HA scores of moderate and severe presbycusis ranged from 15 to 34.The difference of IOIHA score of moderate and severe presbycusis had no statistical significance(P >0.05); moderate and severe presbycusis with high satisfaction with HA of quiet statement,and low satisfaction of monosyllabic words listening, and the degree of satisfaction was higher in patients with moderate to severe hearing loss in noise statement.Conclusion:Speech audiometry is an important method to assess the effect of hearing aid; IOI-HA is a timeconsuming short, subjective method.The combine of multiple evaluations have guiding significance to debugging of hearing aid expected effect and hearing aid device.

[Clinical characteristics of orthostatic hypertension with hemodynamic response of vasovagal syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in children and adolescents]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical characteristics of orthostatic hypertension (OHT) with hemodynamic response of vasovagal syncope (VVS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in children and adolescents.

METHOD

Children and adolescents admitted to the Second Xiangya Hospital from July 2008 to April 2015 were included, and divided into three groups according to the results of head-up tilt test (HUTT): OHT group, OHT+ VVS group, OHT+ POTS group. The clinical characteristics were analyzed.

RESULT

Totally 629 cases were included, 300 cases in OHT group, 264 cases in OHT+ VVS group and 65 cases in OHT+ POTS group. Syncope and dizziness were the main symptoms of the three groups, and the proportion of patients complaining syncope in OHT+ VVS group was higher than that in OHT group (49.6% vs. 35.7%, χ(2)=11.211, P<0.05) and in OHT+ POTS group (49.6% vs. 27.7%, χ(2)=10.123, P<0.05). Baseline heart rate (HR)((78±14) beat/min vs. (77±12) beat/min, t=2.570, P<0.05), HUTT 3 min HR ((100±14) beat/min vs. (94±13) beat/min, t=17.464, P<0.05) and ΔHR ((22±12) beat/min vs. (17±9) beat/min, t=19.303, P<0.05) were higher in OHT+ VVS group than in OHT group. When compared with OHT group, baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) ((105±10) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. (103±10) mmHg, t=4.918, P<0.05), HUTT 3 min SBP((114±10) mmHg vs. (113±11) mmHg, t=4.046, P<0.05), baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP)((64±6) mmHg vs. (63±7) mmHg, t=2.618, P<0.05), HUTT 3 min DBP((78±8) mmHg vs. (77±8) mmHg, t=3.302, P<0.05), HUTT 3 min HR ((107±14) beat/min vs. (94±13) beat/min, t=24.229, P<0.05) and ΔHR ((32±11) beat/min vs. (17±9) beat/min, t=39.146, P<0.05) in OHT+ POTS group were significantly higher, and baseline HR((75±14) beat/min vs. (77±12) beat/min, t=-4.221, P<0.05)in OHT+ POTS group was lower.

CONCLUSION

OHT with higher supine HR, upright HR and HR change is more susceptible to being complicated with VVS, while OHT with higher supine and upright SBP, higher supine and upright DBP and lower supine HR is more susceptible to being accompanied by POTS.

[Necessity of repeated roll test in horizontal semicircular canalithasis positioned diagnosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of repeated roll test in horizontal semicircular canalithasis(HSC-Can) positioned diagnosis, so as to investigate the cecessity of repeated roll test.

METHODS

The patients with a chief complaint of positional vertigo accepted two consecutive cycles roll test, the evoked nystagmus characteristics of each cycle recorded by video-nystagmuograph(VNG), whose direction, intensity, time and other parameters characteristics were analyzed in 51 HSC-Can.

RESULTS

Horizontal nystagmus in the same direction with turning were induced in HSC-Can roll test. In 51 HSC-Can, roll test cycle 1 and cycle 2 induced nystagmus same strength side in 26 cases(51.0%), of which 19 cases with stronger nystagmus intensity in cycle 2, another 7 cases were weaker; the opposite strength side of the two loops induced nystagmus, and cycle 1 evoked nystagmus intensity were weaker than cycle 2, based on cycle 2 results determined HSC-Can affected side in 25 cases (49.0%). Lesion and normal side in cycle 1 induced nystagmus duration (x±s, the same below) were (13.4±11.5)s and (14.1±9.9)s, respectively intensity (18.1±22.4)°/s and (13.0±12.0)°/s; as in cycle 2 induced nystagmus duration was (20.7±10.2)s and (18.0±12.0)s, strength respectively(40.4±28.0)°/s and (15.6 ±11.2)°/s. Cycle 2 ipsilateral rotor position evoked nystagmus showed longer duration and stronger intensity than cycle 1. Between two cycle induced ipsilateral nystagmus duration, intensity differences were statistically significant (t values were -4.233 and -5.154, P=0.000). 51 HSC-Can patients, 44 patients selected repositioning maneuver, after 1-2 times of maneuver, 41 cases (93.2%) showed complete resolution of symptoms, all cases's symptoms were improved; other 7 patients selected medication only.

CONCLUSION

The proposed suspicious HSC-Can patients should receive at least two cycles roll test, and mainly in the second cycle could determine the location of the responsible semicircular canals.

Pilot study of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

BACKGROUND

DNA methylation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergy and atopy. This study aimed to identify whether DNA methylation also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps (NP).

METHODOLOGY

NP tissues were obtained from 32 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with bilateral NP. Biopsies of inferior turbinate mucosa (ITM) were taken from 18 patients who underwent rhinoseptoplasty (control group). The methylated genes, which were detected by DNA methylation microarray, were validated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, bisulphite sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

DNA methylation microarray identified 8,008 CpG islands in 2,848 genes. One hundred and ninety-eight genes were found to have a methylated signal in the promoter region in NP samples compared with ITM samples. The four top genes that changed, COL18A1, EP300, GNAS and SMURF1, were selected for further study. The methylation frequency of COL18A1 was significantly higher in NP samples than in ITM samples.

CONCLUSIONS

DNA methylation might play an important role in the pathogenesis of NP. Promoter methylation of COL18A1 was found to be significantly increased in NP tissues, further studies are necessary to confirm the significance of these epigenetic factors in the mechanisms underlying the development or persistence of NP.

Combination of the Manifold Dimensionality Reduction Methods with Least Squares Support vector machines for Classifying the Species of Sorghum Seeds

This study was carried out for rapid and noninvasive determination of the class of sorghum species by using the manifold dimensionality reduction (MDR) method and the nonlinear regression method of least squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) combing with the mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) techniques. The methods of Durbin and Run test of augmented partial residual plot (APaRP) were performed to diagnose the nonlinearity of the raw spectral data. The nonlinear MDR methods of isometric feature mapping (ISOMAP), local linear embedding, laplacian eigenmaps and local tangent space alignment, as well as the linear MDR methods of principle component analysis and metric multidimensional scaling were employed to extract the feature variables. The extracted characteristic variables were utilized as the input of LS-SVM and established the relationship between the spectra and the target attributes. The mean average precision (MAP) scores and prediction accuracy were respectively used to evaluate the performance of models. The prediction results showed that the ISOMAP-LS-SVM model obtained the best classification performance, where the MAP scores and prediction accuracy were 0.947 and 92.86%, respectively. It can be concluded that the ISOMAP-LS-SVM model combined with the MIRS technique has the potential of classifying the species of sorghum in a reasonable accuracy.