Change of Guinea Pig Inner Ear Pressure by Square Wave Middle Ear Cavity Pressure Variation

The inner ear fluid pressure of guinea pigs was measured during square wave middle ear cavity pressure variation. Time constants were derived for the slopes of the inner ear pressure recovery curves after middle ear pressure change. A "single exponential" function did not fit well and therefore more complicated functions were used for this purpose. For middle ear pressure increasing from zero to a few centimetres of water, returning to zero again, decreasing from zero to minus a few centimetres of water and then returning to zero again, time constants for the inner ear pressure recovery curves were on average 15.0, 8.6, 2.5 and 2.5 s, respectively. The results could not be described using a linear model with constant window membrane compliance and cochlear aqueduct flow resistance. A possible explanation for the large difference in time constants for positive or negative middle ear pressure changes is a dependence on aqueduct flow resistance or round window membrane position.     

A new device for delivering drugs into the inner ear: otoendoscope with microcatheter

Objectives

Intratympanic injection (ITI) of drugs into the inner ear is an attractive way to deliver therapy. However, if the round window membrane (RWM) cannot be visualized, adhesions need to be removed first before ITI can be performed. We developed and tested a novel otoendoscopy device that allows visualization of the RWM for the purpose of ITI.

Methods

Our otoendoscope consists of a catheter channel for delivering drugs and a suction channel.

Results

The novel otoendoscope for inner ear drug delivery has a fine needle with catheter, which can be used to remove or perforate round window niche (RWN) mucosal adhesions. The elliptical shape of the otoendoscope effectively captures the field in the light-guided area, resulting in bright images.

Conclusions

Our otoendoscope can be used to apply drugs directly onto the surface of the RWM and to verify the correct placement of an inner ear drug delivery system, ensuring that it is safely in place.     

员利针治疗腰椎间盘突出症110例

目的:观察员利针疗法治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效.方法:治疗组110例腰椎间盘突出症患者采用员利针疗法治疗,常规针灸组(以夹脊穴为主)作为对照组.结果:以员利针为主的治疗组即时疗效及远期综合疗效优于常规针刺组.结论:员利针疗法治疗腰椎间盘突症出具有见效快、疗程短、无创伤、痛苦小等优点,适宜在临床推广应用.     

Ewing’s sarcoma of the urogenital tract

This article reviews the current available information on Ewing’s sarcoma of the urogenital tract, focusing on the presentation, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of this uncommon entity. Because of the rapid local growth of these tumors, an immediate decision for treatment initiation is mandatory. The classical presentation depends mainly on the site of involvement of these tumors, involving a palpable mass, hematuria, and pain. No specific diagnostic imaging is available to date, and the only diagnostic method remains histological examination in combination with immunohistochemistry. Treatment involves primary surgical resection of all tumor tissues followed by adjuvant multi-agent chemotherapy. Overall survival is poor, although a 13-year survival has been reached in one case.     

Correlation between adjusted late spermatid score and sperm count in normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men

ObjectiveTo correlate late spermatid score and sperm count in men with normal semen analysis and oligozoospermia undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to set the average threshold of spermatids/tubule of testicular tissue needed for normal sperm count/ml of semen.Material and methodsThis study was conducted on 24 normozoospermic subjects and 18 oligozoospermic patients who underwent wide bore needle biopsy because of failed sperm collection at the day of ICSI. Clinical data were reviewed and testicular biopsy slides were examined for Johnson score and adjusted late spermatid score.ResultsThe optimum cut off value for adjusted late spermatid score in predicting a sperm count >20 million/ml was 20.75 late spermatid per tubule with 100% specificity. Model equations were produced to predict the sperm count using adjusted late spermatid score and vice versa.ConclusionThis work supports the hypothesis that late spermatid score is a simple and reliable method for quantitation of spermatogenesis and it correlates well with the sperm count. The value of late spermatids needed for normal sperm count in this report is different from some other reports. The better standardization of work in this study may help resetting a new late spermatid threshold for normal sperm count.     

离体圆窗膜对地塞米松不同制剂的通透性

目的 制备离体圆窗膜试验模型，分析海藻酸钠（alginate sodium，ALG）、羧甲基甲壳胺（carboxymethyled chitosan，CHI）2种缓释剂对地塞米松（dexamethasone，DXM）透膜释放的效力。方法 模拟中耳及外淋巴腔环境，设计圆窗膜离体试验模型；制备不同浓度的海藻酸钠和羧甲基甲壳胺的地塞米松磷酸钠组。利用圆窗膜离体试验模型，于9h内的不同时间点采样，用高效液相色谱（high performance liquid chromatography，HPLC）法测定浓度，计算地塞米松对圆窗膜的累积通透量并进行方程模拟。结果 对照组在给药后3h内迅速通透圆窗膜，3h后接近平衡；25g／L海藻酸钠分别与4g／L或6g／L羧甲基甲壳胺的配方缓释作用最强（P〈0．01）；单独应用25g／L海藻酸钠的缓释作用次之；单独应用4g／L羧甲基甲壳胺仅具有微小促渗作用。结论 离体圆窗膜通透模型允许地塞米松分子自由通透；添加合适剂量的缓释材料——海藻酸钠与羧甲基甲壳胺的地塞米松磷酸钠制剂具有明显缓释作用，有可能成为未来用于内耳局部给药缓释材料的理想选择。     

人工耳蜗植入术相关结构的解剖测量

目的通过对人工耳蜗植入手术相关的解剖结构进行观察、测量,为人工耳蜗植入手术提供理论参考。方法对10个尸头20侧颞骨标本进行解剖,模拟人工耳蜗植入术,在手术显微镜下观察、测量与人工耳蜗植入手术相关的解剖数据。结果镫骨头下缘与耳蜗底回切开点之间的距离为2.154±0.173mm,镫骨头下缘与圆窗龛之间的距离为2.470±0.582mm,圆窗龛与耳蜗底回切开点的距离为1.422±0.369mm,镫骨头下缘与耳蜗第二回切开点之间的距离为3.238±0.151mm,镫骨头下缘与匙突之间的距离为2.831±0.269mm,匙突与耳蜗第二回切开点之间的距离为1.338±0.132mm,面神经垂直段与圆窗龛的距离为4.830±1.152mm,面神经与鼓索神经在圆窗平面的距离为2.480±0.274mm,卵圆窗与圆窗的距离为1.820±0.452mm,耳蜗底回前缘与颈内动脉管的距离为1.856±0.372mm。结论人工耳蜗植入手术中切开耳蜗底回的位置位于圆窗龛前方约1.422mm,镫骨头下缘约2.154mm处;耳蜗第二回切开点位于匙突下约1.338mm处;卵圆窗与圆窗、面神经与鼓素神经间的平均距离的测量为术中寻找圆窗龛、避免损伤面神经等重要结构提供了参考。     

增产菊胺酯对雄性小鼠生殖细胞的毒性作用研究

增产菊胺酯（代号ＷＤ５）我国开发的一种新型植物生长调节剂，经田间实验表明具有明显的增产作用，有广阔的就用前景。本文在急性毒性试验的基础上，从生殖毒理方面研究了ＷＤ５对小鼠精子数量、活动率、存活率、形态以及睾丸早期精细胞微核率的影响。试验结果表明，在ＷＤ５剂量为５．０￣１２５．０ｍｇ／ｋｇ的试验条件下，可引起小鼠精子数量减少、活动率和存活率降低、畸形率升高、早期精细胞微核率增加，提示ＷＤ５对雄性小鼠     

Maintenance of hydrostatic pressure gradients in the membranous labyrinth

Summary In normal guinea pig ears, hydrostatic perilymphatic pressure is equal to endolymphatic pressure. Alterations of perilymphatic pressure induced, for example, by laceration of the round window membrane are transmitted immediately to the endolymphatic compartment, probably via Reissner's membrane. In guinea pigs with experimental endolymphatic hydrops, however, pressure gradients between the endolymph and perilymph remained preserved after rupture of the round window membrane. This is considered as further evidence that after longstanding distention of Reissner's membrane the membranous labyrinth loses its ability to equalize endolymphatic and perilymphatic pressure.