Chronic otitis media and subsequent hearing loss in children from the Himalayan region residing in Buddhist Monastic schools of Nepal

ObjectivesThe main objective of the study was to ascertain the prevalence of chronic otitis media and determine the corresponding hearing loss in children from Nepal’s Himalayan region now residing in Buddhist Monastic schools of Nepal.MethodsThe study was conducted among children at Buddhist monastic school in different parts of Nepal. A total of 3174 children aged between 5 and 15 years, who were originally from the Himalayan region of Nepal and were currently residing in monastic schools, were screened for ear problems and hearing loss. They were examined by otoscope to diagnose chronic otitis media. Hearing was evaluated by pure tone audiometer, and 0.5–4 kHz air conduction hearing threshold was measured and documented.ResultsOf the total of 3174 children who were screened for ear diseases and hearing loss, monks constituted 76.21% (n = 2419) and Nuns 23.78% (n = 755). Chronic otitis media was the most common otoscopic finding during the screening, and it affected a total of 344 (10.83%) children. Out of these 344, hearing loss of varying degrees was observed in 5.42% (n = 172) children.ConclusionThere is high prevalence of chronic otitis media in children belonging to the Himalayan region of Nepal, and it is the main cause of avoidable hearing loss. Timely diagnosis and treatment of chronic otitis media could prevent unnecessary hearing loss in these children.     

对过大牙槽窝行自体牙移植的动物实验研究

目的研究对受区过大牙槽窝行自体牙移植的方法。方法3只Beagle犬的18颗切牙作为供体牙,分为3组,分别植入到前磨牙区已预备好,近远中向比牙根宽2mm的牙槽窝中。再生组提前7d预备受区,利用再生组织充填;骨材料组使用瑞安生骨替代物充填;对照组不做处理。术后3月大体观察、拍X片和组织学检测比较3组的预后。结果所有移植牙均健康存活,无松动脱落。再生组示牙周膜再生,牙骨质和牙槽骨表面无吸收。骨材料组牙根发生炎症性吸收,有新骨生成。对照组牙根发生表面吸收。结论再生组织可以促进牙周再生,并减少牙根表面吸收;瑞安生骨替代物的使用有助于移植牙的稳定和存活,但其对牙周再生的作用尚待进一步研究。     

Role of mid-trimester transvaginal cervical ultrasound in prediction of preterm delivery

Ultrasonographic cervical length assessment is increasingly being utilized clinically to identify women at risk for spontaneous preterm delivery. In a randomised prospective longitudinal study involving 200 women, we measured cervical length and internal os diameter by transvaginal scan at 20 - 24 weeks and analysed their ability to predict preterm birth. The risk of spontaneous preterm delivery increased steeply as cervical length decreased. At cut off value of < or = 2.5cm, the cervical length measurements had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 77%, 95%, 56% and 98% respectively. However, internal os diameter lacked sensitivity and specificity. Our data suggests that the duration of pregnancy is directly related to length of the cervix: the shorter the cervix, the greater the chance of preterm delivery.     

Effectiveness of two regeneration materials in autogenous tooth transplantation in larger sockets：an experimental study in beagle dogs

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of regenerous tissue and bone substitute in autogenous tooth transplantation in the larger recipient socket. Methods:In 3 Beagle dogs,18 incisors were transplanted to the recipient sockets,2 mm wider mesio-distally. The regenerous tissue group,the bone substitute group and the control group contained 7,7 and 4 teeth respectively. No additional material was used in control group. Clinical and radiographic examinations were done every month and were sacrificed 3 months later. Subsequently,decalcified sections were prepared for routine histological evaluation. Ordinal scores for root surface resorption were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results:All donor teeth survived. A statistically significant difference was found among all three treatment groups(P = 0.0001). The proliferating tissue in space positively affected the periodontal healing without any resorption. Inflammatory resorption of the root surface and formation of new bone were observed in the bone substitute group. Surface resorptions of the roots were found in the control group. Conclusion:Proliferating tissues enhance the regeneration of periodontal tissues in larger recipient sockets and prevent root resorption. Sinbone HT is beneficial for the stabilization of the transplanted teeth in larger sockets.     

Caspase-1-mediated regulation of fibrogenesis in diet-induced steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is typically associated with pro-apoptotic caspase activation. A potential role for pro-inflammatory caspases remains incompletely understood. Our aims were to examine a potential role of caspase-1 in the development of liver damage and fibrosis in NASH. C57BL/6 wild type (WT) developed marked steatohepatitis, activation, fibrosis and increased hepatic caspase-1 and interleukin-1β expression when placed on the methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Marked caspase-1 activation was detected in the liver of MCD-fed mice. Hepatocyte and non-parenchymal fractionation of the livers further demonstrated that caspase-1 activation after MCD feeding was mainly localized to non-parenchymal cells. Caspase-1-knockout (Casp1(-/-)) mice on the MCD diet showed marked reduction in mRNA expression of genes involved in inflammation and fibrogenesis (tumor necrosis factor-α was 7.6-fold greater in WT vs Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice; F4/80 was 1.5-fold greater in WT vs Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice; α-smooth muscle actin was 3.2-fold greater in WT vs Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice; collagen 1-α was 7.6-fold greater in WT vs Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice; transforming growth factor-β was 2.4-fold greater in WT vs Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice; cysteine- and glycine-rich protein 2 was 3.2-fold greater in WT vs Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice). Furthermore, Sirius red staining for hepatic collagen deposition was significantly reduced in Casp1(-/-) MCD-fed mice compared with WT MCD-fed animals. However, serum alanine aminotransferase levels, caspase-3 activity and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells were similar in Casp1(-/-) and WT mice on the MCD diet. Selective Kupffer cell depletion by clodronate injection markedly suppressed MCD-induced caspase-1 activation and protected mice from fibrogenesis and fibrosis associated with this diet. The conclusion of this study is that it uncovers a novel role for caspase-1 in inflammation and fibrosis during NASH development.