Acoustical modulation of electrically evoked otoacoustic emission in intact gerbil cochlea

In order to study the interaction between mechanical-electrical and electrical-mechanical transductions of outer hair cells (OHCs) in vivo, we observed the acoustically induced changes in the electrically evoked otoacoustic emission (EEOAE). One pole of a bipolar electrode was placed in the round window niche and the other pole on the surface of the first cochlear turn in the gerbil. A microphone and a speaker were used to monitor the EEOAE and to deliver an acoustical tone, respectively. It was found that a high sound level acoustical tone enhanced the EEOAE fine structure at frequencies below the acoustical frequency, and suppressed the overall level of the EEOAE at frequencies above the acoustical frequency. In addition, the EEOAE at frequencies approximately one half octave lower than the acoustical frequencies were relatively more enhanced or showed relatively less suppression than at other frequencies. The amplitudes of these changes had a positive relationship with acoustical tone levels. Furosemide eliminated the acoustically caused EEOAE change indicating that the acoustically caused change in the EEOAE is a phenomenon of the normal cochlea. One possible mechanism for the results is that the electrically and acoustically evoked basilar membrane (BM) vibrations interact at the EEOAE generation site and change the local mechanical and electrical properties. The second possible mechanism is that the acoustical stimulus creates an impedance discontinuity at its characteristic frequency location leading to a change in the reflected electrically evoked traveling wave, which may enhance or suppress the EEOAE by the vector summation of two waves.     

系统性红斑狼疮心电图改变及中西医结合疗效分析

目的观察系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)的心电图改变特点及中西医结合治疗的临床疗效.方法对106例 SLE患者进行常规心电图检查,并对其中62例出现心电图异常改变者进行中西医结合治疗 30d.结果 44例心电图恢复正常,18例无效,总有效率70.96%.结论中西医结合治疗能有效地改善 SLE患者的心电图异常.     

Lesion-associated accumulation of uPAR/CD87- expressing infiltrating granulocytes, activated microglial cells/macrophages and upregulation by endothelial cells following TBI and FCI in humans

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR/CD87) together with its ligand, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), constitutes a proteolytic system associated with tissue remodelling and leucocyte infiltration. uPAR is a member of the glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchored protein family. The functional role of uPAR comprises fibrinolysis by conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. In addition, uPAR promotes cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, re-organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, uPAR is involved in prevention of scar formation and is chemoattractant to macrophages and leucocytes. In order to investigate the pathophysiological role of uPAR following human CNS injury we examined necrotic brain lesions resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI; n = 28) and focal cerebral infarctions (FCI; n = 17) by immunohistochemistry. Numbers of uPAR+ cells and uPAR+ blood vessels were counted. Following brain damage, uPAR+ cells increased significantly within 12 h, reached a maximum after 3-4 days and remained elevated until later stages. uPAR was expressed by infiltrating granulocytes, activated microglia/macrophages and endothelial cells. Numbers of uPAR+ vessels increased in parallel subsiding earlier following FCI than post TBI. The restricted, lesion-associated accumulation of uPAR+ cells in the brain parenchyma and upregulated expression by endothelial cells suggests a crucial role for the influx of inflammatory cells and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disturbance. Through a failure in BBB function, uPAR participates in formation of brain oedema and thus contributes to secondary brain damage. In conclusion, the study defines the localization, kinetic course and cellular source of uPAR as a potential pharmacological target following human TBI and FCI.     

基于人工智能的高血压性脑出血医疗文本信息自动识别系统

目的 构建基于人工智能的高血压性脑出血医疗文本信息自动识别系统,快速识别和分析患者临床信息,高效地输出正确的诊疗方案。方法 基于国内外最新高血压性脑出血诊疗指南,经多位高年资神经外科医生和专业人工智能团队共同讨论,构建基于语言表征模型和专家模块的高血压性脑出血医疗文本信息自动识别及决策系统（即H系统）。随后将收集到的高血压性脑出血病例分为训练集、测试集和验证集,以数据库中病例的真实治疗方案为金标准,先总体评价H系统的准确性,再将其与神经外科医生进行对比,分析H系统的判读效率。结果 在测试集中,H系统所输出的治疗方案的准确率为94.0%（91.5%~96.5%）,特异度为91.8%（86.3%~97.3%）,灵敏度为95.5%（89.3%~98.2%）,曲线下面积（area under the curve,AUC）值为0.936（0.922~0.950）（P=0.000）;在验证集中,H系统所输出的治疗方案的准确率为93.3%（89.5%~97.1%）,特异度为 89.9%（83.4%~96.4%）,灵敏度为95.8%（92.3%~99.3%）,AUC值为0.928（0.891~0.966）（P=0.000）。在处理同样的70例病例时,H系统用时（334.60±4.46）s,而神经外科医生用时（12 550.28±95.45）s;在50 min内,H系统处理的病例数为（383±3）例,而神经外科医生处理的病例数为（11±4）例。结论 本研究所构建的H系统能够对高血压性脑出血患者的急诊病例进行自动识别和分析,并快速输出准确的诊疗方案,可协助医生对高血压脑出血进行急诊诊疗。     

Inhibitory effects of electrical stimulation on delivery in pregnant rats

Objective

To study the efficacy of uterine electrical stimulation (ES) with various parameters in delaying delivery in term- and preterm-laboring animals.

Study design

Catheters and electrodes, as well as ES electrodes, were sutured onto the uterine horn in day-15 pregnant rats. ES with various durations/frequencies (five sets of parameters) was tested from gestation day 21 to determine its effects on uterine contractility. The best set of ES parameters was applied in term (day 21) and preterm (day 18—labor induced) animals to determine the effects of ES on delivery.

Results

(1) Significant reduction in uterine contractions (0.54 ± 0.11 vs. 0.86 ± 0.08 contractions per minute, P < 0.001) was noted with ES of only one of the five sets of parameters (set #5 with pulse train of 10 s on and 10 s off, 28 ms pulse width, frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 4 mA); (2) ES with parameter set 5 delayed delivery by 12.5 h (P = 0.01) and reduced area under the curve of intrauterine pressure in mmHg s (311 ± 147.21 vs. 848.75 ± 350.38, P < 0.05) and AUC-electromyographic activity is area under rectified (i.e. absolute value) uterine EMG trace in mV s (145.25 ± 93.1 vs. 410 ± 182.46, P < 0.05) in the term rats; and (3) similar effects were noted with ES in preterm rats with a delay in delivery by 28 h (P < 0.001), and a decrease in IUP–AUC (intrauterine pressure–area under curve) (101.5 ± 55.45 vs. 551 ± 269.06, P = 0.017) and EMG–AUC (64.25 ± 43.63 vs. 172.5 ± 62.91, P = 0.03).

Conclusion

ES of the uterus with appropriate parameters inhibits uterine contractions and delays delivery in both term and preterm rats.     

单侧特发性声带麻痹神经电刺激治疗后即刻疗效初步观察

目的 探讨单侧特发性声带麻痹喉返神经/喉上神经电刺激治疗后即刻对主观声音改变、声学参数以及动态喉镜观察结果的影响.方法 选取诊断为单侧特发性声带麻痹的患者,回顾性收集其行喉肌电图检查并同期行神经电刺激治疗前后的动态喉镜及嗓音分析检查结果,分析检查及治疗前后主观声音改变,声学参数(jitter、shimmer、DSI、M...     

Electrical stimulation versus extracorporeal magnetic innervation for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy

Nurses use several conservative methods for treating urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has a recognized role, while extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) is still under evaluation in the international guidelines. Few data are available in literature, regarding comparisons between these two treatments. The aim of the study is to compare electrical stimulation and magnetic innervation for treating urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Twenty‐two patients treated with ExMI and 18 treated with FES were enrolled in a retrospective study. ExMI was available for 6 weeks; the number of times ExMI was required by the patients to reduce their leakages to 10 g/d or less was compared. The groups had comparable age and body mass index. Initial leakages showed clinically relevant differences (median = 80 g/d in the ExMI patients and 150 g/d in the FES group). After 6 weeks, 71·9% of ExMI patients and 29·2% of FES patients had completed rehabilitation. The difference was statistically significant even after adjusting the analyses for initial leakages (p = 0·008). Six patients treated with ExMI had already undergone FES, with no clinically relevant results after five sessions (leakages reduction <50 g/d). The difference remained even after removing the data of these patients from the analysis (p = 0·004). Both FES and ExMI produce muscle strengthening, which is just one step of rehabilitation. Our findings suggest the possibility of using ExMI instead of FES to reduce the times required to improve muscular performance. Pelvic muscle exercises remain essential to develop the ability to automatically perform the contractions needed to avoid leakages.     

Intra-Operative Direct Electrical Stimulations of the Central Nervous System: The Salpêtrière Experience With 60 Patients

Indications of surgical treatment for lesions in the central nervous system depend on the risk of a definitive neurological deficit, related to the benefit of resection. Detection of eloquent areas is then necessary because of major individual variability. Neuro-imaging functional techniques are in development and are beginning to be efficient for cortical sensorymotor mapping, but still lack sensitivity and specificity for language mapping, and remain unable to give real-time data during surgery and to perform sub-cortical mapping. The more precise and reliable method of functional mapping is represented by the intra-operative direct electrical stimulations (DES), which allow identification and preservation of essential pathways for motricity, sensibility and language, at each level of the central nervous system (cortico-subcortical). We report our experience of DES in the surgery of tumours and vascular malformations located in supra-tentorial brain eloquent areas, with a consecutive series of 60 patients operated on under general or local anaesthesia, from November 1996 until May 1999 in our department at La Salpêtrière Hospital. Presenting symptoms in the 60 subjects (39 males, 21 females, mean age: 45 years) were seizures in 37 cases with normal clinical examination, and mild neurological deficit in 29 cases. MRI showed 60 supra-tentorial brain lesions: 30 precentral, 12 postcentral, 14 perisylvian in the dominant hemisphere, 4 deep-seated. All subjects underwent surgical resection using DES, with supratentorial cortico-subcortical mapping under general anaesthesia for motor areas detection in 43 cases and under local anaesthesia for sensori-motor and/or language tasks in 17 cases. The final histological diagnosis was 44 gliomas (31 low-grade and 13 high-grade), 9 metastasis, 3 cavernomas, 4 arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Resection was total or subtotal in 52 cases (87%) and partial in 8 cases (13%). 29 patients had no post-operative deficit, while the other 31 patients were impaired post-operatively, with in all cases, except 3, a complete recovery delayed for 15 days to 3 months (overall morbidity: 5%). The median follow up was 14 months. Intra-operative direct electrical stimulations of the central nervous system constitute a reliable, precise and safe method, allowing the realization of a functional mapping useful for all operations of lesions located in eloquent areas. This technique allows a minimization of definitive post-operative neurological deficit, and concurrently an improvement in the quality of resection.     

Extracellular matrix deposition and cell proliferation in a model of chronic glomerulonephritis in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Resident glomerular cell proliferation, matrix deposition and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases play a major role in the progression of chronic glomerular disease. These features were studied in a novel approach in a rat model of chronic glomerulonephritis induced by four injections of an anti-Thy 1.1 antiserum at weekly intervals. METHODS: Chronic immune mediated mesangial injury was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by repeated intravenous injection of an anti-Thy 1.1 antiserum. One week after the first and fourth injection of the antiserum proteinuria was evaluated and the kidneys were removed. Immunohistology was performed for proliferating cells, monocytes and collagen type IV. Furthermore, mRNA expression of collagen type IV, TGF-beta and the matrix degrading enzyme MMP-2 as well as MMP-2 protein expression were studied. RESULTS: Urinary protein excretion was dramatically increased after one antiserum injection and stayed elevated at a lower level after the fourth antiserum injection. After the initial induction of nephritis, 7 days following antiserum, resident glomerular cell proliferation was increased whereas with repeated injections of the antiserum cell numbers were not different from controls, as measured 1 week after the fourth injection. In contrast, extracellular matrix accumulation (collagen type IV) increased after the first antiserum injection and further increased after the fourth antiserum injection. The mRNA expression for collagen type IV increased after the first antiserum injection and showed further increase after the fourth antiserum injection. Induction of nephritis also stimulated glomerular mRNA expression of MMP-2 and TGF-beta, both of which remained at a high level after the fourth antiserum injection. Glomerular protein levels of MMP-2 also increased after the first antiserum injection and showed a further slight increase after the fourth injection. CONCLUSION: Increased cellular proliferation is involved in an early stage of this disease, while enhanced expression of glomerular matrix and augmented mRNA and protein expression of the matrix degrading enzyme MMP-2 continue into the chronic phase, and contribute to the extensive structural remodeling process that accompanies this form of glomerular injury.     

椎弓根螺钉的不同结构特点对螺钉电阻的影响

目的:研究椎弓根螺钉的不同结构特点(实心与空心螺钉、直径)对螺钉电阻的影响,进而探讨其对刺激肌电监测椎弓根螺钉置入准确性的可能影响.方法:选择临床常用的两个厂家(强生和美敦力公司)的12枚椎弓根螺钉,每个厂家各6枚,强生公司实心与空心螺钉的直径均为5.0mm、6.0mm和7.0mm;美敦力公司实心与空心螺钉的直径均为4.5mm、5.5mm和6.5mm.用万用电表测量通过椎弓根螺钉的电流,用电位差计测量螺钉杆上间隔20mm节段的电位差,通过欧姆定律计算椎弓根螺钉的电阻值.结果:美敦力公司的4.5mm实心与空心椎弓根螺钉电阻分别为(0.142±0.003)Ω和(0.398±0.002)Ω,5.5mm实心与空心椎弓根螺钉电阻分别为(0.110±0.007)Ω和(0.347±0.003)Ω,6.5mm实心与空心椎弓根螺钉电阻分别为(0.086±0.002)Ω和(0.290±0.003)Ω.强生公司的5.0mm实心与空心椎弓根螺钉电阻分别为(0.149±0.001)Ω和(0.291±0.001)Ω,6.0mm实心与空心椎弓根螺钉电阻分别为(0.123±0.004)Ω和(0.237±0.001)Ω,7.0mm实心与空心椎弓根螺钉电阻分别为(0.095±0.001)Ω和(0.148±0.001)Ω.相同直径的空心椎弓根螺钉较实心椎弓根螺钉具有较大的电阻,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).无论实心椎弓根螺钉或空心椎弓根螺钉,随着直径的增大,椎弓根螺钉的电阻值逐渐减小,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:长度与直径相同的空心椎弓根螺钉较实心螺钉具有较大的电阻,长度相同的实心或空心小直径椎弓根螺钉具有较大的电阻,应用刺激肌电监测椎弓根螺钉置入时要注意其带来的影响.