Congenital Middle Ear Malformation with Common Deafness Gene Mutation Analysis: A Review of 813 Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss Child Patients

Deafness gene variants play a key role in inner ear malformations. However, the relationship between congenital middle ear malformations and common deafness genes (GJB2, SLC26A4, and mtDNA) in profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) child patients remains poorly investigated. Here we showed that there was no statistical significance in the total mutation frequency of the three common deafness genes in the middle ear malformation group (21.2%, 41/193) in comparison with the normal middle ear and inner ear group (21.0%, 116/553) (χ² = 0.0061, p = 0.940). Moreover, the mutation ratio of GJB2 and SLC26A4 in the middle ear malformation group (18.7%, 36/193; 2.6%, 5/193) was not significantly different from that in the normal middle ear and inner ear group (17.7%, 98/553; 2.4%, 13/553) (χ² = 0.084, p = 0.772; χ² = 0.0000, p = 1.000). The mutation ratio of GJB2 235delC and GJB2 79G>A in the middle ear malformation group (8.8%, 17/193; 8.8%, 17/193) was almost the same to that in the normal middle ear and inner ear group (8.6%, 48/553; 6.7%, 37/553) (χ² = 0.0030, p = 0.957; χ² = 0.9556, p = 0.328). The high jugular bulb subgroup analysis also showed the same results. Our findings suggested that GJB2, SLC26A4, and mtDNA mutations might not be related to the middle ear malformations in profound SNHL child patients. Anat Rec, 303:594–599, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy     

Extreme venous letting and cupping resulting in life-threatening anemia and acute myocardial infarction: A case report

BACKGROUNDWet cupping (WC) is a traditional therapy of skin suction-assisted bloodletting that is widely used in modern alternative medicine in Asia and the Middle East. Herein, we report the case of a male who presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and life-threatening anemia and underwent excessive WC.CASE SUMMARYA 55-year-old male presented with chest pain (30 min) and dyspnea (3 wk). His initial electrocardiogram suggested STEMI in the anterior wall. Furthermore, his laboratory results showed severe anemia with a hemoglobin level of 4.1 g/dL. Of note, the patient underwent regular WC therapy for chronic back pain, which he had recently intensified. His WC practice resulted in life-threatening anemia and eventually STEMI. Percutaneous coronary intervention in the left anterior descending artery was performed to treat the STEMI. His dyspnea dramatically improved after the transfusion, and his hemoglobin level returned to 14.8 g/dL within 2 mo after discharge. He has been uneventful for the last seven years of follow-up.CONCLUSIONThe current case demonstrates that excessive WC without adequate medical monitoring can result in severe anemia, which can further develop into STEMI.     

Immunohistochemical and qPCR Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the Human Middle Ear Versus the Nasal Cavity: Case Series

Viral infections have already been implicated with otitis media and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. However, the pathophysiology of COVID-19 as it relates to otologic disorders is not well-defined. With the spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is important to evaluate its colonization of middle ear mucosa. Middle ear and nasal tissue samples for quantitative RT-PCR and histologic evaluations were obtained from post-mortem COVID-19 patients and non-diseased control patients. Here we present evidence that SARS-CoV-2 colonizes the middle ear epithelium and co-localizes with the primary viral receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Both middle ear and nasal epithelial cells show relatively high expression of ACE2, required for SARS-CoV-2 entry. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was use as a biomarker of epithelia. Furthermore, we found that the viral load in the middle ear is lower than that present in the nasal cavity.     

兔耳前边缘静脉的类内皮细胞扫描电镜结构

目的观测新发现的兔耳前边缘静脉类内皮细胞扫描电镜结构。方法取日本大耳白兔耳前边缘静脉,常规制备扫描电镜样本,对新发现的类内皮细胞结构做扫描电镜观察。结果在兔耳前边缘静脉内皮细胞与基膜之间存在类似内皮细胞样结构,分布于血管干和属支开口处。每个类内皮细胞呈椭圆形或树叶状,最大长径(8.32±1.04)μm,最大宽径为(5.79±0.68)μm,长径/宽径比值为1.45±0.22,其长轴与血管纵轴呈平行排列。细胞之间以线状结构相连成“串珠”样,且线状结构将细胞压成凹陷或其末端嵌入细胞内;相邻两个细胞间的线长(6.41±2.45)μm。结论兔耳前边缘静脉内膜含有类内皮细胞结构;以线状结构相连也是细胞间连接方式之一。     

耳尖放血联合药物治疗睑腺炎临症观察

目的观察耳尖放血配合药物治疗睑腺炎的临床疗效。方法选取2018年5月至2019年5月期间罗湖区中医院眼科门诊诊治的睑腺炎患者180例,随机分为两组,每组90例患者,两组均予局部热敷、左氧氟沙星滴眼液治疗,治疗组90例患者加用耳尖放血配合药物治疗,对比两组患者的治疗效果。结果治疗组的治疗总有效率为94.4%,显著高于对照组的77.8%,两组数据对比差异显著,两组治疗效果对比差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论耳尖放血配合药物治疗睑腺炎患者,可显著提高患者的治疗效果。