Chlorinated paraffins: disposition of a polychloro-[1-14C]-hexadecane in carp (Cyprinus carpio) and bleak (Alburnus alburnus)

The disposition of polychloro-[1-14C]hexadecane (PCHD, 34% chlorine w/w) was studied in carp (Cyprinus carpio) and bleak (Alburnus alburnus). After intra-arterial (i.a.) injection in carp about 6% of dose was excreted as 14CO2 in 96 h. The autoradiographic distribution pattern after administration of PCHD to carp (i.a.) and bleak (up to 14 days of exposure in PCHD-contaminated water) was characterized by a strong labelling in the bile/intestinal contents. High radioactivity also appeared in the kidney, liver, gills and, particularly in bleak, in the nasal cavity, lens and skin.     

The genetic basis of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD)

Objective

Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder where outer hair cell function within the cochlea is normal, but inner hair cell and/or the auditory nerve function is disrupted. It is a heterogeneous disorder which can have either congenital or acquired causes. Furthermore, the aetiology of auditory neuropathy is vast, which may include prematurity, hyperbilirubinaemia, anoxia, hypoxia, congenital brain anomalies, ototoxic drug exposure, and genetic factors. It is estimated that approximately 40% of cases have an underlying genetic basis, which can be inherited in both syndromic and non syndromic conditions. This review paper provides an overview of the genetic conditions associated with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders (ANSDs) and highlights some of the defective genes that have been found to be linked to the pathological auditory changes.

Method

Literature search was conducted using a number of resources including textbooks, professional journals and the relevant websites.

Results

The largest proportion of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders (ANSDs) is due to genetic factors which can be syndromic, non-syndromic or mitochondrial related. The inheritance pattern can include all the four main types of inheritances such as autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked and mitochondrial.

Conclusion

This paper has provided an overview of mutation with some of the genes and/or loci discovered to be the cause for auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders (ANSDs). It has been noted that different gene mutations may trigger different pathological changes in patients with this disorder. These discoveries have provided us with vital information as to the sites of pathology in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders (ANSDs), and the results highlight the heterogeneity of the disorder.     

早发与晚发冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者舌象特征参数初步分析

目的:初步分析比较早发与晚发冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(简称冠心病)患者的舌象特征参数,以期为早发冠心病的中医诊治提供客观化舌象指标。方法:使用舌诊仪采集冠心病患者舌象,利用计算机图像处理技术提取舌象特征参数,分析比较早发(35例)及晚发(63例)冠心病患者之间的舌诊特征参数。结果:早发冠心病舌中、舌尖、舌左、舌右以及舌整体舌象颜色参数R、G、B、V值显著高于晚发冠心病,舌根的舌色G、B值显著高于晚发冠心病,整体舌苔的G、B、V值高于晚发冠心病,S值显著低于晚发冠心病(P<0.01,P<0.05)。结论:早、晚发冠心病舌象特征具有明显差异,为临床诊疗早、晚发冠心病提供一定的客观化的舌象指标。     

早发冠心病中医证型与C反应蛋白、血尿酸相关性研究

目的:探讨早发冠心病(premature coronary heart disease,PCHD)中医证型与C反应蛋白(CRP)及血尿酸(UA)的相关性。方法:196例经冠状动脉造影确诊为冠心病的患者(男<55岁,女<65岁),中医辨证为心血瘀阻证(58例)、痰浊闭阻证(55例)、非痰瘀证(83例),另选健康对照组57例,检测三组CRP、UA含量。结果:①CRP含量的比较:与健康对照组相比,PCHD组血浆CRP含量明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);其中心血瘀阻证及痰浊闭阻证组与非痰瘀证组比较血浆CRP含量增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);痰浊闭阻证组与心血瘀阻证组比较血浆CRP含量无差异(P>0.05)。②血尿酸含量比较:与健康对照组相比,PCHD组血浆UA含量明显增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);PCHD三组之间UA含量无明显差异(P>0.05)。结论:CRP水平与PCHD中医证型存在相关性,可作为PCHD中医辨证分型辅助诊断的客观指标。