Petrous bone cholesteatoma: our experience of 51 patients with emphasis on cochlea preservation and use of endoscope.

Petrous bone cholesteatoma (PBC) is a rare but local aggressive lesion which can lead to severe complications. Surgery is the mainstay for its treatment. To analyse the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes in a series of patients with PBC, paying special attention to cochlea preservation and use of endoscope.

Controlled Growth of Ultra-Thick Polymer Brushes via Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with Active Polymers as Initiators.

Polymer brushes exhibit functionalities useful for a large number of applications. Often these functionalities only emerge when the polymer brushes have a desired thickness. Here, a significant breakthrough is achieved in the synthesis of ultra-thick polymer brushes using polymer initiators in the approach of surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, yielding polymer brushes with a controllable thickness up to 15.

A Study on Noise Reduction of Gear Pumps of Wheel Loaders Based on the ICA Model.

In order to reduce the noise level of wheel loaders caused by gear pumps and realize environmentally sustainable development, the noise generation mechanism of a gear pump was studied, and the influence of flow pulsation and gear impact on noise was analyzed. In order to reduce the interference of other noise sources on the noise level of the gear pump, a noise test rig was established. The mixed noise signals obtained from the rig test were separated using the ICA model.

Proteome analysis using iTRAQ reveals the differentiation between Tibetan and ordinary ovalbumin peptides.

Ovalbumin peptides are food protein-derived fragments comprised of amino acid residues. The bioactive properties of the peptides are determined by the inherent amino acid composition and sequence of the peptide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the proteomics characteristics in Tibetan chicken egg ovalbumin peptides, compared to ordinary eggs, using isobaric tags for the relative and absolute quantification labelling technique (iTRAQ).

Neurorrhaphy for Facial Reanimation with Interpositional Graft: Outcome in 23 Patients and the Impact of Timing on the Outcome.

Objective: Neurorrhaphy with interpositional graft is a practical technique to achieve facial reanimation when the continuity of the facial nerve is interrupted and a large gap between the proximal and distal stump exists. The aim of this study was to report long-term outcomes of neurorrhaphy for facial reanimation with interpositional graft. The roles of some variable factors in the outcome of neurorrhaphy with interpositional graft were also evaluated and compared.

Titanium ossicular chain reconstruction in single stage canal wall down tympanoplasty for chronic otitis media with mucosa defect.

Purpose: To evaluate surgical outcomes for chronic otitis media with mucosa defect underwent titanium ossicular chain reconstruction (OCR) in single stage canal wall down tympanoplasty (CWD).

Methods: A clinical retrospective study was performed on 83 cases of the chronic otitis media with mucosa defect and 123 ears with mucosa integrity according to intraoperative findings that underwent synchronous titanium OCR in single stage CWD form January 2012 to January 2018. Pre- and postoperative air conduction threshold (AC), air-bone gap (ABG) and ABG closure at 0.

MicroRNA-598 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells by directly targeting ZEB2.

An increasing number of studies have observed that microRNAs (miRNAs) are abnormally expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and that their aberrant expression links with the progression and development of NSCLC. Therefore, it is necessary to full elucidate the specific roles of miRNAs in NSCLC, as this may facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets. In the present study, it was observed that miRNA-598 (miR-598) expression was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines.

Learning curve of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a single teaching hospital study.

Introduction: Totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) for gastric cancer has gradually gained popularity. However, the learning curve of TLDG is rarely reported.

Aim: To determine the learning curve of TLDG for gastric cancer.

The synthesis of 4-arylamido-2-arylaminoprimidines as potent EGFR T790M/L858R inhibitors for NSCLC.

A series of 4-arylamido-2-arylaminoprimidines bearing acrylamide pharmacophore were synthesized as potent EGFR inhibitors among which 9c (IC = 0.5872 nM), 9d (IC = 2.213 nM), or 9h (IC = 12.

Spin-Polarized Transport and Spin Seebeck Effect in Triple Quantum Dots with Spin-Dependent Interdot Couplings.

We study the spin-dependent electronic and thermoelectric transport through a structure composed of triple quantum dots (TQDs) coupled to two metallic leads in the presence of spin-dependent interdot couplings, which is reliable by applying a static magnetic field on the tunnel junctions between different dots. When the TQDs are serially connected, a 100 % spin-polarized conductance and thermopower emerge even for very small spin-polarization of the interdot coupling as the dots are weakly coupled to each other. Whereas if the TQDs are connected in a ring shape, the Fano antiresonance will result in sharp peaks in the conductance and thermopower.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG6 promotes the progression of colorectal cancer through sponging miR-760 and activation of FOXC1.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of most common cancers worldwide. Long non-coding RNA SNHG6 has been reported to act as essential regulators in several cancers. However, the functional role and molecular mechanism of SNHG6 in colorectal cancer remain unclear.

CD48 and α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Synergistically Regulate FimH-Mediated Escherichia coli K1 Penetration and Neutrophil Transmigration Across Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

FimH-mediated bacterial invasion and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) transmigration across human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) are required for the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli meningitis. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study demonstrated that the TnphoA mutant (22A33) and FimH-knockout mutant (ΔFimH) of E coli strain E44, which resulted in inactivation of FimH, were less invasive and less effective in promoting PMN transmigration than their wild-type strain.

Mimic Cochlear Implant Surgery-Induced Cochlear Infection Fails to Further Damage Auditory Pathway in Deafened Guinea Pigs.

BACKGROUND Kanamycin and subsequent furosemide administration was applied to the healthy guinea pigs to induce deafness. MATERIAL AND METHODS Of the deafened guinea pigs, 10 were further infused with anti-infection procedures (Group B) and the other 10 animals did not undergo anti-infection procedures (Group C). In Group B, the deafened animals were able to restore cochlear and middle ear functions following the anti-infection procedure.

Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health.

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2 International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance.

Association of behavioral health factors and social determinants of health with high and persistently high healthcare costs.

A high proportion of U.S. health care costs are attributable to a relatively small proportion of patients.

Heavy-ion irradiation effects on UO incorporated GdZrO waste forms.

In this research, the heavy-ion irradiation effects of U-bearing GdZrO ceramics were explored for nuclear waste immobilization. UO was designed to be incorporated into GdZrO from two different routes in the form of (GdU)(ZrU)O (x = 0.1, 0.

Correlation between lung cancer and the HHIP polymorphisms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Chinese Han population.

To further investigate the relationship between lung cancer and hedgehog interacting protein (HHIP) polymorphisms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, we conducted a case-control study in a Chinese Han population. Six HHIP SNPs with minor allele frequencies >5% (rs1489758, rs1489759, rs10519717, rs13131837, rs1492820, and rs7689420) were analyzed in 1,017 COPD patients (767 males and 246 females) and 430 non-COPD patients. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that rs7689420 was significantly associated with lung cancer in COPD patients in the Chinese Han population (P < 0.

Celastrol enhances Atoh1 expression in inner ear stem cells and promotes their differentiation into functional auditory neuronal-like cells.

We aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of Celastrol on inner ear stem cells and potential therapeutic value for hearing loss. The inner ear stem cells were isolated and characterized from utricular sensory epithelium of adult mice. The stemness was evaluated by sphere formation assay.

Mechanisms of Hearing Loss in a Guinea Pig Model of Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence.

Defective acoustic transmission in the cochlea is closely related with various auditory and vestibular symptoms. Among them, semicircular canal dehiscence (SCD) with a defective semicircular bone is typical. Currently, the pathogenesis of SCD is usually explained by the third window hypothesis; however, this hypothesis fails to explain the variability in the symptoms and signs experienced by superior SCD (SSCD) patients.

Changes in Psychiatric and Medical Conditions and Health Care Utilization Following a Diagnosis of Sexual Assault: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Sexual assault (SA) is alarmingly common and is associated with higher prevalence of psychiatric and medical conditions. However, many prior studies are limited to cross-sectional designs. Health care systems with electronic health records provide unique longitudinal data to examine whether SA is associated with changes in health and health care utilization.

Cell proliferation during hair cell regeneration induced by Math in vestibular epithelia .

Hair cell regeneration is the fundamental method of correcting hearing loss and balance disorders caused by hair cell damage or loss. How to promote hair cell regeneration is a hot focus in current research. In mammals, cochlear hair cells cannot be regenerated and few vestibular hair cells can be renewed through spontaneous regeneration.

Patient and System Characteristics Associated with Performance on the HEDIS Measures of Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Initiation and Engagement.

Objectives: Understand patient and system characteristics associated with performance on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Initiation and Engagement of Treatment (IET) measures.

Methods: This mixed-methods study linked patient and health system data from four Kaiser Permanente regions to HEDIS performance measure data for 44,320 commercially or Medicare-insured adults with HEDIS-eligible AOD diagnoses in 2012. Characteristics associated with IET were examined using multilevel logistic regression models.

Junctional E-cadherin/p120-catenin Is Correlated with the Absence of Supporting Cells to Hair Cells Conversion in Postnatal Mice Cochleae.

Notch inhibition is known to generate supernumerary hair cells (HCs) at the expense of supporting cells (SCs) in the mammalian inner ear. However, inhibition of Notch activity becomes progressively less effective at inducing SC-to-HC conversion in the postnatal cochlea and balance organs as the animal ages. It has been suggested that the SC-to-HC conversion capacity is inversely correlated with E-cadherin accumulation in postnatal mammalian utricles.

Highly uniform and monodisperse β-NaYF : Sm nanoparticles for a nanoscale optical thermometer.

Monodisperse β-NaYF:1%Sm nanoparticles were fabricated successfully via the thermal decomposition technique. Strong temperature dependence of the Sm emission was observed when its thermally populated state H6 was directly excited to the G4 level. This strategy not only can eliminate laser heating and background Stokes-type scattering noise but also has a high quantum yield as a result of one-photon excitation process.

[Analysis on the stationed system for detached medical officer in the Song Dynasty].

The stationed system for detached medical officer, designated by the Royal Hanlin Department, was an important management system in the Song Dynasty for medical aid and epidemic prevention. The selection of the officers was based on the test results of the candidates. The dispatch of such medical officers was considered comprehensively on the local conditions, with priority given to those provinces and counties in shortage of such officers, and sent them in order based on the duration of their working time.