Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) usually exists as a latent infection in immunocompetent hosts but immunosuppressed individuals are at risk for developing EBV reactivation that leads to the uncontrolled ...proliferation of B lymphocytes. In this study, we have mimicked the immunosuppressed microenvironment in the tree shrew model of EBV infection by using cyclosporine A (CsA). The results showed that EBV-cocultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) proliferated vigorously in response to CsA treatment in vitro. However, EBV susceptibility in vivo depended on the timing of CsA administration. Reactivation of EBV occurred in the latently EBV-infected tree shrews after treatment with 25 mg/kg/day CsA (EBV > CsA group), whereas tree shrews were no longer susceptible to infection if CsA was administered for five weeks before EBV injection (CsA > EBV group). RNA-seq analysis of both groups identified a further link between immunosuppression and EBV infection. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed a significant enrichment of viral infection-related pathways in the EBV > CsA group, whereas tumor-related pathways were significantly enriched in the CsA > EBV group. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape for the purpose of identifying hub genes that were then verified using qRT-PCR. In conclusion, the tree shrew model of EBV infection exhibits certain features of EBV infection in humans and serves as a valuable platform for exploring the underlying mechanisms of EBV infection.
This study aimed to observe the ultrastructure on the surface of the inner ear of a normal tree shrew using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The specimens of cochlea, macula utriculi, macula ...sacculi, and crista ampullaris of the normal adult tree shrew were collected and observed by SEM. We used immunofluorescence for cochlear protein Atoh1 staining. We observed that cochlea of the tree shrew is centered on the cochlear axis, circling about 3.5 times from bottom to top of the cochlea. The organ of Corti is located between medial and lateral grooves, including inner and outer hair cells as well as supporting cells. Maculae staticae include macula of saccule and macula of utricle, and the surface of macula is covered with a large number of otoliths. We found a gelatinous layer below the otoliths, followed by the layer of the honeycomb structure. The hair cell cilia of macula and crista ampullaris include one kinocilium and more stereocilia. There is no obvious cross structure but numerous hair cell cilia on semicircular canal crista ampullaris. Immunofluorescence staining showed that protein Atoh1 is mainly distributed in the nucleus of the cochlea's inner and outer hair cells. The observation of the inner ear structure under SEM elucidate the fine surface morphological structure of the entire cochlea, the vestibular maculae staticae, and crista ampullaris, providing new insight into the structure and function of the inner ear of tree shrew. HIGHLIGHTS: This article is the first to describe the inner ear ultrastructure of a small primate tree shrew by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under an SEM, the phalangeal processes of Deiter cells in tree shrews were observed to be connected to the tip of a neighboring hair cell, which was different from that of Deiters' cells in guinea pigs, and this crossed one hair cell, and connected to the tip of the third hair cell. It was observed that the crista ampullaris of tree shrews were horseshoe-shaped, and similar to that of humans and monkeys, this had no obvious "cross-shaped hump" structure. Tree shrew's ABR threshold value curve conforms to the mammalian U-shaped curve, wave III is the main wave of ARB, its sensory frequency may be higher 8 kHz, and the characteristics of the stereocilia of tree shrew we have observed may be related to the perception of higher frequency hearing.
Digitalization study of sonotubometry device Li, Yang; Chen, Shu; Xu, Li ...
Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery
49, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Sonotubometry is wildly used in developed countries, offers a easy, versatile and objective way to assess the function of Eustachian tube. The objectives of this study are to develop a low-cost ...digitalized device.
The digitalized sonotubometry device was made of a personal computer with sound input and output accessories. The PC sound card, connected to a signal amplifier, exported probe band noise, while feedback sound was collected by a microphone. All 36 volunteers (72 ears) were involved in the sonotubometry test with JK-04A and CHN-08, in the conditions of dry-swallowing and wet-swallowing. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 13.0.
The basic electroacoustic performance of the CHN-08 was acceptable. CHN-08 (7 kHz) detection and JK-04A consistency of kappa index was 0.472; CHN-08 (8 kHz) and JK-04A consistency of kappa index was 0.487; CHN-08 (7 kHz) and CHN-08 (8 kHz) consistency of kappa index was 0.688.Under the JK-04A, CHN-08 (7 kHz) and CHN-08 (8 kHz) three setups, Eustachian tube opening
There is currently no gold standard for the diagnosis of eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction. To provide an objective basis for the clinical diagnosis of ET dysfunction, we explored the characteristics ...of sonotubometry, impedance, tubo-tympano-aerography (TTAG), and tubomanometry (TMM) in volunteers with healthy ETs.
Sonotubometry, impedance, TTAG, and TMM tests were performed in 110 healthy ears of 55 volunteers, and the characteristics of each ET test were compared and discussed.
The ET opening rate was compared between sonotubometry with dry swallowing, impedance with the Valsalva maneuver, TTAG with the Valsalva maneuver, and TMM with a nasopharyngeal pressure of 50 mbar in 100 (90.9%), 102 (92.7%), 99 (90.0%), and 104 (94.5%) ears, respectively; there was no significant difference among the four methods (P = 0.575). In sonotubometry, both dry swallowing and the Valsalva maneuver were superior to wet swallowing in terms of detecting ET opening (P = 0.000). In TMM, both the opening rate and the external auditory canal pressure were positively correlated with the nasopharyngeal pressure. Specifically, the opening rate and external auditory canal pressure increased with an increase in the nasopharyngeal pressure (r = 0.271, P = 0.000; r = 0.315, P = 0.000, respectively).
Sonotubometry, impedance, TTAG, and TMM have their own advantages and disadvantages. In clinical practice, the appropriate ET function test should be chosen on the basis of the patient's specific condition.
•Sonotubometry can be used to analyze active opening of the eustachian tube.•Impedance can be used to detect passive opening of eustachian tube.•Tubo-tympano-aerography can assess patulous eustachian tube dysfunction.•Tubomanometry can assess active and passive opening of the eustachian tube.•The appropriate eustachian tube function test depends on the patient's situation.
Background: For patients with posterior semicircular canal (PSC) BPPV, Epley re-position maneuver and some improvement methods are the most efficient treatment methods. But there were still 9.43% ...patients who were not benefit from Epley re-position maneuver.
Objective: To measure the angles of semicircular canals and evaluate its effect on Epley maneuver.
Methods: Fifteen skull specimens, containing 30 temporal bone specimens were included. After Micro-CT scanning, 3D reconstruction was loaded with the CT image. The angles between each semicircular canal and each standard skull plane were measured. Furthermore, the angles' effect on Epley maneuver was evaluated according to the three-dimension (3D) model.
Results: Angles of PSC plane: Frankfurt plane was 71.54 ± 6.51, sagittal plane was 53.77 ± 5.36°, and the coronal plane was 43.33 ± 3.56°. Angles between PSC and the sagittal plane of skulls had an adverse effect on Epley maneuver, when it was less than 45°.
Conclusion: 1. Variation could be found in angles between the semicircular canals and the standard planes of skulls, which meant variation of semicircular canals' location existing in skulls. 2. The variation of angles between PSC and sagittal plane could have an adverse effect on the Epley maneuver when the angle was less than 45°, which may cause the Epley maneuver to be invalid.
Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (3 D-FLAIR) and real inversion-recovery (3 D-real IR) sequences are used to detect endolymphatic hydrops (EH), but medium inversion-time ...inversion-recovery imaging with magnitude reconstruction (MIIRMR) may be more sensitive.
We investigated the inner-ear visualisation success rate and EH detection rates of 3 D-FLAIR and 3 D-real IR, and whether salvage MIIRMR could improve EH detection.
Fifty-one patients (102 ears) with episodic or chronic vestibular syndrome were injected intra-tympanically with 8-fold diluted gadolinium, and 3 D-FLAIR and 3 D-real IR images obtained 24-h post-injection. If 3 D-FLAIR inner-ear visualisation failed, additional MIIRMR was performed. The success and EH detection rate increase by MIIRMR was calculated. The diagnostic performance of combined MIIRMR + 3D-FLAIR + 3D-real IR for Meniere's disease (MD) was evaluated.
The success rates of 3 D-FLAIR and 3 D-real IR were 88.90% and 72.55%, respectively. MIIRMR increased the success and EH detection rates by 11.10% and 6.86%, respectively. In MD, MIIRMR increased these rates by 10.53% and 10.53%, respectively. 3 D-FLAIR + 3D-real IR + MIIRMR had 92.11% sensitivity, 79.68% specificity, 72.92% positive-predictive value, and 94.44% negative-predictive value for MD diagnosis.
MIIRMR can improve success and EH detection rates when 3 D-FLAIR fails. Combined MIIRMR + 3D-FLAIR + 3D-real IR is more valuable for diagnosing MD than conventional sequences.
This study aimed to provide researchers with an atlas of the survey anatomy, histology, and imaging of the nasal cavity of Tupaia belangeri chinensis. Seven T. b. chinensis adult males were ...euthanized and scanned using micro‐computed tomography (CT). The nose was separated, and tissue sections were made on the coronal and axial planes to observe the survey anatomy and histological and imaging characteristics of the nose. T. b. chinensis contains one maxilloturbinal and three ethmoturbinals, one nasoturbinal, one interturbinal, two frontoturbinals, and one lamina semicircularis in the unilateral nasal cavity. Other identified structures were the ostiomeatal complex, vomeronasal organ, superior nasal vault, maxillary sinus, and frontal recess. The drainage pathways of the sinuses and nasal airflow in T. b. chinensis were confirmed. The vault epithelium consisted of the squamous epithelium, respiratory epithelium, transitional epithelium, and olfactory epithelium. Micro‐CT confirmed our findings of the coronal tissue sections. The nasal cavity anatomy of T. b. chinensis is similar to that of some strepsirrhine primates. However, the airflow and olfactory function are quite different from that of humans. Our gross and histological atlas of the nasal septum, turbinals, maxillary sinus, and frontal recess provides a reference for researchers to use T. b. chinensis for nasal cavity functional research.
Progress of research on cone beam CT in cochlear implantation Huang, Jianjian; Xia, Wei; Tang, Xianglong ...
Lin chuang er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Journal of clinical otorhinolaryngology, head, and neck surgery
35, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Cochlear implant, as the most successful artificial auditory implant, brings tens of thousands of patients with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss back to the world of sound every year. ...With the expansion of surgical indications, a large number of difficult cases bring new challenges for cochlear implantation. As a new technology, cone beam CT has the double advantages of high spatial resolution and low radiation. It is considered as the second revolution of CT technology, which shows unique value in the application of cochlear implantation. This article reviews the basic principles of cone beam CT and its application and research progress in cochlear implantation.
Waardenburg syndrome type 2 (WS2) is a rare neural-crest disorder, characterized by heterochromic irides or blue eyes and sensorineural hearing loss. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical ...features and investigate the genetic cause of WS2 in a small family from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region.
Whole-exome sequencing and mutational analysis were used to identify disease-causing genes in this family.
A de novo missense mutation, C.355C > T (p. Arg119Cys), in exon 2 of SOX10 was related to inner ear malformation in the proband and identified by whole exon sequencing, but this mutation was absent in normal controls and any public databases. According to nucleic acid sequence and protein bioinformatic analysis, this mutation is considered the cause of WS2 without neurologic involvement in the proband.
Our findings provide an accurate genetic diagnosis, counseling, and rehabilitation for family members and may contribute to further genotype-phenotype correlation studies of the SOX10 gene.
