Concurrent symptoms and disease conditions in sudden deafness

Objective To study concomitant symptoms and disease conditions in sudden deafness. Methods Clinical data of 418 cases of sudden deafness treated in this department from 2000 to 2007 were reviewed. Results Of the 418 cases, 201 were males and 217 were females. Right ear was involved in 184 cases and left ear in 191 cases. Bilateral involvement was seen in 43 cases. The average age was 44.1 years. Tinnitus was reported in 369 cases (88.3%) either before or after hearing loss, of which 64.5% was of low pitch, 27.1% of high pitch and 8.4% of mixed tones. Constant tinnitus was reported in 83% of the cases, and muffled feelings in 33.3% of the cases. Hearing loss was the only complaint in 221 cases (52.9%). Dizziness was reported in 77 cases (18.4%) and vertigo attacks in 120 cases (28%). Hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes were found in 19.6% of 418 cases and hyperlipidemia in 54.5% of 211 cases. CT and / or MRI data were available in 147 cases, with positive findings in 18 cases (12.3%): 2 with acoustic neuroma (1.36%); 4 with emphraxis in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, temporal lobe or parietal lobe, and 12 with poor pneumatization of ipsior contralateral mastoid cells. Conclusion In this case series of sudden deafness, low-pitch constant tinnitus was a common complaint. Most of the studied cases presented with simple hearing loss. Vertigo attacks were more common than dizziness in this group of patients. The most common concomitant disorder was hyperlipidemia, especially high triglycerides. Imaging studies are important in managing sudden deafness in ruling out acoustic neuroma and other intracranial diseases.

Retrospective analysis of diffuse interstitial lung disease in 10 hospitals in Tianjin

Objective:To investigate the constituent ratio and clinical features of diffuse interstitial lung disease(DILD)in Tianjin,and to identify the existing problems of its diagnosis and treatment.Methods:Data of all patients diagnosed as DILD in ten comprehensive hospitals in Tianjin from 2003 to 2009 was collected.The disease constituent ratio of DILD to all kinds of diseases in the respiration department or in the whole hospital,the clinical manifestation,lung function,the result of blood gas analysis,and biopsy were analyzed.Results:A total of 804 DILD patients were included in the study aged(69.28±12.09)years with a male/female ratio of 1.32.The disease constituent ratios of DILD were 4.52‰in respiratory department and 0.31‰in the whole hospital in 2003,which increased to 35.9‰and 1.51‰respectively in 2009.Reticular abnormality(43.1%),ground glass(25.6%)and honeycombing(11.4%)were the predominant imaging manifestations.26.7%patients’lung function were tested,and 10.3%had diffusion function tests.Most patients presented with hypoxemia,and the average oxygenation index was(281±98.3)mmHg.Only 4.0%of patients underwent bronchoalveolar lavage,and 3.5%had pathologic data.Conclusion:The disease constituent ratio of DILD increased progressively from 2003 to 2009.A definite diagnosis of DILD demands cooperation of physicians,radiologists and pathologists.Doctors should attach more importance on lung function test,bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy.

Changing pattern of heart diseases in Shanghai from the 1950s to 1980s

Objective To determine the pattern of dynamic change in types of heart diseases in the past 4 decades for providing a reference to treatment and prevention of heart diseases in China. Methods All adult cardiac patients admitted to the Zhong Shan Hospital and Hua Shan Hospital from 1948 to 1989 were analyzed. The constituent ratio of different heart diseases in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s was compared. Results The percentage of heart diseases among medical inpatients increased in each of the recent 4 decades, from 9.89%, 15.69%, 20.90% to 23.54% respectively. The constituent ratio of different heart diseases changed, coronary heart disease constituted the highest proportion, next came rheumatic heart disease, and congenital heart disease was in third place. Congenital heart disease, myocarditis, cardiac dysrhythmia without organic heart disease, cardiomyopathy and endocarditis increased, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease and hypertensive heart disease apparently decreased; syphilitic heart disease could rarely be encountered. Conclusion China is now facing a low overall death rate, a long life expectancy and an aging population. The incidence of heart diseases increased gradually and patterns of heart diseases kept changing. The overall trend is that heart diseases which were not related to infection are increasing while heart diseases related to bacterial infection are decreasing.