Objective To study the clinical characteristicsand prognosis in pediatric sudden sensorineural hearing loss and provide guidance for clinical practice.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 23 pediatric sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients (25 ears) treated in our department during the past 9 years (from January 2008 to October 2016).Comparatively we looked into those related factors (age,gender,ear side,treatment onset,initial hearing threshold,virus infection history,audiogram configuration,presence of tinnitus,vertigo,ear fullness and recovery) between pediatric patients and 202 adult patients (219 ears).Results Pediatric patients comprised 10.2 ％ of pediatric/adult cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.The average hearing threshold (87.7± 16.1 dB),rate of presence of vertigo (48.0％) and rate of virus infectionin in the pediatric group,were significantly higher than those of in the adult group (P＜0.05).Tinnitus occurred in 80％ of pediatric patients,and 96 ％ of the audiogram configurations showed total deafness curves and flat lines.After positive treatment,the overall recovery rate of the pediatric and the adult group were 52.0％ and 46.6％,and the rate of complete recovery was 4.0％ and 14.2％,respectively.The difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusion Pediatric sudden sensorineural hearing loss was generally identified as severe hearing loss with a high rate of presence of tinnitus and vertigo,and most audiogram configurations were total deafness in fiat lines.Virus infection probably is one of the primary etiologies for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children.

The clinical practice of otorhinolaryngology is highly specialized. This paper intends to discuss the teaching method of online clinical practice of otorhinolaryngology. For the first time, the teaching method of "flipped classroom" combined with "standardized patients" is adopted to carry out online clinical practice for the eight-year program of clinical medicine students, and the students are assessed and the questionnaire survey of online practice satisfaction is conducted. According to the results, online clinical practice is a kind of teaching method with maneuverability, flexibility and interaction, but it can’t completely replace clinical practice. In the future, we can further explore the teaching mode of "online and offline mixed" clinical practice.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of standardized dust mite allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in children with allergic rhinitis (AR) during treatment.Methods:A total of 283 children with AR diagnosed with definite dust mite allergy and completed 2 to 3 years of SCIT who attended the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, from August 2019 to October 2021 were included, including 205 males and 78 females, with a mean age of 10.8 years. The total nasal symptoms score (TNSS), symptom medication score (SMS), rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after 2 to 3 years′ treatment were recorded, and the differences before and after treatment were compared. Adverse reactions during SCIT were recorded to evaluate its safety. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:The overall effectiveness rate during SCIT in 283 children with AR was 89.4% (253/283). Compared with baseline, all symptom scores, medication scores and quality of life scores were significantly lower after 2 to 3 years of SCIT (all P<0.05). Further group comparisons showed positive efficacy in patients with different clinical characteristics, including age, gender, smoking status, family history of AR, symptom severity, mono-or poly-allergy, and second immunization, with no statistically significant differences between groups (all P>0.05). A total of 12 735 injections were administered during the SCIT, and a total of 213 (1.67%) injections of local adverse reactions occurred, mainly in the initial treatment phase, and the diameter of the local air mass was mostly 5 to 20 mm; 71 (0.56%) injections of systemic adverse reactions occurred, mainly in the initial treatment phase, and most of them were grade 1 reactions with no serious systemic adverse reaction such as shock. Conclusion:Standardized dust mite SCIT has a good safety profile and definite efficacy in treating AR children with different clinical characteristics. It can significantly improve all symptoms, reduce the use of symptomatic drugs and improve their quality of life.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of nasal pedicle tissue flap based on nasal blood supply in the reconstruction of nasal skull base defects.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 138 clinical cases of skull base tumors and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from March 2017 to March 2023. A total of 79 males and 59 females were enrolled, aged from 8 to 82 years, with a median age of 51 years, including 108 patients (78.3%) with skull base tumors and 30 patients (21.7%) with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (and/or meningoencephalocele). During the surgery, 88 cases (63.8%) were repaired with nasal septal mucosal flaps pedicled with the posterior nasal septal artery, 14 cases (10.1%) with mucosal flaps pedicled with the anterior ethmoidal artery on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity, 6 cases (4.3%) with mucosal flaps pedicled with the posterior lateral nasal artery on the lateral wall and nasal floor, 12 cases (8.7%) with mucosal flaps pedicled with the anterior ethmoidal artery and posterior ethmoidal artery, and 18 cases (13.0%) with nasal septal mucosal extension flaps pedicled with the sphenopalatine artery or internal maxillary artery. Patients were followed up for 12 to 72 months postoperatively. Endoscopic examination or skull base enhanced MRI was performed to assess the growth and tumor recurrence in the skull base repair area. The t-test was used for statistical analysis.Results:Among 138 patients, primary repair was successful in 133 patients (96.4%), while 5 patients (3.6%) experienced postoperative cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. These 5 patients all underwent nasal septal mucosal flap repair with the posterior nasal septal artery as the pedicle. Complications included 1 case of mucosal flap necrosis, 1 case of mucosal flap central perforation, and 3 cases of mucosal flap survival peripheral leakage, of which were all successfully treated with a second repair.Conclusion:The use of nasal pedicle mucosal flap based on nasal blood supply is a reliable, safe, and effective technique for repairing skull base defects.

Objective To investigate the irradiation induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in vitro.Methods NPC CNE-2 cells with radioresistance (CNE-2-Rs) were established by exposure to gradiently increased dose of irradiation.CCK-8 cell viability kits,colony formation assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis were used to confirm the capacity of radioresistance of CNE-2-Rs cells.Invert microscope was used to monitor the morphological changes and western blot was applied to detect the expression of epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and mesenchymal cell marker Vimentin during the phase of CNE-2 exposure to irradiation.Results Irradiation exposure successfully induced the radioresistance of CNE-2 cells.After exposed to irradiation,the survival rate in CNE-2-Rs was higher than that in CNE-2 by CCK-8 assays.No significant difference of proliferation ability was observed between the CNE-2 and CNE-2-Rs pre-radiotherapy,but a higher proliferation ability in the CNE-2-Rs post-radiotherapy.By using the colony forming assay,the parameters of CNE-2 and CNE-2-Rs in multi-target single-hit and linear quadratic model were obtained and the data demonstrated that parameters mean lethal dose (D0),quasi-thres hold dose (Dq),surrival fraction in 2Qy (SF2) and mean inctivation dose (MID) value increased,α and α/β value decreased(P ＜0.05).At the same time,the CNE-2-Rs cells showed higher percentage of cells in S and G2 phase(P ＜ 0.05).In terms of biomorphology,CNE-2-Rs cells were more narrow,long strips or fusiform shapes,stretched out tentacles,and the contacts between them were loosened.When radiation dose accumulated to 24 Gy,an over-expression of Vimentin was observed in treated cells,while E-cadherin was down-regulated (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions NPC cells present with typical morphorlogical and biomolecular changes of EMT during exposure to irradiation,indicating the potential critical roles of EMT in the malignant behavior of radioresistance in NPC.

Objective To explore a new method for horizontal segment of uncinate process classification from image of nasal sinus.Methods On the level of horizontal segment of uncinate process of nasal sinus high resolution CT (HRCT) coronal scan.A vertical line and a parallel line were drawn started from the fornix top of the inferior meatus and orbital floor.The uncinate process which suited in the ‘ Cross’ regional was divided into four types by these lines.These were:intra-superior,intra-inferior and extrasuperior,extra-inferior.According to this method,119 patients with chronic sinusitis which were divided into these four types by the imaging classification for horizontal segment of uncinate process operated by functional endoscopic sinus surgery,and the treatment effects and the postoperative complications were analyzed.Results These 119 chronic sinusitis patients (238 sides uncinated process) were divided into four types by the imaging classification for uncinated process.The amount of intra-superior types was 66.0％ (157/238),the amount of intra-inferior types was 16.8％ (40/238),the amount of extra-superior types was 13.9％ (33/238),and the amount of extra-inferior types was 3.4％ (8/238).Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed according to this classification.All maxillary sinus natural ostium were found.Two cases occured orbital board damage (one was intra-superior,the other was extra-inferior).Conclusion The imaging classification for horizontal segment of uncinate process demonstrates a guiding significance for us to predict the difficulty of the operation and prevent the complications.

Objective:To analysis the molecular characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), to unravel its pathophysiological mechanisms, and to develop a prognostic model capable of effectively predicting postoperative recurrence.Methods:The data from three datasets (GSE198950, GSE179265, and GSE136825) were integrated, comprising 39 control cases, 16 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps, and 89 cases of CRSwNP. Differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified based on adjusted P<0.05 and Log2FC>1. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses, as well as STRING node scoring, were conducted. Variable selection was performed using random forest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (LASSO), with key nodes identified through intersection analysis. Mann-Whitney U test was applied, and variables with P<0.05 were included in the model. A prognostic model for CRSwNP was constructed using logistic regression, externally validated using RNA-seq data, and evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). Results:This research illustrated both upregulated and downregulated DEGs in CRSwNP, activating pathways like neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and IL-17 signaling, while inhibiting calcium signaling and gap junctions. Key nodes identified through random forest and LASSO, including G protein subunit γ4 ( U=3.00 P=0.028), Cholecystokinin ( U=0.50, P=0.006), Epidermal growth factor ( U=1.00 P=0.008), and Neurexin-1 ( U=0.00, P=0.004), showing statistical significance in external validation. The prognostic model, visualized in a line graph, exhibited high reliability (C-index=0.875,AUC=0.866). The ROC curve in external validation indicated its effectiveness in predicting postoperative recurrence (AUC=0.859). Conclusions:This study integrates multiple datasets on CRSwNP to provide a comprehensive description of its molecular features. The prognostic model, built upon key nodes identified through random forest and LASSO analyses, demonstrates high accuracy in both internal and external validations, thus providing robust support for the development of personalized treatment strategies for CRSwNP.

Objective To conduct a detailed clinical phenotypic analysis and gene mutation detection on an au-tosomal dominant Van der Hoeve syndrome family,and to identify the pathogenic gene mutation sites of the family and the impact of the mutation on gene coding.Methods Clinical data including medical history,physical examina-tion and auxiliary examination were collected and peripheral blood samples were collected from the Van der Hoeve syndrome families.Exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed on 22 family members.The data were analyzed using bioinformatics software.Results The family had a total of 5 generations,with each generation expe-riencing consecutive illnesses.Each generation of men and women could suffer from the disease,which conformed to the characteristics of autosomal dominant inheritance.The 12 patients in this family were all born with blue sclera and short stature.8 patients had a history of fractures and could heal normally.3 patients were considering hearing loss caused by Van der Hoeve syndrome.12 patients had a base deletion(c.1128delT)in exon 17 of the COL1A1 gene,causing a change in the amino acid coding after position 376 and ending the amino acid coding prematurely at position 539.10 asymptomatic individuals in this family didn't had this mutation.Conclusion The patient of this family was identified as Van der Hoeve syndrome caused by c.1128 delT mutation.

Objective:Progressive bone resorption and destruction is one of the most critical clinical features of middle ear cholesteatoma,potentially leading to various intracranial and extracranial complications.However,the mechanisms underlying bone destruction in middle ear cholesteatoma remain unclear.This study aims to explore the role of parathyroid hormone-related protein(PTHrP)in bone destruction associated with middle ear cholesteatoma. Methods:A total of 25 cholesteatoma specimens and 13 normal external auditory canal skin specimens were collected from patients with acquired middle ear cholesteatoma.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of PTHrP,receptor activator for nuclear factor-kappa B ligand(RANKL),and osteoprotegerin(OPG)in cholesteatoma and normal tissues.Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP)staining was used to detect the presence of TRAP positive multi-nucleated macrophages in cholesteatoma and normal tissues.Mono-nuclear macrophage RAW264.7 cells were subjected to interventions,divided into a RANKL intervention group and a PTHrP+RANKL co-intervention group.TRAP staining was used to detect osteoclast formation in the 2 groups.The mRNA expression levels of osteoclast-related genes,including TRAP,cathepsin K(CTSK),and nuclear factor of activated T cell cytoplasmic 1(NFATc1),were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR)after the interventions.Bone resorption function of osteoclasts was assessed using a bone resorption pit analysis. Results:Immunohistochemical staining showed significantly increased expression of PTHrP and RANKL and decreased expression of OPG in cholesteatoma tissues(all P<0.05).PTHrP expression was significantly positively correlated with RANKL,the RANKL/OPG ratio,and negatively correlated with OPG expression(r=0.385,r=0.417,r=-0.316,all P<0.05).Additionally,the expression levels of PTHrP and RANKL were significantly positively correlated with the degree of bone destruction in cholesteatoma(r=0.413,r=0.505,both P<0.05).TRAP staining revealed a large number of TRAP-positive cells,including multi-nucleated osteoclasts with three or more nuclei,in the stroma surrounding the cholesteatoma epithelium.After 5 days of RANKL or PTHrP+RANKL co-intervention,the number of osteoclasts was significantly greater in the PTHrP+RANKL co-intervention group than that in the RANKL group(P<0.05),with increased mRNA expression levels of TRAP,CTSK,and NFATc1(all P<0.05).Scanning electron microscopy of bone resorption pits showed that the number(P<0.05)and size of bone resorption pits on bone slices were significantly greater in the PTHrP+RANKL co-intervention group compared with the RANKL group. Conclusion:PTHrP may promote the differentiation of macrophages in the surrounding stroma of cholesteatoma into osteoclasts through RANKL induction,contributing to bone destruction in middle ear cholesteatoma.