Chronic cough is a multi-factorial symptom,postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common causes of chronic cough, which is closely associated with the otolaryngologist. The aim of this paper is to highlight the issues in clinical features, diagnosis and management of chronic cough from the otolaryngologist perspective.
Chronic Disease ; Cough ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Mild cognitive impairment is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. It is important in terms of recognizing memory loss in older people as well as identifying a group of individuals at high risk of developing dementia and who may benefit from preventive strategies. Ginkgo biloba extract has been shown to possess polyvalent properties, such as anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammation. Ginkgo biloba extract appears to have a neuroprotective effect against neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective To compare the effectiveness and safety of different concentrations of elastin-like polypeptides (ELP) as novel submucosal injection material for endoscopic submucosal dissection.Methods Forty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (n=20).The first group by submucosal injection of different drugs were randomly divide into five groups (n=4).Four concentrations of 50 ku ELP (0.05,0.025,0.012 5,0.005 g/ml) were used separately in each group,while glycerin fructose was used for control group.Each solution (2 ml) was injected into the submucosa through the resected margin,the increase of mucosal thickness and surface changes were observed and recorded at 0,5,10,and 30 min.The subgroup by submucosal injection of different drugs were randomly divide into five groups (n=4).The injection pressure of each solution (2 ml) with the 25-gauge needle was calculated by a manometer,which was connected between the needle and syringe.Results The submucosal uplift heights in groups using the 0.05 g/ml ELP and 0.025 g/ml ELP injection were significantly thicker than that of glycerin fructose (P＜0.05),the 0.012 5 g/ml ELP and glycerin fructose injection showed no significant difference (P＞0.05),whereas the uplift height in glycerin fructose group was thicker than that of the 0.005 g/ml ELP (P＜0.05).The injection pressure correlated with the ELP concentration.The injection pressures of 0.05,0.025,0.012 5,0.005 g/ml ELP solutions were (332±36) kPa,(223±24) kPa,(174±22) kPa and (142±19) kPa,respectively,and that of glycerin fructose was (269±17) kPa.The 0.025 g/ml ELP solution was easily injected into the porcine stomach to create submucosal uplift.The injection pressure of the 0.025 g/ml ELP solution showed significantly lower value compared with that of glycerin fructose (P＜0.05).Conclusions ELP might be a promising agent for submucosal injection for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD),and 0.025 g/ml ELP might be efficient concentration for maintaining mucosal elevation,injection pressure and safety.

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level over 5.3 mmol/L to the development of abnormal glucose metabolism and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).Methods This was a retrospective cohort study with 1 064 non-diabetic subjects(980 males;84 females) aged 60 or over, who carried out annual health check-up in Chinese PLA General Hospital from May, 1996 to May, 2015.Based on the average FPG level of 3 years before enrollment, the subjects were divided into four groups : ＜ 5.3 mmol/L, 5.3-＜ 5.6 mmol/L, 5.6-＜ 6.1 mmol/L and 6.1-＜ 7.0 mmol/L.Glucose metabolic changes, complications and mortality were follow-up until May, 2015.Results (1)The initial 3-year average FPG levels were (4.9 ±0.4) mmol/L in the total 1 064 subjects.Among them, 126 subjects developed diabetes mellitus (DM) and 144 subjects developed impaired glucose regulation (IGR) during the follow-up visits.The proportions of IGR and diabetes increased with the FPG levels (P ＜ 0.05).The risk for developing IGR was significantly higher in subjects with FPG≥5.3 mmol/L than in those with FPG ＜ 5.3 mmol/L (RR =3.08, 95％ CI 2.02-4.81, P ＜0.01).The risk for incident DM was markedly increased in subjects with FPG ≥ 5.6 mmol/L than in those with FPG ＜5.6 mmol/L (RR =6.73, 95％ CI 3.90-11.52, P ＜0.01);(2)The risk for CVD was eight folds higher in subjects with FPG ≥5.3 mmol/L than in subjects with FPG ＜ 5.3 mmol/L (RR =8.42,95％ CI 5.11-13.82, P ＜ 0.05);(3) Survival analysis showed that the risk of death was 1.47 times higher in subjects with FPG ≥ 5.3 mmol/L than in subjects with FPG ＜ 5.3 mmol/L after years of followed-up (RR=l.47, 95％CI 1.09-1.98, P=0.0127).Conclusion The risks for IGR, CVD and mortality are higher in the elderly with FPG ≥5.3 mmol/L, which highlights the importance for the disease prevention in elder people with FPG 5.3 mmol/L or more.

AIM To study the effects of Lotusine(Lot), a pure alkaloid extracted from the green seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, on the action potentials(APs) in myocardium and slow inward current(Isi) in cardiac Purkinje fibers(PF). METHODS standard microelectrode and two microelectrodes voltage clamp techniques were used. RESULTS Lot 1～100 ?mol?L -1 could concentration dependently prolonged APD 20 and APD 90 of fast AP and increase the contractile force(Fc) in guinea pig papillary muscles. In papillary muscles pretreated with reserpine, similar results were also observed but the effect of Lot was weaker than those pretreated without reserpine. In guinea pig left atria, Lot 30 ?mol?L -1 could partly antigoniste the shortening APD effect of acetylcholine. Lot 3～100 ?mol?L -1 could enhance the action potential amplitude(APA)and maximal velocity of phase 0 depolarization ( V max ) of slow AP of papillary muscles induced by high K + (24 mmol?L -1 )and isolated sinoatral node(SAN) pacemaker cells of rabbits with dose dependent manner,But not obvousely short the sinus cycle length of SAN. Moreover, Lot increased the Isi of in canin cardiac PF with with time dependent and dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION The results suggest that Lot has effect of prolongation of APD and increase of Ca 2+ influx and these are very important in contribution to its positive inotropic effect, which may be related to inhibition of phosphodiesterase Ⅲ.

Objective To investigate the effect of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells SRA01/04. Methods The SRA01/04 cells were treated with MG132 by different concentrations (0, 0. 1, 0. 5, 1. 0, 2. 5, 5.0, 10. 0μmol/L) for 36 hours. The cell viability in all groups was determined using methylthiazoltetrazolium (MTT) test. The effect of MG132 on the apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle about SRA01/04 cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The SRA01/04 cells treated with MG132 were observed after Annexin V/FITC-PI staining by fluorescence microscope. Results The inhibitory effect of MG132 on SRA01/04 cells proliferation was enhanced with the increase of MG132 concentration. The 50% inhibiting concentration ( IC50 ) of MG132 was 2. 50μmol/L after SRA01/04 cells were treated with MG132 for 36 hours. The apoptosis index of the cells treated by MG132 at 2. 5μmol/L and 5 μmol/L for 36 hours was 6. 55 ± 0. 35% and 13.75 ± 3.18%, and 0. 75 ± 0. 21% for 5.0μmol/L for 36 hours in control group. After cells were treated with MG132 for 48h, the percentages of cells at G0/G1 phase were (42. 57 ± 0. 64) %, (73.42 ± 3.10) %, ( 80. 95 ± 3.83 ) % 0, 2. 5,5.0 μmol/Lgroups respectively, and those at S phase were (49. 44±1.36)%, ( 17. 40 ± 1.50)%, ( 19. 57 ± 1.29)%.Annexin V/FITC-PI staining was used, and MG132 was found to result to apoptosis. Conclusions MG132 could inhibit the proliferation of SRA01/04 cells by the effect of inducing apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle. The proteasome inhibitor-might play a key role in the prevention of posterior capsular opacification.

Objective Our study was performed to design a drug-sustained capsular tension ring (CTR) to evaluate its potentiality on prevention of PCO in the swine capsular bag model in vitro.Methods Following the continuous capsule curvilinear capsulorhexis ( CCCC),Phacomulsification with capsular tension ring implantation was pedormed.CTR-supported swine capsular bag models were prepared and divided into two groups,group CTR ( n =13 ) implanted with the original CTR without any modification and group CTR-PLGA-MG132 ( n =13) implanted with the CTR covered with PLGA and MG132.The CTRsupported capsular bags were cultured in vitro for up to 3 weeks.The area of lens epithelial cells (LEC) coverage over the posterior capsule surface was quantified every day under microscope.The capsules were treated for histological examination.The change of fibronectin was assessed by ELISA assay kit.Results After 2 ～ 3 days,outgrowth of LEC across the posterior capsule was observed,and the posterior capsule was totally covered by a confluent monolayer of cell after (9.06 ± 1.61 ) days in group CTR.Capsular wrinkles became increasingly apparent as time progressed.An increase in capsular thickness was also observed.In contrast,there was less LEC deposition in group CTR-PLGA-MG132.Histological examination showed LEC layers were closely arranged on the posterior capsular surface in group CTR.In group CTR-PLGA-MG132,there was comparatively looser cell arrangement.Compared with group CTR,the mean fibronectin level of posterior capsule by week 3 in group CTR-PLGA-MG132 was 25.14 μg/ml and 106.09 μg/ml respectively.Statistical analysis showed a significant difference ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions LEC migration,proliferation,and synthesis of EMT markers were inhibited in Group CTR-PLGA-MG132,compared with Group CTR.Drug-sustained capsular tension rings can effectively inhibit the migration,proliferation of LEC and the change of EMT ( epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) in swine capsular bag models.Drug-sustained capsular tension rings might be a potential therapy to prevent the posterior capsular opacification in the future.

Objective To detect the expression of CK19 in sentinel lymph node for breast cancer and to evaluate its clinical significance.Methods SLNs of 30 patients with breast cancer were successfully detected with methylene blue,both SLN and ALN were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining ( HK staining). The expression level of CK19 in SLNs were assessed by RT-PCR and Western Blot for mRNA and Protein respectively. Results Detection positive rate of SLN melastases was 26. 67% (8/30) by HE staining,and 1 case of false negative. Through RT-PCR,12 cases,including all the positive cases detected by routine pathological examination,were detected to be positive in the expression of CK19mRNA, with a positive rate of 40. 0% ( 12/30) , and a positive rate of 36. 67% (11/30) for CK19 was observed by Western Blot There was a significant difference between RT-PCR or Western Blot methods and routine pathological examination ( P < 0.05 ) for the detection efficiency of SI.Ns melastases. Conclusions CK19rnRNA may be a potential tumor marker for detecting micrometastasis in SLNs of breast cancer. The combined utilization of locating SLNs and detecting CK19 mRNA expression by RT-PCR instead of histopathological examination can greatly enhance the detection efficiency of SLN micrometastasis of breast cancer.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of bilateral and unilateral metallic stenting in the treatment of unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction.Methods:From January 2012 to December 2018, a total of 300 patients with malignant hilar biliary obstruction (Bismuth type Ⅱ-Ⅳ) were treated with endoscopic metallic stenting in Oriental Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital. Ninety-four patients with bilateral metallic stenting (bilateral metallic stent group) and 94 patients with unilateral metallic stenting (unilateral metallic stent group) were matched and analyzed by propensity score matching. The clinical success rate, the total number of interventions, the stent patency and overall survival time were compared between the two groups.Results:The clinical success rate in the bilateral metallic stent group was significantly higher than that of the unilateral metallic stent group [98.9% (93/94) VS 78.7% (74/94), χ2=19.352, P<0.001], and the mean number of intervention in the bilateral metallic stent group was significantly less than that of the unilateral metallic stent group (1.2±0.5 times VS 1.7±0.9 times, t=-4.345, P<0.001). The stent patency time in the bilateral metallic stent group was significantly longer than that of the other group [10.0 (8.0, 12.1) months VS 5.7 (5.2, 6.3) months, χ2=19.789, P<0.001]. The median survival time of patients in the bilateral group was numerically longer than that in the unilateral group, but did not reach statistical significance [7.6 (6.3, 8.9) months VS 4.6 (3.7, 5.7) months, χ2=3.628, P=0.057]. Conclusion:Endoscopic bilateral metallic stenting is superior to unilateral metallic stenting in the clinical management of malignant hilar biliary obstruction unsuitable for surgery.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic placement of transpapillary parallel-style bilateral metal stents for malignant hilar biliary stricture.Methods:A total of 55 patients with malignant hilar biliary stricture (Bismuth Ⅱ-Ⅳ) were treated with an improved endoscopic drainage technique (endoscopic transpapillary parallel-style bilateral metal stenting) from January 2012 to December 2018 in Shanghai Oriental Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital. The technical success rate, clinical success rate, incidence of complications, success rate of endoscopic re-intervention, stent patency and overall survival were analyzed.Results:The technical success rate of endoscopic placement of bilateral metal stents was 96.4% (53/55), the clinical success rate was 96.2% (51/53), and the early complication incidence was 13.2% (7/53). The median stent patency was 9.2 months (95% CI: 8.0-10.3 months), the success rate of endoscopic re-intervention of bilateral biliary systems was 92.3% (12/13), and the median overall survival was 6.7 months (95% CI: 4.7-8.8 months). Conclusion:This modified technique of bilateral metal stent placement is safe and effective for malignant hilar biliary stricture that is unsuitable for surgery.