BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder and is characterized by airway collapse at multiple levels of upper airway. The effectiveness of nasal surgery has been discussed in several studies and shows a promising growing interest. In this study, we intended to evaluate the effects of nasal surgery on the upper airway dimensions in patients with OSA using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of cone-beam computed tomography (CT).

METHODSTwelve patients with moderate to severe OSA who underwent nasal surgery were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed with OSA using polysomnography (PSG) in multi sleep health centers associated with Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Partners Health Care from May 31, 2011 to December 14, 2013. The effect of nasal surgery was evaluated by the examination of PSG, subjective complains, and 3D reconstructed CT scan. Cross-sectional area was measured in eleven coronal levels, and nasal cavity volume was evaluated from anterior nasal spine to posterior nasal spine. The thickness of soft tissue in oral pharynx region was also measured.

RESULTSFive out of the 12 patients were successfully treated by nasal surgery, with more than 50% drop of apnea-hypopnea index. All the 12 patients showed significant increase of cross-sectional area and volume postoperatively. The thickness of soft tissue in oral pharynx region revealed significant decrease postoperatively, which decreased from 19.14 ± 2.40 cm 2 and 6.11 ± 1.76 cm 2 to 17.13 ± 1.91 cm 2 and 5.22 ± 1.20 cm 2 .

CONCLUSIONSNasal surgery improved OSA severity as measured by PSG, subjective complaints, and 3D reconstructed CT scan. 3D assessment of upper airway can play an important role in the evaluation of treatment outcome.

Adult ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnostic imaging ; psychology ; surgery

Objective To analyze epidemiological characters of an outbreak of rotavirus diarrhea in Daxing county, Guangxi province. Methods Rotavirus-positive specimens were identified by ELBA kit. G/P typing assays were confirmed with multiplex seminested RT-PCR. Full-length VP7 genes of 4 positive specimens were amplified and analyzed. Results 30 cases of Rotavirus-positive were identified from 64 specimens. The attack rate was 46.9% , and G/P typing was G1P[8]. A change of VP7 amino acid residue is at positions 68.Conclusion G1P[8] rotavirus is the etiologic agents of this diarrhea outbreak. In addition, adults were included in this outbreak.

To investigate the long-term efficacy of endolymphatic sac mastoid drainage for Ménière disease.Data from 26 patients diagnosed with MD strictly meeting the criteria issued by " Guideline of diagnosis and treatment of Meniere disease(2017)" from 2006 to 2015 were analyzed in this study.Endolymphatic sac mastoid shunt surgery was performed for each patient.The therapeutic effect was evaluated against the " Guideline of diagnosis and treatment of Meniere disease(2017)".Vertigo control and auditory function were measured after at least two years follow up.In 26 cases,16 cases were male and 10 cases were femaleThe age ranged from 24 to 71 years old,with an average of 52.04 years.The disease duration ranged from 1 to 32 years.22 cases were diagnosed as unilateral Ménière disease,and bilateral involvement was identified in 4 cases,thus a total of 30 ears were included.According to the preoperative staging of hearing,there were 0 cases in stage one,5 cases in stage two,16 in stage three and 9 cases in stage four.15 cases(57.7%)achieved class A vertigo conrol(complete control),9 cases(34.6%)class B(substantial control)and 2 cases(7.7%)class D(no control).The severity of vertigo and its impact on daily life were improved in 24 cases(92.3%)with a score of 0 point,and 2 cases(7.7%)scored 2 points.Post-operative hearing was improved in 3 cases(11.5%),unchanged in 16 cases(61.6%)and worsened in 7 cases(26.9%).After operation,tinnitus disappeared in 5 cases(19.2%),reduced in 13 case(50%)and unchanged in 8 cases(30.8%).Endolymphatic sac mastoid drainage was an effective and safe management for intractable Ménière disease patients with pre-operative residual hearing.The occurrence of complication was unsual.The patients who are in stage four could gain benifits from the surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Drainage ; Endolymphatic Sac ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mastoid ; Meniere Disease ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Vertigo ; Young Adult