The course of the sigmoid sulcus is variable. It may be different on both sides in thesame person. In the investigation of 150 Chinese skulls by projecting the sulcus onthe surface of the skull three types could be classified. The first type is that the sulcuskeeps a certain distance from the crista supramastodea or the posterior border of theporus acusticus externus. Out of 300 sides, 244 belong to this type. The second type isthat the sulcus is very close to the lower border of the crista supramastoidea, the distancebeing only a few millimeters from the upper border of the crista supramastoidea. Outof 300 sides, 41 belong to this type. In the third type, the distance between the posteriorborder of the porus acusticus externus and the anterior border of the sigmoid sulcus is lessthan 5 mm. Only 15 cases out of 300 sides belong to this type. In all cases no sexual difference could be found. There is a tendency of the rightside deeper and also nearer to the crista supramastoidea and the posterior border of theporus acusticus externus than the left.

There is a great deal of discrepancy among the descriptions of the formation ofsplanchnic nerves. Our present descriptions of the splanchnic nerves are based on thefindings of dissection on 70 cadavers, and the details are as follows: 1. The greater splanchnic nerves varied in origin from the fourth to the elevenththoracic sympathetic ganglion, while the lesser and the lowest both varied in origin fromthe eighth thoracic sympathetic ganglion to the first lumber sympathetic ganglion. According to the upper limit of origin, the greater splanchnic nerve may be dividedinto 3 types: Type 1. High origin: T4-5 occurred on 42 sides (30%). Type 2. Intermediate origin: T6-7 appeared on 86 sides (61.44%). Type 3. Low origin: T8-9 was present on 12 sides (8.5%). It must be pointed out that besides the sympathetic ganglia, some splanchnic nervesmay take origin from the intersegmental rami. 2. In our specimens, the frequency of occurrence of the lowest splanchnic nervewas 77.85%. 3. The number of roots which took part in the formation of the splanchnic nerveswere not equal. This unequality was due to the combination of some roots into commontrunks. According to our present research, the roots of the greater splanchnic nervevaried in number from one to seven (the most common number being 3), the lesser fromone to five (the most common number being 1) and the lowest from one to three (themost common number being 1). 4. The splanchnic nerves usually pierced the diaphragm separately. The space be-tween the medial crus and the intermedial crus of the diaphragm was the most commonplace of piercing. In this article, the splanchnic ganglia were also fully described.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Oryz-Aspergillus enzyme and pancreatin tablets (Combizym^®) in the treatment of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) in the elderly, compared with gastrointestinal motility drugs. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was designed and registered in the China Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR-IPR-16008185). The elderly patients with PDS were randomly divided into three groups, including Mosapride group with Mosapride citrate tablets 5 mg 3 times per day for 2 weeks; Combizym^® group with Combizym tablets 244 mg 3 times per day for 2 weeks; combined treatment group with both drugs and same doses for 2 weeks. The modified Nepean dyspepsia index (NDSI) score, discomfort intensity score and PDS score were calculated on patients before treatment, at the end of first and second week of treatment, as well as 4 weeks after treatment finished, respectively. Adverse effects were evaluated. Results: A total of 323 patients from 16 tertiary hospitals in China were enrolled in this study. Among them, 105 patients were in Mosapride group, 109 in Combizym^® group and 109 in combined treatment group. There were 148 males (45.8%) and 175 females (54.2%) with median age 71.4±9.0 years (60-100 years). Baseline characteristics of three groups were comparable. After treatment, the NDSI scores in three groups all decreased significantly (P<0.001), while they were similar between groups (P>0.05). The discomfort intensity score and PDS score in three groups showed a significant reduction after treatment (P<0.001), especially in the combined treatment group. Compared with Mosapride group, the scores in Combizym^® group decreased significantly after one or two weeks [discomfort intensity score: after one week, 4.0(2.5, 8.0) vs. 6.0(3.0, 10.0); after two weeks, 3.0(0.0, 5.0) vs. 4.0(2.0, 6.0); all P<0.05. PDS score: after one week, 6.0(3.0, 9.0) vs. 7.0(3.5, 10.5); after two weeks, 3.0(0.0, 5.0) vs. 4.0(2.0, 7.0); all P<0.05]. The efficacy rate in all patients after first week of treatment was over 15.0%. The efficacy rates after two weeks were 55.2%, 68.8% and 73.4% in Mosapride group, Combizym^® group and combined treatment group, respectively. After two week treatment, the efficacy rates in Combizym^® group (P=0.041) and combined group (P=0.006) were higher than that of Mosapride group. The recurrence rate of Mosapride group was 9.5%, which was significantly higher than that of Combizym^® group (1.8%, P<0.05) and combined treatment group (1.8%, P<0.05). There were no serious adverse effects in the three groups. Conclusions The efficacy of Oryz-Aspergillus enzyme and pancreatin tablets is comparable with that of Mosapride in elderly PDS patients, with fewer adverse effects and low recurrence rate. Combination regimen indicates better efficacy than that of Oryz-Aspergillus enzyme and pancreatin tablets or Mosapride alone.