Objective To investigate the CT diagnostic value and CT findings of fungal sinusitis.Methods CT findings of fungal sinusitis in 25 cases proved pathologically were retrospectively analysed.Results Heterogeneous density of sinusal cavity with small calcification appeared as spots or floccose(9 cases) and sand-like or patchy(16 cases) shadows,and local bone destruction.Conclusion The fungal sinusitis has characteristic findings on CT.CT is a valuable method for diagnosing the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To-evaluate the role and clinical value of cetuximab in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and figure out its effectiveness and application, so as to develop evidence-based recommendations for treatment. METHOD: We comprehensively searched the CBM, Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases to identify published studies on the effect of cetuximab in HNSCC patients. Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival(PFS) and overall response rate(ORR). Secondary outcomes included serious adverse events, such as neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, skin reactions, hypokalemia, vomiting, asthenia, hypomagnesemia, dyspnea and sepsis. Results were dispalyed as risk ratio (RR), odds ratio (OR), mean difference (MD) and 95% CI. RESULT: A Meta-analysis was conducted on 4 randomized controlled trials, including 2 trials comprising 1,319 patients with locally advanced HNSCC and 2 trails comprising 559 patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. For locally advanced HNSCC, the 2 year PFS and OS showed no significant differences in patients received cetuximab or not (PFS fixed effect: RR=1.02, 95%CI 0.92-1.12, P>0.05; OS fixed effect: RR=1.06, 95%CI 1.00-1.13, P>0.05, respectively). Grade 3-4 dysphagia was also similar in patients treated with cetuximab or no cetuximab (dysphagia: fixed effect: RR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.84-1.02, P>0. 05). Only grade 3-4 mucositis and skin reaction showed statistical significance between patients treated with cetuximab and patients with no cetuximab (mucositis: fixed effect: RR=1.21; 95%CI 1.07-1. 36, P<0. 05; skin reaction: fixed effect: RR=1.99; 95%CI 1.39-2.85, P<0.05, respectively). For recurrent or metastatic HNSCC, the OS overall mean difference was 2.41 (95% CI 0.96-3.86, P<0.05), the PFS overall mean difference was 2. 06 (95% CI 1.34 - 2.77, P<0.05), and the ORR overall Odds ratio was 2.38 (95% CI 1.60-3.54,P<0.05), suggesting significant effect of cetuximab in improving the prognosis of R/M HNSCC. Owing to small number of trials it was not possible to assess the presence of publication bias. Of note, the 1 year survival overall Odds ratio was 1.39 (95% CI 0.98-1.97, P>0.05). The grade 3 or 4 adverse effects were described in 83. 4% of patients in cetuximab group and 75. 5% of patients in no cetuximab group. The overall side effects risk ratio suggested statistically significant difference between patients treated with cetuximab and pa- tients with no cetuximab (RR=1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.20, P<0.05, P =47%). CONCLUSION The 2 year progression-free survival and overall survival were similar between cetuximab group and no cetuximab group in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer. Data are limited and the benefits of cetuximab on this outcome remain uncertain. Impact of grade 3-4 dysphagia was similar in both groups, however, the incidence of grade 3-4 mucositis and skin reaction were lower in patients treated with cetuximab. Existing randomized controlled trials provided a scientific evidence for the use of cetuximab in R/M HNSCC. The conclusion of the study is based on limited number of RCT, so further investigation is still needed before firm recommendations of cetuximab can be made in the treatment of HNSCC.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Cetuximab ; Disease-Free Survival ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

OBJECTIVE: To perform a Meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy and adverse events profile of Mabs for LA HNSCC. METHOD: Several databases were searched, including CBM, PUBMED, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. Primary outcomes included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary outcomes included serious adverse events, such as grade 3-4 skin reaction, dysphagia, mucositis, and nausea/vomiting. The results were expressed as relative ratio (RR) or hazard rate (HR) with their corresponding 95% CI. RESULT: The final analysis included 10 trials. The primary analyses indicated that Mabs did not improve ORR and PFS, except OS for locoregionally advanced (LA) HNSCC [ORR 1.21, 95% CI (0.97 - 1.49); PFS 0.87, 95% CI (0.75 - 1.01); OS 0.82, 95% CI (0.71 - 0.95)]. Analysis of adverse effects demonstrated that grade 3 - 4 skin reaction ERR 1.87, 95% CI (1.11 - 3.16)] was statistically significantly associated with Mabs except dysphagia ERR 0. 95, 95% CI (0.75 - 1.19)], Mucositis ERR 1.03, 95% CI (0.67 - 1.57)], and nausea/vomiting ERR 1.15, 95% CI (0.71 - 1.86)]. CONCLUSION Anti-EGFR Mabs may be satisfactory for improving OS of LA HNSCC. During the Mabs therapy, skin reaction should be much more monitored.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; ErbB Receptors ; immunology ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

AIM: To investigate the effects of fluvastatin on the airway remodeling in a guinea pig model of asthma. METHODS: Asthmatic guinea pig model was established by intraabdominal injection of ovalbumin and aluminium hydroxide and challenged with ovalbumin once every other day for 60 days. 30 guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: control group ( n= 10), asthma group ( n= 10) and fluvastatin plus asthma group ( n= 10) in which fluvastatin was inhaled at concentration of 0.5 g/L 30 min before every challenging. The thickness of airway smooth muscle layers of every three groups were compared after Haematin-Eosin staining by image analysis system. The level of ras mRNA in airway were examined by Dot-blot molecular hybridization. The expression levels of ras p21 were also examined by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The mean thickness of airway smooth muscle in asthma group was (74 27?3 30) micrometer, greater than that of control group [(38 57?3 37) micrometer ( P

Objective To investigate the correlation between BRAF V600E mutation and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) therapeutic effects in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Methods Studies were included into meta-analysis to investigate the association between BRAF V600E mutation and clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with anti-EGFR MoAbs.
Results A total of 7 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The 7 studies included 1352 patients in total, sample sizes ranged from 67 to 493. Objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were collected from included studies and were used to assess the strength of the relation. In patients with wild-type KRAS, the pooled odds ratio for ORR of mutant BRAF over wild-type BRAF was 0.27 (95%CI=0.10-0.70). BRAF mutation predicted a deterioration in PFS and OS in wild-type KRAS patients treated with anti-EGFR MoAbs (hazard ratio=2.78, 95% CI=1.62-4.76;hazard ratio=2.54, 95%CI=1.93-3.32).
Conclusion BRAF V600E mutation is related to lack of response and worse survival in wild-type KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with anti-EGFR MoAbs.

The excipient processing is an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine processing, and understanding its scientific connotations is a critical scientific issue that urgently needs resolution. Building upon a foundation where the composition of traditional Chinese medicine substances is fundamentally clear, this paper applies the techniques and methods of chemoinformatics to the study of the excipient processing mechanism. Relevant information on traditional Chinese medicines processed with four kinds of excipients (wine, vinegar, salt and honey) was collected, including properties, taste, meridian tropism, chemical components, etc. Molecular descritors and skeletons corresponding to each chemical component were calculated using chemoinformatics to characterize the properties and structural features of the components. Characteristic components associated with the four excipients (wine, vinegar, salt and honey) were explored through multivariate statistical analysis and Murcko skeleton analysis. Further analysis, taking honey-processed Astragali Radix as an example, the focus was on the impact of the processing excipient honey on the solubility and permeability of its characteristic pharmacologically active components (isoflavones). It was discovered that the excipient honey can increase their solubility and permeability, emphasizing that the impact of processing excipients on the pharmacological classification properties is a key breakthrough in elucidating the mechanism of excipient processing. In summary, this study analyzed the characteristic components associated with the processing excipients "wine, vinegar, salt and honey" based on their composition characteristics, providing data support for the research on the mechanism of excipient processing from a biopharmaceutical perspective.

Humans ; Mediastinal Diseases ; surgery ; Retropharyngeal Abscess ; surgery ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

Objective To (e)xplore inhibition of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) against hepatic vein thrombosis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).Methods Balb/c mice were randomly divided into three groups: (1) BMT group [Balb/c mice were injected intravenously with 5 × 106 bone marrow cells after total body irradiation (TBI)]; (2) EPCs co-transfusion with bone marrow cells group: 5 × 105 EPCs were infused into recipient mice simultaneously; (3) Normal control group.Liver index was detected on the day 0,5,10,15 and 20 after transplantation.Hepatic vein thrombosis,hepatic cells and vascular endothelial damage were observed under the light microscopy after H&E staining.The injury of liver cells,liver veins,hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs)and platelet adhesion conditions were observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM).The proportion of activated platelets and TNF-α concentration in peripheral blood were detected by using flow cytometry.Results On the day 0,5,10,15 and 20 after transplantation,the proportion of activated platelets,liver index and TNF-α concentrations in BMT group and EPCs co-transfusion group showed an upward trend,peaked on the 15th day,and then decreased.However,they were still significantly higher than those in normal control group (P＜0.05).The above parameters in EPCs co-transfusion group at each time point were significantly lower than those in BMT group (P＜0.05).As compared with BMT group,platelet adhesion decreased,hepatic vein thromboses were reduced,hepatocyte swelling and necrosis were alleviated,and liver damage repaired rapidly in EPCs co-transfusion group.Conclusion EPCs co-transfusion with bone marrow cells could inhibit the hepatic veins thrombosis and ameliorate liver damage significantly.

Objective To explore the clinical features,neuroimaging and histopathological findings in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) with a nodular space occupying effect.Methods Four IHCP cases with a nodular space occupying effect diagnosed in our hospital were retrospectively studied.Results All the 4 patients were men with a mean onset age of 40.25 (33 ～ 50) years old.They all had long disease duration and relapses.The common symptoms of IHCP were chronic headache,multiple cranial nerve palsies and epileptic seizures.CT and MRI of the brain revealed prominent dural partial thickening,which indicated a mass or nodular space occupying effect that mimicked intracranial tumour-like meningioma.The histopathological findings of dura in 2 cases revealed connective tissue proliferation,scattered neutrophile granulocytes and plasmacytes infiltration.Combination therapy of corticosteroid or/and immunosuppressive drugs was effective for the IHCP patients.Conclusions IHCP patients with a nodular space occupying effect usually onset with chronic headache and are often recurrent.The combination therapy of corticosteroid or/and immunosuppressive drugs is effective.The image of the brain presents prominent dural partial thickening,indicating a mass or nodular space occupying effect,which often lead to confusion with intracranial tumours or granulomatosis.

Objective Study the diagnostic value of CT to assess the transfer of right recurrent nerve nodes(RRNN) on the thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma,so as to provide reference for thoracic segment esophageal surgery way.Methods A retrospective analysis from January 2011 to February 2014 in the first affiliated hospital of zhengzhou university at the records of 132 cases of thoracic segment esophageal thoracic surgery with preoperative CT image data,recorded each patient's right recurrent nerve nodes in the largest length to diameter and the average CT number,and compared with postoperative pathologic results.Results With the ROC curve analysis,considering transfer when the length of RRNN' s diameter 8.5 mm or more in CT,the area under the curve is 0.911,the sensitivity is 85.7％,specificity is 78.8％.Considering transfer when the RRNN average CT number acuity 32.50 HU,the area under the curve is 0.815,the sensitivity is 85.7％,specificity is 76.9％.Whether RRNN transfer has significant correlation(P ＜ 0.05) with the length of tumor,tumor location and whether lymph node of other station transfer,doesn' t have significant correlation (P ＞ 0.05)with patients'age,sex,tumor differentiation degree and the T stage.Conclusion When the RRNN length to diameter 8.5 mm or RRNN average CT numberr acuity 32.50 HU,right recurrent nerve nodes should be considered lymph node metastasis,and choose chest conclusion laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.The upper thoracic portion esophageal tumor's length is 5 cm or more,or clinical suspected lymph node metastasis of other station is the risk factor for metastasis of RRNN.