OBJECTIVE To investigate and evaluate the effects of intact-bridge tympanoplasty using auricular cartilage in treating chronic otitis media. METHODS A retrospective review of 86 cases undergoing an intact-bridge tympanomastoidectomywas performed from July,2013 to May,2016.The auricular cartilage was placed on the attic and tympanic antrum entrance to reconstruct the attic. RESULTS The outcome of dry ear and well-epithelialized mastoid cavities was achieved after 4-6 weeks. After 6-month follow-up no recurrence occurred. The pure-tone average threshold improved by (25.4±6.3) dB HL after operation,and the mean air bone gap was elevated. CONCLUSION On the basis of combination of closed and open techniques,the IBM technique is a optimal cure strategy for chronic otitis media,which can not only remove the pathological changes thoroughly to prevent disease recurrence but also maximally improve the hearing of the diseased ear.The closure of attic with auricular cartilage can ensure the space of the ossicular chain.

Objective To explore the value of spiral CT in venous phase in measuring the diameter of bilateral transverse sinus.Methods The CT vascular imaging findings of 200 cases at torcular herophili area in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.The resource images, volume rendering (VR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) were performed to observe the presentation of vascular anatomy in the torcular herophili area, and to determine the dominant transverse sinus and types of torcular herophili (typeⅠ-Ⅵ).The diameters of bilateral transverse sinus were measured by original CT images.Two groups were categorized according to the genders, and four ones (20-30 years, 30-40 years, 40-50 years and 50-60 years) according to the age.Results Between different genders, there was significant difference in right transverse diameter (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in left transverse diameter (P>0.05).There was no significant difference among four age groups in bilateral transverse diameter (P>0.05).Conclusion Spiral CT is helpful for the evaluation of the diameter of bilateral transverse sinus.These findings can provide anatomical basis for clinical disease with significant implication.

Objective To observe the cerebral hemodynamics in ischemic stroke patients after compound anisodine acupoint injection.Methods 40 stroke patients were measured with transcranial color Doppler before and 4 h,24 h after compound anisodine acupoint injection.Results After injection,the velocity of the cerebral artery showed some increase,the end diastolic velocity of the ophthalmic artery increased and the pulsitility index decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion The compound anisodine acupoint injection may improve the flow velocity of ophthalmic artery and cerebral artery.

Objective To study the safe dose of Ginseng (Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng) through analysis of literature from Tang dynasty (618 AD) to Republic period(1949 AD).Methods The selection strategy for literature and prescriptions was made to acquire the formulae in need.The authoritative prescription-books from Tang Dynasty to Republic period,or representative books of the renowned doctors who was good at using Ginseng in that period were chosen.From the books above mentioned,prescriptions with Ginseng to tranquilize mind were included,in which insomnia and/or dreaminess were recorded as symptoms or clinical applications.Prescriptions without definite dose or only with dose for children were excluded.All herbal names were standardized according to current TCM terms.Then the maximum,minimum,frequency and 80％ confidence interval of dose were studied.The dose range of Ginseng in deferent dosage form was discussed according to above data.Results Fourteen classical TCM books were included,from which 85 formulae were studied.In the form of root slices decoction,the applied daily dose of Ginseng ranged from 3.73 g to 18.65 g,while in the formulae with symptom of dreaminess,the dose ranged from 7.46 g to 11.19g.In the form of root powder decoction,the single dose range was 0.07 g to 5.16 g,while in the formulae with symptom of dreaminess,the dose range was 1.03 g to 4.45 g.In the form of pill or powder,the single dose range was 0.68 g to 6.54 g,and 12％ to 30％ in total dose of the prescription.Conclusion For the root slices decoction,the favorable dose range of Ginseng is between 7 g and 11 g,but not more than 18.00 g per day.For the root power decoction,the favorable dose range is from 1 g to 4.00 g,and the maximum single dose is 5.00 g.For pill or powder form,the maximum dose is 6.00 g,taking 12％ to 30％ in total prescription.

Objective:To investigate the effects of pre-treatment Naples prognostic score (NPS), including inflammation-related and nutrition-related indicators, on the treatment efficacy and prognosis of patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving chemoradiotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted for 123 patients diagnosed with thoracic ESCC. These patients were treated either with standard curative radiotherapy (RT) alone or with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in the Affiliated Taixing People's Hospital of Yangzhou University between January 2014 and December 2017. The patients were divided into NPS 0 group (18 cases), NPS 1 or 2 group (60 cases), and NPS 3 or 4 group (45 cases). The responsiveness to treatment was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were adopted to calculate and compare the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Meanwhile, Cox proportional hazards models were used for the multivariate analyses.Results:The overall effective rate across the entire cohort was 65.0%, and the effective rates of the NPS 0 group, NPS 1 or 2 group, and NPS 3 or 4 group were 88.9%, 73.3%, and 44.4%, respectively. As indicated by the univariate logistic analysis, the treatment responses in patients with ESCC were highly associated with TNM stage, treatment method, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and NPS (1 or 2 group and 3 or 4 group) ( HR =1.633, 0.225, 4.002, 0.320, 2.909, 6.591, P<0.05). Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that treatment strategy alone ( HR =0.214, 95% CI 0.105-0.436, P=0.001), NLR ( HR =2.547, 95% CI 1.248-5.199, P=0.010), and NPS (1 or 2 group: HR=1.193, 95% CI 1.377-9.691, P=0.033; 3 or 4 group: HR =3.349, 95% CI 1.548-10.499, P=0.003) were independent risk factors for tumour response. In addition, the univariate analysis indicates that TNM stage, treatment modality, NLR, LMR, and NPS were significantly associated with PFS and OS( HRPFS=1.480, 0.364, 2.129, 0.635, 3.316, 6.599, P < 0.05; HROS=1.149, 0.308, 2.306, 0.609, 3.316, 6.599, P < 0.05). Furthermore, multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that TNM stage ( HR =1.408, 95% CI 1.069-1.854, P=0.015), treatment modality ( HR =0.367, 95% CI 0.261-0.516, P=0.015), NLR ( HR =1.518, 95% CI 1.078-2.139, P=0.017), and NPS (1 or 2 group: HR=3.279, 95% CI 1.405-7.653, P=0.006; 3 or 4 group: HR =6.233, 95% CI 2.439-15.875, P < 0.001) were considered independent prognostic factors for PFS. Additionally, these parameters were also independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions:Using inflammation-related and nutrition-related biomarkers, this study demonstrated that NPS is promising as a predictive indicator for the therapeutic effects and survival prognosis in patients with ESCC receiving CRT or RT alone.

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.
Anilides/pharmacology* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/drug therapy* ; Hematoma/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Microglia ; Neuroprotection ; PPAR gamma ; Retinoid X Receptor alpha