[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cytokeratin (CK) 4 and 13 in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) and their pathobiological implications for tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. METHODSThe expression of CK4 and CK13 was detected by immunohistochemistry in normal and cancerous tissues in 42 cases of SNSCC, integral optical density (A) was measured by computer analysis of images and analyzed by SPSS13.0.RESULTSCK4 and CK13 were expressed significantly higher in normal tissues than in cancerous tissues of SNSCC. Moreover, the expression level of CK4 and CK13 was related to the differentiation of SNSCC, which was higher in the well/middle differentiated ones than in poor ones. The expression of CK4 was significantly associated with the tumor size, clinical stage and cervical lymphatic metastasis in SNSCC. While CK13 had no relationship with these three factors.CONCLUSIONThe detection of CK-4 and CK-13 might play an important role in the prognostic evaluation of SNSCC.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Monascus purpureus metabolite.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by column chromatography methods, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of ethanolic extract and elucidated as stigmast-4-en-3-one (1), 3-oxo-24-methylenecycloarane (2), stigmasterol (3), 7beta-hydroxystigmasterol (4), 3beta-hydroxystigmast-5-en-7-one (5), 3beta-hydroxystigmast-5,22-dien-7-one (6), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7), sitosterol (8).

CONCLUSIONAll of the compounds were isolated from this genu for the first time except compound 3 and 7.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Monascus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Steroids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) secondary to the sudden deafness (SD) and to explore pathogenetic mechanism. METHOD: One hundred and seventy-eight cases of the SD in our department were retrospectively analyzed. They were all treated under the guidance of clinical guidelines. RESULT: (1) In all these patient's with SD, there were 31 cases with BPPV secondary to the SD. There were 26 cases of BPPV of posterior semicircular canal and 5 cases of BPPV of lateral BPPV semicircular canal. All patients with BPPV were diagnosed as the same ears as the SD, including 16 cases on left sides and 15 on right sides. (2) The interval between the onset of SD and BPPV was less than one week in 27 cases, between one week and one month in 3 cases, and between one and three months in 1 case. (3) All patients with BPPV secondary to the SD were cured with Epley maneuver or Barbecue roll maneuver. CONCLUSION The occurrence of BPPV may follow SD, and the major of BPPV secondary to the SD occurs in the posterior semicircular canal. The canalith repositioning is an effective therapy to the secondary BPPV.
Adult ; Aged ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

Objective: The consistency of 24-hour oropharyngeal Dx-pH monitoring and proton pump inhibitor(PPI) test in the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) was investigated. Methods: Sixty patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) related symptoms who had never received PPI treatment were assessed by reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) between October 2017 and October 2018, including 28 males and 38 females, aged from 16 to 72 years, with a medium age of 38 years. Prior to treatment, all patients were evaluated with 24 hours oropharyngeal Dx-pH monitoring(Restech). After empiric therapy with PPI twice-daily for 8 weeks, the efficacy was evaluated according to posttreatment RSI score.The data was analysed with Kruskal-Wallis test, Student Newman Keuls test and consistency check. Results: (1)Among all 60 patients,13 patients (21.7%) had pathologic Ryan score and all resulted responsive to PPI;27 patients (45.0%) with a negative Ryan score were unresponsive to PPI; 20 patients (33.3%) despite a negative Ryan score resulted responsive to PPI therapy. Considering responsiveness to PPI therapy as the gold standard for the diagnosis of LPRD, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Ryan score were 39.4%, 100%, 100% and 57.4% respectively. The Kappa value was 0.369 (P<0.01). (2)Among 34 patients (56.7%) with positive Dx-pH results (24-hour oropharyngeal acid reflux events≥ 3 times), 29 patients were positive and 5 patients were negative in PPI test. Among 26 patients with negative Dx-pH results (24-hour oropharyngeal acid reflux events<3 times), 4 patients were positive and 22 patients were negative in PPI test. Considering responsiveness to PPI therapy as the gold standard for the diagnosis of LPRD, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 24-hour oropharyngeal acid reflux events were 87.9%, 81.5%, 85.3% and 84.6% respectively. The Kappa value was 0.696(P<0.01). Conclusions There is a positive correlation between 24-hour oropharyngeal Dx-pH monitoring positive results (24-hour oropharyngeal acid reflux events≥3 times) and PPI test in the diagnosis of LPRD. The 24-hour oropharyngeal Dx-pH monitoring can be a promising tool for the diagnosis of suspected LPRD patients, and more sensitive and accurate Dx-pH diagnostic index will be required in the clinic.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the onset time and efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with Dermatophagoides farinae drops in children with house dust mites (HDM)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSOne hundred and forty three children with perennial moderate to severe HDM-induced AR were treated by SLIT with standardized Dermatophagoides farinae extract. One hundred children who finally completed two years treatment were divided into two groups according to the age: younger children group (aged 4-8 years, n = 52) and older children group (aged 9-14 years, n = 48). Respectively, Each children was assessed before and after 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 24th months of the treatment. Total nasal symptom score (TNSS), total medication score (TMS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated at each visit. All clinical data were analyzed retrospectively with the SPSS 19.0 software.

RESULTSTNSS, TMS and VAS of two groups decreased significantly after three months of the treatment compared with before (younger children group: Z value was -3.843, -3.534, -3.940, older children group: Z value was -3.938, -3.405, -3.953, all P < 0.05). TNSS and VAS of younger children group decreased significantly after two months of the treatment compared with before (6.4 ± 1.6, 5.3 ± 1.4 vs 8.6 ± 1.2, 7.9 ± 1.6, Z value was -3.843, -3.940, both P < 0.05). Five children (5%) experienced local adverse events and 2 children (2%) experienced mild systemic adverse events. No severe adverse events happened during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSSLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops is an efficient and safe treatment for children with HDM-induced AR. Its onset of action can be observed as early as 3 months after treatment.

Administration, Sublingual ; Adolescent ; Allergens ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; Software ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome