OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of alprostadil in the treatment of heart failure in pa-tients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS:120 patients diagnosed as heart farlture with normal LVEF were divided into observation group and control group by radom number table method,with 60 cases in each group. Control group was given symptomatic treatment;observation group was additionally treated with Alprostadil dried emulsion for injection 10μg,bid,on the basis of control group. Both groups received treatment for 5 d. The cardiac function indexes,serum inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indexes were observed in 2 groups before and after treatment,and the occurrence of ADR was com-pared between 2 groups. RESULTS:Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in cardiac function indexes,serum in-flammatory factors and oxidative stress indexes between 2 groups (P>0.05). After treatment,above indexes of 2 groups were all improved significantly,and the observation group was significantly better than the control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). No obvious ADR was found in 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS:Alprostadil can improve cardiac function of patients with heart failure of normal LVEF,improve serum inflammatory factors and oxidative stress level with good safety.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of oral administration of D-methionine tablets on noise-induced hearing impairment. METHOD: Two hundred and three volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n= 113) and control group (n=90). The subjects received oral administration of D-methionine tablets in the experimental group and placebo in the control group before noise exposure. Routine audiometric evaluation and ABR testing were performed and recorded before and after noise exposure. The statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 11.0. RESULT: There were no differences in auditory threshold and I-V interpeak latency pre-noise exposure (P>0.05), however, there were statistically significant differences between two groups 1 d, 7 d after noise exposure (P<0.01 and P<0.05). In-respective-group, there were statistically significant differences between before and 1 d after noise exposure (P<0.05 and P<0.01), however, no difference was noted between before and 7 d after noise exposure in the experimental group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The protective effects of D-methionine tablets were prominent on the noise-induced hearing impairment. Further studies regarding the optimal time of D-methionine administration will be recommended in the future.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Methionine ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo classify the patients with cleft lip and palate who need orthognathic surgery and to propose the corresponding operations.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to May 2015, 121 patients with cleft lip and palate diagnosed as maxillary retrusion were treated by orthognathic surgery. Inclusion criteriar: (1) male aged over 16, female aged over 14; (2) diagnosed as non-syndromic cleft lip and palate without systemic disease and other genetic diseases; (3) without previous orthodontic and orthognathic treatment; (4) having no other craniofacial malformation. Maxillary features and repaired types were recorded.

RESULTS93 patients were included and divided into two categories depended on the dental crowding. Class I: the teeth quantity and bone quantity is coordinated, space analysis ≤ 4 mm (mild dental crowding). The forward distance of maxillary less than 6 mm was defined as Class I a (36 cases) more than 6 mm as Class I b (28 cases). Class II: the teeth quantity and bone quantity is not coordinated, space analysis > 4 mm ( moderate or severe dental crowding). After the simulation of distraction osteogenesis, the anterior crossbite was corrected defined as Class II a (23 cases), not corrected defined as Class II b (6 cases). Class I a were corrected by conventional orthognathic surgery. While Class I b were corrected by Le Fort I maxillary advancement using distraction osteogenesis. Class II a were repaired just by anterior maxillary distraction. While Class II b need to combine conventional orthognathic surgery with anterior maxillary distraction. All the patients were satisfied with the treatment effect.

CONCLUSIONSThe patients of cleft lip and palate with maxillary retrusion who need orthognathic surgery can be classified as the method mentioned above, and then choose the appropriate operations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cleft Lip ; complications ; Cleft Palate ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy, Le Fort ; Retrognathia ; classification ; surgery

Objective According to the fine artery anatomy of the lower lip, we developed an innovative partial-thickness myocutaneous flap based on the vascular network of the submucosal and subcutaneous layers of the lower lip.We attempted to treat the secondary bilateral cleft lip deformities using this innovative cross-lip flap.Methods From July 2009 to June 2015, this new technique was used in 98 patients with secondary bilateral cleft lip deformities.The central defects usually occurred in these patients.The defects were reconstructed partially or completely according to the severities of the defects.The operative procedures were as follows: The split flap was elevated from the posterior portion of the oris orbicularis muscle after the inferior labial arteries were divided.Then the partial-thickness flap was rotated 180 degrees horizontally and inverted 180 degrees upward to the upper lip defect.Results All 98 musculomucosal pedicle flaps were viable.The upper lips were reconstructed according to the severities.Conclusions This myocutaneous cross-lip flap with musculomucosal-pedicle has a more reliable blood supply, better flexibility and plasticity.It is an effective method for aesthetic reconstruction for the secondary bilateral cleft lip deformities.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of oral administration of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) on noise-induced hearing loss. METHOD: Three hundred sixty three volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n=223) and control group (n=140). The subjects had received oral administration of NAC in the experimental group and placebo in the control group before noise exposure. The routine audiometric evaluation and ABR testing were performed and recorded pre- and post-noise exposure. The statistical analysis was carried out on the data obtained from two groups with SPSS 11.0. RESULT: The hearings of all the participatory were changed after noise exposure, but there were statistically significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION The protective effects of NAC were prominent on the noise-induced hearing loss.
Acetylcysteine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the differences in miRNA expression levels between giant congenital melanocytic nevi, medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevi and normal skin. Methods: The experiment was divided into three groups: giant congenital melanocytic nevi group, medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevi group and normal skin group, with ten samples in each group. Firstly, 3 samples of each group were detected by Agilent miRN Amicroarray to screen the different miRNAs between different groups. 5 differential miRNAs related to MAPK, Wnt, NF-kB signaling pathways were selected for further verification: miR-146a-5p, miR-140-5p, miR-106b-5p, miR-17-5p, and miR-483-5p. miRNA expression levels were measured using real-time quantitative PCR (Taqman) in ten clinical samples from each group. .Experimental data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Results: A total of 23 differential miRNAs between congenital melanocytic nevi and normal skin were found by miRNA microarray detection. The results of real-time PCR showed that miR-146a-5p expression was significantly different between the three groups: giant congenital melanocytic nevi VS medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevi (P=0.003); giant congenital melanocytic nevi VS normal skin (P=0.000); medium-sized congenital melanocytic nevi VS normal skin (P=0.013). There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of the other four miRNAs between the 3 groups. Conclusions The expression of miR-146a-5p is increased in congenital melanocytic nevi, especially in giant congenital melanocytic nevi, which may be related to the proliferation and senescence of melanocytes in different tissues.

BACKGROUNDMaxillary anterior segmental distraction osteogenesis (MASDO) is a recently used method for correction of severe maxillary retrusion in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients. In this article, we evaluated the feasibility of MASDO using rigid external distraction (RED) and rapid orthodontic tooth movement to correct severe maxillary retrusion in CLP patients.

METHODSFourteen male and five female complete CLP patients between the ages of 18 and 22 years (mean age 19.7 years) at the time of distraction, with severe maxillary retrusion, were treated with the rigid external distraction (RED) device after maxillary anterior osteotomy. Rapid orthodontic tooth movement was started one week after the MASDO. Standard profile photographic, cephalometric films were obtained preoperatively and after therapy. Sella-nasion-point A (SNA) and Sella-nasion-point B (SNB) angles were measured to reflect changes in maxillary and mandibular position, and the distance between anterior nasal spine and posterior nasal spine (ANS-PNS) was measured to represent the maxillary dental arch length.

RESULTSThe SNA angle increased from an average of 74.6° (range 73.0°-78.0°), preoperatively, to 83.4° (range 78.6°-88.0°) after the RED was removed (P < 0.01). All cases of severe maxillary retrusion were improved. Nine patients' profiles became harmonious after therapy. One patient had a bimaxillary protrusion deformity and needed further surgery. The regenerate alveolar crest and edentulous space on both segments was almost completely eliminated after rapid orthodontic tooth movement.

CONCLUSIONMASDO with the RED system and rapid orthodontic tooth movement is a successful way of correcting severe maxillary retrusion in CLP patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; methods ; Tooth Movement Techniques ; Young Adult