Adolescent ; Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; methods ; Auditory Cortex ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetoencephalography ; Male ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo characterize the neural progenitor cell in the human amnion mesenchyme and epithelial layer with specific mark proteins of neural stem cell.MethodsExpressions of specific mark proteins of neural stem cell including nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), musashi-1, vimentin and PSA-NCAM in human amnion tissue and cultured amniotic cells were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining.ResultsExpressions of pluripotent neural stem cell specific makers (nestin, musashi-1, vimentin and PSA-NCAM) were detected in the human amnion mesenchyme and epithelial layer. In addition, cultured amniotic cells were expressed several neural stem cell specific markers including nestin, GFAP and PSA-NCAM. Nestin+ and GFAP+ double positive cells were identified in the human amnion tissue and cultured amniotic cells by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining.ConclusionSpecific mark proteins of neural stem cell are expressed in human amnion tissue and cultured amniotic cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of nasal glucocorticoid continuously used for 12 weeks on nasal obstruction in patients with persistent non-allergic rhinitis (PNAR).

METHODSThe changes of nasal obstruction, nasal resistance, nasal mucous membrane and quality of life in 47 patients with PNAR were observed. The efficacy of nasal glucocorticoid (Mometasone Furoate Nasal Spray, MFNS 200 microg/day) on patients with PNAR was evaluated.

RESULTSThe results of nasal glucocorticoid (MFNS) continuously used for 12 weeks demonstrated: (1) After treatment, the nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction related dizziness, headache, hyposmia, daily life activity, whole body fatigue, mental status were significantly improved (P < 0.05). (2) Nasal resistance showed significant amelioration (pre-treatment = 0.28 +/- 0.10, post- treatment = 0.16 +/- 0.05; F = 91.471, P < 0.05). (3) SF-36 questionnaire revealed that role physical, bodily pain, general health, role emotional had significant amelioration (P < 0.01). (4) SNOT-20 questionnaire revealed that the defatigation, impaired concentration, pinch the nose, nasal discharging into the throat, sleep quality had significant amelioration (P < 0.01). (5) Continued treatment for 12 weeks was better than 4 weeks, continued treatment had good effect.

CONCLUSIONThe study shows that nasal glucocorticoid improved the nasal obstruction, nasal resistance, nasal mucous membrane and quality of life in patients with PNAR.

Administration, Intranasal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Obstruction ; drug therapy ; Rhinitis ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo introduce our experience of resection of petrous apex cholesteatoma through endoscopic, transnasal, trans-sphenoidal approach in 3 cases, and present a surgical technique of intracystic resection of lesion which yielded a relatively stable long-term outcome.

METHODSResection of parasellar and petrous apex cholesteatoma via endoscopic transsphenoidal approach was performed in three patients between 2001 and 2006. Surgical technique was as follows: the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses were opened under endoscope, the petrous apex was accessed by drilling skull base bone at the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus and anterior to the internal carotid artery, the cyst wall of cholesteatoma was incised and expanded, then intracystic removal of cholesteatoma was achieved by the suction, curette and rinsing.

RESULTSThe petrous apex cholesteatoma in all 3 patients were removed clearly by endoscopic, transnasal, trans-sphenoidal surgery in one time. Before surgery, two patients with headache and orbital apex syndrome had a remarkable improvement just on the day after operation and completely recovered in 1-4 weeks. No postoperative complications happened in all three patients. All patients had no recurrence in symptoms and no imaging evidences of recurrence at a follow-up of 3 - 7 years.

CONCLUSIONThe petrous apex cholesteatoma around the parasellar region could be treated by intracystic removal via endoscopic, transnasal, transsphenoidal approach, without the need to strip and remove the cyst wall, and the long-term efficacy was reliable.

Adult ; Aged ; Cholesteatoma ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Skull Base ; surgery ; Sphenoid Sinus ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo examine the clinical effect of low-dose (250 mg/d), long-term (12 - 28 weeks) macrolide Klacid on the persistent refractory inflammation of paranasal sinus mucosa following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

METHODSThirteen patients from a consecutive series of 141 patients undergoing ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) during 2004 - 2006 for the first time were recruited for persistent refractory inflammation over 2 years postoperatively. All patients were given Klacid 250 mg/d orally for 12 - 28 weeks and simultaneously maintained the usual treatment including intranasal corticosteroid, mucolytics, and nasal douche. At the end of treatment and the sequential 3 and 6 months, 13 patients were evaluated by symptoms of visual analogue scale and nasal endoscopy by Lund-Kennedy scoring system, respectively.

RESULTSAmong the 13 patients, 1 patient stopped therapy for no obvious benefit 5 months after treatment, 12 patients finished the planned treatment till achieving the stopping therapy standard. Ultimately both symptom (8.00 [7.50, 8.50] and 1.00 [0.25, 1.00], Z = -3.201, P < 0.01) and endoscopic evaluation (7.00 [6.50, 8.00] and 1.00 [0.00, 1.00], Z = -3.194, P < 0.01) showed total remarkable improvement after therapy in 13 patients. The comprehensive assessment showed very good outcomes in 6 cases, good in 6 cases, and no good outcomes in 1 case, respectively. During the sequential 3 months and 6 months, no recurrent sinusitis and side effect happened in any patients.

CONCLUSIONSIt is effective to treat chronic refractory sinusitis with a low-dose (250 mg/d), long-term (12 - 28 weeks) Klacid on nasal mucosal persistent refractory inflammation after ESS. Klacid is well tolerated and safe to CRS patients during the use of 12 - 28 weeks.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Endoscopy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Macrolides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; pathology ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of bacteria isolated from patients with chronic sinusitis (CR) and antibiotic-resistance.

METHODSThe purulent discharges taken from the maxillary sinus and posterior ethmoid sinus of 76 patients during endoscopic sinus surgery were cultured for both bacteria and fungi, then the antimicrobial susceptibility test and beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (beta-LPB) were detected. In the control group, the discharges from the nasal cavity from 10 healthy adults were also cultured for bacteria.

RESULTSTwenty species, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-Hemolytic streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were cultured from the testing group. The total positive rate of bacteria was 81.8%. The detectable rates of aerobe, anaerobe, gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria were 83.4%, 16.6%, 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively. The fungi was only detected in 1.4% patients. The antimicrobial susceptibility test demonstrated that Imipenem, Cefotaxime and Amoxicillin-clavulanate were good in vitro activity to aerobic pathogens and Metronidazole, Imipenem and Chloramphenicol was good to anaerobic pathogens. The beta-LPB was detected in 37.7% strains in which Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, alpha-Hemolytic streptococcus and Branhamella catarrhalis were more frequent. Five species including Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli etc were cultured from the control group. There was no significant difference of distribution of the same bacteria between the control group and the testing group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe pathogenic bacteria of CR mostly involve aerobes. The antibiotics-resistance of these pathogen is serious. The bacterial infection plays no leading role in CR, so the need of antibiotics should not be excessively emphasized. Before treatment by antibiotics, the antimicrobial susceptibility test should be performed. The broad-spectrum antibiotics containing beta-lactamase inhibitor such as Cefotaxime and Amoxicillin-clavulanate is recommended in condition that the test can not be finished.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections ; microbiology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Sinusitis ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThis study was focused on the clinical effects of topical steroid for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in Chinese adults.

METHODSThe CRS patients were randomly selected in the department of otorhinolaryngology, first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university between november 2010 and December 2011. Thirty-four CRS patients with polyps (CRSwNP) or CRS without polyps (CRSsNP), no prior surgeries were included. These patients were prescribed to use budesonide nasal spay for three months. Evaluation included visual analog score (VAS), sino-nasal outcome test-20(SNOT-20), CT scan (Lund-Mackay score). SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSFour patients were lost to follow up, while the other 30 patients finished the 3-months' follow up. Except for smelling disturbance which was not statistically changed (t = 0.902, P > 0.05), VAS for nasal blockage (baseline: 4.84 ± 3.15, after treatment: 2.26 ± 2.27), rhinorrhea (baseline: 6.03 ± 2.93, after treatment: 1.96 ± 2.23), headache (baseline: 1.68 ± 2.66, after treatment: 0.42 ± 0.95), facial pressure (baseline: 2.04 ± 2.97, after treatment: 0.58 ± 1.42) and general symptom (baseline: 6.00 ± 2.75, after treatment: 2.71 ± 1.90) were statistically decreased (t value was 4.386, 6.740, 2.445, 2.980, 6.989, respectively, all P < 0.05). VAS of nasal blockage, rhinorrhea and general symptom were statistically decreased after one-month's treatment (all P < 0.05), but no statistical improvements were observed between first, second and the third month (all P > 0.05). SNOT-20 was significantly decreased after treatment (t = 3.687, P < 0.01). 22.2% patients were cured on CT scan.

CONCLUSIONSTopical steroid improves objective symptoms and quality of life in CRS patients. Some of the patients can be cured in CT scores. The symptoms improvements begin from the first month, but do not change during the latter two months.

Administration, Intranasal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of endoscopic modified agger nasi approach for the surgical treatment of frontal sinus diseases.

METHODSThe data of patients undergoing modified agger nasi approach for frontal diseases were prospectively collected since January 2009, including demographic data, findings at surgery, presence of postoperative symptoms, endoscopic appearance of the frontal recess and sinus, and complications.

RESULTSNineteen patients were enrolled from January 2009 to August 2010. Seventeen patients had chronic rhinosinusitis, in which 13 patients (76.5%) completely healed, 3 patients (17.6%) improved and 1 patient (5.9%) failed. Two patients had frontal sinus and anterior ethmoid sinus inverted papilloma, with no recurrence. The patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months, medium 16 months. No severe complication occurred. No frontal recess adhesion was found. Four sides of frontal recess showed stenosis caused by tissue hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONThe modified agger nasi approach provides excellent access to frontal recess and frontal sinus, with good effect for preventing re-stenosis after surgery.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Frontal Sinus ; surgery ; Frontal Sinusitis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; surgery ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the proper site for enlarging maxillary natural ostium during ESS, and to compare the draining mode of mucociliary transportation system.

METHODSThree groups were designed to observe the differences of tracer agent transported from maxillary sinus to nasal cavity. Normal control group: 30 cases; Trial group A:30 cases, the maxillary natural ostium were radically enlarged by all sides; Trial group B: 30 cases, the maxillary natural ostium were enlarged by reservation of whole inferior edge and cut away anterior and/or posterior edge. The patients in two trial groups were after nasal endoscopic sinus surgery for more than 12 months and the maxillary ostium were well open.

RESULTSTracer agent was drained from maxillary sinus to nasal cavity by inferior edge (s) of natural ostium in control group. The core area was posterior part of inferior edge. In trial group A, tracer agent was drained out by inferior edge in 4 cases (13.3%), tracer agent drained out by posterior and/or superior edge(s) and then dispersed to ethmoid sinus in 17 cases (56.7%),tracer agent stacked and/or circularly flowed in the maxillary sinus, and could not be transported out in 9 cases (30.0%). In trial group B,tracer agent drained out by inferior edge to middle meatal in all subjects (30/30,100%), and there was no redirection of the mucociliary transportation.

CONCLUSIONSThe inferior edge of natural ostium is the main passage of mucociliary transportation system of maxillary sinus. If the inferior edge of maxillary natural ostium reserved, the post-operative drainage of maxillary sinus would be the same as normal ones. Radical removal of all edges of maxillary natural ostium could lead to redirection of mucociliary transportation, only few cases could drain out by inferior edge, most cases drained out by posterior and/or superior edge and then dispersed to ethmoid sinus. In some cases, tracer agent often stacked in the maxillary sinus and could not be drained out. When there was a need to enlarge the maxillary natural ostium in ESS, it should be done in the anterior and/or posterior edge of natural ostium, the inferior edge should not be damaged so as not to interfere the passage of mucociliary transportation system of the maxillary sinus.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Nasal Mucosa ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; Postoperative Period ; Young Adult

To investigate the inhibitory effect of Pluronic on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump, Caco-2 cells and animal models were established to study the influence of Pluronic on celiprolol transport across Caco-2 cell monolayer and intestinal mucous membrane with verapamil set as a positive control. Drug concentration was measured by HPLC and the apparent permeability coefficient (P(app)), absorption rate constant (k(a)) and the effective permeability coefficient (P(eff)) were calculated. P(app) of basolateral to apical side and apical to basolateral side was (2.10 +/- 0.13) x 10(-6) and (0.333 +/- 0.018) x 10(-6) cm x s(-1), respectively. Transports of celiprolol across Caco-2 cell monolayer were influenced by both verapamil and Pluronic. The absorption constants (k(a)) of celiprolol at duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon were (0.09 +/- 0.03), (0.14 +/- 0.04), (0.11 +/- 0.03) and (0.05 +/- 0.02) h(-1), k(a) of celiprolol in verapamil group were (0.14 +/- 0.03), (0.24 +/- 0.02), (0.25 +/- 0.03) and (0.23 +/- 0.02) h(-1), and k(a) of celiprolol in Pluronic group were (0.13 +/- 0.02), (0.22 +/- 0.02), (0.22 +/- 0.03) and (0.20 +/- 0.03) h(-1), respectively. Pluronic showed significant effect on inhibiting P-gp of Caco-2 cell and intestinal mucosa in rats.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Caco-2 Cells ; Celiprolol ; pharmacokinetics ; Excipients ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Permeability ; Poloxamer ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley