Objective:To investigate the risk factors of wet ear status and its impact on the efficacy of endoscopic type Ⅰ tympanoplasty. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army（PLA）Air Force Medical University, on 160 ears that underwent endoscopic type Ⅰ tympanoplasty; these were assigned to a dry-ear group （n= 118） and a wet-ear group （n= 42）.Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for wet ear status. Postoperative outcomes, including tympanic meoombrane healing rate and hearing improvement across frequencies, were compared between groups. Results:①Significant intergroup differences were observed in age, residual tympanic membrane status, external auditory canal condition, mastoid pneumatization（MC0）, and middle ear ventilation dysfunction（P<0.05）; ②The degree of mastoid pneumatization being MC0 is an independent risk factor for wet ear（P<0.05）; ③No significant difference in tympanic membrane healing rates was found（P>0.05）; ④The wet ear group showed significantly higher pre-and postoperative air-conduction（AC） and bone-conduction（BC） thresholds at 2 kHz and 4 kHz compared to the dry ear group（P<0.05）, though the postoperative air-bone gap（ABG） improvement was comparable. Conclusion:Poor mastoid pneumatization is a risk factor for wet ears. The wet ear state has no effect on tympanic membrane healing and air-bone conduction gap, but patients in the wet ear group may have more severe inner ear or auditory nerve pathway damage.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Endoscopy ; Adolescent ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Child ; Logistic Models ; Tympanic Membrane/surgery*

Surgery is the mainstay of lung cancer treatment options.Traditionally,lobectomy has held its place as the gold standard for treating localized lung cancer,while sublobar resection,including wedge resection and segmentectomy,was primarily considered as an alternative,often reserved for patient ineligible to sustain a radical intervention.However,with the widespread application of computed tomography(CT)to clinical practice,the increasing detection rate of pulmonary ground glass nodules(GGNs)has reshaped this landscape.Ground glass opacity(GGO)in persistent lung nodules is an indicative factor of a favorable prognosis,typically corresponding to pathological changes such as atypical adenomatous hyperplasia(AAH),adenocarcinoma in situ(AIS),or adenocarcinomas predominantly featuring a lepidic growth pattern.A large number of retrospective studies have shown that sublobar resection can achieve satisfactory therapeutic outcomes for such lesions.A series of prospective studies from Japan have confirmed that for early-stage lung cancers dominated by GGOs,sublobar resection is also a viable curative surgical option.The follow-up data showed that there was no statistical difference in the survival status of these patients compared with that of pulmonary lobectomy.This article aims to delve into the role of limited lung resection in the context of lung adenocarcinoma presenting with GGO features.

AIM: Given the biofilm formation abili- ty of different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae, our study was aimed at exploring the inhibitory and clearance of azithromycin combined with levofloxacin on the biofilm of Klebsiella pneumoniae of different ST-types and providing a new strategy for the prevention of biofilm formation in the treatment of post-infectious Klebsiella pneumoniae. METHODS: 9 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae from all susceptibility groups, 19 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum β - lactamases (ESBLs), and 37 strains of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) were randomly collected from the samples of patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from August 2019 to November 2021. The isolates were identified using VITEK MS IVD KB V3.2 and VITEK 2-Compact 60. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed to analyze the homology of each strain; crystal violet staining was used for semi -quantitative detection of biofilm to compare the differences in biofilm formation ability between different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae. Different ST-type strains were selected, and the partial inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was calculated by micro broth dilution method to judge the combination effect and select the optimal combination concentration; crystalline violet staining method was used to investigate the inhibition and clearance effect of azithromycin combined with levofloxacin on the biofilm of different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae; laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the structural changes of the biofilm of Klebsiella pneumoniae before and after the effect of the antibacterial drugs. RESULTS: MLST typing results showed that the sensitive group of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains had 8 sequences such as ST86, ST727, etc., the ESBLs group strains belonged to 14 sequence types such as ST15, ST37, ST11, etc., of which ST15 accounted for 26.32% (5 / 19). The CRKP group strains belonged to 9 sequence types such as ST11, ST15, ST656, etc., of which ST11 accounted for 48.65% (18/37), ST15 accounted for 27.03% (10/37); ST15 (ESBLs), ST11 (CRKP), ST15 (CRKP) type Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilms all reached maturity on the 5th day, the ST15 (ESBLs) group had a stronger ability to produce material to be membranous than the ST15 (CRKP) group. The ST11 (CRKP) group had a stronger ability to produce material to be membranous than the ST15 (CRKP) group (P<0.01); the results of azithromycin combined with levofloxacin drug sensitivity showed that it had an additive effect on different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria; in the inhibition of biofilm formation and clearance test, the 2×MIC azithromycin group and the combined concentration group had a stronger inhibition of biofilm formation of different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, and the inhibitory ability of the combined group was better than that of the single-drug group, and the highest inhibition rate could reach 89.93%; the clearance effects were all combined drug group>azithromycin>levofloxacin, and the highest clearance rate was 44.79%. CONCLUSION: There are differences in biofilm formation ability between different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae, and azithromycin combined with levofloxacin has a better inhibitory effect on different ST-type Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm, conbined application can be used in the treatment of biofilm infections early stage.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of combined copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and chromosomal karyotyping for the diagnosis of amniocytic mosaicisms, in addition with a literature review. METHODS: Forty cases of amniocytic mosaicisms detected at the Genetic and Prenatal Diagnosis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2021, in addition with 245 mosaicisms retrieved from 11 recent literature were evaluated in terms of detection rate, consistency rate, and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: The detection rate of amniocytic mosaicisms was 0.46% (40/8 621) in our center. And its consistency rate with chromosomal karyotyping was 75.0% (30/40). After genetic counseling, 30 (75.0%) couples had opted to terminate the pregnancy, 5 (12.5%) had decided to continue with the pregnancy, 3 (7.5%) fetuses were born alive, and 2 cases (5.0%) were lost in touch. By contrast, 245 cases (0.39%) of mosaicisms were identified among 63 577 amniotic samples, with a consistency rate of 62.8% (103/164) with other techniques. Among these, 114 cases (55.1%) were terminated, 75 (36.2%) were born alive, and 18 (8.7%) were lost during the follow up. CONCLUSION Combined CNV-seq and chromosomal karyotyping has a high value for the detection of amniotic mosaicisms.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Mosaicism ; Chromosome Disorders/genetics* ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Karyotyping ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods*

Objective:To explore the clinical significance of the combined application of prenatal cellular and molecular genetics in the diagnosis of fetal sex chromosome mosaicism.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 034 pregnant women aged 20-46 years (mean age 27±3 years) who came to the Genetic Counseling Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 1st 2017 to January 31th 2020 for G-banding karyotype analysis of fetal amniotic fluid chromosomes. They were 17-32 weeks pregnant and had no consanguineous marriage. The patients diagnosed as sex chromosome mosaicism were screened out and their prenatal diagnostic indications were analyzed. The results of whole-genome copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq)/single nucleotide polymorphism-array(SNP-array)/fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) were comopared, combined with ultrasound findings, and the pregnancy outcomes of all pregnant women were followed up by access to our hospital′s electronic medical record system or telephone.Results:A total of 46 cases of sex chromosome mosaicism were found. There were 43 cases with two types of karyotype mosaicism, accounting for 93.48%, and 3 cases with three types of karyotype mosaicism, accounting for 6.52%. Comparison of karyotype and CNV-seq/SNP-array/FISH results showed that 4 cases had consistent results, 9 cases had consistent results but different proportion, and 10 cases had inconsistent results. Combined with the results of the cytogenetic/molecular genetic analysis and/or ultrasound findings, pregnant women will decide to continue or terminate the pregnancy.Conclusion:The combination of prenatal cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods is helpful for rapid diagnosis of fetal sex chromosome mosaicism, providing scientific basis for pregnant women′s pregnancy selection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of low-depth whole-genome copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) for the analysis of chromosomal copy number variations among fetuses with echogenic bowel (EB). METHODS: A total of 163 fetuses were included in this study. Amniotic fluid (162 cases) or chorionic villi (1 case) were collected and subjected to CNV-seq for the analysis of CNVs. RESULTS: Thirteen (8.0%) pathogenic CNVs were detected, including 9 (5.5%) aneuploidies and 4 (2.4%) CNVs. The detection rate of the isolated EB group and combined EB group were 1.7% (1/58) and 11.4% (12/105), respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). A Xp22.1 duplication was detected in both groups, and the fetuses were predicted as female DMD carriers and born healthy. Nine cases of aneuploidies and 2 (likely) pathogenic CNVs were identified in the combined EB group, all of them have warranted induced labor. CONCLUSION The prevalence of chromosomal aneuploidies and pathogenic CNVs in fetuses with combined EB was much higher than isolated EB, and most of them may warrant termination of pregnancy. Compared with isolated EB, more attention should be paid to combined EB, for which prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling should be carried out in time.
Amniotic Fluid ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Echogenic Bowel ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Technology

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) in the genetic etiology of fetuses with nasal bone dysplasia (NBD). METHODS: A total of 217 fetuses discovered with NBD from December 2017 to December 2020 were divided into the isolated NBD group and NBD combined with other anomalies group, for which copy number variations (CNVs) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 40 fetal abnormalities were detected in 217 cases, with an overall abnormal rate of 18.4%. These included 31 cases with aneuploidies (14.3%, 31/217) and 9 cases with genomic CNVs (4.1%, 9/217). Five cases of trisomy 21 (3.5%, 5/144) and two CNVs cases with unknown clinical significance (1.4%, 2/144) were detected in the isolated group. As for the combined NBD group, 26 aneuploidies (35.6%, 26/73), including 19 cases with trisomy 21, 6 cases with trisomy 18, 1 case with trisomy 13, 5 cases with pathogenic CNVs (6.8%, 5/73), and 2 cases with CNVs of unknown clinical significance (2.7%, 2/73) were detected. A significant difference was detected between the two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The detection rate of CNV-seq is high for chromosomal aneuploidies and pathogenic CNVs in fetuses with NBD, particularly in those combined with other ultrasonic abnormalities.
Aneuploidy ; Bone Diseases, Developmental ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Down Syndrome/genetics* ; Female ; Fetus/abnormalities* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trisomy

Objective:Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis was performed on two consecutive antenatal abnormal fetuses and their parents in a family to clarify the copy number variation(CNV) and its mechanism.Methods:The karyotypes of two fetuses and their parents were analyzed by conventional karyotyping techniques, and CNVs of two fetuses and their mother were analyzed by low-coverage whole-genome copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) techniques.Results:The amniotic fluid karyotype results of fetus 1 and 2 were 46, XN, der(4)t(4;10)(q35;p13). The mother′s peripheral blood karyotype result was 46, XX, t(4;10)(q35;p13), and the father′s karyotype was normal. The CNV-seq results of fetus 1 and 2 were seq[hg19]6q22.31(122740000-125440000)X1; 10p15.3p13(120000-17260000)X3, suggesting that there was a heterozygous deletion of about 2 700 000 bp in fetal 6q22.31 and a duplication of about 17 140 000 bp in fetal 10p15.3p13. The CNV-seq result of their mother was seq[hg19]6q22.31(122740000-125440000)X1, suggesting that there was a heterozygous deletion of about 2 700 000 bp in 6q22.31. The pregnant woman and her family chose to terminate the pregnancy after genetic consulting.Conclusion:The combined application of karyotyping and CNV-Seq is significantly beneficial to detecting microdeletions or microduplications of fetal chromosomes and effectively preventing the birth of defective children.

AIM: To study the inhibitory and scavenging effects of ambroxol combined with levofloxacin on the bacterial biofilm of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and to provide a new strategy to treat and antagonize the formation of the biofilm. METHODS: We collected Klebsiella pneumoniae of different resistance and divided them into sensitive group (wild bacteria group), ESBLs group and CRKP group with 15 strains in each group and performed biological semi-quantitative detection of its biofilm by crystalline violet staining method. After selecting 3 strains with similar membrane yields from each group, we determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ambroxol and levofloxacin against Klebsiella pneumoniae by micro broth dilution method.In addition, we determined the effects of ambroxol in different concentrations on the MIC of levfloxacin by the micrdilution checkerboard techniques and calculated the partial inhibitory concentration index (FIC) to determine the joint effect and select the best synergistic concentration. Finally, the effects of ambroxol and levofloxacin in different concentrations on the inhibition formation test and removal test of Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm were observed by crystal violet method combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: We found that all three groups of bacterial biofilms became mature on the 5th day, and the sensitive group was easier to form and produce biofilm more than the ESBLs and CRKP groups (F=3.725, P=0.032). It was showed that the geometric average of levofloxacin MIC value in the three groups decreased significantly. And the selected strains all showed a synergistic effect on the two-drug combination.In the biofilm test, as the concentration of ambroxol increased, its inhibition rate reached more than 75%, but its biofilm removal rate did not reach 70%. CONCLUSION: Our study support that ambroxol combined with levofloxacin can inhibit the bacterial biofilm of Klebsiella pneumoniae early, and its optimal synergistic concentration is 0.49 mg/mL (ambroxol) + 4 μg/mL (levofloxacin).

Objective:To explore the clinical application value and accuracy of cell-free fetal DNA (cff-DNA) technique in prenatal screening.Methods:The results of quantitative fluorescent PCR (QF-PCR) and karyotype of amniotic fluid cells were analyzed retrospectively in 2 398 monocyesis pregnant women who had been amniocentesis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2013 to December 2019, and the results of 359 cases who had been examined by single-nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array).Results:Cff-DNA test of 2, 398 cases indicated 987 cases of trisomy 21, 351 cases of trisomy 18, 135 cases of trisomy 13, 566 cases of sex chromosome abnormality, and 359 cases of other chromosome abnormality. Chromosome karyotype analysis detected 826 cases of trisomy 21, 213 cases of trisomy 18, 17 cases of trisomy 13, 221 cases of sex chromosome abnormality, and 26 cases of other chromosome abnormality. The detection rate were 83.69% (826/987), 60.68% (213/351), 12.59% (17/135), 39.04% (221/566) and 7.24% (26/359), respectively. QF-PCR detected 1 046 cases of trisomy and 188 cases of sex chromosomes abnormality, and the detection rate was 99.05% (1 046/1 056) and 85.07% (188/221), respectively. Compared with the abnormal number detected by chromosome karyotype analysis, 10 cases of trisomeric chimerism and 24 cases of sex chromosome were missed by QF-PCR. Among the 359 other chromosomal abnormalities detected by SNP array, 64 cases were consistent with the results of cff-DNA, and the detection rate was 17.83% (64/359), which was 10.59% higher than the karyotype result.Conclusions:Karyotype analysis is the gold standard for diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities. QF-PCR could diagnose common chromosome aneuploidy rapidly and accurately, and it could be used as an auxiliary detection technique for karyotype analysis. The incidence of sex chromosome chimerism is high, so missed diagnosis should be warned. SNP array could be given priority to verify chromosome microdeletion or microduplication detected by cff-DNA.