Olfactory disorders are a common symptom in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and their diagnosis and treatment have garnered extensive attention from both patients and doctors. Currently, there are various evaluation and treatment methods for olfactory dysfunction; however, choosing a simpler and more accurate assessment, as well as an effective treatment, remains a clinical challenge. In this article, we review the assessment and treatment methods commonly used in clinical practice in recent years to provide better support for the diagnosis and treatment of olfactory disorders.
Humans ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Sinusitis/complications* ; Chronic Disease ; Rhinitis/complications* ; Rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between clinical features and human papillomavirus(HPV)infection and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in patients with pharyngeal and laryngeal papilloma.METHODS Adult patients with pharyngeal and laryngeal papilloma admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from October 2022 to February 2024 were selected as the test group,and adult patients with non-inflammatory non-tumor throat lesions were selected as the control group.Clinical data and pathological tissue samples were collected.The differences of pharyngeal and laryngeal papilloma patients in symptoms,age,gender,smoking,drinking,the number of lesion involved sites and the number of operations were compared.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of HPV DNA,HIF cDNA and VEGF cDNA in the pathological tissues.RESULTS The symptoms of pharyngeal papilloma are less severe than those of laryngeal papilloma.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender and alcohol consumption(P>0.05),but there were statistically significant differences in terms of age,smoking,the number of lesions involved and the number of operations(P<0.05).The number of lesion involved sites was positively correlated with the expression of HIF and VEGF(r=0.3553、r=0.2693,P<0.05).The number of operations was positively correlated with the expression of VEGF(r=0.2515,P<0.05).The expression levels of HIF and VEGF in laryngeal papilloma were higher than those in pharyngeal papilloma and control group(F=9.174,H=23.737,P<0.001).The expression levels of HIF and VEGF in HPV-positive tissue were higher than those in HPV-negative tissue(t=3.899,t=6.463,P<0.001).The HPV positive rate of laryngeal papilloma(97.9%,46/47)was higher than that in pharyngeal papilloma(21.7%,10/46)and control group(13.6%,3/22)(χ2=53.114、χ2=46.647,P<0.001).CONCLUSION HPV infection is one of the important causes of pharyngeal papilloma.The low infection status of pharyngeal papilloma may lead to low expression of HIF and VEGF in the tumor,which makes its clinical features different from laryngeal papilloma.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the improved anesthesia method of arytenoid cartilage reduction under general anesthesia in the treatment of arytenoid dislocation.METHODS The clinical data of 12 patients who underwent modified arytenoid cartilage reduction under general anesthesia in Beijing Tongren Hospital from July 2020 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.To evaluate and analyze the modified anesthesia method of maintaining low degree of neuromuscular block during operation,the recovery of arytenoid cartilage movement and sound after operation.RESULTS All the 12 patients successfully completed arytenoid cartilage reduction.The articulation,arytenoid movement and glottis closure were improved significantly.Compared with the total voice handicap index(VHI),physical scores,functional scores and emotional scores before reduction,the scores at 1 month after surgery were significantly lower[83.5(75-91)vs.13(7-19),30.5(26.5-33)vs.5.5(3-7),25.5(22.5-29)vs.4(2-6),26(23.5-30)vs.4(1.5-6),P<0.001].No complications such as laryngeal spasm and laryngeal edema occurred during perioperative period.CONCLUSION Arytenoid cartilage reduction under modified general anesthesia has high safety,good patient cooperation and high reduction success rate.It provides a new option for the treatment of arytenoid dislocation.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) based on the double difference (DID) model.Methods:A retrospective case - control study method was adopted to analyze the general data of 130 patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who were treated in the Department of Neurosurgery of Hebei General Hospital from January 2022 to October 2023. Among them, 49 were males and 81 were females. The age was (53.28±11.67) years, ranging from 25 to 80 years old. According to different treatment methods, the patients were divided into an experimental group ( n=63) and a control group ( n=67). Patients in the experimental group were given percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) treatment, while those in the control group were treated with conservative drug therapy. Propensity score matching method was used for 1∶1 matching. After matching, there were 52 cases in each group. The general data of the two groups were compared. The visual analogue scale (VAS), 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) score, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) score, Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA) score, 5-hydroxytryptamine, neuropeptide P, inflammatory factor interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) before and after treatment, as well as the clinical efficacy of the two groups of patients were comparatively analyzed. Meanwhile, the incidence of postoperative complications in the two groups was compared. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to analyze the influencing factors of clinical efficacy, and the difference-in-differences (DID) model was used to evaluate the efficacy before and after treatment. Measurement data conforming to the normal distribution were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and the t-test was used for comparison between groups; the chi- square test was used for comparison between count data. Results:After treatment, the VAS, SF-36 score, HAMD score, HAMA score, 5-hydroxytryptamine level, neuropeptide P level, IL-1 level, and TNF-α level in the experimental group were (2.98±0.83) points, (75.56±1.18) points, (7.2±0.83) points, (7.15±0.85) points, (76.34±5.47) ng/mL, (50.95±11.01) pg/mL, (29.45±7.08) ng/L, and (21.18±3.55) ng/L respectively. In the control group, there were (3.63±0.95) points, (73.23±1.13) points, (7.98±0.80) points, (8.04±0.84) points, (186.31±11.61) ng/mL, (86.52±13.32) pg/mL, (34.47±6.58) ng/L, and (26.36±5.80) ng/L, respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05).The cure rate and the total incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group were 55.77% and 13.46% respectively, while in the control group, they were 40.38% and 30.77% respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05).The results of the GEE model analysis showed that age, course of disease, VAS, SF-36 score, HAMA score, HAMD score, 5-hydroxytryptamine level, neuropeptide P level, IL-1 level, TNF-α level, treatment method, and the long - diameter ratio of FO significantly affected the clinical efficacy of patients ( P<0.05).The results of the DID model showed that the experimental group was superior to the control group in improving the VAS, SF-36 score, HAMD score, HAMA score, 5-hydroxytryptamine level, neuropeptide P level, IL-1 level, and TNF-α level( P<0.05). Conclusion:PBC can significantly improve the VAS, SF-36 score, HAMD score, HAMA score, 5-hydroxytryptamine, neuropeptide P, IL-1, TNF-α, and incidence of complications in patients with TN. It can also improve the psychological status and quality of life of patients.

Objective To investigate the improvement effect of Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) on mouse models with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) -associated myocarditis (ICIAM) and potential mechanism. Methods Ten male BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected to construct the ICIAM models. The echocardiography and serum myocardial injury markers were used to assess cardiac function of mice. The levels of inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate myocardial inflammation, and Masson staining was used to evaluate myocardial fibrosis. The expressions of myocardial necroptosis proteins including receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1), RIP3, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) and their phosphorylated forms were detected by Western blotting. The spleen lymphocytes were extracted and co-cultured with HL-1 cell line. Cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes of mitochondrial membrane potential were observed. RIP1, RIP3, MLKL and their phosphorylated forms were determined. The levels of markers of oxidative stress, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were measured. Results Nec-1 significantly improved the cardiac function injury of mice induced by ICI, and inhibited the release of TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma of ICIAM mice (P＜0.001); inhibited expressions of phosphorylated RIP1, RIP3 and MLKL (P＜0.05); decreased MDA activity, and increased SOD and GSH-Px activity (P＜0.001). In HL-1 cells, Nec-1 intervention inhibited the RIP1-RIP3-MLKL pathway (P＜0.05), improved decrease of the cell viability induced by lymphocytes (P＜0.001), decreased ROS release, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited MDA activity, and increased SOD and GSH-Px activities (P＜0.001). Conclusions Necroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of ICIAM，but Nec-1 could alleviate the progression of ICIAM by inhibiting necroptosis induced by oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes; RIP1 maybe a new target in treatment of ICIAM.

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in children with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) resistant steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).Methods:A retrospective case analysis was conducted. Thirteen children with CNI resistant SRNS who were regularly treated with RTX (375 mg/m 2 per dose (maximum dose 500 mg), 1 dose per week, a total of 4 doses) in Department of Nephrology, Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2016 to December 2023 were enrolled. The general data, disease related information, urinary protein/creatinine, serum albumin, blood creatinine before RTX treatment, immunosuppressants, adverse events, and monthly urinary protein/creatinine, serum albumin, and blood creatinine indexes within 6 months after RTX treatment were collected. The changes of urinary protein/creatinine, serum albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after RTX at 3 and 6 months were analyzed by using paired sample t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results:Among the 13 patients, 8 were male and 5 were female. The age of disease onset was 4.0 (2.9, 6.8) years and the age of RTX treatment was 9.8 (5.9, 13.6) years. There were 8 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, 3 cases of minimal change disease and 2 cases of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. No clinically significant gene variation was detected in 12 cases and the other one did not receive gene test. Before RTX treatment, 11 cases were in chronic kidney disease stage G1, and 1 case each was in stage G2 and stage G3. Ten children completed 4 doses of RTX treatment, 1 patient completed 3 doses, and 2 patients completed 2 doses. Urinary protein/creatinine in 13 children at 3 and 6 months after RTX treatment was significantly lower than baseline (0.60 (0.13, 2.04), 0.49 (0.28, 1.10) vs. 1.44 (0.76, 4.11) mg/mg, Z=-2.34, -2.34, both P<0.05), and serum albumin was significantly higher than baseline ((35±8), (34±7) vs. (30±6) g/L, t=2.30, 2.60, both P<0.05). The eGFR at 6 months after RTX treatment was not significantly different from the baseline ((110±32) vs. (113±35) ml/(min·1.73 m 2), t=-0.76, P>0.05)). No serious adverse reactions occurred in this study. Conclusion:RTX could reduce urinary protein and increase serum albumin in short-term treatment in children with CNI resistant SRNS without significant side effects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of GJB2 gene c.109G>A (p.V37I) variant among infants with congenital hearing loss and analyze the initial audiological characteristics of children harboring the variant, compare the audiometric difference among individuals with various genotypes, and explore genetic and audiological manifestations of the affected families. METHODS: One hundred twenty six infants diagnosed with congenital hearing loss at the Neonate Screening Center of Ningbo City from June 2021 to December 2024 were selected as the study subjects. The neonates, in addition with members from 16 of their families, had undergone genetic screening for variants of 208 hotspot sites within 24 deafness-associated genes. For cases identified with monoallelic variants and concurrent hearing loss, the full GJB2 gene was sequenced. Meanwhile, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 23 children whom were confirmed to have hearing loss and the c.109G>A variant by whole exome sequencing from March 2022 to December 2024. And 102 children who were excluded to have hearing loss and pathogenic variants by whole exome sequencing were selected as normal controls. Audiological features of individuals harboring the c.109G>A variant were compared. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of The Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No.: EC2023-009). RESULTS: For the 126 infants with congenital hearing loss, prospective screening has identified 58 (46.03%) to harbor the c.109G>A variant. These included 38 homozygotes and 16 compound heterozygotes. Retrospective review of the 23 c.109G>A positive children has identified 15 as homozygotes and 8 as compound heterozygotes. Genetic testing of the 16 pedigrees has identified 7 homozygotes and 1 compound heterozygote. For the homozygotes combined (n = 53), 96.2% exhibited bilateral symmetric hearing loss, with 78.3% showing high-frequency sloping patterns, and 98.1% having a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. For the compound heterozygotes combined (n = 24), 95.8% showed symmetric loss, with 59.4% having high-frequency sloping, and 97.9% had a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. Both groups showed significantly elevated ABR/PTA thresholds compared with the normal controls (P = 0.000). The compound heterozygous group had higher ABR thresholds (43.3 ± 15.0 dB nHL) compared with the homozygous group (39.1 ± 12.0 dB nHL, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION Infants harboring the GJB2 c.109G>A variant primarily manifest as mild-to-moderate, symmetric, high-frequency sloping hearing loss. Nearly one-third of affected children have thresholds between 20 to 35 dB nHL, suggesting that ABR > 35 dB nHL alone may underestimate the hearing impairment in this population. Compared with homozygotes, compound heterozygotes with the the GJB2 c.109G>A variant can confer a more severe hearing loss.
Humans ; Connexin 26/genetics* ; Female ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Hearing Loss/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Genotype ; Connexins/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective:To investigate the potential value of cerebral glucose metabolism characteristics in anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) antibody-related encephalitic patients during acute phase as the clinical indicator of disease outcomes.Methods:From October 2019 to December 2023, 28 patients (18 males, 10 females; age (56.6±11.9) year) with anti-LGI1 antibody-related encephalitis diagnosed at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were prospectively enrolled. All patients received baseline brain 18F-FDG PET imaging and were divided into different subgroups according to the prognosis (good prognosis and poor prognosis groups) and recurrence (recurrence and non-recurrence groups) after follow-up. The difference of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score between the two groups was compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis was used to analyze the PET images of different groups by independent-sample t test, and the characteristics of cerebral glucose metabolism of patients with different outcomes were obtained. Results:MoCA scores between the recurrence group ( n=6) and the non-recurrence group ( n=22; 14.0(9.8, 20.5) vs 22.0(18.0, 24.0); Z=2.17, P=0.030), and between the poor prognosis group ( n=13) and the good prognosis group ( n=15; 14.0(10.0, 22.0) vs 22.0(19.8, 25.3); Z=2.47, P=0.013) were significantly different. Compared with the good prognosis group, the cerebral glucose metabolism in the poor prognosis group was decreased in the bilateral frontal lobe, lateral temporal lobe, inferior parietal lobule and cingulate gyrus, but increased in the brainstem, bilateral lentiform nucleus and bilateral paracentral lobule/postcentral gyrus (all t=1.71, all P<0.05). Compared with the non-recurrence group, the metabolism of bilateral medial frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral insula, superior temporal gyrus and thalamus decreased in the recurrence group, while the metabolism of bilateral precentral gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral lentiform nucleus increased (all t=1.71, all P<0.05). Conclusion:18F-FDG PET imaging reveals the differences in brain metabolism of anti-LGI1 antibody-related encephalitic patients at baseline with different outcomes (prognosis, recurrence or not), which can provide a new perspective for the clinical evaluation of the disease at baseline.

Objective:To determine the prevalence of GJB2 gene c. 109G>A (p.V37I) variant among infants with congenital hearing loss and analyze the initial audiological characteristics of children harboring the variant, compare the audiometric difference among individuals with various genotypes, and explore genetic and audiological manifestations of the affected families. Methods:One hundred twenty six infants diagnosed with congenital hearing loss at the Neonate Screening Center of Ningbo City from June 2021 to December 2024 were selected as the study subjects. The neonates, in addition with members from 16 of their families, had undergone genetic screening for variants of 208 hotspot sites within 24 deafness-associated genes. For cases identified with monoallelic variants and concurrent hearing loss, the full GJB2 gene was sequenced. Meanwhile, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 23 children whom were confirmed to have hearing loss and the c. 109G>A variant by whole exome sequencing from March 2022 to December 2024. And 102 children who were excluded to have hearing loss and pathogenic variants by whole exome sequencing were selected as normal controls. Audiological features of individuals harboring the c. 109G>A variant were compared. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of The Affiliated Women and Children′s Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No.: EC2023-009). Results:For the 126 infants with congenital hearing loss, prospective screening has identified 58 (46.03%) to harbor the c. 109G>A variant. These included 38 homozygotes and 16 compound heterozygotes. Retrospective review of the 23 c. 109G>A positive children has identified 15 as homozygotes and 8 as compound heterozygotes. Genetic testing of the 16 pedigrees has identified 7 homozygotes and 1 compound heterozygote. For the homozygotes combined ( n=53), 96.2% exhibited bilateral symmetric hearing loss, with 78.3% showing high-frequency sloping patterns, and 98.1% having a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. For the compound heterozygotes combined ( n=24), 95.8% showed symmetric loss, with 59.4% having high-frequency sloping, and 97.9% had a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. Both groups showed significantly elevated ABR/PTA thresholds compared with the normal controls ( P=0.000). The compound heterozygous group had higher ABR thresholds (43.3 ± 15.0 dB nHL) compared with the homozygous group (39.1±12.0 dB nHL, P=0.005). Conclusion:Infants harboring the GJB2 c. 109G>A variant primarily manifest as mild-to-moderate, symmetric, high-frequency sloping hearing loss. Nearly one-third of affected children have thresholds between 20 to 35 dB nHL, suggesting that ABR > 35 dB nHL alone may underestimate the hearing impairment in this population. Compared with homozygotes, compound heterozygotes with the the GJB2 c. 109G>A variant can confer a more severe hearing loss.