Application of Conchal Cartilage Grafts in Nasal Tip Plasty: Comparison and Experience of 3 Methods.

INTRODUCTION: The autologous conchal cartilage of good elasticity is easy to harvest, thus is often used in nasal tip plasty of East Asians. However, the operation techniques vary a lot among different surgeons. This article aims to introduce 3 techniques commonly used in clinical practice. METHODS: One hundred three patients were included in this study and divided into 3 groups according to the shape of the nasal tip during 2017 to 2019. The patients were followed up for at least 6 months. All patients were measured with Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS). ImageJ software was used to measure and calculate the projection ratio for lateral position standard image, and columella-labial angle (CLA) was measured. RESULTS: In group 1, SCHNOS for nasal obstruction (SCHNOS-O) score were 13.23 ± 7.61 and 14.49 ± 10.55 (P > 0.05); SCHNOS for nasal cosmesis (SCHNOS-C) score were 66.55 ± 31.23 and 21.73 ± 18.91 (P < 0.001); projection ratio were 0.51 ± 0.04 and 0.57 ± 0.05 (P < 0.001); CLA were 91.02° ± 5.67° and 93.55° ± 4.64° (P > 0.05), preoperative and postoperative, respectively. In group 2, SCHNOS-O score were 16.76 ± 13.44 and 15.44 ± 9.26 (P > 0.05); SCHNOS-C score were 61.87 ± 44.14 and 19.16 ± 29.37 (P < 0.001); projection ratio were 0.50 ± 0.05 and 0.58 ± 0.03 (P < 0.001); CLA were 92.32° ± 6.39° and 94.86° ± 5.96°(P > 0.05), preoperative and postoperative, respectively. In group 3, SCHNOS-O score were 15.25 ± 7.83 and 17.73 ± 11.66 (P > 0.05); SCHNOS-C score were 52.03 ± 33.38 and 17.73 ± 11.66 (P < 0.001); projection ratio were 0.53 ± 0.05 and 0.57 ± 0.02 (P < 0.001); CLA were 91.65° ± 5.75° and 93.21° ± 5.38° (P > 0.05), preoperational and postoperational, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: None of these 3 techniques cause or aggravate nasal obstruction, and all of them can achieve high cosmetic satisfaction. Technique 1 and technique 2 are suitable for the patients with moderate and moderate to severe short nose that is common in East Asia, which can better increase the protrusion of the tip and length of the nose. Technique 3 is suitable for the patients with better shape of the nose, who need to slightly increase the protrusion of the nasal tip and increase the upward rotation.

Dienogest in conjunction with GnRH-a for postoperative management of endometriosis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the postoperative efficacy of the combined administration of dienogest (DNG) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) in patients diagnosed with endometriosis (EMS), while acknowledging the extensive use of DNG in the extended therapeutic management of EMS. Methods: In this retrospective study, a cohort of 154 patients who underwent conservative surgical intervention for EMS were scrutinized. The cohort was stratified into two distinct groups based on their prescribed pharmacological regimens. Group A, 70 patients received postoperative oral administration of DNG at a dosage of 2 mg/day, whereas Group B, 84 patients underwent treatment involving 3 to 4 injections of GnRH-a post-surgery, followed by DNG therapy. Parameters assessed included pelvic pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, quality of life metrics (EHP-5), and the incidence of adverse reactions within both groups. Results: Both groups exhibited sustained low VAS scores following the prescribed treatments. The predominant occurrence of adverse bleeding patterns manifested predominantly within the initial 6 months of the treatment. Notably, Group B demonstrated a significantly diminished of experiencing frequent and irregular bleeding in comparison to the DNG group (20.0% vs. 8.3%, 12.9% vs. 3.6%, p < 0.05). The administration of GnRH-a did not exacerbate the impact on bone health. Subsequent to health promotion interventions, the incidence of weight gain in both groups declined to 7.1% during the 6-month follow-up (p < 0.05). Group B exhibited a 100% satisfaction rate with the treatment, concomitant with a noteworthy reduction in EHP-5 scores (p < 0.05). Patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) nodules displayed marginally higher postoperative VAS scores than their non-DIE counterparts (0.89 ± 0.96 vs. 0.49 ± 0.78). However, with sustained medication use, pain scores within the DIE group exhibited a continual decrease, maintaining a low level of 0.29 ± 0.67 at 12 months and beyond. Conclusion: The short-term adjunctive use of GnRH-a prior to DNG treatment postoperatively in patients with EMS proves efficacious in mitigating early adverse bleeding, enhancing patient adherence, and improving overall quality of life. Notably, this therapeutic approach demonstrates favorable safety profiles and is equally effective in patients with DIE.

Maternal folic acid supplementation to prevent preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the association between folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia. METHODS: Relevant studies were included by searching Embase, PubMed, Scope, Web of science, Cochrane Library databases. Studies were reviewed according to prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Study characteristics were summarized, and study quality was assessed. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as indicators of effect to assess the relationship between folic acid supplementation and risk of preeclampsia. RESULTS: The protocol of this study was prospectively registered with the PROSPERO (registration No. CRD42022380636). A total of nine studies were included, divided into three groups according to the type of study, containing a total of 107 051 and 105 222 women who were supplemented and not supplemented with folic acid during pregnancy. The results showed that folic acid supplementation during pregnancy could not be proven to reduce the risk of preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that folic acid supplementation alone is not associated with a decreased risk of pre-eclampsia,but the inferences are somewhat limited by the low methodological quality of the included literature, and therefore higher quality studies are needed to prove this point.

Treatment of sensitive skin by short-wave radiofrequency combined with intense pulsed light.

BACKGROUND: Sensitive skin is a widespread dermatologic condition, and no optimal treatments have been established so far. OBJECTIVE: To investigated the efficacy and safety of the combined therapy of short-wave radiofrequency (SWRF) and intense pulsed light (IPL) in improving transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and facial erythema in sensitive skin patients. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with sensitive skin received the SWRF treatment once per week for 4 weeks and IPL treatment once. Digital photographs and three-dimensional images were taken at each follow-up. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by the improvement of sensitive scale-10 including irritant symptoms and facial erythema. In addition, erythema area and TEWL values were measured. RESULTS: All patients showed subjective and objective improvement in irritant sensations and facial erythema after treatment. The TEWL values decreased from 20.29 ± 5.97 g·h-1 ·m-2 at baseline to 14.70 ± 6.02 g·h-1 ·m-2 after SWRF treatment and 13.78 ± 4.70 g·h-1 ·m-2 after combined therapy (p = 0.000). The clearance of the erythema area was statistically significant, with 14.05% ± 5.71% at baseline, 9.38% ± 4.08% after SWRF treatment, and 5.73% ± 2.79% after combined therapy (p = 0.000). No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of SWRF with IPL was effective in relieving skin irritant sensations and facial erythema of sensitive skin by repairing skin barrier function.

Meta-Analysis of Low Temperature Plasma Radiofrequency Ablation and CO2 Laser Surgery on Early Glottic Laryngeal Carcinoma.

Objective: Meta-analysis is used to analyze the treatment of early glottic laryngeal carcinoma by cryogenic plasma radiofrequency ablation combined with CO2 laser surgery. Methods: Retrieval of PubMed, Embase, Medline, VIP, Wanfang, and CNKI databases using a computer. The retrieval period is from the creation of the database until August 31, 2021. References to the included literature were also searched at the same time. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, literatures are screened independently, relevant data were extracted, and meta-analysis was conducted. Results: Recurrence rates are reported in seven literatures. In interstudy heterogeneity test: P = 0.624, I 2 = 0%, fixed effect model analysis shows that there is no significant difference in recurrence rate between low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation and CO2 laser ablation (OR = 0.80, 95% CI (0.35, 1.29), P = 0.371). Intraoperative blood loss is reported in 5 literatures, and heterogeneity test of each study is as follows: P = 0.03, I 2 = 67%. Low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation results in more intraoperative blood loss than CO2 laser ablation (SMD = -0.71, 95% CI (0.08, 0.82), P = 0.01). There are five reports on postoperative pain in two treatments: P = 0.04, I 2 = 64%. There is no significant difference in postoperative pain between low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation and CO2 laser ablation (SMD = -0.21, 95% CI (-0.44, 0.10), P = 0.134). Operative time is reported in nine articles: P < 0.01, I 2 = 95%. The operative time of low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation is significantly shorter than CO2 laser ablation (SMD = -2.38, 95% CI (-3.91, -1.62), P < 0.01). There are two reports on postoperative mucosal recovery: P = 0.328, I 2 = 2%. Low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation was significantly better than CO2 laser ablation in postoperative mucosal recovery (OR = 5.49, 95% CI (2.36, 10.18), P < 0.01). Conclusion: Low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation is superior to CO2 laser surgery in the treatment of early glottic laryngeal carcinoma in terms of operative time and postoperative mucosal recovery. Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation, on the other hand, results in higher intraoperative blood loss, with no discernible difference in recurrence rate or postoperative pain severity between the two treatments.

[Clinical study on improving the strength and activity of lumbar spine with Qiang Jin exercises].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Qiang Jin exercises on the muscle strength and activity of lumbar spine in patients with lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: From March 2016 to September 2017, at the Department of Orthopaedics, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a total of 110 subjects were enrolled, and 98 eligible subjects were screened. The subjects were randomized by stratified randomization and divided into experimental group and control group, 49 cases in each group, 25 males and 24 females in the experimental group, 25 males and 24 females in the control group. The experimental group exercised with Qiang Jin exercises, one time each morning and evening, each time10 sets were made;the control group used classic rehabilitation training, training twice a week, and three months was a course of treatment. After 12 weeks of training, the muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine were evaluated and compared with the muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine before training. RESULTS: The experimental group and the control group had different muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine before and after treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups after treatment(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Qiang Jin exercises can effectively improve the muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine and improve the daily living ability of patients.