The characteristics of three-dimensional real inversion recovery MRI sequence in delayed Meniere's disease.

BACKGROUND: Delayed Meniere's disease (DMD) is characterized by episodic vertigo occurring after a significant delay following longstanding sensorineural hearing loss. However, its pathogenesis and characteristics remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To explore the characteristics of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in DMD and investigate its pathology using MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 patients diagnosed with DMD were included in this study. A 3D-real-IR MRI sequence was utilized to visualize and grade EH. The signal intensity of the basal cochlear turn was compared to that of the cerebellar white matter to calculate the CC ratio. A paired t-test was employed to assess the differences in the CC ratio between the affected and unaffected sides in patients with unilateral DMD. RESULTS: EH was present in 100% of cases on the affected side. Unilateral EH was seen in 82.4%, and bilateral EH in 23.5%. Vestibular EH without cochlear involvement occurred in 29.4%, and cochlear EH without vestibular involvement in 5.9%. The CC ratio was significantly higher on the affected side (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: A significant grade of vestibular EH was observed in DMD, with bilateral EH being relatively common. The increased contrast on the affected side may reflect the underlying pathology in DMD patients.

The relationship between endolymphatic hydrops features and hearing loss in Bilateral Meniere's disease.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the features of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss in patients with Bilateral Meniere's Disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 77 patients diagnosed with Bilateral Meniere's Disease. The features of endolymphatic hydrops in the affected ear were evaluated through gadolinium-enhanced inner ear Magnetic resonance imaging. The Spearman correlation coefficient, paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a significant correlation between the degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss across all frequencies(0.125-8 kHz), including the cochlear, vestibular, and overall degree of endolymphatic hydrops. The strongest correlation between the overall degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss was observed at low frequencies (r = 0.571, p < 0.05), followed by mid-frequencies (r = 0.508, p < 0.05), and high-frequencies (r = 0.351, p < 0.05), with a correlation of r = 0.463, p < 0.05 for the staging of Meniere's disease. Affected Ears with endolymphatic hydrops both in the cochlea and vestibule exhibited more severe hearing loss and Meniere's disease staging compared to those with isolated endolymphatic hydrops within the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: The features of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Bilateral Meniere's Disease were found to correlate with the severity of hearing loss and the staging of Meniere's disease.

Applications of Machine Learning in Meniere's Disease Assessment Based on Pure-Tone Audiometry.

OBJECTIVE: To apply machine learning models based on air conduction thresholds of pure-tone audiometry for automatic diagnosis of Meniere's disease (MD) and prediction of endolymphatic hydrops (EH). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. METHODS: Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging sequences and pure-tone audiometry data were collected. Subsequently, basic and multiple analytical features were engineered based on the air conduction thresholds of pure-tone audiometry. Later, 5 classical machine learning models were trained to diagnose MD using the engineered features. The models demonstrating excellent performance were also selected to predict EH. The model's effectiveness in MD diagnosis was compared with experienced otolaryngologists. RESULTS: First, the winning light gradient boosting (LGB) machine learning model trained by multiple features demonstrates a remarkable performance on the diagnosis of MD, achieving an accuracy rate of 87%, sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 90%, and a robust area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.95, which compares favorably with experienced clinicians. Second, the LGB model, with an accuracy of 78% on EH prediction, outperformed the other 3 machine learning models. Finally, a feature importance analysis reveals a pivotal role of the specific pure-tone audiometry features that are essential for both MD diagnosis and EH prediction. Highlighted features include standard deviation and mean of the whole-frequency hearing, the peak of the audiogram, and hearing at low frequencies, notably at 250 Hz. CONCLUSION: An efficient machine learning model based on pure-tone audiometry features was produced to diagnose MD, which also showed the potential to predict the subtypes of EH. The innovative approach demonstrated a game-changing strategy for MD screening and promising cost-effective benefits for the health care enterprise.

The long-term efficacy and safety of balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty combined with tympanostomy tube insertion for patients with otitis media with effusion: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disease in ear, nose, and throat clinics characterized by aural fullness and hearing loss and mainly caused by eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI) is a conventional surgical treatment option that can alleviate symptoms but does not provide a definitive cure, and it is prone to recurrence. Balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty (BDET) has become a novel procedure for the treatment of ETD, demonstrating significant potential in addressing the aforementioned limitations. However, it is not widely available in the clinic and few high-quality randomized clinical trials was conducted to investigate its long-term efficacy and security in OME. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to verify the efficacy of BDET combined with TTI for patients with OME and its prospects for providing a definitive cure. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective, parallel-group, single-blind, randomized controlled prospective trial. Totally 124 patients with OME will be randomized into either group A or B. Group A will receive conventional therapy (TTI) while group B will use BDET therapy in addition to TTI. Outcome assessments will take place at baseline and at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th months after surgery. The primary outcome is eustachian tube function, which will be measured by the eustachian tube dysfunction questionnaire (ETDQ-7) and eustachian tube score (ETS). The secondary outcomes include middle ear function, hearing situation, and quality of life, which will be measured by acoustic impedance measurement, pure-tone audiometry, and Chinese-version Chronic Ear Survey (CCES). The main analysis of change in the outcomes will use mixed-model with repeated measures (MMRM) analyses of variance (ANOVAs). DISCUSSION: This is the first prospective trial in Chinese populations that aims to validate the long-term efficacy and safety of BDET-combined TTI therapy in patients with OME. This parallel-group, single-blind, randomized controlled trial may provide an opportunity to decrease the recurrence rate of OME and explore a definitive cure for patients with OME. This trial's rigorous design enhances the reliability of the findings, ensuring a robust answer to the research question. In the future, the research team will further expand upon the clinical evidence and applications of the BDET combined therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400079632. Registered on 8 January 2024, https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=214452 .

Bilateral gene therapy in children with autosomal recessive deafness 9: single-arm trial results.

Gene therapy is a promising approach for hereditary deafness. We recently showed that unilateral AAV1-hOTOF gene therapy with dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 1 carrying human OTOF transgene is safe and associated with functional improvements in patients with autosomal recessive deafness 9 (DFNB9). The protocol was subsequently amended and approved to allow bilateral gene therapy administration. Here we report an interim analysis of the single-arm trial investigating the safety and efficacy of binaural therapy in five pediatric patients with DFNB9. The primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity at 6 weeks, and the secondary endpoint included safety (adverse events) and efficacy (auditory function and speech perception). No dose-limiting toxicity or serious adverse event occurred. A total of 36 adverse events occurred. The most common adverse events were increased lymphocyte counts (6 out of 36) and increased cholesterol levels (6 out of 36). All patients had bilateral hearing restoration. The average auditory brainstem response threshold in the right (left) ear was >95 dB (>95 dB) in all patients at baseline, and the average auditory brainstem response threshold in the right (left) ear was restored to 58 dB (58 dB) in patient 1, 75 dB (85 dB) in patient 2, 55 dB (50 dB) in patient 3 at 26 weeks, and 75 dB (78 dB) in patient 4 and 63 dB (63 dB) in patient 5 at 13 weeks. The speech perception and the capability of sound source localization were restored in all five patients. These results provide preliminary insights on the safety and efficacy of binaural AAV gene therapy for hereditary deafness. The trial is ongoing with longer follow-up to confirm the safety and efficacy findings. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry registration: ChiCTR2200063181 .

Sigmoid Sinus Wall Anomalies Can Progress and May Not Be Congenital.

OBJECTIVE: Sigmoid sinus wall anomalies (SSWA) are closely linked to venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT). This study aims to demonstrate that SSWA develops progressively rather than being congenital. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 42 PT patients with SSWA who had at least two non-operative CT scans at our clinic. CT images were longitudinally assessed to track SSWA progression, while MRI and Doppler ultrasound evaluated transverse sinus stenosis and venous hemodynamics. Changes in PT perception were tracked using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 42 SSWA patients, 12 (28.6%) exhibited progression. Anastomosis between diploic vein and diverticulum was significantly higher compared to the dehiscence cohort (p < 0.01). Within the diverticulum group, seven individuals (30.4%) experienced enlargement, with a mean diverticular wall expansion of 5.9% ± 11.4%. Progressive erosion was observed in two cases (12.5%) in the dehiscence cohort, with a mean sigmoid plate erosion of 3.8% ± 10.1%. In cases progressing from dehiscence to diverticulum, three subjects transitioned, with a mean sigmoid sinus wall length expansion of 43.8% ± 31.9%. SSWA progression showed a significant negative correlation with QBILATERAL (r = -0.857, p = 0.014), and there was a significant difference between initial and revisit THI scores (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SSWA can undergo morphological progression, indicating it is a progressive clinical condition rather than congenital. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Engineering of the AAV-Compatible Hair Cell-Specific Small-Size Myo15 Promoter for Gene Therapy in the Inner Ear.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy is widely applied to treat numerous hereditary diseases in animal models and humans. The specific expression of AAV-delivered transgenes driven by cell type-specific promoters should further increase the safety of gene therapy. However, current methods for screening cell type-specific promoters are labor-intensive and time-consuming. Herein, we designed a "multiple vectors in one AAV" strategy for promoter construction in vivo. Through this strategy, we truncated a native promoter for Myo15 expression in hair cells (HCs) in the inner ear, from 1,611 bp down to 1,157 bp, and further down to 956 bp. Under the control of these 2 promoters, green fluorescent protein packaged in AAV-PHP.eB was exclusively expressed in the HCs. The transcription initiation ability of the 2 promoters was further verified by intein-mediated otoferlin recombination in a dual-AAV therapeutic system. Driven by these 2 promoters, human otoferlin was selectively expressed in HCs, resulting in the restoration of hearing in treated Otof -/- mice for at least 52 weeks. In summary, we developed an efficient screening strategy for cell type-specific promoter engineering and created 2 truncated Myo15 promoters that not only restored hereditary deafness in animal models but also show great potential for treating human patients in future.

Microdrill Versus Diode Laser in Endoscopic Stapedotomy: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Microdrill and diode laser are two different methods used in endoscopic stapedotomy for otosclerosis. These two methods have not been compared in endoscopic stapedotomy. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To analyze the differences between microdrill and diode laser in endoscopic stapedotomy for otosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a randomized clinical trial; patients with otosclerosis were randomly divided into microdrill group (group A: n = 69) and diode laser group (group B: n = 62). Differences between the two groups were then compared. RESULTS: The preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 25.40 ± 10.88 dBHL in group A and 24.84 ± 12.23 dBHL in group B, with no significant between-group difference ( p > 0.05). The postoperative ABG in group A was 13.27 ± 9.91 dBHL versus 11.79 ± 10.82 dBHL in group B, and there was no significant difference between the groups ( p > 0.05). The surgical time in group B (64 ± 31.23 minutes) was significantly longer than that in group A (48 ± 25.62 minutes) ( p = 0.02). There were no significant between-group differences in basic patient-related data, preoperative air conduction (AC), preoperative bone conduction (BC), postoperative AC, distribution of postoperative ABG, preoperative ABG at different frequencies, and postoperative ABG at different frequencies. There was also no significant between-group difference in the average bleeding volume or number of patients with postoperative dizziness. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: The postoperative improvement in hearing level in the two group was equivalent, but group A had the advantage of a shorter operation time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Traditional Chinese medicine Qingre Huoxue decoction enhances wound healing in through modulation of angiogenic and inflammatory pathways.

This study investigates the therapeutic potential of Qingre Huoxue Decoction (QHD), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, in promoting wound healing in an imiquimod-induced murine model of psoriasis. The research was driven by the need for effective wound healing strategies in psoriatic conditions, where conventional treatments often fall short. Employing a combination of in vivo and in vitro methodologies, we assessed the effects of QHD on key factors associated with wound healing. Our results showed that QHD treatment significantly reduced the expression of angiogenic proteins HIF-1α, FLT-1, and VEGF, and mitigated inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased expression of IL-10. Furthermore, QHD enhanced the expression of genes essential for wound repair. In vitro assays with HUVECs corroborated the anti-angiogenic effects of QHD. Conclusively, the study highlights QHD's efficacy in enhancing wound healing in psoriatic conditions by modulating angiogenic and inflammatory pathways, presenting a novel therapeutic avenue in psoriasis wound management.

Hair cell-specific Myo15 promoter-mediated gene therapy rescues hearing in DFNB9 mouse model.

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are increasingly used as vehicles for gene delivery to treat hearing loss. However, lack of specificity of the transgene expression may lead to overexpression of the transgene in nontarget tissues. In this study, we evaluated the expression efficiency and specificity of transgene delivered by AAV-PHP.eB under the inner ear sensory cell-specific Myo15 promoter. Compared with the ubiquitous CAG promoter, the Myo15 promoter initiates efficient expression of the GFP fluorescence reporter in hair cells, while minimizing non-specific expression in other cell types of the inner ear and CNS. Furthermore, using the Myo15 promoter, we constructed an AAV-mediated therapeutic system with the coding sequence of OTOF gene. After inner ear injection, we observed apparent hearing recovery in Otof-/- mice, highly efficient expression of exogenous otoferlin, and significant improvement in the exocytosis function of inner hair cells. Overall, our results indicate that gene therapy mediated by the hair cell-specific Myo15 promoter has potential clinical application for the treatment of autosomal recessive deafness and yet for other hereditary hearing loss related to dysfunction of hair cells.

[Study on gene therapy for DPOAE and ABR threshold changes in adult Otof-/- mice].

Objective:This study aims to analyze the threshold changes in distortion product otoacoustic emissions（DPOAE） and auditory brainstem response（ABR） in adult Otof-/- mice before and after gene therapy, evaluating its effectiveness and exploring methods for assessing hearing recovery post-treatment. Methods:At the age of 4 weeks, adult Otof-/- mice received an inner ear injection of a therapeutic agent containing intein-mediated recombination of the OTOF gene, delivered via dual AAV vectors through the round window membrane（RWM）. Immunofluorescence staining assessed the proportion of inner ear hair cells with restored otoferlin expression and the number of synapses.Statistical analysis was performed to compare the DPOAE and ABR thresholds before and after the treatment. Results:AAV-PHP. eB demonstrates high transduction efficiency in inner ear hair cells. The therapeutic regimen corrected hearing loss in adult Otof-/- mice without impacting auditory function in wild-type mice. The changes in DPOAE and ABR thresholds after gene therapy are significantly correlated at 16 kHz. Post-treatment,a slight increase in DPOAE was observeds,followed by a recovery trend at 2 months post-treatment. Conclusion:Gene therapy significantly restored hearing in adult Otof-/- mice, though the surgical delivery may cause transient hearing damage. Precise and gentle surgical techniques are essential to maximize gene therapy's efficacy.

AAV1-hOTOF gene therapy for autosomal recessive deafness 9: a single-arm trial.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal recessive deafness 9, caused by mutations of the OTOF gene, is characterised by congenital or prelingual, severe-to-complete, bilateral hearing loss. However, no pharmacological treatment is currently available for congenital deafness. In this Article, we report the safety and efficacy of gene therapy with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 1 carrying a human OTOF transgene (AAV1-hOTOF) as a treatment for children with autosomal recessive deafness 9. METHODS: This single-arm, single-centre trial enrolled children (aged 1-18 years) with severe-to-complete hearing loss and confirmed mutations in both alleles of OTOF, and without bilateral cochlear implants. A single injection of AAV1-hOTOF was administered into the cochlea through the round window. The primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity at 6 weeks after injection. Auditory function and speech were assessed by appropriate auditory perception evaluation tools. All analyses were done according to the intention-to-treat principle. This trial is registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200063181, and is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between Oct 19, 2022, and June 9, 2023, we screened 425 participants for eligibility and enrolled six children for AAV1-hOTOF gene therapy (one received a dose of 9 × 1011 vector genomes [vg] and five received 1·5 × 1012 vg). All participants completed follow-up visits up to week 26. No dose-limiting toxicity or serious adverse events occurred. In total, 48 adverse events were observed; 46 (96%) were grade 1-2 and two (4%) were grade 3 (decreased neutrophil count in one participant). Five children had hearing recovery, shown by a 40-57 dB reduction in the average auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds at 0·5-4·0 kHz. In the participant who received the 9 × 1011 vg dose, the average ABR threshold was improved from greater than 95 dB at baseline to 68 dB at 4 weeks, 53 dB at 13 weeks, and 45 dB at 26 weeks. In those who received 1·5 × 1012 AAV1-hOTOF, the average ABR thresholds changed from greater than 95 dB at baseline to 48 dB, 38 dB, 40 dB, and 55 dB in four children with hearing recovery at 26 weeks. Speech perception was improved in participants who had hearing recovery. INTERPRETATION: AAV1-hOTOF gene therapy is safe and efficacious as a novel treatment for children with autosomal recessive deafness 9. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key R&D Program of China, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and Shanghai Refreshgene Therapeutics.

Microscopic Versus Endoscopic Ear Surgery for Early-Stage Glomus Tympanicum Tumors.

Purpose: Glomus tympanicum tumors are benign primary tumors of the middle ear that can be completely removed using modern surgery. We compared endoscopic ear surgery (EES) to traditional microscopic ear surgery (MES) in terms of the removal of early-stage glomus tympanicum tumors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 25 cases treated from 2003 to 2021 that were of Grade I or II based on the Glasscock-Jackson classification system. Overall, 18 cases underwent MES: 8 via trans-tympanic bone and 10 via canal-wall-down or canal-wall-up tympanomastoidectomy (CWDT or CWUT) and 7 underwent EES. We compared surgery durations, the lengths and costs of hospitalization, postoperative complications, and relapse rates between the two groups and among the three specific operation ways. Results: The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 1 to 19 years. There was no between-group difference in operative time or the length or cost of hospitalization. Operative time and cost of hospitalization did not show a statistically significant correlation to the three surgical procedures, whereas it was found that the group of MES via the trans-tympanic bone had shorter length of hospitalization when compared with CWUT or CWDT group. All tumors were completely resected; pulsatile tinnitus improved in all patients, and there was no major complication. Two patients who underwent CWUT or CWDT (one each) relapsed; no patient relapsed in the EES group. Conclusion: MES via the trans-tympanic bone and EES via the ear canal safely and reliably remove early-stage tumors without excessive patient discomfort.

Resurfacing Dehiscence(s) Without Reducing Diverticulum Effectively Silences Pulsatile Tinnitus: Novel Surgical Techniques for Diverticulum and Intraoperative Microphone Monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the surgical importance of addressing dehiscence over diverticulum in resolving pulsatile tinnitus (PT) in patients with sigmoid sinus wall anomalies (SSWAs) and investigate anatomical differences. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. SETTING: Multi-institutional tertiary university medical centers. PATIENTS: Fifty participants (dehiscence/diverticulum, 29:21 cases) with SSWA-associated PT were included in the study. All 21 diverticulum participants underwent surgical intervention. INTERVENTIONS: 1) Surgical intervention with novel techniques monitored by intraoperative microphone. 2) Radiologic and ophthalmologic imaging methods. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative and qualitative preoperative and postoperative alterations of PT and anatomical differences between dehiscence and diverticulum. RESULTS: Addressing dehiscence overlying diverticulum and sigmoid sinus wall dehiscences significantly reduced visual analog score and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory ( p < 0.01). Sinus wall reconstruction led to substantial PT sound intensity reduction in the frequency range of 20 to 1000 Hz and 20 to 500 Hz (paired-sample t test, p < 0.01). Diploic vein analysis showed a significant positive correlation in 85.7% of the diverticulum cohort compared with the dehiscence cohort ( p < 0.01). Eight percent of the participants exhibited papilledema, which was limited to the dehiscence cohort. CONCLUSION: 1) Effective reduction of PT can be achieved by addressing all dehiscences, including those overlying the diverticulum, without the need to exclude the diverticulum. 2) Diploic vein may involve in the formation of diverticulum, and loss of dura mater and vascular wall thickness are observed at the SSWA locations.

FANCI serve as a prognostic biomarker correlated with immune infiltrates in skin cutaneous melanoma.

Background: As a member of tumor, Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) poses a serious threat to people's health because of its strong malignancy. Unfortunately, effective treatment methods for SKCM remain lacking. FANCI plays a vital role in the occurrence and metastasis of various tumor types. However, its regulatory role in SKCM is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the association of FANCI with SKCM. Methods: This study investigated the expression of FANCI in GSE46517, GSE15605, and GSE114445 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-SKCM datasets using the package "limma" or "DESeq2" in R environment and also investigated the prognostic significance of FANCI by utilizing the GEPIA database. Additionally, our research made use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to verify FANCI expression between SKCM and normal tissues and developed the knockdown of FANCI in A375 and A875 cells to further analyze the function of FANCI. Finally, this study analyzed the correlation of FANCI and tumor-infiltrating immune cells by CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, and ssGSEA algorithms. Results: The FANCI level was increasing in SKCM tissues from GSE46517, GSE15605, GSE114445, and TCGA-SKCM. However, high FANCI expression correlated with poor overall survival. The RT-qPCR and IHC confirmed the accuracy of bioinformatics. Knocking down FANCI suppresses A375 and A875 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. FANCI could be involved in the immunological milieu of SKCM by regulating immune responses and infiltrating numerous immune cells, particularly neutrophils, CD8+ T cells, and B cells. Furthermore, patients with SKCM who have a high FANCI expression level are reported to exhibit immunosuppression, whereas those with a low FANCI expression level are more likely to experience positive outcomes from immunotherapy. Conclusions: The increased FANCI expression in SKCM can be a prognostic biomarker. Knockdown FANCI can reduce the occurrence and progression of SKCM. The FANCI expression provides a foundation for predicting the immune status and treatment of SKCM.

Case report: Novel transtemporal transverse sinus decompression surgery to alleviate transverse sinus stenosis in a pulsatile tinnitus patient with restricted bilateral venous outflow.

Transverse sinus (TS) stenosis is common in individuals with venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT). While PT can be addressed by endoluminal or extraluminal methods, the former has shown promise in alleviating symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure. This study explores the potential of extraluminal methods to alleviate TS stenosis and eliminate PT caused by sigmoid sinus diverticulum. A 31-year-old male patient presenting with left-sided PT, attributed to a large, pedunculated sigmoid sinus diverticulum along with severe ipsilateral TS stenosis and contralateral TS hypoplasia, underwent ipsilateral extraluminal TS decompression surgery following sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction under local anesthesia. Postoperative CT and MR angiography revealed a significant increase in the TS lumen from 0.269 to 0.42 cm2 (56.02%) 2 years after surgery. Cervical Doppler ultrasound demonstrated a 36.07% increase in ipsilateral outflow volume to 16.6 g/s and a 77.63% increase in contralateral outflow volume to 1.35 g/s. In conclusion, this pioneering study showcases the potential of transtemporal TS decompression surgery in creating space for adaptive expansion of the TS lumen. However, the procedure should be reserved for individuals with severely compromised venous return.

Curcumin Alleviates Epidermal Psoriasis-Like Dermatitis and IL-6/STAT3 Pathway of Mice.

Background: To further investigate why curcumin (CUR) can attenuate psoriasis-like dermatitis of mice. Methods and Results: Sixteen mice were randomized into four groups. The control group used carrier cream, and the model and the CUR group were applied with topical 5% imiquimod in the naked mice skin once a day for 6 days (62.5 mg/day/mice). Meanwhile, the control and model mice were given the same dose of saline by oral means, while mice in the CUR groups received oral drug doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg once a day for 6 days, respectively. CUR could largely improve imiquimod-induced lesions of mice. By using the ELISA and qPCR, we found that the protein and mRNA levels of epidermal TNF-α and IL-6 were inhibited by CUR. The phosphorylation levels of STAT3 and its downstream associated protein levels (eg, Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Pim1) in skin tissues of different groups were also inhibited by CUR. Furthermore, the results of immunohistochemistry also showed the repressed effect of CUR for the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and p-STAT3 in psoriasis-like lesions of mice. Conclusion: CUR can effectively ameliorate the featured lesions of psoriasis mice, which may be closely associated with the involvement of IL-6/STAT3 signaling.

Multimodal roles of transient receptor potential channel activation in inducing pathological tissue scarification.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a class of transmembrane proteins that can sense a variety of physical/chemical stimuli, participate in the pathological processes of various diseases and have attracted increasing attention from researchers. Recent studies have shown that some TRP channels are involved in the development of pathological scarification (PS) and directly participate in PS fibrosis and re-epithelialization or indirectly activate immune cells to release cytokines and neuropeptides, which is subdivided into immune inflammation, fibrosis, pruritus and mechanical forces increased. This review elaborates on the characteristics of TRP channels, the mechanism of PS and how TRP channels mediate the development of PS, summarizes the important role of TRP channels in the different pathogenesis of PS and proposes that therapeutic strategies targeting TRP will be important for the prevention and treatment of PS. TRP channels are expected to become new targets for PS, which will make further breakthroughs and provide potential pharmacological targets and directions for the in-depth study of PS.

Curcumin alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation and regulates gut microbiota of mice.

BACKGROUND: As a polyphenolic compound originated from the food spice turmeric, curcumin (CUR) has various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic activities. Psoriasis is centered on the overproduction of Th1- and Th2-related cytokines (e.g., interleukin [IL]-23, IL-17, TNF-α, IL-22), which is involved in the occurrence and development of its pathogenesis. However, whether CUR is involved in the treatment of psoriasis and its specific mechanisms are not fully understood. METHODS: In this study, we detected the therapeutic effect of CUR (100 mg/kg/day) on IMQ-induced dermatitis in mice, analyzed by PASI scores, ELISA, HE staining, immunofluorescence. Moreover, we further confirmed the alteration in the relative abundance of the gut microbiota through 16sRNA to explore whether CUR could regulate the gut microbiota of IMQ-induced mice. RESULT: Through intragastric administration, CUR can alleviate psoriasis-like lesions of mice by decreasing PASI scores, reducing the level of IL-6, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23, TNF-α, and TGF-ß1, promoting the expression of IL-10. Moreover, 16sRNA sequencing revealed that CUR could regulate the alteration in the abundance alteration of gut microbiota related to inflammation, such as Alistipes, Mucispirillum, and Rikenella at genus level. The correlation analysis further confirmed the close association between important microflora and psoriasis-like inflammation indicators. CONCLUSIONS: CUR exerts the effect of alleviating dermatitis of psoriatic mice by regulating Th-17 related inflammatory factors. Moreover, the changes in gut microbiota via CUR may be another factor of relieving IMQ-induced lesions in mice. Therefore, CUR may be a highly promising candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.

Dynamics of cerebrospinal fluid pressure alterations and bilateral transverse-sigmoid sinus morphologies in Asian patients with venous pulsatile tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the dynamics of intracranial pressure (ICP) alterations and bilateral transverse-sigmoid sinus morphologies in patients with venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT). METHODS: This retrospective study involved 27 patients with venous PT associated with sigmoid sinus wall anomalies. ICP and ICP metrics were measured by cerebrospinal fluid manometry and internal jugular vein compression tests. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the statistical correlation between ICP and the morphological metrics. RESULTS: The mean ICP was 212.5 ± 47.3 mmH2O. The median ΔICPtotal was 130 (range, 55-150) mmH2O. The ΔICPtotal was linearly correlated with the open lumbar pressure, and a significant difference was found between patients with normal and elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure. The ΔICPdifference was linearly correlated with the Lendifference and Voldifference. ΔICP was linearly correlated with Lendifference. CONCLUSIONS: Complete obstruction of flow patency should be avoided in patients with low ICP and large volumetric/patency differences in the bilateral transverse-sigmoid sinus systems.