Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with tinnitus retraining therapy on sleep disorders in patients with chronic tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) combined with tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) on clinical efficacy and sleep disorder in patients with chronic tinnitus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 126 patients with chronic tinnitus treated in our hospital from May 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. These subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the electrical stimulation group and the combined group, in line with the random table method, with 63 patients in each group. Patients in the electrical stimulation group received TDCS treatment, and patients in the combined group were given TDCS combined with TRT. The clinical effects, tinnitus severity [Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ) score and Tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) score], sleep status [Sleep Status Rating Scale (SRSS) score and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score], psychological status [Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score and Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score] and the quality of life (Quality of Life Scale) of these subjects in two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The clinical effect of simple TDCS was 82.53%, which was sharply lower compared to 95.24% in the combined group (p<0.05). After the treatment, TEQ score, THI score, SRSS score, PSQI score, HAMA score, and SDS score were decreased in both groups (p<0.05), and the combined group was much lower than the TDCS group (p<0.01). Compared with the pre-treatment period, the scores of restrictions in daily living, medical resource utilization, somatic symptoms, and emotional disturbance were elevated in both groups after treatment, and the combined group had markedly higher scores than the TDCS group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TDCS combined with TRT had obvious effects in treating chronic tinnitus, which largely reduced the severity of tinnitus, improved patients' sleep quality and psychological status, and improved the quality of life, indicating a certain worthy of clinical application and promotion.

[Analysis of endoscopic and pathological features of gastric adenomatous polyps and risk factors for canceration].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the endoscopic and pathological characteristics of gastric adenomatous polyps and to assess the potential risk factors for canceration of gastric adenomatous polyps. METHODS: The endoscopic and pathological characteristics of the patients with gastric adenomatous polyps from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2019 were summarized retrospectively, and the risk factors of canceration were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 125 patients with gastric adenomatous polyps were included, 51.20% of whom were females. The average age was (66.7±12.3) years. 64.80% of patients with gastric adenomatous polyps equal or more than 65 years old, and only 5.60% of the patients less than 45 years old. Adenomatous polyps were mostly distributed in the corpus and antrum with 40.80% and 32.80%, respectively. The majority of them were single (90.40%) and sessile (76.81%). 65.4% of adenomatous polyps were no more than 1.0 cm in diameter, and 23.20% of patients with adenomatous polyps were combined with hyperplastic polyps and/or fundus glandular polyps, and 1.60% had both pathological types of polyps. 58.62% (17/29) patients with hyperplastic polyps and/or fundus glandular polyps had multiple polyps. 1.60% (2/125) of the patients had gastric neuroendocrine tumor of G1 stage. Synchronous gastric cancer was detected in 13.60% (17/125) of the patients with adenomatous polyps, and the proportion of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia was 18.40% (23/125). The main types of synchronous gastric cancer were progressive (70.59%) and undifferentiated (66.67%). Chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia was found in 52.80% of the patients, and autoimmune gastritis accounted for 11.20%. The positive rate of Helicobacter pylori was 21.60%. The canceration rate of gastric adenomatous polyps was 20.80%. The cancer was mainly differentiated, but there was sigmoid ring cell carcinoma as well. Diameter of >1.0 cm (OR=5.092, 95%CI: 1.447-17.923, P=0.011), uneven surface morphology and erosion (OR=13.749, 95%CI: 1.072-176.339, P=0.044) were independent risk factors of adenomatous polyps. CONCLUSION: The synchronous gastric cancer is common and the canceration of gastric adenomatous polyps is high with diameter and surface morphology as independent risk factors. We should pay attention to the identification of the pathological types of polyps and the evaluation of the whole gastric mucosa during the endoscopic examination.

[Clinical analysis of 5 cases of dural arteriovenous fistulas complained of pulsatile tinnitus].

Objective: The clinical characteristics of dural arteriovenous fistula with pulsatile tinnitus were analyzed to deepen the understanding of the disease. Methods: The clinical data of five patients complained of pulsatile tinnitus and diagnosed dural arteriovenous fistula in Henan People's Hospital from May 2013 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 3 males and 2 females, aged 27-65 years. Results: The main clinical symptoms of the five patients were continuous pulsatile tinnitus, accompanied/not accompanied by headache, memory decline, etc., with a course of three months to 20 years. They were diagnosed as dural arteriovenous fistula by digital subtraction angiography, and three cases of tinnitus disappeared and two cases of tinnitus were relieved after embolization. Conclusions: The dural arteriovenous fistula is a rare and complicated disease. When the patient complain of the pulsatile tinnitus, the related etiology should be considered and managed properly.

[Characteristics analysis of early gastric cancer under white light endoscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate endoscopic features of early gastric cancer and clinical features of the patients, which may be helpful to provide reasonable suggestions for physicians to diagnose early gastric cancer during preliminary screening of white light gastroscopy. METHODS: A total of 271 patients who received endoscopic submucosal dissection or surgical operation to confirm early gastric cancer in Peking University Third Hospital from Apr. 2009 to Jun. 2017 were included for the retrospective review. Clinical information was collected, including gender, age, symptoms, family history and physical examination. The endoscopic characteristics of lesions under white light endoscopy were analyzed, including endoscopic long diameter, location, texture, spontaneous bleeding, mucosal color and morphology. The pathologic long diameter, infiltration depth and differentiation degree of early gastric cancer were also summarized. RESULTS: The study included 271 patients and 279 lesions. Among the 271 cases, 190 were male, 81 were female, average age was (63.7±12.4) years. There were 88 cases (32.5%) and 61 cases (22.5%) with the symptom of abdominal pain and discomfort respectively. The patients with family history of gastric cancer were 20 (7.4%). Abdominal physical examinations of the patients were mostly normal, accounting for 86.0% (233/271). Total detection rate of helicobacter pylori (HP) was 34.2% (79/231), with the highest rate 45.5% (10/22) in 2011 and the lowest rate 28.1% (9/32) in 2014. Among the 279 lesions, the mean endoscopic long diameter was (2.01±1.20) cm. The lesions were mainly single, accounting for 97.0% (263/271). There were 114 cases (40.9%), 62 cases (22.2%), 54 cases (19.4%) in the antrum, angular sulcus and cardia of stomach respectively. The lesions were mostly fragile, accounting for 45.5% (56/123). Most lesions had spontaneous bleeding, accounting for 52.3% (146/279). The mucosal color was mostly normal, accounting for 72.8% (203/279). The most common macroscopic morphology was IIa+IIc type (100 cases, 35.8%) and the lesions usually had mucous membrane damage like erosion and shallow ulcer (127 cases,45.5%). Among the 279 lesions, the mean pathologic long diameter was (2.05±1.48) cm. Intramucosal carcinoma accounted for 61.6% (172/279) and moderate differentiated gastric cancers accounted for 52.8% (131/248). CONCLUSION: In order to improve diagnosis of early gastric cancer,superficial elevation and depression of flat lesions as well as mucous membrane damage under white light endoscopy should be taken notice.

[Prediction of round window visibility in cochlear implantation with temporal bone high resolution computed tomography].

Objective: To discuss the prediction of round window(RW) visibility in cochlear implantation(CI) with temporal bone high resolution computed tomography(HRCT). Methods: From January 2013 to January 2017, 130 cases underwent both HRCT and CI in our hospital were analyzed. The distance from facial nerve to posterior canal wall(FWD), the angle between facial nerve and inner margin of round window(FRA), and the angle between facial nerve and tympanic anulus to inner margin of round window(FRAA) were detected at the level of round window on axial temporal bone HRCT. A line parallel to the posterior wall of ear canal was drawn from the anterior wall of facial nerve at the level of round window on axial temporal bone HRCT and its relationship with round window was detected (facial-round window line, FRL): type0-posterior to the round window, type1-between the round window, type2-anterior to the round window. Their(FWD, FRA, FRAA, FRL) relationships with intra-operative round window visibility were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software. Results: FWD(F=18.76, P=0.00), FRA(F=34.57, P=0.00), FRAA (F=14.24, P=0.00) could affect the intra-operative RW visibility significantly. RW could be exposed completely during CI when preoperative HRCT showing type0 FRL. RW might be partly exposed and not exposed when preoperative HRCT showing type1 and type2 FRL respectively. Conclusion: FWD, FRA, FRAA and FRL of temporal bone HRCT can predict intra-operative round window visibility effectively in CI surgery.

The effect of leflunomide on the transplanted endometriosis lesions in SD rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the leflunomide (LEF) on the size of the transplanted endometriosis (EMS) lesions and trans- forming growth factor (TGF) -ß1gray level in SD rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EMS was surgically induced in rats by autologous trans- plantation and the focal volume was also measured. The rats were divided into three groups: group A: normal SD rats, group B: rats irrigated by one ml-kg⁻¹d⁻¹ saline for three weeks, and group C: rats irrigated by 35 mg-kg⁻¹d⁻¹ LEF for three weeks. The rats were then sacrificed and measured their focal volume and TGF-ß1 gray value with immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The sizes of the focal volume in group C were significantly reduced compared to the rats before feeding, and the volume in group C was smaller than group B after feeding and so was the TGF-ß1. CONCLUSION: LEF could be a new therapeutic drug for EMS.

[Evaluation and establishment of Mongolian gerbil model of long-term infection of Helicobacter pylori with highly-expressed thioredoxin-1 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a Mongolian gerbils model by long-term infection of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) with highly-expressed thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) gene and to investigate the histopathological findings of gastric mucosa in Mongolian gerbils. METHODS: In this study, 75 healthy male Mongolian gerbils were randomly divided into 3 groups: Hp with highly-expressed Trx1 gene group (n=30), Hp with lowly-expressed Trx1 gene group (n=30), and control group (n=15). The animals underwent gastric perfusion of Hp suspension once a week for 5 weeks. The animals were sacrificed at the end of 4, 20, 34, 48, 70, and 90 weeks after inoculation for detecting Hp colonization by rapid urease test and Warthin-Starry silver staining and histological examination, respectively. RESULTS: (1) The Mongolian gerbil model of long-term infection of Hp with highly-expressed Trx1 gene and lowly-expressed Trx1 gene were successfully established. (2) The macroscopic mucosal lesions, including erythema, uneven, erosion, nodules, etc. could be observed in experimental groups. The severity of lesions and the time when lesions occurred in Hp with highly-expressed Trx1 gene group were heavier/earlier than that in Hp with lowly-expressed Trx1 gene group. (3) Histopathologically, the gastric mucosa of Hp with highly-expressed Trx1 gene group showed the mild dysplastic hyperplasia of epithelial cells 34 weeks after the Hp inoculation, and the time was in the 48th week in Hp with lowly-expressed Trx1 gene group. At the end of the 90th week after Hp inoculation, the gastric adenocarcinoma could be detected in the two experimental groups (71.4% vs. 42.8%). The difference between the two experimental groups did not reach statistical significance (P=0.592), which might be due to the small sample capacity and/or short observation time. In addition, there were 2 cases with severe epithelial dysplastic hyperplasia in Hp with highly-expressed Trx1 gene group, and only 3 cases with moderate epithelial dysplastic hyperplasia in Hp with lowly-expressed Trx1 gene group. The uninfected control animals showed no abnormal findings throughout the entire observation period. CONCLUSION: Hp with highly-expressed/lowly-expressed Trx1 gene colonizes stably in the glandular gastric mucosa of Mongolian gerbils. The histological changes after infection are similar to those of the Hp infected human being, and Hp with highly-expressed Trx1 gene cause the injury of gastric mucosa and the occurrence of gastric adenocarcinoma. Trx1 maybe the virulence factor that participates in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and Hp expressing high levels of Trx1 should be highly toxic for gastric diseases in China.

A meta-analysis of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Angiogenesis plays an important role in the biology of ovarian cancer. The clinical efficacy and side effects of bevacizumab, the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, on survival and toxicity in women with this ovarian cancer, was not conclusive. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis in order to clarify the efficacy of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the electronic database of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CNKI for clinical controlled trials of comparing bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone in the treatment of ovarian cancer. The primary outcomes of eligible studies included median progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities such as enterobrosis, hypertension, albuminuria, congestive heart failure (CHF), neutrophils, thrombosis, and bleeding. The Hazard ratio (HR) and relative risk were used for the meta-analysis and were expressed with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All the statistical analyses were carried out by  Stata 11.0 software (http://www.stata.com; Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: We included 5 studies with 1798 cases in the bevacizumab combined with the chemotherapy group and 1810 subjects in the chemotherapy alone group. The pooled results showed that bevacizumab + chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone can significant prolong the median PFS (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.82; P < 0.05) but not the OS (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.59-10.9; P > 0.05); the toxicity analysis showed that the enterobrosis, hypertension, albuminuria, neutrophils, thrombosis, and bleeding were significantly increased in the bevacizumab + chemotherapy group compared with chemotherapy alone (Pall < 0.05). But the CHF risk between the two groups was not statistical different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy prolonged the median PFS in patients with ovarian cancer but also increase the risk of developing enterobrosis, hypertension, albuminuria, neutrophils, thrombosis, and bleeding.