[Role of remodeling of pharyngeal cavity in velopharyngoplasty for treating obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome and its related anatomic study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a new velopharyngoplasty (VPP), including its anatomic character and its mechanism of remodeling of oral-pharynx cavity for treating obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Two cases of soft palate were dissected in adult male cadavers. And the model of VPP was established to further observe its technical characteristics. A total of 85 OSAHS patients were studied by PSG. And all cases received velopharyngoplasty (VPP) and follow-ups. Ten cases were selected for CT scanning of palatal pharyngeal cavity and CT workstation was employed for imaging measurements. RESULTS: The measured parameters of pharyngeal palate included soft palate length, maximal thickness of soft palate, soft palate to posterior pharyngeal edge of free space, parapharyngeal space (distance between tonsils), uvula length, width of uvula base, velopharyngeal cross-sectional area and cross-sectional area of angina. All these parameters had a significantly difference between pre-operation and post-operation [(37.8 +/- 5.5) mm vs (27.0 +/- 4.1) mm, (13.3 +/- 2.2) mm vs (9.3 +/- 2.5) mm, (7.1 +/- 2.8) mm vs (10.3 +/- 1.7) mm, (45.2 +/- 25.5) mm(2) vs (135.3 +/- 26.4) mm(2), (2.0 +/- 21.8) mm(2) vs (208.4 +/- 15.9) mm(2)]; however there was no significant difference in retropharyngeal wall thickness [(6.8 +/- 2.9) mm vs (7.0 +/- 2.5) mm]. CONCLUSION: VPP remodels palatopharyngeal region through the design of incision, the management of pharyngopalatine arch tonsillectomy and the suture of laterapharynx mucisae. This surgical procedure can obviously upgrade the velum platinum, enlarge the oropharyngeal airway effectively. It is a significant modified-UPPP surgical technique.

[Neuroprotective effects of learning on glutamate-induced neuronal damage in rat hippocampus].

AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of learning on glutamate-induced neuronal damage. METHODS: SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the period of 3-9 days after born, and were trained to find their food by light-dark discrimination at 1 month old or 2 months old. At 3 months old, all rats were killed and their brains were taken out and cut into sections and ultrathin sections. The survival neurons in hippocampus were counted under light microscope, and under electric microscope, the ultrastructure, the numbers of synapses and the length of synaptic active zone in fields CA1 of hippocampus were observed. RESULTS: The survival neurons in field CA3 and CA4, the number of synapses and the length of synaptic active zone in field CA1 of hippocampus increased in learning group than non-learning group. CONCLUSION: These finding indicate that discriminative learning can alleviate neuronal injury of hippocampus induced by MSG.

[Interleukin-5 regulate the bone marrow response in the model of allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the mechanism of bone marrow response regulated by interleukin-5 (IL-5) in the model of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into allergic rhinitis (AR) group and control group. The leucocytes in the smears of bone marrow and peripheral blood were counted, and the expression of IL-5 was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The ratio of eosinophils to white cells in bone marrow smears of AR group was significantly higher than that of control group(P < 0.01). The ratio of basophils to white cells in bone marrow smears of AR group was significantly higher than that of control group(P < 0.01). The ratio of eosinophils to white cells in peripheral blood smears of AR group was significantly higher than that of control group(P < 0.01). The ratio of IL-5 positive cells to white cells in bone marrow smears of AR group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of IL-5 positive cells to white cells was significantly positively correlated with the ratio of eosinophils to white cells in bone marrow smears of AR group (R = 0.85, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IL-5 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of eosinophils in bone marrow.

[A study of the link between upper and lower respiratory inflammation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between upper and lower respiratory inflammation. METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly divided into allergic rhinitis group (AR), asthma group (AS), and control group (Con). The pulmonary function was measured by pulmonary function instrument of animal model, the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells was detected by hematotoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining) and toluidine blue staining respectively, the expression of VCAM-I and IL-13 was examined by immunohistochemistry. ELISA was used to measure the concentration of IL-5 in the peripheral serum. RESULTS: The numbers of eosinophils and mast cells in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of AR were both significantly higher than those of Con, and similar results were observed between AS and Con. The forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second (FEV0.3)/forced vital capacity (FVC) of AR and AS was both significantly lower than that of Con. The numbers of VCAM-I and IL-13 positive vessels in lung tissue of AR were both significantly higher than those of Con, and similar results were observed between AS and Con. The concentration of IL-5 in the serum of AR and AS was both significantly higher than that of Con. The concentration of IL-5 in serum was positively correlated with the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood of AR and AS. CONCLUSION: The inflammation is similar between AR and AS, and repeatedly challenge upper respiratory tract can impact on lower respiratory response.