Serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders: insights from NHANES 2011-2016 and Mendelian Randomization analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This investigation seeks to examine the association between serum vitamin D concentrations and the prevalence of sleep disorders, additionally elucidating the causal relationship via Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research employed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016, focusing on adults aged 20-50 years reporting sleep disorders. The research encompassed 4913 American adults. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models and cubic spline analyses were utilized to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D concentrations and the incidence of sleep disorders. Additionally, a two-sample Mendelian Randomization analysis was performed to evaluate the potential causal link between serum vitamin D concentrations and the risk of sleep disorders. RESULTS: Within the 2011-2016 NHANES cohort of the U.S. population, a notable inverse association was detected between serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders (ß = - 3.81, 95% CI: - 6.10 to - 1.52, p = 0.003). After multivariate adjustments, a higher incidence of sleep disorders was associated with lower vitamin D Concentrations (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10-2.10, trend p = 0.014). Restricted cubic spline regression analysis indicated a linear association between serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders(non-linearity p > 0.05). Lastly, the two-sample MR analysis yielded evidence supporting a potential causal connection between serum vitamin D concentrations and sleep disorders, with each unit increase in genetically predicted serum vitamin D reducing the odds ratio to 0.78 (95% CI 0.61-0.99, p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: These results imply that lower vitamin D concentrations in the population might correlate with a heightened risk of sleep disorders, suggesting the importance of considering vitamin D supplementation when treating sleep disorders.

Preoperative Esketamine Alleviates Postoperative Pain after Endoscopic Plasma Adenotonsillectomy in Children.

Objective: We aimed to investigate preoperative esketamine alleviating postoperative pain in children after endoscopic plasma total adenotonsillectomy.Methods: We recruited 200 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy at Wuhan Children's Hospital between September 2021 and April 2022. The children were randomly assigned to receive preoperative esketamine (ESK group) or fentanyl (FEN group). The primary endpoint was serum c-fos and c-jun levels. The secondary endpoints were face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) score and adverse events.Results: After surgery, c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were increased significantly in both groups. Postoperatively, c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were higher in FEN group compared with the ESK group (P<0.05). The FLACC scores were higher in the FEN group compared with the ESK group at 1 and 24 hours after surgery (P<0.05). Prediction probability (Pk) values indicated that c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were quantitative predictors for early postoperative pain and stress reaction after surgery.Conclusions: Esketamine-based anesthesia (1mg/kg) can alleviate postoperative pain and regulate the inflammatory reaction in children undergoing endoscopic plasma adenotonsillectomy.

Efficacy of inhaled budesonide on serum inflammatory factors and quality of life among children with acute infectious laryngitis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute infectious laryngitis is commonly occurred among children. Our study sought to investigate the effect of inhaled budesonide on among children with acute infectious laryngitis. METHODS: A total of 92 children with acute infectious laryngitis were randomly allocated to either the study (46 cases, treated with inhaled budesonide) and control group (46 cases, treated with dexamethasone). The disappearance time of symptoms, therapeutic effect and adverse reactions were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: The therapeutic effect was significantly better in the study group than in the control group (97.83% vs 82.61%). After 3 days of treatment, the disappearance time of symptoms, such as hoarseness/barking cough, singing sound in the throat, three-concave sign and dyspnea in the study group was significantly less than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-4, IL-17, MMP-9, IL-33, IFN-γ and IgE in the two groups decreased, and evidently lower levels were found in the study group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhaled budesonide exerted obvious better effect in terms of reducing serum inflammatory factors and improving the quality of life with safety profile.

Long-Term Efficacy of Sublingual Mite Immunotherapy in Monosensitized and Polysensitized Children with Allergic Rhinitis: A 7-Year Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Several foreign studies have shown long-term efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), but data on the long-term efficacy of SLIT in China are still lacking. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to prospectively evaluate the long-term efficacy of a 2-year SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae(D. farinae) drops in mono- and polysensitized children with allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: Eighty house dust mite (HDM)-sensitized children (aged 4-11 years) with AR were enrolled in this prospective study. There were 40 children in both the monosensitized (to HDM only) and polysensitized groups. Both groups were treated with standardized SLIT (D. farinae drops) for 2 years, combined with pharmacotherapy according to their individual requirements, and were followed up for 7 years. A combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) was assessed and compared between the 2 groups during and after SLIT. Safety was evaluated based on adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: There were 31 (77.5%) monosensitized and 29 (72.5%) polysensitized children who completed the study. After 2-year SLIT, the CSMS of 2 groups significantly decreased compared to baseline. The improvement persisted during the first 5 years at each visit, with a significant difference (all p < 0.01). In the monosensitized group, the CSMS significantly increased during the 6th and the 7th year compared to year 2 (both p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the polysensitized group showed a significant worsening of CSMS from the 5th to the 7th year (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a statistical difference between the 2 groups in the 5th year of the study (p < 0.05). No severe AEs were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the long-term effects which lasted for 7 years after 2-year SLIT in mono- and polysensitized children. Compared with the polysensitized children, the monosensitized children noted a more sustained benefit.

[Value of arterial lactic acid and buffer excess in predicting the prognosis of patients with paraquat poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early prognostic values of arterial lactate and base excess (BE) in patients with paraquat poisoning. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with paraquat poisoning were divided into sudden death group (n = 10) who died within 24 h after admission, recent death group (n = 31) who died more than 24 h after admission, and survival group (n = 34). Arterial lactate and BE were measured on admission and at 24 h after admission. The prognostic values of arterial lactate and BE were analyzed. RESULTS: The arterial lactate measured on admission was significantly higher in the sudden death group than in the recent death group and survival group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in arterial lactate between the recent death group and survival group (P = 0.309). The BE measured on admission was significantly lower in the sudden death group than in the recent death group and survival group, and it was significantly lower in the recent death group than in the survival group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). At 24 h after admission, the recent death group had a significantly higher arterial lactate (P < 0.01) and a significantly lower BE (P < 0.01), as compared with the survival group. The logistic regression analysis showed that the two indices were significantly associated with prognosis (P < 0.01). On admission, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of arterial lactate and BE for predicting death were 0.692 and 0.787, respectively, and the cut-off values were 3.25 mmol/L and -1.75 mmol/L, respectively; the AUCs of arterial lactate and BE for predicting sudden death were 0.995 and 1, respectively, and the cut-off values were 7.1 mmol/L and -12.8 mmol/L, respectively. At 24 h after admission, the AUCs of arterial lactate and BE for predicting death were 0.743 and 0.822, respectively, and the cut-off values were 2.15 mmol/L and -5.55 mmol/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Arterial lactate and BE have certain values in predicting the death, especially the sudden death, in patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

Normal reference values of low frequency specific air-conducted auditory brainstem responses among normal hearing children of different ages: A retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore and compare the normal reference values (NRV) for low frequency specific air-conducted tone-burst auditory brainstem response (tb-ABR) among children of different ages and with normal hearing, because tb-ABR is often used to supplement the lack of click-evoked ABR (click-ABR) frequency but the NRV of this response threshold in different populations remain inconclusive. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included children younger than 5 years of age with normal hearing in Hubei Province between November 2020 and September 2021. These children came to center of audiology for audiological examination including click-ABR due to different purposes and had accepted suggestion of tb-ABR test (0.5 kHz, 1 kHz). The children were divided into 5 groups according to age (0-12, 13-24, 25-36, 37-48, and 49-60 months of age), and 20 children (40 ears) met the inclusion criteria were selected from each group. The responding thresholds, peak latencies (PL), and inter-peak latencies (IPL) of the major waves were counted and compared in each group. RESULTS: NRV of responding thresholds (dBnHL) in children aged 0-12, 13-24, 25-36, 37-48, and 49-60 months were 27.25 ± 9.47, 22.63 ± 5.31, 21.5 ± 5.33, 18.25 ± 5.83, and 21.63 ± 6.24 at 0.5 kHz, and 23.63 ± 7.16, 20.88 ± 7.06, 22 ± 4.21, 17.75 ± 6.09, and 21.38 ± 4.53 at 1 kHz, respectively. The response thresholds of children aged 0-12 months were significantly higher compared to children in other age groups at 0.5 kHz (all P < 0.05) and significantly higher than in children aged 37-48 months at 1 kHz (P < 0.05). There were significant differences among children of different ages in Wave III (P < 0.001) and Wave V (P < 0.001) in the peak latencies, and Waves I-III (P = 0.003) and Waves I-V (P < 0.001) in the inter-peak latencies at 0.5 kHz. Also, there were significant differences among children of different ages in Wave III and Wave V in the PL, and Waves I-III, Waves III-V, and Waves I-V in the IPL at 1 kHz (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The NRV of tb-ABR at 0.5 kHz and 1 kHz might differ among children of different ages. Newborn infants (<12 months old) might have a higher response threshold, while children aged 37-48 months might have a lower response threshold. However, it was a retrospective analysis with a small sample size, prospective contrast studies with larger samples are needed in the future.

Clinical features and influencing factors of curative effect in children with acute laryngitis and laryngeal obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the clinical features and influencing factors of curative effect in children harboring acute laryngitis with laryngeal obstruction. METHODS: There involved 237 children with acute laryngitis and 80 healthy children who required physical examination in our hospital between January and September in 2021. The healthy children who required physical examination were allocated into the healthy/control group. The clinical data and laboratory indexes of each group were compared. We also analyzed the risk factors for curative effect of acute laryngitis with laryngeal obstruction among children using univariate/multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence of barking cough, sore throat, dryness, pruritus, dyspnea, diffuse congestion and swelling of laryngeal mucosa and vocal cord congestion or covered with vascular striation in degree III laryngeal obstruction group were significantly higher than other study groups, with degree II laryngeal obstruction group higher than degree I group, and degree I group higher than no laryngeal obstruction group (P<0.05). Moreover, the levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and WBC in degree III laryngeal obstruction group were higher than other three study groups, with degree II higher than degree I laryngeal obstruction group and no obstruction group, and degree I higher than no laryngeal obstruction group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 were the risk factors affecting the curative effect of acute laryngitis with laryngeal obstruction in children, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study revealed the incidence of barking cough, sore throat, dryness, pruritus, dyspnea, diffuse congestion and swelling of laryngeal mucosa vocal cord congestion or covered with vascular striation is highly associated with the severity of acute laryngitis with laryngeal obstruction in children. Additionally, higher levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and WBC indicated serious condition of the disease among children. Hence the risk factors responsible for the efficacy of acute laryngitis in children are CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8.

Follow-up of infants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss over three years.

OBJECTIVE: To observe and analyse the hearing outcome in infants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) who failed universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS). METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis included infants with mild-to-moderate SNHL and with complete etiological diagnosis and followed up over three years. RESULTS: Out of 96 infants with mild-to-moderate SNHL 72 were stable (75%). Only one case was normal (1.04%), ten cases were improved (10.42%), and 13 were deteriorated (13.54%). The pathogenic mutation of GJB2 was the most common cause (50/96, 52.08%), and most of them were homozygous or complex heterozygous mutations of p.V37I (44/50, 88%). There were 11 cases (11.49%) with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) and nine cases (9.38%) with perinatal risk factors. Infants with GJB2 pathogenic mutation and those without certain etiology mostly had unchanged hearing levels, accounting for 84% (42/50) and 84.61% (22/26), respectively. Hearing deterioration in LVAS was associated with seven cases (63.64%). There was no difference in types of outcomes in perinatal risk factor infants, who were more likely to improve than the other groups, but there were three cases (33.3%) deteriorated to profound hearing loss. Comparison of outcomes of different etiologies showed statistically significant difference (Chi-square = 28.673, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Normal and improved hearing in infants with mild-to-moderate SNHL was rare before the age of three, unlike in many previous studies, and appropriate intervention is recommended. However, intervention should be adjusted according to the hearing outcomes because of the possibility of improvement or deterioration. The etiological diagnosis of infants with mild-to-moderate SNHL would be helpful for predicting the outcome and managing intervention.

[Discussion on timing and method of surgical treatment for infants with middle ear effusion].

Objective:To investigate the timing and method of surgical intervention for neonates diagnosed with middle ear effusion after hearing screening failure. Methods:① A total of 103 children were enrolled in this study and received follow-up evaluations for every month. ② After the first follow-up period for 3 months, the uncured cases were divided into three groups according to the course of the illness. Group Ⅰ is the group of improvement, group Ⅱ is the group of relapse, and the group Ⅲ is the persistent group. The infants will receive symptomatic treatment if necessary. After 6 months, surgical treatment would be recommended in the persistent cases and aggravation, the cases of improvement and cases that the parents don't receive the operation would continue to be observed. All patients were observed till they were cured or operated. The operation was performed with tympanostomy and ventilation tube insertion if necessary. ③The distribution of self-healing time was analyzed. Compare the difference of the number of the cases who followed up for 3 months, 6 months and finally recovered naturally. The self-healing rates of different influencing factors were compared. The final operation rate of group Ⅰ, groupⅡ and group Ⅲ were compared. Results:① The median distribution of self-healing time（month age） in 103 cases was 7.00[5.76, 8.24], and the number of self-healing cases decreased significantly after 9 months of age. There were 43 cases（41.75%）, 67 cases（65.5%） and 81 cases（78.64%） recovered naturally after 3 months, 6 months and follow-up in the end, and the difference was statistically significant. ②The self-healing rate of maxillofacial deformities was the lowest（8.33%）, and the difference was statistically significant compared with other factors. ③The final 22 cases underwent surgical treatment, including 1 case in group Ⅰ（3.45%）, 4 cases in group Ⅱ（30.77%）, and 17 cases in group Ⅲ（94.45%）, with statistically significant difference. ④17 children underwent tympanoplasty, 1 patient underwent tympanoplasty and adenoidectomy, and 4 children only underwent tympanotomy. The hearing of 22 cases returned to normal after operation, but 4 cases of patients with tympanotomy had recurrent tympanic effusion, among which 2 cases had serious effusion and had to be operated again. Conclusion:The infants diagnosed with tympanic effusion can be observed for more than 6 months before surgical intervention is considered. The characteristics of disease course and influencing factors during the follow-up period are of great significance to determine the time of surgical intervention for tympanic effusion in infants. Due to the long observation period, the operative method is suggested to perform tympanotomy tubes, and the possibility of recurrence after tympanotomy is high.

SOD2 Alleviates Hearing Loss Induced by Noise and Kanamycin in Mitochondrial DNA4834-deficient Rats by Regulating PI3K/MAPK Signaling.

Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2)-mediated gene therapy has significant protective effects against kanamycin-induced hearing loss and hair cell loss in the inner ear, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Herein, an in vivo aging model of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)4834 deletion mutation was established using D-galactose, and the effects of noise or kanamycin on inner ear injury was investigated. Rats subjected to mtDNA4834 mutation via D-galactose administration showed hearing loss characterized by the disruption of inner ear structure (abnormal cell morphology, hair cell lysis, and the absence of the organ of Corti), increased SOD2 promoter methylation, and an increase in the degree of apoptosis. Exposure to noise or kanamycin further contributed to the effects of D-galactose. SOD2 overexpression induced by viral injection accordingly counteracted the effects of noise and kanamycin and ameliorated the symptoms of hearing loss, suggesting the critical involvement of SOD2 in preventing deafness and hearing-related conditions. The PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways were also regulated by noise/kanamycin exposure and/or SOD2 overexpression, indicating that they may be involved in the therapeutic effect of SOD2 against age-related hearing loss.

What we can do? The risk factors for multi-drug resistant infection in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU): a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for multi-drug resistant infection (MDRI) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) remain unclear. It's necessary to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for MDRI in PICU, to provide insights into the prophylaxis of MDRI clinically. METHODS: Clinical data of 79 PICU children with MDRI were identified, and 80 children in PICU without MDRI in the same period were selected as control group. The related children's characteristics, clinical care, microbiologic data, treatments provided, and outcomes of the patients with were reviewed and collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the potential risks of MDRI in PICU. RESULTS: Of the diagnosed 79 cases of MDRI, there were28 cases of CR-AB, 24 cases of MRSA, 22 cases of PDR-PA,3 cases of VRE and 2 cases of CRE respectively. Univariate analyses indicated that the length of PICU stay, the duration of mechanical ventilation > 5 days, parenteral nutrition, coma, urinary catheter indwelling, invasive operation, 2 or more antibiotics use were associated with MDRIs (all p < 0.05); The logistic multiple regression analyses indicated that coma, parenteral nutrition, 2 or more antibiotics use and the duration of mechanical ventilation > 5 days were independent risk factors associated with MDRI (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This present study has identified several potentially modifiable risk factors for MDRI in PICU, it's conducive to take appropriate measures targeting risk factors of MDRI for health care providers to reduce MDRI.

Effect of SOD2 methylation on mitochondrial DNA4834-bp deletion mutation in marginal cells under oxidative stress.

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is a prevalent disease that severely affects the physical and mental health of the elderly. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial (mt)DNA deletion mutation are considered as major factors in the pathophysiology of age-related hearing loss. The 4977-bp deletion in human mtDNA (common deletion, corresponding to the 4834-bp mtDNA deletion in rats) is suggested to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of age-related hearing loss. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), an isoform of SOD that is exclusively expressed in the intracellular mitochondrial matrix, plays a crucial role in oxidative resistance against mitochondrial superoxide. Previous research has shown that methylation of the promoter region of the SOD2 gene decreased the expression of SOD2 in marginal cells (MCs) extracted from the inner ear of rats subjected to D-galactose-induced mtDNA4834 deletion. However, the relationship between SOD2 methylation and mtDNA4834 deletion under oxidative stress remains to be elucidated. Herein, an oxidative damage model was established in the extracted MCs using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which increased the methylation level of SOD2 and the copy number of mtDNA4834 mutation in MCs. Decreasing the methylation level of SOD2 using 5-azacytidine, a DNA methylation inhibitor, reduced oxidative stress and the copy number of mtDNA4834 mutation and inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis. The present work demonstrates that decreasing the methylation of SOD2 suppresses the mtDNA4834 deletion in MCs under oxidative stress and provides potential insights to the intervention therapy of aging-related hearing loss.

Oxycodone preemptive analgesia after endoscopic plasma total adenotonsillectomy in children: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic tonsillectomy is associated with postoperative pain. Postoperative pain management remains to be improved in children. We aimed to investigate oxycodone preemptive analgesia in children undergoing endoscopic plasma total adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: 166 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy were recruited at Wuhan Children's Hospital between 08/2016 and 03/2017. They were randomly assigned to receive SPOA (postoperative sufentanil), SPEA+SPOA (preemptive sufentanil and postoperative sufentanil), and OPEA+SPOA (preemptive oxycodone and postoperative sufentanil). The primary endpoint was serum c-fos levels. The secondary endpoints were the response entropy (RE) value, Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) score, FLACC score, and adverse events. RESULTS: c-fos mRNA levels were increased significantly after surgery in the SPOA and SPEA+SPOA groups (P < .05). Postoperatively, c-fos mRNA levels were higher in the SPOA group compared with the OPEA+SPOA group (P = .044). The RE values increased in all groups after surgery (P < .05). At extubation, RE values were higher in the SPOA group compared with the SPEA+SPOA and OPEA+SPOA groups (P < .05). The PAED scores were higher in the SPOA group compared with the OPEA+SPOA group (P = .045). In the SPOA group, the FLACC scores were decreased at 24 h after surgery vs 4 hours (P = .044). Prediction probability (Pk) values indicated that RE and c-fos mRNA levels were quantitative predictors for early postoperative stress reaction after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The subanalgesic dose of oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg) as preemptive analgesia could improve pain after endoscopic plasma total adenotonsillectomy in children.

Characteristics and outcome of impacted button batteries among young children less than 7 years of age in China: a retrospective analysis of 116 cases.

BACKGROUND: Ingestion of button batteries occurs in about ten persons per one million persons each year, with most of them children, and one in every 1000 battery ingestions leads to serious injuries. This study aimed to describe the clinical features and outcome of ingestion or inhalation of button batteries in children spanning a decade from January, 2006 to December, 2016 at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of children who sought treatment for inhaled or ingested button batteries at our hospital during the study period. Data on gender, age, time from ingestion to treatment, site of impaction, imaging findings, and outcomes were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 116 pediatric cases of ingestion or inhalation of button batteries. Their mean age was 26 months. The time from ingestion or inhalation of button batteries to treatment was 0.5 hours to 2 weeks. Ninety-seven (83.6%) button batteries were located in the nasal cavity, 13 (11.2%) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including 6 in the esophagus, and 7 in the stomach and lower GI tract, and 6 (5.2%) in the auditory tract. Twenty-one (21.6%) children with nasal button batteries had preoperative septal perforations and one (1.0%) had postoperative septal perforation. One child with esophageal button battery developed esophageal stricture and one died of sudden cardiac arrest perioperatively. One child had auditory damages in the right tympanic membrane and ossicles. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation or ingestion may occur in the nasal cavities, the esophagus and GI tract and the auditory tract. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are required for a satisfactory outcome and ingested or inhaled button batteries require different treatment protocols.

Clinical efficacy of low-temperature radiofrequency ablation of pharyngolaryngeal cyst in 84 Chinese infants.

The aim of the study is to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of low-temperature radiofrequency ablation of pharyngolaryngeal cyst.The study population was composed of 84 children diagnosed with pharyngolaryngeal cyst who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of Otolaryngology, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Wuhan, China, between January 1984 and December 2013. All patients were operated using a self-retaining laryngoscope and were divided into 3 groups: traditional cystectomy group (N = 9), dynamic cutting system group (N = 18), and low-temperature radiofrequency ablation group (N = 57). Clinical outcomes were analyzed to assess the efficacy of low-temperature radiofrequency ablation in treatment of pharyngolaryngeal cyst.Compared with traditional cystectomy group or dynamic cutting system group, operation time was shorter, bleeding was less and one-year recurrence rate was much lower in low-temperature radiofrequency ablation group. However, operation time and bleeding was not statistically different between traditional cystectomy and dynamic cutting system group.Low-temperature radiofrequency ablation may be an effective substitute for treating pharyngolaryngeal cyst.

[Anti-HBV effect of fusion protein (TA1-IFN) in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-HBV effect of fusion protein thymosin alpha1-interferon alpha (TA1-IFN) in vitro and to compare its effect with a combination of interferon alpha and thymosin alpha1. METHODS: After 2.2.15 cells were seeded for 24 hours, drugs of five serial concentrations (8000, 4000, 2000, 1000, 500 U/ml) were added to the wells, then the medium was changed every three days. After 2.2.15 cells were treated with drugs for 6 days, the medium was collected. The inhibitory rates on HBsAg and HBeAg were determined using Abbot kit, and the cytotoxicity of different drugs by means of MTT colorimetric assays was also observed. RESULTS: The inhibitory rate of fusion protein on HBsAg, HBeAg was dose-dependent and reached the maximum at 8000 U/ml concentration. In the meantime, the inhibitory rates of fusion protein on HBsAg and HBeAg were 72.2% +/- 0.8% and 60.4% +/- 1.1% respectively, and the cell survival rate was 85.2% +/- 2.0%; In the corresponding concentration, the inhibitory rates of combination thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha on HBsAg and HBeAg were 40.0% +/- 0.7%, 34.5% +/- 3.2% respectively. The results showed significant statistical differences between them; cell survival rate 70.0% +/- 1.9%, and the difference of the results was also significant. Cytotoxicity of fusion protein was weaker than a combination of thymosin alpha 1 and interferon alpha. CONCLUSION: Fusion protein TA1-IFN exerted stronger anti-HBV effects in vitro. Its anti-HBV effects in vitro were stronger than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha, and its cytotoxicity was weaker than the combination of thymosin alpha and interferon alpha. Our studies provided important evidence for clinical research on TA1-IFN, and also brought new hope for hepatitis B therapy.

[Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides farina drops in monosensitized and polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops in monosensitized and polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. METHOD: The clinical data of 162 patients treated with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were divided into the monoallergen sensitized group and polyallergen sensitized group according to the results of skin prick tests. The total nasal symptoms score (TNSS), the total medication score (TMS) and adverse effects (AEs) were evaluated before treatment, 2 year after SLIT treatment and 3 year after drug discontinuance. Result:After SLIT treatment for 2 years and drug discontinuance for 3 years, the TNSS (3. 14[2. 47; 3. 65], 3. 45 [2. 76; 3. 92], respectively) and TMS (0. 42[0. 36; 0. 57],0. 35[0. 26; 0. 44], respectively) in the monoallergen sensitized group were lower than that before the treatment (TNSS: 9. 00 [8. 00; 10. 00], TMS: 2. 16 [1. 88; 2. 37]), which have showed a statistically significant difference(P<0. 05). Similarly, after SLIT treatment for 2 years and drug discontinuance for 3 years, the TNSS (3. 14[2. 46; 3. 63], 4. 23[3. 65; 4. 96], respectively) and TMS (0. 42[0. 36; 0. 58], 0. 50[0. 34; 0. 72], respectively) in the polyallergen sensitized group were lower than that before the treatment (TNSS: 9. 00[8. 00; 10. 00], TMS: 2. 18[1. 95; 2. 37]), which have showed a statistically significant difference(P<0. 05). No statistically significant finding could be observed in monoallergen and polyallergen sensitized group before the treatment and 2 years after treatment, respectively. However, a statistically significant finding could be observed between two groups in the drug discontinuance for 3 years (P<0. 05). Eleven patients suffered local adverse effects, and the incidence of adverse effects showed no significantly difference (P>0. 05). CONCLUSION: SLIT with standardized Dermatophagoides farina drops has a long-term efficacy in monosensitized and polysensitized patients with allergic rhinitis. Moreover, a longer SLIT treatment (>2 years) may be necessary to consolidate its efficacy.

[The clinical characteristics and treatment progress of otitis media in children].

Otitis media is a common problem in children, which may cause hearing loss and complications sometimes. This topic will review the definition, causes, types, clinical characteristics and treatments of each type of ear infections in children, by reading recently literatures. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis and choose a appropriate treatment of otitis media in children to avoid antibiotics abusing. Sometime some cases need operations, which are effective, especially in chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma, and we need further studying focuse on when do the operations and how to shoose them.

[The value of combination of the mortality in emergency department sepsis score and blood lactate level in the risk stratification of severe sepsis in the emergency department].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the combination of the mortality in emergency department sepsis (MEDS) score with blood lactate level in the risk stratification of patients with severe sepsis in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: 665 adult patients with severe sepsis admitted from May 2011 to December 2012 in ED were found to be eligible for the study. MEDS score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII) score, and arterial blood lactate was determined, and the outcomes in 28 days were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between each predictive factor score and prognosis. Each predictive factor was compared with the areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC). RESULTS: The mortality in 28 days was 34.6% in 665 patients. The mortality in group of MEDS score 12-27 was significantly higher than that group of MEDS score<12 [51.0% (156/306) vs. 20.6% (74/155), χ(2)=28.414, P=0.000]. In the meantime, APACHEII score and blood lactate level were also significantly higher in group of MEDS score 12-27 than those in group with MEDS score<12 [APACHEII score: 26.4±10.6 vs. 21.7±8.1, t=-3.555, P=0.002; lactate: 4.9 (2.3, 9.9) mmol/L vs. 3.9 (1.5, 8.9) mmol/L, Z=-2.352, P=0.023]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed significant difference in the two groups (the Log Rank test 36.71, P<0.01). The levels of 3 predictive factors were predominantly higher in non-survivors than survivors [MEDS score: 14.1±6.7 vs. 8.2±4.5, t=-6.929, P=0.000; APACHEII score: 28.1±7.1 vs. 22.2±11.3, t=-6.472, P=0.000; lactate: 5.4 (2.9, 11.0) mmol/L vs. 3.8 (1.2, 9.1) mmol/L, t=-6.472, P=0.004]. The AUCs were 0.813, 0.706 and 0.727 for MEDS score, APACHEII score and blood lactate respectively. The predictive ability for 28-day mortality of MEDS score was better than blood lactate (P=0.008) and APACHEII score (P=0.005). The AUC of MEDS score combined with lactate was 0.865, and 28-day mortality prediction was better than MEDS score (AUC 0.865 vs. 0.813, P<0.001). The sensitivity (83.1%), specificity (93.2%), positive prediction value (PPV, 62.4%), and negative prediction value (NPV, 92.1%) for MEDS score combined with lactate were highest among all predictors. CONCLUSIONS: MEDS score combined with lactate is a good risk stratification tool for emergency patients with severe sepsis, and its prognostic capability is better than either MEDS score, APACHEII score or blood lactate.