Clinical efficacy and mechanism study of mid-frequency anti-snoring device in treating moderate obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is primarily caused by airway obstruction due to narrowing and blockage in the nasal and nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, soft palate, and tongue base areas. The mid-frequency anti-snoring device is a new technology based on sublingual nerve stimulation. Its principle is to improve the degree of oropharyngeal airway stenosis in OSAHS patients under mid-frequency wave stimulation. Nevertheless, there is a lack of clinical application and imaging evidence. AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of a mid-frequency anti-snoring device in treating moderate OSAHS. METHODS: We selected 50 patients diagnosed with moderate OSAHS in our hospital between July 2022 and August 2023. They underwent a 4-wk treatment regimen involving the mid-frequency anti-snoring device during nighttime sleep. Following the treatment, we monitored and assessed the sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores. Additionally, we performed computed tomography scans of the oropharynx in the awake state, during snoring, and while using the mid-frequency anti-snoring device. Cross-sectional area measurements in different states were taken at the narrowest airway point in the soft palate posterior and retrolingual areas. RESULTS: Compared to pretreatment measurements, patients exhibited a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index, the percentage of time with oxygen saturation below 90%, snoring frequency, and the duration of the most prolonged apnea event. The lowest oxygen saturation showed a notable increase, and both sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved. Oropharyngeal computed tomography scans revealed that in OSAHS patients cross-sectional areas of the oropharyngeal airway in the soft palate posterior area and retrolingual area decreased during snoring compared to the awake state. Conversely, during mid-frequency anti-snoring device treatment, these areas increased compared to snoring. CONCLUSION: The mid-frequency anti-snoring device demonstrates the potential to enhance various sleep parameters in patients with moderate OSAHS, thereby improving their quality of life and reducing daytime sleepiness. These therapeutic effects are attributed to the device's ability to ameliorate the narrowing of the oropharynx in OSAHS patients.

HLA-DQB1*03 genotype and perioperative blood transfusion are not conducive to the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is a disease associated with a higher incidence and mortality, and some host genetic polymorphisms have been reported as potential factors contributing to the development of GC. In view of this, the study was conducted to investigate the effects of HLA-DQB1 gene polymorphisms and perioperative blood transfusion on prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: A total of 142 patients with GC (case group) and 150 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled. Relationship between HLA-DQB1 gene polymorphisms, perioperative blood transfusion, and clinical pathological parameters of patients with GC after operation was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curve was applied for analyzing survival rate of patients with GC, and Cox multivariate regression analysis for prognostic factors of patients with GC. RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-DQB1*03 gene was increased in patients with GC. Patients with GC with HLA-DQB1*03 genotype had higher number of tumor size >6 cm, deeper depth of infiltration, higher LNM rate, and later stage of disease. Patients with HLA-DQB1*03 genotype had lower survival rate compared with other genotypes. Anemia before operation, depth of infiltration in T3 stage and T4 stage, LNM in N1 stage and N2 stage, and HLA-DQB1*03 genotype were regarded as independent risk factors for patients with GC. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that HLA-DQB1*03 genotype and perioperative blood transfusion are not conducive to the prognosis of patients with GC, which could provide a reference for the treatment of GC.

[Location of telocytes in mouse bronchial and pulmonary tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the location of telocytes in pulmonary tissues. METHODS: Electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, primary cell culture and vital cell staining were used to identify the distribution of telocytes in mouse bronchial and pulmonary tissues. RESULTS: Telocytes were identified in the interstitial space between bronchial cartilage (cricoid) and smooth muscle by scanning and transmission electron microscope in mouse. By transmission electron micrscope and immunohistochemistry, telocytes were found in the interstitial spaces of lung parenchyma in connection with capillaries and bronchia. Telocytes expressed CD34, c-kit and vimetin by immunohistochemistry. After isolation, cultured telocytes demonstrated typical morphological feature, i.e. cells with telopode, which was seen as luminal structures with alternating thin and thick segments under electron microscope. CONCLUSION: Telocytes are present in the interstitial space between cricoid cartilage and smooth muscle.

Tracheal gas insufflation with partial liquid ventilation to treat LPS-induced acute lung injury in juvenile piglets.

OBJECTIVES: Partial liquid ventilation (PLV) with perfluorocarbons (PFC) seems not superior to conventional ventilation clinically. We hypothesized that a combination of continuous tracheal gas insufflation (TGI) with protective strategy of PLV (low dose of PFC, low inflation pressure, moderate inhalation of oxygen and moderate anesthesia) would improve cardiopulmonary function in acute lung injury. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy juvenile piglets were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated at PEEP of 2 cmH(2)O with a peak inspiratory pressure of 10 cmH(2)O and FIO(2) of 0.4. The piglets were challenged with lipopolysaccharide and randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6 each): (1) mechanical ventilation alone (MV); (2) PLV with perfluorodecalin (10 ml/kg); (3) TGI with continuous airway flow 2 L/min; and (4) combination of PLV and TGI. The outcome was assessed functionally and histologically. RESULTS: All treatments except MV improved pH, PaO(2)/FIO(2), PaCO(2), ventilation efficacy index (VEI) and tidal volume. Both PLV-associated treatments also improved heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse contour cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, dynamic lung compliance, mean airway resistance and mean airway pressure. The combination group resulted in higher PaO(2)/FIO(2), VEI and a better lung histology score than any other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The new protective strategy may provide a better treatment for sepsis-induced acute lung injury.

Partial liquid ventilation confers protection against acute lung injury induced by endotoxin in juvenile piglets.

To investigate the effect of partial liquid ventilation (PLV) at low inflation pressures on acute lung injury (ALI), endotoxin was administered to healthy anesthetized juvenile piglets. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups, n=6 each: (1) conventional mechanical ventilation (MV) and (2) PLV with perfluorodecalin (10 mL kg(-1)). Compared with MV, PLV improved each cardiopulmonary variable measured. These variables included pulse contour cardiac output, heart rate, blood pH, breathing rate, both partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and PaO2/FIO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), dynamic lung compliance, tidal volume, and ventilation efficacy index. Lung morphology also showed less damage in the PLV group, even in non-dependent regions (P<0.05). Our data support the hypothesis that PLV can decrease pulmonary damage, improve gas exchange and cardiac output, and may lead to a better prognosis in endotoxin-induced ALI.

Painful Leg Ulcers: A Misdiagnosed Case Report With Literature Review.

A 56-year-old man presented with painful leg ulcers located on the left malleolus, tibia, the dorsal aspect of the feet and calves. He was initially treated with wound dressings, antibiotics, and other surgical debridement-'but these treatments were not effective. The results from laboratory and image examinations did not support the diagnosis of vascular and diabetic ulcerations or any specific infectious diseases. Subsequently, the patient confessed that he has been on medication with hydroxyurea for his granulocytic leukemia. The leg ulcers were fully cured after discontinuation of hydroxyurea. This case suggests that any medication the patient might be taking is always considered when evaluating a chronic ulcer.

[Inhibition of postharvest decay and induction of defensive enzymes by pure oxygen in Chinese bayberry fruit].

Chinese bayberry fruits were stored in air (control) or pure oxygen atmosphere for up to 12 days at 5 degrees C to investigate the effects of high oxygen on decay control and its relation to the induction of defensive enzyme activities. The results showed that exposure of Chinese bayberry to pure oxygen significantly prevented fruit decay. At the end of the storage period, the decay index of fruits exposed to pure oxygen was only 17% while that of control fruits reached 54% (Fig.1). Pure oxygen caused a significant increase in chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase activities which reached a peak on the 6th day of storage (Fig.2). Phenylalanine ammonium-lyase (Fig.3A) and peroxidase (Fig.4) activities as well as total phenolic content (Fig.3B) increased more quickly and stayed at significantly higher levels in fruits exposed to pure oxygen during storage than the control fruits. These results suggest that the inhibition of postharvest fruit decay by high oxygen was related to the induction of defensive enzyme activities. The induced disease resistance may be involved in the mechanisms by which high oxygen treatment inhibited fruit decay in Chinese bayberry.

[Effect of 1-MCP on senescence and quality in cold-stored edible podded pea].

The effects of 1-MCP (1-methylcyclo-propene) at 0.5, 1 and 2 muL/L on senescence and quality attributes in edible podded pea (Pisum sativum L.var.Saccharatum) during cold storage at 1 degrees C were investigated. The results indicated that treatments with 1 and 2 microL/L 1-MCP significantly inhibited respiratory rate, ethylene production and superoxide production, maintained higher levels of SOD, AsA-POD activities and chlorophyll and AsA contents, reduced the increases in MDA and fiber contents and decay index, thereby delayed the senescence process and quality deterioration. Treatment with 0.5 microL/L 1-MCP showed no significant effects on senescence and quality changes in harvested edible podded pea.