[Estrogen receptor-ß expression in laryngeal carcinoma: correlation with the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition specific biomarkers].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of ERß in laryngeal carcinoma and the its correlation with the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) specific biomarkers. METHOD: Picture MT-Pv9000 was used to detect ERß and EMT in 72 cases of human aqueous laryngeal carcinoma and 8 cases of adjacent non-neoplastic laryngeal mucosa by immunohistochemistry. RESULT: The positive rates of ERß in tumors and adjacent non-neoplastic laryngeal mucosa were 27.78% and 25.00%, respectively. The differences were not significant (P > 0.05). The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin and ß-catenin were 61.11% and 76.39% respectively. The expression of ERß correlated negatively with the loss of E-cadherin, nuclear translocation of ß-catenin and increased TNM stage. The differences were significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The positive expressions of ERß suggest a good prognosis in the differentiation, clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis of the laryngeal carcinoma. The underlying mechanism may be related with the abnormal expressions of E-cadherin and ß-catenin.

[Radiographic study of maxillary sinus associated with molars in adult].

OBJECTIVE: to explore the relationship between the maxillary sinus volume and the amount of alveolar bone, and the effect of molar loss upon the maxillary sinus was further analyzed,by measuring adult maxillary sinus volume, sinus ridge distance, and calculating the gasification coefficient of maxillary sinus. METHOD: One hundred and ninety cases (361 maxillary sinus) with CT examinations were collected, they were divided into group A and group B, 121 cases (242 maxillary sinus) of normal subjects served as group A, 42 cases (65 maxillary sinus) with molar part off were B group, in which 31 maxillary sinus with a molar loss were group B1,22 maxillary sinus with two molar loss were B2 group,12 maxillary sinus with three molar loss (one molar remains) were B3 group, 27 cases (54 maxillary sinus) with upper teeth off were C group. Bymeasureing the maxillary sinus volume, sinus ridge distance and the size of the maxillary sinus, calculating the gasification coefficient, we analyzed the relationship between maxillary volume and sinus ridge distance, and comparatively analyzed the differences among the three groups in the size, gasification coefficient, volume of maxillary sinus and sinus ridge distance. RESULT: In the normal group,the volume of maxillary sinus and sinus ridge distance had a correlation coefficient of -0. 63,(P< 0.05); Sinus ridge distance in group A was larger than the other two groups (P<0.05), and larger in B group than in C group (P<0. 05), anteroposterior maxillary sinus diameter and reft-right diameter in C group was greater than in A group and B group(P<0.05), group C gasification coeffiecent was less than A group and B group (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: The volume of maxillary sinus is negatively correlated with the amont of alveolar bone; Upper teeth's shedding promotes maxillary sinus deformation; Maxiuary sinus volume has a tendency to decrease.

Aquaporin changes in compound 48/80 induced inflammatory sublaryngeal edema in rat.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Laryngeal edema is a common clinical condition. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Aquaporins (AQPs) are small integral plasma membrane proteins that transport water across the plasma membrane. In this study, we explore the relationship between inflammatory laryngeal edema induced by compound 48/80 and the expression of AQPs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, experimental animal study. METHODS: Healthy adult male SD rats were injected with either sterile water, compound 48/80 (2 mg/kg), or compound 48/80 plus dexamethasone (3 mg/kg) via the tail vein. The larynxes were harvested 10, 30 minutes, and 1 hour after the injection for the measurement of sublaryngeal water content and histological and molecular evaluations. RESULTS: Ten and 30 minutes after the compound 48/80 injection compared with the sterile water injection control groups, the water content in subglottic larynx increased significantly and the tissues were markedly swollen accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration. AQP1 and AQP5 mRNA decreased significantly. One hour after the compound 48/80 injection, the edema was diminished, but the inflammatory cell infiltration remained. AQP1 was elevated but AQP5 was still lower than controls. Dexamethasone did not significantly reduce laryngeal edema, but significantly reduced inflammatory cells infiltration induced by compound 48/80 injection. Dexamethasone increased the AQP5 level but not AQP1. CONCLUSIONS: AQP1 and AQP5 might play key roles in inflammatory subglottic edema caused by compound 48/80 in rats. AQP1 and AQP5 might be useful molecular targets of clinical treatment of inflammatory laryngeal edema.

[Patency and flow of the internal jugular vein after selective neck dissection].

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the function of the internal jugular vein after selective neck dissection on patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by color Doppler ultrasonography. METHOD: Forty patients (76 internal jugular veins) who had undergone bilateral selective neck dissection(36 patients) or unilateral selective neck dissection (4 patients) were collected and divided into 2 groups depending on operation area. Group A consisted of 39 internal jugular veins (IJVs) which dissected level II, III and group B included 37 IJVs which disseted level II - IVor II - V spring the IJV. All patients underwent Doppler ultrasonography before and after selective neck dissection at the 1st and 3rd postoperative months. The following measurements were assessed in each test: presence of thrombosis, expiratory jugular flow, expiratory caliber, area both during expiratory and Valsalva maneuver, expiratory flow speed, Valsalva flow speed. All data were statistically analyzed in two groups by comparisons of preoperative conditions and postoperative conditions. RESULT: (1) None of the 76 internal jugular veins showed thrombosis before or after selective neck dissection. (2) Patency rate at the 1st and 3rd postoperative months were respectively 85.5% and 96.1%. Patency rate of the internal jugular vein in two groups showed no significant changes at the 1st and 3rd postoperative months (P > 0.05). (3) In group A, Valsalva flow speed showed no significant changes at the 1st postoperative months (P > 0.05), compared with preoperative; The remainings showed significant difference. Expiratory calibe, area during Valsalva maneuve, expiratory flow speed and Valsalva flow speed had significant difference at the 3rd postoperative months (P < 0.05), compared with preoperative. In group B, Valsalva flow speed showed no significant changes at the 1st postoperative months (P > 0.05), compared with preoperative; The remainings showed significant difference. Expiratory jugular flow had no significant difference at the 3rd postoperative months (P > 0.05), compared with preoperative; The remainings showed significant difference. All parameters at the 3rd postoperative months had significant difference compared with 1st postoperative months between these two groups, excepting expiratory flow speed. (4) Differences of the operation area had no significant impact on indications of the internal jugular vein (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: (1) None of the internal jugular veins showed thrombosis after selective neck dissection. The results indicate that thrombosis of the internal jugular veins can be avoided though careful operation, proper operative skill, appropriate management postoperation. (2) Although most of the parameters changed at early stage after selective neck dissection, many of them improved at the 3rd postoperative months, and expiratory jugular flow recovered to the normal range. The results indicate that the internal jugular veins can basically maintain its normal function at long time postoperation.

[A three-dimensional quantitative measurement related to sigmoid sinus by using multi-slices spiral CT].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a valuable imaging anatomic method for operation of the posterior transpetrosal approach and accurate positioning among relative structures in order to reduce the incidence of surgical complications. METHODS: The clinical information of 119 adult cases (238 sides) was analyzed. All the cases underwent 16 layer helix CT scanning and three-dimensional image reconstruction of skull base without a skull base disease. Axial and coronal images were reconstructed using multiplanar reconstruction technique of ADW 4.2 workstation, and the anatomic objective structure were displayed by rotating imaging slices. The data were analyzed in statistically and compared with the published cadaver data. RESULTS: Quantitative measurement of anatomic structure was shown as below: The distance of width of sigmoid sinus was (11.14 + or - 2.13) mm, the distance of depth of sigmoid sinus was (6.04 + or - 1.67) mm; the distance from the lateral wall of sigmoid sinus to the surface of mastoid process was (9.74 + or - 2.95) mm; the distance from the anterior wall of sigmoid sinus to the posterior wall of external auditory meatus was (12.98 + or - 2.71) mm; the distance from the most posterior portion of the posterior semicircular canal to the anterior wall of sigmoid sinus was (9.87 + or - 2.60) mm; the distance from the most posterior portion of the posterior semicircular canal to the posterior pyramidal wall was (3.18 + or - 1.30) mm; the distance from the posterior extremity of long axis of the lateral semicircular canal to the anterior wall of sigmoid sinus was (13.17 + or - 2.59) mm; the distance from the posterior extremity of long axis of the lateral semicircular canal to the posterior pyramidal wall was (5.46 + or - 1.38) mm; the vertical distance from the lateral semicircular canal to the jugular bulb was (6.69 + or - 3.08) mm; and the distance from the vertical portion of facial nerve to the jugular bulb was (5.32 + or - 2.13) mm. Statistically, there were no significant differences between imaging quantitative measurement and published cadaver data. However, the measurement result, included the distance from the lateral wall of sigmoid sinus to the surface of mastoid process and the distance from the lateral semicircular canal to the jugular bulb as well as the distance from the vertical portion of facial nerve to the jugular bulb, were found a positively correlated to the distance from the anterior wall of sigmoid sinus to the posterior wall of external auditory meatus (r value was 0.284, 0.145, 0.208, respectively, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The result of three-dimensional quantitative measurement by using multiplanar reconstruction technique of 16 layer spiral CT could represent a real distance of anatomic structures. The reconstruction of spiral CT images could display a anatomic feature of temporal bone accurately, and it may provide a valuable method for surgical approach and accurate positioning of relative structure in operation. As the location of sigmoid sinus moving forward, the lateral shift of it may occur more easily and the jugular bulb become closer to the vertical portion of facial nerve, while the extension of anterior location in sigmoid sinus should be a positively correlated to the height of jugular bulb.

[The CT study of relation between the height of middle concha and paranasal sinusitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between the incidence of sinusitis and the position of the inferior border of the middle concha related to the semilunar hiatus. METHOD: Clinical data of 94 cases (185 sides of paranasal sinus) diagnosed by CT detection, operative findings and clinical features were analyzed. The middle concha was divided into 3 types according the position of its inferior border related to the semilunar hiatus: superior hiatus type (the inferior border of the middle concha superior to the semilunar hiatus), hiatus type (the inferior edge of the middle concha at the level of the semilunar hiatus) and inferior hiatus type (the inferior edge of the middle concha inferior to the semilunar hiatus). Statistic analysis were taken for comparing the incidence of sinusitis among the position of the middle concha and other anatomical variations such as deviation of nasal septum, pneumatization of middle concha, paradoxical curve of the middle concha, variations of the uncinate process, ethmoidal bulla enlargements, Haller cells and agger cell pneumatization. RESULT: There was no significant difference of the anatomic variations by comparing the superior hiatus type together with the hiatus type versus the inferior hiatus type (P > 0.05). But the incidence of sinusitis in each type was remarkably different, the superior hiatus type and hiatus type had more sinusitis than the inferior hiatus type. Furthermore, the second and third type of sinusitis in the superior hiatus type and hiatus type weighted over the inferior hiatus type (P < 0.01), while the first type didn't (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no association between the position of the middle concha and the anatomic variations of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. The poorly developed middle concha may acts as a risk factor for sinusitis and nasal polyps.

[Analysis of the related factors that influence the effect of hearing aid].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the related factors that may influence the effect hearing aid for sensorineural hearing loss patients. METHOD: Sixty cases with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss were selected. Audiological measurements were performed before and after hearing aiding. Factor analysis was carried out. RESULT: The unaided hearing level (UHL), Speech perception thresher (SPT), speech recognition thresher (SRT), speech recognition score (SRS) and aided hearing level (AHL) have notable influence on the effect of hearing aid fitting. The most comfortable level (MCL), age, education period, hearing loss duration and aided duration also have some influence on the results. CONCLUSION: Hearing aid is not only a hearing compensating tool, it also has some therapeutic effect as well.