Potential causal association between aspirin use and the reduced risk of hayfever or allergic rhinitis: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The evidence from observational studies on the association between the use of aspirin and the risk of hayfever or allergic rhinitis is conflicting, with a dearth of high-quality randomized controlled trials. Objective: This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between aspirin use and the risk of hayfever or allergic rhinitis. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods. We utilized publicly available summary statistics datasets from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analyses on aspirin use in individuals of European descent (n = 337,159) as the exposure variable, and a GWAS on doctor-diagnosed hayfever or allergic rhinitis in individuals from the UK Biobank (n = 83,529) as the outcome variable. Results: We identified 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at genome-wide significance from the GWASs associated with aspirin use as instrumental variables (P<5×10-8; linkage disequilibrium r2 <0.1). The IVW method provided evidence supporting a causal association between aspirin use and reduced risk of hayfever or allergic rhinitis (ß = -0.349, SE = 0.1356, P = 0.01008). MR-Egger regression indicated no causal association between aspirin use and hayfever or allergic rhinitis (ß = -0.3742, SE = 0.3809, P = 0.371), but the weighted median approach yielded evidence of a causal association (ß = -0.4155, SE = 0.1657, P = 0.01216). Cochran's Q test and the funnel plot indicated no evidence of heterogeneity and asymmetry, indicating no directional pleiotropy. Conclusion: The findings of the MR analysis support a potential causal relationship between aspirin use and the reduced risk of hayfever or allergic rhinitis.

Observation on the curative effect of neck acupuncture and scalp acupuncture in improving cognitive impairment and quality of life after stroke

Objective: To explore the intervention value of needle acupuncture and scalp acupuncture in improving cognitive impairment and life in stroke patients; Methods: A total of 62 stroke patients who were healed in our hospital from August 2019 to October 2021 were retrospectively selected as the research objects, and were divided into a combined healing cluster (Combined healing cluster, CTG, n=31, The patients received conventional healing combined with acupuncture and acupuncture) and the general healing cluster (GTG, n=31). The healing effects of the two clusters were contrast, and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), neurological deficit score before and after healing Table (NDS) and Barthel Index (BI) score changes, the follow-up outcomes of the two clusters of patients were calculated and contrast between the two clusters; Results: (1) The total effective rate of patients in CTG cluster was 96.77%, and the total effective rate of patients in GTG cluster was 80.65%, and the variation in effective rate between the two clusters was notable (P<0.05). The NIHSS and NDS marks of the CTG cluster were notably bottom than those of the GTG cluster, and the variation between the clusters was notable (P<0.05). (3) On the 7th, 15th and 30th days of healing, the BI marks of the CTG cluster were notably upper than those in the GTG cluster, and the variation between the clusters was notable (P<0.05). (4) There were a total of 3 recurrences in the CTG cluster after 6 months of follow-up, with a recurrence rate of 10.00%, and a total of 9 recurrences in the GTG cluster. The recurrence rate of patients in the CTG cluster was notably bottom than that in the GTG cluster (P<0.05) (AU)

Feasibility analysis of combined traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and electromyography biofeedback in injured players with shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke

Objective: Exploring the feasibility of combining herbal fumigation and myoelectric biofeedback therapy in injured players with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. Methods: A total of 80 players with shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke who were healed in our hospital from July 2019 to June 2021 were retrospectively opted as the research subjects, and were divided into a joint intervention cluster (JIG) according to the variations in their healing methods. cluster, n=40, receiving traditional Chinese medicine fumigation and EMG biofeedback healing) and EMG healing cluster (Electromyobiological feedback cluster, EFG cluster, n=40), the healing effect, changes in simplified FMA mark of upper limbs before and after healing, and healing effects were contrasted between the two clusters. The changes of the front and rear shoulder pain and the pain part of the High Coast Shoulder Joint Function Rating Scale were recorded, and the occurrence of adverse reactions in the two clusters of injured players was recorded; Results: The total effective rate of injured players in the JIG cluster was 97.50% (39/40), which was notably upper than 85.00% (34/40) in the EFG cluster, and the variation between the clusters was notable (P<0.05). None notable variation in the simplified FMA mark between the clusters (P>0.05). On the 7th, 14th, and 28th days of healing, the simplified FMA mark of the upper limbs of the JIG cluster was notably upper than that of the EFG cluster, and the variation was notable (P>0.05). P<0.05); before healing, None notable variation between the two clusters in the degree of shoulder pain and the pain part of the Gaoshore Shoulder Joint Function Assessment Scale (P>0.05). After 28 days of healing, the degree of shoulder pain in the JIG cluster was notably bottom In the EFG cluster, the pain mark of the Gaoan Shoulder Joint Function Assessment Scale was notably upper than that in the EFG cluster, and the variation between the two clusters was notable (P<0.05) (AU)

[Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of larynx: a case report].

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma（SCNC） of larynx is very rare. Primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas constitute less than 0.5% of all laryngeal cancers. Tumor can occur in any laryngeal subsite, while the supraglottis is the most common. Patients usually complaint with hoarseness and neck mass. The diagnosis of this kind of carcinomas relies strictly on histopathological examination and immunohistochemical testing. The prognosis of laryngeal SCNC is generally poor. Here, we report a case of a 55-year-old-male patient who presented with a poorly differentiated SCNC of the supraglottic larynx and neck mass.

Lymphoma on the Nasal Dorsum: Report of a Rare Case.

Lymphoma over the nasal dorsum has never been reported. Herein, we report the case of a 74-year-old man who presented with a rapid swelling on the nasal dorsum. A physical examination revealed a firm, immobile, non-tender mass. Computed tomography revealed a space-occupying lesion in the subdermal layer of the nasal dorsum that was most likely a fibroma. An excisional biopsy was performed. Surprisingly, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses identified a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The patient underwent seven cycles of chemotherapy comprising of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. He responded well to the regimen. No evidence of persistent or recurrent disease had been detected during the 9 months after his last chemotherapy session. Although never reported previously, lymphoma can mimic common midline nasal soft-tissue tumors and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Computational fluid dynamics analysis of H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

PURPOSE: To explore the impact of H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and gain insights into the potential mechanism underlying improvement by H-UPPP. METHODS: In a cohort of 11 OSAS patients, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the upper airway were obtained using commercial software from computed tomography (CT) datasets before and after H-UPPP. Morphological and numerical parameters were respectively computed and compared during the peak tidal inspiratory flow. The correlations among polysomnography endpoints, airway dimensions, and pre- and post-operative airflow properties were analyzed with Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: The preoperative minimum cross-sectional area was significantly increased by 89.56% (p < .05), with a positive correlation to the apnea hypoapnea index (AHI) (r = 0.974). However, the capacity of all pharyngeal regions was not significantly altered (p > .05). Following H-UPPP, we observed a significant increase in pressure and reduction of velocity (p < .05) in the previously constricted areas. The change in pressure and velocity were significantly correlated with AHI (r = 0.922 and r = 0.946, respectively). In addition, the pressure drop in the constricted area, oropharynx, and hypopharynx were also significantly decreased (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: H-UPPP is capable of expanding the constricted region of the velopharynx and can decrease the airway resistance which will in turn decrease the workload necessary for breathing and facilitate inspiration.

miR-144 suppresses the growth and metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by targeting IRS1.

Increasing evidence has been suggested that microRNA-144 (miR-144) involved in tumor initiation, development and metastasis in various cancers. However, the biological roles and potential mechanisms of miR-144 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remain unclear. In the present study, we discovered that miR-144 expression levels in LSCC tissues were significantly lower than those of adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-144 in LSCC cells inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Consistently, stable overexpression of miR-144 suppressed the growth of LSCC cell xenografts in vivo. Bioinformatic algorithms and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) is a direct target of miR-144. Overexpreesion of miR-144 obviously decreased IRS1 expression thereby suppressing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway activation. Further functional studies suggested that downregulation of IRS1 had similar effects as that of miR-144 overexpression, and upregulation of IRS1 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-144. These findings suggested that miR-144 functioned as a tumor suppressor in LSCC by targeting IRS1, and that miR-144 might serve as a potential target for LSCC treatment.

Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Adult's Vocal Cord: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Although embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas (ERMS) represent the most common (50% - 60%) clinical form of rhabdomyosarcoma, these are extremely rare in adult's vocal cords. To date, only five cases of laryngeal ERMS have been reported in adults and only one of them involved the vocal cords. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we reported a case of a 22-year-old woman diagnosed with ERMS, T1N0M0 stage, localized at the right vocal cord. Tumor was successfully treated with a radical excision and selective neck dissection and followed-up for 5 years with no evidence of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemistry combined with computerized tomography (CT) and color Doppler solography of the neck and thorax should be performed. This study suggested that surgical resection was suitable for the treatment of this disease and reported the evaluations of an extremely rare case for five years.

Low molecular weight heparin inhibits circulating fibrocytes differentiation by modulating neuronal nitric oxide synthase and TGF-ß1/Smad pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Circulating fibrocytes (CFs) have been placed at the center of a number of fibrosing conditions. Recently, attention has been drawn to the non-anticoagulant activities of low molecular weight heparin (LH), especially its anti-fibrotic effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of LH on CFs differentiation and possible underlying mechanisms. METHODS/RESULTS: CFs were cultured from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and identified by dual-immunofluorescence staining. Incubation with LH inhibited CFs trans-differentiation by upregulating CD34 and downregulating pro-Collagen I and a-SMA in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, all of which were detected by flow cytometry. Similar effects were observed after incubation with L-NAME, an inhibitor of NOS. NO production was measured by Griess methods and markedly decreased in CFs treated with LH. Three NOS isoforms were assessed by western blot and nNOS was the predominant isoform involved in this process. Additionally, LH and L-NAME had similar down-regulating effects on the expression of TGF-ß1 and pSmad2/3, which indicated that TGF-ß/Smad pathway might be a downstream signaling of nNOS/NO during LH treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that LH could exhibit anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting CFs transdifferentiation, in which the involvement of nNOS/NO and TGF-ß/Smad pathway were identified.