A systematic theoretical study of CO2 hydrogenation towards methanol on Cu-based bimetallic catalysts: role of the CHO&CH3OH descriptor in thermodynamic analysis.

The application of density functional theory (DFT) has enriched our understanding of methanol synthesis through CO2 hydrogenation on Cu-based catalysts. However, variations in catalytic performance under different metal doping conditions have hindered the development of universal catalytic principles. To address these challenges, we systematically investigated the scaling relationships of adsorption energy among different reaction intermediates on pure Cu, Au-Cu, Ni-Cu, Pt-Cu, Pd-Cu and Zn-Cu models. Additionally, by summing the respective adsorption energies of two separate species, we have developed a dual intermediate descriptor of CHO&CH3OH, capable of achieving computational accuracy on par with DFT results using the multiple linear regression method, all the while enabling the rapid prediction of thermodynamic properties at various stages of methanol synthesis. This method facilitates a better understanding of the coupling mechanisms between energy and linear expressions on copper-based substrates, and the universal linear criterion can be applied to other catalytic systems, with the aim of pursuing potential catalysts having both high efficiency and low cost.

Long-Term Outcomes after Performing Tympanoplasty without Mastoidectomy for Active and Inactive Noncholesteatomatous Chronic Otitis Media.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess long-term outcomes after performing tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy (TWOM) for active and inactive noncholesteatomatous chronic otitis media (COM) and to estimate the optimal time for surgery. METHODS: The patients were placed into an active ear group (group A) and an inactive ear group (group B). All patients were followed up for 5 years after TWOM. RESULTS: Ninety-two cases among 113 achieved dry ears in half a month to 1 month. The tympanic pressure gradually improved 3-6 months after the operation. A total of 69/72 ears achieved dry ears in the active ear group, and 37 ears had effective hearing improvement. In all, 40/41 ears achieved dry ears in the inactive ear group, and 20 ears had effective hearing improvement. There was no difference in the recurrence rate or hearing improvement in the two groups. CONCLUSION: With good quality control of the surgical treatment of TWOM, there are no differences in long-term outcomes in noncholesteatomatous COM in different chronic infection conditions.

Association between maternal allergic rhinitis and asthma on the prevalence of atopic disease in offspring.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common co-morbidity of allergic rhinitis (AR). The prevalence of these two allergic diseases has increased in China and has been shown to cluster in families independently. This study evaluated the association between maternal AR (presenting with or without asthma) and the allergic conditions in offspring. METHODS: Women (n = 592) diagnosed with AR were recruited for this study; 379 patients presented with AR and 213 presented with both AR and asthma. Total serum IgE levels and nasal eosinophil counts were analyzed and correlated with disease presentation. RESULTS: The prevalence of allergic conditions in offspring of mothers diagnosed with AR and asthma was significantly higher than the prevalence observed in children born to mothers presenting with AR only. Maternal total serum IgE and eosinophil counts were predictive of atopy in offspring. Children born to mothers presenting with persistent moderate-to-severe AR had the highest risk of developing atopic conditions (OR 6.26, 95% CI 3.26-12.02). Maternal age of 25-30 years at delivery was also associated with a higher risk for the allergic disease in offspring compared to maternal age of 36-40 (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.31-3.47). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of maternal AR, asthma co-morbidity, elevated serum IgE levels and nasal eosinophilia were all associated with an increased risk of offspring developing allergic conditions. Children born to older mothers were protected against developing atopic disease.

Influence of risk factors on stomal recurrence after total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinomas: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Total laryngectomy is preserved for those the most advanced larynx cancer and nonsurgical cases. However, stomal recurrence is frequently occurred and leads to high mortality. Herein, we aimed to determine the risk factors for the stomal recurrence after total laryngectomy (SRAL). METHODS: Databases such as PubMed and EMBASE were comprehensively searched using the keywords "stomal recurrence" and "total laryngectomy." Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, qualified studies would be incorporated in this meta-analysis, followed by quality evaluation and data extraction. Risk ratios (RRs) were used. RESULTS: A total of six studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the pooled RRs showed that subglottic location increased the incidence of stomal recurrence most among the four primary locations. Expectedly, advanced tumor stage before the laryngectomy was the risk factor for stomal recurrence, while lymph node metastases showed no difference in this meta-analysis. Further, preoperative tracheostomy increased two times more risk in the stomal recurrence compared with nonpreoperative surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we proved that subglottic location, advanced tumor stage, especially T4 stage, and preoperative tracheostomy were risk factors for SRAL for larynx cancer. However, many other potential risk factors, such as surgical margins, could not be determined for inadequate records. Hence, more prospective trials should be designed to determine the risk factors for SRAL for larynx cancer.

Lower airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in non-asthmatic patients with non-allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Potential associations between non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) and asthma have been verified epidemiologically, but these associations remain not very clear. It is necessary to further explore the possible implication of lower airway abnormities in NAR patients but without asthma. This study aims to determine lower airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation and lung function in non-asthmatic patients with NAR. METHODS: We recruited 262 non-asthmatic patients with NAR, 377 with AR and 264 healthy subjects. All subjects were non-smokers who underwent meticulous history taking, nasal examination, allergen skin prick test (SPT), blood routine test, measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), methacholine bronchial challenge test and induced sputum eosinophil count, in this order. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, non-asthmatic patients with NAR yielded markedly lower FEV1/FVC, maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), mid-expiratory flow when 50% of FVC has been expired (MEF50%) and mid-expiratory flow when 75% of FVC has been expired (MEF25%) (P<0.05). Differences in spirometry between group AR and NAR were unremarkable (P>0.05). Patients with NAR yielded higher rate of AHR and higher FeNO levels than healthy subjects but lower than those with AR. The proportion of lower airways disorders (sputum eosinophilia, high FeNO levels or AHR) was highest in group AR (70.8%), followed by NAR (53.4%) and healthy subjects (24.2%) (P<0.01). However, sputum eosinophils in NAR patients were not higher compared with healthy subjects (P>0.05). Sputum eosinophils and FeNO had significant correlation with positive AHR and MMEF in group AR but not in NAR. CONCLUSIONS: Non-asthmatic patients with NAR harbor lower AHR, small airways dysfunction and inflammation, despite being less significant than those with AR. This offers clues to unravel the link between NAR and asthma.

[Changes in small airway function in rhinitis without asthma].

OBJECTIVE: Observe the changes of small airway function in patients with rhinitis but without asthma and/or lower airway symptoms. METHOD: Between June 2008 and December 2012, we recruited 903 subjects, including 377 with allergic rhinitis (AR), 262 with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) and 264 healthy subjects. All subjects underwent meticulous history taking, nasal examination, allergen skin prick test, blood routine test, serum total immunoglobin E assay, pulmonary ventilation function test and bronchial challenge test. RESULT: The indices of FEV1/FVC%, MEF25pred% and MMEFpred% were lower in AR group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The indices of FEV1/FVC, MMEFpred%, MEF25pred% and MEF50pred% were also lower in NAR group than in the control group (P < 0.05). According to the FVCpred% and FEV1pred%, there were no differences between rhinitis group and the control group (P > 0.05). The positive rate of airway hyperresponsiveness(AHR) in AR group and in NAR group was 12.2%, 6.1% respectively. Indices of small airway function were all lower in the AHR group than NAHR group in rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Compared with healthy controls, small airway function in patients with rhinitis has apparent changes, part of rhinitis patients has AHR, and is associated with small airway function changes.

[The effect of nasal irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the symptoms and lower airway inflammatory factors of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and to observe the effect of nasal irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Sixty-one cases diagnosed as AR after skin prick test (SPT)were selected and randomly divided into three groups: 17 patients in group A used nasal steroid spray; 21 cases in group B used nasal irrigation; 23 patients in group C combined ir rigation with nasal steroid. Before and after 3 months treatment, nasal visual analogue scale (VAS) score, rhino conjunctivtis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) values were observed and compared in each group. RESULT: Before treatment, there is no statistically difference between three groups (P > 0.05). After 3 months of treatment, VAS, RQLQ, FENO of all patients was significantly decreased (P < 0.05); VAS, RQLQ score was not significantly different among the three groups (P > 0.05), FENO value has no statistically significant difference between group A and group B (P > 0.05), but were less than that in group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nasal irrigation can ameliorate nasal symptoms, improve quality of life, decrease lower airway inflammation of allergic rhinitis patients. Nasal irrigation is an effective treatment of allergic rhinitis. Nasal irrigation combined with nasal steroid can achieve more significant efficacy.

Repair of ear cartilage defects with allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rabbits.

The study aims to investigate the feasibility of repairing cartilaginous defects with chondrocytes induced from allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) in rabbits' ear. BMMSCs were isolated and purified from New Zealand rabbits, in vitro amplified, and cultured in chondrocyte induction medium in order to acquire chondrocytes. After 3 weeks of induction, their phenotypes were confirmed as chondrocytes, then they were implanted onto novel polymeric scaffolds made from Poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) embedded with chitosan nonwoven cloth. The experimental group was transplanted with tissue engineering cartilaginous grafts composed of chondrogenetic BMMSC/scaffolds; the scaffold group was treated with scaffolds without cells, while in the control group, nothing was implanted. Specimens were taken at 6, 12, and 18 weeks after implantation, and the healing condition was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and toluidine blue staining. The right and left ears with cartilage defects of eighteen rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. In the experimental group, after 18 weeks of transplantation, the gross observation indicated that the cartilaginous defects were completely repaired by chondrocytes with smooth surface and similar color with the surrounding tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and toluidine blue staining suggested that the defective area was filled with mature cartilage cells with obvious lacunae but without obvious boundaries with the normal cartilage tissue, and that the new cartilage cells were evenly distributed with homogeneously dyed cytoplasm and smaller in size. The chondrocyte induced from allogenic BMMSC can be used to repair cartilage defects in rabbit's ear.

Isolated frontal sinusitis treated using an anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical approach.

Traditional frontal sinus surgery is associated with a significant trauma. Herein, we have discussed the feasibility, technique, and efficacy of a minimally invasive anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical approach performed under nasal endoscopy to treat isolated frontal sinusitis. Fifteen patients with isolated frontal sinusitis underwent the anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical procedure under general anesthesia. The opening of the frontal sinus was located by frontal mini-trephination in 1 patient. The effects of the operation were evaluated by regular postoperative follow-up. The average postoperative follow-up period was 12.7 months (range 6-24 months). The postoperative symptom of headache was completely resolved in all 15 patients, and 12 patients had good opening of the frontal sinus and complete epithelization was observed by nasal endoscopy. The frontal sinus of 3 patients was not opened, but these patients did not show subjective symptoms. The anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical approach is ideal for isolated frontal sinusitis.

Combination of autologous fascia lata and fat injection into the vocal fold via the cricothyroid gap for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

OBJECTIVES: To apply the technique of injection of a combination of autologous fascia lata and fat into the vocal fold via the cricothyroid gap for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and to evaluate the therapeutic effect in 12 patients who underwent the procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 12 patients. SETTING: Academic research. PATIENTS: A mixture of autologous fascia lata and fat was injected into the thyroarytenoid muscle of the paralyzed vocal fold in 12 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Videolaryngostroboscopy was performed to observe the changes to the vocal fold. The patients' phonatory function before and after surgery was assessed by computerized acoustic analysis and by blinded perceptual evaluation. RESULTS: Videolaryngostroboscopy demonstrated that the paralyzed vocal folds in these patients were pushed medially after the procedure. Statistically significant improvements were found in the perturbation measurements (jitter and shimmer), harmonics to noise ratio, and maximum phonation time. Ratings by a panel of voice experts also showed each voice to be statistically significantly improved after the procedure. No complications were noted. CONCLUSION: A combination of autologous fascia lata and fat injected into the vocal fold for unilateral vocal fold paralysis is a safe and effective therapy.