ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of adenotonsillectomy (AT) for children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the improvement of their cognitive function.Studies on cognitive performance of OSAS children treated with or without AT were identified by searching the Pubmed,EMBASE and Cochrane library.A meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the literature.The random-effects model was used to evaluate 11 eligible studies using an inverse-variance method.The neuropsychological test results of 4 cognitive domains (general intelligence,memory,attention-executive function and verbal ability) were obtained and analyzed.By comparison of cognitive function between OSAS children and healthy controls,the effect sizes of each domain were achieved as follows:general intelligence,-0.5 (P＜0.0001);memory,-0.18 (P=0.02);attention-executive function,-0.21 (P=0.002);and verbal ability,-0.48 (P=0.0006).The effect sizes of general intelligence,memory,attention-executive function,and verbal ability after AT compared to baseline level were-0.37 (P=0.008),-0.36 (P=0.0005),-0.02 (P=0.88),and-0.45 (P=0.009),respectively.Comparing the cognitive ability between OSAS children after AT and healthy controls showed that the effect sizes were-0.54 (P=0.0009),-0.24 (P=0.12),-0.17 (P=0.35),and-0.45 (P=0.009) in general intelligence,memory,attention-executive function,and verbal ability,respectively.Our results confirmed that OSAS children performed worse than healthy children in terms of the 4 cognitive domains investigated.After 6-12 months of observation,significant improvement in attention-executive function and verbal ability were found in OSAS children treated with AT compared to their baseline level;restoration of attention-executive function and memory were observed in OSAS children after AT in comparison to healthy controls.Further rigorous randomized controlled trials should be conducted to obtain definitive conclusions.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the dynamic changes of the epididymal size 1 year after vasectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty male volunteers received vasoligation. Before and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, we measured the size and detected the internal echoes of the epididymis using color Doppler ultrasonography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The bilateral epididymides were both thickened post-operatively in all the 50 cases, with statistically significant differences between the baseline and the 1st month, the 1st and the 2nd month, the 2nd and the 3rd month, or the 3rd and the 6th month after surgery (all P < 0.01), but not between the 6th and the 12th month (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Within 6 months after vasectomy, the bilateral epididymides manifested a progressive thickening, but basically restored their balance of secretion-absorption after 6 months.</p>