Development of programmed death receptor-1 and programmed death receptor-1 ligand in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignant tumor in the oral and maxillofacial region. At present, the treatment of OSCC is mainly based on surgical oriented comprehensive sequence therapy, especially the triple therapy of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, the overall five-year survival rate is relatively low. Therefore, researching the pathogenesis and treatment methods of OSCC is important. The immune checkpoint of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and programmed death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1) have been the focus of research in recent years. Several studies have shown that the high expression of PD-1/PD-L1 in most OSCC microenvironments may contribute to the immune escape of tumors. In this study, the research status of immune checkpoint of PD-1/PD-L1 and its relevant inhibitors in OSCC were reviewed.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of the upper airway of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by Muller maneuver / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study aimed to use computer simulation to describe the fluid dynamic characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to evaluate the difference between during quiet respiration and the Muller maneuver (MM). Seven patients with OSAS were involved to perform computed tomographic (CT) scanning during quiet respiration and the MM. CT data in DICOM format were transformed into an anatomically three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the upper airway. The velocity magnitude, relative pressure, and flow distribution were obtained. Numerical simulation of airflow was performed to discuss how the MM affected airflow in the upper airway. To measure the discrepancy, the SPSS19.0 software package was utilized for statistic analysis. The results showed that the shape of the upper airway became narrower, and the pressure decreased during the MM. The minimal cross-sectional area (MCSA) of velopharynx was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the airflow velocity in MCSAs of velopharynx and glossopharynx significantly accelerated (P<0.05) during the MM. This study demonstrated the possibility of CFD model combined with the MM for understanding pharyngeal aerodynamics in the pathophysiology of OSAS.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of the upper airway of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by Muller maneuver / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study aimed to use computer simulation to describe the fluid dynamic characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to evaluate the difference between during quiet respiration and the Muller maneuver (MM). Seven patients with OSAS were involved to perform computed tomographic (CT) scanning during quiet respiration and the MM. CT data in DICOM format were transformed into an anatomically three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the upper airway. The velocity magnitude, relative pressure, and flow distribution were obtained. Numerical simulation of airflow was performed to discuss how the MM affected airflow in the upper airway. To measure the discrepancy, the SPSS19.0 software package was utilized for statistic analysis. The results showed that the shape of the upper airway became narrower, and the pressure decreased during the MM. The minimal cross-sectional area (MCSA) of velopharynx was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the airflow velocity in MCSAs of velopharynx and glossopharynx significantly accelerated (P<0.05) during the MM. This study demonstrated the possibility of CFD model combined with the MM for understanding pharyngeal aerodynamics in the pathophysiology of OSAS.

Characteristics of airflow dynamics in upper airway after unilateral maxillectomy / 医用生物力学

Objective To study the characteristics of upper airway airflow dynamics during inspiration after unilateral total maxillectomy by means of computer numerical simulation. Methods Based on postoperative CT images of three patients with unilateral maxillary tumor, three-dimensional upper airway structures of the patients were reconstructed, and the upper airway airflow was simulated numerically by computational fluid dynamics method. Results The upper airway airflow trends of the patients during inspiration after unilateral maxillectomy were obtained. Airflow in the defect nasal cavity was separated, and made the spacious vortices of low velocity occurred throughout the entire maxillary defect cavity. Conclusions The upper airway trends of the three patients were generally in conformity with each other after their unilateral total maxillectomy, which illustrated that the respiratory patterns of such patients were of universality. Unilateral total maxillectomy resulted in structure changes of patients’ upper airway, which could disturb the upper airway airflow patterns，and affect the physiological functions of patients’ upper airway. Numerical simulation of patients' upper airway airflow after unilateral total maxillectomy could help to explain the phenomena of nasal drying and crusting, secretion accumulation as well as other symptoms of the kind of patients.

Effect of thyroid hormone on the contents of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernosum of rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the contents of NOS and endogenous CO in the penile corpus cavernosum of Wistar rat models of hyperthyroid and hypothyroid, to detect the effects of thyroid hormone and endogenous CO on rat penile erection, and to further investigate the influence of thyroid hormone on human penile erection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty 3-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups: a hyperthyroid, a hyperthyroid treatment, a hypothyroid, a hypothyroid treatment and a control group. The contents of NOS and CO were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the controls, the content of NOS was significantly decreased in both the hyperthyroid and the hypothyroid groups (P < 0.01), even lower in the latter than in the former (P < 0.01), and so was the content of CO (P < 0.01), lower in the former than in the latter (P < 0.01). After treatment, the levels of NOS and CO were both elevated in either the hyperthyroid or the hypothyroid group, with no significant difference from that of the controls (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The contents of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernosum decrease with the imbalance of thyroid hormones, but return to normal once the imbalance is corrected. Under the same conditions, hypothyroid inflicts more damage on penile erection than hyperthyroid.</p>