Application analysis of a modified retroauricular hairline incision in the resection of a benign parotid gland tumor.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the application value of a modified retroauricular hairline incision and a sternocleidomastoid flap with an inferior pedicle in the resection of benign parotid gland tumors. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with benign parotid gland tumors were retrospectively analyzed: 19 cases were included in the experimental group with an improved retroauricular hairline incision and a sternocleidomastoid flap with an inferior pedicle, and 29 cases were assigned in the control group with a modified facelift incision. Operation time, postoperative drainage, postoperative esthetic degree, and incidence of facial nerve paralysis, salivary fistula, and Frey's syndrome were compared. RESULTS: After the esthetic procedure, the average score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group, and the esthetic effect of the former was better than that of the latter (P<0.05). The incidence of the operation time, facial nerve paralysis, salivary fistula, and Frey's syndrome of both groups had no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The modified retroauricular hairline incision and sternocleidomastoid flap with an inferior pedicle can be applied to resect benign parotid gland tumors safely. It shows a better cosmetic effect and does not cause obvious postoperative complications. Therefore, it should be promoted for tumor treatments.

Ixeris sonchifolia: a review of its traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacology and modern applications.

Ixeris sonchifolia (IS), principally its dried form, is widely used as traditional and folk medicines in some Asian countries, especially China. In this review, we summarized its traditional uses, chemical constituents, quality control measures, pharmacological activities, therapeutic evaluation, toxicity evaluation and clinical applications. 130 chemical constituents isolated from IS have been reported, including flavones, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, phenylpropanoids, organic acids and others. They showed various pharmacological activities, such as protecting cardiocerebral vascular system, anticancer effect and antiviral etc. The quality control evaluation studies, clinical applications, other possible applications and suggestions for future research also were discussed. The aim of this review is to critically appraise the available literature and suggest directions for further development of IS to improve its medical value and use.

Salvia plebeia R. Br. : an overview about its traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacology and modern applications.

Salvia plebeia R. Br. (SP), has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It contains a number of chemical components and reported to possess a variety of pharmacological activities. SP is distributed in many countries such as China, Korea, Japan, Afghanistan and India. SP was first described in Compendium of Materia Medica in the Ming dynasty. The aim of this review is to compile all the information reported in the literature on SP. This review covers traditional uses, including 16 TCM classics and 21 traditional prescriptions; a total of 93 compounds from SP have been reported, including flavonoids, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, triterpenes, phenolic acids etc; biological actives such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative, antiasthmatic, antiviral, antitumour, hepatoprotective effects etc. In addition, this paper also compiled the quality control studies and clinical applications. The future prospects and the existing problems of SP were also discussed. Overall, we believe this review will be a comprehensive record of SP for researchers to refer for carrying out for further research.

[Cleidocranial dysplasia: a case report and gene mutation analysis].

Cleidocranial dysplasia is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterized by abnormal skeletal and dental development. In this work, a case of cleidocranial dysplasia is reported, and a new frameshift mutation is confirmed by gene detection.

Extracorporeal magnetic approach to reduce the unwanted side-effects and improve antibacterial activity of Ag/Fe3 O4 nanocomposites in rat.

While Ag nanoparticles hold great promise for broad spectrum antibacterial activity, the potential risks of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on human health remain a challenge. In this study, Ag/Fe3 O4 composites have been successfully prepared and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and their magnetic and antibacterial properties have been assessed. In vivo results show that the antibacterial effect of 500 µg/mL Ag/Fe3 O4 nanocomposites was significantly higher than that of 1000 µg/mL AgNPs after 72 h of treatment (p < 0.01). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed that squamous epithelium and dermis collagen fibers formed in the Ag/Fe3 O4 group after 8 days treatment. Wound closure was significantly better for the Ag/Fe3 O4 group than for the AgNPs group. On the other hand, there was less Ag in blood, liver, and kidney in the Ag/Fe3 O4 group, as more Ag was retained in the wound. According to lactate dehydrogenase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and reactive oxygen species results, Ag/Fe3 O4 nanocomposites caused less unwanted side-effects. This work presents a new paradigm to reduce the unwanted side-effects of AgNPs and improve their antibacterial activity, providing a new avenue for wound healing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2029-2036, 2018.

Effect of "phase change" complex on postoperative adhesion prevention.

BACKGROUND: Postsurgical peritoneal adhesion is a major clinical problem. Numerous anti-adhesion products have been studied, but none could be easily used to provide a physical barrier. In this study, we developed a "phase change" anti-adhesion barrier for reducing peritoneal adhesion by cross-linked copolymerization of O-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and CaCl2 and addition of cyclosporin A (CsA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CMC-CaCl2-CsA compound was characterized by equilibrium swelling rate, weight loss, releasing effect, and coagulation test, and its biosafety was characterized by acute oral toxicity, hemolysis, and cytotoxicity. Intestinal adhesion model was applied on 64 Sprague-Dawley rats, which received CMC, CMC-CaCl2, or CMC-CaCl2-CsA treatment. At postoperative days 7 and 14, the rats were euthanized, and adhesions were graded by an investigator blinded to the treatment groups, using a predetermined adhesion scoring system. The cecum and adhesion tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and antibodies for matrix metalloproteinase-9 and TIMP-1 for further histopathologic examination. RESULTS: The phase change anti-adhesive material exhibited effective blood clotting and were nontoxic in clotting experiments and acute toxicity test. The degradation rate could be adjusted using phosphate-buffered solution with varying pH. Adhesions were significantly reduced in the CMC-CaCl2-CsA treatment group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was stronger in CMC-CaCl2-CsA treatment group at 7 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: "Phase-change" adhesive can undergo changes after application, and it inhibits the formation of abdominal adhesions after surgery. The material is convenient for using by surgeons and provides an effective tool for intestinal adhesion prevention.