Submucosal Clustered Brownish Microvessels Based on NBI Endoscopy: A Characteristic of LPR.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) by using narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A large-volume practice with tertiary care providers. METHODS: A total of 67 patients with suspected LPR who underwent 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring were included from June 2020 to March 2022. Manifestations of NBI endoscopy included submucosal clustered brownish microvessels (CBMs), spotted brownish microvessels, and no special microvessels; the latter 2 formed the non-CBM group. The manifestations of all patients and their changes were observed after 8 weeks of proton pump inhibitor and symptomatic treatment for patients with LPR, and symptomatic treatment for patients without LPR. RESULTS: According to the results of 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring, the incidence of submucosal CBMs was significantly higher in patients with LPR (30 cases) than in those without LPR (37 cases, P < .001), particularly in the posterior cricoid area (P < .001). Besides Reflux Finding Score, the incidence of signs such as subglottic edema and vocal fold edema was significantly higher in the CBM group than the non-CBM group (P < .05). Finally, 22 patients with LPR (91.7%) and only 2 patients without LPR (28.6%) underwent a transformation from CBMs to spotted brownish microvessels after continuous medication for 8 weeks in the CBM group (χ2 = 15.916, P < .001), while no significant change was observed in patients with or without LPR in the non-CBM group (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Submucosal CBMs in the posterior cricoid area under NBI endoscopy may be a characteristic of LPR.

Hypoxia in non-rapid eye movement sleep in children with otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the status of hypoxia in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in children with otitis media with effusion (OME). METHODS: A total of 232 children with OME and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy were enrolled in this retrospective study between August 2020 and November 2021. Polysomnographic monitoring was carried out, and the differences in polysomnographic results between the experimental group (children with OME and adenotonsillar hypertrophy) and control group (children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy only) were compared. RESULTS: The lowest oxygen saturation level during sleep was significantly lower in the experimental group (n = 36) than in the control group (n = 196). However, the apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory disorder index, apnea index, obstructive apnea index, obstructive apnea-hypopnea index, and mixed apnea-hypopnea index were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. More importantly, the apnea-hypopnea index, the oxygen desaturation index, oxygen desaturation events, the average heart rate during NREM sleep, and the NREM stage in total sleep time were also significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia during NREM sleep may affect the severity of OME in children.

[Primary culture and identification of rat glomerular microvascular endothelial cells].

The aim of the present study was to establish a simple and efficient method for isolation and culture of primary rat glomerular microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. The bilateral kidneys were taken from 7-10-day old Sprague-Dawley rats, and the renal cortex was separated. Glomeruli were obtained by cutting and continuously passing 200-mesh and 300-mesh sieves. After type IV collagenase digestion for 15-20 min, renal microvascular globules were collected for inoculation and culture. The cultured cells were identified by cell morphology observation and immunocytochemical staining with factor VIII related antigen. The results showed that the renal microvascular globules were irregularly spherical, without cysts, and the capillary loop structure was clear; after 3 days of primary culture, short spindle-shaped cells crawled out around the renal microvascular globules and gradually formed cell colonies, showing an "island-like shape" distribution; 4-5 days later, the cell colonies fused with each other; 6 days later, the cells covered the bottom of the dish, showing a typical monolayer, paving stone-like, mosaic arrangement. The immunocytochemical staining of factor VIII related antigen showed that the cytoplasm was lightly stained brownish red, and factor VIII related antigen-positive rate of cells was nearly 100%. The above results suggested that this study successfully established a method combining continuous screening and collagenase digestion for culture of primary rat glomerular microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. It provides an important tool cell for studying the mechanism of the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy.

[Qualitative detection of bottled vinegar based on NIR spectroscopy technique].

To evaluate the applicability of non-invasive near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy for detection of bottled vinegar, transmission spectra of bottled vinegar samples were obtained and compared with the spectra obtained by using cell detection method, where samples were titrated in the fixed liquid cell with a 1.0 mm light path length. The result shows that, the spectra obtained by the two different methods have obvious differences in the near infrared region. Firstly, the spectra obtained by using bottled detection method have no absorption peak at 1 480 and 1 900 nm, and furthermore, it has absorption peak at 1 660 nm. Secondly, the max. absorbance value of bottled detection is less than 4, while with the cell detection it is near 6. It indicates that glass packaging has influence on the detection of bottled vinegar. The 1st derivative method was put forward to eliminate this influence, and then qualitative analysis model was obtained by using principal component analysis-artificial neural net work. The precision of prediction result achieved 100%. This research shows that 1st derivative can eliminate the influence of glass packaging, and realize the qualitative analysis of bottled vinegar.

[Purification effects of large-area planting water hyacinth on water environment of Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu].

Using water hyacinth and other fast-growing and high biomass of floating plants to purify polluted water has become an efficient and effective ecological restoration method at present. Effects of nutrients adsorption and water purification of planting water hyacinth on water quality in Zhushan Bay were studied. The results indicated that no anoxia was observed in water hyacinth planting areas because of wave disturbance and strong water exchange. Concentrations of TN and TP in water hyacinth planting areas were higher than that in the outside of stocking area (the content ranged 3.03-7.45 mg/L and 0.15-0.38 mg/L, respectively), and the content changes ranged 3.37-8.02 mg/L and 0.15-0.36 mg/L,respectively. The higher concentration of TN and TP in water indicated the water body was heavily polluted. Water hyacinth roots have a strong ability to adsorb suspended solids and algae cells, the concentration of Chl-a in stocking areas was higher than that in stocking fringe and outside, the maximum Chlorophyll in the stocking region in August was 177.01 mg/m3, and at the same time the concentrations in planting fringe and outside were 101.53 mg/m3 and 76.96 mg/m, respectively. Higher Chl-a content on water hyacinth roots indicated that water hyacinth had strong blocking effects on algae cells, and demonstrated it had a great purification effects on eutrophicated water, and it also provides a basis for the larger polluted water bodies purification in using water hyacinth.

[Long term follow up of midline partial glossectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for treating obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the long-term results of midline partial glossectomy with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Twenty-four severe OSAHS patients treated with midline partial glossectomy and UPPP from January 2003 to March 2004 were included in this study, the follow-up was 5 years. The median of preoperative lowest arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) of this group at night (the same below) 0.650, and AHI was 56.5 times/h, UPPP was performed under general anesthesia, no tracheotomy performed. Criteria of curative effects: AHI < 5 times/h was recovery, AHI < 20 times/h and decreased beyond 50% marked improvement, only AHI decreased beyond 50% improvement. RESULTS: Post-operation AHI (6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years after surgery) decreased significantly compared to that before the surgery, and post-operation LSaO(2) was significantly higher than that of preoperative (Wilcoxon's signed rank test, the same below, P < 0.01). The LSaO(2) and AHI were significantly different between 1 year, 2 years, 5 years and 6 months post-operatively (P < 0.01). Six months after surgery, PSG results showed that 21 were recovery, marked improvement for the other 3 cases, the recovery rate was 87.5%. One year after surgery, 18 were recovery, marked improvement in 3 cases, the recovery rate 75.0%. Two years after surgery, 14 cases recovery, marked improvement in 4 cases, the recovery rate 58.3%. Five years after surgery, 6 were recovery, the recovery rate 25.0%. Among 5 cases with hypertension before the surgery, after surgery antihypertensive drugs were not necessary in 4 cases, and the dosage was decreased in 1 case. CONCLUSION: The midline partial glossectomy with UPPP surgery may be an effective treatment for the severe OSAHS, long-term effect is satisfactory.

[Effects of sediment dredging on benthos community structure and water quality in Zhushan Bay].

We surveyed the changes of macro-benthos community composition and nutrients concentration in water in Zhushan Bay after it had been dredged 6 months, which aimed to remove the polluted surface sediments. The results showed that the main benthos in the dredged and un-dredged sediments were Limodrilus hoffmeisteri, Pelopia and Bellamya aeruginosa; compared to the un-dredged sediments, the bio-diversity of dredged areas became lower. However, its biomass became higher than that in un-dredged areas. Concentration range changes of TN and TP in overlying water was 1.64-4.45 mg/L and 0.133-0.258 mg/L, respectively. The post-dredged sediments were still in a higher state of nutrients for the higher concentration nutrients in overlying water, macro-benthos were the species that lived in a serious polluted water environment. Using Shannon-Weaver, Simpson, and Goodnight benthic index to evaluate the results show that the dredged area is in the moderately polluted level, but un-dredged area is in the middle-heavily polluted level. According to the benthos fauna surveys and water quality monitoring results, the effective of sediment dredging could play its role only the strict control on the external pollution resources have been made and reduces the effects of polluted water on the sediments.

[Effects of large-area planting water hyacinth on macro-benthos community structure and biomass].

The effects on macro-benthos and benthos environment of planting 200 hm2 water hyacinth (E. crassipens) in Zhushan Bay, Lake Taihu, were studied during 8-10 months consecutive surveys. Results indicated that average densities of mollusca (the main species were Bellamya aeruginosa) in far-planting, near-planting and planting area were 276.67, 371.11 and 440.00 ind/m2, respectively, and biomass were 373.15, 486.57 and 672.54 g/m2, respectively, showed that average density and biomass of planting area's were higher than those of others. However, the average density and biomass of Oligochaeta (the main species was Limodrilus hoffmeisteri) and Chironomidae in planting area were lower than that of outside planting area. The density and biomass of three dominant species of benthic animal increased quickly during 8-9 months, decreased quickly in October inside and outside water hyacinth planting area. The reason of this phenomenon could be possible that lots of cyanobacteria cells died and consumed dissolve oxygen in proceed decomposing. Algae cells released lots of phosphorus and nitrogen simultaneously, so macro-benthos died in this environment. The indexes of Shannon-Weaver and Simpson indicated that water environment was in moderate polluted state. On the basis of the survey results, the large-area and high-density planting water hyacinth haven't demonstrated a great impact on macrobenthos and benthos environment in short planting time (about 6 months planting time).