Music therapy for tinnitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of music therapy in the treatment of tinnitus. METHODS: Three English databases (PUBMED, Embase, Web of Science) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang) were searched, and eligible articles were selected according to the set inclusion criteria. Clinical efficacy was used as the primary outcome, and each score was used as the secondary outcome. Using RevMan5.3 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies involving 1239 tinnitus patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that music therapy had a certain clinical efficacy in the treatment of tinnitus, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group (OR = 1.00, 95%CI =0.83-1.22; P = 1.00). However, music therapy significantly improved THI score (MD = -6.77, 95 % CI = -9.62 to -3.92; P < 0.00001), TSQ (MD = -2.80, 95 % CI = -3.23 to -2.36; P < 0.00001), tinnitus loudness (MD = -3.90, 95 % CI = -6.58 to -1.23; P = 0.004), VAS score (MD = -1.11, 95 % CI = -2.11 to -0.11; P = 0.03) and TQ score (MD = -8.36, 95 % CI = -11.10 to -5.62; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Music therapy is an effective method for the treatment of tinnitus, which can improve the THI score, tinnitus severity, VAS score, and TQ score and reduce the loudness of tinnitus. Due to the low quality of the included literature, the current conclusions need to be further verified by more and higher-quality studies.

Efficacy of catgut embedding in Baihui (GV20) and Feishu (BL13) and Pishu (BL20) on lung tissue, brain tissue and blood related indexes in rats with allergic rhinitis of lung deficiency type.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupoint catgut embedding for 3 weeks on lung tissue, blood immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleutin-4 (IL-4), brain tissue microglia x-42 (OX-42) and toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) in rats with allergic rhinitis of lung deficiency type. METHODS: Forty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided for two times. The first time, they were randomly divided into model group and blank group (Group C) according to 2:1, and the second time, the model group were randomly divided into model control group (Group B) and intervention treatment group (Group A) according to 1:1. 15 in each group. For Group A and Group B, the lung deficiency model was made by "sulfur-moxa fumigation", and then the allergic rhinitis model was established by "ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization". Then catgut embedding was performed at acupoints in Group A and not in Group B. After 3 weeks, collect lung tissue samples for hematoxylin-eosin staining, then take blood to observe the concentration of IgE and IL-4, and finally take brain tissue to observe the results of OX-42 and TLR-2. RESULTS: IgE level (µg/mL) was (3.11 ± 0.20) in the Group A, (4.19 ± 0.44) in the Group B, and (2.29 ± 0.30) in the Group C (all < 0.001). IL-4 level (pg/mL) was (14.2 ± 0.7) in the Group A, (18.6 ± 2.4) in the Group B, and (11.4 ± 1.2) for the Group C (all < 0.001). The mean OD for OX-42 is (0.1728 ± 0.0016) in the Group A, (0.1810 ± 0.0046) in the Group B and (0.1674 ± 0.0025) in the Group C (all < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although 3 weeks of acupoint catgut embedding already showed obvious efficacy on rats with allergic rhinitis, the allergic reaction in the body still continued. To achieve further treatment, prolonging the catgut embedding time is necessary.

Epidemiological, Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Severe Condition and ICU Admission of COVID-19 Patients of Early Stage in China: A review

ObjectiveSome retrospective studies reporting epidemiological, clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients of early stage were published. We aim to provide an overview of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 patients, and identification, treatment of early stage, especially for the patients with poor prognosis. Data SourcesPubMed, CNKI and Google Scholar. Study SelectionWe searched for published retrospective studies that described epidemiological and clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 patients in China by April 14th, 2020 with search terms. Some studies were excluded according to criteria. Finally, 53 studies were included. Data ExtractionCharacteristics of the COVID-19 patients available from included articles were extracted, reorganized and recorded into electronic data forms. Data SynthesisCharacteristics of patients in the included studies were summarized and analyzed for median-interquartile ranges and univariable odds ratio. ConclusionThis study summarized, analyzed and compared epidemiological, clinical characteristics and estimated univariable risk factors among confirmed COVID-19 patients either in former epicenter, in severe condition, with ICU admission or not of early stage. Higher proportions of patients were found to have older age and more comorbidities, typical characteristics on admission and complications either in former epicenter, with severe condition or ICU admission. No evidence showed that patients who were male or had smoking history had higher susceptibility, but they were significant risk factors for severe condition. Some self-implementable traditional Chinese medicine therapies conducted for immunity improvement, control of comorbidities and reduction of some medicine intake. Limited evidence revealed that some characteristics of the disease might be changing with human-to-human transmission, and more research, especially international collaboration, is needed. Copyright form disclosureThe authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest.

Heat shock protein 70 is induced by pepsin via MAPK signaling in human nasal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that laryngopharyngeal reflux is associated with chronic rhinosinusitis. Pepsin may be a key factor involved in the injury of nasal mucosal epithelial cells, but the pathogenesis remains unclear. We are to investigate whether a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway regulates heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in primary cultures of human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) in response to pepsin stimulation. METHODS: HSP70 protein expression levels in HNEpCs were estimated by Western blot analysis after treatment with pepsin. MAPK pathway activity levels were also evaluated to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effects of pepsin on HSP70 in HNEpCs. Inhibitors of signaling pathways were used to determine the contribution of MAPKs in HSP70 response after pepsin stimulation. Cellular apoptosis and cell viability in HNEpCs after treatment with pepsin were measured. RESULTS: The expression of HSP70 increased after stimulation with pepsin and decreased after the removal of pepsin. Pepsin induced activation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) 1/2. Inhibition of JNK1/2 reduced HSP70 expression in HNEpCs. The apoptosis in HNEpCs at 12 h after treatment with pepsin at pH 7.0 increased significantly when compared with the control and pH 7.0 groups. Cell viability decreased following exposure to pepsin at pH 7.0. CONCLUSION: Pepsin, even under neutral pH 7.0, increases the expression of HSP70 in HNEpCs by activating the JNK/MAPK signaling pathway. Increased HSP70 may be the protective mechanism when pepsin presents in the other parts of the body.

Analysis of mental state of allergic rhinitis patients in Chengdu city by symptom check list 90 (SCL-90) scale / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To analyse the mental state of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) in Chengdu.@*Methods@#One thousand five hundred and thirty-six AR patients from Sichuan Provincial Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan People′s Hospital, Sichuan Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected from July 2013 to January 2018. Eight hundred and twenty-seven patients were screened into study group by inclusion and exclusion standards. The symptom check list 90 (SCL-90) was used to group and score the mental state of these patients according to nine classification criteria: gender, BMI, age, marital status, monthly salary, disease duration, living environment, education level and working environment. Then, the scores were compared within groups. Inter-group comparison was made between the study group and the Chinese norm, and the positive factors for psychological disorders were extracted. Four symptoms in the study group, i.e. nasal itching, sneezing, clear discharge and nasal congestion, were scored on the visual analogue scale (VAS). SPSS 19.0 software was used to carry out statistical analysis. Partial correlation analysis was performed between the positive factors and the symptom scores by multiple regression statistical method.@*Results@#The total score of SCL-90 in the study group was 2.64±0.25, which was accorded with mild to moderate mental health impairment. There were 124 (15.0%) without mental health damage, 176 (21.3%) with mild damage, 474 (57.3%) with mild to moderate damage, 41 (5.0%) with moderate to severe damage and 12 (1.4%) with severe damage. The in-group comparison showed that the top three categories of different items were the living environment, gender and working environment. The scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, psychosis, other (sleep, diet) and total average score of urban residents were higher than that of country residents (3.29±0.61 vs 2.65±0.50, 2.81±0.77 vs 2.05±0.38, 3.10±0.19 vs 2.49±0.67, 3.40±0.84 vs 2.49±0.70, 3.04±0.64 vs 2.33±0.51, 3.02±0.55 vs 2.40±0.77, 3.40±0.41 vs 2.52±0.77, 2.91±0.11 vs 2.29±0.40, Z value was 4.88, 5.25, 4.57, 5.91, 5.09, 4.63, 5.55, -4.55, respectively, all P<0.05). Women scored higher than man for somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression and others (2.66±0.51 vs 2.00±0.45, 3.37±0.47 vs 2.63±0.51, 3.44±0.57 vs 2.85±0.52, 3.47±0.36 vs 2.76±0.45, Z value was -5.10, -5.51, -4.86, -5.28, respectively, all P<0.05). The scores of somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, psychosis and other (sleep, diet) were higher in the indoor group than those in the outdoor group (3.49±0.64 vs 2.78±0.46, 3.33±0.30 vs 2.56±0.68, 3.28±0.60 vs 2.67±0.31, 3.50±0.85 vs 2.85±0.37, Z value was 5.31, 5.79, 4.89, 5.00, respectively, all P<0.05). The outdoor group scored higher on obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety and hostility (3.44±0.40 vs 2.83±0.35, 3.40±0.50 vs 2.57±0.93, 3.34±0.88 vs 2.69±0.56, Z value was 4.96, 6.22, 5.08, respectively, all P<0.05). The inter-group comparison found that depression, anxiety, psychosis and other (sleep, diet) could be partially correlated with VAS scores as 4 positive factors. The results of partial correlation analysis showed that depression was positively correlated with sneezing and nasal runny discharge, anxiety was positively correlated with nasal itching and nasal obstruction, psychosis was positively correlated with nasal itching and sneezing, and other (sleep, diet) was positively correlated with nasal runny discharge and nasal obstruction.@*Conclusion@#AR patients have mild to moderate mental health impairments, which are correlated with AR symptoms.

Literature Research on Allergic Rhinitis Rat Model / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Through summarization on published literatures on allergic rat model in recent 20 years, domestic current research status and trend were analyzed. Some insights were provided on how to build a standard process for modeling and post-modeling evaluation. “Allergic rhinitis,” “rat model of allergic rhinitis”, or “animal experiment” was used as search terms. Related published articles were searched in the CNKI database from August, 1993 to October, 2013. Documents and data, including modeling method, drug dose, modeling cycle, model assessment described in the articles were extracted, summarized and quantitative analyzed. The results showed that 208 valid articles were included in this study. SD rat was used as animal model. Ovalbumin plus aluminum hydroxide were used as adjuvant sensitizing agents. Intraperitoneal injection plus nasal stimulation were the most commonly used modeling method. Behavioral evaluation scale score was used as the main evaluation index. It was concluded that currently there were many methods for allergic rhinitis animal modeling domestically. The post-modeling evaluation was relatively single. It was urgent and necessary to establish the standard process for modeling and post-modeling evaluation for allergic rhinitis animal model.

Applied anatomy study on the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus under transnasal endoscope / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To provide transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery with the anatomic reference through anatomic study on the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus under transnasal endoscope.@*METHOD@#The dissection of the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus were performed on 10(20 sides) damp cadaveric heads of Chinese adults via transsphenoidal approach. The anatomic relationship of the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus and its adjacent structures were observed. The distance and angle from the bony prominence of optic canal and internal carotid artery to the columella nasi and midline of sellar floor were measured by ruler and protractor respectively.@*RESULT@#From the study of endoscopic anatomy, the specific structure of optic canal and internal carotid artery were found, and the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus could be exposed by tracing the internal carotid artery. The mean distance from the midpoint of the medial wall of optic canal orbital aperture and the anterior bony prominence of internal carotid artery to the columella nasi were (75. 33 +/- 5. 59)mm and (81. 02 +/- 5. 29) mm respectively, to the midline of sellar floor were (5. 81+/- 1. 52)mm and (5. 53 +/- l. 47)mm respectively. The angle from the midpoint of the medial wall of optic canal orbital aperture to columella nasi was (53.4 +/- 4. 1) degrees.@*CONCLUSION@#Taken the columella nasi and midline of sellar floor as the reference points, the anatomic observation and measurement under endoscope via transsphenoidal approach can provide a guide for surgeons.

The clinic anatomy of operation on pterygopalatine fossa through nasal cavity under endoscope / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To provide anatomic data of pterygopalatine fossa(PPF) for endoscopic PPF surgery.@*METHOD@#Fifteen wet adult skull specimen fixed in 10% formaldehyde were studies. From center the skulls were sawed, the middle and inferior turbinate were resected, the anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses were resected. Then after punch out perpendicular part of palatine bone and posterior wall of maxillary,the pterygopalatine fossa were showed and some related measurements were made.@*RESULT@#This pathway can lead to a good view of pterygopalatine fossa. The main soft structures in PPF were maxillary artery and nerve with their branches. The diameter of artery branches was smaller than 3 mm.@*CONCLUSION@#The endoscopic PPF surgery is safe and practical from the anatomic data.

Treatment of inverted papilloma of nasal cavity and sinuses by endoscopic transnasal approach / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To explore the outcome of endoscopic transnasal management of inverted papilloma of nasal cavity and sinuses. METHODS The clinical data of 28 cases with inverted papillomas of nasal cavity and sinuses treated via nasal endoscope were studied retrospectively. RESULTS All of the patients were followed up from 7 months to 5 years. Only 6 cases(21%) recurred. Of the 6 cases, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses were involved in 2 cases and maxillary sinus was involved in 4 cases. CONCLUSION Endoscopic transnasal resection of inverted papilloma is a good approach for the treatment of patients with inverted papilloma of nasal cavity and sinuses.

Nose xuanfu theory / 中华中医药杂志

On the basis of the origin,development and modern research of xuanfu theory,a new view of nose xuanfu theory is put forward,in wich,the mechanism of chronic sinusitis is blodkade of two orrifices and interties of two toxins.Additionally,on the basis of inducing resuscitation and opening xuanfu,a new treatment principle of dredging sinus orrifi ces,opening xuanfu,removing two toxins and strengthening vital qi are put forward,too.From modern medical point,nose xuanfu is corresponding to intercellular space of nasal mucous membrane,all kinds of ion channels and nasal tissue microcirculation.Nose xuanfu is qi-fluid circulation channel in internal and external environmental material information communication of nasal tissue.Nose xuanfu normal opening-and-closing function keeps normal physiological function of nasal cavity.Nose xuanfu theory provides one new way in rhinology with TCM.