Removal of biofilm is essential for long-term ventilation tube retention.

BACKGROUND: Although long-term retention of a ventilation tube is required in many ear diseases, spontaneous removal of conventional ventilation tube is observed in patients within 3 to 12 mo. To address this issue, we aimed to determine a new method for long-term retention of the ventilation tube. AIM: To explore the value of removing the biofilm for long-term retention of tympanostomy ventilation tubes. METHODS: A case-control study design was used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of long-term tube retention by directly removing the biofilm (via surgical exfoliation) in patients who underwent myringotomy with ventilation tube placement. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Control group and treatment group. Patients in the treatment group underwent regular biofilm exfoliation surgery in the clinic, whereas those in the control group did not have their biofilm removed. Only conventional ventilation tubes were placed in this study. Outcome measures were tube position and patency. Tube retention time and any complications were documented. RESULTS: Eight patients with biofilm removal and eight patients without biofilm removal as a control group were enrolled in the study. The tympanostomy tube retention time was significantly longer in the treatment group (43.5 ± 26.4 mo) than in the control group (9.5 ± 6.9 mo) (P = 0.003). More tympanostomy tubes were found to be patent and in correct position in the treatment group during the follow-up intervals than in the control group (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Despite the use of short-term ventilation tubes, direct biofilm removal can be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for long-term tube retention of tympanostomy ventilation tubes in patients who underwent myringotomy.

Surgical Treatment and Outcomes for Sinonasal and Skull Base Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our clinical experience with surgical treatments for sinonasal phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors diagnosed at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 patients diagnosed with phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors associated with tumor-induced osteomalacia between December 2014 and October 2019. RESULTS: There were 4 men and 6 women with a disease course of 1 to 19 years. All patients exhibited hypophosphatemia and tumor-induced osteomalacia. The tumor was located in the sinonasal region, frontal bone, and temporal bone in 8 patients, 1 patient, and 1 patient, respectively. Technetium-99m octreotide scintigraphy was used for tumor localization in 4 cases. Six patients underwent endoscopic resection; the remaining 4 underwent unilateral transorbital anterior and posterior ethmoid artery ligation + endoscopic resection, endoscopic resection + skull base repair, internal carotid artery stenting + transcatheter arterial embolization + temporal bone tumor excision + adipose tissue plugging, and endoscopic resection + transfrontal craniotomy (n = 1 each). Two patients had a history of incomplete endoscopic resection. All patients achieved clinical remission and normalized biochemical indices after surgery. Only 1 patient developed recurrence and died of a brain hernia. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of sinonasal phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors should be based on a combination of clinical, imaging, and pathological findings. Technetium-99m octreotide scintigraphy helps in locating the tumor. Complete surgical excision guarantees clinical remission, and preoperative transcatheter arterial embolization or feeding artery ligation may reduce intraoperative bleeding in cases of highly vascularized tumors.

Pro-inflammatory role of transient receptor potential canonical channel 6 in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) has not been fully elucidated. This study sought to explore the role and mechanism of transient receptor potential canonical channel 6 (TRPC6) in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to evaluate TRPC6 immunolabeling. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to assay TRPC6, stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), and calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in 70 patients with CRSwNP, including eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRSwNP) or non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (nECRSwNP), and 28 control subjects. The concentrations of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-5, and IL-25, were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In experiments on human nasal epithelial cell (HNEC) culture and stimulation, the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of intracellular Ca2+ was assayed by flow cytometry. Western blotting, real-time PCR, and ELISA were also conducted to assess the effects and mechanisms of TRPC6 activator 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG) and TRPC6 inhibitor 1-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propoxy]ethyl-1H-imidazole (SKF-96365) on HNECs. RESULTS: Upregulation of TRPC6, STIM1, and Orai1 levels was found in CRSwNP patients, particularly in those with ECRSwNP. TRPC6-positive cells correlated positively with the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils, respectively. Moreover, TRPC6 mRNA was positively correlated with STIM1 and Orai1 mRNA levels. The concentrations of inflammatory mediators, including IL-1ß, IL-5, and IL-25, were elevated in CRSwNP, especially in ECRSwNP. In cultured HNECs, TRPC6, STIM1, Orai1, Ca2+ MFI levels, and inflammatory mediators were upregulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and OAG but were inhibited by SKF-96365. CONCLUSION: TRPC6 plays a pro-inflammatory role in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP via regulating Ca2+ flow.

Riluzole is a promising pharmacological inhibitor of bilirubin-induced excitotoxicity in the ventral cochlear nucleus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bilirubin encephalopathy as a result of hyperbilirubinemia is a devastating neurological disorder that occurs mostly in the neonatal period. To date, no effective drug treatment is available. Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity is likely an important factor causing bilirubin encephalopathy. Thus, drugs suppressing the overrelease of glutamate may protect the brain against bilirubin excitotoxicity. Riluzole is a prescription drug known for its antiglutamatergic function. This study was conducted in the rat's ventral cochlear nucleus, a structure highly sensitive to bilirubin toxicity, to find whether riluzole can be used to inhibit bilirubin toxicity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Electrophysiology changes were detected by perforated patch clamp technique. Calcium imaging using Rhod-2-AM as an indicator was used to study the intracellular calcium. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were measured by PI/Hoechst staining. KEY RESULTS: In the absence of bilirubin, riluzole effectively decreased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and suppressed neuronal firing but did not change the amplitude of sEPSC and glutamate-activated currents (I(Glu)). Moreover, riluzole inhibited bilirubin-induced increases in the frequency of sEPSC and neuronal firing. Riluzole could prevent the bilirubin-induced increase in intracellular calcium, mediated by AMPA and NMDA receptors. Furthermore, riluzole significantly reduced bilirubin-induced cell death. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These data suggest that riluzole can protect neurons in the ventral cochlear nucleus from bilirubin-induced hyperexcitation and excitotoxicity through reducing presynaptic glutamate release.

Associated predictors of therapeutic response to uvulopharyngopalatoplasty for severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.

The aim of this study was to determine the associated factors affecting the outcome of uvulopharyngopalatoplasty (UPPP) in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and to investigate whether cephalometric measurements were predictive of the therapeutic response to UPPP in patients with severe OSAHS. We retrospectively studied 51 consecutive patients who underwent revised UPPP with uvula preservation (H-UPPP), or Z-palatopharyngoplasty (ZPPP) for severe OSAHS [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >30]. All patients were evaluated using physical examination, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), cephalometry, and nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) before surgery and at 6-12 months after surgery. Based on the success criteria defined as an AHI of <20 and a decrease >50 %, the overall success rate was 45.1 %. The preoperative distance from the posterior border of the uvula to the middle pharyngeal wall (U-MPW) was significantly longer in the responder group than in the nonresponder group, when considering the whole group or the H-UPPP group alone. Among all study subjects, U-MPW and change in body mass index (△BMI) were the significant predictors of surgical success. U-MPW was the key predictor for H-UPPP surgical success, whereas mandibular plane angle (MPA) and Friedman stage were the key predictors for ZPPP surgical success. In conclusion, U-MPW was a significant predictor of UPPP surgical success. Patients with U-MPW >10 mm who are unwilling to receive nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy might be suitable candidates for UPPP surgery.

[Analysis of allergens characteristic in 4637 patients with allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis during the past 5 years in Shanghai area, and provide clinical reference for management strategies with regional character. METHODS: Patients with symptoms of allergic rhinitis were given skin prick test (SPT) from June 2005 to May 2010. Among the patients, the distribution of all allergens was analyzed. The positive rate was compared with age, gender, season, and so on. RESULTS: Among 4637 individuals, the total positive rate of SPT was 62.84%. Dust mites were identified as the mostly responsible allergens. There was significant difference of variation with seasons (χ2=93.581, P<0.01), the highest rate was found in autumn and the lowest was found in spring. There was significant difference of the positive rate in different months (χ2=112.001, P<0.01), the most in October. There was a negative correlation between the positive rate and age (r=-0.792, P<0.01). The response intensity to dust mite allergy was decreased with age increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Dust mites were identified as the most common allergens among patients with allergic rhinitis during the past 5 years in Shanghai area. The younger group had the tendency of higher positive rate and response intensity than the elder. The positive rates of dust mites varied with different seasons.