Programmable Self-Assembly of Heterometallic Palladium(II)-Copper(II) 1D Grid-Chain using Dinuclear Palladium(II) Corners with Pyrazole-Carboxylic Acid Ligands.

A novel heterometallic diPdII -diCuII grid-chain, {[(bpy)4 Pd4 Cu2 L4 ](NO3 )4 }n (2; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine), was synthesized through a programmable self-assembly approach from the molecular corners [(bpy)2 Pd2 (HL)(L)](NO3 ) (1) as linkers with CuII nitrate by using the bifunctional H2 L ligand featuring primary (pyrazole) and secondary (benzoic acid) groups. Structural analysis revealed that 1D structure 2 consists of one [Cu2 (O2 CPh)4 ]n unit as a bridge and two [(bpy)2 Pd2 L2 ]n corners. Additionally, the catalytic effect of the heterometallic synergy on the Suzuki coupling reaction by using 2 was further explored.

[Therapeutic effect of ossicular reconstruction with bioceramic or porous macromolecular polyethylene partial ossicular replacement prosthesis in patients with tympanosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of ossicular reconstruction with partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) in patients with tympanosclerosis. METHODS: The data of 31 cases of tympanosclerosis treated between 1992 and 2009 were reviewed. Of the 31 patients, 17 (17 ears) underwent ossicular reconstruction with porous macromolecular polyethylene PORP, and 14 (14 ears) with bioceramic PORP. All the patients were followed up for 3-24 months. RESULTS: Significant improvement was found in postoperative speech frequency (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) pure tone average (PTA) and air-bone gap (ABG) (P < 0.05) after the treatments without statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Porous macromolecular polyethylene and bioceramic are valuable ossicular prosthesis for tympanosclerosis.

[Tragus cartilage tympanoplasty for treatment of adhesive otitis media].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of cartilage tympanoplasty in the treatment of adhesive otitis media. METHODS: From June to October, 2008, 18 patients with adhesive otitis media (18 ears) were treated with tragus cartilage tympanoplasty. The air-bone gap changes and the self-perceived symptomatic improvement were evaluated at 1 month and 1 year after the operation. RESULTS: All the patients showed dry ear within 6 weeks after the operation. Tympanic membrane healing was achieved in 17 cases, and 1 case presented with a inferior-anterior fissure in the tympanic membrane. With the average preoperative air-bone gap (at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kHz) of 44.65 dB, the patients showed an obvious decrease of the air-bone gap by over 10 dB at 1 month after the operation and by over 25 dB at one year. Symptomatic improvements were achieved in these cases, including alleviated ear discomforts (3/15 cases), total tinnitus relief (1/11 cases), and alleviated tinnitus (10/11 cases). High-frequency tinnitus was noted in 1 case (1/7 cases), and the tympanic membrane appeared normal in 17 cases. CONCLUSION: Tympanic membrane reconstruction using the tragus cartilage can be feasible for treatment of secretory otitis media, but the surgical indications should be carefully controlled.

[Pure tone audiology for Meniere disease: a clinical analysis of 75 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical pure tone test data in patients with Meniere disease and study the changes in the audiometic curve configuration. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the pure tone test data in 75 cases (82 ears) from 1984 to 2008. The audiometic curve configuration was divided into 6 categories to analyze the relationship between the main curve types and the clinical stages. RESULTS The most common audiogram was the peak type (46.34%), followed by the falling type (19.51%) and the mountain type (12.19%), and the dip type was relatively rare (2.43%). No significant differences were found in the rate of peak audiograms between the clinical stages. The common audiogram peak frequency occurred at 2 kHz (47.39%). The top curve of 1-2 kHz had the largest proportion in mountain type audiograms (70%, 7/10 ears). CONCLUSION: The peak type and mountain type configuration are one of the audiological characteristics of Meniere disease, especially for 2 kHz peak, which may serve as the diagnostic features of Meniere disease in the vertigo patients on their first visit.

[Clinical analysis of 118 patients with tympanosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of tympanosclerosis (TS) and the major risk factors of hearing loss. METHODS: A total of 118 TS patients (137 ears) were compared with 265 patients with chronic otitis media (COM) (311 ears) for gender, age and course of disease. The disease regions and hearing loss of the TS patients were analyzed. RESULTS: TS showed higher prevalence in women of older ages. Sclerosis was seen most frequently in the tympanic membrane, followed by the malleus, incus, incudomalleolar joint, other regions, ariticulus incudostapedius and stapes. The patients with sclerosis or deterioration in the ossicular chain had worse hearing loss than the other patients. Carhart notch occurred in 45 ears (32.85%), an incidence similar to that of inverted "V"-shaped curve of air-conduction audiometry near 2 kHz (47 ears, 34.31%). The factors contributing to the hearing loss, listed in the order of their importance, included pathologies in the incus, malleus, incudomalleolar joint, ariticulus incudostapedius, stapes, other regions, tympanic membrane, and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Female patients may had increased risk of TS. The presence of Carhart notch and inverted "V"-shaped curve in air-conduction audiograph may indicate myringosclerosis or ossicular chain sclerosis. Abnormal ossicular chain is the leading factor contributing to hearing loss.

[Application of two auricular cartilage-perichondrium complexes in tympanoplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of cartilage-perichondrium palisade complex and cartilage-perichondrium horseshoe complex in tympanoplasty for large tympanic membrane perforation. METHODS: Nineteen patients (19 ears) undergoing tympanoplasty with cartilage-perichondrium palisade complex and 20 patients (20 ears) with cartilage-perichondrium horseshoe complex were compared for postoperative hearing and closure rate of tympanic membrane perforation. RESULTS: The closure rates of the tympanic membrane were all 100% in both groups 3 months after the operation, while tympanoplasty with cartilage- perichondrium horseshoe complex resulted in significantly greater improvement of the postoperative air-bone gap in speech frequency. CONCLUSION: Both of the two auricular cartilage-perichondrium complexes produced good effects for repair large tympanic membrane perforation, but cartilage-perichondrium horseshoe complex can achieve better results in speech frequency.