Multiple Protocols Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on the Maintenance of Ovarian Function in Patients After Ovarian Cystectomy.

Objective: This study aims to explore the effect of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy on ovarian function after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Methods: A total of 60 patients with ovarian cysts treated at our hospital from January 2018 to August 2020 were enrolled. According to the different treatment modalities, the patients were divided into the control and observation groups. Patients in both groups underwent laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy with oral administration of Chinese patent medicine Kuntai capsules after surgery. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was added to patients in the observation group in addition to the treatment in the control group. The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and antral follicle count (AFC) serum levels were detected in both groups before the operation and at the first and third menstrual cycles postoperatively to evaluate ovarian function. Results: At the first and third menstrual cycles after surgery, the AMH, E2, and AFC serum levels in the two groups were significantly lower than before surgery, and the FSH and LH serum levels were higher than before surgery. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the operation, AMH, E2, and AFC serum levels in the observation group were significantly higher than in the control group. FSH and LH serum levels were significantly lower than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: For patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, the adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy could significantly improve the postoperative ovarian reserve function with remarkable effects.

The Protective Effects of Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. Against Acute Liver Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice.

Background: Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. (ZDP) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been used for several decades to treat patients with liver diseases. Whether ZDP is best administered as a single agent or adjunctive therapy has yet to be determined as does the mechanism whereby it exerts its effects on antagonizing acute liver injury (ALI). Aim of the study: To investigate the protective effects of ZDP on ALI induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and the potential underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult mice were randomized into six study groups (n = 10/group). Three groups were treated with different concentrations of ZDP (2.5, 1.25, 0.625 g/kg), one with bifendate (0.0075 g/kg) alone (positive control) and one with physiologic saline (normal, negative control). All groups were treated for 14 days. Two hours after the last administration, the normal group received an intraperitoneal injection of peanut oil, and the other five groups received an intraperitoneal injection of an equal dose of CCl4 peanut oil solution. At 24 h, the liver index, histology and serum or tissue levels and/or protein expression of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), Akt, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκB-α), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), E-cadherin and vimentin were determined. Results: Compared to the model controls, the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocyte injury of liver tissue was relieved in the bifendate and three ZDP groups; liver index in the ZDP (2.5, 1.25 g/kg) groups and serum liver function indices in the ZDP (2.5, 1.25 and 0.625 g/kg) groups were decreased; antioxidants SOD, CAT and GSH in liver tissue were increased but the lipid peroxidation index MDA was decreased; protein expression of inflammatory cytokines Akt, p-Akt, NF-κB p65, IκB-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the liver was ameliorated, and E-cadherin expression was increased. The results of liver histopathology also showed that ZDP had a significant effect on ALI. Conclusion: ZDP has obvious protective effects on CCl4-induced ALI as a single therapy and appears to act by inhibiting oxidation, reducing the release of inflammatory factors and promoting hepatocyte repair.

QiShenYiQi pill attenuates atherosclerosis by promoting regulatory T cells, inhibiting T helper 17 cells and accelerating cholesterol excretion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore potential immunoregulatory mechanisms underlying the suppressive effect on atherosclerosis of QiShenYiQi pill (QSYQ). METHODS AND RESULTS: Male ApoE-/- mice were maintained on a Western-type diet and QSYQ treatment for eight weeks. Determination of atherosclerosis demonstrated that QSYQ attenuated plaque formation and decreased the level of blood low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol. QSYQ treatment did not affect body weight but reduced the ratio of liver weight and body weight. Western blots of liver showed that QSYQ increased the expression of liver X receptor alpha and ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 5. Western blots of atherosclerotic aorta revealed that QSYQ inhibited the expression of cluster of differentiation 36, promoted the expression of forkhead box P3 and decreased interleukin-17A expression. Western blots of spleen showed that QSYQ decreased the expression of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2/3 and forkhead box P3, as well as attenuated the expression of spleen interleukin-6, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma and interleukin-17A. CONCLUSIONS: QSYQ exerted an anti-atherosclerosis effect by promoting regulatory T cells in atherosclerotic lesion, inhibiting T helper 17 cells in plaque and spleen and accelerating liver cholesterol excretion.

[Influence of hot-humid stress and acclimation on airway mucus production in lungs of mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of airway mucus secretion under a high temperature and humidity environment, and explore the effects of hot-humid stress and acclimation on the morbidity and mortality of respiratory disease. METHODS: Forty-five BABL/c mice were randomly divided into five groups:normal group, hot-humid group I, hot-humid group Ⅱ, hot-humid group Ⅲ, hot-humid group IV, with 9 mice in each group. Mice in normal group were continuously placed in the common environment and sacrificed after 7 days. Mice in other groups were housed in a temperature-and-humidity-controlled environment (33℃±0.5℃, 95%±5%). Mice in hot-humid group I, hot-humid group Ⅱ, hot-humid group Ⅲ and hot-humid group IV were sacrificed after 12 hours, 24 hours, 4 days, 7 days respectively. The protein expression of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC)、epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)、aquaporin 1(AQP1) and aquaporin 5(AQP5) in lung were tested by immunohistochemisty. RESULTS: After housed in a high temperature and humidity environment, immunohistochemisty revealed a significant increase of AQP5 12 h later, MUC5AC and EGFR 24 h later, compared with normal group(P<0.05). There was a significant decrease of MUC5AC 7 d later, compared with normal group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in MUC5AC, EGFR and AQP5 expression among all groups at other time points. There was no difference of AQP1 in humid heat groups, compared with normal group, but a significant decrease in humid heat Ⅲ and IV groups, compared with humid heat I and Ⅱ groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that hot-humid stress induces mucus hypersecretion in airways, which may be related to the up-regulation of EGFR and down-regulation of AQP5 in MUC5AC. Although acclimation mitigates above-mentioned response, a series of more complex responses may be induced if still in the hot-humid environment.

Soft-tissue characteristics of operated unilateral complete cleft lip and palate patients in mixed dentition.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to provide quantitative information about the facial soft-tissue characteristics of operated unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP) children compared with healthy children during mixed dentition. METHODS: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 48 children with UCCLP who had been operated on before the age of 2 years were analyzed and compared with those of a control group of 60 healthy children with the same age, sex, and ethnic characteristics. RESULTS: The children with operated UCCLP differed from the control group by having a more concave profile, flatter nasal tip, more retrognathic basis nasi, shorter upper lip, thicker upper and lower lip, reduced upper-lip projection, and increased lower-lip projection. CONCLUSIONS: The facial soft-tissue morphology in operated UCCLP patients differed from normal controls of the same age, sex, and ethnic group. It may be necessary for children with UCCLP operated before 2 years of age to have some preventive treatment.

Significant evidence of association between polymorphisms in ZNF533, environmental factors, and nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in the Western Han Chinese population.

The etiology of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NSOC) has been considered "complex" or "multifactorial." Etiologic heterogeneity induces disparities in the results among different populations. The zinc finger protein 533 (ZNF533) and several environmental factors have been revealed to be associated with NSOC in several populations. We investigated three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 10 environmental factors in 211 case-parent trios and 188 control individuals in the Western Han Chinese population to confirm the relationship between ZNF533, environmental factors, and the etiology of NSOC in the Western Han Chinese population. The transmission disequilibrium test, case-control analysis, multiple logistic regression, log-linear model, and conditional logistic regression were tested to confirm the contribution of the ZNF533 gene and environmental factors to the etiology of NSOC. Strong statistically significant evidence of association was found between the rs6757845 and rs1139 markers and NSOC. The haplotype G-G for rs6757845-rs1139 showed significant overtransmission among cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) trios and among cleft palate only trios. Additional 11 and 5 haplotypes were significantly overtransmitted and undertransmitted among CL/P and among cleft palate only trios, respectively. Maternal disease, use of medication, and passive smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of NSOC. Maternal folic acid supplementation during the first trimester of pregnancy showed a protective effect on the etiology of NSOC. Genotype-environment interaction test showed a significant evidence of interaction effects between the genotypes at rs6757845 and maternal passive smoking during the first trimester among CL/P trios. These results confirm the effects of the ZNF533 gene and environmental factors on the etiology of NSOC.

A comparative study of fluctuating asymmetry in Chinese families with nonsyndromic cleft palate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the asymmetry displayed by Chinese patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate (NSCP), their unaffected parents, and a control population. METHOD: With rigorous inclusion criteria, a total number of 675 individuals with NSCP, 675 parental pairs of these patients, and 650 control individuals were involved in this case-control study. Size-adjusted fluctuating asymmetry (FA) scores were calculated by data on 10 variables. Analysis of variance was used for a three-way comparison of patients/gender-matched parents/gender-matched controls. RESULTS: A significant increase in FA for ear length (p<.05) was noted in NSCP patients when compared with their gender-matched parents. A significant increase in FA for ear length and palpebral fissure width (p<.05) was observed in NSCP patients when compared with the gender-matched control population. A significant increase in FA for palpebral fissure width (p<.05) was detected in parents of NSCP patients when compared with a gender-matched control population. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that, when compared with a gender-matched control population, patients with NSCP show significantly increased FA in both ear length and palpebral fissure width, but the parents of patients with NSCP show significantly increased FA only in palpebral fissure width. In general, these characteristics seem to be more distinct in male individuals.

The parental craniofacial morphological features in Chinese patients with sporadic nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the parental craniofacial morphology in Chinese patients with sporadic nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate. METHODS: A total of 98 parental pairs of nonsyndromic unilateral incomplete cleft lip children, 207 parental pairs of nonsyndromic complete cleft lip and palate children, and 206 normal persons from Sichuan University were involved in this study. A conventional cephalometric analysis was used to measure angles, linear distances, and their ratios. Two-sample Student's t tests and a multivariate discriminant analysis were applied to the data. RESULTS: Data indicate that the unaffected parents of nonsyndromic cleft lip children had on average significantly more acute cranial base angle (Angle N-S-Ba) and larger nasal width (NC-NC') (p < .01). The healthy parents of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate children consistently displayed a more acute cranial base angle (Angle N-S-Ba), shorter palatal length (A- PNS) and maxillary length (PNS-ANS), a more obtuse gonial angle (Angle Me-Go-Ar), and a larger y-axis length (S-Gn) and nasal width (NC-NC') (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: All these results indicate that the healthy parents of patients with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate show distinct characteristics in craniofacial morphology. These parental craniofacial features are more obvious in patients with cleft lip with palate than those with cleft lip only. In general, the characteristics seem to be more distinct in the fathers than in the mothers of cleft patients.

Animal experimental study on repairing alveolar clefts by using rectilinear distraction osteogenesis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical applicability of rectilinear distraction osteogenesis for repairing alveolar cleft models. Alveolar process distraction surgery to produce bilateral clefts was performed on six adult cats. In our study, the left side with the distraction device was the experimental side, and the other side without a distraction device was the control side. After a 6-day latent period, animals underwent gradual distraction at a rate of 0.6mm per day (distraction was performed twice each day, at a rate of 0.3mm each time), until the tissue on the two sides of the cleft touched, then the distraction strength was maintained for 2 days. Two cats were sacrificed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 10 weeks postoperatively. Gross anatomical, histological and radiographical analyses were performed after the animals were sacrificed. In addition, the arch width was measured both before setting the distraction device and after distraction was complete. Two weeks after the distraction was complete, the soft tissue of the two sides of the cleft region on the experimental side touched, and it began to coalesce. The extremities of the two sides of the cleft region on all the experimental sides drew close to each other, but there was no bony conjunction. New bone formation appeared in the distraction region. The arch width at the front of the maxillary bone on the distraction side after distraction was smaller than before distraction. The alveolar cleft could be closed by rectilinear distraction osteogenesis. Two sides of the cleft touched each other and only soft tissue coalesced, but we did not observe bone coalescing. This phenomenon suggested that it might be difficult to achieve complete bony repair by rectilinear distraction osteogenesis. However, rectilinear distraction osteogenesis can minimise the size of the alveolar cleft and make bone grafting advisable for those patients who are not suitable for bone grafting before distraction osteogenesis.

The comparative study of craniofacial structural characteristic of individuals with different types of cleft palate.

To compare craniofacial structural characteristic of individuals with different types of cleft palate and to lay a foundation for better treatment protocol for patients with cleft palate, we chose a sample consisting of 12 patients with Treacher Collin syndrome, 15 patients with Pierre Robin sequence, 40 patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate, and 40 patients with isolated cleft palate who met certain criteria. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from each subject. A total of 22 variables, comprising 11 angular, 9 linear, and 2 ratio measurements, were studied. The z-scores were analyzed during paired Student t test. The data showed us that there seems to be no difference in craniofacial structures between patients with isolated cleft palate and normal persons. Patients with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate who had only cleft lip repaired exhibit such characteristics as midface retrusion, relatively excessive lower facial height, and more obtuse gonial angle. The cranial base areas of individuals with Treacher Collin syndrome and Pierre Robin sequence are similar to those of normal persons. Mandibular hypoplasia in both vertical and horizontal dimensions and maxillary retrusion can be found in patients with Treacher Collin syndrome, while only mandibular hypoplasia in the horizontal dimension can be found in patients with Pierre Robin sequence. The developmental deficiency of craniofacial structures seems to be a separate deformity, not the direct outcome of cleft palate defect.

Roles of palatine bone denudation repairing with free buccal or palatal mucosal graft on maxillary growth: an experimental study in rabbits.

Most surgical repairs of cleft palate result in areas of bone denudation on lateral aspects of the hard palate. The present study was designed to investigate growth patterns of the maxilla following palatal bone denudation covering with free buccal or palatal mucosal graft in rabbits with surgically created defects simulating palatal bone denudation. Forty-five purebred New Zealand rabbits were used in this experiment. The animals were divided into 3 groups: 1 control group (left palatal bone denudation was not repaired and the right side was unoperated as a control) and 2 experimental groups (the right side of palatal bone denudation was covered with free buccal or palatal mucosal graft, respectively, and the left side was not repaired). Nineteen metric cranial variables were measured directly from the cleaned skulls. Direct cephalometric measurements were taken in the following dimensions: maxillary length, width and height, posterior facial width, and nasal deflection. Significant differences were noted between 2 sides of maxilla in all animals for the 19 cephalometric measurements. The cephalometric measurements of the right side in maxillary length, height, and width were significantly greater than those in the left side. There was no statistically significant difference between free buccal mucosal graft repaired group and free palatal mucosal graft repaired group for the cephalometric measurements. There was also no statistically significant difference for the cephalometric measurements between the 3 groups. The results of this study demonstrate that palatal bone denudation repaired by free buccal or palatal mucosal graft might prevent maxillary deformity following cleft palate surgery.

[Comparative research of craniofacial structural characteristics of syndromic and non-syndromic patients with cleft palate].

OBJECTIVE: To compare craniofacial structural characteristic of syndromic and non-syndromic patients with cleft palate and to probe into the reason of their maxillary hypoplasia and to lay a foundation for better treatment protocol for syndromic patients with cleft palate. METHODS: The sample consisted of 8 individuals with Treacher Collin syndrome, 9 patients with Pierre Robin syndrome, and 40 patients with non-syndromic cleft palate which met certain criterions. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from each study subject. A total of 18 variables, comprising 9 angular, 7 linear, and 2 ratio measurements, were studied. SPSS 12.0 software was used to describe the statistics data, consisting of means, SD, and t test. RESULTS: The tendency for smaller value in SNB and larger value in ANB indicate a severer anteroposterior mandibular hypoplasia in the syndromic type cleft. There was no difference between syndromic and non-syndromic cleft palate patients with regards to maxillary anteroposterior development. No significant difference on the development in cranial base area was found either. CONCLUSION: This interplay of cranio-facial bones is very important in the development of this complex, which will not only affect the growth but also the defect development. In this study, the patients with the two syndromes showed the similar growth potential of maxilla with the non-syndromic cleft patients.