A novel technique C-conchoplasty in canal wall down tympnomastoidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Numerous methods for meatoplasty and conchoplasty have been introduced, but no clear V/S(the meatal cavity volume to the cross-sectional) was given and many patients have complained about poor cosmesis on follow-up. AIMS: To explore the proper size, and cosmetic shape of the external auditory meatus and auditory canal for canal wall-down tympnomastoidectomy (CWD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this observational case series study 36 patients undergone CWD with C-conchoplasty that uses a C-shape skin incision on the concha were reviewed. S and V/S of the preoperative, postoperative and contralateral normal ears were observed. We analyzed the relationship between the epithelialization time and postoperative V/S. Long-term efficacy observation and the shape of the meatus after the operation were observed. RESULTS: C-conchoplasty could effectively enlarge S and reduce V/S. The postoperative V/S were closer to the normal ear than that if we didn't do C-conchoplasty. The greater difference of V/S between the post-operative ears and the contralateral normal ears, the longer the epithelialization time will be. C-conchoplasty produced an excellent cosmetic result. No other complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The C-conchoplasty, which is a novel and easy technique in CWD, offers good functional and excellent cosmetic results with minimal risk of complications.

Predictable Resistance and Overall Survival of Gemcitabine/Cisplatin by Platelet Activation Index in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND Gemcitabine/cisplatin (GP) resistance displays a negative role in treating advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies found that the association existed between platelets and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) with anticancer drugs. But the exact correlation between GP resistance and platelet activation index remains poorly understood. MATERIAL AND METHODS Pre-chemotherapy platelet activation index and CA125 were retrospectively evaluated in 169 advanced and metastatic NSCLC patients. All variables were screened by chi-square test and then evaluated by log-rank test. Survival curves were generated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis were performed by using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS The overall rate of GP resistance for NSCLC patients was 72.19%. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and plateletcrit (PCT) are negative predictors of GP resistance adenocarcinoma [Odds ratio (OR): 5.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.082-31.195, P=0.004] and squamous cell carcinoma (PCT: R: 3.517, 95% CI: 1.087-11.387, P=0.036), respectively. But both were an independent factor associated with overall survival (OS). Moreover, only CA125 was a dependent factor associated with OS for squamous cell carcinoma [OS: hazard ratio (HR): 1.741, 95% CI: 1.002-3.024, P=0.049; GP resistance: OR: 4.862, 95% CI: 1.437-16.448, P=0.011]. CONCLUSIONS Platelet activation index will be a potential marker for predicting GP resistance. Besides, CA125 ≥16.9 could be used as a potential marker for predicting GP resistance and OS, which was more sensitive than CA125 ≥35 for squamous cell carcinoma.