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High-efficiency photocatalysts are of great significance for the application of photocatalytic technology in water treatment. In this study, N/Cu co-doped ZnS nanosphere photocatalyst (N/Cu-ZnS) is synthesized by a hydrothermal method for the first time. After doping, the texture of nanosphere becomes loose, the nanometer diameter is reduced, making the specific surface area of catalyst increased from 34.73 to 101.59 m

Surgical resection of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) may be associated with excessive hemodynamic variability. Whether hemodynamic variability occurs in patients with undiagnosed PPGL undergoing unrelated, non-neuroendocrine, operations is unknown.We identified patients who underwent non-neuroendocrine surgical procedures up to 5 y before pathologic diagnosis of PPGL. For each PPGL, two non-PPGL patients were matched based on sex, age, type, and year of operation. Electronic medical records were reviewed for intraoperative blood pressures, heart rates, and hemodynamic variability was assessed with range (maximum-minimum), standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and average real variability.Thirty-seven PPGL patients underwent operations preceding the diagnosis of PPGL: 25 pheochromocytomas, 11 paragangliomas, and one metastatic pheochromocytoma. Median interquartile range tumor size at diagnosis was 35 mm (23 to 60). The time from index operation to PPGL diagnosis was ≤12 mo in 21 (56.8%) patients. In 23 (62.2%) patients, the subsequently diagnosed PPGL was functional. Fifteen (40.5%) PPGL and 20 (27.0%) control patients were preoperatively treated for hypertension (P = 0.149). Maximum intraoperative systolic BP was180 mmHg for 4 (10.8%) PPGL patients and 3 (4.1%) controls (P = 0.219). Two PPGL patients had intraoperative systolic BP230 mmHg. No significant differences were found with all other measures of intraoperative hemodynamic variability. Similarly, in secondary analysis there was no significant difference in intraoperative hemodynamic variability between biochemically active PPGL and their respective controls.Patients with undiagnosed PPGL undergoing a wide variety of non-neuroendocrine operations had intraoperative hemodynamic variability comparable to non-PPGL patients undergoing the same type of procedures.

In order to improve the visible light response, N-doping ZnS (N-ZnS) nanospheres with Zn vacancy and porous surface were prepared by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. Characterizations and density functional theory simulations showed excellent visible light response of N-ZnS. N-doping introduced impurity energy levels, which led to orbital hybridization and changed the original dipole moment. The presence of ortho Zn vacancy (O-Zn

Objectives The objective of this trial was to compare outcomes of electrocoagulation tuboplasty and continued medical therapy for treating persistent Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) with hypertrophic mucosa disease in the Eustachian tube (ET) orifice. Study Design Prospective, case-control trial. Material and Methods Patients with persistent ETD were recruited and allocated to electrocoagulation tuboplasty and continued medical therapy groups. The ETD questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) score and objective parameters were compared between the groups at 6 and 12 months. Results The proportion of patients with a decrease in ETDQ-7 scores was greater in the electrocoagulation group than in the medical therapy group at the 6-month follow-up (53.49% and 34.38%, respectively; p = .158), but the difference was not statistically significant. However, at the 12-month follow-up, there was a significantly higher proportion of patients with a decrease in ETDQ-7 scores in the electrocoagulation group (88.37% and 40.63%, respectively; p = .001). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the proportion of patients who improved 12 months after the treatment (tympanometry: 72.09% and 9.38%, respectively; p = .001; air-bone gap: 79.07% and 25.00%, respectively; p = .001; tympanic membrane status: 62.79% and 0.00%, respectively). In addition, the proportion of patients with improvements in the ET inflammation score was significantly different between the groups at 6-month (67.44% and 34.38%, respectively; p = .009) and 12-month (93.02% and 34.38%; p = .001) follow-ups. No device- or procedure-related serious adverse events were reported in any patients. Conclusions Electrocoagulation Eustachian tuboplasty appears to be a safe and feasible procedure for adult persistent ETD with hypertrophic mucosa disease in the ET orifice, and is superior to continued medical management alone. The improvements in ETDQ-7 and objective parameters persisted for 12 months.

The study aims to determine whether routine rehabilitation training combined with the Maitland mobilization is more effective than routine rehabilitation training alone in patients with chronic ankle instability, intending to provide a novel rehabilitation strategy for chronic ankle instability. A total of 48 subjects were divided into three groups: EG (Maitland mobilization and routine rehabilitation), CG (routine rehabilitation), and SG (sham mobilization and routine rehabilitation). The intervention was performed three times each week for 4 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. Before and after the intervention, the muscle strength, star excursion balance test (SEBT), weight-bearing dorsiflexion range of motion (WB-DFROM), ankle range of movement, Cumberland ankle instability tool (CAIT), self-comfort visual analog scale (SCS-VAS), and self-induced stability scale (SISS-VAS) were assessed. The results showed that the improvement of SEBT, WB-DFROM, and active ankle range of movement without the pain in EG was more obvious than CG and SG, but the improvement of the self-report of ankle severity and muscle strength was not. Compared with routine rehabilitation training alone, routine rehabilitation training combined with Maitland mobilization for patients with chronic ankle instability may provide more benefit in terms of balance and ankle range of movement than routine rehabilitation alone, but the improvement in muscle strength was not evident enough.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is caused by unaccustomed exercise, especially eccentric exercise, and is highly likely to cause skeletal muscle injury. It mainly manifests as ultrastructural changes in skeletal muscle, as well as decreased muscle strength, muscle soreness, swelling, and elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK). Vibration training (VT) has been attracting increasing attention as a new type of rehabilitation therapy. It can effectively minimize the occurrence and relieve the symptoms of DOMS, reduce muscle stiffness and soreness, and reduce serum concentrations of CK and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This article systematically assessed the impact of VT on the mitigation of DOMS through a meta-analysis to provide updated evidence-based information.Electronic databases such as China Knowledge Network, VIP Electronics, PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science were searched to identify randomized controlled trials of VT on DOMS. Searches were performed from database creation to November 2021. The quality of the literature was assessed using the Cochrane Manual for the Systematic Review of Interventions, and meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 software.VT intervention in DOMS was shown to effectively reduce subjective pain, improve pain tolerance, and accelerate the reduction of serum CK and LDH concentrations. Subgroup analysis of different test time periods showed that subjective pain decreased more significantly after 48 hours than after the other 2 time periods, and pain tolerance increased more significantly after 72 hours than the other 2 time periods; serum CK was significantly increased after 24 and 48 hours of intervention, but showed no significant change compared with the control group after 72 hours. Serum LDH decreased significantly after 24 hours of intervention, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group after 48 hours or 72 hours.VT effectively reduced the subjective pain sensation after DOMS, increased the pain threshold, reduced serum LDH and CK concentrations, and accelerated muscle damage repair compared with control interventions. However, the effect of improving the range of motion of the joints is not clear and should be studied further.number: INPLASY2021120115.

Objectives This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) eustachian tuboplasty for the treatment of patients with retracted tympanic membrane (TM) due to eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Methods This was a prospective study of 20 patients with ETD (middle ear atelectasis) who underwent MWA eustachian tuboplasty. Outcomes included the ability to perform a Valsalva maneuver, audiometry results, tympanometry results, ETD Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) score, and TM status. Results Eighteen patients (18 ears) were included in this study. There were statistically and clinically significant improvements in the mean ETDQ-7 score at 6 months postoperatively (change in mean score of 16.7 ± 3.6, P P Type A tympanogram was obtained in 27.8% of patients (5/18) at 6 months postoperatively, and in 77.7% at 30 months postoperatively. A Valsalva maneuver was possible in 72.2% of patients at 6 months postoperatively and in 88.9% of patients at 30 months postoperatively. In addition, the ears of 13 patients (72.2%) showed both normal tympanograms and TM at 30 months postoperatively. Interestingly, 38.5% of patients (5/13) exhibited complete sclerosis of the pars tensa. None of the patients experienced severe MWA-related complications during follow-up. Conclusions MWA eustachian tuboplasty is a feasible alternative to conventional tuboplasty, and can improve subjective and objective outcomes in patients with ETD for up to 30 months following treatment. In addition, this study showed that the extent of sclerotic plaque increased over time, whereas the extents of atrophy and tensa retraction decreased following tuboplasty in most patients. Graphical abstract

The growth of bacteria will lead to water quality deterioration and equipment damage. Therefore, it is necessary to control the growth and reproduction of microorganisms in water treatment. A new type of magnetic recoverable CuZnO@Fe3O4@GO composites was prepared by ultrasonic method, and the composites were characterized and analyzed by SEM, TEM, XPS, and other methods. The optimum mass ratio of composites was determined by orthogonal experiment, and the antibacterial properties and mechanism of the composite were investigated by gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the composites in the effluent of the secondary sedimentation tank were researched. It was shown that the optimum mass ratio of the composites was GO:Fe3O4:CuZnO =1:2:3. When the dosage of composites was 180 mg L-1 and the action time was 100 min, the antibacterial rate against S. aureus and E. coli reached more than 99.5%. The composites could destroy the cell structure of two kinds of bacteria, increase the content of active oxygen in bacteria cells, and enhance the leakage rate of protein by more than 9 times in 150 min, thereby causing the death of the bacteria. And the antibacterial rate of the composites in effluent of the secondary sedimentation tank could reach 99%, and the magnetic recovery rate could reach more than 98%. After 5 cycles of use, the antibacterial rate could still exceed 90%.

Objective. Exercise-induced muscle fatigue is a complex physiological phenomenon involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, and fatigue tolerance varies across individuals. Various studies have emphasized the close relationships between muscle fatigue and the brain. However, the relationships between the resting-state electroencephalogram (rsEEG) brain network and individual muscle fatigue tolerance remain unexplored. Approach. Eighteen elite water polo athletes took part in our experiment. Five-minute before- and after-fatigue-exercise rsEEG and fatiguing task (i.e. elbow flexion and extension) electromyography (EMG) data were recorded. Based on the graph theory, we constructed the before- and after-task rsEEG coherence network and compared the network differences between them. Then, the correlation between the before-fatigue rsEEG network properties and the EMG fatigue indexes when a subject cannot keep on exercising anymore was profiled. Finally, a prediction model based on the before-fatigue rsEEG network properties was established to predict fatigue tolerance. Main results. Results of this study revealed the significant differences between the before- and after-exercise rsEEG brain network and found significant high correlations between before-exercise rsEEG network properties in the beta band and individual muscle fatigue tolerance. Finally, an efficient support vector regression (SVR) model based on the before-exercise rsEEG network properties in the beta band was constructed and achieved the accurate prediction of individual fatigue tolerance. Similar results were also revealed on another 30 subject swimmer data set further demonstrating the reliability of predicting fatigue tolerance based on the rsEEG network. Significance. Our study investigates the relationship between the rsEEG brain network and individual muscle fatigue tolerance and provides a potential objective physiological biomarker for tolerance prediction and the regulation of muscle fatigue.

OBJECTIVE To compare the outcome of endoscopic transtympanic cartilage myringoplasty with and without removal of perforation edges for repairing chronic perforations with mucosal chronic otitis media (COM). STUDY DESIGN Quasi-randomised clinical trial. SETTING Tertiary referral centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with chronic perforations and mucosal COM undergoing endoscopic transtympanic cartilage myringoplasty were allocated to a control group for whom the perforation edges were preserved (n = 40) and an intervention group for whom the edges were removed (n = 39). Mean operation time, graft success rate, mean scores of graft neovascularisation and epithelialisation, and hearing were compared between the groups at 4 weeks and/or 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS Graft success rate was 95% (38/40) in the control group and 97% (38/39) in the intervention group at 6 months postoperatively; the difference was not significant. Mean graft neovascularisation scores 4 weeks postoperatively were 2.52 ± 0.59 in the control group and 2.58 ± 0.55 in the intervention group; the difference was not significant. Mean graft epithelisation scores 4 weeks postoperatively were 1.48 ± 0.57 in the control group and 1.68 ± 0.51 in the intervention group; the difference was not significant and remained nonsignificant 6 months postoperatively (2.5 ± 0.55 vs. 2.76 ± 0.36). Audiological outcomes at 6 months did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION Endoscopic, transtympanic cartilage underlay myringoplasty with preservation of the perforation margins did not affect graft neovascularisation, epithelialisation or success. Longer-term outcomes and risk of cholesteatoma require further study.

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects against postoperative cognitive impairment. GLO-1 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, the primary goal was to assess whether DEX affect GLO-1 and protect cognition impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.Methods: After DEX was intraperitoneally injected in APP/PS1 mice, behavior was tested by Water Maze to illustrate whether DEX treatment has a significantly positive effect on ameliorating the cognition deficits in AD. We assessed the effect of DEX on the expression of GLO-1 and the production of other oxidative stress factors by ELISA and Western blot. To determine whether DEX play roles in the Aβ induced neuron apoptosis, flow cytometry was used.Results: DEX treatment significantly ameliorated cognition deficits in APP/PS1 mice. DEX increased GLO-1 expression and decreased MG activity in the hippocampus. In addition, DEX increased activity of SOD, GSH and reduced the activity of MDA. In vitro, DEX could protect the neuron apoptosis induced by Aβ. GLO-1 inhibitor could block the protective role of DEX.Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that DEX prevents progression of AD-like pathology through upregulating GLO-1.

The exact pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) has not been fully clarified. Previous studies have demonstrated that ALI is associated with inflammation. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNA‑421 (miR‑421) prevents inflammation in cerebellar ischemia reperfusion injury. However, the role of miR‑421 in ALI remains unclear. The present study investigated the role of miR‑421 in ALI and the mechanism underlying this. ALI was induced in vitro by treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cells were then transfected with miR‑421 mimic, miR‑421 mimic control, programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) siRNA and PDCD4 siRNA control using Lipofectamine 2000. Cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting kit‑8. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of miR‑421 and PDCD4 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The concentrations of IL‑1β and TNF‑α were detected by ELISA. Dual‑luciferase reporter assays were used to investigate the interaction between miR‑421 and PDCD4 mRNA. LPS inhibited cell viability and miR‑421 expression. The miR‑421 mimic promoted RAW 264.7 cell viability and inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX‑2 as well as the release of IL‑1β and TNF‑α. PDCD4 siRNA inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX‑2 expression as well as the release of IL‑1β and TNF‑α. In addition, miR‑421 mimic and PDCD4 siRNA inhibit the expression of p‑NF‑κB (p65) in RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the protective effect of miR‑421 on ALI and showed that miR‑421 attenuates LPS‑induced ALI by inhibiting PDCD4 and NF‑κB. These findings provided a theoretical basis for the treatment of ALI.

Objective This study compared the long-term graft success rates and hearing outcomes of overlay-underlay and underly cartilage myringoplasty for repairing large perforations in Teenagers. Study design: prospective, randomized study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Methods Pediatric patients older than 12 years with chronic perforations were randomly divided into two groups:intervention group (n = 39) and control group (n = 41). The graft success rate, hearing improvement, and complications were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 80 patients were included in this study. The graft success rate was 100% in the intervention group and 95.1% in the control group at postoperative 3 months, the difference wasn't significant (P = 0.496). Also, the graft success rate was not significantly different between the two groups at 12 months postoperatively (100.0% vs 87.8%, p = 0.073). However, the difference of graft success rate was significant between the two groups at 24 months postoperatively (97.4% vs 75.6%, p = 0.012). CT examination revealed well-pneumatized middle ears 24 months after surgery in both group. However, epithelial pearls near the umbo were seen at 31 months postoperatively in one patient in the observation group. Conclusions Compared to the endoscopic cartilage with perichondrium composite graft underlay technique, endoscopic perichondrial graft overlay and cartilage underlay had a better long-term graft success rate and lower rate of long-term re-perforation in teenagers. However, the graft technique had no effect on hearing outcome.

We evaluated the graft and hearing outcomes of patients with chronic perforations treated via the cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay technique without de-squamatization of the TM and external auditory canal (EAC) packing.Thirty-nine patients with chronic perforations and residual tympanic membranes around the perforation margins were treated using the cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay technique without de-squamatization of the TM and EAC packing. Patients were followed-up for 6 months.For all 39 patients with unilateral perforations, the graft success rate was 100% (39/39) at 6 months after surgery. The mean air-bone gap significantly (P 0.05) improved from 13.41 ± 8.34 dB preoperatively to 7.45 ± 3.81 dB postoperatively in patients with small and medium perforations; the mean air-bone gap significantly improved from 20.57 ± 9.41 dB preoperatively to 9.84 ± 2.41 dB postoperatively in patients with large perforations. The lateral perichondrium gradually became necrotic and crust at postoperative 2-3 months and migrated into the EAC in all patients.The cartilage-perichondrium over-underlay myringoplasty without de-squamatization of the TM and EAC packing is feasible, affording a high graft success rate and good hearing improvement. The lateral perichondrium may gradually become necrotic and crusted, and migrate along the EAC over time.

Background/objective. Most researchers consider that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) facilitates the repair of chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforations in chronic otitis media (COM). However, the addition of biological materials affects bFGF levels. This study was performed to compare the effects of bFGF alone and myringoplasty for the repair of chronic perforations. Study design. A prospective cohort control study. Materials and methods. Patients with chronic central perforations who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups, i.e., bFGF alone group and underlay myringoplasty group. In the bFGF alone group, the epithelium was removed circumferentially around the perforation edge to create fresh edges. Approximately, 0.1–0.15 mL of bFGF solution was applied twice daily for 3 months to the TM, to keep the edges moist without a scaffold. In the myringoplasty group, the perichondrium graft was placed underneath the TM remnant by endoscopy. TM closure and hearing outcomes were evaluated at 12 weeks after surgery or at the end of bFGF treatment. Results. A total of 29 patients consisting 13 in the bFGF alone group and 16 in the myringoplasty group were finally included in the analysis. Of the 13 patients in the bFGF alone group, the perforations were small in 6 and medium in 7; the etiology was secondary to COM in 11 and to trauma in 2. One patient with an unhealed perforation continued bFGF treatment until 6 months, while the others stopped at 3 months. Of the seven medium-sized perforations, none of the five COM perforations closed, while the two traumatic perforations achieved complete closure within 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. The successful closure rate was 28.6% (2/7). Successful closure was achieved in 66.7% (4/6) of the six small perforations with COM, with a mean closure time of 4.75 weeks. Of the 16 patients in the myringoplasty group, all perforations were medium-sized and were secondary to COM in 15 cases and traumatic in 1 case; all achieved complete closure. Conclusions. bFGF alone facilitated the repair of chronic traumatic perforations and small perforations with COM, but not medium-sized perforations with COM. These observations indicated that the regenerative conditions of traumatic perforations are better than those of COM perforations when using bFGF alone, and that graft materials could play a critical role in the regeneration of larger-sized chronic perforations with COM.

We compare the long-term efficacy of the cartilage–perichondrium modified over-underlay technique and transtympanic underlay alone technique using endoscopic myringoplasty without tympanomeatal flap elevating for repairing large chronic perforations. Nine chronic large perforations with mucosal chronic otitis media were recruited and randomly allocated to endoscopic cartilage–perichondrium modified over-underlay myringoplasty (MOUM, n = 55) and endoscopic cartilage–perichondrium transtympanic underlay alone myringoplasty (TUAM, n = 54). The graft success rate, hearing gain, mean operation time and postoperative complications were compared between the groups at 6 and 24 months. In total, 99 patients were finally analysed. The graft success rates 6 months after surgery between MOUM and TUAM groups were not significantly different (100.0% vs 96.0%, p = 0.484). However, the MOUM group had a significantly higher success rate 24 months after surgery than the TUAM group (93.9% vs 76.0%, p = 0.028). In addition, postoperative ABG

Objective To investigate the Effect of concurrent nasal surgery on the eustachian tube function (ETF) and myringoplasty outcomes for the chronic perforations with coexistent nasal pathology. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 93 patients with perforations who underwent same-day myringoplasty and nasal-septal surgery. Group A exhibited septal deviations (n = 34) and Group B inflammatory sinus disease (n = 59). Groups were compared with respect to pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs), graft success rates and ETF (Eustachian tube score [ETS] and seven-item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire [ETDQ-7]) at 6 and 24 months. Results Graft success rates were 100.0% in Group A and 98.3% in Group B at 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.445). Graft success rates were 85.3% in Group A and 96.6% in Group B at 24 months postoperatively (P = 0.046), the re-perforation rate was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (P = 0.015). Although the preoperative ETS was similar between two groups, the postoperative ETS in the Group B was significantly higher compared with Group A regardless of at postoperative 6th and 24th months. In addition, difference was significant for the patients with positive Valsalva maneuver among two groups at postoperative 24th months. Also, the improvement in the ETDQ-7 score in the B group was significantly higher than that in the A group at postoperative 6th and 24th months. Conclusions Concurrent nasal surgery and myringoplasty is feasible. In addition, ESS improves ETF and thus long-term outcomes of myringoplasty for the chronic perforations with inflammatory sinus disease.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of intranasal endoscopic microwave ablation (MWA) on the management of postoperative ethmoid sinus mucoceles. Methods and materials The patients with postoperative ethmoid sinus mucoceles were ablated through intranasal endoscopic MWA. Postoperative pain intensity was measured via visual analogue scale (VAS), post-operative complications were recorded. Results Of the 26 patients with unilateral postoperative ethmoid sinus mucoceles, the mucoceles were diagnosed 3 to 11 years with average time of time of 6.9 ± 2.7 years after endoscopic ethmoidectomy. The ipsilateral middle turbinate was present and intact in 24 patients and partially resected during the original surgery in the remaining 2. There were adhesions in the middle meatus in one case. All 26 patients were successfully treated with the intranasal endoscopic ablation technique in outpatient. The ablation time was 6 to 11 min, with an average duration of 6.84 ± 1.27 min. The mean VAS pain score was 2.41 ± 1.22. There were no perioperative complications reported in this series. No evidence of recurrence was observed in any patients during follow-up periods. Conclusions The present study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of intranasal endoscopic MWA in the office. The procedure is well tolerated by patients with low complication rates. Thus, it is alternative to conventional endonasal endoscopic marsupialization for treatment of postsurgical ethmoid sinus mucoceles.

Two-phase field heat treatment experiments have been performed to study the evolution of the primary lamellar α phase in TA15 alloy during the whole heat treatment process. Meanwhile both the evolutions of the primary and secondary lamellar α during air cooling with different insulation histories have been examined. Results indicate that the transformation mechanism for the primary lamellar α phase during heating is the transformation of the thin lamellae at lower α/β region and the dissolving of the small lamellae originated from the decomposition of the branched lamellae at higher α/β region. During the holding process, the volume fraction of the primary lamellar α decreased, the average thickness increased and the variation trend of the average length is complex. When the cooling mode after two-phase field heat treatment is coupled with the insulation history, the variation trend of the volume fraction shows a non-monotonous way.

Objective We evaluated microwave ablation (MWA) for treatment of isolated pharyngeal benign lesions, in terms of technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety. Methods The patients with pharyngeal benign lesions were treated with endoscopic MWA with a 2450-MHz single cooled-shaft microwave antenna and sent for histological examination. Postoperative pain intensity was measured via visual analogue scale (VAS) on the 12th hour and the third postoperative days. Results Of the 137 patients with pharyngeal benign lesions who met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly involved site was the uvula (n = 66, 48.2%), followed by the lateral pharyngeal wall (n = 37, 27.0%), the nasopharyngeal posterior wall (n = 23, 16.8%) and the soft palate (n = 11, 8.0%). All of the procedures were completed using local anesthesia and were well-tolerated by the patients. The ablation time was 5–10 min, with an average duration of 6.3 ± 1.8 min. The most common pathology was papilloma (n = 96, 70.1%), followed by nasopharyngeal cysts (n = 21, 15.3%), polyp (n = 10, 7.3%), epidermoid cysts (n = 8, 5.8%) and Thornwaldt cysts (n = 2, 1.5%). The mean VAS pain score was 2.36 ± 1.08 on postoperative 12th hour and 1.21 ± 0.54 on postoperative third day. At the 6-month follow-up examination, there were no severe complications, such as recurrence, bleeding, or synechiae of the nasal cavity, eustachian tube injury, in any of the patients. Conclusions The MWA for the treatment of isolated pharyngeal benign lesion is feasible and alternative to conventional surgical methods, it allows excision of the lesion while providing hemostasis, involves only a short ablation time and has a very low risk of complications. Most of our patients well-tolerate the procedure, which may be performed under local anesthesia in the outpatient setting.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of the removal of nasolabial cyst via intranasal endoscopic microwave ablation (MWA). Methods and materials The patients with nasolabial cyst were ablated through intranasal endoscopic MWA. Postoperative pain intensity was measured via visual analogue scale (VAS), post-operative complications were recorded. Results Of the 31 patients with unilateral nasolabial cyst, the main complaint was a gradually increasing mass in the nasal alar and upper lip, other complaint included nasal obstruction (11/31,35.5%), localized pain (21,67.7%), and erythema (13/31,41.9%). All 31 patients were successfully treated with the intranasal endoscopic ablation technique in outpatient. The mean ablation duration was 5.86 ± 0.71 min. The mean VAS pain score was 2.36 ± 1.08 on postoperative. None of infection occurred. All the patients complained of mild numbness in the upper lip with an average last duration of 28.5 ± 7.9 h in patients. In addition, 4 (12.9%) patients had facial/perinasal swelling, acid bilge of maxillary teeth in 7(22.6%), and toothache in one (3.2%). The patients were followed up for 12 months without recurrence and oronasal fistula. The nasolabial cyst had integrated into a part of the nasal cavity. Conclusions The intranasal endoscopic MWA is feasible and alternative to conventional transoral sublabial approach for removal of the nasolabial cysts in outpatient.

Objective Irisin is a myokine secreted by skeletal muscle,and it is a type I membrane protein factor encoded by the protein 5(FNDC5) gene after cleavage and modification of the type III fibronectin component.Dependence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC-1α).In this study, the potential association between skeletal muscle atrophy and irisin was explored by detecting changes in rat soleus and gastrocnemius irisin-related proteins during unloading. Methods Twenty male 8-week rats were randomly divided into control group C (n=10) and suspension group T (n=10). The tail suspension system (TSS) was used to perform a 2-week tail suspension experiment on the T group. Two weeks after the tail suspension test, the weights of the rats and the wet weights of soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were measured. HE staining was performed under light microscope to observe the changes of muscle fiber area of skeletal muscle in each group. Western-blot was used to detect the protein expression of MURF1, PGC-1α and FNDC5 in soleus muscle and gastrocnemius muscle of each group. Results (1) The soleus muscle and gastrocnemius muscle mass in T group decreased by 28.6% (P

To investigate pressure waveform-guided epidural catheter placement (PWEP) and its effect in clinical practice.Single-center, prospective cohort study.University teaching hospital.3,326 patients undergoing thoracic, abdominal, and lower limb surgery.1,614 underwent PWEP and 1,664 had the loss-of-resistance (LOR) technique.Anesthesia success and catheter replacement-related complications were recorded.The specificity and sensitivity of PWEP was higher than LOR, and it also provided higher satisfaction with anesthesia when compared with the LOR technique (62.8% vs 45.6 %; P0.05). PWEP also performed better than LOR in risk of anesthesia failure (0.4% vs 1.1%; P0.05) and catheter replacement-related complications (0% vs 0.6%; P0.05).PWEP is a reliable and useful technique for epidural catheter placement.

This study examined the effects of combined traditional Chinese physical and mental exercises on the blood pressure of adult female hypertensive patients. Twenty female hypertensive patients aged between 50 and 60 years voluntarily participated in the study. The participants performed the combined exercises for 24 weeks, twice a week, and 60 min each time in low-to-moderate intensity. After the 24-week training, the participants showed significant decreases in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.000), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.006), pulse pressure (p = 0.001), and right ankle brachial pressure index (p = 0.041). The combined Chinese traditional physical and mental exercises were found to have beneficial effects on adult female hypertensive patients.

Substantial evidence shows that spinal melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) may participate in regulation of central sensitization and chronic pain condition induced by peripheral nerve injury. Periaqueductal gray (PAG) is an important component of descending pain facilitatory system and takes part in spinal nociceptive information. This research will choose PAG to discuss the effect of MC4R in pain facilitation induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) and further discuss its effect in glial activity and inflammatory factor levels in nerve injury.Behavior tests (von Frey test and hot-plate test), semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry were used in this research.PAG injection of HS014 (a selective inhibitor of MC4R), not only significantly reduced the established mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, but also delayed the development of pain facilitation. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that MC4R and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression in PAG was significantly increased after CCI, but agouti-related protein (AgRP) expression decreased. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that protein levels of astrocytic marker (GFAP), microglial marker (OX-42), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 were significantly increased, but there was little change of the protein levels of IL-10 following CCI. Furthermore, blockade of MC4R decreased immunoreactivity of glia cells and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increased protein levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 after CCI.This research suggests that activation of MC4R in PAG after peripheral nerve injury participates in pain facilitation by regulating the glial activation and inflammatory cytokines secretion.