Human nasal protrusion,latitude, and climate

Relationships between morphological features of human skeletal nasal protrusion, latitude, and climate were investigated. Craniofacial dimensions and indices determined by Woo and Morant (1934) on a world sample of 55 skeletal populations were used as dependent variables. Sample sizes were as low as 39 in some calculations because either skeletal or geographic data were missing. Thirteen climatically related averaged variables, for each population's provenience, were the independent variables. Multivariate techniques of bivariate correlation, multiple regression, and partial correlation were applied. A strong, statistically significant cline of increasing nose protrusion, with decreasing absolute humidity and with increasing latitude, was found. Cold climatic variables appeared to be of greater importance than warm measures. Similarly, absolute humidity was found to be a much better predictor of nose protrusion than was relative humidity.     

Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy May Facilitate Gastric Ulcer Healing After Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: A Prospective Randomized Study

Background and Aim: It remains unclear whether Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy affects the healing rate of iatrogenic ulcers following endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for gastric tumors. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the effect of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastric ulcer healing after EMR. Methods: After EMR, patients were randomly assigned to either the H. pylori eradication group (Hp group) (lansoprazole 30 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg, twice a day for 7 days) or the noneradication group (proton pump inhibitor, PPI group) (lansoprazole 30 mg, twice a day for 7 days). Four weeks after EMR, the ulcer stages and size were compared between the two groups. Moreover, ulcer‐related symptoms, bleeding rates, adverse effects, and drug compliance were compared. Results: A total of 64 patients were enrolled. Of these, 17 patients were excluded from the study. The two groups were comparable in terms of baseline clinicopathologic characteristics. Four weeks after EMR, the two groups did not differ with respect to ulcer stage (p = .475) or ulcer‐related symptoms (p = .399). However, the ulcer reduction ratio was significantly higher in the Hp group (0.028 ± 0.024 vs. 0.065 ± 0.055, p < .05). No differences were observed between the two groups with regard to drug compliance, adverse drug event rates, or bleeding rates. Conclusions: Our results suggest that H. pylori eradication therapy might improve the ulcer healing rate after EMR.     

Deformation of nasal septal cartilage during mastication

The cartilaginous nasal septum plays a major role in structural integrity and growth of the face, but its internal location has made physiologic study difficult. By surgically implanting transducers in 10 miniature pigs (Sus scrofa), we recorded in vivo strains generated in the nasal septum during mastication and masseter stimulation. The goals were (1) to determine whether the cartilage should be considered as a vertical strut supporting the nasal cavity and preventing its collapse, or as a damper of stresses generated during mastication and (2) to shed light on the overall pattern of snout deformation during mastication. Strains were recorded simultaneously at the septo‐ethmoid junction and nasofrontal suture during mastication. A third location in the anterior part of the cartilage was added during masseter stimulation and manipulation. Contraction of jaw closing muscles during mastication was accompanied by anteroposterior compressive strains (around ?1,000 με) in the septo‐ethmoid junction. Both the orientation and the magnitude of the strain suggest that the septum does not act as a vertical strut but may act in absorbing loads generated during mastication. The results from masseter stimulation and manipulation further suggest that the masticatory strain pattern arises from a combination of dorsal bending and/or shearing and anteroposterior compression of the snout. J. Morphol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Deep-seated rectal/anal basaloid carcinoma: useful immunocytochemistry in rare squamous cell carcinoma variants

Objectives:  To report the cytological aspects of ano-rectal basaloid carcinoma (BC) variant in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) conventional and liquid-based cytology (LBC), in a series of 10 cases of deep-seated squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), and to discuss the diagnostic difficulties in interpreting the morphology and immunocytochemical findings.
Methods:  Ten cases of EUS-FNA smears and LBC specimens of deep-seated pelvic masses were retrospectively collected from January 2001 to November 2006.
Results:  Ten EUS-FNA specimen cases were SCC, eight corresponding to usual SCC and two to BC-variant. Of these two cases, only one was correctly diagnosed by EUS-FNA specimen, whereas in the second case, the initial cytological diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and the final diagnosis of basaloid carcinoma variant was established on surgical resection. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) using CK7, CK20 and CK34βe12 on FNA specimens confirmed the diagnosis retrospectively.
Conclusion:  The diagnosis of basaloid variant of SCC in a rectal location can be very difficult, both on account of the uncommon location and because of the low specificity of morphological aspects on EUS-FNA smears. The immunocytochemical technique, including a limited spectrum of keratins (CK7, CK20, CK34βe12, and p63) is necessary to avoid this diagnostic pitfall.     

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA): experience of an academic centre in the USA

S. Zhang, D. V. S. DeFrias, R. Alasadi and R. Nayar
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA): experience of an academic centre in the USA Objectives: Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) has become widely accepted as an effective modality for obtaining tissue for primary diagnosis and staging. We have been using EUS‐FNA since July 2001 and herein we summarize our experience over a 5‐year period. Methods: A computer‐based search for in‐house EUS‐FNA was performed in the pathology database from July 2001 to October 2006. To calculate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS‐FNA, the cytology diagnosis was compared with the surgical follow‐up. Results: A total of 951 EUS‐FNAs were performed during the study period and included 279 pancreatic solid lesions, 186 pancreatic cyst lesions, 249 lymph node aspirations, 111 gastrointestinal (GI) tract submucosal lesions, and 126 miscellaneous lesions. EUS‐FNA had a very high sensitivity and accuracy for solid pancreatic lesions (94.7 and 97.7%, respectively), low sensitivity and accuracy but high specificity (47, 64.8 and 95%, respectively) for cystic lesions. Cyst fluid carcinoembryonic (CEA) levels were significantly higher in mucinous neoplasms than non‐neoplastic cysts. EUS‐FNA also had very high sensitivity and specificity for detecting metastatic carcinoma in lymph nodes (95 and 100%, respectively). GI submucosal spindle cell tumours were further classified with immunohistochemical stains performed either on a cell block or a core biopsy obtained via EUS guidance. Conclusions: EUS‐FNA has a very high sensitivity and accuracy for pancreatic solid lesions, but the sensitivity for cystic lesions is generally low. Cyst fluid chemical analysis for CEA is helpful, but the overlap between mucinous neoplasm and non‐neoplastic cysts is significant. Recognizing GI contamination is important and immunohistochemical stains are useful for GI submucosal spindle cell lesions.     

Basal cells express functional TRPV4 channels in the mouse nasal epithelium

Basal cells in the nasal epithelium (olfactory and airway epithelia) are stem/progenitor cells that are capable of dividing, renewing and differentiating into specialized cells. These stem cells can sense their biophysical microenvironment, but the underlying mechanism of this process remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate the prominent expression of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channel, a Ca²⁺-permeable channel that is known to act as a sensor for hypo-osmotic and mechanical stresses, in the basal cells of the mouse nasal epithelium. TRPV4 mRNA was expressed in the basal portions of the prenatal mouse nasal epithelium, and this expression continued into adult mice. The TRPV4 protein was also detected in the basal layers of the nasal epithelium in wild-type but not in TRPV4-knockout (TRPV4-KO) mice. The TRPV4-positive immunoreactions largely overlapped with those of keratin 14 (K14), a marker of basal cells, in the airway epithelium, and they partially overlapped with those of K14 in the olfactory epithelium. Ca²⁺ imaging analysis revealed that hypo-osmotic stimulation and 4α-phorbol 12,13 didecanoate (4α-PDD), both of which are TRPV4 agonists, caused an increase in the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in a subset of primary epithelial cells cultured from the upper parts of the nasal epithelium of the wild-type mice. This response was barely noticeable in cells from similar parts of the epithelium in TRPV4-KO mice. Finally, there was no significant difference in BrdU-labeled proliferation between the olfactory epithelia of wild-type and TRPV4-KO mice under normal conditions. Thus, TRPV4 channels are functionally expressed in basal cells throughout the nasal epithelium and may act as sensors for the development and injury-induced regeneration of basal stem cells.     

NAR患者鼻灌洗EOS与诱导痰EOS的相关性研究

目的:评估非变应性鼻炎(nonallergic rhinitis,NAR)患者全身、鼻腔及下气道嗜酸性粒细胞(Eosinophils,EOS)浸润水平及相关性。探讨EOS在NAR患者鼻腔及下气道的特征及意义。方法:2011年6月~2012年6月在我院就诊的NAR患者241例,同期征集健康对照组222例,所有受试者均进行病史采集、皮肤点刺实验(SPT)、血清嗜酸性粒细胞、鼻灌洗、诱导痰检查。结果:1NAR组和对照组相比鼻灌洗EOS计数、诱导痰EOS比例、血EOS比例均显著高于健康对照组(P均0.01)。2有鼻腔EOS炎症和无鼻腔EOS炎症层的诱导痰EOS百分比阳性率分别为34.7%vs 9.6%(P0.01)。3NAR组鼻灌洗EOS计数和诱导痰EOS比例存在明显相关性(r=0.262,P=0.000),鼻灌洗EOS计数和血EOS比例存在明显相关性(r=0.228,P=0.000),诱导痰EOS比例和血EOS比例存在明显相关性(r=0.291,P=0.000)。结论:NAR患者血液、鼻腔及下气道EOS浸润程度较正常对照组均明显升高,EOS在NAR患者血液、鼻腔及下气道炎症中存在明显一致性,提示NAR是一种全身系统性炎症性疾病;无下气道症状的NAR患者部分存在下气道EOS炎症,鼻腔及血液EOS炎症是导致下气道EOS炎症的主要高危因素。鼻灌洗EOS可能是观测NAR患者下气道炎症及对下气道炎症进行评估和追踪的有效指标。EOS可能是鼻炎、哮喘及血液炎症相关的效应细胞,是上下气道炎症有效生物标记物。     

鼻窦炎鼻内窥镜围手术期的中西医结合治疗临床分析

目的：观察中西医结合疗法在鼻窦炎鼻内窥镜围手术期的临床疗效。方法：按随机数字表法将符合标准的108例患者分为观察组和对照组,观察组58例,对照组50例。对照组采用常规西医处理,观察组在对照组基础上加用鼻渊舒口服液治疗。结果：观察组术中出血量少于对照组,2组比较,出血量≤50mL差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。观察组痊愈30例,痊愈率51．72％,总有效率91．38％。对照组痊愈14例,痊愈率28．00％,总有效率78．00％。2组比较,痊愈率和总有效率差异均有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论：鼻窦炎鼻内窥镜围手术期采取中西医结合治疗疗效优于单纯西医治疗。     

经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效及术后复发的影响因素分析

目的:探讨经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗腰椎间盘突出症(LDH)的临床疗效,分析术后复发的影响因素。方法:选取我院于2017年2月~2019年12月期间收治的LDH患者230例,均给予经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗,观察其疗效、不同时间点视觉疼痛模拟评分量表(VAS)、Oswestry功能障碍指数(ODI)评分及并发症。记录LDH术后复发(PRLDH)率。采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析PRLDH的影响因素。结果:230例LDH患者采用经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术治疗后,优69例,良117例,可34例,差10例,优良率为80.87%(186/230)。LDH患者术后3个月、术后6个月VAS、ODI评分均较术前降低,且术后3个月~术后6个月VAS、ODI评分呈降低趋势,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。LDH患者术后并发症发生率为5.22%(12/230)。发生PRLDH的患者为29例,复发率为12.61%(29/230)。单因素分析显示,PRLDH与年龄、吸烟、体质量指数、糖尿病、髓核突出/脱出、病程有关(P<0.05);多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄≥60岁、吸烟、体质量指数≥24kg/m²、糖尿病、髓核突出/脱出、病程≥6个月均是PRLDH复发的影响因素(P<0.05)。结论:经皮椎间孔镜下髓核摘除术用于LDH的治疗,疗效稳定,可较好的促进患者疼痛症状的改善,加快腰椎功能的恢复,但术后复发问题需得到重视,年龄≥60岁、吸烟、体质量指数≥24kg/m²、糖尿病、髓核突出/脱出、病程≥6个月均是PRLDH的影响因素。     

自然感染途径建立肺炎链球菌感染性肺炎小鼠模型

目的探索自然感染途径制备肺炎链球菌感染性肺炎小鼠模型的方法,为肺炎链球菌性肺炎的相关研究提供实验基础。方法肺炎链球菌标准菌株(CMCC 31203)经血平板培养18 h后配成2麦氏浊度。小鼠浅麻醉状态下,破损鼻黏膜,滴注一定量肺炎链球菌菌液。于3、7、14和21 d分别处死小鼠,取肺脏进行组织病理学观察,确定肺炎小鼠模型制备的最佳方式。结果鼻黏膜破损组小鼠3 d时肺泡间隔内毛细血管扩张,肺泡腔内以红细胞和纤维素渗出为主;7 d时病变以纤维素和中性粒细胞浸润为主;14 d时肺泡腔内渗出减少,炎症开始减轻;21 d时肺脏外观趋于正常,肺泡腔内渗出物质基本溶解吸收。结论以3×107CFU的肺炎链球菌菌液通过破损的鼻黏膜感染7 d时可以制备出比较典型、稳定的肺炎小鼠模型。