Mitochondrial genomes of three kissing bugs (Reduviidae: Triatominae) and their phylogenetic implications.

The reduviid subfamily Triatominae, also called kissing bugs, are vectors of Chagas disease, which is one of the most seriously neglected tropical parasitic diseases. Only three complete mitochondrial genomes of kissing bugs from the genus Triatoma have been sequenced to date. To better understand the diversity of mitochondrial genomes and the evolution of kissing bugs, mitochondrial genomes of three kissing bugs, Triatoma migrans, Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus, and Rhodnius pictipes, were sequenced using next-generation sequencing and a comparative mitochondrial genomic analysis of three genera and two tribes in Triatominae was conducted.

[Changes in small airway function in rhinitis without asthma].

Objective: Observe the changes of small airway function in patients with rhinitis but without asthma and/or lower airway symptoms.

Method: Between June 2008 and December 2012, we recruited 903 subjects, including 377 with allergic rhinitis (AR), 262 with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) and 264 healthy subjects. All subjects underwent meticulous history taking, nasal examination, allergen skin prick test, blood routine test, serum total immunoglobin E assay, pulmonary ventilation function test and bronchial challenge test.

Morphological and functional changes of the optic nerve following traumatic optic nerve injuries in rabbits.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological changes of the optic nerve following traumatic injuries and decompression at different times after injury, and to observe the changes of the visually evoked potentials, to identify the relevant associations between surgical opportunity and the clinical effect of traumatic optic nerve injuries. Rabbits were chosen as the animal model for the study. All the rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (A-E), representing the normal control, decompression in 48 h, in 1 week, in 2 weeks and non-decompression groups, respectively.

Classification of non-allergic rhinitis based on inflammatory characteristics.

The study aims to investigate nasal and lower airway inflammation in patients with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR), and to discuss a method of NAR classification based on inflammatory characteristics and its clinical significance. A total of 117 NAR patients admitted to our hospital from June 2010 to June 2011 were enrolled in this study, 162 healthy participants were employed as healthy controls. Nasal and lower airway inflammation were evaluated using the skin prick test, nasal and pulmonary visual analogue scale scoring, cell blood count, nasal douche, induced sputum assay, nasal provocation test, and bronchial provocation test.

Association between CYP1B1 gene polymorphisms and risk factors and susceptibility to laryngeal cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphism of the cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) gene, a metabolic enzyme gene, and the susceptibility to laryngeal cancer among the Chinese Han population.

Material/methods: In a case-control study, we investigated polymorphisms in the CYP1B1 gene (rs10012, rs1056827, and rs1056836) with a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (TaqMan). The study was conducted with 300 Chinese Han patients with laryngeal cancer and 300 healthy Chinese Han subjects in a control group.

Haplotype analysis of the XRCC1 gene and laryngeal cancer.

Objective: Several polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have been extensively studied in association with various human cancers, including laryngeal cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the association between polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene and laryngeal cancer in a Chinese population.

Methods: Five polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene (rs3213403, rs1799778, rs1001581, rs3213282, and rs3810378) were genotyped by TaqMan in 234 patients with larynx cancer and 230 age- and sex-matched controls without cancer.

Isolated frontal sinusitis treated using an anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical approach.

Traditional frontal sinus surgery is associated with a significant trauma. Herein, we have discussed the feasibility, technique, and efficacy of a minimally invasive anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical approach performed under nasal endoscopy to treat isolated frontal sinusitis. Fifteen patients with isolated frontal sinusitis underwent the anterior-to-ethmoidal bulla surgical procedure under general anesthesia.

Repair of ear cartilage defects with allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rabbits.

The study aims to investigate the feasibility of repairing cartilaginous defects with chondrocytes induced from allogenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) in rabbits' ear. BMMSCs were isolated and purified from New Zealand rabbits, in vitro amplified, and cultured in chondrocyte induction medium in order to acquire chondrocytes. After 3 weeks of induction, their phenotypes were confirmed as chondrocytes, then they were implanted onto novel polymeric scaffolds made from Poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) embedded with chitosan nonwoven cloth.

[Changes of extracellular matrix of nasal mucosa in guinea pig model of prolonged allergic-induced rhinitis].

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the changes of the extracellular matrix in nasal mucosa by a guinea pig model of prolonged allergic-induced rhinitis.

Method: Thirty-two male Hartley guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups: allergen challenged groups (Group 2 w, Group 6 w and Group 12 w) and a control group. Ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs were repeatedly challenged with allergen twice a week from 2 weeks to 12 weeks.

[Prolonged allergen challenge in a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis leads to nasal mucosa remodeling].

Objective: The aim of this study was to use a guinea pig model of prolonged allergic-induced rhinitis to characterize the feature of nasal mucosa remodeling.

Method: Forty-eight male Hartley guinea pigs were randomly divided into six groups: allergen challenged groups (Group OVA(2w) , Group OVA(6w) and Group OVA(12w)) and control groups respectively (Group Sal(2w), Group Sal(6w) and Group Sal(12w)). Each group had 8 guinea pigs.

Combination of autologous fascia lata and fat injection into the vocal fold via the cricothyroid gap for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Objectives: To apply the technique of injection of a combination of autologous fascia lata and fat into the vocal fold via the cricothyroid gap for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and to evaluate the therapeutic effect in 12 patients who underwent the procedure.

Design: Retrospective analysis of 12 patients.

Setting: Academic research.

[Application of frontal drill in revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery].

Objective: To discuss the application of frontal drill in revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery.

Method: The clinical data of 11 adult patients (18 sides) suffering from chronic recurrent frontal sinusitis were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with frontal drill because of difficulty in confirming ostia under endoscope.

Production of allogenic cartilage in a tube lined with epithelium and a novel scaffold.

Objective: To study the feasibility of engineering cartilage tissue in a tube lined with epithelium and implanting allogenic chondrocytes in a novel scaffold that is made of chitosan nonwoven cloth coated with poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide).

Design: Laboratory research.

Subjects: Allogenic chondrocytes were obtained from the auricles of 1-month-old New Zealand white rabbits.

Effects of intranasal corticosteroids in the treatment of experimental acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis in rabbits.

Objective: To investigate the possible effects of intranasal corticosteroids on the focal bacterial colonization and mucosal histomorphological changes in experimental acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis in rabbits.

Methods: Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis was induced in 48 rabbits. They were divided into 4 groups: antibiotic group (group A), antibiotic and corticosteroid combination group (group B), corticosteroid group (group C), and control group (group D).

[Diagnosis of obstructive level in pharynx with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome with multiple detector-row spiral CT].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of multiple detector-row spiral CT(MSCT) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Method: Sixty-seven patients with OSAHS and 40 volunteers were scanned. The CT imagings from the nasopharyngeal floor to the glottis obtained.

[The study of resilience of oral pharyngeal wall in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome applied with multiple detector-row spiral CT].

Objective: To explore the resilience of oral pharyngeal wall in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Method: Applied with multiple detector-row spiral CT, 24 patients with OSAHS and 10 volunteers were scanned from nasopharynx to hypopharynx under the normal breathing state and the breathing state of Muller maneuver. The relevant dimensions of area and thickness of retropharyngeal soft tissue were measured in some level in imagings including the soft palatal level, the lingual level and the epiglottic level, then the resilience of these levels were calculated according to the above data.

[The epidemic survey of children rhinosinal inflammatory diseases and their correlation with asthma in Nanjing].

Objective: To realize the epidemic features of rhinosinal inflammatory diseases in children and their correlation with asthma in Nanjing,China.

Method: A questionnaire survey on children chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and airway diseases was conducted among 1087 elementary school children, aged from 9 to 10, of seven schools in Nanjing city by random cluster sampling, from March to September, 2004. The questionnaires include such questions as age, gender, family history, basis diseases, inducements, environment, therapy, correlative lower airway diseases and so on.

[Study on the myoelectric activity of dilatation muscles of upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome under asleep condition].

Objective: To observe the changes of the electromyography(EMG) of the dilatation muscles of upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) under asleep condition and to explore their functions and significance.

Method: The myoelectronic activity of levator palatini muscle, tensor palatini muscle, genioglossus muscle was measured by ENG in patients with moderate to serious OSAHS before and after induction of sleep and was compared with normal control.

Result: (1) The myoelectronic activity of dilation muscles of the upper airway in OSAHS patients were higher than that in control under awake condition (P < 0.

[Endonasal anatomy of lacrimal sac and its clinical significance in dacryocystorhinostomy].

Objective: To explore the intranasal surface localization of the lacrimal sac in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

Methods: Fifteen adult cadavers (30 sides) were studied, the data of projection position of the lacrimal sac on the lateral wall of nasal cavity were measured.

Results: In 2/3 cadavers, the lacrimal sac is located above the axilla of the middle turbinate, and 1/3 lies below it.

[Study of computed tomographic dacryocystography used in endoscopic intranasal dacryocystorhinostomy preoperatively].

Objective: To study computed tomographic dacryocystography used in endoscopic intranasal dacryocystorhinostomy preoperatively.

Method: Ten volunteers and twelve patients with dacryocystitis were undergone the coronary and axial computed tomographic dacryocystography.

Result: According to the anatomic relationship between anterior ethmoid sinus and fossa of lacrimal sac, the cells of anterior ethmoid sinus were classified into three typies: the result was that type I accounted for 12 sides (27.