The traditional Japanese medicine hangeshashinto alleviates oral ulcer-induced pain in a rat model

ObjectiveRecent studies have demonstrated that mouthwash made with the traditional Japanese medicine hangeshashinto exhibits anti-inflammatory action and alleviates oral mucositis scores, including pain complaints, in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy. However, no study has demonstrated the mechanism underlying how hangeshashinto provides pain relief in oral ulcers.DesignThe analgesic effects on pain-related behaviors following the topical application of hangeshashinto were evaluated in an oral ulcer rat model treated with acetic acid using recently developed methods. Indomethacin, the representative anti-inflammatory agent, was intraperitoneally administered. The tissue permeability of the oral mucosa was histologically evaluated after applying the fluorescent substance FluoroGold.ResultsThe topical application of hangeshashinto in ulcerative oral mucosa suppressed mechanical pain hypersensitivity over 60 min, without any effects on healthy mucosa. The same drug application also inhibited oral ulcer-induced spontaneous pain. Indomethacin administration failed to block the mechanical pain hypersensitivity, though it did largely block spontaneous pain. Topical anesthesia with lidocaine showed hyposensitivity to mechanical stimulation in healthy mucosa. In the ulcer regions in which the oral epithelial barrier was destroyed, deep parenchyma was stained with FluoroGold, in contrast to healthy oral mucosa, in which staining was limiting to the superficial site.ConclusionsHangeshashinto leads to long-lasting analgesic effects, specifically in the ulcer region by destroying the epithelial barrier. Hangeshashinto alleviates oral ulcer-induced pain in inflammation-dependent and/or independent manner.     

Do Gynecologists Talk About Sexual Dysfunction With Their Patients?

IntroductionFemale sexual problems and dysfunctions have a high prevalence, ranging from 12% to 80%, depending on the definition being used, underlying comorbidities, and age. Despite the high prevalence, there are only scarce data about the approach gynecologists use to address female sexual dysfunction.AimThe aim of this study is to evaluate the approach of Swiss gynecologists to addressing sexual problems among their outpatients.MethodsAfter a pilot study including 56 physicians, a modified 19‐item self‐administered questionnaire was sent to 856 Swiss gynecologists to evaluate their methods of management of patients with sexual issues and their attitudes regarding the integration of sexual health issues into the gynecological consultation.Main Outcome MeasuresBesides demographic information, the self‐administered questionnaire included questions about addressing sexual health as part of consultation routine, estimated frequency of symptoms, reasons for not addressing sexuality, clinical conditions in which sexuality was addressed, and methods of management of sexual problems.ResultsOf the 341 responding gynecologists (39.8% response rate), 40.4% reported having at least brief (at least 1–2 days) of training in sexual medicine, 7.9% of the respondents routinely explored sexual issues with more than 80% of their patients, 28.2% of the respondents offered appointments specifically for sexual issues, and 85% proposed referrals to specialized colleagues. Lack of motivation for therapy on the part of the patient was mentioned as the most common cause for persisting symptoms (63.3%). Dyspareunia was quoted as the most/second most prevalent type of female sexual dysfunction by 77.1% of the respondents.ConclusionWe conclude that among Swiss gynecologists, sexual problems are regarded as an important issue in gynecological outpatient care, but addressing patients' sexuality is not yet part of routine practice. Swiss gynecologists seem to be most likely to consider hormonal changes (although not so much those due to oral contraceptives) to necessitate discussion of sexual health issues, while psychosocial transitions or stress seem to be considered less important. Kottmel A, Ruether‐Wolf KV, and Bitzer J. Do gynecologists talk about sexual dysfunction with their patients? J Sex Med 2014;11;2048–2054.     

Inferior alveolar and mental nerve injuries associated with open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular fractures: A Seven Year retrospective study

PurposeTo document adverse neurosensory changes in the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and mental nerve (MN) after surgical mandibular fracture treatment and to identify risk factors associated with these changes.Materials and methodsA retrospective study of patients surgically treated for mandibular fractures. The primary study variable was the postoperative change in IAN/MN neurosensory examination after fracture fixation. Risk factors were categorized as demographic, anatomic, experience of the operator, fracture displacement and number of miniplates placed at each fracture site. Appropriate statistics were computed.Results209 patients with 293 fractures were analysed. One hundred twenty fractures (41%) were located between the lingula and mental foramen, and 173 fractures (59%) were located distal to the mental foramen. Two hundred seventeen (41%) were displaced by 5 mm or more. In 38 fractures (13%), the IAN/MN neurosensory status worsened after treatment. In a multivariate model, fracture displacement, operator inexperience and two plate fixation were associated with a statistically significant risk (P ≤ 0.05) for postoperative deterioration of IAN/MN sensation.ConclusionFixation with two miniplates, fracture displacement of 5 mm or more and operator inexperience were associated with an increased risk for deterioration of the IAN/MN neurosensory status after treatment of mandibular fractures.     

Assessment of an immunomarking technique for the study of dispersal of Culicoides biting midges

Capture–mark–recapture techniques are used to determine the dispersal and survival of arthropods, including vector groups such as Culicoides. An assumption of these studies is that capture and the subsequent marking process does not impact of the survival and behaviour of the marked individual. The small size of Culicoides means that a significant mortality and disruption of normal behaviour such as host-location can be caused by the process of collection. Here we evaluate a technique, novel to the study of dispersal in vectors, to mark Culicoides directly and indirectly without prior capture. The acquisition and subsequent detection of marker protein by Culicoides exposed to a treated substrate was investigated in the laboratory. The technique was then assessed in a small-scale field trial where a defined section of resting habitat was sprayed with an egg white solution and Culicoides caught within the vicinity were tested for the presence of egg protein. It was found that up to 100% of Culicoides acquired the protein marker in the laboratory with no apparent impact on survival. In the field, pools of Culicoides obsoletus collected next to the treated area were found to be positive for the protein, suggesting that the technique could be used in larger-scale studies. The definition of a behaviourally non-invasive technique for marking Culicoides will greatly increase our understanding of the natural dispersal behaviour of Culicoides and other vectors.     

Nose-to-brain delivery of temozolomide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles functionalized with anti-EPHA3 for glioblastoma targeting

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor. Efficient delivery of drugs targeting glioblastomas remains a challenge. Ephrin type-A receptor 3 (EPHA3) tyrosine kinase antibody-modified polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were developed to target glioblastoma via nose-to-brain delivery. Anti-EPHA3-modified, TBE-loaded NPs were prepared using an emulsion-solvent evaporation method, showed a sustained in vitro release profile up to 48 h and a mean particle size of 145.9 ± 8.7 nm. The cellular uptake of anti-EPHA3-modified NPs by C6 cells was significantly enhanced compared to that of nontargeting NPs (p < .01). In vivo imaging and distribution studies on the glioma-bearing rats showed that anti-EPHA3-modified NPs exhibited high fluorescence intensity in the brain and effectively accumulated to glioma tissues, indicating the targeting effect of anti-EPHA3. Glioma-bearing rats treated with anti-EPHA3-modified NPs resulted in significantly higher tumor cell apoptosis (p < .01) than that observed with other formulations and prolonged the median survival time of glioma-bearing rats to 26 days, which was 1.37-fold longer than that of PLGA NPs. The above results indicated that anti-EPHA3-modified NPs may potentially serve as a nose-to-brain drug carrier for the treatment of glioblastoma.     

桥小脑角手术并发症及围手术期处理

目的探讨桥小脑角手术并发症的处理及围手术期治疗方法。方法对我院近10年来104例桥小脑角手术患者进行回顾性总结,重点分析了围手术期的治疗经验,包括术前、术中及术后的处理。结果 104例桥小脑角手术中,13例出现并发症,占12.5%,包括术中发生小脑肿胀2例,神经性聋1例,面神经麻痹1例,颅内感染5例,脑脊液漏3例,脑梗塞1例;经合理治疗,除1例神经性聋和1例面神经麻痹未愈外,其余并发症均治愈。结论合理规范的桥小脑角疾病的围手术期处理,对减少并发症,提高手术疗效,具有重要意义。     

Antiangiogenic activity of 2-formyl-8-hydroxy-quinolinium chloride

Tumour growth is closely related to the development of new blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells. Without the neovascular formation, tumour volumes cannot increase and undergo metastasis. Antiangiogenesis is one of the most promising approaches for antitumour therapy. The exploration of new antiangiogenic agents would be helpful in antitumour therapy. Quinoline is an aromatic nitrogen compound characterized by a double-ring structure which exhibits a benzene ring fused to pyridine at two adjacent carbon atoms. The high stability of quinoline makes it preferable in a variety of therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications, including antitumour treatment. This work is to examine the potential antiangiogenic activity of the synthetic compound 2-Formyl-8-hydroxy-quinolinium chloride. We found that 2-Formyl-8-hydroxy-quinolinium chloride could inhibit the growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Using the diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis model, 2-Formyl-8-hydroxy-quinolinium chloride showed strong antiangiogenic activity. Furthermore, 2-Formyl-8-hydroxy-quinolinium chloride could inhibit the growth of large Hep3B xenografted tumour from the nude mice. We assume that 2-Formyl-8-hydroxy-quinolinium chloride could be a potential antiangiogenic and antitumour agent and it is worthwhile to further study its underlying working mechanism.     

医护一体化护理应用于胃息肉行内镜下黏膜切除术患者的效果研究

目的　探讨对胃息肉行内镜下黏膜切除术患者实施医护一体化护理的效果。方法　选取2020年2月至2021年8月期间烟台市莱阳中心医院收治的96例胃息肉行内镜下黏膜切除术患者的临床资料，将其采用单双号抽签方式分为两组实施研究。对照组（实施常规护理）：48例，男26例，女22例，年龄32～72（50.17±6.15）岁；观察组（实施医护一体化护理）：48例，男25例，女23例，年龄33～71（50.23±6.10）岁。对比两组患者术后恢复情况、心境状态改善情况、并发症发生情况及生活质量改善情况。计数资料采用率（%）表示，连续性校正行χ²检验，计量资料采用（x±s）表示，组间对比行t检验。结果　观察组术后首次排气时间、首次排便时间及肠鸣音恢复时间早于对照组，差异均有统计学意义（t=12.328、8.779、8.187，均P<0.05）；观察组干预后焦虑自评量表（SAS）及抑郁自评量表（SDS）评分分别为（44.34±4.32）分、（45.22±4.48）分，显著低于对照组的（51.22±4.45）分、（53.67±4.56）分（t=7.686、9.158，均P<0.05）；观察组术后并发症发生率为4.17%（2/48），相比较对照组的20.83%（10/48），差异有统计学意义（χ² =6.095，P=0.014）；观察组躯体功能、心理功能、社会功能、物质生活状态评分均高于对照组（t=5.699、5.368、5.608、4.996，均P<0.05）。结论　对胃息肉行内镜下黏膜切除术患者开展医护一体化护理模式后，不仅能加快其康复进度，使并发症的发生率得以降低，还能改善其心境状态，使其生活质量得以提升，具有显著的临床推广价值。