Conserving resources in the diagnosis of intraoral fibroepithelial polyps

Fibroepithelial polyps (FEPs) are common, benign intraoral lesions that tend to develop slowly at predictable sites, often in response to local irritation or trauma. Historical precedent often results in referral to oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) departments for biopsy, often irrespective of symptoms, and histological assessment. OMFS and pathology services are struggling to cope with an increasing workload that will potentially lead to widespread delays to diagnosis and treatment. Over the past 20 years, clinical pathways and guidance have been developed to ensure that healthcare interventions, such as the removal of third molars, tonsils, skin tags, and benign moles, are evidence-based, have a net patient benefit, and ensure the best use of finite NHS resources. However, no such guidance exists for intraoral lesions and we regard this as an oversight. We analysed the removal of 682 FEPs over a seven-year period and report sensitivities of 92.4% for a “confirmed clinical suspicion of an FEP” and 99.7% for a “confirmed clinical suspicion of a benign diagnosis”. The incidence of non-benign disease was 0.3%. Primary care dentists should be able to diagnose and monitor FEPs and refer only if symptoms are serious or in high-risk patients or sites. Adopting this practice across the UK could free up to 1825 four-hour OMFS clinics, 405 hours of consultant histopathologists’ time, and recurring savings to the NHS estimated to be in the region of £620 000/annum. We believe that the removal of FEPs should be reclassified as an “intervention not normally funded”, and the time and resources put to better use treating patients with lesions of questionable pathology.     

Consumption of whole grain food and its determinants in a general Italian population: Results from the INHES study

Background and aimsWhole grain (WG) food consumption is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the consumption of WG food and its major demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial and behavioral determinants in a general Italian population.Methods and resultsData were from the Italian Nutrition & Health Survey (INHES), a telephone-based survey established in 2010–2013 including 9422 participants aged ≥5 years from all over Italy. WG food intake was assessed by the European Food Propensity Questionnaire and included bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, biscuits and WG soups. WG consumption was categorized as none, occasional (<1 time/week) and regular (≥1 time/week). Overall, 26.9% of the sample reported a regular consumption of WG food (27.2% of adults aged 20–97 y, and 21.9% of children/adolescents aged 5–19 y). In both age-groups, the major food source contributing to total WG intake was WG bread followed by WG pasta. Among adults, greater consumption of WG was associated with healthier lifestyle (e.g. sport activity), and higher educational level. Eating meals outside of the house in adults, and spending >2 h/day watching TV in children/adolescents were inversely associated with WG intake.ConclusionsThe percentage of WG consumers in Italy in 2010–2013 appears to be quite low and still below that recorded in other countries of Europe where consumption is frequently over 50 percent. WG consumption is likely to be influenced by socioeconomic status and is associated with a number of psychosocial factors, meal patterns and eating-related behaviors.     

Contribution to the rheological testing of pharmaceutical semisolids

Rheological behaviour of pharmaceutical semisolid preparations significantly affects manufacturing process, administration, stability, homogeneity of incorporated drug, accuracy of dosing, adhesion in the place of application, drug release, and resulting therapeutic effect of the product. We performed test of consistency by penetrometry, rotational, oscillation and creep tests, and squeeze and tack tests of model samples to introduce methods suitable for characterization and comparison of semisolids in practice. Penetrometry is a simple method allowing sorting the semisolids to low and high stress-resistant materials but deficient for rheological characterization of semisolids. Value of yield stress, generally considered to be appropriate feature of semisolids, is significantly influenced by the method of testing and the way of evaluation. The hysteresis loops of model semisolids revealed incomplete thixotropy, therefore, three-step thixotropy test was employed. Semisolids showed nonlinear response in the creep phase of tests and partial recovery of structure by storing energy in the recovery phase. Squeeze and tack tests seem to be convenient ways for comparison of semisolids. Our study can contribute to a better understanding of different flow behaviour of semisolids given by different physicochemical properties of excipients and can bring useful approaches to evaluation and comparison of semisolids in practice.     

不同氮素形态和浓度水平对浙贝母产量和品质的影响

目的:研究不同氮素形态配施对浙贝母产量和品质的影响,为浙贝母氮肥的科学施用及重庆地区的迁地引种提供依据。方法:采用盆栽试验法,研究了2种氮素形态的5种浓度水平即硝态氮(NO_3~--N)-铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)为15∶0(N1),12∶3(N2),7. 5∶7. 5(N3),3∶12(N4),0∶15(N5)处理下,引种栽培的浙贝母生长及生理生化、土壤因子、生物碱含量及产量的变化。结果:与不施氮(CK)处理组相比,不同氮素营养配施对浙贝母生长和品质均有显著提高,相互间存在差异。其中,随着铵态氮浓度的增加:①在硝态氮-铵态氮比为3∶12时,株高、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性达到最大,较CK组分别增加了9. 27%,206. 62%;②在硝态氮-铵态氮比为0∶15时,叶长,叶宽,茎粗,叶绿素a,叶绿素b,叶绿素总量,速效磷含量,有机质含量、总生物碱含量/产量达到最大,分别高于CK处理组14. 02%,16. 44%,13. 68%,40. 75%,45. 31%,41. 72%,77. 70%,14. 70%,24. 61%/47. 39%;随着硝态氮浓度的增加;③在硝态氮-铵态氮比为7. 5∶7. 5时,叶形指数、可溶性蛋白含量、贝母辛含量/产量、贝母素乙产量、鳞茎干重均达到最大,分别高于CK处理组2. 54%,5. 92%,21. 76%/54. 55%,60. 61%,26. 93%;④在硝态氮-铵态氮比为12∶3时,类胡萝卜素含量、色素含量、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、贝母素甲含量/产量、贝母素乙含量、贝母素(甲+乙)含量/产量、贝母素(甲+乙)+贝母辛含量/产量、鳞茎湿重均达到最大,分别高于CK处理组45. 39%,45. 31%,271. 38%,67. 45%,39. 82%/64. 87%,36. 01%,38. 90%/63. 80%,37. 03%/61. 57%,20. 29%。结论:较高比例的铵态氮利于浙贝母的生长;而较高比例的硝态氮利于浙贝母鳞茎的生长以及代谢产物生物碱的积累。氮素配比施用(硝态氮-铵态氮比为12:3)较单一形态氮素更有利于提高浙贝母的产量和品质。     

正交试验优选猫爪草纳米乳喷雾剂的提取工艺

目的:正交试验优选猫爪草纳米乳喷雾剂的最佳提取工艺。方法:以总黄酮提取量和浸膏得率的综合评分为评价指标,在单因素试验基础上,采用L9(34)正交试验考察猫爪草醇提工艺的溶剂体积、乙醇浓度、提取时间及提取温度对提取工艺的影响。结果:最佳提取工艺为以75%乙醇为提取溶剂,提取温度60℃,第1次8倍量1.5 h,第2次7倍量1 h,共提取2次。结论:在单因素试验基础上,通过正交试验优选的提取工艺经验证稳定、简便易行、预测性好,为猫爪草纳米乳喷雾剂的进一步研发奠定了基础。     

Follow-up on: optimizing lesion detection in small bowel capsule endoscopy and beyond: from present problems to future solutions

Introduction: This review presents noteworthy advances in clinical and experimental Capsule Endoscopy (CE), focusing on the progress that has been reported over the last 5 years since our previous review on the subject.

Areas covered: This study presents the commercially available CE platforms, as well as the advances made in optimizing the diagnostic capabilities of CE. The latter includes recent concept and prototype capsule endoscopes, medical approaches to improve diagnostic yield, and progress in software for enhancing visualization, abnormality detection, and lesion localization.

Expert commentary: Currently, moving through the second decade of CE evolution, there are still several open issues and remarkable challenges to overcome.     

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging improves the nodal yield in neck dissection in oral cavity cancer – A randomized study

IntroductionLymph node yield (LNY) in neck dissection has been identified as a prognostic factor in oral cavity cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of additional use of optical imaging on LNY in therapeutic ND in oral cancer.MethodsConsecutive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with clinical neck metastasis planned for primary tumor resection were randomized to conventional neck dissection or near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF)-guided neck dissection, respectively. In the intervention group, patients were injected with ICG-Nanocoll prior to surgery. Intraoperatively, an optical hand-held camera system was used for lymph node identification. Also, NIRF imaging of the neck specimen was performed, and optical signals were pinned with needle markings to guide the pathological examination. The endpoint of the study was LNY per neck side in levels Ib-III.Results31 patients were included with 18 neck sides in the control group and 18 neck sides in the intervention group for evaluation. During NIRF-guided ND, individual lymph nodes could be identified by a bright fluorescent signal and individual tumor-related drainage patterns could be observed in the neck. The LNY in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.032) with a mean of 24 LN (range: 12–33 LN in levels Ib-III compared to 18 LN (range: 10–36 LN) in the control group, respectively.ConclusionsNIRF-guided ND significantly improved the nodal yield compared to the control group. Intraoperative real-time optical imaging enabled direct visualization of tumor-related drainage patterns within the neck lymphatics.     

百蕊颗粒结合氨溴索雾化吸入治疗慢性支气管炎急性发作临床研究

目的观察百蕊颗粒结合氨溴索雾化吸入治疗慢性支气管炎急性发作风热袭肺证的疗效。方法将本院2015年7月-2018年7月符合入选标准的150例慢性支气管炎急性发作患者,采用随机数字表法分为2组,每组75例。对照组在西医常规治疗基础上雾化吸入盐酸氨溴索,治疗组在对照组基础上冲服百蕊颗粒。2组均连续治疗2周。分别于治疗前后进行临床症状评分及风热袭肺证评分。采用肺功能仪检测FEV1占预计值百分比和FEV1/FVC;采用ELISA法分别检测血清及痰液中的TNF-α和IL-6水平,记录患者的咳嗽、喘息、咳痰、肺部啰音的消失时间,评价临床疗效。结果治疗组总有效率为98.6%(72/73)、对照组为88.9%(64/72),2组比较差异有统计学意义(χ^2=4.354,P=0.037)。治疗组咳嗽、喘息、咳痰、肺部啰音消失时间均早于对照组(t值分别为5.331、5.590、5.841、6.305,P<0.01)。治疗组治疗后咳嗽、喘息、咳痰、哮鸣音症状评分均低于对照组(t值分别为4.990、4.431、5.221、5.004,P值均<0.01);风热袭肺证咳喘、发热、口干咽痛、鼻塞、流涕评分均低于对照组(t值分别为5.652、5.190、5.311、5.793、5.643,P值均<0.01)。治疗后,治疗组FEV1占预计值百分比[(52.51±5.63)%比(47.30±5.21)%,t=8.931]、FEV1/FVC[(61.57±6.44)比(56.87±5.82),t=8.251]均高于对照组(P<0.01)。治疗组治疗后血清TNF-α、IL-6水平(t值分别5.331、4.908)及痰液中TNF-α、IL-6水平(t值分别6.001、4.803)均低于对照组(P<0.01)。结论百蕊颗粒结合雾化吸入氨溴索可有效降低慢性支气管炎急性发作患者的炎性细胞因子水平,改善临床症状,提高疗效。