[The surgical effect on obstructive sleep apnea with laryngopharyngeal reflux]

Objective:To explore the effect of surgical treatment for OSA with laryngopharyngeal reflux（LPR）. Method:A retrospective analysis was made in 42 patients diagnosed as moderate to severe OSA with LPR and treated with modified-coblation assisted Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty（M-CAUP）. The results of PSG, reflux symptom index（RSI）, reflux finding score（RFS） and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring before and after operation were compared. Result:The AHI after operation was significantly lower than that before operation（P<0.05）, and the average oxygen saturation and minimum blood pressure saturation were increased（P<0.05）. The total scores of RSI and RFS after operation were lower than those before operation（P<0.05）. The percentage of time of pH<4.0 in esophagus 24 hours after operation was lower than that before operation（P<0.05）. Conclusion:For patients with moderate to severe OSA combined with LPR with oropharyngeal obstruction, surgical treatment can not only reduce airway stenosis and obstruction, but also improve the symptoms and signs of LPR.

Plasma treatment of electrospun PCL random nanofiber meshes (NFMs) for biological property improvement

In this article, the plasma surface modification effects on the chemical, mechanical, and biological properties of electrospun poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) random nanofiber meshes (NFMs) were investigated by adjusting plasma chemistry, that is, using glow discharges of N(2) +H(2), NH(3) +O(2), and Ar+O(2) gas mixtures. The surface property changes of electrospun PCL NFMs after those plasma treatments were examined by water contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the plasma treatments introduced polar groups onto the surfaces and thus increased the surface hydrophilicity. From tensile test data, plasma treatment had limited effect on the mechanical properties of PCL random NFMs. The biological properties of the plasma-treated PCL NFMs were examined by cell proliferation assays using mouse osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1). It was found that the plasma-treated PCL NFMs gave a higher proliferation rate and improved cell adhesion properties as compared with the untreated controls.

The evaluation of 186Re-labeled antibodies using N2S4 chelate in vitro and in vivo using tumor-bearing nude mice

We have recently described a method for radiolabeling monoclonal antibodies, with metallic radionuclides using a new chelating agent N2S3. Using this chelate the monoclonal antibodies Lym-1 and B72.3 were labeled with 186Re and their biological integrity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. 186Re-labeled antibodies using N2S4 methodology were found to be stable in human serum and retained their immunoreactivity. Intravenous administration of 0.5 mCi 186Re-labeled antibodies resulted in partial or complete regression of tumor tissue in mice.