Resumo Introdução As grandes perfurações traumáticas da membrana timpânica geralmente apresentam falha de cicatrização e requerem tempos de cicatrização mais longos; poucos estudos compararam os resultados de cicatrização e a audição dessas perfurações obtidos com curativo de Gelfoam® e solução otológica de ofloxacina. Objetivo Comparar os resultados de cicatrização de grandes perfurações traumáticas da membrana timpânica tratadas com Gelfoam®, solução otológica de ofloxacina e cicatrização espontânea. Método Perfurações traumáticas de > 50% de todo o tímpano foram divididas aleatoriamente em três grupos: tratamento com solução otológica de ofloxacina, com curativo de Gelfoam® e grupo de cicatrização espontânea. O resultado da cicatrização e o ganho auditivo foram comparados entre os três grupos após 6 meses. Resultados Foram incluídos nas análises 136 pacientes com grandes perfurações traumáticas de membrana timpânica. As taxas de cicatrização foram de 97,6% (40/41), 87,2% (41/47) e 79,2% (38/48) com a solução otológica de ofloxacina, curativo de Gelfoam® e grupos de cicatrização espontânea, respectivamente (p = 0,041). O tempo médio de cicatrização foi de 13,12 ± 4,61, 16,47 ± 6,24 e 49,51 ± 18,22 dias nesses grupos, respectivamente (p < 0,001). Conclusões O curativo de Gelfoam® e a solução otológica de ofloxacina podem servir como estratégias de tratamento eficazes e de baixo custo para grandes perfurações traumáticas de membrana timpânica. Entretanto, a solução otológica de ofloxacina deve ser autoaplicada diariamente para manter a borda da perfuração úmida, enquanto o curativo de Gelfoam® requer sua remoção e reaplicação periódicas.

Abstract Introduction Traumatic large tympanic membrane perforations usually fail to heal and require longer healing times. Few studies have compared the healing and hearing outcomes between gelatin sponge patching and ofloxacin otic solution. Objectives To compare the healing outcomes of large traumatic tympanic membrane perforations treated with gelatin sponge, ofloxacin otic solution, and spontaneous healing. Methods Traumatic tympanic membrane perforations >50% of the entire eardrum were randomly divided into three groups: ofloxacin otic solution, gelatin sponge patch and spontaneous healing groups. The healing outcome and hearing gain were compared between the three groups at 6 months. Results A total of 136 patients with large traumatic tympanic membrane perforations were included in analyses. The closure rates were 97.6% (40/41), 87.2% (41/47), and 79.2% (38/48) in the ofloxacin otic solution, gelatin sponge patch, and spontaneous healing groups, respectively (p = 0.041). The mean times to closure were 13.12 ± 4.61, 16.47 ± 6.24, and 49.51 ± 18.22 days in these groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions Gelatin sponge patch and ofloxacin otic solution may serve as effective and inexpensive treatment strategies for traumatic large tympanic membrane perforations. However, ofloxacin otic solution must be self-applied daily to keep the perforation edge moist, while gelatin sponge patching requires periodic removal and re-patching.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal dietary intake on the amino acid and fatty acid contents in eggs during the laying period. An experiment with a 2×2 factorial design was conducted with two maternal dietary intake levels (100 and 75% of dietary intake recommended by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture) and two broiler lines (fat and lean line). A total of 384 hens of fat line and 384 hens of lean line at 23 weeks of age were included in the experiment. Each line was randomly divided into two treatments (n = 192 in each treatment, with 12 replications), and each replication included 16 birds. The treatments were LN (lean line and normal maternal dietary intake, n = 192), LL (lean line and low maternal dietary intake, n = 192), FN (fat line and normal maternal dietary intake, n = 192), and FL (fat line and low maternal dietary intake, n = 192). The amino acid and fatty acid contents in eggs were tested (50 weeks of age). The fat line had higher levels of arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, methionine, and threonine in the egg albumen than the lean line. Low maternal dietary intake increased the cystine deposition in egg yolks. There were interactions between maternal dietary intake and line on the deposition of trans-oleic acid, docosanoic acid, and total fatty acid in egg yolks. Low maternal dietary intake increased the deposition of tetradecenoic and linolenic acids and the ratio of total polyunsaturated fatty acids to total saturated fatty acid in egg yolks but decreased the deposition of docosanoic acid. Maternal dietary intake and line affect the amino acid and fatty acid profiles in eggs.

ABSTRACT The present study describes the impact of chrysosplenetin, in the absence and presence of artemisinin, on in vitro breast cancer resistance protein-mediated transport activity in Caco-2 cell monolayers using aristolochic acid I as a specific probe substrate. We observed that novobiocin, a known breast cancer resistance protein active inhibitor, increased Papp (AP-BL) of aristolochic acid I 3.13 fold (p < 0.05) but had no effect on Papp (BL-AP). Efflux ratio (PBA/PAB) declined 4.44 fold (p < 0.05). Novobiocin, consequently, showed a direct facilitation on the uptake of AAI instead of its excretion. Oppositely, both artemisinin and chrysosplenetin alone at dose of 10 µM significantly decreased Papp (BL-AP) instead of Papp (AP-BL). Chrysosplenetin alone attenuated the efflux ratio, which was suggestive of being as a potential breast cancer resistance protein suppressant. Oddly, Papp (BL-AP) as well as efflux ratio were respectively enhanced 2.52 and 2.58 fold (p < 0.05), when co-used with artemisinin and chrysosplenetin in ratio of 1:2. The potential reason remains unclear; it might be relative to binding sites competition between artemisinin and chrysosplenetin or the homodimer/oligomer formation of breast cancer resistance protein bridged by disulfide bonds, leading to an altered in vitro breast cancer resistance protein-mediated efflux transport function.

ABSTRACT Our previous work revealed that chrysosplenetin in combination with artemisinin inhibited in vivo P-glycoprotein (P-gp, one of classic multi-drug resistance proteins) mediated digoxin transportation activity by reversing the upregulated P-gp/Mdr1 mRNA expression levels by artemisinin. Therefore, chrysosplenetin might be a potential artemisinin-resistance reversal agent as a P-gp inhibitor. But it still remains unknown if chrysosplenetin has an impact on another pivotal multi-drug resistance protein, breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp), which is co-expressed with P-gp in apical membrane of intestinal epithelial cell and overlaps some of the substrates and inhibitors. This study, therefore, further addressed the impact of chrysosplenetin, per se or in combination with artemisin, on Bcrp/ABCG2 mRNA expression levels in mice small intestine determined by western blot and real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. The drugs were intragastrically administrated once per day for 7 days. Novobiocin, a known Bcrp inhibitor, was observed to have no impact on Bcrp/ABCG2 levels with or without artemisinin versus vehicle. Interestingly, artemisinin alone attenuated Bcrp level while chrysosplenetin alone increased it (p < 0.05). Relative mRNA level was significantly decreased when co-used with artemisinin and chrysosplenetin in ratio of 1:2 (p < 0.05). The discrepant results for chrysosplenetin on Bcrp/ABCG2 mRNA expressions might be closely related to the transcriptional or posttranscriptional regulation.