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In this study, 58.9% of cases with bronchiectasis had chronic rhino-sinusitis. Follow-up lasted 6 months. Compared with pre-therapy, post-therapy score of clinical symptoms, SNOT-22 score, and Lund-Mackay score were all significantly decreased (all p < 0.05), but post-therapy FEV1 failed to significantly improve (p > 0.05) in both groups. During the 6-month follow-up, the frequency of acute exacerbation was significantly less in the operation group than in the medication group (p < 0.01). Post-treatment score of clinical symptoms (p < 0.01), SNOT-22 score (p < 0.05), and Lund-Mackay score (p < 0.05) also were all significantly less in the operation group than in the medication group. However, there was no significant difference in post-therapy FEV1 between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Two oligomers, each containing 3 l-lysine residues, were used as model molecules for the simulation of the β-sheet conformation of ɛ-polylysine (ɛ-PLL) chains. Their C terminals were capped with ethylamine and N terminals were capped with α-l-aminobutanoic acid, respectively. The calculations were carried out with the hybrid two-level ONOIM (B3LYP/6-31G:PM3) computational chemistry method. The optimized conformation was obtained and IR frequencies were compared with experimental data. The result indicated that the two chains were winded around each other to form a distinct cyclohepta structure through bifurcated hydrogen bonds. The groups of amide and α-amidocyanogen coming from one chain and the carbonyl group from the other chain were involved in the cyclohepta structure. The bond angle of the bifurcated hydrogen bonds was 66.6°. The frequency analysis at ONIOM [B3LYP/6-31G (d):PM3] level showed the IR absorbances of the main groups, such as the amide and amidocyanogen groups, were in accordance with the experimental data.

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