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Purpose To investigate the effects of Merogel coverage on ostial patency in endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EES-DCR) for primary chronic dacryocystitis (PCD). Methods In all, 260 patients with unilateral PCD were randomized into two groups: the Merogel group and the control group. All patients underwent EES-DCR. The Merogel group received Merogel covering the wound 1-2 mm around the ostium and the control group received no treatment. Patients were followed up for 9 months. The mucosal epithelialization of the wound, the proliferation of fibrosis tissue, and the success rate of ostial patency were compared. Results Our study included 112 patients in the Merogel group and 115 patients in the control group. At the 2-week review, intact mucosal epithelium lined the ostia in 96 Merogel patients compared with 80 control patients (ITT analysis: v 2 ¼ 4.502, P ¼ 0.034). At the 9-month review, scars were present in 18 patients in the Merogel group compared with 39 patients in the control group (ITT analysis: v 2 ¼ 9.909, P ¼ 0.002, ITT analysis). No differences were observed in the granulation formation between the two groups. The success rate of ostial patency reached 94.6% (106/112) in the Merogel group compared with 80% (92/115) in the control group (ITT analysis: v 2 ¼ 4.151, P ¼ 0.042). Conclusion Merogel coverage may enhance the success rate of EES-DCR for PCD by promoting mucosal epithelial healing and preventing excessive scarring.

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Background: The goal was to investigate changes of the inner intra-retinal layer thicknesses and retinal capillary density (RCD) around the macula in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients with or without dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). Methods: Forty-four TAO patients including 23 non-DON and 21 DON patients, and 38 healthy participants were enrolled. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography equipped with Angiovue was used to obtain threedimensional retinal thickness maps and microvascular images of the superficial and deep retinal capillary layers (SRCL and DRCL, respectively) around the macula. Quantitative analyses were performed using a custom automated algorithm. Results: The thicknesses of the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer, and ganglion cell complex (GCC) as well as the RCDs in the SRCL and DRCL in both TAO groups were significantly decreased compared to the controls. In addition, the RCDs in DRCL of the DON group were further decreased compared to the non-DON group. GCC thickness in both TAO groups was positively correlated with the RCDs of the SRCL in the total annular zone and in the temporal, inferior, and nasal sectors. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the GCC thickness combined with the RCD were generally larger than those of each single indicator. Conclusions: Thinned inner intra-retinal layers and decreased RCDs in the TAO patients without DON revealed that morphological changes might precede visual dysfunction. The composite index of the retinal structure and the microvascular density might be valuable in the diagnosing, monitoring, and intervention for early DON.

Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectosigmoid colon is an uncommon benign vascular lesion. We report 5 cases of diffuse cavernous hemangioma, focusing on the clinical features, diagnosis procedure and treatment. Five patients have undergone sphincter-saving procedures, 3 cases had coloanal sleeve anastomoses and 1 patient each had pull-through anastomosis and lower anterior resection. During the follow-up, which ranged from 3 to 10 years, 3 patients had no further anal bleeding and 2 patients had minor intermittent anal bleeding. Continence for normal stool was satisfactory in all patients. In conclusion, sphincter-saving procedure is most appropriate and curative approach for the treatment of diffuse cavernous hemangioma. Imaging study plays an important role in the diagnosis, preoperative staging and follow-up.