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ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the humoral and cellular immunity of children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and hypertrophy of tonsils before and after plasma-mediated temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation treatment. Fifty-seven children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and with hypertrophy of tonsils were enrolled in this study. Thirty-seven children were grouped in the partial tonsillectomy group and 20, in the tonsillectomy group. The levels of CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + , and CD4 + /CD8 + were measured for cellular immunity, and the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were measured for humoral immunity. Blood samples were collected before and 1 and 3 months after the operation. The IgG, IgA, and IgM levels in the tonsillectomy group were significantly decreased 1 month after the operation, and recovered to the normal levels within 3 months of the operation (P < 0.05). However, the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM in the partial tonsillectomy group decreased slightly, without a significant difference (P > 0.05). The cellular immunity of the 2 groups was not statistically different pre-and post-operation (P > 0.05). The results from the present study indicate that partial tonsillectomy by plasmamediated temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation did not impact on the humoral and cellular immunity of children.

BackgroundIn treating juvenile-onset laryngeal papillomatosis, the most difficult aspect is preventing recurrence. After a single treatment, recurrence can begin after as soon as 20 days and the recurrent rate can be higher than 90%. The causes of recurrence include the presence of mucosal cells infected with papilloma virus, which are undetectable with the naked eyes, and surgery-induced infection. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) could effectively solve this problem. Virus-infected cells have a very high metabolic energy for capturing and internalizing the photosensitizer, which, after light stimulation, subsequently induces active oxygen species inside the nucleus, which kill infected cells. The second generation of photosensitizer agents (PA) are locally applied to avoid the intravenous systemic damage caused by first-generation PAs, and this method is widely used for the treatment of genital warts to very good effect.MethodsWe used the photodynamic method to treat laryngeal papillomatosis in children and obtained significant efficacy. We followed three juvenile subjects with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis through a course of treatment (each course includes three PDT sessions), with a follow-up after 6 months.ResultsThe characteristic procedures involve exposing the larynx with a laryngoscope and using low-temperature plasma technology to visualize the tumor resection, as the effects of plasma technology can reduce postoperative laryngeal edema and reduce intraoperative metastasis. PDT was performed during the first surgery, 20 days after and 30 days after surgery. At the 6-month follow-ups, there was no recurrence.ConclusionThis was the world's first successful reported case of the use of PDT treatment for juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis.

TECTA-related deafness can be inherited as autosomal-dominant nonsyndromic deafness (designated DFNA) or as the autosomal-recessive version. The α-tectorin protein, which is encoded by the TECTA gene, is one of the major components of the tectorial membrane in the inner ear. Using targeted DNA capture and massively parallel sequencing (MPS), we screened 42 genes known to be responsible for human deafness in a Chinese family (Family 3187) in which common deafness mutations had been ruled out as the cause, and identified a novel mutation, c.257–262CCTTTC>GCT (p. Ser86Cys; p. Pro88del) in exon 3 of the TECTA gene in the proband and his extended family. All affected individuals in this family had moderate down-sloping hearing loss across all frequencies. To our knowledge, this is the second TECTA mutation identified in Chinese population. This study demonstrates that targeted genomic capture, MPS, and barcode technology might broaden the availability of genetic testing for individuals with undiagnosed DFNA.

This simple technique is feasible and minimally invasive, and may be particularly beneficial to patients with a deviated septum who seek to improve both their aesthetic appearance and nasal functionality. However, this method is not appropriate for those with a crooked nose caused by nasal bone deformity, lateral cartilages, and severe septal deformity.