Impacts of different methylprednisolone administration routes in patients with sudden hearing loss or Meniere’s disease

Background:Evidence suggests that glucocorticoids are important in the treatment of sudden hearing loss(SHL)and Meniere’s disease(MD).However,different glucocorticoid administration methods may have a significant impact on treatment outcomes.Objective:This study aimed to investigate effects of different glucocorticoid administration methods on sudden hearing loss and Meniere’s disease.Methods:In this study,glucocorticoids were administered orally in 18 patients,by retroauricular injection in 15 patients and by intratympanic injection in 15 patients.White blood cell(WBC)count,serum Kt,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),body temperature,heart rate and blood pressure were used to evaluate effects of glucocorticoids on patients with hearing loss.Visual analog scale(VAS)of pain and sleep disorders were also surveyed,and pure tone audiometry(PTA)results were compared among groups to evaluate efficacy of different glucocorticoids administration methods.Result:WBC count,heart rate and blood pressure were higher in patients taking oral glucocorticoids,while body temperature,serum Kt and FPG levels did not change in all three groups.However,patients who received intratympanic injection of glucocorticoids experienced more pain,while those taking oral glucocorticoids reported more sleep impairment.Treatment efficacy on hearing loss was not significantly different among the three groups.Conclusion:These findings suggest that systemic glucocorticoid administration can result in greater whole body responses than local administration,but with similar hearing treatment efficacy.

Bone marrow stromal cells as a therapeutic treatment for ischemic stroke

Cerebral ischemia remains the most frequent cause of death and quality-of-life impairments due to neurological deficits, and accounts for the majority of total healthcare costs. However, treatments for cerebral ischemia are limited. Over the last decade, bone marrow stromal cell （BMSC） therapy has emerged as a particularly appealing option, as it is possible to help patients even when initiated days or even weeks after the ischemic insult. BMSCs are a class of multipotent, self-renewing cells that give rise to differentiated progeny when implanted into appropriate tissues. Therapeutic effects of BMSC treatment for ischemic stroke, including sensory and motor recovery, have been reported in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. In this article, we review the recent progress in BMSC-based therapy for ischemic stroke, focusing on the route of delivery and pre-processing of BMSCs. Selecting an optimal delivery route is of particular importance. The ideal approach, as well as the least risky, for translational applications still requires further identification. Appropriate pre- processing of BMSCs or combination therapy has the benefit of achieving the maximum possible restoration. Further pre-clinical studies are required to determine the time-window for transplantation and the appropriate dosage of cells.

Evaluation of repeated exposure systemic toxicity test of PVC with new plasticizer on rats via dual parenteral routes

Systemic toxicity caused by repeated exposure to both polar and nonpolar leachables of di(2-ethylhexyl)-1,2-cyclohexane plasticized polyvinyl chloride(PVC)was evaluated with dual routes of parenteral administration method on rats in the study.Experimental group and control group were designed by researchers.Tail intravenous injection with 0.9%sodium chloride injection extracts and intraperitoneal injection with corn oil extracts were conducted to the experimental rats while tail intravenous injection with 0.9%sodium chloride Injection and intraperitoneal injection with corn oil were conducted to the control rats.After 14 days,blood specimens were collected for clinical pathology(hematology and clinical chemistry)analysis.Selected organs were weighed and a histopathological examination was conducted.As a result,compared with the control animals,there were no toxicity-related changes on the parameters above.The results show that the rats do not show obvious systemic toxicity reaction caused by repeated exposure with dual routes of parenteral administration method on rats after administration with both polar and nonpolar exacts of di(2-ethylhexyl)-1,2-cyclohexane plasticized PVC simultaneously up for 14 days.

The application of corticosteroids for pathological scar prevention and treatment:current review and update

The prevention and treatment of pathological scars remain challenging.Corticosteroids are the mainstay drugs in clinical scar prevention and treatment as they effectively induce scar regression and improve scar pruritus and pain.Currently,intralesional injections of corticosteroids are widely used in clinical practice.These require professional medical manipulation;however,the significant accompanying injection pain,repetition of injections and adverse effects,such as skin atrophy,skin pigmentation and telangiectasia,make this treatment modality an unpleasant experience for patients.Transdermal administration is,therefore,a promising non-invasive and easy-to-use method for corticosteroid administration for scar treatment.In this review,we first summarize the mechanisms of action of corticosteroids in scar prevention and treatment;then,we discuss current developments in intralesional injections and the progress of transdermal delivery systems of corticosteroids,as well as their corresponding advantages and disadvantages.