A systematic review was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of fibroblast growth factor-2 on the regeneration of tympanic membrane perforation.

The PubMed database was searched for relevant studies. Experimental studies, human randomised controlled trials, prospective single-arm studies and retrospective studies reporting acute and chronic tympanic membrane perforations in relation to two healing outcomes (success rate and closure time), were selected.

All 11 clinical studies investigating the effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 on traumatic tympanic membrane perforations in humans reported a success rate of 89.3–100 per cent, with a closure time of around 2 weeks. Three studies of fibroblast growth factor-2 combined with Gelfoam showed that the success rate of chronic tympanic membrane perforation was 83–98.1 per cent in the fibroblast growth factor-2 group, but 10 per cent in the gelatine sponge groups.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 with or without biological material patching promotes regeneration in cases of acute and chronic tympanic membrane perforation, and is safe and efficient. However, the best dosage, application time and administration pathway of fibroblast growth factor-2 are still to be elucidated.

Objective: To understand the underlying mechanism of gastric symptoms in patients with depressive disorder.

Methods: This study tested in the rat depression model evoked with chronic mild stress whether the microstructure gastric mucosa is injured using scanning electronic microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). In addition, the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) proteins in the gastric mucosa were measured by Western blotting.

Results: We found that the gastric epithelial cells were ruptured and the gastric pits were widened in rats with depression. The amount of mucous granules was also reduced in the surface mucous cells. Moreover, parietal cells became active, and the secretory canaliculi were magnified. Expression of HSP70 and FGF2 was reduced in the gastric mucosa.

Conclusions: These findings suggested that gastric symptoms in rats with depressive-like behaviour were caused by the injury of the gastric mucosa, AQ1 and HSP70 and FGF2 may be key molecules in the pathogenesis.