The effect of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on pulmonary improvement of controlled asthmatic patients with chronic sinusitis

The relationship between asthma and sinusitis has been proposed in many reports but the role of sinus surgery in their treatment is still controversial. Therefore, the effect of functional sinus surgery in patients with controlled asthma was evaluated. Fifty six patients with a history of sinusitis in whom maximum medical treatment had failed and also those with a history of asthma who were in a stable condition at time of surgery and were candidates for endoscopic sinus surgery were selected. All those who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery were re-evaluated at last one year later for pulmonary and sinus status. The patients' characteristics were prospectively recorded during the study period from January 2007 to November 2009. Finally, the results of the assessments were analyzed. Among 56 studied patients, 35 (62.5%) were female and 21 (37.5%) male. Preoperative imaging, evaluated according to Lund Mac Kay score, had a mean score of 19.5±5. The average effect of FESS in asthma improvement was 69.6%. Asthma improvement had a significant relationship with the duration of asthma and sinusitis before surgery. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery can effectively treat sinusitis in asthmatic patients. Earlier intervention in the course of pulmonary disease may warrant a better outcome.     

Protective effects of chronic lithium treatment against spatial memory retention deficits induced by the protein kinase AII inhibitor H-89 in rats

We have previously shown that infusion of the PKAII inhibitor H-89 in the CA1 area of the hippocampus impaired spatial memory retention. There is some evidence suggesting the neuroprotective effects of chronic lithium administration including its ability to attenuate a deleterious effect of chronic stress on spatial memory in rats. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic administration of lithium can improve memory as well as influence the inhibitory effect of H-89 on spatial memory retention. Male albino rats were treated systemically with lithium (600 mg/l) for 4 weeks and then trained for 4 days in the Morris water maze. Testing the animals 48 h later showed a significant reduction in escape latency (p < 0.05) and travel distance (p < 0.05) compared to the controls. In separate experiments, the rats were similarly treated with lithium for 4 weeks, followed by similar training for 4 days and then immediately infused bilaterally with vehicle or 5 micromol/l H-89 into the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Animals were then tested 48 h after H-89 infusion in order to assess their spatial memory retention. The lithium treatment caused a significant reduction in escape latency (p < 0.001) and travel distance (p < 0.001) compared to H-89-treated animals. The data suggest that lithium treatment for 4 weeks improved spatial memory retention and that lithium pretreatment prevented or reversed the H-89-induced spatial memory deficits.     

Quantitative analysis of osteoclast-specific gene markers stimulated by lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer layers of Gram-negative bacteria plays an important role in initiating and sustaining periapical lesions. To understand the mechanisms of osteoclastic bone resorption in periapical lesions induced by LPS, we stimulated osteoclast precursors, RAW 264.7 cells with LPS. LPS stimulated osteoclastogenesis when osteoclast precursors were primed with activator for NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) as little as 24 h. By employing real-time PCR analysis, we have confirmed that osteoclast-like cells stimulated by LPS express high level of osteoclast-specific gene markers such as TRAP, cathepsin K, and calcitonin receptor. These results suggest that bone-resportive action by LPS is partially independent of RANKL.     

Synthesis and in‐vitro Cytotoxicity of Poly‐functionalized 4‐(2‐Arylthiazol‐4‐yl)‐4H‐chromenes

A new series of 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes bearing a 2‐arylthiazol‐4‐yl moiety at the 4‐position were prepared as potential cytotoxic agents. The in‐vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthesized 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes was investigated in comparison with etoposide, a well‐known anticancer drug, using MTT colorimetric assay. Among them, the 2‐(2‐chlorophenyl)thiazol‐4‐yl analog 4b showed the most potent activity against nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma KB, medulloblastoma DAOY, and astrocytoma 1321N1, and compound 4d bearing a 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)thiazol‐4‐yl moiety at the 4‐position of the chromene ring exhibited the best inhibitory activity against breast cancer cells MCF‐7, lung cancer cells A549, and colon adenocarcinoma cells SW480 with IC₅₀ values less than 5 μM. The ability of compound 4b to induce apoptosis was confirmed in a nuclear morphological assay by DAPI staining in the KB and MCF‐7 cells.     

Adherence of enamel matrix derivatives on root-end filling materials

It was recently shown that application of enamel matrix derivatives (EMDs) on denuded root dentin promotes periodontal regeneration. EMD is shown to adhere to the etched dentin, but its adherence to root-end filling materials is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adherence of a commercially available EMD product to root-end filling materials. Dentin sections were embedded in blocks made of acrylic resin. Cavities were prepared in similar acrylic resin blocks and were filled with amalgam, IRM, or composite resin. EMD was labeled with radioactive iodine and applied to the surfaces of the dentin sections, freshly made fillings, or acrylic resin controls. The specimens were rinsed, and the amount of radioactive iodine was determined in a gamma counter. Substantial amounts of EMD adhered to dentin sections. EMD adherence to amalgam and IRM was significantly less than to dentin or composite resin.     

Influence of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on lithium state-dependent memory of passive avoidance in mice

The effects of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on lithium induced state-dependent memory of passive avoidance task were examined in mice. The pre-training (5 mg/kg) and pre-test (5 mg/kg) injection of lithium impaired memory retrieval on the test day. Impairment of pre-training lithium was restored by pre-test administration of lithium (5 mg/kg), diazoxide, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) or glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, (6 and 18 mg/kg). Pre-test administration of inactive doses of lithium (2.5 and 10 mg/kg) plus lower and inactive dose of glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) or diazoxide (1.5 mg/kg) also reversed the amnesia induced by pre-training lithium (5 mg/kg). In conclusion, the ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener or blocker not only mimicked the effect of lithium in state-dependent learning in the absence of lithium on the test day, but also potentiated the effect of low dose of lithium in restoration of memory. Therefore, ATP-sensitive potassium channels may have a modulatory influence on lithium response.