Hypoxia effects on vascular endothelial growth factor derived epithelial cells of nasal polyps]

OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of nasal mucous epithelial cells to hypoxia in early stage of nasal polyps(NP) formation. METHODS: Epithelial cells of NP and inferior turbinate (IT) were cultured without serum under normal oxygen and hypoxia, and stimulus of inflammatory cytokines. Erythropoietin (EPO) was regarded as hypoxia mark, and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA and protein derived from epithelial cells were detected respectively by in situ hybridization and ELISA. RESULTS: 1. Under hypoxia, EPO mRNA was expressed intensely in epithelial cells from NP and IT, and there was no significant difference between both of them. This result suggested that EPO might be regarded as a hypoxic mark. 2. The ability of producing VEGF mRNA increased with cytokines stimulation, especially under hypoxia. Protein level of VEGF from epithelial cells of NP and IT increased with cytokines stimulation, especially in hypoxia and was time-dependent. CONCLUSION: Epithelial cells actively produce vast VEGF under hypoxia. The VEGF induced by hypoxia of the mucosa in middle meatus is of importance in the formation of nasal polyps(NP) in early stage, which may be the major cause of NP formation in middle meatus.     

Two-stage treatment of skeletal Class III malocclusion during the early permanent dentition.

A patient with skeletal Class III malocclusion was treated in 2 phases during the early permanent dentition. In phase 1, maxillary protraction was combined with rapid palatal expansion; in phase 2, fixed appliances were placed. The results were good posttreatment, and, 1 year later, a favorable growth tendency could be observed. This report shows that treatment for a patient with skeletal Class III malocclusion can be started in the early permanent dentition, with very good final results.     

Nerve growth factor and tyrosine kinase A in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: expression patterns and effects on in vitro invasive behavior.

PURPOSE: Perineural invasion is a frequent occurrence in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and may prevent complete surgical resection. Studies have indicated that nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) may play a role in perineural invasion in several malignancies in which perineural invasion is observed. The present study was conducted to investigate the expression of NGF and TrkA in salivary ACC and to examine the effects of NGF on adhesion, migration and invasion capacities of a salivary ACC cell line (SACC-83) in vitro. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Expression of NGF and TrkA was explored using immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissues of 32 cases of salivary ACC. The effects of NGF on in vitro adhesion, migration, and invasion capacities of the SACC-83 cell line were examined using an MTT assay and a modified Boyden chamber assay respectively. RESULTS: In ACC specimens, 31 (96.9%) and 32 (100%) tumors showed immunoreactivity for NGF and TrkA respectively. Significant correlations were found between NGF/TrkA expression levels and perineural invasion (P < .05). In cell adhesion assay, the percent adherences of SACC-83 cells co-cultured with 25 ng/ml NGF at 1.5 hours and 5, 25 ng/ml NGF at 6 hours were significantly higher than that co-cultured with 0 ng/ml NGF (P < .05). However, high concentration of NGF (500 ng/ml) resulted in a significant inhibition of invasion (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of NGF and TrkA in human salivary ACC tissues may constitute a reason for perineural invasion in salivary ACC.     

Laryngeal tuberculosis: a review of 26 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical characteristics of laryngeal tuberculosis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 26 histopathology-confirmed cases in a tertiary medical center from 1992 to 2006. RESULTS: The female patients were significantly younger than male patients. Hoarseness is the most common symptom (84.6%) because true vocal fold is most commonly involved (80.8%). Infection usually involves unilateral (66.7%) and right-side larynx but multiple subsites of the larynx (57.7%). The appearance of the affected larynx may have mixed features and change before diagnosis. Laryngeal tuberculosis is usually misdiagnosed as laryngeal cancer, especially in patients with malignant signs such as enlarged cervical lymph nodes and vocal fold immobility. Chest film is better than sputum examinations for screening. CONCLUSION: We should be especially alert about TB infection when facing young female patients with unusual laryngeal lesions. Extensive laser excision before diagnosis should be avoided because after antituberculous treatment, prognosis is usually good and vocal fold immobility could be reversible.     

Population toxicokinetics of tetrachloroethylene

 In assessing the distribution and metabolism of toxic compounds in the body, measurements are not always feasible for ethical or technical reasons. Computer modeling offers a reasonable alternative, but the variability and complexity of biological systems pose unique challenges in model building and adjustment. Recent tools from population pharmacokinetics, Bayesian statistical inference, and physiological modeling can be brought together to solve these problems. As an example, we modeled the distribution and metabolism of tetrachloroethylene (PERC) in humans. We derive statistical distributions for the parameters of a physiological model of PERC, on the basis of data from Monster et al. (1979). The model adequately fits both prior physiological information and experimental data. An estimate of the relationship between PERC exposure and fraction metabolized is obtained. Our median population estimate for the fraction of inhaled tetrachloroethylene that is metabolized, at exposure levels exceeding current occupational standards, is 1.5% [95% confidence interval (0.52%, 4.1%)]. At levels approaching ambient inhalation exposure (0.001 ppm), the median estimate of the fraction metabolized is much higher, at 36% [95% confidence interval (15%, 58%)]. This disproportionality should be taken into account when deriving safe exposure limits for tetrachloroethylene and deserves to be verified by further experiments. Received: 20 April 1995/Accepted: 24 August 1995     

Protection of chickens against highly lethal H5N1 and H7N1 avian influenza viruses with a recombinant fowlpox virus co-expressing H5 haemagglutinin and N1 neuraminidase genes

Inactivated whole avian influenza virus (AIV) vaccine provides protection against homologous haemagglutinin (HA) subtype virus, but poor protection against a heterologous HA virus. Moreover, it induces chickens to produce antibodies to cross-reactive antigens, especially nucleoprotein, which is limits AIV serological surveillance. In this study, a recombinant fowlpox virus co-expressing HA (H5 subtype) and NA (N1 subtype) genes of AIV was evaluated for its ability to protect chickens against intramuscular challenge with a lethal dose of highly pathogenic (HP) AIV. Susceptible chickens were also vaccinated by wing-web puncture with the parent fowlpox vaccine virus. Following challenge 4 weeks later with HPAIV, all chickens vaccinated with recombinant virus were protected, while the chickens vaccinated with either the unaltered parent fowlpox vaccine virus or unvaccinated controls experienced 100% mortality following challenge. This protection was accompanied by the high levels of specific antibody to the respective components of the recombinant vaccine. The above results showed that rFPV-HA-NA could be a potential vaccine to replace current inactivated vaccines for preventing AI.     

益气活血汤对老年肺心病心衰患者血液流变学的影响

目的探讨益气活血汤对老年肺心病心衰患者血液流变性的影响。方法将48例肺心病心衰患者随机分为两组,均采用常规西医治疗,治疗组加用益气活血汤;观察两组治疗前后血液流变学指标变化情况。结果治疗组治疗前后比较,各项血液流变学指标改变差异有显著性,对照组治疗前后比较无统计学意义;治疗组各项指标与对照组比较差异有显著性。结论益气活血汤对肺心病心衰有改善血液流变性的作用。     

Breath-actuated inhalers in chronic asthma: comparison of Diskhaler and Turbohaler for delivery of beta-agonists.

An open, randomized, cross-over study was performed to compare the efficacy and acceptability of two breath-actuated inhalers, the Turbohaler (T) and Diskhaler (D), for delivery of beta-agonists. Thirty six adults with chronic asthma requiring beta-agonists four times daily were treated with terbutaline 500 micrograms via T and salbutamol 400 micrograms via D four times daily, each period lasting four weeks. Additional bronchodilator via pressurized aerosol was permitted as required. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was recorded in the morning (before and after beta-agonist) and in the evening. The mean morning PEF was higher during the first two weeks using T (295 l.min-1) than whilst using D (281 l.min-1, p < 0.01), but this difference did not persist during the second two weeks and there were no differences in post-bronchodilator PEF or rescue beta-agonist use. After four weeks, > 90% of patients used both inhaler devices efficiently and they were equally acceptable in terms of ease of use and convenience to carry. The Diskhaler and Turbohaler achieve similar clinical efficacy for delivery of beta-agonists.