Expression of superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase in myometrium, fetal membranes and placenta during normal human pregnancy and parturition

Superoxide, an agent which attenuates the half-life of nitric oxide, is metabolized and synthesized by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase, respectively. Over the last few years much work has focused on the role of nitric oxide in human parturition. The aim of this study was to determine whether the onset of human parturition is associated with a change in the expression of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) or xanthine oxidase within the uterus. Samples of myometrium, placenta, decidua and fetal membranes were obtained from women before and after the onset of labour at term. Immunocytochemistry was used to localize Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD and xanthine oxidase and measure SOD enzyme activity. Cu/Zn and Mn SOD-like immunoreactivity was detected in syncytiotrophoblast cells, villous stromal cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels in the placenta. In the myometrium Cu/Zn and Mn SOD were localized to myocytes and endothelial cells and to some vascular smooth muscle cells. In the fetal membranes we observed staining for Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD in the amnion, chorion, extravillous trophoblast and decidua. There was no difference in SOD enzyme activity or staining intensity for SOD between different cell types before and during labour. Xanthine oxidase immunoreactivity was identified in each of the tissues examined and again there was no difference in immunostaining in tissues obtained from women delivered before or after the onset of labour. These results show that the pregnant uterus is capable of both synthesizing and degrading superoxide and suggest that superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase may play a role in the maintenance of uterine quiescence during pregnancy, but not in the initiation of parturition.      

Endothelin receptor expression in human decidua

The endothelins are signalling peptides that act via two receptors, ET(A) and ET(B). In the human endometrium, endothelin receptors have been demonstrated in glands and stroma and have been shown to vary during the course of the menstrual cycle. The present study was undertaken to determine whether or not expression of endothelin receptors changes during pregnancy or after administration of exogenous progestagens. The expression of the receptors was correlated with the appearance of basement membrane components during decidualization of the endometrial stroma. Decidual specimens (n = 15) were obtained during the first trimester of pregnancy and 10 at term. Sixteen pairs of endometrial biopsies were obtained from women with menorrhagia before and after exposure to exogenous progestagens. A total of 15 hysterectomy specimens were used as controls for the expression of stromal basement membrane proteins in the absence of decidualization. Autoradiography was carried out with selective ligands for ET(A) ([125I]-PD 151242) and ET(B) ([125I]-BQ3020). The distribution of ligand binding was then compared with the distribution of laminin alpha2 light chain and collagen IV. ET(A), ET(B), laminin alpha2 light chain, and collagen IV were expressed in stromal decidual cells in the first trimester of pregnancy. ET(B) was also found on endometrial glandular epithelium. Quantitative macro-autoradiography and multiple regression analysis demonstrated a highly significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) between expression of ET(B) and laminin alpha2 light chain. In the third trimester qualitative examination suggested a reduction of ET(A) in the stroma. Progestagen-induced decidua exhibited a similar pattern to that found in first trimester decidua. This study has demonstrated up-regulation of ET(B) during the progesterone- dependent process of decidualization and suggests a paracrine or autocrine role for endothelins in the decidua.      

Lead Exposure Is Related to Impairment of Aortic Elasticity Parameters

Arterial hypertension is one of the physical complications of chronic lead exposure. Hypertension has effects on aortic elastic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aortic elastic properties in workers occupationally exposed to lead. Forty‐one workers who were exposed to lead and 39 healthy controls were included in the study. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography for detecting aortic elastic parameters. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the lead‐exposure group and controls. Aortic strain (9.4%±4.5% vs 12.4%±4.2%, P=.004) and aortic distensibility (0.45±0.21 cm²/dyn vs 0.55±0.20 cm²/dyn, P=.046) were decreased in patients with lead exposure compared with controls. There was a negative significant weak correlation between aortic strain and (r=−0.294, P=.008) lead levels. There was no significant correlation between aortic distensibility and any other echocardiographic parameters. This study suggests that chronic exposure to lead is related to impairment of aortic elasticity parameters.

Lead contamination (such as that emitted from house paint, gasoline, batteries, and other sources) may cause a wide variety of body organ complications.¹ Despite the still manifested divergences of opinion, it seems that chronic exposure to lead represents a risk for arterial hypertension development. Functional changes within the arterial wall both in smooth muscles and the endothelium might result in arterial hypertension caused by chronic exposure to lead compounds.² Blood pressure (BP) was found to be increased in workers with blood lead concentrations of 7 μg/L on average.³ According to the World Health Organization (2000), the level of 400 μg/L is accepted as safe to avoid possible adverse health effects, but American Conference Governmental and Industrial Hygienists suggest an even lower value of <300 μg/L.Hypertension has effects on the aorta (decreased aortic distensibility and increased aortic stiffness). Aortic strain is a simple and useful parameter of transthoracic echocardiography. Some studies have suggested that aortic elastic parameters can be used as an independent predictor of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients.⁴, ⁵ In previous studies, the relationship between lead exposure and arterial hypertension has been demonstrated, and findings suggest that arterial hypertension and organ complications of arterial hypertension are more frequent in workers with lead exposure. Until now, there have been no data on the effects of lead exposure on aortic stiffness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lead on aortic elasticity parameters.     

Alteration of thiol-disulfide homeostasis in workers occupationally exposed to arsenic

This study evaluates the redox state in occupationally arsenic-exposed workers (n = 71) by assessing the dynamic serum thiol-disulfide homeostasis. We determined the serum thiol-disulfide homeostasis parameters of exposed workers and controls (n = 43) using a novel automated colorimetric assay. Median urinary As and 8-isoprostane levels of exposed group were significantly higher than control group (16.40 μg/L vs 2μg/L, p < .001 and 2.28 ng/ml vs 0.54 ng/ml, p < .001, respectively). Disulfide level, disulfide/native thiol ratio, and disulfide/total thiol ratio were significantly higher in exposed group. The mean ceruloplasmine and myeloperoxidase activities of As-exposed group were significantly higher than control group (117.15 U/L vs 87.02 U/L, p = .035 and 148.53 U/L vs 97.75 U/L, p = .000, respectively). The median catalase activity did not differ in the two groups. Our findings revealed that As disrupts the thiol-disulfide homeostasis in favor of disulfide.     

Cytogenetic studies in non-African Burkitt lymphoma

A particular translocation between chromosomes 8 and 14 has been found repeatedly in cytogenetic studies of Burkitt lymphoma, both of African and non-African origin. We report here our findings in cytogenetic studies of direct tumor preparations from 18 non-African Burkitt lymphoma patients, 9 of whom also had cell lines available for study. A t(8;14) was found in direct tumor material in 10 of the 18 patients. Seven of the 9 cell lines had a t(8;14). A total of 15 patients had either a t(8;14) or a 14q+ present in tumor material and/or cell lines. In addition, 8 patients had a peculiar marker chromosome 1. The t(8;14) was not found in every malignant cell and, where present, it was rarely the sole karyotypic abnormality. The relationship of the t(8;14) to the evolution of the tumor is discussed.     

Frequency of dissociative disorders among psychiatric outpatients in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of dissociative disorders among psychiatric outpatients in Turkey. One hundred fifty consecutive outpatients admitted to the psychiatry clinic of a university hospital were screened with the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Twenty-three patients (15.3%) with a DES score greater than 30 and a comparison group selected from the same outpatient population who scored less than 10 on the scale were then interviewed with the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) in a blind fashion. According to the DDIS, 18 patients (12.0%) received a diagnosis of dissociative disorder; 83.3% (n = 15) of the dissociative patients reported neglect, 72.2% (n = 13) emotional abuse, 50.0% (n = 9) physical abuse, and 27.8% (n = 5) sexual abuse during childhood. Dissociative disorders are not rare among psychiatric outpatients. Self-rating instruments and structured interviews can be used successfully for screening dissociative disorders, which are usually underrecognized. Neglect was the most frequently reported type of childhood trauma, suggesting the importance of other childhood experiences in addition to sexual and/or physical abuse in the development of dissociative psychopathology.     

The effects of topical agents of fluticasone propionate, oxymetazoline, and 3% and 0.9% sodium chloride solutions on mucociliary clearance in the therapy of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in vivo

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to determine: 1) how mucociliary activity in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is affected; 2) how this activity is changed by therapy; 3) the effects of topical agents on mucociliary clearance, and 4) the most appropriate topical agent(s) to be used in the therapy of sinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: Five groups of patients with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis were studied prospectively. METHODS: All patients had 500 mg oral amoxicillin and 125 mg oral clavulanic acid preparations given three times daily for 3 weeks. According to the topical agent applications, these groups included: group I (n = 12), no topical treatment was given; group II (n = 14), two puffs for each nostril once daily of 50 microg/100 mL fluticasone propionate was given; group III (n = 9), one puff for each nostril three times daily of 0.05% oxymetazoline was given; group IV (n =12), 3% sodium chloride (NaCl) (buffered to pH 6.5-7 at room temperature) was given; and group V (n =13), 10-mL solutions of 0.9% NaCl (buffered to pH 6.5--7 at room temperature) were given for nasal irrigations three times daily. All patients had medication for 3 weeks and were controlled each week. The saccharin method was used to measure nasal mucociliary clearance. To investigate the early effects of the topical agents for groups II to V, an additional test was repeated 20 minutes after the basal mucociliary clearance recordings. The test was repeated in the first, second, and third weeks of the treatment. RESULTS: The mucociliary clearance was significantly slower in the acute bacterial rhinosinusitis group than in the control group. There was no significant difference between the basal mucociliary clearance and the 20th minute mucociliary clearance of the fluticasone propionate and 0.9% NaCl solution groups. The mean values of the basal and the 20 minute's mucociliary clearance of the oxymetazoline group were 24.72 +/- 6.16 and 15.5 +/- 7.45 minutes, respectively, which were statistically significant. The mean values of the basal and the 20th minute mucociliary clearance of the 3% NaCl solution groups were 19.45 +/- 9.35 and 15.45 +/- 8.20 minutes, respectively, which were also statistically significant. In the first group (without topical treatment), the basal mucociliary clearance became significantly shorter after the second week of treatment. In the first and second weeks of the treatment of the oxymetazoline group, the mucociliary clearance did not change significantly, but after the third week the mucociliary clearance was significantly shorter. In the 3% NaCl solution group, significant improvement began from the first week and continued through the third week. Comparing the basal and the third weeks' mucociliary clearance values among the groups, the oxymetazoline and 3% NaCl solution groups revealed more significant improvement than the other groups, but this improvement was not different from the improvement of group I. There was still a statistically significant difference in the mucociliary clearance of the post-treatment sinusitis groups from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The oxymetazoline and 3% NaCl solution groups seemed to be more effective in mucociliary clearance, but there was no significant difference in improvement among the groups. The improvement of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis takes more than 3 weeks, according to the mucociliary clearance values of the groups.     

Paraganglioma of the nasal cavity: a case report

We describe the case of a 72-year-old woman presenting with a 1-year history of recurrent epistaxis and unilateral progressive nasal obstruction with associated rhinolalia resulting from the presence of a tumor mass occupying two-thirds of the right nasal cavity. Histopathologically, neoplastic cells or "chief cells" were arranged in well-defined nests, which had the classic alveolar or so-called "zellballen" pattern. Immunohistochemical studies highlighted the presence of S-100 protein-positive sustentacular cells located at the periphery of the clusters of chief cells. The chief cells showed a diffuse and intense positivity for neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin. A diagnosis of paraganglioma was made. The lesion was excised completely and the patient did not develop recurrences or distant metastases after 8 months of follow-up. Paragangliomas arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are extremely rare tumors. We report on the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of our case and review the cases previously described in the literature.     

Ototoxic effect of Burow solution applied to the guinea pig middle ear.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the ototoxicity of Burow solution as an otologic preparation. BACKGROUND: Burow solution has been used for years in the treatment of acute or chronic otitis externa and chronic suppurative otitis media. This acidic solution has antibacterial and antiedematous properties. Ototoxic effect of Burow solution has not been known, so the current study was designed to observe the ototoxic effect of Burow solution experimentally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were performed in 32 young, male albino guinea pigs (weight, 450-550 g). Twenty animals in the experimental group were divided into 2 groups of 10 animals each. The first group received 13% Burow solution (13% aluminum subacetate), and the second received 4% Burow solution (4% aluminum subacetate). Twelve animals in the control group were divided into 2 groups of 6 animals each. The first group received gentamicin (40 mg/mL; ototoxic control), and the second received saline solution (negative control). Under general anesthesia, pretreatment auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) from the right ear were obtained from the animals in all groups. The right tympanic membranes were widely perforated, and a small piece of Gelfoam was applied to the middle ear. Ear solutions at concentrations of 0.1 mL were applied through transcanal approach to the middle ear twice a day in 10 days. Under general anesthesia, the Gelfoam was removed from the right middle ear, and posttreatment ABRs were obtained 14 days later after the initial time in all groups. RESULTS: Baseline ABR results were normal in right ears of all animals tested. Animals undergoing placement of Gelfoam with either 13% Burow solution, 4% Burow solution, or saline in the middle ear showed no changes in ABR threshold. The gentamicin group showed significant change in the ABR threshold. CONCLUSION: Burow solution was considered to be an effective and safe otologic preparation.