Alterations in nasal mucociliary activity in polycystic ovary syndrome

Bioinformatics searching of diagnostic markers and immune infiltration in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in reproductive-aged women, and it affects numerous women worldwide. This study aimed to identify potential diagnostic markers and explore the infiltration of immune cells in PCOS, contributing to the development of potential therapeutic drugs for this disease. We identified five key genes: CBLN1 (AUC = 0.924), DNAH5 (AUC = 0.867), HMOX1 (AUC = 0.971), SLC26A8 (AUC = 0,933), and LOC100507250 (AUC = 0.848) as diagnostic markers of PCOS. Compared with paired normal group, naïve B cells, gamma delta T cells, resting CD4 memory T cells, and activated CD4 memory T cells were significantly decreased in PCOS while M2 macrophages were significantly increased. Significant correlations were presented between the five key genes and the components of immune infiltrate. The results of CMap suggest that four drugs, ISOX, apicidin, scriptaid, and NSC-94258, have the potential to reverse PCOS. The present study helps provide novel insights for the prevention and treatment of PCOS, and immune cell infiltration plays a role that cannot be ignored in the occurrence and progression of the disease.

Role of VPAC1 anD VPAC2 receptors in the etiology of pregnancy rhinitis: an experimental study in rats

Introduction

Pregnancy rhinitis is a common sex hormone-related otorhinolaryngological disorder. There are some epidemiological and physiological studies on pregnancy rhinitis, but histopathological and biomolecular changes have not been studied thoroughly.

Objectives

The receptors VPAC1 and VPAC2 are known for their roles in allergic rhinitis. On the other hand, activation of subclinical allergy has been suggested in the pathophysiology of pregnancy rhinitis. Therefore, we aimed to compare the physiological and gestational pattern of VPAC1 and VPAC2 expression in rat nasal mucosa.

Methods

Twenty adult Wister albino female rats were enrolled into the study. Two groups constituted as 10 control (group A) and 10 pregnant (group B) rats. They were fed ad libitum and sheltered at room temperature (22°±2 °C). The rats were sacrificed at the 20th day of gestation by intraperitoneal injection of 400 mg/kg Na-pentobarbitone. Then, 10 − 15 mL of blood was taken, and samples were reserved for the detection of serum estradiol and progesterone levels by ELISA test. The nasal septum was resected and divided in half for immunohistochemical analyses and real time polymerase chain reaction testing of VPAC1 and VPAC2.

Results

VPAC1 and VPAC2 were found to be in all layers of septal specimens, but the immunostaining of surface epithelium was more distinct in specimens of both groups. We demonstrated higher overall staining intensity in the pregnant group. PCR revealed significant increase in expression of VPAC1 (p = 0.023) and VPAC2 (p = 0.021) in pregnant group when compared with control group. In addition, we demonstrated upregulatory effect of estradiol and progesterone on the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor expression.

Conclusions

Gestational up-regulation of nasal VPAC1 and VPAC2 was shown both by PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. These findings support the hypothesis that PR is caused by the activation of subclinical allergy that is present before pregnancy.

The effect of surgical menopause after bilateral oophorectomy on hormonal changes, mucociliary clearance, and quality of life

PURPOSE

The removal of the ovaries for any reason causes surgical menopause. Hormonal changes that occur progressively over 5-10 years in natural menopause occur acutely in surgical menopause. Signs of estrogen deficiency appear suddenly and are permanent after this surgery. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of estrogen deficiency occurring after surgical menopause on both nasal mucociliary activity and sinonasal symptoms.

METHODS

This prospective study included women aged 20-45 years who were not in the menopause, who had a planned bilateral oophorectomy and who attended the Gynecology Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine at a university hospital between January 2018 and December 2019. The nasal mucociliary clearance time, and blood Estradiol (E2) and FSH levels were measured once in the preoperative period, and at the postoperative 3rd, 6th, 9^th, and 12th months. At the same times, the Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) was also applied.

RESULTS

 The average age of the 47 patients was 41.2 ± 2.7. The mean serum estradiol levels of the women were 164.7 ± 63.4 pg/ml in the preoperative period, 14.8 ± 3.7 pg/ml at the postoperative 3rd month, 12.5 ± 3.5 pg/ml at the postoperative 6th month, 11.6 ± 3.0 pg/ml at the postoperative 9th month, and 11.1 ± 2.7 pg/ml at the postoperative 12th month. The mean FSH levels of the women were 9.4 ± 2.4 mIU/ml in the preoperative period, 60.5 ± 9.6 mIU/ml at the postoperative 3rd month, 61.9 ± 9.4 mIU/ml at the postoperative 6th month, 63.0 ± 9.3 mIU/ml at the postoperative 9th month, and 64.6 ± 8.7 mIU/ml at the postoperative 12th month. The changes in postoperative mean estradiol and FSH levels over a year were significant and consistent with menopausal symptoms (p < 0.001). The mean mucociliary clearance times were 12.6 ± 1.2 before menopause, 13.2 ± 1.7 at the postoperative 3rd month, 14.5 ± 1.7 at the postoperative 6th month, 17.5 ± 1.6 at the postoperative 9th month, and 19.4 ± 1.9 at the postoperative 12th month. The extension of the mean mucociliary clearance time over 1 year was significant (p < 0.001). The mean scores for the SNOT-22 were 17.3 ± 6.9 before the operation, 17.8 ± 6.0 at the postoperative 3rd month, 19.6 ± 6.9 at the postoperative 6th month, 23.4 ± 10.4 at the postoperative 9th month, and 36.1 ± 10.0 at the postoperative 12th month. The mean scores for rhinologic symptoms were 5.2 ± 1.9 (3-11) in the preoperative period, 5.7 ± 2.0 (3-12) at the postoperative 3rd month, 7.1 ± 2.3 (4-14) at the postoperative 6th month, 9.3 ± 3.3 (4-16) at the postoperative 9th month, and 11.9 ± 3.3 (6-18) at the postoperative 12th month. The 1-year change in the SNOT-22 scores was found to be significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

After bilateral oophorectomy, menopausal hormonal values were acutely high in women. At the 1-year postmenopausal follow-up, the mean scores for the SNOT-22 had increased significantly. In other words, quality of life decreased in parallel with prolonged nasal mucociliary clearance time.

Effects of chronic sleep deprivation on upper respiratory tract mucosal histology and mucociliary clearance on rats

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of chronic sleep deprivation on mucociliary clearance, which is the primary defence mechanism of the upper airway tract and nasal mucosal histology. Forty-two Wistar Albino rats (250-300 g), 8 or 12 weeks old, were randomly assigned into three groups as follows. The first sleep-deprivation group consisted of 14 rats (A), another 14 of them were assigned to platform group (B), and the remaining 14 were included to the home cage control group (C). For the two deprivation groups (A and B), the modified multiple platform method (MMPM) was used to induce sleep deprivation for 21 days. Tc-99m MAA rhinoscintigraphy was performed to assess mucociliary clearance and the nasal histopathological changes of the sacrificed rats were also examined. Mucociliary clearance was significantly higher in sleep deprivation (A) and deprivation control (B) groups than the control group (C) (p = .037). The ratio of columnar ciliary was significantly higher in group A and B than in the control group (p = .003). The transitional epithelial ratio in groups A and B was also significantly increased compared with group C (p = .04). The control group's squamous epithelial ratio was increased compared to the sleep-deprived groups (p = .003). There was a significantly increased inflammatory response in the ciliated columnar epithelium in groups A and B compared to group C (p = .02). For the first time in the literature, we demonstrated that chronic sleep deprivation has caused a significant increase in mucociliary clearance speed and in the number of ciliary cells.