Galectin-7 as a marker of cholesteatoma residue and its detection during surgery by an immunofluorescent method--a preliminary study

Diagnostic Tools and Biomarkers for Severe Drug Eruptions

In accordance with the development of human technology, various medications have been speedily developed in the current decade. While they have beneficial impact on various diseases, these medications accidentally cause adverse reactions, especially drug eruption. This delayed hypersensitivity reaction in the skin sometimes causes a life-threatening adverse reaction, namely Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Therefore, how to identify these clinical courses in early time points is a critical issue. To improve this problem, various biomarkers have been found for these severe cutaneous adverse reactions through recent research. Granulysin, Fas ligands, perforin, and granzyme B are recognized as useful biomarkers to evaluate the early onset of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, and other biomarkers, such as miRNAs, high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), and S100A2, which are also helpful to identify the severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Because these tools have been currently well developed, updates of the knowledge in this field are necessary for clinicians. In this review, we focused on the detailed biomarkers and diagnostic tools for drug eruption and we also discussed the actual usefulness of these biomarkers in the clinical aspects based on the pathogenesis of drug eruption.

Electrophysiological and Histopathological Evaluation of Effects of Sodium-2 Mercaptoethanesulfonate Used for Middle Ear Surgery on Facial Nerve Functions

OBJECTIVE

Sodium-2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (MESNA) is widely used in medicine because of its antioxidant and mucolytic effects. In recent years, it has been used in otologic surgery. Because it cleaves disulfide bonds, it is used to easily dissect the epithelial matrix in cholesteatoma and atelectasis. In this study, we hypothesized that MESNA does not have any toxic effect on the facial nerve, and the effects of MESNA on the facial nerve were examined histologically and electrophysiologically.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty Wistar albino rats were used. Groups A and B were designated as the control and sham groups, respectively. The animals in groups C and D were administered 20% and 50% of MESNA solution, respectively, after the facial nerve was exposed in the parotid region. Electromyography (EMG) measurements were performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 4 weeks. The animals were subsequently euthanized; facial nerve samples were taken for histopathological examination.

RESULTS

When EMG parameters were compared within and between each group, preoperative and postoperative results were not statistically significantly different. Histopathological examination showed that MESNA did not cause any inflammation, granulation tissue, or foreign body reaction.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, the effects of MESNA on facial nerve functions have not been investigated. In this study, the effects of MESNA after direct application to the facial nerve were examined electrophysiologically and histologically, and it was determined that MESNA did not cause any toxic effects. It was concluded that MESNA can, therefore, be safely used during middle ear surgery.