The effects of methylprednisolone and cefazolin sodium on antioxidant status in experimentally induced maxillary sinusitis

CONCLUSION

Sinusitis is accompanied by deteriorated antioxidant status, which can be alleviated with administration of cefazolin sodium or methylprednisolone. Steroids improve sinusitis when combined with antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antioxidant status in response to treatment of maxillary sinusitis with methylprednisolone and cefazolin sodium.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight rabbits were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus and then treated with saline, methylprednisolone, cefazolin sodium, and methylprednisolone plus cefazolin sodium, twice daily for 7 days. After the animals were sacrificed, mucosa samples were obtained to determine catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GPx) activities and levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA).

RESULTS

Catalase activity among untreated rabbits and those treated with either methylprednisolone or cefazolin sodium was not different. Activities of SOD and GPx were lower for rabbits treated with cefazolin sodium than for those treated with methylprednisolone and for untreated rabbits (p<0.0001). Rabbits treated with cefazolin sodium had lower NO and MDA levels than those treated with methylprednisolone and untreated rabbits (p<0.0001). Combined administration of cefazolin sodium with methylprednisolone increased CAT, SOD, and GPx activities further and decreased NO and MDA levels further in comparison with their administration alone (p<0.0001).

Comparison of the bacterial flora of the nasal vestibule and cavity in haemodialysis patients

Staphylococcal infections are the major causes of morbidity in haemodialysis patients. The source of the staphylococci is the anterior nares. Elimination of nasal carriage of staphylococci could result in a remarkable decrease in the infection rate. The aim of this study was to investigate if there was a difference in the bacterial flora between the nasal vestibule and cavity as well as their antibiotic susceptibility in haemodialysis. Swab samples obtained from 35 haemodialysis patients were subjected to conventional microbiological methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed for Staphylococcus spp. using cephazolin, cephaclor, trimetoprim + sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, oxacillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ampicillin + sulbactam and amoxicillin + clavulanic acid. Staphylococcus spp. was found more often in the vestibule than in the cavity (88.5 vs. 77.1%). The effectiveness of clindamycin, erythromycin and tetracycline was particularly striking for the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci isolates. In conclusion, existence of difference in bacterial flora between the nasal cavity and vestibule and their responsiveness to antibacterial agents may require reconsideration of elimination of secondary infections in haemodialysis patients.

Evaluation by (99m)Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy of the effect of levocetirizine on salivary glands function, in allergic rhinitis patients

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of levocetirizine (xyzal) on salivary glands function in patients with allergic rhinitis using technetium-99m pertechnetate ((99m)Tc-P) salivary gland scintigraphy. The study population consisted of 67 patients with allergic rhinitis and 31 healthy controls (14 males and 17 females, mean age 30.1+/-6.8 years). The patients were divided into two groups: an untreated patient Group of 32 patients, 17 males and 15 females, mean age 29.9+/-6.5 years and a levocetirizine-treated with 5mg.day(-1) for 4 weeks patient Group, consisted of 35 patients, 16 males and 19 females, mean age 33.5+/-7.8 years. All patients and healthy controls underwent salivary glands scintigraphy. After the intravenous administration of 185 MBq of (99m)Tc-P, dynamic salivary glands scintigraphy was performed for 25 min. By the time-activity curves, the following glandular function parameters were calculated for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction. Our results showed: All functional parameters obtained for the untreated patient Group were significantly lower than for the levocetirizine-treated patient Group and healthy controls (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in any functional parameters between the levocetirizine-treated patient Group and healthy controls (P>0.05). In conclusion, results of our study indicate that patients with allergic rhinitis treated with levocetirizine showed a significantly higher salivary glands function compared with untreated patients and healthy controls. Levocetirizine treatment showed no side effects on salivary glands function.

The effects of silica exposure on upper airways and eyes in denim sandblasters

OBJECTIVE

Silicosis due to denim (or jean) sandblasters is newly described cause of silicosis. In such cases lungs are severely affected due to heavy exposure to silica without serious protection. We aimed to investigate whether silica had an effect on the upper airways and eyes.

METHODS

The study included the patients recently diagnosed with silicosis. For comparisons, a control group was constituted. Firstly, a questionnaire was performed to obtain demographic and exposure characteristics of the cases. Later, routine nasal examination by endoscope and routine eye examination by slit-lamp microscope were performed to investigate presence of rhinitis and/or adenoid vegetation and eye findings associated with dust exposure, respectively, in both patient and control groups. Punch biopsies of the adenoid tissue were obtained using an endoscopic telescope with the patient under local anesthesia and sent for histopathologic examination. In addition, nasal pH and mucociliary clearance were investigated. Both pH and saccharin nasal transport time (SNTT) measurements were performed by two physicians, who reached a final consensus.

RESULTS

The study group consisted of 83 male silicotics with an average age of 23 +/- 6 years, and the control group consisted of 84 age and gender matched healthy individuals. Their mean exposure time was 40 +/- 26 months. On routine nasal examination, silicotics had higher rates of rhinitis (28.9% versus 16.7%) mostly ipsilaterally (p = 0.01), adenoid vegetation (32.5% versus 13.3%/, p < 0.05), conjunctival hyperaemia (70% versus 45%, p < 0.001), pingueculae (68% versus 23%, p < 0.01), papillar formation (40% versus 28%), and higher nasal pH values (7.9 +/- 0.7 versus 6.9 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001), higher SNTT values (19.9 +/- 2.9 versus 10.9 +/- 1.9, p < 0.001) compared with the controls.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study suggest that upper airways and eyes are considerably affected in the patients with silicosis. Thus, appropriate protection is required to prevent the development of such problems in denim sandblasters.

Evaluation of the effect of levocetirizine on nasal mucociliary clearance in allergic rhinitis patients by rhinoscintigraphy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of levocetirizine on nasal mucociliary clearance in allergic rhinitis patients using rhinoscintigraphy.

METHODS

Twenty patients with allergic rhinitis (12 males and eight females, mean age 37.7 +/- 10.5 years) were evaluated. All the patients received levocetirizine (5 mg x day(-1)) for 4 weeks, and the speed of nasal mucociliary clearance was assessed before and after treatment. Twenty healthy controls (11 males and nine females, mean age 39.4 +/- 7.8 years) were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The clearance values obtained for the treated group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group (P = 0.0001), but there was no significant difference in clearance speeds before and after treatment in the patient group (P = 0.444).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that levocetirizine did not affect the speed of nasal mucociliary clearance in allergic rhinitis patients, and that nasal mucociliary clearance can easily be evaluated by rhinoscintigraphy.

99mTc-labelled red blood cell single-photon emission computed tomography for the diagnosis and follow-up of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

AIM

To confirm the usefulness of blood pool scintigraphy with Tc-labelled red blood cells ((99m)Tc-RBCs) in the diagnosis and follow-up of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

METHODS

A prospective study design was used. (99m)Tc-RBCs were prepared by a modified in-vivo method. After the rapid intravenous injection of 370-740 MBq of (99m)Tc-RBCs, dynamic imaging of 1-min duration was performed. After dynamic imaging, static acquisitions at 5 min (second phase: blood pool phase) and 2 h (third phase: static image) were obtained. In addition, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed at 2 h. SPECT images were obtained using a rotating gamma camera (GE-Starcam 4000 XR/T).

RESULTS

All patients showed no activity in the first phase and mild activity in the second phase (blood pool phase). All patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma showed a prominent increased activity in the third phase and in SPECT images.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that blood pool scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-RBC SPECT is very accurate, easy to perform and a suitable alternative to pre-operative and post-operative imaging techniques, including computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI angiography, for the detection of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

Effects of Piracetam Supplementation on Cochlear Damage Occuring in Guinea Pigs Exposed to Irradiation

In this study we aimed to determine the role of piracetam (PIR) in preventing radiation induced cochlear damage after total-cranium irradiation (radiotherapy; RT). Male albino guinea pigs used in the study were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (Control group) (n=11) received neither PIR nor irradiation, but received saline solution intraperitoneally (i.p.) and received sham irradiation. Group 2 (RT group) (n=32) was exposed to total cranium irradiation of 33 Gy in 5 fractions of 6.6 Gy/d for five successive days, with a calculated (alpha/beta=3.5) biological effective dose of fractionated irradiation equal to 60 Gy conventional fractionation, then received saline solution for five successive days i.p. Group 3 (PIR+RT group) (n=33) received total cranium irradiation, plus 350 mg/kg per day PIR for five successive days i.p. After the last dose of RT, the guinea pigs were all sacrificed at the 4th, 24th and 96th hours, respectively. Their cochleas were enucleated for histopathologic examination. It was observed that total cranium irradiation (RT group) promoted degeneration in stria vascularis (SV), spiral ganglion cells (SG), outer hair cells (OHC) and inner hair cell (IHC) of cochleas at these times (p<0.05). While in the PIR+RT group, there was no statistically significant difference on radiation-induced cochlear degeneration in SV and OHC at 4th (p>0.05) and IHC at 4th, 24th hours (p>0.05), there was a significant difference on radiation-induced cochlear degeneration in SV and OHC at 24th and 96th hours (p<0.05), IHC at 96th hour (p<0.05) and SG at 4th, 24th and 96th hours (p<0.05). There was no any cochlear degeneration in the control group. Piracetam might reduce radiation-induced cochlear damage in the guinea pig. These results are pioneer to studies that will be performed with PIR for radiation toxicity protection.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in erythrocytes of guinea pigs with experimental otitis media and effusion

Oxygen free radicals (OFRs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of an increasing number of diseases and inflammatory states. They may cause cell and tissue damage by their chemical modification of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides, and lipids. Under physiological conditions OFRs are part of normal regulatory circuits and are neutralized by antioxidants. Infections are one cause of increased OFR production. The aims of our study were to assess whether the increased oxidative stress in experimental otitis media with effusion (OME) is reflected in erythrocytes by lipid peroxidation and to survey the alterations in oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental OME in guinea pigs. Erythrocyte total (enzymatic plus non-enzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity (TSSA), non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity (NSSA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured in 6 guinea pigs with OME and in 6 controls. The TSSA, SOD, XO activities, and MDA level in experimental OME were significantly higher than in controls. No significant differences were found in erythrocyte NSSA and CAT activities. In experimental OME induced by histamine injection, increased OFR production was observed, suggesting that OFRs may play an important role in cell and tissue damage due to OME.

Gorlin's syndrome with a thin corpus callosum and a third ventricular cyst

Gorlin's syndrome (naevoid basal cell carcinoma) is an autosomal dominant tumor-predisposition syndrome, classically consists of multiple basal cell carcinomas of the skin, odontogenic keratocyst of the jaw, various skeletal abnormalities, and lamellar falx calcifications. Many associated lesions have been reported. We report a case of Gorlin's syndrome in a 22-year-old man in whom CT and MR images showed unusual findings of the thin corpus callosum and third ventricular cyst. We present a case of this syndrome with special emphasis on its unusual neuroradiological findings and radiological management.

The association of secondary tonsillar and laryngeal tuberculosis: a case report and literature review

Tonsillar and laryngeal tuberculosis are rare diseases. We report a case with a tonsillar and laryngeal lesion. Histopathological and bacteriological examinations established the diagnosis of tonsillar and laryngeal tuberculosis associated with asymptomatic pulmonary focus.

Effect of WEB 2170 BS, platelet activating factor receptor inhibitor, in the guinea pig model of middle ear inflammation

Platelet activating factor (PAF), a potent inflammatory mediator, is a biologically active phospholipid. Recent studies have shown that PAF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of otitis media (OM). WEB 2170 BS has been shown to be a PAF antagonist both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of WEB 2170 BS were investigated in a guinea pig model of OM induced by middle ear (ME) inoculation of killed Staphylococcus aureus. The outcome of treatment was determined by measurement of myeloperoxidase activity in the samples of ME mucosa, evaluation of temporal bone histopathology, and the presence of ME fluid. The myeloperoxidase activity in the WEB 2170 BS-treated group was found to be significantly lower than that in the control group. Histopathology of the temporal bones indicated decreased inflammation in the treated group as compared to the controls. In addition, ME fluid was absent in 16 of the 20 ears of the 10 treated animals. These results demonstrate that WEB 2170 BS can produce significant anti-inflammatory effects in this model of OM.

Haemangiopericytoma of the middle ear with benign histological features

Haemangiopericytoma is a rare vascular tumour, particularly in the head and neck region. We described the first case of haemangiopericytoma arising from the middle ear in 1995. The present case is the second example of a primary middle-ear haemangiopericytoma with benign histological features. Clinical photography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and histological photographs depict the findings.

Leiomyosarcoma of the auricle: case report and literature review

Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumour of smooth muscle origin. These tumours are rarely encountered in the head and neck region. A case of leiomyosarcoma of the auricle is presented. There are two cases of external auditory canal leiomyosarcoma in the literature. To our knowledge the present case is the first example of leiomyosarcoma of the auricle.

Effect of SC-41930, a potent selective leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist, in the guinea pig model of middle ear inflammation

Arachidonic acid metabolites such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of otitis media (OM). Among these mediators, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is one of the most potent inducers of inflammatory processes. SC-41930 has been shown to be a specific LTB4 receptor antagonist both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, anti-inflammatory effects of SC-41930 were investigated in a guinea pig model of OM induced by middle ear (ME) inoculation of killed Staphylococcus aureus. Outcome of treatment was determined by measurement of myeloperoxidase activity in the samples of ME mucosa, evaluation of temporal bone histopathology, and presence of ME fluids. Myeloperoxidase activity in the SC-41930-treated group was found to be significantly lower than that in the control group. Histopathology of temporal bones indicated decreased inflammation in the treated group as compared to the controls. In addition, ME fluids were absent in four out of six treated animals. These results demonstrate that SC-41930 can produce significant anti-inflammatory effects in this model of OM.

Haemangiopericytoma of the middle ear: case report and literature review

Haemangiopericytoma is an uncommon vascular tumour that rarely appears in the head and neck region. Such a tumour arising from the middle ear has not been reported since it was first described in 1942 by Stout and Murray. The present case therefore illustrates the first example of a primary middle ear haemangiopericytoma.