Cytomegalovirus DNA is highly prevalent in the blood of patients with asthma and is associated with age and asthma traits.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibodies have been associated with inflammaging and immunosenescence. We aimed to assess the presence of CMV DNA in the blood of adult and elderly patients with bronchial asthma to establish potential association of CMV DNAemia with asthma and asthma characteristics. Eighty-five elderly asthmatics, 74 younger asthma patients, and 114 age-matched controls were recruited. The CMV DNA was detected using commercial artus assay in 10.7% of asthma patients, but was negative in all control individuals. The secondary assay identified CMV DNA in 41.5% of asthmatics and 13.3% of control subjects (P < .001). Presence of CMV DNA was associated with an increased risk of asthma and CMV DNA copy numbers correlated with some asthma traits, including respiratory parameters and exhaled breath nitric oxide. We conclude that CMV infection is associated with asthma and may contribute to the pathogenesis of asthmatic inflammation.

Impaired virus replication and decreased innate immune responses to viral infections in nasal epithelial cells from patients with allergic rhinitis.

The aim of this study was to assess the immune response to parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3), rhinovirus 1B (RV1B) and intracellular Toll-like receptors (TLR) agonists in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) from patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy controls. NECs were obtained from eight patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and 11 non-atopic healthy controls (HC) by nasal scraping, grown to confluence and exposed to PIV3, RV1B infection or TLR-3 and TLR-7/8 agonists. Interferon (IFN)-λ1, IFN-α, IFN-ß and regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES) release into the cell culture supernatants was assessed at 8, 24 and 48 h upon infection or 8 and 24 h after stimulation with poly(I:C) and R848. mRNA levels of IFNs, RANTES, interferon regulatory transcription factor (IRF)3, IRF7 and viral gene copy number were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PIV3 but not RV1B replication 48 h after infection was significantly lower (P < 0·01) in NECs from AR patients compared to HC. PIV3 infection induced significantly less IFN-λ1 (both protein and mRNA) in NECs from AR compared to HC. IFN-ß mRNA expression and RANTES protein release and mRNA expression tended to be smaller in AR compared HC cells in response to both viruses. Stimulation with TLR-3 agonist [poly (I:C)] induced similar IFN-λ1 and RANTES generation in AR and HC subjects. Viral infections in NECs induced IRF7 expression, which correlated with IFN and RANTES expression. These data suggest that virus proliferation rates and the immune response profile are different in nasal epithelial cells from patients with allergic rhinitis compared to healthy individuals.

Evaluating D-methionine dose to attenuate oxidative stress-mediated hearing loss following overexposure to noise.

Noise exposure causes an excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as an unwanted byproduct of high metabolic activity. Oxidative stress and antioxidative protective mechanisms have been therefore proposed as the most interesting issues in the development of noise-induced hearing loss. The aim of this study was to examine changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the cochlea of C57BL/6 mice 1, 7 and 14 days after exposure to 4 kHz octave band noise at the intensity of 110 dB SPL for 8 h. The evaluation of three D-methionine (D-met) doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) has been performed in order to choose an optimal concentration displaying most effectively its antioxidant and thereby otoprotective functions. Administering D-met at the dose of 400 mg/kg resulted in a significant decrease in threshold shift (TS) independently of the evaluation time after exposure to noise. SOD activity was strongly supported by the same concentration (400 mg/kg) of D-met. This effect was seen not shortly, but 7 and 14 days after exposure to noise. CAT activity was induced only by noise and it reached the peak levels 7 days after exposure. D-Met at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased noise-induced changes in CAT activity. The findings of this study indicate that the protective effect depends on the concentration of D-met and can be fully expressed only when the drug is administered in the dose 400 mg/kg.

Candidate gene association study for noise-induced hearing loss in two independent noise-exposed populations.

Millions of people are daily exposed to high levels of noise. Consequently, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most important occupational health hazards worldwide. In this study, we performed an association study for NIHL based on a candidate gene approach. 644 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in 53 candidate genes were analyzed in two independent NIHL sample sets, a Swedish set and part of a Polish set. Eight SNPs with promising results were selected and analysed in the remaining part of the Polish samples. One SNP in PCDH15 (rs7095441), resulted in significant associations in both sample sets while two SNPs in MYH14 (rs667907 and rs588035), resulted in significant associations in the Polish sample set and significant interactions with noise exposure level in the Swedish sample set. Calculation of odds ratios revealed a significant association of rs588035 with NIHL in the Swedish high noise exposure level group. Our studies suggest that PCDH15 and MYH14 may be NIHL susceptibility genes, but further replication in independent sample sets is mandatory.

[A case of malignant melanoma of the parotid gland]. / Przypadek czerniaka zlosliwego slinianki przyusznej.

The case of 56 years old patient with melanoma malignant parotid gland is presented. Preoperative diagnostic examinations CCT, ultrasound, fine needle aspiration have not confirmed the neoplasm diagnosis. Fast local growth and unclear prognosis is characteristic for this tumor.

[Adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumor) located bilaterally]. / Adenolymphoma (guz Warthina) o obustronnej lokalizacji.

Adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumor) is the second in occurrence of the parotid gland's benign neoplasms. In most cases (80%) it is observed as an unilateral tumor, smoking males aged from 50 to 60 are mainly affected. The authors present an interesting case of simultaneously occurring bilateral Warthin's tumor growing in parotid gland. A 59-year-old male patient, smoker was admitted to E.N.T. Dept. with a bilateral tumor. He underwent surgical treatment: superficial parotidectomy on the left side and right side tumor exterpation at the same time. After the operation we got the confirmation of the preoperation diagnosis. The patient was discharged home and stayed on the follow-up. Smoking patients with diagnosed unilateral adenolymphoma should be followed up because of the possibility of the neoplasmatic recurrence.

[Multiple cancer of the external ear]. / Wieloogniskowy nowotwór zlosliwy ucha zewnetrznego.

Neoplasmatic multifocal tumors develop inside the same tissue or organ. They refer to skin, mucosal membrane of gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract. To diagnose them a histopatological confirmation of their malignancy is needed, there must be macroscopic border line between tumors, the change can not be a metastasis from primary defect. The authors present two cases of external ear squamous cell carcinoma a which appeared bilaterally in different periods of time.

[Congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear in a child with aural atresia complicated by mastoid abscess]. / Perlak wrodzony ucha srodkowego u dziecka z atrezja ucha powiklany ropniem zamalzowinowym.

Authors have described the case of infected congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear with congenital atresia of external auditory canal in a 12-year-old child. Congenital aural cholesteatoma was not recognized for aural atresia of external canal and middle ear space. Then mastoid abscess appeared due to infection that arose from nasopharyngs through Eustachian tube to middle ear space. Intraoperatively behind atretic canal closed by atretic plate, in the middle ear space cholesteatoma was found. Surgery for this patient consisted of removing cholesteatoma, canaloplasty and ossiculoplasty. Despite the destruction caused by cholesteatoma and surgical intervention excellent functional results that means hearing improvement were obtained.

[A fulminant form of Wegener's granulomatosis]. / Ziarniniakowatosc Wegenera o gwaltownym przebiegu.

The authors present the young man case who had undergone 6 months long antibiotic therapy first, than has been operated because of growing nose obstruction with bloody pus secretion. Diagnostic difficulties were responsible for diagnosis and undertaking treatment. Fulminant course of disease resulted in death of patient in the course of immunosupression therapy.

[A case of giant size lipoma of the submental region]. / Przypadek tluszczaka okolicy podbródkowej o znacznych rozmiarach.

The authors described a case of giant size tumor of the submental region in a 53 year old patient. The very large tumor (fig. 1, 2, 3) was treated by total extirpation. Histological investigation had shown structure of lipoma.

[Septal fascioplasty as the method of surgical treatment of nose bleeding in patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease]. / Fascioplastyka jako metoda zabiegowego leczenia krwawien z nosa w przebiegu choroby Rendu-Oslera-Webera.

The authors describe an own method of surgical treatment of nosebleed caused by Rendu-Osler-Weber's disease. For closure of nasal septal defects we used free graft of fascia lata. In five patients treated by our method, the transplantation ended successful; during the several weeks after operations the fascia lata was covered with epithelium growing from the surrounding tissues. Control examinations did not demonstrate recurrences. In two patients our method was unsuccessful.

[Therapeutic management of esophageal burns]. / Postepowanie terapeutyczne w oparzeniach przelyku.

Poisonings and burns of the oesophagus are frequent diseases, particularly in children. The manifestations of oesophageal burns, successive phases of oesophageal wall damage and damage to the lower parts of the digestive tract are discussed. On the basis of own experiences and a review of the pertinent literature a method of therapeutic management including surgery is outlined.