Solid Anorganic Particles and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Histopathology Study.

Although extensive research has shown the pathological effect of fine and ultrafine airborne particles, clear evidence of association of environmental exposure to them and inflammatory changes in human nasal mucosa is missing. Meanwhile, pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis, despite being a disease with high prevalence in the population, is still unclear. The increasing evidence of the pro-inflammatory properties of these particles raises the question of their possible role in chronic rhinosinusitis. The presented study focused on detection of microsized anorganic particles and clusters of nanosized anorganic particles in the nasal mucosa of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis by Raman microspectroscopy and comparison of their composition to histologic findings. The results were compared to the findings in mucosa obtained from cadavers with no history of chronic rhinosinusitis. Solid particles were found in 90% of tissue samples in the group with chronic rhinosinusitis, showing histologic signs of inflammation in 95%, while in the control group, the particles were found in 20% of samples, with normal histologic findings in all of them. The main detected compounds were graphite, TiO2, amorphous carbon, calcite, ankerite and iron compounds. The results are in accordance with the premise that exogenous airborne particles interact with the nasal mucosa and possibly deposit in it in cases where the epithelial barrier is compromised in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Identification of the phase composition of solid microparticles in the nasal mucosa of patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis using Raman microspectroscopy.

Solid particles, predominantly in micron and submicron sizes, have repeatedly been observed as a threat to a human health unique compared to the other textures of the same materials. In this work, the hypothesis the solid metal-based particles play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was investigated in patients who had not responded positively to medication. In the group of 40 randomly selected patients indicated for surgical mucotomy, the presence of solid micro- and submicron particles present in their nasal mucosa was assessed. For comparison, a set of 13 reference samples from patients without diagnosed chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was evaluated. The analysis was performed using Raman microspectroscopy. The advantage of this method is the direct identification of compounds. The main detected compounds in the mucosa samples of patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis were TiO2, carbon-based compounds, CaCO3, Ca(Fe, Mg, Mn)(CO3)2 MgCO3, Fe2O3, BaSO4, FeCO3 and compounds of Al and Si, all of which may pose a health risk to a living organism. In the reference samples, only TiO2 and amorphous carbon were found. In the control group mucosa, a significantly lower presence of most of the assessed compounds was found despite the longer time they had to accumulate them due to their higher mean age. Identification and characterisation of such chemicals compounds in a living organism could contribute to the overall picture of the health of the individual and lead to a better understanding of the possible causes not only in the chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, but also in other mucosal and idiopathic diseases.

Metal particles in mucus and hypertrophic tissue of the inferior nasal turbinates from the human upper respiratory tract.

Mucosal surfaces are the first mechanical barrier preventing the entry of foreign particles into the organism. The study addresses the detection and analysis of metal-based solid particles in cytological mucus samples from the surface of human hypertrophic tissue in the inferior nasal turbinates in patients diagnosed with chronic rhinitis. Solid particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy; all the biological samples were also subjected to vibration magnetometry. Since the upper airways are the first part of the respiratory tract, which is exposed to inhaled particles, it can be assumed that inhaled particles may be partially deposited in this region. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of metal-based solid particles/clusters in the majority of the analysed cytological mucus samples and also in hypertrophic tissues; in all groups, the particles were of submicron size. Raman microspectroscopy detected the presence of particles/clusters based on amorphous carbon, graphite, calcium carbonate, anatase and barite only in the hypertrophic tissue. The obtained results show that the composition of some of the solid particles (i.e. Ba, Zn, Fe and Ti) detected in the mucus from the surface of the hypertrophic tissues resembled the particles found in the hypertrophic tissue itself. It can be assumed that after the capture of the inhaled particles by the mucus, they penetrate into the deeper layers of tissue.

Detection of Micron and Submicron Particles in Human Bronchogenic Carcinomas.

Metal based particles were detected in pulmonary tumor tissue samples and reference lung tissue samples (lung tissue without carcinoma) by Raman microspectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Many of these particles were in the size below 1 µm. Using scanning electron microscopy, particles based on iron were found in the majority of samples. Siderite was determined as the form of the iron in several samples by Raman microspectroscopy. The hypothesis that significant statistical dependence exists between the presence of metals in the lung tissue and lung cancer incidence was not proved. However, statistical dependence between smoking and lung cancer incidence was determined as well as insignificant correlation between the presence of titanium based particles and lung cancer incidence. Titanium-based compounds were identified as TiO2 in the form of anatase and rutile. Both the reference and the carcinoma samples exhibited magnetic properties as confirmed by vibration magnetometry measurements.

Micro- and Nanosized Particles in Nasal Mucosa: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate presence and quantity of micro- and nanosized particles (NPs) and interindividual differences in their distribution and composition in nasal mucosa. METHODS: Six samples of nasal mucosa obtained by mucotomy from patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinosinusitis were examined. Samples divided into 4 parts according to the distance from the nostrils were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy to detect solid particles and characterize their morphology and composition. A novel method of quantification of the particles was designed and used to evaluate interindividual differences in distribution of the particles. The findings were compared with patients' employment history. RESULTS: In all the samples, NPs of different elemental composition were found (iron, barium, copper, titanium, etc.), predominantly in the parts most distant from nostrils, in various depths from the surface of the mucosa and interindividual differences in their quantity and composition were found, possibly in relation to professional exposition. CONCLUSIONS: This study has proven the possibility of quantification of distribution of micro- and nanosized particles in tissue samples and that the NPs may deposit in deeper layers of mucosa and their elemental composition may be related to professional exposition to the sources of NPs.

Detection of nano- and micro-sized particles in routine biopsy material - pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology is receiving enormous funding. Very little however is known about the health dangers of this technology so far. Chronic tonsillitis is one of a number of diseases called idiopathic. Among other factors, the tonsils are exposed to suspended particles in inhaled air including nano particles. The objective of this study was to detect and evaluate metallic particles in human tonsil tissue diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis and in amniotic fluid as a comparison. METHODS: . Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was used for identification of solid particles in a total of 64 samples of routinely analyzed biopsy and cytologic material. RESULTS: Almost all samples were found to contain solid particles of various metals. The most frequent, regardless of diagnosis, were iron, chromium, nickel and aluminium. The size, determined using SEM, varied from around 500 nm to 25 µm. The majority formed aggregates of several micrometers in size but there were a significant number of smaller (sub-micrometer or nano-sized) particles present. The incidence of metallic particles was similar in child and adult tissues. The difference was in composition: the presence of several metals in adults was due to occupational exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of metallic particles in pathologically altered tissues may signal an alternative causation of some diseases. The ethiopathogenic explanation of these diseases associated with the presence of nano-sized particles in the organism has emerged into a new field of pathology, nanopathology.

Addition of platelet concentrate to dermo-epidermal skin graft in deep burn trauma reduces scarring and need for revision surgeries.

BACKGROUND: [corrected] Deep skin burn injuries, especially those on the face, hands, feet, genitalia and perineum represent significant therapeutic challenges. Autologous dermo-epidermal skin grafts (DESG) have become standard of care for treating deep burns. Additionally, human autologous thrombin activated autologous platelet concentrate (APC) has gained acceptance in the setting of wounds. While each of these interventions has been independently shown to accelerate healing, the combination of the two has never been evaluated. We hypothesized that the addition of platelets (source of growth factors and inhibitors necessary for tissue repair) to the DESG (source of progenitor cells and of tissue proteases necessary for spatial and temporal control of growth regulators released from platelets) would create the optimal environment for the reciprocal interaction of cells within the healing tissues. METHODS: We used clinical examination (digital photography), standardised scales for evaluating pain and scarring, in combination with blood perfusion (laser Doppler imaging), as well as molecular and laboratory analyses. RESULTS: We show for the first time that the combination of APC and DESG leads to earlier relief of pain, and decreased use of analgesics, antipruritics and orthotic devices. Most importantly, this treatment is associated with earlier discharges from hospital and significant cost savings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that DESG engraftment is facilitated by the local addition of platelets and by systemic thrombocytosis. This local interaction leads to the physiological revascularization at 1-3 months. We observed significant elevation of circulating platelets in early stages of engraftment (1-7 days), which normalized over the subsequent 7 and 90 days.

[Nanopathology as a new scientific discipline. Minireview]. / Nanopatologie - nový vedecký obor. Minireview.

The detection of metal particles in the pathologically altered tissues (eg. in inflammatory lesions or tumors) led to the idea that they might be associated with emergence of some idiopathic diseases. To understand the etiopathogenesis of diseases associated with the presence of nanoparticles in the tissue there is a new area of pathology - nanopathology. Numerous studies have shown that nanoparticles can enter the human body through inhalation or ingestion. Through the pulmonary alveoli, skin and intestinal mucosa, the nanoparticles may reach the blood and lymphatic system, which subsequently distributes them to other target organs. Epithelial surfaces of conjunctiva and skin represent another potential way of penetration of nanoparticles into the body. There is a number of studies, which described the adverse effects of ultrafine particles on respiratory and cardiovascular system. Recent studies have also shown that some nanoparticles are able to pass through the pores of the nuclear membrane, where they may pose a risk of damage to cells and genetic information and they are also potentially capable to cross the placental and hematoencephalic barriers. Further, their role in the induction of oxidative stress is significant in relation to the mutagenesis. Scanning electron microscopy with energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) represents a suitable tool for identification of metal-based particles in tissues and body fluids. Importance of nanopathology can be seen in the elucidation of the etiopathogenesis of many diseases, not only of respiratory and cardiovascular systems, but also of many other organ systems.

Possible role of nano-sized particles in chronic tonsillitis and tonsillar carcinoma: a pilot study.

This study aimed to evaluate the palatine tonsils of patients with chronic tonsillitis and spinocellular carcinoma to determine the presence of nano-sized particles. Tonsil samples from adult patients with chronic tonsillitis and spinocellular carcinoma of the palatine tonsil were dried and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope with the X-ray microprobe of an energy-dispersive spectroscope. Demographic data and smoking histories were obtained. The principal metals found in almost all tissues analyzed were iron, chromium, nickel, aluminum, zinc, and copper. No significant difference in elemental composition was found between the group of patients with chronic tonsillitis and the group with spinocellular carcinoma of the palatine tonsil. Likewise, no significant difference was found between the group of smokers and the group of nonsmokers. The presence of various micro- and nano-sized metallic particles in human tonsils was confirmed. These particles may potentially cause an inflammatory response as well as neoplastic changes in human palatine tonsils similar to those occurring in the lungs. Further and more detailed studies addressing this issue, including studies designed to determine the chemical form of the metals detected, studies devoted to quantitative analysis, biokinetics, and to the degradation and elimination of nanoparticles are needed for a more detailed prediction of the relation between the diagnosis and the presence of specific metal nanoparticles in tonsillar tissue.