Expression and distribution of dendritic cells in nasal polyps.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression, distribution and function of dendritic cells (DCs) and to study their role in nasal polyps. The study involved 55 participants, 45 of whom had nasal polyps and were the study group and 10 who had normal inferior turbinates and were the control group. Immunohistochemical staining was used to visualize the expression and distribution of the S-100 protein. A double immunostaining method was used to visualize the CD1a and CD40 expression and the images were analyzed with Axioplan 2 microscopy. The expression level of the S-100 protein in the nasal polyps was higher than that in the normal inferior turbinates with a significant difference (P<0.01). The distribution area, number and density of the double stained cells in the nasal polyps were all greater than in the normal inferior turbinates (P<0.01). The S-100 protein and double stained cells were mainly located in the lamina propria below the mucous membrane. The present study demonstrates that DCs are involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps and the presence of CD40-positive DCs suggests that this was related to the reciprocal interaction between the DCs and T lymphocytes.

[Comparison and improvement in the methods of establishing animals model of experimental chronic sinusitis in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and improve the methods of establishing animal model of experimental chronic sinusitis in rabbits . METHODS: Sixty-six New Zealand white rabbits were divided into seven groups: control group, sham-operation group I, sham-operation group II, bacteria inoculation group, ostia-blocked group, ostia-blocked and bacteria inoculation group, incomplete ostium blocked and set-cotton group. The animals were examined by the methods of histology and bacteriology after 42 days. RESULTS: The positive rate of chronic inflammation in ostium blocked group was 80%, inoculated staphylococcus group was 100%, incomplete ostium blocked and set-cotton group was 100%, and the other groups were 0%. All infected sinuses displayed signs of moderate or severe chronic inflammation. The cultivated bacteria were mainly opportunistic pathogens. The probability of having abscess in maxillary sinus was high in ostia-blocked and bacteria inoculation group. CONCLUSIONS: The method of incomplete ostium blockage and set cotton can establish stable chronic sinusitis model, it is a simple and perfect method.

[Effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on serum leptin concentration and the metabolic parameters in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on serum leptin concentration and the metabolic parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Serum leptin levels and true insulin (TI) levels were measured before and after one night nCPAP therapy in 18 patients. Eight patients received regular nCPAP treatment and had no change of body weight (BMI change < or = 1.5 kg/m2 from baseline) were recruited to the reassessment study 7.5 months after therapy. RESULTS: After one night use of nCPAP, there was a significant decrease in serum leptin [(8.47 +/- 0.62) microg/L vs (7.32 +/- 0.64) microg/L, P = 0.022] without change in other parameters. After 7.5 months of nCPAP treatment, serum leptin levels continued to decrease significantly without changes in BMI [(8.35 +/- 0.83) microg/L vs (6.05 +/- 0.78) microg/L; P = 0.036), and fast blood glucose (FBG) and true insulin (TI) also decreased significantly (P = 0.036) in OSAHS patients. However, triglyceral (TG) and cholesterol (Chol) maintained the pretreatment level (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: OSAHS may have significant effects on the serum leptin levels and the correction of sleep disordered breathing by nCPAP can reduce the serum leptin levels. Decrease of leptin was independent of BMI change. The glucose metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance in OSAHS were improved after 7.5 months of nCPAP treatment.

[Diagnosis and treatment of juvenile recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate some perplexing problems in the diagnosis and treatment of juvenil recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis (JRLP) and the relationship between juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis(JORRP) and infantile laryngeal condyloma accuminatum (ILCA). METHODS: A group of 44 cases with JRLP were analyzed retrospectively from March, 1994 to March, 2002 in the light of literature review. RESULTS: The average age of first visit was 1.6 years. Average 5.3 operations had been performed per patient. There was an interval of average 2.4 months between two surgical excisions. Of 233 operations, the total incidence rate of all the complications was 3.9%. At present, the laryngeal lesion of 18 cases have withered away for over 1 year. 11 cases have being followed up. 10 cases have lost follow-up and 5 cases have died (11.4%). Combined laryngeal lesion excision with tracheotomy aiming at prolonging operative interval or Chinese traditional medicine has received more satisfactory effect than other therapies. There is an extensive similarity between JORRP and ILCA. CONCLUSIONS: To demondrate further whether JORRP and ILCA are the same identical disease has important significance in both theoretical study and clinic practice. The treatment for JRLP is still difficult. The tracheotomy for laryngeal obstruction resulted from the laryngeal lesion of JRLP should be avoided as far as possible. Combined laryngeal lesion excision with tracheotomy aiming at prolonging opertive interval or Chinese traditional medicine shows optimistic prospect.