Physiologic alterations in the murine model after nasal fungal antigenic exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a recently developed murine model of fungus-induced sinonasal inflammation demonstrated alterations in ciliary activity and expression of inflammatory cytokines. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled study of rhinosinusitis after fungal antigenic sensitization was performed with intraperitoneal aspergillus antigen injection followed by intranasal antigen challenge for 4 weeks. Saline solution was used in a parallel fashion for control animals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six mice were used to validate the model. Additional 15 mice were used for ciliary beat frequency (CBF) analysis and cytokine expression with multiplex technology. Mean values for degree of inflammation, secretory hyperplasia, CBF, and cytokine expression were compared. RESULTS: Histologic analyses demonstrated dense chronic inflammation in aspergillus-challenged animals versus sparse inflammatory cells in controls. Significant differences in mean of aspergillus-challenged versus control animals were observed in degree of inflammation (P < 0.01), secretory hyperplasia (P < 0.01), CBF (P < 0.00002), IL-1alpha (P < 0.0002), IL-1beta (P < 0.0003), IL-4 (P < 0.02), TNF-alpha (P < 0.02), and RANTES (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Alteration in baseline CBF accompanied by increased expression of specific inflammatory cytokines was observed in aspergillus-challenged mice.

Evaluation of rapid staining techniques for cytologic diagnosis of intracranial lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate 4 rapid supravital stains and 3 preparation techniques for use in the intraoperative diagnosis of intracranial lesions. ANIMALS: 10 dogs and 1 cat euthanatized for intracranial lesions. PROCEDURE: Specimens were taken from lesions and slides prepared, using 3 techniques: touch impression, medium-pressure impression, or smear preparation. Preparations were then stained with 4 stains: modified Wright stain, May-Grünwald-Giemsa, toluidine blue, and zynostain and examined in a blinded randomized fashion. Cytologic diagnosis was compared with histopathologic diagnosis and classified on the basis of identification of the pathologic process and specific diagnosis into the following categories: complete correlation, partial correlation, or no correlation. RESULTS: An overall diagnostic accuracy of 81% (107/132) was achieved on the basis of a combination of partial and complete correlation. Of the stains examined, modified Wright stain appeared to be most accurate, with complete correlation in 17 of 33 (52%) specimens and partial correlation in 12 of 33 (36%) specimens. Of the preparation methods, touch preparation and smear preparation provided the most accurate results, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 82% (36/44) for both methods. However, smear preparations appeared to be of greater diagnostic value, with fewer nondiagnostic specimens, compared with touch preparations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cytologic preparations provide a useful diagnostic tool for the intraoperative diagnosis of intracranial lesions. All stains examined yielded promising results, the most accurate of which appeared to be the modified Wright stain. The smear preparation appeared to be the preparation method of greatest diagnostic value.