Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid derived from Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. suppress epidermal growth factor- and phorbol ester-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression from human airway epithelial cells.

In this study, the effects of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid on MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) from human airway epithelial cells were investigated. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with each agent for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF and PMA for 24 h, respectively. MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were found to inhibit the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF and PMA, and both compounds also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by EGF and PMA. These results suggest that oleanolic acid and ursolic acid can regulate mucin gene expression, and production of mucin protein, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells.

In vivo cross-sectional imaging of the phonating larynx using long-range Doppler optical coherence tomography.

Diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold lesions has been a long-evolving science for the otolaryngologist. Contemporary practice requires biopsy of a glottal lesion in the operating room under general anesthesia for diagnosis. Current in-office technology is limited to visualizing the surface of the vocal folds with fiber-optic or rigid endoscopy and using stroboscopic or high-speed video to infer information about submucosal processes. Previous efforts using optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been limited by small working distances and imaging ranges. Here we report the first full field, high-speed, and long-range OCT images of awake patients' vocal folds as well as cross-sectional video and Doppler analysis of their vocal fold motions during phonation. These vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser source (VCSEL) OCT images offer depth resolved, high-resolution, high-speed, and panoramic images of both the true and false vocal folds. This technology has the potential to revolutionize in-office imaging of the larynx.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the nasopharynx: A case report and review of the literature.

An 80-year-old female with complaints of right-sided nose blockage and occasional epistaxis for several months was referred to Sanggye Paik Hospital (Seoul, Korea). Nasal examination revealed a hemorrhagic mass protruding towards the right posterior nasal cavity, for which the patient was subjected to excisional biopsy. The pathological diagnosis was epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, as immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the inner cells stained positive for cytokeratin 7, an epithelial cell marker, whereas the outer cells stained positive for smooth muscle actin and P63, consistent with a myoepithelial phenotype. The patient received concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by systemic chemotherapy. Following the achievement of a partial response, the patient's treatment course was uneventful. Follow-up at 24 months revealed a stable status at partial response, with no subsequent progression.