Effect of nose sensitive pill (NSP) on serum IFN-γ and il-4 levels in allergic rhinitis using rats model.

This study was conducted to investigate the changes of serum interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in allergic rhinitis model rats after using the traditional Chinese nose sensitive pill (NSP) and its possible mechanism to treat allergic rhinitis. Forty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each i.e. blank control group, model group, nose sensitive pill group and loratadine group. Allergic rhinitis was induced in all three groups (except blank control group) using ovalbumin as allergen. After successful induction of allergic rhinitis, intragastric administration of 0.9% NaCl solution, NSP or loratadine solution was carried-out, respectively. The behavior of rats was observed before administration and then after 1, 3 and 5 weeks. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of 4 cytokines in each group after 5 weeks. After 5 weeks study period, nasal symptoms of NSP group and loratadine group were significantly (P<0.01) lower than those of model group. Compared with blank control group, levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in model group increased, and levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with model group, levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 increased but levels of IL-4 and IL-17 decreased significantly (P<0.01) in NSP and loratadine group. On the basis of findings of this study, NSP is an effective prescription to treat allergic rhinitis. One of its therapeutic mechanisms is to regulate balance between Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells by influencing the levels of IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-10.

Mitochondrial DNA 3,860-bp Deletion Increases with Aging in the Auditory Nervous System of C57BL/6J Mice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is sensitive to oxidative damage during aging, which can result in mtDNA mutations. A previous study reported that a 3,860-bp mtDNA deletion, similar to a 4,977-bp mtDNA deletion in humans, is also common occurrence in murine tissues, and increases in the brain and liver with aging. However, no previous study evaluated both topics in the murine auditory nervous system. METHODS: We compared mtDNA oxidative damage, mitochondrial ultrastructural changes, and the frequency of the 3,860-bp deletion in the peripheral (spiral ganglion, SG) and central (auditory cortex, AC) auditory nervous system of C57BL/6J mice aged 2, 12, and 18 months. RESULTS: We found that the threshold of auditory brainstem response increased with age along with the signal of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine - a marker of DNA oxidative damage - in the mitochondria of SG and AC neurons. The mitochondrial ultrastructural damage also increased with aging in the SG and AC neurons. Moreover, the relative amount of mtDNA 3,860-bp deletion in 12- and 18-month-old mice was significantly higher in the SG and AC as compared to 2-month-old mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mtDNA 3,860-bp deletion is common in the auditory nervous system of mice and increases with age and may contribute to age-related hearing loss.

Analysis of the management and risk factors for complications of esophageal foreign body impaction of jujube pits in adults.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign body impaction is a common emergency in the field of otolaryngology. The prevalence of a jujube pit as an esophageal foreign body has increased in the Jiaodong Peninsula. However, reports on this are scarce. AIM: To investigate the methods for diagnosing and treating esophageal foreign body impaction of a jujube pit and to determine the risk factors for complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with esophageal impaction of a jujube pit. Demographic, clinical, radiological, and endoscopic data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Neither plain radiography nor esophagogram provided enough information on the surrounding issues and complications. The rate of secondary radiological examination was 51.61% for the patients who did not undergo prior computed tomography. The success rate of rigid esophagoscopy was 95.45%; 18 of these patients (27.27%) had previously undergone flexible esophagoscopy without foreign body removal. Logistic regression showed that the time from ingestion to presentation and the jujube pit size were independent risk factors for complications. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography without contrast material is the preferred diagnostic method for adults with esophageal jujube pit impaction, and rigid esophagoscopy can be used for therapy even though the first flexible esophagoscopy failed. Large diameter of the jujube pit constituting the esophageal foreign body (≥ 25 mm) and long duration between pit ingestion and presentation (> 12 h) were associated with increased complications in the patients in this study.

Esophageal foreign bodies in adults with different durations of time from ingestion to effective treatment.

Objective This study was performed to identify the differences in clinical characteristics, operative methods, complications, and postoperative hospitalization stays for adults with esophageal foreign bodies with different durations of time from ingestion to effective treatment. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 221 patients with a diagnosis of a foreign body in the esophagus, confirmed by rigid esophagoscopy, flexible esophagoscopy, or surgery. The differences between the two groups (Group A, ≤24 hours from ingestion to effective treatment; Group B, >24 hours from ingestion to effective treatment) were analyzed. Results Sharp foreign bodies comprised the majority of objects in the two groups, including jujube pits, bones (excluding fish bones), fish bones, dentures, and seafood shells. Foreign bodies located in the upper esophagus were more commonly observed in Group A than B. Significant differences were observed in the complication rate and length of postoperative hospitalization stays. Adults with esophageal foreign bodies had a high complication rate. Conclusions Rigid esophagoscopy can be used to remove sharp and bulky foreign bodies if more effective methods are unavailable. Effective treatment within 24 hours resulted in fewer complications and shorter postoperative hospitalization stays.