Background and Objectives The influence of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) loop on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the anatomical type of AICA loop and SSHL. Subjects and Method We reviewed the medical records of 69 ears from 60 patients with SSHL between January 2005 and April 2008, retrospectively. AICA loops were classified according to the Chavda classification method by magnetic resonance imaging. According to the extension depth of the loop in the internal auditory canal, it was classified as type I, II and III. The loop was classified as S (small diameter) and L (large diameter) by comparing the thickness of the loop with adjacent facial nerves. Results The predominant type of AICA loop was type I (68.1%) and type S (78.3%). There was no significant correlation between the pretreatment hearing level, extension depth and diameter. There was also no significant correlation between the rate of hearing recovery by Siegel's criteria and diameter. However, there was significant correlation between the rate of hearing recovery by Siegel's criteria and the types of the extension depth (p
Background and Objectives：Mucus hypersecretion is a major problem in inflammatory airway disease. Interleukin-1 (IL-) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway diseases. This study was designed to investigate the signal transduction mechanism and the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and the IL-1-mediated MUC5AC secretion. Materials and Method：In cultured human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells, the IL-1-mediated MUC5AC gene expression and mucin secretion were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay. To identify the signal transduction pathway of the IL-1-mediated MUC5AC expression, we used specific inhibitors. Results：IL-1 induced COX-2 and MUC5AC expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Mucin secretion was blocked by NS398 and resveratrol, selective COX-2 inhibitors. Prostaglandin () directly induced MUC5AC expression at both mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. Cells activated by IL-1 showed increased extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38 phosphorylation. IL-1-induced MUC5AC gene expression and mucin secretion were blocked by PD98059, the MEK/ ERK inhibitor and SB203580, the p38 inhibitor. Furthermore, inhibition of both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) reduced the IL-1-induced COX-2 expression and synthesis. Ro31-8220, the PKC inhibitors prevented the IL-1-induced COX-2 expression and mucin secretion. Also Ro31-8220 inhibited the IL-1-mediated MAPKs phosphorylation. Conclusion：IL-1-induced MUC5AC gene expression and mucin secretion are regulated through the sequential activation of PKC-ERK/ p38-COX-2- in the human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells
Background MUC5AC, a major secreted mucin, is increased in chronic inflammatory airway disease. Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) is a mediator, which acts as an important regulator of intracellular signal transduction in the inflammatory response. SYK was originally identified in hematopoietic cells, and its expression in some nonhematopoietic cells, including respiratory epithelial cells, was recently demonstrated. However, the effects of SYK on mucin secretion in human airway epithelial cells have not been studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect and brief signaling pathways of SYK on MUC5AC expression in human airway epithelial cells. Methods In mucin-producing human NCI-H292 cells and primary cultures of human nasal epithelial cells, the effects and signaling pathways of SYK on MUC5AC expression were investigated by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme immunoassay, and immunoblot analysis with several specific inhibitors and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Results SYK induced MUC5AC expression. SYK activated significant phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. SYK-induced MUC5AC expression was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with U0126 (ERK1/2 MAPK inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor). In addition, the knockdown of ERK2 and p38 MAPK by ERK2 and p38 MAPK siRNA significantly blocked SYK-induced MUC5AC expression. Conclusion These results indicated that SYK increased MUC5AC expression via ERK2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways in human airway epithelial cells.
Malignancy of the external auditory canal (EAC) is a rare tumor. Among the malignancies of EAC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common pathologic type. The causes of SCC of EAC may be exposure to ultraviolet rays, cholesteatoma, chronic otitis externa, and rarely radiotherapy. SCC of EAC has the diverse and non-specific clinical features including mass of tissue, otorrhea, otalgia, tinnitus, and facial palsy which make it difficult to distinguish between SCC and benign tumor. Recently, we experienced a case of SCC of EAC occurred in the left external auditory canal after radiotherapy for Kimuraâs disease, which was misdiagnosed as keratoacanthoma at first. The findings of this case suggest that when it is difficult to distinguish SCC from benign tumor of EAC, the excisional biopsy including enough resected margin and base of tumor is needed for an exact diagnosis. Key words: Keratoacanthoma ã Radiotherapy ã Squamous cell carcinoma
Background and Objectives: High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bone is much useful tool for detecting microstructure of the inner and middle ear. The purpose of this study was to investigate diagnostic significance for bony defect of the facial nerve canal, the tegmen tympani and the lateral semicircular canal between the findings of HRCT and the operative findings in chronic otitis media. Material and Method: Ninety seven patients with chronic otitis media that had undergone preoperative HRCT were reviewed retrospectively. All the patients had also undergone tympanoplasty with canal wall down mastoidectomy from March 2003 to January 2006. Results: The sensitivity, specificity and predictability for bony defect of the facial nerve canal were 78.8%, 93.8% and 88.7%, and for bony defect of the tegmen tympani were 90.0%, 95.4% and 94.9%, and for bony defect of the lateral semicircular canal were all 100.0%. In addition, the bony defect of facial nerve canal, tegmen tympani and lateral semicircular canal were significant correlation between the preoperative HRCT findings and the operative findings (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that HRCT is an effective diagnostic tool for bony defect in chronic otitis media. Therefore, HRCT can be quite instrumental in planning a surgical treatment and reducing the iatrogenic complications on the middle ear surgery. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2008;19:183-188)
Understanding the function of the nasal vasculature in homeostasis and pathogenesis of common nasal diseases is important. Here we describe an extensive network of venous sinusoids (VSs) in mouse and human nasal mucosa. The endothelium of the VSs expressed Prox1 (considered to be a constitutive marker of lymphatic endothelium) and high levels of VCAM-1 and exhibited unusual cell-to-cell junctions. VSs are supported by circular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and surrounded by immune cells. The nasal mucosa also showed a rich supply of lymphatic vessels with distinctive features, such as the absence of the lymphatic marker LYVE1 and sharp-ended capillaries. In mouse models of allergic rhinitis or acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, Prox1
High blood pressure (BP) is a significant risk factor for heart and brain diseases. Previous studies have suggested that heavy metals including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) contribute to hypertension. This study examined the combined effects of heavy metals on blood pressure, considering sex differences. A health impact survey was conducted among 561 residents living near waste incineration facilities in Cheongju, Korea. Blood samples were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations and blood pressure was measured. Multiple linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) methods were used to evaluate the relationship between heavy metal exposure and BP. Men had higher blood Hg and Pb concentrations, whereas women had higher Cd levels. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed no significant association between heavy metals and systolic blood pressure. However, Cd was significantly associated with increased diastolic blood pressure for the total group and women, whereas Pb was associated with increased diastolic blood pressure in men. In the BKMR analysis, the joint effect of the three metals was significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure for individuals below the 45th percentile and above the 55th percentile in men. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex differences in environmental health studies and public health strategies.
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