Effect of smoking on human pharyngeal mucosa

To study the effect of smoking on pharyngeal mucosa, biopsies were taken from 70 adult males [50 smokers and 20 non smokers] under general anesthesia during tonsillectomy operation. General examination was carried out to exclude any associated systemic diseases. The prepared paraffin sections were stained with Hematoxyline and Eosin [Hx and E], for the general structure of pharyngeal mucosa, Brachet reaction for DNA and RNA content and Schiff's reagent for neutral mucopolysaccharides content. The histopathological examination of these sections showed changes in the pharyngeal mucosa of smokers in the form of chronic inflammation, hypoplasia, hyperkeratosis, dysplasia, submucous fibrosis, atypical hyperplasia, nuclear atypia and carcinoma in situ

Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 in allergic nasal tissues

This study was carried out on 60 persons, 40 of them were suffering from allergic rhinitis, while 20 were normal [control group]. Arachidonic acid and PGE2 levels were estimated in the nasal tissues by gas chromatography and radioimmunoassay methods. There was a marked increase in arachidonic acid and PGE2 levels in nasal tissues in cases of allergic rhinitis. There was significant positive correlation between arachidonic acid and PGE2 [r = 0.92]. In the allergic group, there was no sex variation in arachidonic acid and PGE2 levels. The increase in both arachidonic acid and PGE2 in nasal tissues of allergic rhinitis patients was explained by excessive nasal tissue uptake of arachidonic acid or excessive synthesis from linoleic acid, but not due to the decrease in the degradation of PGE2. These findings can help in the study and management of allergic rhinitis

Inhalant allergens and ELISA as valuable tool in diagnosis

One hundred patients [50 Saudi and 50 Egyptian patients] with perennial rhinitis and perennial rhinitis with seasonal exacerbation were examined clinically and by means of laboratory investigations to shed light about the pathogenesis of the disease and the clinical value of various tests in the assessment of the patients. In 65 percent of the cases [50 percent of the Egyptian and 80 percent of the Saudi patients] allergy was proven. The most common allergen is weed pollen mix followed by grass pollen mix and house dust in Egyptian patients and by house dust and grass pollen mix in Saudi patients. In this study, investigations of blood eosinophils, total IgE and circulating specific IgE antibodies in the patient's sera by enzyme linked immunoassay [ELISA] were found to be of value in the assessment of patients with allergic rhinitis. Advantages and disadvantages of ELISA have been discussed. Combination of skin prick test and ELISA is recommended to increase the reliability of both tests

Assessment of cochlear function in vitiligo patients

Melanocytes are located in various sites, as epidermis, hair follicles, dermis, mucous membranes, leptomeninges, eye and inner ear. Vitiligo is considered by several investigators as a systemic disease affecting the entire pigmentary system and possibly the melanocytes in the ear, and it could be accompanied, in some cases, by ocular as well as auditory abnormalities. The results of the present study indicated that most vitiligo patients have a normal cochlear function as measured by evoked oto-acoustic emission when compared with normal controls. Thus, audiologic abnormalities are not considered as an aspect of the disease