Botulinum Toxin A Ameliorates Neuroinflammation in the MPTP and 6-OHDA-Induced Parkinson’s Disease Models

Recently, increasing evidence suggests that neuroinflammation may be a critical factor in the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in addition to the ratio of acetylcholine/dopamine because dopaminergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to inflammatory attack. In this study, we investigated whether botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) was effective for the treatment of PD through its anti-neuroinflammatory effects and the modulation of acetylcholine and dopamine release. We found that BoNT-A ameliorated MPTP and 6-OHDA-induced PD progression, reduced acetylcholine release, levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α as well as GFAP expression, but enhanced dopamine release and tyrosine hydroxylase expression. These results indicated that BoNT-A had beneficial effects on MPTP or 6-OHDA-induced PD-like behavior impairments via its anti-neuroinflammation properties, recovering dopamine, and reducing acetylcholine release.

Detection of MAGE and SSX Gene Expressions by RT-nested PCR Using Common Primers in Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVES: The melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) and synovial sarcoma on X chromosome (SSX) gene families are silent in most normal adult tissues, but are expressed in a variety of malignant lesions. Therefore, detection of MAGE and SSX transcription may be useful for the diagnosis of head and neck cancers. The aim of this study is to detect MAGE and SSX gene transcripts of head and neck cancers using the MAGE 1-6 assay and the SSX 1-9 assay. METHODS: The transcripts of MAGE 1-6 and SSX 1-9 genes were detected by the MAGE 1-6 assay and the SSX 1-9 assay respectively, in cancer cell lines, cancer tissue, and induced sputum specimens from head and neck cancer patients. RESULTS: The transcripts of MAGE 1-6 and SSX 1-9 genes were detected in 82.8% and 75.9% of head and neck cancer tissues (N=29) respectively, and 96.6% of cancer tissues expressed at least one of MAGE 1-6 or SSX 1-9 genes. In the induced sputum of head and neck cancer patients (N=18), the transcripts of MAGE 1-6 and SSX 1-9 genes were detected in 72.2% and 77.8%, respectively, and 94.4% of the sputum specimens were positive for either the MAGE 1-6 or the SSX 1-9 assay. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the combination of MAGE 1-6 and SSX 1-9 assays may be useful in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

Delayed Facial Nerve Paralysis after Middle Ear and Mastoid Surgery / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to provide possible causes and post-treatment prognosis of delayed facial nerve palsy (DFP) following middle ear and mastoid surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The medical records of 3787 cases of middle ear and mastoid surgery from June, 1980 to August, 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Nine cases developed ipsilateral facial nerve palsy after 72 hours of surgery. Their age ranged from 20 to 67 years (the mean of 40 years old and the male: female ratio of 1:1.25). For the review of the chart, we checked preoperative middle ear and mastoid state, intraoperative findings, clinical features of development and recovery of facial nerve palsy. To evaluate the degree and the possibility of recovery of facial nerve palsy, the House-Blackman grading system was used and electrophysiologic studies (Maximal stimulation test, Nerve excitability test and Nerve conduction velocity test) were performed. The steroid and vasodilator drugs were prescribed for the treatment. RESULTS: All of the nine patients had preoperative diagnosis of chronic otitis media and five of them also had cholesteatoma. Radical mastoidectomy was done in two cases, open cavity techniques in two cases and closed cavity techniques in five cases. There were postoperative wound infections in five cases. Facial palsy was developed between 5th and 16th postoperative day (mean 9th day) and the initial House-Blackman grade was II or III. The time for complete recovery ranged from 1 month to 6 months, with the fastest recovery time being 9 days after DFP. CONCLUSION: DFP following middle ear and mastoid surgery is an unpredictable complication. Postoperative wound infection may have been related to it and should be regarded as a risk factor of DFP.

Antibacterial Effect of Lidocaine in Mouse Model of Acute Rhinosinusitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to verify the antibacterial effect of lidocaine against common bacterial pathogens which causes acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in vitro, and also to evaluate in vivo effects in the nasal cavity of mice with an acute rhinosinusitis induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae inoculation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The initial cultures of Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Hemophilus influenza were done in Mueller-Hinton broth and the subsequent culture in 5% sheep blood agar (SBA). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was obtained by making culture broth to a turbidity of McFarland No 0.5 overnight by having it diluted by 1:200 times, and medicating 100 microL lidocaine in each culture. It was cultured for 24 hours at 36degrees C and analyzed spectrophotometrically. Minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was obtained by the same work as MIC and was followed by the subculture in 5% SBA to obtain the minimum concentration of no growth. Two percent concentration of lidocaine, MBC of S. pneumoniae was used for in vivo study. Thirty-six experimental mice (C57BL6/J) were divided: the control Group I contained only broth inoculation, Group II S. pneumoniae inculation and Group III to VI varying concentrations of lidocaine inoculation in different intervals and exposure time. On the 6th day, nasal lavage was done and mucosal neutrophil count was sought by dissecting the mice head by selecting three sections of anatomicallynd same site and 4 randomly selected places from each section. RESULTS: MIC and MBC values of S. pneumoniae were 1%, 2%, K. pneumoniae 2% and 2%, P. aerusinosa 2% and 4%, S. aureus 2% and 4%, H. influenzae 0.25%, and 1%, respectively. Mucosal neutorophils revealed a more statistically significant increase in Group II than all other groups followed by Group V, VI, III, and IV. The nasal lavage showed larger colony count in Group II, III, and V than those of other groups without any statistical meaning. CONCLUSION: This study enabled us to find out the MIC and MBC of lidocaine on various pathogens, the causes of an acute rhinosinusitis in vitro. It also showed that an acute rhinosinusitis is developed by using S. pneumoniae in vitro and that the longer the exposure time and higher the exposure frequency of lidocaine, the greater were antibacterial effects.