Investigation of pulmonary involvement in inflammatory bowel disease in an experimental model of colitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may also involve various extra-intestinal organs. Clinical studies have found asymptomatic/symptomatic pulmonary involvement in 1% to 6% of patients with IBD. The present study histopathologically investigated pulmonary involvement in an experimental model of colitis in order to demonstrate pulmonary tissue involvement in IBD and to expose potential etiological factors. It also explored the relation between inflammation and tissue concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). METHODS: The study comprised 24 male Wistar albino rats. The rats were divided into four groups of six rats each. Acute colitis was induced in two separate groups using either the dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) method, while the other two groups were used as controls for each model of colitis. Wallace scoring was used for macroscopic assessment of colitis, and the lungs were histopathologically examined. Concentrations of VEGF and TNF-α in pulmonary tissue were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The number of animals that had alveolar hemorrhage was significantly higher in the TNBS-induced colitis and DSS-induced colitis groups compared to their own control groups (p = 0.015 and p = 0.015, respectively). VEGF and TNF-α concentrations in pulmonary tissues were significantly increased in both the TNBS colitis and DSS colitis groups compared to their own control groups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively; and p = 0.002 and p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that significant and serious histopathological changes directly associated with colitis occur in the lungs in IBD.

Habitual snoring in primary school children: prevalence and association with sleep-related disorders and school performance

To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring [HS] and its association with both day- and nighttime symptoms, school performance and behavioral disturbances in a sample of primary school children. A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,605 children [819 boys and 786 girls] aged 7-13 years from 9 randomly selected primary schools located within the city limits of Isparta, Turkey. HS and sleep problems were assessed using a 55-item multiple-choice questionnaire. Of the 1,605 questionnaires, 1,164 were fully completed and returned, giving a response rate of 72.5%. The overall prevalence of snoring was 38.9%, while HS accounted for 3.5%. The prevalence of HS among boys [25,3.0%] was higher than among girls [16, 2.0%; chi[2] for trend: p < 0.001, OR: 1.92, 95% Cl: 1.01-3.66]. There was an association between younger age and HS, as children aged 7-8 years had the highest prevalence [chi[2] for trend: 0.054, OR: 1.85, 95% Cl: 0.81-4.22]. Habitual snorers had more daytime and nighttime symptoms. Allergic symptoms, daytime mouth breathing, shaking the child for apnea, restless sleep and hyperactivity were significant and independent risk factors and sleep-related symptoms for HS. A significant and independent association was found between poor school performance and hyperactivity, nocturnal enuresis, tooth grinding and low parental/ maternal education in multivariate analysis. Children with HS were more likely to have sleep-related daytime and nighttime symptoms. No significant association was determined between HS and poor school performance