Expression of c-Jun and KROX-20 Following Facial Nerve Injury and Recovery in Rats.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated whether recovery from facial paralysis was associated with the expression of Krox-20 and c-Jun genes that are shown to be related to facial nerve regeneration after facial nerve compression and cutting. METHODS: The left facial nerves of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6 weeks were subjected to crushing or cutting injury. Whisker movements of the vibrissae muscle and blink reflexes of the eyelids were measured on days 4 and 14 after facial nerve injury. The facial nerves on both sides were removed, and the expression of c-Jun and Krox-20 proteins was evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: The level of expression of Krox-20 on day 4 was lower in the crushing group, especially in the cutting group than in the control group (P < .05), but there was no statistically significant difference on day 14 (P > .05). The expression of c-Jun expression was significantly higher in the crushing and cutting groups than in the control group on days 4 and 14 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The degree of facial paralysis was more severe and the recovery rate was lower in the cutting group than in the crushing group. The levels of expression of Krox-20 and c-Jun were associated with facial nerve regeneration after facial nerve injury.

Lower Beclin-1 mRNA Levels in Pediatric Compared With Adult Patients With Otitis Media With Effusion.

OBJECTIVES: The role of autophagy in the pathophysiology of otitis media with effusion (OME) remains unclear, particularly regarding the difference between pediatric and adult patients. The present study analyzed the expression levels of autophagy-associated mRNAs in effusion fluids obtained from pediatric and adult patients with OME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Middle ear fluid samples were collected from 76 pediatric patients and 41 adult patients with OME, and the levels of mRNAs encoding autophagy-related genes were measured using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between the levels of autophagy-associated mRNAs and the frequency of ventilation tube insertion, the characteristics of middle ear fluid, and the results of bacterial culture were analyzed. RESULTS: Autophagy-associated mRNAs were present in the effusion fluid of all patients. The level of Beclin-1 mRNA was significantly lower in pediatric than in adult patients, regardless of the frequency of surgery or fluid characteristics (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Autophagy-associated mRNAs were expressed in effusion fluids of both pediatric and adult patients with OME. However, the level of Beclin-1 mRNA was significantly lower in the effusion fluid of pediatric than adult patients.