Effect of voice therapy after phonomicrosurgery for vocal polyps: a prospective, historically controlled, clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of post-operative voice therapy after phonomicrosurgery for vocal polyp removal. METHODS: The study retrospectively enrolled 55 consecutive patients who had undergone voice therapy after phonomicrosurgery for vocal polyp removal occurring between June 2010 and June 2011. A historical group of 63 similar patients not receiving voice therapy was used as an external control. We compared voice analysis parameters and Voice Handicap Index scores for the two groups. RESULTS: Most objective and subjective voice outcome parameters were significantly improved after surgical treatment. Although the study and control groups showed no significant difference regarding objective parameters (using acoustic and aerodynamic analysis) or the subjective parameters assessed using the grade-roughness-breathiness-asthenia-strain scale, the study group had significantly better final Voice Handicap Index scores. CONCLUSION: Following surgery for vocal polyps, post-operative voice therapy can improve patients' vocal discomfort, emotional responses and everyday self-perception.

Intravenously transplanted bone marrow stromal cells promote recovery of lower urinary tract function in rats with complete spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: There is increasing evidence that intravenously injected neural progenitor cells promote recovery of bladder function in rodents, following contusive spinal cord injury through migrating into the injured spinal cord tissue and differentiating into central nervous system cells. The present study was aimed to clarify whether intravenously transplanted bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) could improve lower urinary tract (LUT) function in rats with spinal cord transection (SCT). METHODS: A total of 22 rats underwent experimentation in three groups, including group 1-sham operation, group 2 (BMSC)-SCT plus BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) labeled BMSCs transplantation at day 9 after SCT, group 3-SCT control. All rats were investigated urodynamically on day 28 after transplantation. RESULTS: BMSCs identified by BrdU immunohistochemistry survived in the injured spinal cord and lumbar level 3-4 (L(3-4)). Voiding pressure, episodes of non-voiding contractions and residual urine volumes were significantly decreased in BMSC rats, compared with the controls. Bladder capacity was similar in both groups. In four out of eight BMSC rats and one out of seven controls, the tonic and bursting external urethral sphincter electromyographic activity were detected during cystometry. Silent periods during bursting were shorter and activity periods were longer in BMSC rats compared with sham rats. CONCLUSION: Intravenously transplanted BMSCs survived in the L(3-4) and had beneficial effects on the recovery of LUT function in the rats after SCT.

Validating the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life for Children (CP QOL-Child) questionnaire for use in Chinese populations.

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life for Children (CP QOL-Child) questionnaire. We performed forward (into Chinese) and backward translation of the CP QOL-Child for: (1) the primary caregiver form (for parents of children with CP aged 4-12 years); and (2) the child self-report form (for children with cerebral palsy aged 9-12 years). Psychometric properties assessed included test-retest reliability, internal consistency, item discrimination, construct validity, and concordance between the forms of questionnaire. The Chinese CP QOL-Child was completed by 145 caregivers and 44 children. Excellent test-retest reliability and internal consistency were obtained. Item discrimination analysis revealed a majority of the items have moderate to good discriminating power. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated distinguishable domain structure as on the original English version. Significant associations were found between lower QOL and more severe motor disability. Consistent with the English version, the highest correlation between the primary caregiver and child forms on QOL was in the domain of functioning. Results of this study indicate that the Chinese CP QOL-Child appears to be valid for use in Mandarin-Chinese speaking children with cerebral palsy.

Remodelling of nasal mucosa in mild and severe persistent allergic rhinitis with special reference to the distribution of collagen, proteoglycans, and lymphatic vessels.

BACKGROUND: Small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (decorin, biglycan, and lumican), collagen, and lymphangiogenesis are involved in tissue remodelling of various organs with inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE: We determined the expression level and the distribution pattern of small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (decorin, biglycan, and lumican), collagen and lymphatic vessels in healthy, mild, and severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa. METHODS: The distribution pattern of collagen, proteoglycans, and lymphatic vessels in healthy, mild, and severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa was evaluated by the van Gieson staining, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. Quantitative analyses of collagen deposition were calculated as the median of the total percentage area in the tissue specimen. For the evaluation of proteoglycans, the percentage area stained and median optical density were measured for each image. Lymphatic vessels were identified by D2-40 antibody and calculated using the lymphatic vessel density and endothelial length density in tissue specimens. The expression of MMP 2 and 9, TIMP1 and 2 was evaluated with RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: In mild and severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa, compared with healthy nasal mucosa, collagen showed more intense staining in the superficial and submucosal layer. In healthy and allergic nasal mucosa, decorin was lightly stained without significant differences in the percentage area and optical density of staining. However, lumican and biglycan showed strong immunoreactivity in mild and severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa, which was verified by Western blotting. The number and endothelial length density of lymphatic vessels were increased in mild and severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa compared with healthy nasal mucosa. The expression of MMP 9 was increased in severe persistent allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that the altered distribution pattern of collagen, proteoglycans, and lymphatic vessels could potentially modulate the remodelling of nasal mucosa in mild and severe persistent allergic nasal mucosa.

Physiological concentrations of dietary genistein dose-dependently stimulate growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) tumors implanted in athymic nude mice.

Previously our laboratory has shown that the soy isoflavone, genistein, stimulates growth of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vivo and in vitro. In this study, the dose-response analysis of genistein at the physiologically achievable concentration range between 125 and 1,000 microg/g in the diet was conducted in ovariectomized athymic nude mice implanted with MCF-7 cells. We hypothesized that genistein at this concentration range can stimulate dose-dependently the breast tumor growth, cell proliferation and an estrogen-responsive pS2 gene induction. Tumor size and body weight were monitored weekly. At completion of the study, we analyzed cellular proliferation of tumors using incorporation of BrdU, pS2 expression of tumors using a Northern blot analysis and total genistein level in plasma using liquid chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-ES/MS). Dietary genistein (> or = 250 microg/g) increased tumor size in a dose-dependent manner [8.4x the negative control (NC) group in the 250 microg/g group, 12.0x in the 500 microg/g group, 20.2x in the 1,000 microg/g group and 23.2x in the positive control (PC) group]. The percentage of proliferating cells was significantly increased by genistein at and above 250 microg/g (5.3x the NC group in the 250 microg/g, 5.6x in the 500 microg/g, 5.0x in the 1,000 microg/g and 4.8x in the PC group). Expression of pS2 mRNA was also significantly increased with increasing dietary genistein levels (11.25x the NC group in the 500 microg/g group and 15.84x in the 1,000 microg/g group). Total plasma genistein concentrations were between 0.39 and 3.36 micromol/L in mice fed between 125 and 1,000 microg/g genistein. In conclusion, dietary treatment with genistein at physiological concentrations produces blood levels of genistein sufficient to stimulate estrogenic effects, such as breast tumor growth, cellular proliferation and pS2 expression in athymic mice in a dose-responsive manner similar to that seen in vitro.

Dietary genistin stimulates growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancer tumors similar to that observed with genistein.

The estrogenic soy isoflavone, genistein, stimulates growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vivo. Genistin is the glycoside form of genistein and the predominant form found in plants. It is generally believed that genistin is metabolized to the aglycone genistein in the lower gut. However, it is unclear if the rate of metabolism of genistin to genistein is sufficient to produce a level of genistein capable of stimulating estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell growth. Our hypothesis was that dietary genistin would stimulate tumor growth similar to that observed with genistein in athymic mice. To test this hypothesis, genistin or genistein was fed to athymic mice containing xenografted estrogen-dependent breast tumors (MCF-7). Mice were fed either genistein at 750 p.p.m. (parts per milllion) or genistin at 1200 p.p.m., which provides equal molar concentrations of aglycone equivalents in both diets. Tumor size was measured weekly for 11 weeks. At completion of the study, half of the animals per treatment group were killed and tumors collected for evaluation of cellular proliferation and estrogen-responsive pS2 gene expression. Incorporation of bromo-deoxyuridine into cellular DNA was utilized as an indicator of cellular proliferation. Dietary genistin resulted in increased tumor growth, pS2 expression and cellular proliferation similar to that observed with genistein. The remaining mice were switched to diets free of genistin and genistein. When mice were placed on isoflavone free diets, tumors regressed over a span of 9 weeks. Next, we examined how effectively and where metabolism of genistin to genistein occurred in the digestive tract. We present evidence that demonstrates conversion of genistin to its aglycone form genistein begins in the mouth and then continues in the small intestine. Both human saliva and the intestinal cell-free extract from mice converted genistin to genistein. In summary, the glycoside genistin, like the aglycone genistein, can stimulate estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell growth in vivo. Removal of genistin or genistein from the diet caused tumors to regress.

Soy diets containing varying amounts of genistein stimulate growth of estrogen-dependent (MCF-7) tumors in a dose-dependent manner.

We have demonstrated that the isoflavone, genistein, stimulates growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vivo (C. Y. Hsieh et al., Cancer Res., 58: 3833-3838, 1998). The isoflavones are a group of phytoestrogens that are present in high concentrations in soy. Whether consumption of genistein from soy protein will have similar effects on estrogen-dependent tumor growth as pure genistein has not been investigated in the athymic mouse tumor implant model. Depending on processing, soy protein isolates vary widely in concentrations of genistein. We hypothesize that soy isolates containing different concentrations of genistein will stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent cells in vivo in a dose-dependent manner. To test this hypothesis we conducted experiments in which these soy protein isolates were fed to athymic mice implanted s.c. with estrogen-dependent tumors. Genistein content (aglycone equivalent) of the soy isolate diets were 15, 150, or 300 ppm. Positive (with 17beta-estradiol pellet implant) and negative (no 17beta-estradiol) control groups received casein-based (isoflavone-free) diets. Tumor size was measured weekly. At completion of the study animals were killed and tumors collected for evaluation of cellular proliferation and estrogen-dependent gene expression. Incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into cellular DNA was used as an indicator of cell proliferation, and pS2 mRNA was used as an estrogen-responsive gene. Soy protein diets containing varying amounts of genistein increased estrogen-dependent tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. Cell proliferation was greatest in tumors of animals given estrogen or dietary genistein (150 and 300 ppm). Expression of pS2 was increased in tumors from animals consuming dietary genistein (150 and 300 ppm). Here we present new information that soy protein isolates containing increasing concentrations of genistein stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells in vivo in a dose-dependent manner.

Estrogenic effects of extracts from cabbage, fermented cabbage, and acidified brussels sprouts on growth and gene expression of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells.

Cruciferous vegetable extracts from freeze-dried cabbage (FDC), freeze-dried fermented cabbage (FDS), and acidified Brussels sprouts (ABS) were prepared by exhaustive extraction with ethyl acetate. Estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects of these extracts were analyzed. To identify whether the extracts are potential estrogen receptor (ER) ligands that can act as agonists or antagonists, the binding affinity of extracts for the ER was measured using a competitive radiometric binding assay. The extracts bound with low affinity to the ER, and the relative binding affinity is estradiol > FDS > FDC > ABS. These extracts were evaluated for their estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities in estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells using as endpoints proliferation and induction of estrogen-responsive pS2 gene expression, which was analyzed using Northern blot assay. At low concentrations (5-25 ng/mL) all of the extracts reduced 1 nM estradiol-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation. Extracts at 25 ng/mL also inhibited estradiol-induced pS2 mRNA expression. At higher extract concentrations (50 ng/mL-25 microg/mL), however, increased proliferation in MCF-7 cells was observed. Similarly, expression of the pS2 gene was induced by higher extract concentrations (0.25-25 microg/mL). The pure estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780, suppressed the cell proliferation induced by the extracts as well as by estradiol and also the induction of pS2 expression by the extracts. The ER subtype-selective activities of FDC and FDS were analyzed using a transfection assay in human endometrial adenocarcinoma (HEC-1) cells. FDS acted as an ERalpha-selective agonist while FDC fully activated both ER-alpha and ER-beta. Growth of the ER-negative MDA-231 cells was not affected by the extracts or by estradiol. This study demonstrates that cruciferous vegetable extracts act bifunctionally, like an antiestrogen at low concentrations and an estrogen agonist at high concentrations.

Plant-activation of the bicyclic aromatic amines benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl.

Benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) are promutagenic bicyclic aromatic amines that are activated into frameshift and base pair substitution mutagens by plant systems. Using the plant cell/microbe coincubation assay, plant-activated benzidine from 0 to 50 microM induced a concentration-response in Salmonella typhimurium. At concentrations above 5 microM, plant-activated benzidine induced frameshift and base pair substitution mutations in the N- or O-acetyltransferase over-expressing strains, DJ460, YG1024, and YG1029. With plant-activated 4-ABP, concentrations above 250 microM induced a significant mutagenic response in strains YG1024 and YG1029. A tobacco cell-free mixture, TX1MX, activated benzidine and 4-ABP into mutagenic metabolites in S. typhimurium strains YG1024, YG1029, and DJ460. The mutagenic sensitivities of plant-activated benzidine and 4-ABP were the same with two different types of plant activation systems, TX1 suspension cells and TX1MX cell-free medium. The plant activation of these aromatic amines is mediated by tobacco cell peroxidase. Plant-activated benzidine and 4-ABP are converted into intermediates that serve as substrates for bacterial or humanacetylCoA: N-hydroxyarylamine N-acetyltransferase to generate the ultimate mutagenic products.

Involvement of nitroreductase and O-acetyltransferase on the mutagenicity of plant-activated benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl.

Benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) are activated by intact plant cells and cell free TX1MX into mutagenic metabolites that induce frameshift and base pair substitution mutations in Salmonella typhimurium. The plant activation of these agents is plant peroxidase-mediated and bacterial O-acetyltransferase (OAT) dependent. TX1MX-activated benzidine and 4-ABP were analyzed with S. typhimurium frameshift tester strains, YG1021, YG1024, TA98, TA98NR, TA98/1,8-DNP6, MP219, and base pair substitution tester strains, YG1026, YG1029, TA100, TA100NR, TA100TN:OAT, and MP208. Concentration ranges for benzidine and 4-ABP were 1-50 microM and 0.1-1 mM, respectively. This study was conducted to determine if the plant-activation of benzidine and 4-ABP follows the prostaglandin H synthase-mediated activation pathway in mammals [Smith et al. (1992): Chem Res Toxicol 5;431-439]. In this model, benzidine is N-acetylated by S. typhimurium OAT. This acetylated product is a substrate for PHS and is converted into a 4-nitro product which is catalyzed by nitroreductase into a N-hydroxy intermediate. The pathway assigns a specific role for nitroreductase in the activation of benzidine. By employing S. typhimurium strains that express different levels of OAT and/or nitroreductase, we determined that the plant-activation of benzidine and 4-ABP has an absolute requirement of bacterial OAT activity for the induction of frameshift mutations at hisD3052 and is required for the optimal mutagenic response at hisG46. Nitroreductase also plays a role in the plant activation of these agents. The data suggest that the plant-activation of benzidine and 4-ABP generates at least two classes of proximal mutagenic intermediates. One class requires S. typhimurium OAT alone to be transformed into the ultimate mutagen and a second class requires both OAT and nitroreductase.

Air slugs entrapped cross-flow filtration of bacterial suspensions.

A novel cross-flow technique for membrane filtration of bacterial cell suspensions was established. This is an air slugs entrapped cross-flow method in which air slugs were generated by introducing air into the cross-flow stream. As air slugs moved along with cross-flow, the disturbance of cell sublayer formation on membrane surface was enhanced. As a consequence, filtration flux was improved and stabilized. The effect of air slugs on improving filtration flux was more pronounced in filtering gram-negative Escherichia coli cell than gram-positive Brevibacterium flavum cell. Moreover, air slug was about 50% more effective on reducing filtration resistance using ultrafiltration (UF) membrane of 300,000 molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) than microfiltration (MF) membrane of 0.2 microm.