Is there any effect of neurotrophin-3 on the pathogenesis of non-allergic nasal polyps?

BACKGROUND: Although the role of neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in nasal polyps development has been studied, the contribution of neurotrophin-3 has not been evaluated yet. This study aimed to investigate the possible role of neurotrophin-3 in nasal polyps pathogenesis. METHODS: The study group comprised 70 non-allergic nasal polyps patients and the control group consisted of 53 patients with middle turbinate concha bullosa. Specimens were taken, during surgery, from the ethmoid sinus nasal polyps in the nasal polyps group and from the lateral part of the middle turbinate concha bullosa in the control group. Tissue and serum levels of neurotrophin-3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: Nasal polyps patients had higher tissue neurotrophin-3 scores (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding serum neurotrophin-3 levels (p = 0.417). Tissue neurotrophin-3 staining scores in the nasal polyps group had no statistically significant correlation with Lund-Mackay scores (p = 0.792). CONCLUSION: Neurotrophin-3 may have a local effect in nasal polyps pathogenesis, without joining systemic circulation.

Single dose intratympanic mesna application inhibits propylene glycol induced cholesteatoma formation.

OBJECTIVE: Mesna (i.e. sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate; C2H5NaO3S2) has been used in otological surgery such as cholesteatoma dissection and tympanic membrane lateralisation in atelectatic ears. However, this study aimed to investigate its effect on cholesteatoma formation. METHODS: A total of 20 Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 10 animals. The right and left ears of control animals were treated with saline (saline control group; n = 10 ears) and propylene glycol plus saline (propylene glycol control group; n = 10 ears), respectively. In the mesna group, both ears were treated with propylene glycol plus mesna (n = 20 ears). On days 1, 8 and 15, the saline control group had intratympanic injections of 0.2 ml saline and the propylene glycol control and mesna groups had intratympanic injections of 0.2 ml 100 per cent propylene glycol. On day 22, the propylene glycol control group had a single intratympanic injection of 0.2 ml saline and the mesna group had a single intratympanic injection of 10 per cent mesna. Animals were killed 12 weeks after the last injection and the temporal bones were sent for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: The cholesteatoma formation rate was 88 per cent in the propylene glycol control group, but was significantly lower in the mesna group (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences in granulation tissue formation (p = 0.498), cyst formation in the bulla (p = 0.381), fibrosis (p = 0.072) and epithelial hyperplasia (p = 0.081) among experimental groups. CONCLUSION: Intratympanic propylene glycol administration is an effective method of promoting experimental cholesteatoma formation. Administration of a single dose of intratympanic mesna inhibited cholesteatoma formation in an animal model.

Ecchordosis Physaliphora: Evaluation with Precontrast and Contrast-Enhanced Fast Imaging Employing Steady-State Acquisition MR Imaging Based on Proposed New Classification.

PURPOSE: Ecchordosis physaliphora (EP) is a notochordal remnant typically located at the dorsal surface of the clivus, which has to be distinguished from the other retroclival lesions. Our aim is to investigate the imaging features of intracranial EP using precontrast and contrast-enhanced fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the precontrast and contrast-enhanced FIESTA images of 399 patients with temporal magnetic resonance imaging to detect "classical EP" and "possible EP." The classical EP was classified into type A (hyperintense excrescence (cyst-like component) on the dorsal surface of the clivus) and type B (hyperintense excrescence plus a hyperintense lesion within the clivus). Possible EP was subdivided as incomplete EP (T2-hypointense protrusion of the clivus) and EP variant (hyperintense lesion within the clivus alone). RESULTS: We found 31 (31 of 399, 7.7 %) EPs of which 11 were defined as classical EP (2.7 %) and 20 were defined as possible EP (5.0 %). Of the 11 classical EPs, 7 (63.6 %) were diagnosed as type A and 4 (% 36.4) were diagnosed as type B. Of the 20 possible EPs, 19 were classified as incomplete EP (95.0 %) and one was classified as EP variant (5.0 %). CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced FIESTA images are helpful in the assessment of EP, although we do not define a role in the current classification proposed by Chihara et al. (Eur Radiol 23:2854-2860, 2013).

Evaluation of plasma fibronectine level as a probable indicator for tympanosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Wound healing, epithelial regrowth and collagen synthesis are very important factors in the repair of the traumatised tympanic membrane. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of plasma fibronectine in the aetiopathogenesis of tympanosclerosis. METHODS: This prospective study included 58 patients with and 49 without tympanosclerosis. No inflammation or trauma was noted in either patient group. All patients underwent otoscopic and otomicroscopic examination, and the degree of tympanosclerosis was graded from mild (stage I) to severe (stage III). Following otological examination, blood samples were taken for plasma fibronectine measurement. RESULTS: Following otoscopic and otomicroscopic examinations, patients' tympanosclerosis was graded as follows: 18 patients were stage I; 29 were stage II; and 11 were stage III. Statistical analyses revealed that the plasma fibronectine concentrations were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group (p = 0.031). In addition, fibronectine levels were lowest in the patients with severest tympanosclerosis (p = 0.0001 in each comparison). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that serum fibronectine is important in the development and severity of tympanosclerosis.

Mucociliary clearance after external dacryocystorhinostomy.

We investigated the nasal mucociliary clearance time in 17 patients who underwent a primary unilateral external dacryocystorhinostomy operation. Mucociliary clearance function in both nasal cavities was assessed with the saccharin test. The results were compared with each other using paired samples t-test. We found significantly worse mucociliary clearance time on the operated side (mean: 6.3 min) than on the non-operated side (mean: 5.5 min) (P = 0.004). External dacryocystorhinostomy negatively affected the mucociliary clearance function in this study.