Evaluation of the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model for laryngeal tumor transplantation

The laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is the second common malignant tumor of the respiratory tract and together with recurrent respiratory papillomas represents the most common tumors of the larynx. Many experimental models are used to study the morphology of malignant tumors. The chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model is one of them. The CAM has all the nutrition needed for the piece of the transplanted tumor to survive. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the laryngeal papilloma and the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues transplanted on the chick CAM survive with their main histological features, and to determine the morphological changes of the CAM with different transplants. For the preparation of the CAM, fertilized hen eggs were put into an incubator for 3 days. Then the windows in the shell were opened. The fresh samples of tumors were transplanted on the CAM on the 7th day of incubation. After 3 days after transplantation the CAM with onplants were excised and fixed in the 10% formalin solution. Morphological changes in the control CAM and in the CAM with tumor onplants were observed using the digital camera on the OLYMPUS microscope. The results showed that the CAM with the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma onplant was distinctly thicker than that of the control group and than the CAM with the papilloma onplant; the chorionic epithelium was thickened and appeared stratified of up to 5–6 layers and in some locations squamous keratinized; the mesenchymal cells were densely arranged under the tumor transplants. We observed that morphological changes in the thickness of the CAM and the chorionic epithelium were more obvious in the CAM under the carcinoma transplants. After 72 hours of the tumor tissue transfer onto the membrane, the tumor cells retained their vitality and also their influence on the CAM tissues could be observed

Correlation between throat-related symptoms and histological examination in adults with chronic tonsillitis

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate correlations between throat-related symptoms and histological findings in adults with chronic tonsillitis. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out. Throat-related symptoms (complaints, tonsillitis rate, and pharyngeal findings) of 81 adults with histologically proven chronic tonsillitis followed by tonsillectomy were analyzed. Four types of histological changes in removed tonsils were determined: (1) pure hyperplasia, (2) chronic inflammation, (3) chronic inflammation with hyperplasia, (4) chronic inflammation with scarring/fibrosis. The power of correlation was tested using the Pearson contingency coefficient (CC). Results: Recurrent throat infections were the most common complaint (74.1%). The mean tonsillitis rate was 3.6 (SD 1.9) episodes per year. Tonsillar cryptic debris (61.7%) and hyperemia of the anterior pillars (59.3%) were the most common pharyngeal findings. Chronic inflammation with hyperplasia was predominant (38.3%) histological type of chronic tonsillitis. The statistically significant correlations between histological type and combination of tonsillitis rate ≥3 times per year with cryptic debris (CC = 0.346; P = 0.010) and cryptic debris alone (CC = 0.294; P = 0.051) were detected. Conclusions: Assessment of throat-related symptoms is complementary to histological examination in adults with chronic tonsillitis

The Most Important Throat-Related Symptoms Suggestive of Chronic Tonsillitis as the Main Indication for Adult Tonsillectomy

Background and Objective. The literature lacks data about the evaluation of throatrelated symptoms proving chronic tonsillitis as the most common indication for adult tonsillectomy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the most important throat-related symptoms suggestive of chronic tonsillitis in adults. Material and Methods. A prospective cohort study was carried out. The analysis of throatrelated symptoms (complaints, tonsillitis rate, pharyngeal signs, and antistreptolysin-O titer) in 81 adults with histologically confirmed chronic tonsillitis was conducted. Results. Recurrent tonsillitis was the most common complaint (74.1%). The mean number of tonsillitis episodes was 3.6 (SD, 1.9) times per year. There were no significant differences comparing the frequencies of all the analyzed pharyngeal signs (P>0.05). The antistreptolysin-O titer (mean, 279.8; SD, 211.6 UL) was pathological in 33.3% of patients. The study identified the most important throat-related symptoms revealing chronic tonsillitis: tonsillar cryptic debris (OR, 8.84; 95% CI, 1.93–40.53; P=0.005) and enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes along with the frequency of tonsillitis episodes exceeding 3 times per year (OR, 8.27; 95% CI, 1.33–51.57; P=0.024). The classification accuracy of 85.2% was obtained. Conclusions. Tonsillar cryptic debris and enlarged regional lymph nodes along with recurrent tonsillitis could support the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis in adults when considering tonsillectomy

Model of human recurrent respiratory papilloma on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane for tumor angiogenesis research

We aimed to develop a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model of recurrent respiratory papilloma (RPP) and to evaluate its morphological and morphometric characteristics, together with angiogenic features. Fresh RRP tissue samples obtained from 13 patients were implanted in 174 chick embryo CAMs. Morphological, morphometric, and angiogenic changes in the CAM and chorionic epithelium were evaluated up until 7 days after the implantation. Immunohistochemical analysis (34βE12, Ki-67, MMP-9, PCNA, and Sambucus nigra staining) was performed to detect cytokeratins and endothelial cells and to evaluate proliferative capacity of the RRP before and after implantation on the CAM. The implanted RRP tissue samples survived on CAM in 73% of cases while retaining their essential morphologic characteristics and proliferative capacity of the original tumor. Implants induced thickening of both the CAM (241-560%, p=0.001) and the chorionic epithelium (107-151%, p=0.001), while the number of blood vessels (37-85%, p=0.001) in the CAM increased. The results of the present study confirmed that chick embryo CAM is a relevant host for serving as a medium for RRP fresh tissue implantation. The CAM assay demonstrated the specific RRP tumor growth pattern after implantation and provided the first morphological and morphometric characterization of the RRP CAM model that opens new horizons in studying this disease

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of Lithuanian-NOSE scale

Purpose: To evaluate validity and reliability of Lithuanian version of Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale (L-NOSE), designed for the assessment of nasal obstruction. Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation of L-NOSE was accomplished according to generally accepted methodology. L- NOSE was tested for its reliability, validity, and responsiveness in the group of 50 septoplasty patients and 100 healthy volunteers' controls. Results: L- NOSE showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.796 for test, 0.791 for retest, 0.792 for post-operative group, and 0.817 for control group) scores and high test-retest reliability (r = 0.94, p < 0.01) scores. In patients' group, positive moderate correlations between L-NOSE scores and Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 logically similar domain scores were found, thus indicating good convergent construct validity. L-NOSE scores for control subjects were generally lower than for patients with nasal obstruction (p < 0.001), thereby indicating good discriminant validity of questionnaire. The exploratory factor analysis confirmed one-factor structure of questionnaire. The component matrix of L-NOSE ranged from 0.667 to 0.781 (KMO = 0.754, p < 0.0001). The mean L-NOSE score improved from 58.4 ± 18.2 points to 11.1 ± 9.5 points after septoplasty (p < 0.0001), indicating good responsiveness of q