29 research outputs found
Pharyngeal Lavage Lymphocytosis in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Preliminary Observation
Background: Upper airway inflammation has been previously demonstrated in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, investigation has been hampered by the necessity of invasive tissue biopsies. Objective: To evaluate the pharyngeal lavage (PHAL) as a new tool to analyze mucosal inflammation in the pharynx of patients with sleep-related disordered breathing. Patients and Methods: 36 patients with a diagnosis of OSA, 14 patients with heavy snorer syndrome (HS) or body position dependent OSA (bd-OSA), and 14 healthy volunteers underwent PHAL. Inflammatory cell counts were compared. Results: Neutrophils were the predominant cells in PHAL in all groups (94.3%60.7%, 98.5%60.6%, 94.3%60.7%, and 96.2%61.4%). OSA patients had significantly increased numbers of lymphocytes (3.2%60.4%) compared to bd-OSA/HS and controls group (0.5%60.1 % and 0.6%60.2%, respectively; P,0.05). Patients with moderate to severe OSA had significantly higher numbers of lymphocytes compared to patients with mild OSA (P,0.05). Conclusions: Data from this study suggest that PHAL is a feasible tool to investigate upper airway inflammation in OSA. In addition, PHAL demonstrates lymphocytic inflammation of the pharynx in OSA patients. Future studies are warranted to evaluate whether PHAL can be used to monitor disease and whether lymphocytic inflammation is affected by OSA treatment
Nonthrombogenic, Biodegradable Elastomeric Polyurethanes with Variable Sulfobetaine Content
For applications where degradable polymers are
likely to have extended blood contact, it is often important for
these materials to exhibit high levels of thromboresistance.
This can be achieved with surface modification approaches, but
such modifications may be transient with degradation.
Alternatively, polymer design can be altered such that the
bulk polymer is thromboresistant and this is maintained with
degradation. Toward this end a series of biodegradable, elastic
polyurethanes (PESBUUs) containing different zwitterionic
sulfobetaine (SB) content were synthesized from a polycaprolactone-diol (PCL-diol):SB-diol mixture (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75
and 0:100) reacted with diisocyanatobutane and chain extended with putrescine. The chemical structure, tensile mechanical
properties, thermal properties, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, fibrinogen adsorption and thrombogenicity of the resulting
polymers was characterized. With increased SB content some weakening in tensile properties occurred in wet conditions and
enzymatic degradation also decreased. However, at higher zwitterionic molar ratios (50% and 75%) wet tensile strength exceeded
15 MPa and breaking strain was >500%. Markedly reduced thrombotic deposition was observed both before and after substantial
degradation for both of these PESBUUs and they could be processed by electrospinning into a vascular conduit format with
appropriate compliance properties. The mechanical and degradation properties as well as the acute in vitro thrombogenicity
assessment suggest that these tunable polyurethanes could provide options appropriate for use in blood contacting applications
where a degradable, elastomeric component with enduring thromboresistance is desired