Expression of CYLD and NF-κB in Human Cholesteatoma Epithelium

The tumor suppressor CYLD is a deubiquitinating enzyme that inhibits activation of the NF-κB, which has key roles in inflammation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that CYLD may regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway in cholesteatoma. We conducted immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of CYLD and NF-κB in 16 cases of cholesteatoma and paired cases of retroauricular (RA) skin. In cholesteatoma epithelium, activated NF-κ B expression was significantly higher than in RA skin, whereas CYLD expression was significantly lower in cholesteatoma epithelium than in RA skin (P < .05). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was detected between CYLD and activated NF-κB expression in cholesteatoma epithelium (r = −0.630). We found that CYLD reduced and activated increased NF-κB in cholesteatoma epithelium in comparison to RA skin. The inverse correlation between CYLD and activated NF-κB in cholesteatoma may be involved in cholesteatoma epithelial hyperplasia

Relationship Between Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases and Obesity

ObjectivesObesity rates have been increasing for all population groups worldwide, leading to the increased development of various diseases. This study was designed is to identify the relationships between obesity and several important otorhinolaryngologic diseases, including chronic otitis media (COM), chronic rhinosinusitis, and chronic tonsillitis.MethodsMean body mass index (BMI) was compared in patients with COM, rhinosinusitis, and tonsillitis and in a control group. The relationships among the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity, morbidity period, and BMI were assessed in each group.ResultsMean BMIs in the COM, rhinosinusitis, and tonsillitis groups were 24.45±2.72 kg/m2, 24.68±3.25 kg/m2, and 24.67±3.82 kg/m2, respectively, with each significantly higher than in the control group (23.22±3.01 kg/m2, P0.05 each).ConclusionMean BMI and the prevalence of obesity were elevated in the three groups of patients with representative otorhinolaryngologic inflammatory diseases, including COM, chronic rhinosinusitis, and chronic tonsillitis

Clinical Characteristics and Short-term Outcomes of Acute Low Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss With Vertigo

Objectives This study analyzed short-term prognosis in patients with acute low frequency hearing loss (ALHL), and also investigate hearing recovery rates in patients with ALHL accompanied vertigo. Methods Retrospective medical record review of the patients who received treatment for ALHL between June 2005 and June 2015 were analyzed. Of the 84 patients, 53 were without vertigo, and 31 were with vertigo. Of the 31 patients, eight were treated with steroids, seven with diuretics alone, and 16 with both. Clinical and auditory characteristics before and after treatment were compared in these three groups. Results Pure tone audiometry after 8 weeks of treatment showed that patients with vertigo had significantly higher than patients without vertigo (P=0.020). Patients with vertigo who recovered from ALHL had a greater tendency to receive early treatment than patients who did not recover. Patients who received the two steroid therapy groups (steroids alone and steroids plus diuretics) had a higher recovery rate than patients who received diuretics alone (P=0.043 and P=0.037, respectively). Conclusion The prognosis of patients with ALHL is worse in those with vertigo compared to without vertigo. The hearing recovery rate in patients with vertigo tends to be higher in those treated with steroids than with diuretics alone

Nitric Oxide: Exploring the Contextual Link with Alzheimer’s Disease

Neuronal inflammation is a systematically organized physiological step often triggered to counteract an invading pathogen or to rid the body of damaged and/or dead cellular debris. At the crux of this inflammatory response is the deployment of nonneuronal cells: microglia, astrocytes, and blood-derived macrophages. Glial cells secrete a host of bioactive molecules, which include proinflammatory factors and nitric oxide (NO). From immunomodulation to neuromodulation, NO is a renowned modulator of vast physiological systems. It essentially mediates these physiological effects by interacting with cyclic GMP (cGMP) leading to the regulation of intracellular calcium ions. NO regulates the release of proinflammatory molecules, interacts with ROS leading to the formation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and targets vital organelles such as mitochondria, ultimately causing cellular death, a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. AD is an enervating neurodegenerative disorder with an obscure etiology. Because of accumulating experimental data continually highlighting the role of NO in neuroinflammation and AD progression, we explore the most recent data to highlight in detail newly investigated molecular mechanisms in which NO becomes relevant in neuronal inflammation and oxidative stress-associated neurodegeneration in the CNS as well as lay down up-to-date knowledge regarding therapeutic approaches targeting NO

Short Term Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients with Catastrophic Intractable Tinnitus: Preliminary Report

ObjectivesThe short-term effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the patients with catastrophic and intractable tinnitus were investigated.MethodsFifteen participants were recruited among patients with catastrophic intractable tinnitus to receive 1 Hz rTMS treatment. Tinnitus severity was assessed before rTMS and directly after sham or real rTMS using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analog scale (VAS).ResultsThere was no statistical difference in the THI score before and after sham stimulation. However, after 5 replications of real rTMS there was statistically significant reduction in THI score. Eight patients showed a decrease of more than 10 in THI score. Patients who showed a vast change in THI score after rTMS also showed a large decrease in their VAS score (r=0.879, P<0.001). Duration of tinnitus and change of THI score showed statistically significant moderate negative correlation (r=-0.637, P=0.011). But in case of VAS, there was no significant difference between VAS and duration of tinnitus.ConclusionAmong total 15 patients with catastrophic intractable chronic tinnitus, eight patients showed some improvement in symptoms after 1 Hz rTMS. rTMS can be considered management modality for intractable tinnitus even with distress as severe as catastrophic stage

B Cells in Murine Cervical Lymph Nodes are Conventional B-2 Cells

We investigated the characteristic features of cervical lymph node B cells to determine whether their behavior differs from that of B cells located elsewhere, because cervical lymph nodes may be exposed to continual antigenic stimulation from the naso- and/or oropharynx. B cells were isolated from cervical lymph nodes, spleen and peritoneal fluid of mice, cultured in medium, and exposed to various stimuli. The expression of various surface molecules characteristic of lymphoid B cells was assayed by flow cytometry, and immunoglobulin secreted into the culture supernatants was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. B220+ cells were cultured in medium alone or with lipopolysaccharide, and their entrance into S phase in response to stimuli was measured by proliferative assays. Phenotypic characteristics of cervical lymph node B cells included CD5low, CD23high, CD43low, B7.1low, B7.2low, and Syndecan-1low. Unstimulated lymphoid B cells did not secrete immunoglobulin, but, upon stimulation, secretion of IgM was increased more than secretion of IgA and IgG. B cells actively entered S phase after 48 hr stimulation. These results show that B cells in cervical lymph nodes are conventional B2 cells, like splenic B cells

Hearing Abilities at Ultra-High Frequency in Patients with Tinnitus

ObjectivesTo compare tinnitus patients who have normal hearing between 250 Hz and 8 kHz with normal controls with regard to the ability of each group to hear extended high-frequency pure tone thresholds.MethodsWe enrolled 18 tinnitus patients, each of whom had a threshold of HL <25 dB and threshold differences of <10 dB between ears at frequencies of 250 and 500 Hz and 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz. We also enrolled age- and gender-matched normal volunteers (10 ears), for each patient. Extended high frequency pure tone audiometry was performed, and the mean hearing thresholds at 10, 12, 14, and 16 kHz of each tinnitus ear were compared with those of the 10 age- and sex-matched normal ears.ResultsOf the 18 patients with tinnitus, 12 had significantly increased hearing thresholds at more than one of the four high frequencies, compared with the normal group. When we assessed results according to frequency, we found that 8 patients had decreased hearing ability at 10 kHz, 10 at 12 kHz, 8 at 14 kHz, and 4 at 16 kHz.ConclusionSome patients with tinnitus who have normal hearing below 8 kHz have decreased hearing ability at extended high-frequencies. Thus, the proportion of patients with tinnitus who have normal hearing over the entire audible range is smaller than in previous reports