Role of S100A9 in the development of neutrophilic inflammation in asthmatics and in a murine model

Publication date: Available online 25 August 2017
Source:Clinical Immunology
Author(s): Tae-Hyeong Lee, Hun Soo Chang, Da-Jeong Bae, Hyun Ji Song, Myung-Sin Kim, Jong Sook Park, Ji Ae Jun, Si Young Lee, Soo Taek Uh, Soo Hyun Kim, Choon-Sik Park
S100A9 is an endogenous danger signal that promotes and exacerbates the neutrophilic inflammatory response. To investigate the role of S100A9 in neutrophilic asthma, S100A9 levels were measured in sputum from 101 steroid-naïve asthmatics using an ELISA kit and the levels were significantly correlated with percentages of neutrophils in sputum. Intranasal administration of recombinant S100A9 markedly increased neutrophil numbers at 8h and 24h later with concomitant elevation of IL-1β, IL-17, and IFN-γ levels. Treatment with an anti-S100A9 antibody restored the increased numbers of neutrophils and the increased airway resistance in OVA/CFA mice toward the levels of sham-treated mice. Concomitantly, the S100A9 and neutrophil elastase double positive cells were markedly reduced with attenuation of IL-1β, IL-17, and IFN-γ levels by the treatment with the anti-S100A9 antibody. Our data support a role of S100A9 to initiate and amplify the neutrophilic inflammation in asthma, possibly via inducing IL-1β, IL-17 and IFN-γ.



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Alcohol Use as a Comorbidity and Precipitant of Primary Headache: Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In contrast to well-established relationships between headache and affective disorders, the role of alcohol use in primary headache disorders is less clear. This paper provides a narrative overview of research on alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in primary headache and presents a meta-analysis of the role of alcohol as a trigger (precipitant) of headache.

Recent Findings

The majority of studies on AUDs in headache have failed to find evidence that migraine or tension-type headache (TTH) is associated with increased risk for AUDs or problematic alcohol use. The meta-analysis indicated that 22% (95% CI: 17–29%) of individuals with primary headache endorsed alcohol as a trigger. No differences were found between individuals with migraine (with or without aura) or TTH. Odds of endorsing red wine as a trigger were over 3 times greater than odds of endorsing beer.

Summary

An absence of increased risk for AUDs among those with primary headache may be attributable to alcohol's role in precipitating headache attacks for some susceptible individuals. Roughly one fifth of headache sufferers believe alcohol precipitates at least some of their attacks. Considerable study heterogeneity limits fine-grained comparisons across studies and suggests needs for more standardized methods for studying alcohol-headache relationships and rigorous experimental designs.

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A retrospective analysis of 538 sinonasal fungus ball cases treated at a single tertiary medical center in Korea (1996-2015)

Background

Sinonasal fungus ball (FB) is a type of noninvasive fungal rhinosinusitis affecting immunocompetent hosts. FB, previously considered rare, has been reported with increasing frequency. We reviewed our experience of 538 cases over the past 20 years.

Methods

We retrospectively examined clinical records including clinical presentations, radiological findings, management, and outcomes of FB patients who have undergone surgery for treatment. The number of FB patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) was calculated annually. Causal relationships between structural variations and FB were also investigated.

Results

The number of FB patients who underwent sinus surgery has increased. The mean age was 58.3 years, and the gender ratio was approximately 2 (female): 1 (male). While the most common presenting symptoms of maxillary sinus FB patients were nasal symptoms, such as postnasal drip and nasal obstruction, sphenoid sinus FB patients presented with headache mostly. On computed tomography (CT) scans, the most common finding was intralesional hyperdensity (77.3%). There was no significant correlation between the presence of FB and structural variations (nasal septal deviation, concha bullosa, Haller cell). Median follow-up period of the patients was 11 months. Recurrence or residual disease occurred in only 6 (1.1%) cases.

Conclusion

The number of FB patients who underwent surgery has increased steadily over the past 20 years. FB should be considered in patients with unilateral nasal symptoms and unexplained headaches. A preoperative CT scan is an essential tool in making diagnosis easier and faster. Endoscopic surgery is the treatment of choice, with a low morbidity and recurrence rate.

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In Response to “Changing the surgical dogma in frontal sinus trauma: transnasal endoscopic repair” by grayson et al

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Temporal Bone Fracture Requiring Facial Nerve Decompression or Repair

Publication date: Available online 25 August 2017
Source:Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Author(s): Keonho Kong, Alexander Sevy
Facial nerve paralysis is one of the complications with temporal bone fractures. While the majority of these are treated medically with observation and steroids, we review the indications and surgical approaches to the facial nerve along its course within the temporal bone. It is important to get an exam as early as possible to determine immediate vs delayed, and complete vs incomplete paralysis. Patients with immediate onset, complete facial nerve paralysis should receive electrodiagnostic testing 3–7 days after onset, to allow for Wallerian degeneration. If there is >90% ENoG degeneration within 6 days or >95% degeneration within 14 days, surgical exploration is recommended. Exact surgical timing for decompression is controversial and definitive data is lacking but some authors have had success even beyond two months post-injury and the risks and benefits should always be discussed with each patient. The approach for surgical decompression of the facial nerve should be based on the site of injury, if discernible, but most commonly involves transmastoid, middle fossa craniotomy or a combination of these approaches. The perigeniculate region is the most commonly injured portion of the facial nerve with temporal bone fractures. If a transection is encountered, the nerve should be repaired by either primary nerve repair if tension free, otherwise a secondary repair with a cable graft should be performed.



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Clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in different age groups

Abstract

Background

The clinicopathological features and outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue in patients of different age groups remain debatable.

Methods

Medical records of 457 patients with tongue SCC were reviewed, grouped by age, followed up, and compared.

Results

Sex and TNM stage showed no intergroup differences. Tongue SCC in patients ≤30 years had the most advanced TNM classification and greatest proportion of poorly differentiation tumors. Both disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) showed no statistically significant difference between the youngest and the oldest groups (P = .605 and P = .520). However, there was a tendency of higher death rate caused by recurrence or metastasis in the youngest group compared with the others (91.7% vs 75.4% and 77.4%).

Conclusion

Young patients had a tendency of higher death rate caused by recurrence or metastasis than middle-age and older patients; therefore, a larger case sample is needed for further confirmation.

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Effect of UV irradiation on aflatoxin reduction: a cytotoxicity evaluation study using human hepatoma cell line

Abstract

In this proof-of-concept study, the efficacy of a medium-pressure UV (MPUV) lamp source to reduce the concentrations of aflatoxin B₁, aflatoxin B₂, and aflatoxin G₁ (AFB_1, AFB₂, and AFG₁) in pure water is investigated. Irradiation experiments were conducted using a collimated beam system operating between 200 to 360 nm. The optical absorbance of the solution and the irradiance of the lamp are considered in calculating the average fluence rate. Based on these factors, the UV dose was quantified as a product of average fluence rate and treatment time. Known concentrations of aflatoxins were spiked in water and irradiated at UV doses ranging from 0, 1.22, 2.44, 3.66, and 4.88 J cm⁻². The concentration of aflatoxins was determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. LC-MS/MS product ion scans were used to identify and semi-quantify degraded products of AFB₁, AFB₂, and AFG₁. It was observed that UV irradiation significantly reduced aflatoxins in pure water (p < 0.05). Irradiation doses of 4.88 J cm⁻² reduced concentrations 67.22% for AFG₁, 29.77% for AFB₂, and 98.25% for AFB₁ (p < 0.05). Using this technique, an overall reduction of total aflatoxin content of ≈95% (p < 0.05) was achieved. We hypothesize that the formation of ˙OH radicals initiated by UV light may have caused photolysis of AFB₁, AFB₂, and AFG₁ molecules. In cell culture studies, our results demonstrated that the increase of UV dosage decreased the aflatoxin-induced cytotoxicity in HepG₂ cells. Therefore, our research finding suggests that UV irradiation can be used as an effective technique for the reduction of aflatoxins.

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