This study aimed to investigate expression of various cytokine mRNAs, including IL-6, IL-8, TGF-beta, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma in maxillary sinus mucosa of patients with chronic sinusitis. Maxillary sinus mucosae of six patients with chronic sinusitis and turbinate mucosae of six healthy subjects were obtained. We performed RT-PCR and Southern blot to examine gene expression of the cytokines IL-6, IL-8, TGF-beta, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma in maxillary sinus mucosa and compared the results with cytokine gene expressions in normal turbinate mucosa. IL-6, IL-8, TGF-beta, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma mRNAs were expressed more frequently in maxillary sinus mucosa from patients with chronic sinusitis than in normal turbinate mucosa. All the maxillary sinus mucosa specimens revealed relatively higher mean density ratio for each cytokine investigated than did normal turbinate mucosa. IL-6, IL-8, TGF-beta, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma mRNAs were expressed simultaneously in maxillary sinus mucosa of chronic sinusitis. These cytokines may be responsible for recruitment of inflammatory cells and for mucosal thickening in chronic sinusitis, and thus chronicity of the disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta on ciliary beat frequency of human nasal ciliated epithelial cells in vitro.

Previous reports suggested that several cytokines may influence the ciliary beat of the airway ciliated epithelial cells. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of cytokines including IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of human nasal ciliated epithelial cells. CBF of cultured human nasal ciliated epithelial cells was measured 24 hours after incubating with concentrations of 0.01 ng/mL, 0.1 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL, 10 ng/mL, and 100 ng/mL of each recombinant human (rh) cytokine including rhIL-1 beta, rhTNF-alpha, and rhTGF-beta. CBF was measured with time at concentrations of 1 ng/mL of rhIL-1 beta, 10 ng/mL of TNF-alpha, and 1 ng/mL of TGF-beta solutions. CBF of the human nasal ciliated epithelial cells increased after addition of rhIL-1 beta and rhTNF-alpha. Maximum CBF was observed at 1 ng/mL of rhIL-1 beta and at 10 ng/mL of rhTNF-alpha. CBF increased progressively to 4 hours after addition of rhIL-1 beta and rhTNF-alpha. Increased CBF sustained for 24 hours and decreased by 2 days. However, no variation of CBF was observed after addition of rhTGF-beta, regardless of concentrations and time. The results of this study suggest that during acute inflammation, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha may have a potential role in defense mechanism of human nasal epithelium by regulating CBF of the nasal ciliated epithelial cells.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

MR imaging of central diabetes insipidus: a pictorial essay.

Central diabetes insipidus (DI) can be the outcome of a number of diseases that affect the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal axis. The causes of the condition can be classified as traumatic, inflammatory, or neoplastic. Traumatic causes include postoperative sella or transection of the pituitary stalk, while infectious or inflammatory causes include meningitis, lymphocytic hypophysitis, and granulomatous inflammations such as sarcoidosis and Wegener's granulomatosis. Various neoplastic conditions such as germinoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, metastasis, leukemic infiltration, lymphoma, teratoma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, Rathke cleft cyst, hypothalamic glioma, and meningioma are also causes of central DI. In affected patients, careful analysis of these MR imaging features and correlation with the clinical manifestations can allow a more specific diagnosis, which is essential for treatment.

Adolescent↗