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[Determination of serumal soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in patients with tonsillitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe serumal soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in patients with tonsillitis. METHOD: SIL-2R levels in serum were detected in 68 patients with acute or chronic tonsillitis and 68 normal controls. RESULT: The SIL-2R concentrations in patients with acute tonsillitis and in patients with chronic tonsillitis within attacking period were (642.2 +/- 87.2) x 10(3) U/L and (762.3 +/- 90.5) x 10(3) U/L, respectively. Both were significantly higher than those of the controls (285.5 +/- 49.6) x 10(3) U/L (P < 0.001). Moreover the latter was higher than the former (P < 0.001). There was no difference between the patients with chronic tonsillitis within non-attacking period and the controls (P > 0.05). After treatment of antibiotics for 3-5 days, the SIL-2R Concentrations in serum in valid cases were obviously becoming lower. CONCLUSION: Determination of SIL-2R in serum was valuable for the diagnosis and curative effect judgement of tonsillitis.

Adolescent↗

[Image cytometry appliance in chronic tonsillitis].

Enlargement of palatinar tonsils in the course of chronic inflammatory process has been thought till now to reflect pronounced lymphocyte proliferation even if such mechanism fails to explain the persistent increase in size of the organ. The studies were performed on 92 tonsils obtained from 4 to 16 years old children in whom the tonsils were removed due to chronic inflammatory processes in upper respiratory tract or in ears. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry and by image analysis. The data show that apoptosis in the tonsils is accompanying lymphocyte proliferation in the course of chronic inflammatory process. Evaluation of homeostasis in palatine tonsils could be helpful in referring children for tonsillectomy. Imagine analysis may objectivize and specify diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis.

Adolescent↗

Colonization of the tonsils of calves with Pasteurella haemolytica.

Tonsils of 10 calves were inoculated with Pasteurella haemolytica (PH) and the degree of colonization was followed by collecting sequential tonsil. wash specimens. Tonsils were colonized for at least 3 weeks after instillation of PH into the tonsillar sinus. Calves with colonized tonsils responded with serum and nasal secretion antibody responses to PH and to leukotoxin. Pasteurella haemolytica was detected in nasal mucus specimens of 2 calves during the week after inoculation of the tonsils, but all other specimens were culture-negative. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus-induced respiratory tract disease 25 days later did not elicit a population increase of PH in the tonsils, and did not elicit shedding of PH in nasal mucus.

Animals↗

Modulation of tryptase release from human tonsil mast cells by protease inhibitors.

AIM: To examine the influence of protease inhibitors on tryptase release, and as a comparison the influence of the inhibitors on histamine secretion was assessed. METHODS: Enzymatically dispersed cells from human tonsil were challenged with anti-IgE or calcium ionophore A23187 (CI) in the absence or presence of the tryptase and chymase inhibitors, and tryptase and histamine release was determined. RESULTS: IgE-dependent tryptase release from dispersed tonsil mast cells was inhibited by a maximum of approximately 35.5% and 35.7% by N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), respectively. The similar degree of inhibition of CI-induced tryptase release was observed also with these two inhibitors. Preincubation of TLCK or TPCK with cells at 37 degrees C for 20 min before addition of the stimulus improved slightly their ability to inhibit anti-IgE and CI-induced tryptase release. Protamine showed dual action on tryptase release from tonsil mast cells. The concentration-dependent inhibition of anti-IgE and CI-induced release of histamine from tonsil mast cells was also observed with TLCK, TPCK and protamine. The maximum inhibition of anti-IgE-induced histamine release was approximately 26.6%, 30.8% and 30.1% with TLCK, TPCK and protamine, respectively. At the concentrations tested, TLCK and TPCK by themselves did not stimulate tryptase and histamine release from tonsil mast cells. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that protease inhibitors were able to inhibit IgE-dependent tryptase release from human tonsil mast cells, which suggests strongly that they can be developed to a novel class of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat allergic conditions in man.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

Malignancy in asymmetrical but otherwise normal palatine tonsils.

An abnormally large tonsil may be a sign of malignancy. We retrospectively analyzed the case files of 87 patients who had asymmetrically sized but otherwise normal tonsils and no risk factors for cancer to determine if asymmetry is associated with a higher incidence of malignancy. We found 2 cases (2.3%) of malignancy among these patients. One patient had high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the larger tonsil, and the other had lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin's lymphoma. Both patients were older than 50 years, and neither had a history of recurrent tonsillitis. We believe that although the incidence of cancer in our series was small, it is significant. Therefore, we recommend routine excision of abnormally large tonsils. Moreover when making such a recommendation to a patient, it is essential that the patient have a clear understanding of the risk and benefit of having a tonsil removed solely because of asymmetry.

Adolescent↗

[Investigation of the role of ribonuclease L gene in the response of tonsil tissues against viral infections].

Mutations or variants that impair function of ribonuclease L (RNase-L), particularly R462Q, have been proposed as susceptibility factors for the innate antiviral response. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the expression levels of RNase-L and mutation of R462Q in the tonsils of tonsillectomy patients who were infected and not infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6). Six tonsils were included in the study. One tonsil was infected with all of these three viruses, two were infected with at least one of these viruses, and three were not infected with these viruses. The presence of viral DNAs in the tonsil tissues had been searched by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in our previous study. Reverse transcriptase PCR method was used for RNase-L expression analyses, and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing methods were used for the mutation analyses. PCR products containing R462Q mutation site in the genomic DNA were used for SSCP analysis. In addition to SSCP analyses, partial sequencing of the cDNA PCR product containing R462Q mutation site were performed. As a result, no difference between the virus-infected and non-infected tonsils for the expressions of RNase-L were detected, and there were no mutations detected by SSCP and sequencing analyses. It was concluded that other factors than RNase-L protein, might be involved in the innate defense mechanisms of tonsil cells against viruses.

Case-Control Studies↗

[Phenotype expression and production of IL-2 by tonsillar and blood lymphocytes in patients with tonsil pathology].

In recent years several studies have attempted to investigate immunological responses in different tonsillar pathologies, including recurrent tonsillitis and focal infections. The present study was performed on ten patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for a) simple hypertrophy, b) recurrent tonsillitis and c) recurrent tonsillitis with focal manifestations. The blood (PBMNC) and tonsillar (TMNC) lymphocytes were tested separately. A subsequent investigation was performed on the PBMNC six months after surgery. The phenotypical aspects of the different subpopulations were studied using fluorescent antiserums and monoclonal antibodies. A second field of investigation concerned the in vitro blastogenesis, which was measured under spontaneous and PHA-P induced conditions. Finally, the IL-2 production was evaluated using the induced-growth capacity of an IL-2 dependent clone of a T murine cell line. The most interesting findings are presented. The phenotypical studies confirmed some peculiar aspects of the representation of tonsillar subsets. According to the hyperactivation ratio, the proliferation data proved to be higher in the tonsil than in the blood. A greater number of positive HLA-DR and IL-2 receptor cells (both antibodies being activated cell markers) was seen in the tonsil than in the blood and this, as well as the sporadic presence of spontaneous blastogenesis, suggests the possibility of an in vivo pre-activated condition. As far as the secretion of IL-2 is concerned, when compared to the peripheral blood ratio, greater production was found in the tonsil. Finally, a different production kinetic appears to be a constant result of the present study. The performed tests were unable to demonstrate any particular differences among the three different groups of pathologies.

Adolescent↗

Analysis of reactivation of latent pseudorabies virus infection in tonsils and Gasserian ganglia of pigs.

Multiplication of pseudorabies virus (PRV) strain TOP and establishment of latency were followed in the tonsils and Gasserian ganglia (GG) of 8-week-old pigs after oral infection. Already within 24 hr, the titre of PRV in tonsils reached 10(2) TCID50/g tissue, its presence in the oropharynx being detectable by swabbing. Virus multiplication in tonsils culminated on days 3-6 p.i. (10(6)-10(6.5) TCID50/g) and continued till day 11 post-infection (p.i.), when its titre was 10(1.5) TCID50/g the swabs being still positive. The presence of the virus in GG was first proved at 48 hr p.i., but no virus could be found there by titration on day 11. The virus titre in the GG had essentially followed that in tonsils, however, it was substantially lower during the whole experiment. After primoinfection no shedding of PRV was detected by oropharyngeal swabs taken at 3-5 day intervals during the period of 360 days. Nevertheless, explantation of tonsils and GG, performed between days 60-360 p.i., revealed the presence of PRV latency in 41.1 per cent of animals. The total activation rate in GG cultures was 71.5 per cent, while in the cultures of tonsils 28.5 per cent only. Cocultivation of cell suspensions obtained by trypsinization of GG and tonsillar tissue with chick embryo cells (CEC) did not result in detection of the latent virus though latency was confirmed by explantation of the same tissue samples. However, already 24 hr in culture were sufficient for activation of latency as judged by trypsinization of the explanted tonsillar and GG fragments and their inoculation onto CEC. Estimation of the number of cells carrying PRV in the GG showed that activation occurred in one out of 10(4)-10(5) ganglion cells.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin-containing cells in human tonsils as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry.

Intracellular immunoglobulin has been demonstrated in human palatine tonsils by the unlabelled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) method in which rabbit antiserum to a range of human immunoglobulins (Igs) was linked to the PAP complex by an intermediate stage of swine antiserum to rabbit Ig. The effects of different methods of fixation and processing have been compared, formol-saline fixation giving the best results. The PAP technique proved greatly superior to the fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-based technique, not only in sensitivity but in permitting study of the finer histological and cytological features. The lymphoid follicles are shown to have three distinct zones, two forming the follicle centre (zones (a) and (b)), and the third (zone (c)) the lymphocyte cap. Ig synthesis appeared to begin in the cells in zone (b). IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE and IgD were present in all tonsils, with IgG predominating, confirming that the tonsil resembles lymph nodes more closely than it does alimentary lymphoid tissue. Some follicles contained more than one type of Ig. The tonsil appears to have a well-developed T-dependent area, the lymphoid follicles forming a B-cell area. The structure of the tonsil would seem to facilitate contact between its lymphoid tissue and antigens in the crypts, and it is postulated that some T cells within the crypt epithelium, after contact with antigen, may leave the tonsil by the efferent lymphatics and enter the peripheral circulation by the thoracic duct, whilst other primed T cells interact with B cells in the follicle centres. Some B cells may then start to synthesize immunoglobulin, whilst others become memory cells in the lymphocyte 'cap' of the follicle.

Adolescent↗

Antibody formation by human tonsil cells in vitro.

The ability of human tonsil lymphocytes to give an anti-SRBC response in conventional cultures and in microcultures was studied. It was found that about two-thirds of tonsils responded with a significant number of plaque-forming cells (PFC), and that in some instances the response could be augmented if allogeneic tonsil cell (irradiated or intact) were added. Moreover, tonsil lymphocytes which failed to give a response on their own often responded upon addition of an appropriate number of allogeneic tonsil cells. The response was remarkably improved if allogeneic tonsil supernatant or conditioned medium were added. An anti-SRBC response was also obtained if SRBC was omitted from the cultures. The frequency of anti-SRBC specific B cells was estimated as 1/60000 (f = 1-7 X 10(-5)).

Antibodies↗

Febrile exudative tonsillitis: viral or streptococcal?

A prospective 1-year study of acute febrile exudative tonsillitis in 110 children was carried out. Viral infection was associated with 42% of the cases, beta-hemolytic streptococci with 31% (12% group A), Mycoplasma pneumoniae with 5%, and unknown cause with 35%. More than one agent was implicated in 14% of the cases. Adenovirus was the viral agent most frequently (19%) recorded. Other viruses involved were Epstein-Barr virus, parainfluenza, influenza A, herpes simplex, and respiratory syncytial viruses. The responsible agent was found by rapid viral antigen detection in 20% of all cases and by rapid test for group A streptococcal antigen detection in 10%. Age was the most important factor in predicting the causative agent. Viral tonsillitis was most common in children younger than 3 years of age and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci tonsillitis in children 6 years of age or more. Clinical analysis of the illness, WBC count, and ESR did not reveal differences that could help in differentiating bacterial from viral tonsillitis. All patients were treated with a regimen of oral penicillin. Fever associated with group A beta-hemolytic streptococci tonsillitis responded to penicillin therapy significantly more rapidly than fever associated with viral infections. These observations demonstrate the prominent role of viruses in the etiology of febrile exudative tonsillitis, especially in young children, and reinforce the benefit of rapid tests before antibiotic therapy is started.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of the relative cytotoxic effector cell capabilities and the proportions of cells bearing various surface markers in human tonsil and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The relative cytotoxic effector cell capabilities and the proportions of cells bearing various surface markers in human tonsil and peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been studied. The peripheral blood contained a substantial proportion of monocytes (22 +/- 2.9%) compared to tonsil cell suspensions (2.5 +/- 0.3%). The percentages of T lymphocytes was significantly higher in the blood than in the tonsil (P is less than 0.01); however, the percentages of cells forming rosettes with 7S EA were not significantly different in each group (P greater than 0.5). Mitogen-induced cellular cytotoxicity by blood and tonsil mononuclear cells against Chang cells was proportional to the percentages of T lymphocytes in these cell suspensions, and both antibody-dependent and mitogen-induced cellular cytoxicity against sheep red blood cells was proportional to the percentages of monocytes in these suspensions. Tonsil mononuclear cell suspensions were incapable of mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against Chang cells, whereas blood mononuclear cells functioned normally. These findings are in contrast to the findings of similar percentages of Fc receptor-positive lymphocytes in blood and tonsil mononuclear cell suspensions. Previous studies have shown that the effector cells against antibody-coated Chang cells are Fc receptor-positive lymphocytes. These studies show that in the case of cytotoxicity mediated by an Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cell, there may be a clear discrepancy between the relative proportions of Fc-bearing lymphoid cells in different organs and the relative levels of cytotoxicity.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

[Immunologic function of the tonsils in relation to immune competent T and B cells in children].

The authors introduced a E and EAC rosette-forming cell technique with semiquantitative evaluation of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 56 healthy persons of both sexes and of different ages. The percentages of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and tonsils of 31 children was also calculated. The percentage of rosette forming cells in E and EAC suspensions appeared to be independent of age and sex. The percentage of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood is significantly higher than in the tonsils, whereas the percentage of B lymphocytes is significantly higher in the tonsils than in the peripheral blood. The percentage of T lymphocytes was found to be significantly higher in hypertrophic as the mean percentage of T lymphocytes in tonsils of 31 children. Also in tonsils with adhesions there was a statistically significant higher percentage of EAC rosettes than in tonsils free of adhesions.

Adolescent↗

Effect of pre-operative antibiotic treatment on the bacterial content of the tonsil.

The impact of 7 days pre-tonsillectomy antibiotics on the aerobic bacterial content of the tonsil was studied in 70 consecutive patients. One group received no antibiotic, one group received pre-operative amoxycillin and the final group, pre-operative cefaclor. The qualitative bacteriology was similar in the three groups Haemophilus influenzae was the predominant isolate present in the centre ('core') of the resected tonsil. Similar numbers of beta-lactamase producers including H. influenzae and Straphylococcus aureus were found in all three groups. Quantitative bacteriology of the tonsil core demonstrated that there was a significant reduction in core tonsil pathogens associated with antibiotic therapy. The most statistically significant difference was between the untreated control group and the cefaclor treated group. We conclude that in patients with established recurrent acute tonsillitis, oral antibiotics penetrate the diseased tonsil and influence the predominant core aerobic microflora.

Adolescent↗

MRI of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the palatine tonsil.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) arising primarily in the palatine tonsil is uncommon. The aims of the study were to describe the appearances on MRI and to identify the features that help to distinguish NHL from other tonsillar tumours. The clinical records and MR images of eight patients with primary NHL of the palatine tonsil were reviewed. Patients had a short duration of symptoms (mean 1 month). Systemic symptoms (fever, weight loss or night sweats) occurred in two patients. Tumours were round or lobulated and ranged in size from 30 mm to 70 mm. The signal intensity on T2 weighted, T1 weighted and T1 weighted contrast enhanced images was homogeneous and similar to that of normal tonsil in six patients. Two large tumours were mildly heterogeneous and one of these showed small foci of necrosis. NHL of the tonsil displaced rather than invaded local structures in seven patients and locally invaded the soft palate in only one patient. Lymphadenopathy was present in five patients and the nodes were of similar signal intensity to the primary tumour. There was involvement of the ipsilateral upper internal jugular chain in all cases of lymphadenopathy. The posterior triangle was involved in two patients, the periparotid node in one patient and the retro-oropharyngeal region in one patient. The presence of a large tumour without deep invasion together with homogeneous non-necrotic nodes suggests the diagnosis of NHL. As NHL frequently has similar signal intensity to normal tonsil, MRI may not be able to detect lymphomatous involvement in the non-enlarged tonsil.

Adult↗

Pathophysiology of syringomyelia associated with Chiari I malformation of the cerebellar tonsils. Implications for diagnosis and treatment.

The mechanisms previously proposed for the progression of syringomyelia associated with Chiari I malformation of the cerebellar tonsils are controversial, leave many clinical observations unexplained, and underlie the prevalence of different operations currently used as initial treatment. To explore the mechanism of syringomyelia progression in this setting, the authors used anatomical and dynamic (phase-contrast and phase-contrast cine) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and intraoperative ultrasonography to examine the anatomy and dynamics of movement of the cerebellar tonsils, the wall of the spinal cord surrounding the syrinx, and the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and syrinx fluid at rest, during the respiratory and cardiac cycles, and during Valsalva maneuver in seven affected patients. In all patients the cerebellar tonsils occluded the subarachnoid space at the level of the foramen magnum. Syringomyelia extended from the cervical to the lower thoracic segment of the spinal cord. No patient had evidence of a patent communication between the fourth ventricle and the syrinx on anatomical MR images, dynamic MR images, or intraoperative ultrasound studies. Dynamic MR images of three patients revealed abrupt downward movement of the spinal CSF and the syrinx fluid during systole and upward movement during diastole, but limited movement of CSF across the foramen magnum during the cardiac cycle. Intraoperative ultrasound studies demonstrated abrupt downward movement of the cerebellar tonsils during systole that was synchronous with sudden constriction of the spinal cord and syrinx. Decompression of the foramen magnum was achieved via suboccipital craniectomy, laminectomy of C-1 and C-2, and dural grafting, leaving the arachnoid intact. Immediately after surgery, the pulsatile downward thrust of the tonsils and constriction of the spinal cord and syrinx disappeared. Syringomyelia resolved within 1 to 6 months after surgery in all patients. Observations by the authors suggest the following previously unrecognized mechanism for progression of syringomyelia associated with occlusion of the subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum. The brain expands as it fills with blood during systole, imparting a systolic pressure wave to the intracranial CSF that is accommodated in normal subjects by sudden movement of CSF from the basal cisterns to the upper portion of the spinal canal. With obstruction to rapid movement of CSF at the foramen magnum, the cerebellar tonsils, which plug the subarachnoid space posteriorly, move downward with each systolic pulse, acting as a piston on the partially isolated spinal CSF and producing a systolic pressure wave in the spinal CSF that acts on the surface of the spinal cord.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Two cases of chronic tonsillitis studied by FDG-PET.

We report two cases of chronic tonsillitis studied by FDG-PET. Symmetrical high FDG uptake by the tonsils was observed in both cases. On histopathologic examination of the resected tonsils, follicular hyperplasia was observed with proliferation of lymphocytes in the germinal centers. Increased glucose metabolism in active inflammation involving lymphocyte proliferation was thought to be a cause of high FDG uptake by tonsils in chronic tonsillitis.

Adolescent↗

Defensin and chemokine expression patterns in the palatine tonsil: a model of their local interaction.

Defensins and chemokines are an essential part of the immune response mechanisms in the head and neck mucosa. This work investigates their correlation and their expression pattern in tonsillar disease. Forty-four tonsil tissue samples were obtained from patients who underwent tonsillectomy between 1998 and 1999 for chronic tonsillitis with (n =9) and without (n =25) inflammatory infiltrates and hyperplasia of the tonsil (n =10). Defensin (hBD-1, hBD-2, HNP-1 and HNP-4) and chemokine (RANTES, eotaxin, eotaxin-2, MCP-3, MCP-4 and IL-8) mRNA expressions were analyzed by SQRT-PCR. HNP-4 and eotaxin-2 expressions were positively correlated (P <0.05) in the acute tonsillitis group. HBD-2 and MCP-3 expressions were positively correlated in the hyperplastic tonsils group. Within all groups together, HNP-4 and RANTES expressions were highly positively correlated (P <0.01), and HNP-1 and hBD-2 were positively correlated with IL-8 expressions. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated eotaxin-1 as well as IL-8 production to be predominantly located within the lymphoid follicles and submucosa. RANTES production was shown in the epithelial lining and perivascular tissue. The expression of hBD-1 and hBD-2 was limited to the epithelial lining. Our data support an association between the innate and acquired immune systems on the defensin-chemokine level. The finding of positively correlated hBD-2 and IL-8 expression is biologically relevant because of the proximity of hBD-2 (epithelium) and IL-8 (submucosa) release, as well as the synergistic support of the Th1 system. In addition, our data suggest RANTES as a first-line mediator of perivascular leukocyte recruitment.

Chemokine CCL11↗