Differential chemokine expression patterns in tonsillar disease

Expression profiles of CXC- and CC-chemokines in various forms of tonsillar disease were studied to evaluate whether certain chemokines play a predominant role in a specific subset of tonsillar disease. Total RNA was isolated from 89 biopsies (21 hyperplastic palatine tonsils, 25 adenoids, 16 chronic inflammatory palatine tonsils and 27 chronic inflammatory palatine tonsils with histological prove of acute inflammation), reverse transcribed and subjected to PCR amplifying IL-8, Gro-alpha, eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, MCP-3, MCP-4 and RANTES. 2% agarose gel electrophoresis revealed a predominance of IL-8 in the chronic inflammatory palatine tonsil group compared to tonsillar hyperplasia. Furthermore, eotaxin-2 was strongly overexpressed in adenoid samples compared to chronic inflammatory specimens. Our data suggest that the majority of diseases related to adenoid formation are mediated via an eotaxin-2 expression, whereas chronic inflammatory tonsillitis is associated with IL-8 upregulation. These data imply that adenoids are related to a Th-2, and chronic inflammatory tonsillitis to a Th-1 based immune response.

[Infraorbital lesion after scuba diving with chronic sinusitis: diagnosis and treatment of reverse block]

A 32-year-old diver repeatedly reported pain in the right side of the face after diving. He felt strong pain on pressure over the right face combined with hypaesthesia of the infraorbital nerve. In addition, he reported nasal breathing obstruction and problems regulating pressure in the middle ear. ENT consultation revealed a septal deviation to the right side of the nasal cavity. CT diagnosis showed the typical picture of chronic pansinusitis with total transfer of the right frontal sinus, subtotal transfer of the right ethmoid and subtotal transfer of the right maxillary sinus. Following successful functional sinus surgery (FESS), combined with septal surgery, the patient was able to dive again symptom-free.

[A rare cause of facial asymmetry: nasoalveolar cyst: a clinical report]

Nasoalveolar cysts are rare nonodontogenic cysts that develop from the soft tissue in the mucobuccal area of the nasal ala. Their origin is a residuum of the nasolacrimal canal.

CLINICAL CASE

A 45-year-old woman had been aware of a painless tumor at the base of the nose and in the region of the left nasal ala for several months. We diagnosed a nasolabial cyst, which was extirpated in toto through a combined transvestibular-transnasal approach.

[Obstructive sleep apnea in patients with Parkinson's disease--report of two cases and review]

BACKGROUND

The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is well established in treatment of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The judgement of clinical symptoms like daytime sleepiness and hypersomnolence with loss in concentration is complicated in patients with diagnosis of Morbus Parkinson (MP) because the disease itself and pharmacologic therapy may mimic clinical features of OSAS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Diagnostic pathways and differential diagnostic considerations are demonstrated in two case reports of patients with MP and OSAS. The cases are discussed within the framework of literature concerning sleep disturbances and MP.

RESULTS

In both cases respiration could be treated effectively by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Patients clearly responded to therapy and regained more daytime activity. The medication for MP was satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

The evaluation and treatment of daytime sleepiness in patients with MP and obstructive sleep apnea need an interdisciplinary framework with a practitioner, a neurologist, and a sleep expert. Associated symptoms as increased nycturia, hypokinesia, restless-leg-symptoms, and depression as well as the effects of medication may mimic details of concomitant sleep apnea. Therefore, sleep diagnostic evaluation is recommended to rule out sleep apnea as a frequent cause for hypersomnolence.

A new central supply system as alternative source for bicarbonate dialysate

Bicarbonate dialysis is mandatory for high efficiency treatment. In most cases bicarbonate is delivered either as prepacked powder or as a stable liquid concentrate in 6-10 I plastic containers. With a newly designed central supply system (CSS) using 800 I tanks of custom-made sterile and pyrogen free concentrates, we investigated the risk of bacterial contamination of dialysate in a 30-bed dialysis unit. During three months, samples of reverse osmosis (RO) water, concentrates and dialysate were taken every two weeks. Colony forming units (CFU) were counted after 48 h incubation. Further samples were taken during nine months of continuous use of the CSS without further intermittent disinfection. None of the samples had greater than 10/ml CFU. Pseudomonas, corynebacteria and enterobacter were the predominant species. In summary, this CSS proved reliable in providing bacteriologically safe bicarbonate dialysate as defined by international standards (CFU less than 200/ml). It significantly reduces costs, workload and environmental pollution by plastic waste.

A New Central Supply System as Alternative Source for Bicarbonate Dialysate

Bicarbonate dialysis is mandatory for high efficiency treatment. In most cases bicarbonate is delivered either as prepacked powder or as a stable liquid concentrate in 6-10 I plastic containers. With a newly designed central supply system (CSS) using 800 I tanks of custom-made sterile and pyrogen free concentrates, we investigated the risk of bacterial contamination of dialysate in a 30-bed dialysis unit. During three months, samples of reverse osmosis (RO) water, concentrates and dialysate were taken every two weeks. Colony forming units (CFU) were counted after 48 h incubation. Further samples were taken during nine months of continuous use of the CSS without further intermittent disinfection. None of the samples had > 10/ml CFU. Pseudomonas, corynebacteriae and enterobacter were the predominant species. In summary, this CSS proved reliable in providing bacteriologically safe bicarbonate dialysate as defined by international standards (CFU < 200/ml). It significantly reduces costs, workload and environmental pollution by plastic waste.

Teicoplanin: renal tolerance and pharmacokinetics in rats

The nephrotoxicity and pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin were studied in an experimental rat model. Nephrotoxicity was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of tubular cells and malate dehydrogenase. The experiments revealed that 1 mg/kg or more of teicoplanin daily resulted in an increase of excretion rates of tubular cells. Similarly to vancomycin, teicoplanin is accumulated in the kidneys. Nephrotoxicity induced by teicoplanin can be reduced by coadministration of fosfomycin and D-glucaro-1.5-lactam, and enhanced by administration of tobramycin. We conclude that renal function should be monitored closely during teicoplanin therapy.