Epithelium Of Children Research Articles

Biophysical parameters of the oral fluid and cells of the buccal epithelium in children with diseases of the thyroid gland in the course of orthodontic treatment of maxillodental anomalies.

The thyroid status disturbance may be reflected on the biological processes which underlie orthodontic tooth movement. Aim of research – to study state of the oral fluid and buccal epithelium cells (BEC) in the course of a complex orthodontic treatment of children with thyroid gland diseases. In 79 children with a diffuse nontoxic goiter (DNG) of the I-III degrees, stability of oral fluid pH (ΔpH), rate of mobile nuclei of BEC, ratio of electrophoretic displacement range of nuclei and plasmolemms was estimated. Estimation of corresponding parameters in the initial state, in 1, 3, 6 and 8 months after fixation of the fixed orthodontic apparatus was carried out. Children of the basic group according to pathology degree in addition received a prophylactic complex including preparations: “Vitrum Perfomens", "Teraflex", "Kalcicor", «Potassium iodide», «Echinacea compositum C», "Lizodent", "Osteobios". Ap­plication of the prophylactic complex in orthodontic treatment of children with DNG prevented growth of ΔрН after fixation of brackets. Throughout all time of supervision it promoted reduction of this rate which slightly exceeded average rate for the given age of children in 8 months. Application of this prophylactic complex already in 1 month after fixation of brackets has raised quantity of mobile BEC nuclei by 44% and by 1,64 times has increased the relation of ranges of plasmolemms and nuclei displacement. In 8 months of supervision percent of mobile nuclei BEC and the relation of Apl/Aya in the basic group was by 2 times more, than in a comparison group, approaching to average rate. Сhildren with thyroid gland diseases need active treatment-and-prophylactic measures at stages of active apparatus treatment. The developed therapeutic complexes of orthodontic treatment of maxillo-dental anomalies in children with DNG allows to effectively support and improve functional reactions in the organism and in the oral cavity, compensating stressful action of fixed orthodontic apparatuses.

Pachymetry Map of Corneal Epithelium in Children Wearing Orthokeratology Contact Lenses

Purpose: To study the pachymetry map of the corneal epithelium in children wearing orthokeratology lenses automatically generated by a Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.Materials and Method: The study was conducted on 60 children who had been fitted with myopic orthokeratology lenses. Patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of OK lens treatment (group 1: ≤14 days, n = 28; group 2: >14 days, n = 32). The control group consisted of 44 children. An FD-OCT device with a pachymetry module was used to map the central 6-mm corneal epithelial thickness. An epithelial thickness map was automatically generated and divided into three zones: central 2 mm, paracentral 2 to 5 mm (P1) and mid-peripheral 5 to 6 mm (P2). The average epithelial thickness of central (C), the temporal (T1), nasal (N1), superior (S1) and inferior (I1) sectors of P1, and the temporal (T2), nasal (N2), superior (S2) and inferior (I2) sectors of P2 were recorded and compared. The minimum and maximum points of epithelial thickness across the map were also recorded. Munnerlyn’s formula was used to model the expected change in refractive error based on Δ(Max-Min) (Δ(Max-Min) = (Max-Min)study-(Max-Min) mean of control).Results: The central epithelial thickness was significantly different between individual groups and a significant difference from the control (Group 0) was seen in each treatment group. Both the epithelial thickness measurements of T1 and I1 were thinnest in Group 1. Both the epithelial thickness measurements of S2 and I2 were thickest in Group 2. The difference between maximum and minimum thickness was significantly different between groups with the largest effect in Group 2. The refractive changes predicted by Munnerlyn’s formula were less than the actual refractive changes measured in both study groups.Conclusions: The epithelial thickness map automatically generated by FD-OCT can provide regional information about corneal epithelium thickness following overnight wearing of OK lenses.

New observations on tumors of retinal pigment epithelium in children

To describe new observations on tumors and pseudotumors of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that occur in children.

Chemokine Production by Buccal Epithelium as a Distinctive Feature of Pediatric Crohn Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) represent an aberrant immune response by the mucosal immune system to luminal bacteria. Because the oral mucosa harbors the first epithelial cells that interact with microorganisms, we assessed the immunologic activity of buccal epithelium in children with IBD and adults with Crohn disease. Buccal epithelial cells were obtained from 17 children and 14 adults with Crohn disease, 18 children with ulcerative colitis, and 40 controls. Cells were cultured with and without microbial stimulation. Chemokine levels were determined in culture supernatants by cytometric bead array and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. CXCL-8 production was studied by immunohistochemical analysis of these cells. CXCL-8 production by lipopolysaccharide stimulated monocyte-derived dendritic cells from these patients was determined. Compared with controls, pediatric ulcerative colitis patients, and adult Crohn disease patients, only in children with Crohn disease did buccal epithelial cells exhibit enhanced production of CXCL-8, CXCL-9, and CXCL-10. In vitro stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or zymosan resulted in a further increase of chemokine levels only in cells from pediatric Crohn disease patients. CXCL-8 production by stimulated monocyte-derived dendritic cells from children with Crohn disease was equal to that of children with ulcerative colitis. Buccal epithelium of children with Crohn disease is immunologically active, even in the absence of oral lesions. The enhanced chemokine production is associated with pediatric Crohn disease and appears restricted to cells derived from the epithelial barrier. Assessment of chemokine production by buccal epithelial cells may become a new, rapid, noninvasive test for screening and classification of IBD in children.

CHEMOKINE PRODUCTION BY BUCCAL EPITHELIUM IS EXCLUSIVELY ENHANCED IN CHILDREN WITH CROHN??S DISEASE

Aim: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) represent an aberrant immune response by the mucosal immune system to luminal bacteria. Since the oral mucosa harbors the first epithelial cells that encounter and interact with microorganisms, we assessed the immunological activity of buccal epithelium in children with IBD and adults with Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: Buccal epithelial cells were obtained by a non-invasive brush-swab in 17 children with CD, 18 children with ulcerative colitis (UC), 14 adults with CD and in 40 controls (adults and children). The cells were cultured with and without microbial stimulation. Chemokine levels were determined in the culture-supernatants of the cells by cytometric bead array and ELISA. In addition, CXCL-8 (IL-8) production was studied by immunohistochemical analysis of the buccal epithelial cells. Finally, CXCL-8 production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) from these patients was determined. Results: In comparison to controls, pediatric UC patients, and adult CD patients, only in children with CD buccal epithelial cells showed enhanced production of CXCL-8, CXCL-9 (Mig), and CXCL-10 (IP-10). In vitro microbial stimulation (with LPS or zymosan) resulted in a further increase of chemokine levels only in case these cells were derived from pediatric CD patients. CXCL-8 production by LPS stimulated moDCs from children with CD was equal to that of children with UC. Summary/Conclusions: Buccal epithelium of children with CD is immunologically active, even in the absence of oral lesions. The enhanced production of chemokines, spontaneous and upon stimulation, appears to be specifically associated with pediatric CD. The enhanced chemokine response appears to be restricted to cells derived from the epithelial barrier, since the moDCs produce equal amounts of CXCL-8. Assessment of the chemokine production by the buccal epithelial cells shows promise as a new, rapid, and non-invasive test for screening and classification of inflammatory bowel disease in children.

DPC-4 (Smad-4) and K-ras gene mutations in biliary tract epithelium in children with anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union

Background/Purpose: Recent studies have found that anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union (APBDU) is a substantial risk factor for biliary tract cancer at a younger age. DPC-4 (Smad-4) is a new tumor suppressor gene frequently inactivated in pancreatic and bile duct adenocarcinoma. To clarify carcinogenesis in APBDU, the authors investigated possible DPC-4 and K-ras mutations in 35 pediatric patients. Methods: DNA was extracted from biliary tract epithelial cells, which were resected surgically and histologically purified using microdissection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed specifically for exons 8-11 of DPC-4 (18q21.1) and exons 1-2 of the K-ras oncogene (12p12.1). DNA sequences were determined using the direct DyeDeoxy Terminator Cycle method. Results: Of 35 children, 30 had wild-type DPC-4 and K-ras genes. K-ras mutations were detected in 5 patients, 4 of whom showed epithelial hyperplasia or metaplasia. In a 12-year-old girl with adenocarcinoma arising from a choledochal cyst, K-ras and DPC-4 (homozygous deletion) mutations were identified simultaneously. Conclusions: These results suggest that carcinogenesis in the biliary tract epithelium in APBDU is accompanied by multistep genetic mutational events; K-ras gene mutation occurs early in epithelial hyperplasia or metaplasia, whereas inactivation of the DPC-4 gene accumulates late in the progression of biliary tract adenocarcinoma. J pediatr Surg 38:694-697. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cytogenetic Damage of Human Somatic Cells and Weeping Birch Cells in Voronezh Districts with Different Levels of Anthropogenic Pollution

Cytogenetic parameters (the mitotic rate and the frequency of pathological mitoses) of the seed offspring of weeping birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and the frequency of micronuclei in the buccal epithelium of children living in several raions (districts) of the city of Voronezh differing in environmental conditions were studied. Judging from these parameters, the environmental situation was the worst in the Sovetskii raion. A correlation was found between the frequency of pathological mitoses in the roots of birch seedlings and the frequency of micronuclei in the buccal epithelial cells of children. This indicates that the cytogenetic monitoring data obtained in plants may be extrapolated to man.

Função gonadal de sobreviventes de doença de Hodgkin tratados na infância e adolescência com quimioterapia

Avaliamos a função gonadal de 21 pacientes do sexo masculino com doença de Hodgkin (grupo A), que receberam quimioterapia durante a infância e adolescência, e comparamos com 20 indivíduos adultos jovens sadios (grupo B). A mediana da idade dos pacientes no momento do estudo foi de 18 anos (17-23 anos), e do início da quimioterapia 10 anos (6-19 anos). Na época do tratamento, 14 pacientes eram impúberes e 7 já estavam na puberdade. No momento da investigação todos se encontravam no estágio puberal V de Tanner e tinham completado quimioterapia entre 3 e 11 anos previamente. A mediana do volume testicular foi menor no grupo A do que no B, p = 0,001. Não houve diferenças significativas da TT, SHBG, PRL e LH entre os grupos. A mediana dos níveis basais do FSH do grupo A foi maior do que no B, p = 0,0001. Houve significativa diferença entre as medianas do pico máximo do FSH e do LH após estímulo com GnRH entre os grupos, p = 0,002 e p = 0,0002 respectivamente. Encontramos uma correlação positiva entre a idade do paciente na época do tratamento e o valor máximo do LH ao estímulo com GnRH (r = 0,4; p = 0,03) e uma correlação negativa com o tempo decorrido entre o término do tratamento e o estudo (r = -0,5; p = 0,008). Onze pacientes apresentavam azoospermia, 4 oligospermia e 3 pacientes apresentavam espermograma normal. Um paciente recuperou a fertilidade, com normalização do espermograma, 11 anos após o término do tratamento. Concluímos que pacientes tratados na infância e adolescência com quimioterapia apresentam importante dano no epitélio germinativo, mantendo níveis normais de testosterona às custas do aumento da secreção de LH. A presença de redução do volume testicular nestes pacientes é sugestiva de dano no epitélio germinativo, sendo necessário um longo período de acompanhamento para avaliar possível recuperação da função gonadal.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of Mononuclear Inflammatory Cells in Nasal and Sinus Epithelium in Children with Sinusitis

The etiology and pathophysiology of both recurrent acute and chronic sinusitis in children are not well understood. To investigate this problem, the nature and magnitude of the local cellular inflammatory response was evaluated in the sinus mucosa of 34 children (25 with chronic sinusitis and 9 with recurrent acute sinusitis), of which 27 are atopic and 7 are nonatopic. In addition, sinus mucosa from three patients who underwent sinus surgery for noninfectious sinus disease (two with antral choanal polyp and one with facial pain syndrome) was studied for comparison and “controls. “ Immunohistochemical methods were used to identify phenotypically distinct mononuclear cells subpopulations (B cells, T cells, macrophages, and MHC class II antigen presenting cells) in the epithelium, stroma, and periglandular compartments of the uncinate and ethmoid mucosal tissue layers. Eosinophils were assessed in the same sinus mucosal tissue compartments and in nasal secretions. For all patients, most of the inflammatory cells were found in the stroma. MHC class II positive cells and T cells were found in the epithelium of greater than 50%, and in the stroma of almost 100% of either the uncinate or ethmoid mucosa. Of interest, the local accumulation of tissue eosinophils and/or their presence in nasal smears was not closely linked to the presence of atopy. In three patients with noninfectious sinusitis, the majority of inflammatory cells had also accumulated in the stroma; the mononuclear cell subset composition in those controls was indistinguishable from the sinusitis population. No difference in the number and distribution of any inflammatory cell subset was noted with respect to clinical classification, atopy or immunocompetency profile in our patient population. These observations indicate that the mucosal surfaces studied were likely to have been immunocompetent. Taken together, the uniformly modest local inflammation and the similarity of cell subpopulations in patients with different clinical profiles suggest that local inflammatory mechanisms may not account for clinical differences in the pathophysiology of sinusitis.

Tannic acid supplemented fixation improves ultrastructural evaluation of respiratory epithelium in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Samples of the respiratory mucosa of children with recurrent respiratory infections suspected of having primary ciliary dyskinesia are routinely fixed with glutaraldehyde before ultrastructural examination. This standard technique, however, may not be optimal for visualizing ciliary components or for preserving several cellular and extracellular structures during dehydration and embedding procedures. In this study, brushes of nasal (28 samples) and/or tracheal (9 samples) mucosa from 32 children with recurrent respiratory tract infections were examined. Twenty-nine samples were fixed with glutaraldehyde supplemented with tannic acid to determine if the ultrastructural analysis of respiratory epithelium and bronchial secretions could be improved. Eight samples were conventionally fixed with glutaraldehyde alone. Lesions of the cellular membrane and damaged cells were easily visualized using tannic acid supplemented fixation. Internal ciliary structures including individual microtubules and dynein arms were also more clearly observed. In addition, the internal structure of microvilli of the respiratory epithelium could be studied and the presence of phospholipid-rich surfactant-like material within nasal and tracheal secretions were visualized after tannic acid supplemented fixation. We suggest that addition of tannic acid during fixation is useful for accurate ultrastructural evaluation of respiratory mucosa in both clinical and experimental situations.

Congenital Hypertrophy of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Predicts Colorectal Polyposis in Gardner's Syndrome

We studied prospectively the utility of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium as a predictor of colonic polyposis in offspring of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis with extracolonic manifestations (Gardner's syndrome). After they underwent initial indirect ophthalmoscopy, we followed up 34 individuals at 50% genetic risk for familial adenomatous polyposis with extracolonic manifestations due to an affected parent. All 34 obtained their first colorectal endoscopic examination during a follow-up period of up to 4 years. The 16 individuals who did not have congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (aged 13 to 40 years; mean, 25 years) remained polyp free, while 14 of 18 individuals with congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (aged 9 to 30 years; mean, 18 years) were found to have colorectal adenomatous polyposis. Our findings indicate that the presence of multiple patches of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium in children and young adults at risk for familial adenomatous polyposis with extracolonic manifestations is a clinically useful predictor of colorectal polyposis.

Natural Killer Cell and Large Granular Lymphocyte Deficiency in the Gut of Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The occurrence of natural killer cells and large granular lymphocytes (LGL) within the epithelium of colonic mucosa in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was compared to normal controls. Their numbers and localization within the epithelium from various regions of the colon were analyzed with immunohistochemical techniques using fluorescent, light and electron microscopy. The average number of natural killer cells and LGL in normal controls was 3.0±1.l per mn2. In contrast, there were no natural killer cells in the gut epithelium of children with IBD, irrespective of disease activity, whether the biopsy specimens were obtained from involved or uninvolved inflammatory regions of the gut, or the treatment status of the patients. However, the number of natural killer cells was normal in patients in remission with left-sided colitis. The lack of natural killer cells and LGL in the gut epithelium in children with IBD may be indicative of a possible genetic predisposition. The authors also present a new therapeutic strategy consisting of low dose interferon-alpha-2a that is efficacious in ameliorating ulcerative col iris and Crohn's disease and concomitantly increasing the number of natural killer cells and LGL in the gut.

Acquired ciliary defects in nasal epithelium of children with acute viral upper respiratory infections

Acquired ciliary defects in nasal epithelium of children with acute viral upper respiratory infections

Electron-microscope observations on the tonsillar epithelium in children with recurrent tonsillitis

Twenty tonsils from children aged 3–6 years removed by operation due to recurrent tonsillitis have been examined. Electron-microscope observations of the epithelial layer have shown a lowering of the number and a reduction of the tubulo-vesicular system of the M-cells. The squamous stratified epithelium is predominating; it is keratinized in some places. Lymphocytes in an active phase and vascular activity in the parenchyma of the removed tonsils are very rare to observe; these were seen only in relation with the M-cells. The above-mentioned data may serve to prove Surjan Jr.'s 1980 hypothesis on the key-importance of metaplastic change of the tonsillar epithelium in recurrent tonsillitis pathogenesis.

Squamous metaplasia of the tracheal epithelium in children.

Thirty-seven (1-6%) tracheas from 2170 children showed squamous metaplasia. (Cases with tracheo-oesophageal fistula and congenital heart disease were excluded). The metaplasia extended into the bronchi in 15 cases. Features of pulmonary retention were present in seven cases. Respiratory infection, probably viral, seemed to be the most significant causative factor in 20 children, including those with cystic fibrosis. Tracheal instrumentation was a possible factor in 11 cases but oxygen therapy alone did not seem important. The metaplasia was almost certainly congenital in one child and probably in two others but no stillborn infants showed metaplasia. In many children the metaplasia seemed to be due to a combination of factors.

Clearance studies following acute renal failure.

The results of clearance studies in 44 patients following acute renal failure of various etiology are reported. The patients have been examined 4 months to 7 years and 8 months following the episode. The recovery of inulin clearance usually occurred after the third year, while that of PAH clearance after the fifth year following acute renal failure. The authors support the view that the cause of the reduction in PAH clearance values is the incomplete functional maturation of the regenerated tubular epithelium. In this respect, analogy is made with the functional maturation of the tubular epithelium in children.

Microscopic examination of bronchial epithelium in children.

In an extended study of a large number of adults, including smokers and nonsmokers and subjects with and without lung cancer, the writers have been convinced that persons who are cigarette smokers show changes in the bronchial mucosa which must be considered precancerous and which increase in amount depending upon an increase in the wnsumption of cigarettes. Adult nonsmokers may show a minimal amount of such precancerous changes. It seemed important to study a group of subjects who were nonsmokers and whose tracheobronchial trees had been subjected to a minimal amount of irritation from inhaled contaminants. Accordingly, a group of 35 children less than fifteen years of age were selected, and their tracheobronchial trees were studied. These children had died from various causes with and without pneumonia and bronchial ulceration. It was of special interest to learn whether or not any precancerous changes could be recognized and what had been the effects of pneumonia and bronchial ulceration on the bronchial mucosa.