Muciparous Cells Research Articles

Nasal Cytology on 241 Children: From Birth to the First 3 Years of Life and Association with Common Airways Diseases.

Nasal cytology at birth and in the pediatric age is barely investigated regarding its association with the onset of common pediatric diseases. We enrolled 241 newborns within their first 24 h of life, studying their nasal cellular composition and repeating this at 1 and 3 years of life. We collected anamneses of perinatal factors and external factors (parental smoking, passive smoking, breastfeeding), and the prevalence of otitis, rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and allergy at all timepoints. 204 children completed the study. At birth, there was a prevalence of ciliated cells and rare neutrophils. At 1 and 3 years, ciliated cells started reducing in favor of muciparous cells and neutrophils. We found that caesarian delivery and nasogastric tube usage for choanal patency are significantly related to a certain cellular nasal composition. Additionally, development of upper respiratory tract infections, AOM (acute otitis media) and allergy correlates with specific cytological compositions which may predict those pathologies. Our study is the first to show the normal nasal mucosa cellular composition and development in the first 3 years of life in a large cohort. Nasal cytology may be a tool for early risk assessment in the occurrence of upper airway disease.

Qualitative mucin disorders in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: a literature review.

Background It is a common opinion that Primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) damages the exocrine glands and determines the reduction of secreted saliva, some studies show that there are qualitative anomalies of the mucins produced in saliva, including MUC7, MUC5B, MUC1. The purpose of this study is to trace all the information useful to establish whether there is a qualitative or quantitative defect of the mucins in the pSS. Material and Methods We reviewed the literature by looking for publications relevant to the topic in electronic databases. Sixteen articles met the search criteria. The studies were divided into two categories, those that studied the rheological characteristics of the saliva and those that studied the structural and / or metabolism modifications of the muciparous cells in the salivary glands. Results in Patients with pSS, xerostomia and the reduction of salivary spinnbarkeit are only partially related to the reduction of the unstimulated salivary flow. In pSS, pathological alterations of mucins’ chemical-physical properties prevail as a cause of the clinical characteristics. Moreover, in pSS there are structural and metabolism changes in salivary glands’ muciparous cells. Conclusions There is much evidence that supports the presence of qualitative alterations in the saliva’s rheological properties in Patients with pSS, and these are the main cause, more than the reduction of the unstimulated salivary flow, of the disease clinical characteristics - dry mouth and complications in the oral cavity. Therefore we propose to add to the classification criteria of pSS also a qualitative test of salivary glycoproteins. Key words:Primary Sjögren's syndrome, mucin, MUC7, MUC5B, MUC1, sulphate oligosaccharides.

Response: Continuous positive airway pressure ventilation does correct nasal inflammation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

To the Editor: We thank Drs. Esquinas and Ferrari for their interest in our recent paper on the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation on nasal inflammation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) [1]. In our paper we have reported that all of our patients with OSAS were affected by some form of rhinopathy, mostly subclinical, which was not found to influence compliance to CPAP. Regular CPAP treatment induced a considerable reduction of cell infiltration (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and muciparous cells), which was not seen in nontreated patients. In their letter, Esquinas and Ferrari [2] point out some factors that might exert a role in determining nasal inflammation in OSAS and/or contribute to the beneficial effects of CPAP, but the possible underlying mechanisms are not explained. We have already mentioned [1] that with our study we cannot rule out a role for the humidification of the air used in our patients; however, this ruling does not detract from the significance of our results demonstrating the effectiveness of CPAP with air humidification in correcting nasal inflammation. We agree with Esquinas and Ferrari [2] that other factors might be involved and that additional studies might clarify at least some of these mechanisms. However, we can exclude environmental factors playing a crucial role because nasal inflammation was found in all patients from different socioeconomic statuses and was found in those who used to sleep in different environmental conditions. Finally although it is reasonable to believe that other factors related to ventilation therapy might be beneficial, the claim that CPAP (correctly performed) might be exerting a proinflammatory action is an unsupported speculation that cannot be accepted with the current knowledge.

Pathophysiology, favoring factors, and associated disorders in otorhinosinusology

The pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis (RS) is related to inflammation, caused by infections in the acute form of the disease but also by other agents in the chronic forms. Cytology allows to evaluate the defensive components, such as hair cells and muciparous cells, while the presence in the nasal mucosa of eosinophils, mast cells, bacteria and/or fungal hyphae, or spores indicates the nasal pathology. The anatomic and physiologic characteristics of the otorhinosinusal system account for the frequent concomitant involvement of the different components. The pivotal pathophysiologic sites are the ostiomeatal complex, the spheno-ethmoidal recess, and the Eustachian tube. The latter is the link with acute otitis media (AOM), which is the most common disease in infants and children and has major medical, social, and economic effects. Moreover, because of the strict relationship between upper and lower airways, nasal sinus disease may contribute to asthma and sinusitis may be considered as an independent factor associated with frequent severe asthma exacerbations. Concerning the role of allergy, the available data do not permit to attribute a central role to atopy in sinusitis and thus allergy testing should not be a routine procedure, while an allergologic evaluation may be indicated in children with OM, especially when they have concomitant rhinitis.

Regular CPAP utilization reduces nasal inflammation assessed by nasal cytology in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

To analyze nasal inflammation in a group of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by means of nasal cytology and to describe the changes induced by continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) treatment. Thirty-two consecutive patients affected by OSAS (mean age 46.9 years) and 13 control subjects (mean age 49.1 years) were enrolled. Detailed clinical, laboratory, and polysomnographic studies were obtained in all participants and, in particular, nasal cytology was performed; inflammatory cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells, lymphocytes), bacteria, and spores were counted. A subgroup of 19 OSAS patients underwent regular nasal CPAP for eight weeks while the remaining 13 were noncompliant. Nasal cytology was repeated after eight weeks in all patients and controls. All patients with OSAS were affected by some form of rhinopathy, mostly subclinical, which was not found to influence compliance to CPAP. Regular CPAP treatment induced a significant reduction of cell infiltration (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and muciparous cells), which was not seen in nontreated patients. Nasal inflammation/infection is a very frequent finding in OSAS and can be reverted by the regular use of CPAP.

Lectin histochemistry of gastrointestinal glycoconjugates in the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)

Mucins in the gastrointestinal tract of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum were investigated by histochemistry and lectin histochemistry to evaluate morphofunctional variations of different regions and their possible physiological and evolutionary implications. Histochemical methods included periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) at pH 2.5 and 1.0 and high-iron-diamine AB pH 2.5. Binding of lectins Con A, DBA, WGA, LTA, LFA, PNA and SBA; LFA, PNA and SBA with prior sialidase treatment; and paradoxical Con A were evaluated. The oesophagus lacked glands. The stomach was divided into a short cardias, a wide fundus and a brief pylorus. The surface muciparous cells secreted sulpho- and sialomucins with N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) residues, N-acetyllactosamine and (beta1,4 N-acetylglucosamine)(n) chains. Towards the pylorus, N-acetylgalactosamine residues disappeared and acidity decreased. Cardiac glands, neck cells in the fundic glands, pyloric and duodenal Brunner's glands all shared neutral, stable class-III mucins, mainly with N-acetylgalactosamine sequences. The intestine was divided into a duodenum, a jejuno-ileum and a short rectum. The goblet cells produced sulpho- and sialomucins with sialylated N-acetylgalactosamine sequences, (beta1,4 N-acetylglucosamine)(n) and N-acetyllactosamine, whose sialylation increased towards the rectum. The main features of the mucins are probably associated with the requirements of fast absorption and food passage and in protection against mechanical and pathogenic injuries.

Ultrastructural Mucosal Appearance in the Ileal Neobladder

15 patients with ileal neobladder underwent endoscopic biopsy at different postoperative intervals. The specimens were analyzed by electron microscopy in order to evaluate the evolution of the mucosal changes ultrastructurally.No significant change was observed 3 months after the operation. After 6 months, the number and height of the microvilli were reduced, the cell borders crooked and the terminal web upset. After 12 months disappearance of the glycocalyx, increased lysosomal features, increased activity of the muciparous cells, rounded mitochondria and loss of the polarized disposition of the cytoplasmic organelles were detected in the enterocytes. We observed no other substantial change after 24 months and more.Progressive modifications occur in the cytoplasmic structures involved in the absorptive process. They do not seem to begin before 3 months and are almost totally completed after 1 year.

Toxicological and immunological evaluation of the MHC-non-restricted cytotoxic T cell line TALL-104.

The human MHC-non-restricted cytotoxic T cell line TALL-104 has been shown to display potent antitumor effects in several animal models with spontaneous and induced malignancies. In view of its potential future use in cancer therapy, we investigated the tolerability and target-organ toxicity of these cells in various animal species. The acute toxicity of TALL-104 cell administrations was evaluated in: (a) healthy immunocompetent mice and immunodeficient (SCID) mice bearing human tumors using multiple (up to 15) intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections, and (b) healthy dogs, tumor-bearing dogs, and healthy monkeys using multiple (up to 17) intravenous (i.v.) injections. TALL-104 cells were gamma-irradiated (40 Gy) prior to administration to mice and dogs, but administered without irradiation in monkeys. Cell doses ranged from 5 x 10(7)/kg to 10(10)/kg for each injection. All regimens were well tolerated, the main clinical signs observed being transient gastrointestinal effects. Moderate and transient increases in liver transaminase levels were observed in all animal species. Discrete and transient leukocytosis with neutrophilia was also noted in dogs and monkeys after i.v. injections of TALL-104 cells. Histological analysis revealed foci of hepatic necrosis with lympho-/mono-/granulocytic infiltration in immunocompetent mice injected i.p. with 5 x 10(9)-10(10) cells/kg. In the same mice, the colon showed an increased number of muciparous cells and alterations in the villi structure: these alterations were completely reversed by 72 h after the last injection, while liver alterations reversed more slowly (1 week). No delayed or chronic toxicity was observed in any of the animals even when non-irradiated TALL-104 cells were administered: both immunocompetent mice and healthy dogs were found to be grossly and histopathologically normal when sacrificed (1 year and 1 month after the last TALL-104 injection respectively). TALL-104 cells did not persist in these hosts. In addition, monkeys showed no molecular signs of TALL-104-cell-induced leukemia in their blood 1 year after the last cell injection. Despite immunosuppression, most of the tumor-bearing dogs as well as the healthy dogs and monkeys developed both humoral and cellular immune responses against TALL-104 cells. The data derived from these preclinical studies suggest that administration of high doses of irradiated TALL-104 cells is well tolerated and would be unlikely to induce severe toxicity if applied in clinical trials to the treatment of patients with refractory cancer.

Ultrastructural mucosal appearance in the ileal neobladder.

15 patients with ileal neobladder underwent endoscopic biopsy at different postoperative intervals. The specimens were analyzed by electron microscopy in order to evaluate the evolution of the mucosal changes ultrastructurally. No significant change was observed 3 months after the operation. After 6 months, the number and height of the microvilli were reduced, the cell borders crooked and the terminal web upset. After 12 months disappearance of the glycocalyx, increased lysosomal features, increased activity of the muciparous cells, rounded mitochondria and loss of the polarized disposition of the cytoplasmic organelles were detected in the enterocytes. We observed no other substantial change after 24 months and more. Progressive modifications occur in the cytoplasmic structures involved in the absorptive process. They do not seem to begin before 3 months and are almost totally completed after 1 year.

Starting point of carcinoma of the cervix.

Definition of carcinoma of the cervix is given including the varieties which originate in the canal mucosa as well as on the portio surface. The belief that carcinoma colli always starts at the line of squamo-columnar junction is discarded. In the same Une of thinking the author refutes the idea of the coincidence of the line of squamo-columnar junction and the circumference of the ostium uteri. The material presented amounts to 111 cases of very early tumors either micro-invasive, or “in situ”. All of them have been studied in very large or comprehensive sections (panoramic sections) of the cervix. The screening of all the cases leads to the following conclusions: a) in their great majority very early cancers show close relationship to muciparous or cylindric epithelium either superficial or glandular, b) reserve-cells metaplasia seems to be the habitual transition preceeding the appearance of cancer, c) even when the early cancer is on the portio surface there is (in the great majority of cases) a close relationship to an existing near gland (3rd. mucosa or transition zone). Everything seems to indicate that even epidermoid carcinomata originate for the greatest part in the canal and when they start on the portio they are in close vicinity of tall muciparous cells (presently reserve cells). No markedly atypical epithelium (i.e. no carcinoma in situ) has been found without continuity or vicinity to a gland or cylindrical epithelium. The outstanding majority of incipient carcinomas has been found in the so-called 3rd. mucosa (transformation zone) up to 82%. From epidermoid epithelium only 2.5% have been detected.