ABSTRACr We have examined the effect of adding elastase positive sputum from six patients with purulent bronchiectasis on the ciliary beat frequency of nasal epithelium from normal subjects. Control studies of cilia suspended in tissue culture medium showed little change in ciliary beat frequency over six hours. Cilia incubated in elastase positive secretions, however, showed a considerable decrease in ciliary beat frequency over the period, falling from a mean of 13-40 beats/second to 6-78 beats/second (p < 0.001). Inhibition of the elastase activity with pure human al antitrypsin abolished this effect (mean at start 13*75 beats/second, mean at six hours 11-64 beats/second). The patients were then treated with amoxycillin for two weeks and sputum was collected at the end of the course. These secretions showed no detectable elastase activity and also had little effect on ciliary beat frequency. The results suggest that serine proteinase activity associated with elastase can decrease mucociliary function in vitro and that antibiotic treatment even in the apparently stable state may have a beneficial effect.
We have analysed 22 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs) for expression of the small nuclear Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded RNAs (EBERs) and for immunohistologically detectable overexpression of p53. In situ hybridization demonstrated expression of the EBERs in 13 undifferentiated NPCs while nine squamous cell NPCs were EBER-negative. These results therefore confirm our previous DNA-DNA in situ hybridization studies and demonstrate that in the nasopharynx EBV is exclusively associated with undifferentiated but not with squamous cell carcinomas. p53 overexpression was demonstrated by immunohistology in 5 of 9 squamous cell NPCs and in 9 of 13 undifferentiated NPCs. Thus, there appears to be no correlation of p53 overexpression with EBV infection. These results are unexpected in the light of previous studies demonstrating that the p53 gene in primary undifferentiated NPC is consistently in the wild-type configuration. By contrast, analyses of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck have demonstrated that p53 overexpression in these cases is the result of p53 gene mutation. Whilst more detailed genetic analysis is required, our results suggest that mechanisms other than mutation of the p53 gene may be responsible for the stabilization of the protein in cases of undifferentiated NPC. It is tempting to speculate that an EBV-encoded protein may be involved.
Using a photometric method of measuring ciliary beat frequency, the effect of temperature on ciliary activity was investigated. A linear increase in ciliary beat frequency between 19 degrees and 32 degrees C was found. Between 32 degrees and 40 degrees a plateau was reached in which temperature did not significantly affect frequency and above 40 degrees C the frequency began to decline. It is concluded that nasal cilia are not critically dependent upon temperature in the range 32 degrees and 40 degrees C, the temperature range in which this tissue normally operates.
Papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst is a rare finding. Less than 100 cases have been reported in the English literature. In most cases the diagnosis is only established after excision of a clinically benign thyroglossal duct cyst. The aetiology of such tumours is unclear but de novo origin and spread from a primary thyroid gland tumour has been suggested. This has important implications for therapeutic approaches. A further case of thyroglossal duct carcinoma is presented and the management is discussed on the basis of the current rationale for treatment of thyroid cancer.
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