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The application of oxitropium bromide resulted in a significant reduction of both watery rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction, but not sneezing or postnasal drip. Resection of the PNN also significantly improved both rhinorrhea and nasal obstruction. Morphometric analysis of the density of the nasal gland showed a significant reduction, whereas no significant change was recognized in the density of the vessels. A significant reduction in the number of infiltrating neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes was recognized.

Alkali metal carboxylates were discovered as efficient and simple catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters that are alternatives to conventional metal-based catalysts and organocatalysts. In our system using an alcohol initiator and this simple catalyst, biodegradable and biocompatible aliphatic polyesters, such as poly(lactide), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(δ-valerolactone), and poly(trimethylene carbonate), were obtained with predictive molecular weights ranging from 3500 to 22 600 and narrow dispersities. A kinetic experiment for the ROP of L-lactide confirmed the controlled/living nature of the present ROP system, which allowed the precise synthesis of end-functionalized polyesters as well as multihydroxyl-containing polyesters, including α,ω-hydroxy telechelic and starshaped polyesters. Furthermore, a block copolymer containing the poly(L-lactide) segment was successfully synthesized using a macroinitiator possessing a hydroxyl group at the chain end. The tunability of the alkali metal carboxylates by the appropriate choice of the alkyl moiety and countercation enables not only control of the polymerization behavior but also expansion of the scope of the applicable monomers. Given the low cost, easy handling, and low toxicity of the alkali metal carboxylates, the present ROP system can be highly promising for both laboratory-and industrial-scale polyester productions.

Major causes of olfactory disorders are sinonasal disease, viral upper respiratory tract infection, head trauma and old age. Olfactory testing is an important part of objective assesment of the severity of the disease in chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. The aim of this study was to correlate results of objective smell testing with subjective scores on olfaction and other nasal symptoms in different subgroups of patients with smell impairment.Data were extracted from questionnaires filled by patients sent to smell testing by the ENT specialist. For the analysis data were divided in subgroups: 20 with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), 24 patients operated for nasal polyps, 7 patients with nasal polyps on medical treatment, 7 with hyposmia after common cold, 4 with anosmia and 11 controls with no smell impairment. Smell testing was done by using the Sniffin Sticks 12 complete odorant. This test is based on the assessment of odor identification abilities for 12 standard odors with forced choice. Subjective scores on (0-4) were taken for olfaction, nasal obstruction, hypersecretion and headache.The correlation between subjective score for olfaction and olfactometry score was significant for the whole group (r 0.682), and was similar when anosmic and controls were excluded. Subjective olfaction and olfactometry score did not correlate with any other symptom. Comparing correlation coefficients between the subgroups, it seems that patients with CRS and nonoperated nasal polyp patients have better correlation between subjective and objective smell assesment than patients operated for nasal polyps and those who had olfactory lesion following viral infection.Although correlation between subjective and objective smell assesment is significant, some subgroups of patients overrate their ability to recognize odors. STRESS EFFECTS ON ALLERGIC INFLAMMATION OF THE AIRWAYS Pontus Stierna and Susanna GeorenDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenWe have used a mouse model to investigate the effects of endogenous GC synthesis and GC receptor inhibition, as well as acute stress, and different doses of exogenous administered GCs on inflammatory cells in different cellular compartments in allergic airway inflammation. including nerve growth factor (NGF) in the airways, during allergic inflammation.First we investigated the effects of endogenous GCs on eosinophilic airway inflammation. Inhibition of GC release with metyrapone (ME) induced an increase of bone marrow eosinophilia and when the ME treatment was combined with a GC receptor antagonist (RU 486) the allergen-induced bone marrow eosinophilia was further enhanced.The second study was focused on the effects of timing of a short acute stress on allergic airway inflammation in upper and lower airways. Short stress applied before an allergen challenge decreased the allergen-induced eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lungs and also the inflammation in the nasal tissue. No effects on eosinophilia or inflammation were seen...

The anthocyanin profiles and varieties/breeding line differences of anthocyanin concentrations in common/tartary buckwheat sprouts have been studied. Four anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactopyranosyl-rhamnoside, were isolated from the sprouts of common buckwheat, were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and were identified using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/MS techniques. In tartary buckwheat sprouts, two anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside) were identified. Among 19 common/tartary buckwheat varieties/breeding lines, Hokkai T10 contained the highest amounts of anthocyanins. Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside concentrations in 6-10 days after seeding sprouts of Hokkai T10 ranged from 0.16 to 0.20 mg/g dry wt and from 5.55 to 6.57 mg/g dry wt, respectively. In addition, dark-grown sprouts of Hokkai T10 accumulated 0.091 and 2.77 mg/g dry wt of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside whereas other varieties/breeding lines accumulated trace amounts of anthocyanins. Given its anthocyanin-rich red cotyledons, Hokkai T10 is a promising line for use as "Moyashi" type sprouts and is strongly recommended as a new functional food, rich in dietary anthocyanins.

BackgroundIpragliflozin is a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor that can improve glycemic control and reduce body weight and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of ipragliflozin in the real-world clinical setting, with a focus on the changes of body composition up to 3 months of treatment.MethodsThis was a prospective multicenter interventional trial. We investigated changes of the blood pressure, body composition, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), ketone bodies, lipids, and insulin after treatment with ipragliflozin (50 - 100 mg/day) for 12 weeks in Japanese patients with T2DM who showed poor glycemic control despite receiving diet and exercise therapy with or without oral antidiabetic drugs for more than 12 weeks.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty-seven subjects were included in the efficacy analysis up to 12 weeks of treatment and 301 subjects were included in the safety analysis. From baseline to 12 weeks, HbA1c showed a change of -0.68% (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.83, -0.53) and fasting blood glucose showed a change of -23.9 mg/dL (95% CI: -30.5, -17.2), with both parameters displaying a significant reduction (P < 0.001). The difference of body weight from baseline was -1.82 kg (95% CI: -2.14, -1.50), and it also showed significant reduction (P < 0.001). Analysis of body composition revealed that body fat changed by -1.46 kg (95% CI: -1.79, -1.14, P < 0.001) and body water changed by -0.37 kg (95% CI: -0.60, -0.14, P < 0.01). Laboratory tests demonstrated improvement of liver function and the lipid profile. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 22.6% of the subjects, with frequent events being vulvovaginal candidiasis in 2.7% and cystitis in 2.0%. Serious AEs occurred in three subjects.ConclusionsIn patients with T2DM, ipragliflozin improved glycemic control after 1 month of treatment and caused weight loss by reducing body fat more than body water.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate ocular blood flow hemodynamics in patients with diabetes mellitus. We used color Doppler sonography, in 22 normal subjects and 52 patients with (n = 25) or without (n = 27) diabetic retinopathy, to determine blood flow velocities and the resistive index of the central retinal artery. The resistive index of the central retinal artery in patients with diabetic retinopathy (0.85 +/‐ 0.09) was significantly greater (P < 0.01) than that in normal subjects (0.72 +/‐ 0.08) and in patients without diabetic retinopathy (0.81 +/‐ 0.09). The resistive index of the central retinal artery in the patients without diabetic retinopathy was also significantly greater than that of normal subjects (P < 0.01). The resistive index of ocular arterial flow was increased in the patients with diabetes mellitus and further increased in the presence of retinopathy. Increased resistance in the peripheral ocular vascular bed contributes to diabetic retinopathy, and this change is present before the appearance of overt diabetic retinopathy.