The results indicate that regular intake of probiotics can reduce PPB in the upper respiratory tract. The results also indicate a linkage of the lymphoid tissue between the gut and the upper respiratory tract.

No abstract

The difference between the spectra of potential bacterial pathogens (PBPs) in the nasal vestibule and cavity has not been taken into account in clinical studies. Purpose: Since one can anticipate different flora in different kinds of mucosae, the authors compared bacterial species in the vestibule with those of the cavity. Subjects and Method: A total of 534 healthy male clerical workers in a downtown Lucerne office building were examined with fractionated swabs. Results: PBPs, notably Staphylococcus aureus, were found in 412 subjects and surprisingly, differences in flora of the two sites were noted in 130 of them: PBPs were observed in the vestibule and not in the cavity in 85 of the subjects, and in 45 of them, the reverse was true. Conclusion: The practical implications of these findings are considerable regarding infection control in patients at increased infection risk.

Purpose of Study: This phase I study assessed tolerability and local effect of a liposome dispersion with povidone-iodine (polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, PVP-I) as nasal spray. Procedures: Three groups received liposomal dispersion with PVP-I (2.2, 4.4 and 0% as control) in single and repeated use (3 days, three times a day). A set of functional and cytological tests as well as safety assessments were performed. Results: No safety-relevant finding or serious adverse events were reported, no evidence for cyto- nor genotoxicity obtained. No clinically relevant changes in mucosa appearance, nor in olfactory sense, nor in ciliary activity (sensitive indicator of local tolerance) occurred and no complaints about nasal airflow obstruction were observed. All liposomal formulations had a positive effect on the nasal mucosa, challenged by allergy in some volunteers. Conclusions and Message: Application of liposomal PVP-I spray to the nasal mucosa does not result in any demonstrable limitation of the nasal function nor in detectable damage to the multilayer ciliated epithelium of the nose. Improvement of various parameters of nasal function under liposomal PVP-I suggest improved mucociliary clearance. Explanation could be humidification, improved surfactant (phospholipid) level and/or sufficient mucolytic activity of iodide due to local application of the constituents.

Virosomal vaccines were prepared by extracting hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase from influenza virus and incorporating it in the membranes of liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine. Two intranasal spray vaccine series were prepared: one series comprised 7.5 μg of HA of each of three strains recommended by the World Health Organization and 1 μg of Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin (HLT), and the other contained the HA without HLT. In addition, a third vaccine preparation contained 15 μg of HA and 2 μg of HLT. The parenteral virosomal vaccine contained 15 μg of HA without additional adjuvant. The immunogenicity of a single spray vaccination (15 μg of HA and 2 μg of HLT) was compared with that of two vaccinations (7.5 μg of HA with or without 1 μg of HLT) with an interval of 1 week in 60 healthy working adults. Twenty volunteers received one parenteral virosomal vaccine. Two nasal spray vaccinations with HLT-adjuvanted virosomal influenza vaccine induced a humoral immune response which was comparable to that with a single parenteral vaccination. A significantly higher induction of influenza virus-specific immunoglobulin A was noted in the saliva after two nasal applications. The immune response after a single spray vaccination was significantly lower. It could be shown that the use of HLT as a mucosal adjuvant is necessary to obtain a humoral immune response comparable to that with parenteral vaccination. All vaccines were well tolerated.

To determine possible epithelial changes in seasonal allergic rhinitis, we examined epithelial cells in cytology swab preparations of 38 non-smoking patients, exclusively sensitized to grass pollen, throughout the year, and surgical material of 8 patients. Cytologically, we found a marked goblet cell hyperplasia during the period of grass pollen exposure, while meta- and dysplasia were found throughout the year. Immunohistochemically, a lack of secretroy IgA in the altered epithelium was detected. These results were not obtained in the control group of 60 healthy non-smokers. Since we have recently found the same epithelial changes of meta- and dysplasia in smokers, these findings may point to non-specific toxic damage of the nasal epithelium possibly caused by other air pollutants. The altered epithelium may lead to an impairment of the local secretory IgA defence system and thereby to an increased allergen uptake.

Objectives: The alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis or "comet" assay allows measurement of DNA damage in single cells with a high degree of sensitivity, e.g., for investigations of the effect of environmental agents with DNA-damaging potential. This study aimed to adapt this test to respiratory cells of the human nasal mucosa to examine the genotoxic effect of air pollution (cigarette smoke). Study Design: In a prospective study, nasal epithelia of 16 cigarette smokers were examined by the adapted comet assay and the results were correlated with the results of the Papanicolaou-stained nasal cytology, carried out in a blinded fashion. The control group comprised 20 nonsmoking men. All subjects under investigation were healthy office workers. Methods: Nasal epithelia were harvested from the maxilloturbinates. One part of cells was Papanicolaou stained and evaluated by cytopathologists. The comet assay was performed on the other part of the cells. The examiners were blinded to the study and control groups. Results: Among cigarette smokers, a significant correlation between cytopathological cell nucleus changes (metaplasia and dysplasia) and the DNA migration (tail lengths) in the comet assay was found as a sign of DNA damage. This was not found in nonsmoking control persons. Conclusions: These results confirm the sensitivity of the comet assay and the hypothesis that cell nucleus changes in conventional nasal cytology are associated with DNA damage.

No abstract