PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Ruby Pawankar

Publications and source records attributed to Ruby Pawankar.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Congenital malformations of the middle ear with an intact external ear: a review of 38 cases.

In patients with middle ear malformations, one can expect an improvement in hearing following ear surgery. Thus, it is crucial for the ear surgeon to have an increased awareness of this disease. For a better understanding of this condition, 38 patients who underwent ear surgery were studied. All patients had congenital ossicular malformations but with an intact external ear. On the basis of our intra-operative observations, 15 cases were assigned to group A (single malformation) and 23 cases to group B (multiple malformations). The pre-operative air-conduction threshold in group B patients was higher than that in group A. Pre-operatively in group A 2 out of 20 ears had mild, 17 had moderate and 1 had severe hearing loss (HL). In group B, out of 25 ears, 3 had mild, 13 had moderate and 9 had severe HL. Post-operatively in group A, 2 had normal hearing, 16 had mild, 2 had moderate and none had severe HL. In group B, postoperatively 1 had normal hearing, 18 had mild, 4 moderate and 2 severe HL. Therefore, in patients with multiple middle ear malformations, the surgeon should know that the prospect of an improvement in the hearing threshold is rather low even after surgical reconstruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

IL-5 and eotaxin levels in middle ear effusion and blood from asthmatics with otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate eosinophil infiltration as well as IL-5 and eotaxin levels in middle ear effusion (MEE) and blood from otitis media with effusion (OME) patients with asthma and to compare the findings with those from OME patients without asthma (control group). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Levels of IL-5 and eotaxin in MEE and blood were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: 5 levels in MEE were significantly higher than those in blood in both groups of patients and in OME patients with asthma than in the control group. In addition, in OME patients with asthma, there was a significant correlation between the percentage of eosinophils and IL-5 levels in MEE. Eotaxin levels in blood were significantly higher than those in MEE in both groups of patients and in OME patients with asthma than in the control group. In addition, in OME patients with asthma, the percentage of eosinophils and eotaxin levels in blood tended to correlate, but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, in OME patients with asthma, eosinophilia in MEE depends more on IL-5 than on eotaxin, and that eotaxin may play an important role in the mobilization of eosinophils from the bone marrow into the blood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Nasal polyposis: an update: editorial review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the upper airway characterized histologically by the infiltration of inflammatory cells like eosinophils or neutrophils. Several hypotheses have been put forward regarding the underlying mechanisms including chronic infection, aspirin intolerance, alteration in aerodynamics with trapping of pollutants, epithelial disruptions, epithelial cell defects/gene deletions (CFTR gene), inhalant or food allergies. The present review is an update on the pathomechanisms of nasal polyposis. RECENT FINDINGS: In the majority of nasal polyps, eosinophils comprise more than 60% of the cell population. Besides eosinophils, mast cells and activated T cells are also increased. An increased production of cytokines/chemokines like granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-5, RANTES and eotaxin contribute to eosinophil migration and survival. Increased levels of IL-8 can induce neutrophil infiltration. Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its upregulation by transforming growth factor-beta can contribute to the edema and increased angiogenesis in nasal polyps. Again, transforming growth factor-beta can modulate fibroblast function and thus contribute to eosinophil infiltration and stromal fibrosis. Other mediators like albumin, histamine and immunoglobulins IgE and IgG are also increased in nasal polyps. In addition, the local production of IgE in nasal polyps can contribute to the increased recurrence of nasal polyps via the IgE-mast cell-FcepsilonRI cascade. Finally, mast cell/T cell-epithelial cell/fibroblast interactions can contribute to the persistent eosinophilic inflammation seen in polyps. SUMMARY: Thus although nasal polyposis is a multifactorial disease with several different etiological factors, chronic persistent inflammation is undoubtedly a major factor irrespective of the etiology.

Aspirin↗
PubMed2003

Mast cells in basal cell carcinoma express VEGF, IL-8 and RANTES.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the skin. Although an increase in mast cell infiltration was observed in BCC lesions, definite evidence of an active role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of BCC is still lacking. BCC is accompanied by cellular infiltrates. Moreover, the stroma in the BCC lesions is characterized by an increased number of mast cells and increased vascularity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the probable role of mast cells in BCC, especially focusing on the relationship between mast cells and lymphocytic infiltration as well as angiogenesis. METHODS: We examined the expression and distribution of VEGF, IL-8 and RANTES in 16 nodular BCC lesions by immunohistochemistry. We also examined the lymphocyte subset, and the correlation between VEGF expression and microvessel density in the BCC lesion. mRNA expression of IL-8 and RANTES was examined by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: T cells, especially CD4+/CD45RO+ memory T cells were the predominant infiltrating lymphocyte population in BCC lesions. An increased number of tryptase+ cells (mast cells) was found in the stroma. VEGF+/IL-8+/RANTES+ cells were also found abundantly in the stroma of all BCC lesions. The number of VEGF+, IL-8+ and RANTES+ cells was significantly higher than that in controls. By immunohistochemistry of serial sections, tryptase+ cells were found to express VEGF, IL-8 or RANTES. Messenger RNA expression of IL-8 and RANTES was also observed in the BCC lesions. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that mast cells may play an active role in the angiogenesis of BCC through the production of VEGF and IL-8. Furthermore, mast cells may also regulate lymphocytic infiltration through the production of IL-8 and RANTES.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Mast cell-IgE-and mast cell-structural cell interactions in allergic airway disease.

Allergic diseases like atopic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, and urticaria are prevalent and on the rise. Mast cells are known to play a central role in the immediate phase reaction of allergic diseases through the IgE-mediated release of a variety of chemical mediators like histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins. On the other hand, T lymphocytes, basophils and eosinophils are thought to be responsible in inducing the late phase response. Yet, recent studies show that the mast cell cannot be simplistically assigned a role in the immediate phase allergic response, and that this cell plays a crucial role in ongoing allergic inflammation, including the development of hyper-responsiveness. In the present article, the author will try to discuss the integrated roles of mast cells in IgE-mediated allergic inflammation with specific emphasis on the roles of mast cell-IgE networking and mast cell-structural cell interactions in the late phase allergic response and chronic allergic inflammation.

Asthma↗
PubMed2002

Allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma: an evidence-based treatment strategy for allergic rhinitis.

The overall pathogenic view of respiratory allergy has deeply changed and evolved during the last ten years. Much emphasis has been laid to the relationship between rhinitis and asthma, which is between the upper and the lower respiratory airways. This strict link has been evidenced through clinical observations and epidemiological studies and also on the basis of immunological observations and outcomes of therapy. Furthermore, the frequent co-existence of rhinitis and asthma (up to 80 percent of asthmatic patients have co-existing allergic rhinitis, while up to 40 percent of allergic rhinitis patients have asthma, the coexistence of sinusitis and asthma, the presence of rhinitis as a risk factor for developing asthma, further emphasize this link and together lead to the operative definition of Allergic Rhinobronchitis or, United Airways Disease (UAD). The strict link existing between upper and lower respiratory tract can be also regarded from the viewpoint of therapeutical outcomes. The more detailed knowledge of the intricate mechanisms sustaining allergic inflammation in the respiratory tract (i.e. antigen presentation, cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules) has clarified the functional relationships between nose and lung. Thus allergic rhinitis or asthma is not a disease confined to a specific target organ, but rather a disorder of the whole respiratory tract, with a range of clinical manifestations, leading to relevant diagnostic and therapeutic implications as indicated in the WHO Initiative ARIA, the first evidence-based guideline emphasizing the impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma and where a step-wise treatment strategy targeting both the upper and lower airway effectively has been proposed. Moreover, the use of novel potential therapies that target both rhinitis and asthma like antileukotrienes or anti-IgE are indeed a future strategy.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Allergic rhinitis and asthma: from the link to emerging therapies.

Epidemiological evidences and clinical as well as experimental observations have suggested a link between rhinitis and asthma. This relationship between rhinitis (and sinusitis) and asthma also involve other aspects, such as viral infections and bronchial hyperreactivity. These have been further confirmed by functional and immunological evidences, challenge studies of the nose and the bronchii, and, indirectly, by observing the therapeutic effects of drugs used mainly for rhinitis on the symptoms of asthma. Therefore, the present article is a review of the most relevant experimental results, so far provided, supporting the 'One Airway One Disease' concept, the possible mechanisms involved in this link and emerging therapeutic strategies like leukotriene receptor antagonists.

Asthma↗