[Space-occupying lesion of the hard palate].
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Angiomyoma↗
Biomedical subjects
T Just
Publications and source records attributed to T Just.
Implementation of monoclonal antibody fluorescence on the Abbott CELL-DYN Sapphire haematology analyser: evaluation of lymphoid, myeloid and platelet markers.
Apart from qualitative flags, that are typically inefficient and uninformative, haematology instruments provide little meaningful information about lymphocyte populations or the lineage of atypical or immature elements, The CELL-DYN Sapphire haematology analyser uses integrated optical and fluorescence (488 nm) measurements, with FL1 (FITC) and FL2 (PE) detectors being configured for fluorescent analysis. As monoclonal antibodies (Mab) are widely used as cellular probes, and are likely to constitute the future basis for immunodifferentials, we explored the feasibility of implementing immunofluorescence on this routine haematology analyser. An extensive series of Mab (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD13, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD22, CD33, CD34, CD41, CD42b, CD45, CD56, CD61, CD64, CD235a and HLA-DR) were tested singly or in FITC/PE combinations. Analyser processing and data acquisition was achieved using CD-Sapphire automated CD61 immunoplatelet or CD3/4/8 assay procedures and, apart from mixing EDTA-blood and antibody, no further sample manipulation was required. Downloaded raw files were processed with cytometry software, and all evaluated reagents showed population discrimination analogous to flow cytometry. Practical procedures were straightforward and required minimal operator training. Extended information that can be obtained from monoclonal antibodies with a routine haematology analyser has the potential to extend haematology laboratory practices and positively impact laboratory and clinical efficiency.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
[Hard, expanding preauricular swelling in a 6-year-old child].
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Calcinosis↗
[Concept and anatomical feasibility study of an "endosteal electrode" for bimodal stimulation in severely deaf ears].
BACKGROUND: Many patients with severe hearing loss could benefit from a bimodal stimulation unilaterally: acoustically in the apical region of the cochlea with some residual low frequency hearing and electrically via a cochlear implant in the basal turn with lost high hearing in the high frequency range. As a new concept we introduce the idea of an "endosteal electrode" - to be inserted between spiral ligament and endosteum of the bony wall without opening the fluid-filled inner ear. In this paper the feasibility from the anatomical point of view is to be proven. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 10 human temporal bone specimens the bone covering the membraneous inner ear is carefully removed in the site of a typical cochleostomy. It should by proven whether or not the soft tissue layer covering the inner ear could be left intact and, furthermore, whether a "dummy-electrode array" could be inserted "endosteally". RESULTS: In 10 of the 10 specimen the preparation could be carried out in the desired way, leaving the spiral ligament intact. The regular site of the "electrode" was morphologically proven after embedding the specimens for histological evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: From the anatomical point of view, an "endosteal cochlear implantation" seems feasible. Further experiments including animal studies must show, whether this concept might succeed functionally.
Cochlear Implantation↗
[Stapes fixation in children].
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The audiometric results after stapes surgery in children with isolated stapes footplate fixation were reason enough to analyze intraoperative findings and surgical procedures. PATIENTS/METHODS: A total of 438 stapes surgeries were performed in the years 1985-2000, and a retrospective analysis was made of the anamnestic data, intraoperative findings and audiometric data from 12 children with isolated fixation of the stapes footplate. The average age of the children when operated was 10.2 years (the youngest was 7 and the eldest 13). A loss of hearing had set in 5 years earlier. RESULTS: Taking the anamnestic data and the intraoperative into account, otosclerosis was found in 5 children. One child had a narrow oval window niche, in a further six children a congenital fixation of the stapes footplate was evident. Only 58% (n=7) of the 12 children operated showed acceptable postoperative hearing results. The best hearing results were found in children with juvenile otosclerosis. In three of six children with congenital stapes fixation, a worsening of both bone and air conduction was evident. The average conductive hearing loss was 30 dB at 1, 2 and 4 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: When explorative tympanotomy is indicated, a thin-layer CT scan of the temporal bone should be made to assess the risk of a liquor pressure labyrinth developing.
Adolescent↗
[Olfactory dysfunction. Epidemiology, pathophsiological classification, diagnosis and therapy].
The present manuscript is the result of a collaborative effort within the framework of the Working Group of Olfactology and Gustology of the German Society for ENT, Head and Neck Surgery. It provides a comprehensive overview about the current views on the epidemiology, terminology, diagnostics, and therapy of olfactory dysfunction, and aims to offer a framework for the standardized procedures for the diagnosis and therapy of olfactory disorders.
Algorithms↗
[Confocal laser-scanning microscopy to analyse the epithelium of the tongue].
BACKGROUND: Superficial changes of the epithelium of the tongue are diagnosed by biopsy. The aim of this in-vivo study was to show the normal epithelium, the subepithelial structures and the subepithelial vessels of the tongue using confocal microscopy. METHODS: A digital confocal Laser-Scanning Microscope (LSM), a combination of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph HRT II and the Rostock Cornea Module (Heidelberg Engineering GmbH) was used. This digital microscope makes computer-based external hydraulic z-scan possible and the automatic collection of patient-based video sequences and the 3D reconstruction of the structures of the fungiform papilla. 800-fold magnifications are possible using a water immersion lens (Zeiss, 63-fold). A parabolic plexiglass disc with holes and a video camera were used to stabilize the tongue and to control the contact between the tongue surface and the contact element of the lens. PATIENTS: Confocal microscopy was performed on 17 healthy test volunteers aged 21 to 56. RESULTS: First findings with confocal LSM as a contact procedure show that a precise identification of the fungiform and filiform papillae and 3D reconstruction of the pores is possible. Furthermore, different cell layers of the tongue epithelium, subcellular structures of the epithelium and the subepithelial vessels to depth of 50 microm can be visualized by the erythrocytic flow and a max. 800-fold magnification. CONCLUSIONS: The confocal LSM is a nondestructive contact procedure and allows the in-vivo analysis of the tongue epithelium.
Adult↗
[Effects of systemic or topical administration of corticosteroids and vitamin B in patients with olfactory loss].
BACKGROUND: Aim of the present, unblinded, multicentric, open trial was to compare effects of 3 treatments in patients with olfactory dysfunction. METHODS: Treatments included administration of systemic corticosteroids (oral prednisolone), local corticosteroids (mometasone nasal spray), and systemic vitamin B, respectively. A total of 192 patients participated (95 women, 97 men; mean age 56 years). Duration of the smell loss ranged from 1 to 288 months (average 45 months). Olfactory dysfunction was due to infections of the upper respiratory tract (n = 72), sinunasal disease (n = 19), and posttraumatic olfactory loss (n = 10); the largest portion was classified as idiopathic (n = 85); other causes were rare (n = 6). RESULTS: Following systemic administration of corticosteroids improvement of olfactory function was observed (p < 0.001). Similarly, improvement of the sense of smell was found 2 (p = 0.03) and 6 months (p = 0.001) after local administration of mometasone, respectively. In contrast, after administration of vitamin B no significant change of olfactory function was seen after 2 months, while improvement was present after 6 months (p = 0.001). Duration of olfactory dysfunction had no effect on changes of smell function. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that improvement of olfactory function is found in olfactory dysfunction of different causes. Adequately controlled, blinded studies are needed to further explore potential effects of the various treatments.
Administration, Intranasal↗
[Contact endoscopic quantification of fungiform papillae--correlation to taste ability?].
BACKGROUND: Besides anamnestic data and taste test, the clarification of epithelial taste disorders makes macroscopic evaluation of the surface of the tongue necessary. METHODS: In this article the contact endoscopy is evaluated for examination of the tongue epithelium and for quantification of the fungiforme papillae. These results are related to the results of the spatial taste test (1. chemical taste test with sodium chloride in 2 different suprathreshold concentrations and sucrose in also 2 different suprathreshold concentrations; 2. electrogustometry with a bipolar electrode). PATIENTS: In a prospective study we performed contact endoscopy in 16 healthy volunteers from ages 7 to 68 years. The subjects were divided into 2 age groups (< or = 45 years and > 45 years) and 2 papillae density groups. In 34 patients with either taste disorders of unknown cause or in patients with macroscopic changes at the tongue surface, the spatial and whole mouth taste tests and contact endoscopy were used to clarify the cause of the complaints. RESULTS: Density and shape of the fungiform papillae as well as the shape of the subepithelial vessels of the papillae vary among the investigated human subjects in the different age groups. No correlation between intensity ratings, papillae density und age was found after stimulation with 40 % sucrose at the tongue tip in the younger age group. Stimulation of the tongue edge with 15 % sodium chloride, however, showed a relationship between the two different density groups and the different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The contact endoscopy allows the evaluation of the epithelium in the oral cavity. It is a nondestructive method and is additionally easy to handle, but the evaluation of the observed epithelia needs interdisciplinary co-operation with pathologists. No relevant informations are supplied in diagnostics of taste disorders.
Adolescent↗
[Taste disorders and recovery of the taste function after middle ear surgery].
BACKGROUND: The incidence and the scale of recovery of the taste function after middle ear surgery is usually determined by the use of anamnestic data and electrogustometry. METHODS: Taste tests (regional chemical taste test, electrogustometry and subjective evaluation) were performed preoperatively, 2 to 3 weeks and 6 to 9 months after middle ear surgery. These results were evaluated by taking the scale of chorda tympani nerve (CTN) manipulation into consideration. Three groups were chosen: group 1: no or small CTN manipulation, n = 54; group 2: strong CTN manipulation, n = 14; group 3: severed CTN, n = 50. PATIENTS: In a prospective study 118 patients were examined after middle ear surgery in the ENT-Department of the University of Rostock between 2001 and 2002. 61 females and 57 males, age from 7 - 81 years, were included. RESULTS: Complaints were observed in all three groups, mainly in groups 2 and 3. These included taste disorders, taste phenomenon and numbness of the tongue. Using regional chemical taste tests, the taste loss of group 3 could be proven for those patients with complaints in 64 % and for those patients without complaints in 27 %. The electrogustometry is more sensitive than chemical taste test. All patients had pathological thresholds after chorda cutting (78 % no thresholds; 22 % elevated thresholds). 68 out of 118 patients (58 %) had a second follow-up after 6 to 9 months after middle ear surgery. The complaints are declining in all groups. In groups 2 and 3 a recovery of taste function could be observed. Even if the number of patients with severed chorda, who suffer from taste disorders, diminishes, a recovery of the taste function could only be observed in 30 %. CONCLUSIONS: The scale of chorda manipulation is important for the recovery of the taste function after middle ear surgery. The CTN should be preserved intraoperatively, especially when an operation of the contralateral ear is planned as well.
Adolescent↗
[Lightening-induced injury of the air. Lightening-induced tympanic membrane perforation left with subsequent temporary pancochlear inner ear hearing loss as well as left-sided tinnitus].
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Adult↗
Replication timing of human telomeric DNA and other repetitive sequences analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry.
The replication timing of telomeres seems to differ between species. Yeast telomeres are late replicating, whereas limited data from very few human cell lines have indicated telomere replication throughout S phase. In the present study a series of permanent cell lines and patient samples was investigated using a flow cytometric approach for telomere length determination based on in situ hybridization using peptide nucleic acid probes and DNA staining. This method permits selective analysis of cells in specific phases of the cell cycle without perturbation of the cell cycle machinery. The timing of replication of telomeric C(3)TA(2) and T(2)AG(3) repeats was found to differ between individual samples and could precede or be concomitant with the replication of bulk DNA. Replication of the T(2)AG(3) strand seemed to occur somewhat later than that of the C(3)TA(2) strand in some samples. (GTG)(n) and other repetitive sequences generally showed a replication pattern similar to that of the bulk of DNA with slightly individual differences, whereas centromeric DNA repeats consistently replicated within a short time frame in late S phase. The apparent variability in replication timing seen for telomeric DNA might suggest individual differences in firing of replication origins.
Cell Cycle↗
Hydroxyl radical-induced apoptosis in human tumor cells is associated with telomere shortening but not telomerase inhibition and caspase activation.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been found to trigger apoptosis in tumor cells. At the same time, telomerase is found to be associated with malignancy and reduced apoptosis. However little is known about the linkage between ROS such as *OH and telomerase/telomere. To address the interrelations between *OH and telomerase/telomere in tumor cell killing, HeLa, 293 and MW451 cells were induced to undergo apoptosis with *OH radicals generated via Fe(2+)-mediated Fenton reactions (0.1 mM FeSO(4) plus 0.3-0.9 mM H2O2) and telomerase activity, telomere length were measured during apoptosis. We found that during *OH-induced apoptosis, telomere shortening took place while no changes in telomerase activity were observed. Our results suggest that *OH-induced telomere shortening is not through telomerase inhibition but possibly a direct effect of *OH on telomeres themselves indicating that telomere shortening but not telomerase inhibition is the primary event during *OH-induced apoptosis. Strikingly, we also found that *OH-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells is caspase-3-independent but is associated with reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Our results indicate that *OH triggers apoptotic tumor cell death through a telomere-related, caspase-independent pathway.
Apoptosis↗
Expression of telomerase inhibits hydroxyl radical-induced apoptosis in normal telomerase negative human lung fibroblasts.
In tumor cells telomerase activity is associated with resistance to apoptosis and the introduction of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) subunit into normal human cells is associated with life span extension of the cells. To determine the role of telomerase in regulating apoptosis, telomerase negative human embryo lung fibroblasts were transfected with the hTERT gene. Unlike the control fibroblasts, the telomerase-expressing cells had elongated telomeres and were resistant to apoptosis induced by hydroxyl radicals. The results indicate that expression of telomerase and, thus, the maintenance of telomere length in normal human somatic cells caused resistance to not only cellular senescence but also apoptosis. Moreover, we found that hydroxyl radical-induced apoptosis in telomerase-expressing and control fibroblasts was caspase-3 independent. These findings have revealed a new type of interrelation between telomerase and caspase-3, which may indicate that in this case the expressed telomerase may inhibit apoptosis at a site not related to the caspase-3 cascade.
Apoptosis↗
[Cholesteatoma recurrences caused by intraoperative cell seeding? Contact endoscopic and cytologic studies].
BACKGROUND: The high rate of recurrences of cholesteatomas after surgery is mostly caused by insufficient removal of matrix. Another factor may be intraoperative scattering of matrix cells e. g. with the running burr, which later may become the origin of new cholesteatoma growth. In this paper we tried to visualize these cells for gaining further informations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 10 patients intraoperative contact endoscopy of the cholesteatoma was carried out during mastoidectomy. After intravital staining with methylene blue the very superficial tissue layers can directly be considered via a contacting endoscope. In addition, sucked-off rinsing fluid was cytologically examined for epithelial cells. RESULTS: Both investigations show only very rare vital squamous cells - besides other cells like or ciliated cells and foreign body giant cells. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Inspite of their small number, these squamous cells in principle could cause dispersed growth of cholesteatoma. However, this seems to be much less significant than the assumption of matrix left behind intraoperatively. The danger of dispersed cell growth can further be diminished by adequate operating techniques with sufficient rinsing, smoothing the bony cavity walls and avoiding blind corners.
Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear↗
Heat radiation during caloric vestibular test: thermographic demonstration in temporal bone experiments.
Since Barany's descriptions in 1906, cold and warm irrigations of the external ear canal have been used for unilaterally testing vestibular excitability. The fluid kinetics within the endolymph have been studied thoroughly, whereas relatively few published articles deal with the mechanisms of heat transfer from the external to the internal ear. Even though heat conduction via the bone seemed to be well established in the textbooks, Feldmann and co-workers found heat radiation to be a very important factor. Using a rather uncommon method, we tried to make this heat radiation more apparent: in temporal bone experiments, temperature distribution was followed by thermography. Temporal bone specimens were prepared in such a way that heat distributions became visible after experimental caloric irrigations of the external ear canal. Temperature changes could well be verified by changes in coloration of the 2-dimensional thermograms. Conclusions were drawn from registrations performed in 2 projections, 90 degrees to each other, allowing cautious statements about 3-dimensional distribution. The velocity of heat transfer at the very onset of the reaction can only be explained by radiation, whereas later, other mechanisms, such as conduction via the bone or convection via the middle ear gas, may have some influence. Our results support Feldmann's findings and underline the significance of radiation in the heat transfer mechanism.
Body Temperature↗
Ectopic human telomerase catalytic subunit expression maintains telomere length but is not sufficient for CD8+ T lymphocyte immortalization.
Like most somatic human cells, T lymphocytes have a limited replicative life span. This phenomenon, called senescence, presents a serious barrier to clinical applications that require large numbers of Ag-specific T cells such as adoptive transfer therapy. Ectopic expression of hTERT, the human catalytic subunit of the enzyme telomerase, permits fibroblasts and endothelial cells to avoid senescence and to become immortal. In an attempt to immortalize normal human CD8(+) T lymphocytes, we infected bulk cultures or clones of these cells with a retrovirus transducing an hTERT cDNA clone. More than 90% of transduced cells expressed the transgene, and the cell populations contained high levels of telomerase activity. Measuring the content of total telomere repeats in individual cells (by flowFISH) we found that ectopic hTERT expression reversed the gradual loss of telomeric DNA observed in control populations during long term culture. Telomere length in transduced cells reached the levels observed in freshly isolated normal CD8(+) lymphocytes. Nevertheless, all hTERT-transduced populations stopped to divide at the same time as nontransduced or vector-transduced control cells. When kept in IL-2 the arrested cells remained alive. Our results indicate that hTERT may be required but is not sufficient to immortalize human T lymphocytes.
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
[Danger from exploding fireworks and blank firearms].
Explosive amusement and deterrent articles such as New Year's Eve cannons and rockets, toy pistols, and blank guns are not at all harmless items. Their potential dangerousness is often extremely underestimated. Two damaging mechanisms are important: during explosions, high pressures and temperatures develop and a considerable sound pressure level can be measured. If the explosion happens near the human body (intentionally or inadvertently), not only superficial lesions can occur, but also (mainly due to contact shots) serious, deep-seated tissue damage, especially in the head and neck region with its endangered sense organs such as eye and ear, the vessels and nerves supplying the brain, the speech- and voice-forming apparatus, and in particular the face, can be the consequence. Their mutilation can lead to serious and extensive interpersonalchanges. Accidents are published in the relevant otological and forensic medical papers, but nevertheless it seems important to us to point out the dangerousness of these readily available items.
Adolescent↗