Swallowing function after occipitocervical arthrodesis for cervical deformity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Some patients develop dysphagia after OC arthrodesis with RA. A previous report has indicated that establishing appropriate occipito-C2 is important for avoiding these side effects. However, a more recent report has demonstrated that the O-C2 angle did not have a significant effect on the incidence of postoperative dysphagia.

Use of Sato's curved laryngoscope and an insulated-tip knife for endoscopic incisional therapy of esophageal web.

We experienced two cases of esophageal web accompanying severe stricture that were treated by endoscopic incisions with an insulated-tip knife (IT-knife). With attention paid to the mucosa at the stricture, the lesion was incised with an IT-knife without complications. Sato's curved laryngoscope was used even in cervical esophageal lesions and an excellent field was secured.

Thyroid-like low-grade nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma: case report and literature review.

Thyroid-like low-grade nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma (TL-LGNPPA) is an extremely rare neoplasm characterized by morphological analogy to papillary thyroid carcinoma and abnormal expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). Here we report a novel case of TL-LGNPPA with literature review. The patient was a 43-year-old woman complaining of nasal obstruction.

Lung functions of Japanese patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), which is clinically classified into CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), shows considerable geographic differences and heterogeneity. Eosinophilic (E) CRS with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP) has a higher degree of disease severity and higher frequency of comorbid asthma. Epidemiologic studies in different ethnic populations have improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease.

[Effect of posterior nasal neurectomy combined with the inferior turbinate surgery for Japanese cedar pollinosis].

Introduction: Up to 30% of the Japanese population suffers from Japanese cedar pollinosis, and some of these patients also have severe perennial allergies or other pollen allergies. Posterior nasal neurectomy has recently been reported as effective treatment for severe perennial allergic and intrinsic rhinitis. However, the efficacy of this surgery for seasonal allergic rhinitis has not been shown.

Five adult laryngeal venous malformation cases treated effectively with sclerotherapy.

Laryngeal venous malformation is a comparatively rare condition in adults. It presents as a livid or bluish mass that may cause bleeding, hoarseness, stridor, and even difficulty in breathing. So far, treatment has largely consisted of laser therapy and surgical removal.

[Effect of posterior nasal neurectomy combined with the inferior turbinate surgery for the patients with perennial allergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis].

Introduction: Until recently, Vidian neurectomy had been applied mainly in intractable vasomotor rhinitis and severe perennial allergic rhinitis. Although the results were excellent, the operation has not been applied recently because of the adverse events such as xerophthalmia and trigeminal neuralgia. To resolve these problems, a new surgical technique, posterior nasal neurectomy, was developed.

TGF-beta signaling may play a role in the development of goblet cell hyperplasia in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) levels are elevated in the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis. However, because TGF-beta is secreted extracellulary in latent complexes, it remains unclear whether the local TGF-beta expression actually drives active signaling and affects the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis. The objective of this study is to investigate whether TGF-beta signaling is activated in allergic rhinitis and plays a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis.

Expansion and characterization of cancer stem-like cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Evidence has accumulated indicating that only a minority of cancer cells with stem cell properties, cancer stem cells (CSCs), are responsible for maintenance and growth of the tumor. CD44 is currently used to identify CSCs as one of the cell surface markers for solid tumors. Here we report the identification, expansion, and characterization of CD44+ cancer stem-like cells from a permanent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) cell line.

A potential role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in the recruitment of macrophages to mouse intervertebral disc cells via monocyte chemotactic protein 1 induction: implications for herniated discs.

Objective: To determine whether thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a role in the resorption of herniated disc tissue.

Methods: The expression of TSLP messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in mouse intervertebral disc cells was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunohistochemical analysis. The ability of mouse intervertebral disc cells to respond to TSLP stimulation was examined by Western blot analysis, ELISA, and protein array analysis.

Cigarette smoke extract induces thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression, leading to T(H)2-type immune responses and airway inflammation.

Background: Both active and passive smoking are considered to be risk factors for asthma development. However, the precise mechanisms involved remain elusive. Recently, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been shown to play a key role in the development of T(H)2-type allergic inflammation in patients with asthma.

Mast cell regulation of epithelial TSLP expression plays an important role in the development of allergic rhinitis.

Epithelial cell-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a master switch for asthma or atopic dermatitis by inducing a dendritic cell-mediated Th2-type allergic inflammation. Allergic rhinitis is also pathologically characterized by Th2-type allergic inflammation. This study demonstrates that mast cells regulate the epithelial TSLP expression in allergic rhinitis.

A possible link between resveratrol and TGF-beta: resveratrol induction of TGF-beta expression and signaling.

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in the skin of red fruits, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-proliferative characteristics. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a pleiotropic cytokine that also displays such properties. We therefore hypothesized that there might be a functional link between resveratrol and TGF-beta.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin secretion of synovial fibroblasts is positively and negatively regulated by Toll-like receptors/nuclear factor-kappaB pathway and interferon-gamma/dexamethasone.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an interleukin (IL)-7-like cytokine produced by epithelial cells and triggers dendritic cell-mediated Th2 type allergic inflammatory responses. This study investigated whether Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and poly-IC affect TSLP production in synovial fibroblasts. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that LPS and poly-IC upregulated TSLP production in synovial fibroblasts obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Imatinib mesylate both prevents and treats the arthritis induced by type II collagen antibody in mice.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with joint destruction. Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) is an inhibitor that specifically targets a set of protein tyrosine kinase, such as abl, c-kit, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and it is widely used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The purpose of the present study is to determine whether imatinib can provide benefit in the arthritis induced by anti-collagen type II antibody (CAIA) in mice, a model that provides an opportunity to study the effector inflammatory phase of arthritis without involving the priming phase of the immune responses.

Transforming growth factor-beta(2) polymorphisms are associated with childhood atopic asthma.

Background: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta plays an important role in the regulation of airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma. Recent studies suggest that TGF-beta(2) is a predominant isoform expressed in severe asthma and it is also associated with airway remodelling.

Objective: To determine whether the polymorphisms in TGF-beta(2) are associated with childhood atopic bronchial asthma in a Japanese population.

Orally administered TGF-beta is biologically active in the intestinal mucosa and enhances oral tolerance.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that TGF-beta in breast milk provides protection against allergic disease during infancy. However, it is unclear whether orally administered TGF-beta, such as TGF-beta in human milk, retains and exerts its activity in the intestinal mucosa and can affect immune response (tolerance) to dietary antigens.

Objective: We sought to determine whether orally administered TGF-beta is biologically active in intestinal mucosa and affects oral tolerance.

Novel function of TWEAK in inducing intervertebral disc degeneration.

The goal of this research was to examine the role of TWEAK in normal disc cells and to investigate its potential role in disc degeneration. We performed histological examinations of disc tissues and assessed the role of the novel cytokine TWEAK using murine organ disc culture. The expression of both TWEAK and its receptor, Fn14, in discs was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR.

A possible role for TSLP in inflammatory arthritis.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an IL-7-like cytokine that triggers dendritic cell-mediated Th2-type inflammatory responses and is considered as a master switch for allergic inflammation. In this study, we found increased levels of TSLP and, also TNF-alpha as previously reported, in synovial fluid specimens derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when compared with those from patients with osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, TNF-alpha up-regulated TSLP expression in RA- and OA-derived synovial fibroblasts, which was inhibited by IFN-gamma.

Human eosinophils have an intact Smad signaling pathway leading to a major transforming growth factor-beta target gene expression.

Background: There is a paradoxical finding that eosinophils are frequently accumulated at the sites of allergic inflammation where transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, a negative regulator of eosinophil survival, is upregulated; however, eosinophil accumulation is persistent. We thus hypothesized that eosinophils might have aberrant TGF-beta signaling and be unresponsive to TGF-beta. To test the hypothesis, we examined the expression and function of Smad proteins, which are central mediators for TGF-beta signaling, in human eosinophils.

TGF-beta type I receptor kinase inhibitor down-regulates rheumatoid synoviocytes and prevents the arthritis induced by type II collagen antibody.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by hypertrophic synovial tissues comprising excessively proliferating synovial fibroblasts and infiltrating inflammatory cells. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates cell growth, inflammation and angiogenesis by acting on various cell types. In RA synovial tissues, TGF-beta is expressed at high levels.

TWEAK/Fn14 interaction regulates RANTES production, BMP-2-induced differentiation, and RANKL expression in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of the TNF family, is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates cell growth, migration, and survival principally through a TWEAK receptor, fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). However, its physiological roles in bone are largely unknown. We herein report various effects of TWEAK on mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.