Comparison of the microanatomical distributions of macrophages and dendritic cells in normal and diseased tonsils.

The palatine tonsils play an important role in immunologic surveillance and resistance to infection in the upper aerodigestive tract. Dendritic cells and macrophages function to capture and process antigen and present it to T lymphocytes, a critical step in the early immune response. Few studies have characterized the distribution and phenotype of those antigen-presenting cells in the normal palatine tonsil, or determined how those parameters change with disease.

Quantitative study of germinal center area in normal and diseased tonsils using image analysis.

The aim of this study was to measure the germinal center area of secondary follicles in a consistent and unbiased manner using image analysis. Tonsil specimens were obtained from children with clinical evidence of recurrent tonsillitis and/or idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy. Normal control biopsy specimens were obtained from children with no history of ear, nose, or throat infections.

Neuronal-associated tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha): its role in noradrenergic functioning and modification of its expression following antidepressant drug administration.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine regulate norepinephrine (NE) release from noradrenergic nerve terminals in the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study, superfusion and electrical field stimulation were applied to a series of rat hippocampal brain slices in order to investigate the regulation of [3H]-NE release. NE release had been previously determined to be decreased by TNF alpha in a concentration-dependent manner, an effect which was potentiated by the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist idazoxan.

Nasal polyposis: immunohistochemistry and bioelectrical findings (a hypothesis for the development of nasal polyps).

Nasal polyps and turbinates were obtained from individuals undergoing surgery for symptomatic nasal obstruction caused by nonatopic rhinosinusitis or allergic rhinosinusitis. One part of the tissue from each patient was fixed in neutral buffered formalin and prepared for study by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. Monoclonal antibodies were used to identify macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells.

The role of dendritic cells in the development of chronic tonsillar disease in children.

Thirty-one children, 2.6-12.2 years (mean = 7.