Urban Particulate Matters May Affect Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Tight Junction Disruption in Nasal Epithelial Cells.

Background: Exposure to airborne urban particulate matter (UPM) has been closely related to the development and aggravation of respiratory disease, including sinonasal disorders.

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of UPM on nasal epithelial tight junctions (TJs) and mucosal barrier function and delineate the underlying mechanism by using both in vitro and in vivo models.

Methods: In this study, human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) and BALB/c mice were exposed to UPMs.

Chloroquine Treatment Suppresses Mucosal Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Purpose: The Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyposis. The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic potential of the TLR9 pathway inhibitor chloroquine in CRS mice.

Methods: The expression of type I interferons (IFNs) in human CRS tissues was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blotting, and immunofluorescence.

Effects of povidone-iodine composite on the elimination of bacterial biofilm.

Background: Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is well known as an antiseptic and exhibits extensive activity against various pathogens. However, due to its uniquely unpleasant nature, it cannot be used locally to deactivate various sinonasal pathogens. Therefore, we developed a PVP-I composite that blocks the unpleasant odor of PVP-I for use as a local antiseptic in the sinonasal cavity and evaluated its effect on bacterial biofilm's formation and elimination in in vivo and in vitro models.

Altered Mitochondrial Functions and Morphologies in Epithelial Cells Are Associated With Pathogenesis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps.

Purpose: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a complex inflammatory disease of the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa. The disease is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, structural changes in the mitochondria, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study investigated whether there are functional and morphological changes in the mitochondria in the epithelial cells of nasal polyps (NPs) and enterotoxin B (SEB)-stimulated nasal epithelial cells.

Biological safety of Electroacupuncture with STS316 needles.

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) is often used in clinical settings due to its analgesic effect, but its safety has not been verified due to the lack of clear criteria. This study examined the critical range of the corrosion of stainless steel types STS304 and STS316, which have been used clinically, and the relationship between needle corrosion and cell necrosis.

Method: The critical point of corrosion for STS304 and STS316 was identified by varying the time, frequency, and stimulation intensity.

Toll-like receptor 9 ligands increase type I interferon induced B-cell activating factor expression in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) has been proposed to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp (CRSwNP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of toll-like receptor (TLR) 9-mediated BAFF activation on the pathogenesis of CRSwNP. NP and uncinate tissue (UT) were obtained from patients with CRSwNP or CRS without NP, and control subjects.

Role of Toll-like receptor 9 signaling on activation of nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts and its association with nasal polypogenesis.

Background: Nasal polyposis is characterized by persistent inflammation and remodeling in sinonasal mucosa. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a DNA receptor of the innate immune system that plays a pivotal role in fibrosis and inflammatory responses. The aim of this study is to explore the expression, activity, and potential pathogenic role of TLR9 signaling in tissue remodeling in nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts (NPDFs).

IL-25-induced activation of nasal fibroblast and its association with the remodeling of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Background And Objective: Interleukin (IL)-25 has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are associated with chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes in the paranasal sinuses and are involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of IL-25 on myofibroblast differentiation, ECM production and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases in nasal polyp derived fibroblasts (NPDFs) and to determine the molecular mechanism underlying these processes.

Safety recommendations for moxa use based on the concentration of noxious substances produced during commercial indirect moxibustion.

Background: Moxibustion therapy has been used historically for thousands of years and there are many clinical trials supporting its efficacy and effectiveness for various conditions. Moxa smoke has been a major reason for avoiding moxibustion due to its smell and potential risks to the human body.

Methods: 10 units of commercial indirect moxa (CIM) from six manufacturers (A-F) were burnt in a 2.

Exploration of differentiation standard for primo through the histological common point of threadlike structure found in rats and swine.

Background: The novel threadlike structure is called the primo structure, and studies are conducted through many different approaches. Although various ways of differentiation are currently used, a standard for differentiation is deemed necessary in order to identify the primo structure based on the overall form of the structure. This study aims to explore the differentiation standard through the histological common point of the threadlike structure of rat and swine by using the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining method commonly used for histological research in various structures.

Histological similarity of primo vascular systems derived from three internal organs of rats.

Background: The primo vascular system has been suggested as the third circulatory system. Although primo tissues have been observed in various tissues isolated from a number of animal species, including mice, rats, and rabbits, very few reports on the histological characteristics of primo tissues from different body parts are available. This study was designed to compare the histological characteristics of primo tissues isolated from different body parts of rats.

The characteristics of action potentials in primo vessels and the effects of acetylcholine injection to the action potentials.

In a previous study, we found that Primo vessels generate different action potentials in smooth muscles, but this study compared the pulse shape to distinguish the two tissues. Thus, a more sophisticated extracellular experiment was performed in this study using an acetylcholine injection; we then observed changes in the amplitude, FWHM (full width at half maximum), and period to explore Primo vessel function. A third type of pulse was recorded for Primo vessels.

The diversity of culturable organotrophic bacteria from local solar salterns.

We isolated and cultured bacteria inhabiting solar saltern ponds in Taean-Gun, Chungnam Province, Korea. All of the isolated 64 strains were found to be moderately halophilic bacteria, growing in a salt range of 2-20 %, with an optimal concentration of 5% salt. Bacterial diversity among the isolated halophiles was evaluated via RFLP analyses of PCR-amplified 16S rDNAs, followed by phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rDNA sequences.