82 research outputs found
Biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics of fluticasone-eluting sinus implant in a rabbit model
No full textBackground: A novel, bioabsorbable, fibrinogen-based implant has been developed as a mucosal dressing after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). This implant can be formulated with fluticasone propionate (FP) for local elution of corticosteroid to reduce postoperative inflammation and promote mucosal healing. Objective: This study investigated the biocompatibility and pharmacokinetics of the implant in a rabbit model.
Methods: Implants with and without FP were placed on both intact and demucosalized maxillary sinuses of 33 New Zealand White rabbits. Sinuses with either intact or denuded bone without implants acted as controls. Histopathologic assessments were carried out at 5, 15, and 28 days. Concentrations of FP in the maxillary sinus mucosa, nasal cavity mucosa, and plasma were measured for up to 44 days. Results:
Implants placed on intact mucosa or denuded bone were grossly integrated within 15 days. Minimal foreign body reaction was seen with negligible differences for inflammation, fibrosis, or bone remodeling among controls, sinuses with the implant, or sinuses with the implant plus FP, at all time points. All samples also showed complete or near-complete percentage reepithelialization at 28 days, although the denuded bone controls demonstrated greater percentage reepithelialization at 5 days compared with denuded bone with the implant or implant plus FP (p 140 ng/g up to 44 days. Plasma concentrations of FP were generally very low and were undetectable after day 7. Conclusions: The implant and the implant plus FP seemed to be biocompatible in rabbits. The implant plus FP effectively eluted steroid locally over at least 44 days, with negligible plasma concentrations. Further studies are warranted regarding potential therapeutic applications in patients undergoing ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis.Vishal S. Patel, Evan Walgama, Alkis Psaltis, Francois Lavigne, Steven D. Pletcher, Peter H. Hwan
Treatment of Recurrent Sinonasal Polyposis with Steroid-Infused Carboxymethylcellulose Foam
No full textBackground Recurrence of sinonasal polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery can be difficult to manage. Topical steroid sprays and irrigations may not provide adequate treatment and systemic steroid therapy is limited by side effects. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of steroid-infused carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) foam as a treatment for recurrence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods A prospective cohort study was performed enrolling patients with recurrent sinonasal polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery. All patients had development of symptomatic polyp disease despite aggressive postoperative topical steroid treatment. The study treatment entailed endoscopic placement of 4 mL of CMC foam hydrated with triamcinolone, 40 mg/mL (Kenalog 40; Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York, NY), into the ethmoid cavities bilaterally. Patients were evaluated using videoendoscopy and the Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test 20 (SNOT-20) at three time points: immediately before treatment, 7–14 days after treatment, and 28–35 days after treatment. The videoendoscopies were randomized and scored in a blinded fashion using a modification of the perioperative sinus endoscopy (POSE) scoring system. Results Ten treatments were performed in eight patients; two patients underwent two treatments each. Mean SNOT-20 score improved at both 1 week and 1 month after treatment (2.44 versus 1.65, p < 0.05, and 2.44 versus 1.36, p < 0.01, respectively). Videoendoscopy also revealed improvement when evaluated with the modified POSE score at 1 week (11.8 versus 8.2, p < 0.001), and 1 month (11.8 versus 7.9, p < 0.001). Conclusion Endoscopic placement of steroid-infused CMC foam improves symptoms and endoscopic findings in patients with recurrent sinonasal polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery. </jats:sec
Quantification of food intake in Drosophila
No full textMeasurement of food intake in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is often necessary for studies of behaviour, nutrition and drug administration. There is no reliable and agreed method for measuring food intake of flies in undisturbed, steady state, and normal culture conditions. We report such a method, based on measurement of feeding frequency by proboscis-extension, validated by short-term measurements of food dye intake. We used the method to demonstrate that (a) female flies feed more frequently than males, (b) flies feed more often when housed in larger groups and (c) fly feeding varies at different times of the day. We also show that alterations in food intake are not induced by dietary restriction or by a null mutation of the fly insulin receptor substrate chico. In contrast, mutation of takeout increases food intake by increasing feeding frequency while mutation of ovoD increases food intake by increasing the volume of food consumed per proboscis-extension. This approach provides a practical and reliable method for quantification of food intake in Drosophila under normal, undisturbed culture conditions
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