Tonsillitis

New laryngology study findings have been published by L.D. Serpero and colleagues

"To develop an in vitro culture system allowing for assessment of tonsillar or adenoidal proliferation under basal or stimulated conditions. Tonsils surgically removed from pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea and recurrent tonsillitis during T&A, were dissociated using standard methods. Whole cell tonsillar cultures were either maintained in normal medium or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (25 mu g/mL) and concanavalin A (10 mu g/mL) for 24 hours (stimulated conditions [STIM]). Cellular proliferation was evaluated by [3H]thymidine incorporation. In parallel, supernatants were collected after 48 hours, and concentration of cytokines was measured using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedures. Basal proliferative rates were increased in the OSA group (305.2 +/- 40.6 cpm; n = 31) compared to RI group (232.8 +/- 31.9 cpm; n = 26; P<.001). No significant differences in proliferative rates emerged after STIM between OSA and RI. Furthermore, basal TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 concentrations in the supernatant were increased in OSA-derived cultures compared to RI, but IL-8 was higher after STIM in RI, while IL-6 remained increased in OSA. The proliferative rates and concentrations of inflammatory mediators in tonsillar cell cultures from children with OSA and RI suggest that lymphadenoid tissue proliferation in these two conditions may be regulated by different mechanisms," wrote L.D. Serpero and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "This novel method may allow for future development of specific therapeutic interventions aimed at curtailing and reversing tonsillar and adenoidal hypertrophy in children in a disease-specific manner."

Serpero and colleagues published their study in Laryngoscope (A Mixed Cell Culture Model for Assessment of Proliferation in Tonsillar Tissues From Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Recurrent Tonsillitis. Laryngoscope, 2009;119(9):1005-1010).

For more information, contact D. Gozal, University Chicago, Dept. of Pediatrics, 5721 S Maryland Avenue, MC 8000, Suite K-160, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Laryngoscope is: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: United States, Chicago, Life Sciences, Pediatric, Pulmonology, Otolaryngology, Craniofacial, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypertrophy, Infectious Disease, Tonsillitis, Sleep Disorders, Surgery, Adenotonsillectomy, Medical Device, Laryngoscope, Pediatrics, Cytokines.

This article was prepared by Surgery Litigation & Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Surgery Litigation & Law Weekly via NewsRx.com.