To investigate the difference of dry ear wax and wet ear wax, the lipid composition of wet ear wax was analyzed and compared with that of dry ear wax. In dry ear wax, squalene, steryl esters, wax esters, triglycerides free fatty acids and cholesterol were found. Squalene, triglycerides, free fatty acids and cholesterol formed the main demonstrable fractions in wet ear wax. In addition, three unidentified spots were always present in wet ear wax. Our results indicate that wet ear wax is due to the difference of quantity and composition of ear wax lipids.
Cerumen/metabolism* ; Ear Canal/metabolism ; Ear Diseases/metabolism* ; Human ; Lipids/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of MMP9 and MVD in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal and middle ear. METHOD: Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression of MMP9 and MVD proteins in 26 squamous cell carcinoma tissues of external auditory canal and middle ear and 20 normal external ear canal skin tissues. RESULT: The positive rate of MMP9 in squamous cell carcinoma tissues of external auditory canal and middle ear was 73.1% (19/26) lower than that in the normal external ear canal skin tissues 25.0% (5/20). The positive rates of CD34 were 33.58 +/- 3.04 and 22.50 +/- 5.22, respectively. The positive rates of MMP9 and CD34 were correlated with the histological grade and tumor grade, but had no relationship with age and sex. The positive rates between MMP9 and CD34 were related (r=0.42, P<0.05). CONCLUSION MMP9 may be involved in the carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal and middle ear, and may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal and middle ear. MMP9 and CD34 play a cooperative role in the process of squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal and middle ear.
Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Ear Canal ; metabolism ; Ear Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Ear, Middle ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic

Animals ; Ear Canal ; surgery ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Nerve Block ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the interaction between the cytokines and keratinocyte and determine the role of cytokines in hyperproliferative of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma, we observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and its receptor (KGFR) in middle ear cholesteatoma. METHOD: We examined the expression of MMP9, VEGF, KGF, KGFR and Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry in 50 specimens from chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma and 15 specimens from the normal skin of external auditory meatus. Ki-67 as an evaluation of cholesteatoma proliferation markers were used to detect the keratinocyte proliferative activity. RESULT: (1) The expression of VEGF and MMP9 in cholesteatoma specimens was higher than normal skin, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 4.914, P < 0.01; t = 3.284, P < 0.01). (2) The expression of KGF and KGFR in middle ear tissues was higher than normal skin, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 4.814, P < 0.01; t = 3.104, P < 0.01); The expression of KGF and KGFR increased, and the expression of Ki-67 also correspondly increased in the cholesteatoma. (3) In the tissue MMP9 and VEGF were positive. Mean optical density increased as well. KGF expression also increased accordingly. CONCLUSION MMP9, VEGF, KGF and KGFR proteins played an important role in hyperproliferation of cholesteatoma tissues. VEGF, MMP9 and KGF had a synergistic effect in hyperproliferation of cholesteatoma tissues.
Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; pathology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Ear Canal ; metabolism ; Ear, Middle ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Otitis Media ; pathology ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Adenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ear Canal ; Ear Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mast-Cell Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Seminoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simulated nitrogen-oxygen saturation exposure at a water depth of 50 m on the expression of inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the external auditory canal (EAC) of rabbits.

METHODSTwo batches of New Zealand rabbits were exposed to nitrogen-oxygen saturated at a water depth of 50 m. After exposure, the epithelial tissue in the EAC was analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the changes in expression of inflammatory mediators including IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in the EAC of rabbits were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSAccording to the result of HE staining, more inflammatory cell infiltration, small vascular congestion, and mucosal edema in the EAC of rabbits were observed in the exposure group than in the control group. Additionally, compared with the control group, the exposure group had increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced expression of IL-10 in the EAC of rabbits according to the result of real-time PCR.

CONCLUSIONThe nitrogen-oxygen saturation exposure at a water depth of 50 m can cause inflammatory injuries in the EAC of rabbits. The mechanism may be associated with increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced expression of IL-10.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ear Canal ; physiopathology ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Nitrogen ; adverse effects ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Water ; adverse effects