title: [Superoxide dismutase and cytokines in otitis media with effusion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cytokines in the pathogenesis of secretory otitis media(SOM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The content of SOD, interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in blood plasma and middle ear effusion (MEE) were measured in 64 (90 ears) patients respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SOD, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were found in 88.9%, 86.8%, 81.5% and 74.6% of MEI respectively. SOD, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha of blood plasma in SOM group were higher than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). The concentration of SOD, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha MEE was remarkably higher than that in blood plasma (P < 0.01). It revealed that the shorter the course, the higher the concentration of IL-6 or IL-8 in MEE (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05), and the longer the course, the higher the concentration of SOD or TNF-alpha in MEE (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). IL-6 and IL-8 concentration of MEE in serous fluid group was remarkably higher than those in the mucous fluid group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the concentration of SOD and TNF-alpha of MEE in the mucous fluid group was higher than that in the serous fluid group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). SOD Level of MEE was positively correlated with TNF-alpha (r = 0.587, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SOD, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha might be important mediators in MEE secretion in SOM. IL-6 and IL-8 might participate in the defensive reaction of organism during the early stages of SOM. SOD and TNF-alpha might be closely related to the persistence of SOM, and might be mediators of mucin secretion in SOM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase