title: Influence of metals on rhinosinusal polyposis in Sardinian population (Italy).
abstract: Metals have strong toxic effects in humans and can act as immunoregulatory factors. The purpose of our study was to determine whether the concentrations of metals are associated with the clinical course of nasal polyposis (NP). We measured the concentrations of 10 metals and non-metal (Zn, Mn, Se, Fe, Cr, Ni, Pb, Al, Cd, and Cu) in 58 patients with NP, and 29 controls with a healthy nasal mucosa. We used electron microscopy to compare the ultrastructural features of the nasal mucosa between NP patients and healthy controls. Concentrations of metals in nasal polyps and healthy mucosa were determined by mass spectrometry. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the nasal mucosa were obtained. The mean tissue concentrations of all 10 metals and non-metal were significantly lower in NP patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.05).TEM and SEM revealed changes in the mucosal ultrastructure in NP with progressive fibrosis, devascularisation, and inflammation. Tissue concentrations of metals were lower in NP patients than in healthy controls, and this was particularly evident in massive polyposis.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.|INBB-National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Yolande
authors: Y
authors: Asara
authors: Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Melis
authors: Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Laura Maria
authors: LM
authors: De Luca
authors: Division of Otorhinolaryngology, "P. Dettori" Hospital, Tempio Pausania, Italy.
authors: Corrado
authors: C
authors: Bozzo
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Castiglia
authors: IZS-Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Giannina
authors: G
authors: Chessa
authors: IZS-Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Piras
authors: Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Apostolos
authors: A
authors: Karligkiotis
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Bandiera
authors: Department of Medical and Pediatric Science, Research Centre "The Great Senescence", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Malaguarnera
authors: Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: Juan Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Marchal
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy. rmadeddu@uniss.it.|INBB-National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Sassari, Italy. rmadeddu@uniss.it.
authors: Roberto
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2016-0357
authors: R
authors: Madeddu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Electron microscopy; Metals; Nasal polyps