Bronchogen

Thermodynamic parameters of DNA melting in the presence of a peptide bronchogen in various concentrations were estimated on a differential scanning microcalorimeter. Bronchogen was shown to serve as a DNA-stabilizing agent. Bronchogen increased the melting temperature of DNA from calf thymus and mouse liver by 3.1°C in a narrow range of r (molar ratio of bronchogen/DNA b.p., 0.01-0.055). A further increase in r was not accompanied by changes in the melting temperature. The complex melting enthalpy (ΔH(melt)) remained unchanged in this range of r (0.01-1.0). ΔH(melt) for DNA from the thymus and mouse liver was 11.4 and 12.7 cal/g, respectively. Our results indicate that bronchogen is not an adenine-thymine-specific or guanine-cytosine-specific ligand. The type of binding is considered as strong and occasional. The binding occurs with both strands of DNA (mainly with nitrogen bases).

PURPOSE: Fine needle aspiration alone has been used as a treatment for bronchogenic cysts, but is subject to a high rate of recurrence. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous large-needle aspiration and bleomycin sclerotherapy of bronchogenic cysts in four patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with bronchogenic cysts at subcarinal (n = 1), paraspinal (n = 1), or intrapulmonary (n = 2) sites were treated at two medical centers with percutaneous transthoracic aspiration with a 17.5-gauge needle and sclerotherapy with use of bleomycin as the sclerosant agent. Clinical symptoms were seen in three of the four patients: recurrent cough in two and recurrent chest discomfort and palpitation in one. CT was used to guide the procedures. After sclerotherapy, the sizes of ablated cysts were followed by CT. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 10 months (range, 6-14 months), all three patients with symptoms had symptomatic relief and all four patients showed a nearly complete regression of bronchogenic cyst on follow-up CT. No recurrence was encountered. Minor complications included a small asymptomatic pneumothorax at the end of the procedure in one patient and a mild fever (38.0 degrees C-38.5 degrees C) on the first day after sclerotherapy in one patient, which resolved spontaneously without treatment. No major complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided percutaneous treatment of bronchogenic cysts with large-needle aspiration and bleomycin sclerotherapy was safe and effective in this limited series. Further investigation of this technique is warranted.

The effect of the tetrapeptide bronchogen on the structural and functional state of the bronchial epithelium and inflammatory activity in the lungs was studied in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) model, created in rats by a 60-day intermittent exposure to nitrogen dioxide. The cell composition and cytokine-enzyme profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the content of secretory immunoglobulin A and surfactant protein B in BALF were determined. Following the course of peptide treatment the decreased activity of neutrophilic inflammation with the normalization of cellular composition and profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes in the bronchoalveolar space was observed. The structure of bronchial epithelium, disturbed during formation of COPD model, was restored and accompanied by restoration of its functional activity as evidenced by an increase of secretory immunoglobulin A (local immunity marker) and surfactant protein B, responsible for reducing the alveolar surface tension.

On the model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the effect of therapy with low-molecular-weight peptides on restructuring and functional activity of bronchial epithelium for restoring the immune and barrier function of the lungs and prevention of inflammatory process progression was studied. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was modeled in rats by 60-day intermittent exposure to NO2. Administration of tetrapeptide Bronchogen for 1 month eliminates symptoms of remodeling of the bronchial epithelium and lung tissue typical of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (goblet cell hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, lymphocytic infiltration and emphysema, and restoration of ciliated cells). Enhanced production of secretory IgA, a local immunity marker, attested to normalization of functional activity of bronchial epithelium, while normalization of cell composition and profile of proinflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar space reflected reduction of neutrophilic inflammation.

The retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst is an extremely rare anomaly. During the examination of an 18-year-old female patient due to her extreme thinness, the abdominal ultrasound and later the CT indicated as an accidental finding--a left side adrenal/suprarenal adenoma, which turned out to be hormonally inactive. But while we were doing a laparoscopic surgical intervention we found a 6-8-cm cyst in the retroperitoneum, between the greater curvature and the spleen. It contained light grey, mucinous liquid. The left suprarenal gland had normal size and appearance. During the microscopic examination the removed terime showed cystic structures, which were covered inside with multilayer ciliated columnar epithelium, mucous excretory glands, a whole layer of connective/interstitial and smooth muscle tissue. Neither cartilage, nor gastrointestinal epithelium was found. Only a few publications have reported about retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst so far. These lesions occur very rarely at the greater curvature. Although this alteration is really unusual, bronchogenic cysts have to be expected in the differential diagnostics of the retroperitoneal tumors.