Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a recessively inherited disease that leads to chronic respiratory disorders owing to impaired mucociliary clearance. Conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a diagnostic standard to identify ultrastructural defects in respiratory cilia but is not useful in approximately 30% of PCD cases, which have normal ciliary ultrastructure. DNAH11 mutations are a common cause of PCD with normal ciliary ultrastructure and hyperkinetic ciliary beating, but its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. We therefore characterized DNAH11 in human respiratory cilia by immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) in the context of PCD. We used whole-exome and targeted next-generation sequence analysis as well as Sanger sequencing to identify and confirm eight novel loss-of-function DNAH11 mutations. We designed and validated a monoclonal antibody specific to DNAH11 and performed high-resolution IFM of both control and PCD-affected human respiratory cells, as well as samples from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-lef-tright dynein mice, to determine the ciliary localization of DNAH11. IFM analysis demonstrated native DNAH11 localization in only the proximal region of wild-type human respiratory cilia and loss of DNAH11 in individuals with PCD with certain loss-of-function DNAH11 mutations. GFP-left-right dynein mice confirmed proximal DNAH11 localization in tracheal cilia. DNAH11 retained proximal localization in respiratory cilia of individuals with PCD with distinct ultrastructural defects, such as the absence of outer dynein arms (ODAs). TEM tomography detected a partial reduction of ODAs in DNAH11-deficient cilia. DNAH11 mutations result in a subtle ODA defect in only the proximal region of respiratory cilia, which is detectable by IFM and TEM tomography.

The pathogenetic mechanism of nasal polyps remains unknown, although allergy has been cited as an important factor in the etiology of nasal polyposis. Currently there is no definite histological criterion for differentiation of allergic from inflammatory nasal polyp. However, in a few studies, tissue eosinophil count has been used for this. This study aimed to find out the agreement rate of skin prick test and tissue eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyposis. Twenty five patients (18 males, 7 females) with nasal polyp were enrolled in this study. For each patient tissue sample from polyp material was taken for histopathological investigation. Moreover, skin prick test was performed for each patient using eleven common aeroallergens. Skin prick test was positive in 48% of the patients. Tissue eosinophil count of more than 50% was found in 75% of skin prick positive and in 69.2% of skin prick negative patients. Also tissue eosinophil count of more than 50% was found in 69.2% of patients with typical allergic symptoms as well as 75% of patients without allergic symptoms. No agreement was found between skin prick tests and tissue eosinophil counts in patients with nasal polyp. Also no difference was found between the tissue eosinophil counts in allergic and non allergic patients. Considering these results, it can be concluded that having a high tissue eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyp does not indicate that the polyp is allergic.

A recently discovered syndrome is characterized by congenital immotility of the cilia. It consists of chronic infections in the respiratory system, male infertility, and, in about one-half of the cases, situs inversus. The syndrome thus includes Kartagener's syndrome. The syndrome provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the role of the cilia in the human body.Five women evidently suffering from this syndrome were examined. They had no gynecologic disorders. Three of the five women have tried to become pregnant and two have succeeded. A review of the literature indicates that men with Kartagener's syndrome are usually infertile, whereas the women are not. This fact and the data presented herein constitute strong evidence that ciliary motility is not essential for female fertility. More conclusive proof could be obtained if any of the affected women would consent to ultrastructural investigation of the oviductal cilia.

Background: Nasal polyps, a common clinical problem, are characterized by eosinophilic and mast cell inflammation. The role of allergy and IgE in pathogenesis of nasal polyps is still unclear. IgE receptors are important components of the immunological pathway in allergic and inflammatory diseases. Objective: To determine if the low affinity IgE receptor (CD23) is presented on nasal polyp tissues as a marker of local allergy or inflammation.

This paper describes the mathematical and computer modelling of a photoelastic sensor for slip detection. The main components of the sensor are a photoelastic transducer and a solid state camera. When under stress, the photoelastic transducer generates optical fringe patterns which are captured digitally by the camera. The model developed encompasses the mechanical and optical behaviours of the photoelastic transducer and the switching characteristics of the camera pixels. The model has been employed to study the effects of different design parameters on the sensor's slip resolution.

Methods of processing the camera output of a new photelastic slip sensor are investigated. These all involve grouping the outputs of the individual camera pixels and treating the gross output of each group as that of a single macro pixel. The grouping has the advantage of reducing noise as well as processing time and storage space, without adversely affecting resolution. The paper discusses the design of macro pixels, the problems of resolution and noise, and the different algorithms for processing the macro pixel outputs.

SUMMARY This paper examines a tactile slip sensor based on photoelastic effects. Photoelastic patterns are obtained using a Dynamic Ram with a resolution of 256 by 128 pixels. Software is developed to detect changes in the stress patterns when an object moves relative to the surface of the sensor. It is suggested that the stress patterns can be used to detect slippage at the object/gripper interface.