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1. The primary action of the converting enzyme inhibitors to prevent the formation of angiotensin II can explain a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance in patients with elevated, but not in those with normal or reduced plasma renin levels. 2. The inhibition of the breakdown of bradykinin will potentiate the vasodilator properties of the endogenously produced peptide. These include direct relaxation of certain vascular smooth muscle, production of vasodilator prostanoids and release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s). The greater release of the latter in the kidney could exert a negative feedback on the release of renin. 3. In addition, converting enzyme inhibitors may directly (by a prejunctional effect) and indirectly (by curtailing the production of angiotensin II) reduce the release of noradrenaline in the blood vessel wall. 4. Converting enzyme inhibitors may also directly reduce the responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle to vasoconstrictor stimuli (e.g. alpha-adrenoceptor activation). 5. The different effects of these therapeutic agents may concur to induce peripheral vasodilatation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glomus tumors are derived from the normal glomus body, which is an arteriovenous confluence involved with thermoregulation. These true glomus tumors are different from the "glomus tumors" derived from the paraganglion system often encountered by the otolaryngologist. Glomus tumors have been reported in a variety of locations including the pancreas, perineum, nasal cavity, and torso; however, most are found in the extremities. We present the first case of a laryngeal glomangiomyoma. Furthermore, this lesion was successfully excised endoscopically with a CO2 laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first successful human laryngeal transplantation in 1998, research continues toward developing less-morbid immunosuppressive protocols. Although irradiation of donor organs is known to decrease acute rejection, the most advantageous method of radiation delivery is still unknown. Using a rat laryngeal transplant model, we sought to determine the most beneficial timing and delivery method of irradiation. A prospective study was undertaken including 16 treatment arms of 10 to 30 animals each (189 transplantations). The animals received 800 cGy before transplantation to the donor larynx in vivo, the donor larynx in vitro, or the recipient animal's neck. The transplantation occurred at 24 hours, 5 days, or 10 days after irradiation. The transplanted larynges were harvested 15 days after transplantation and histologically scored for rejection. Irradiation of allogeneic transplantations demonstrated a strongly protective effect from rejection as compared to no irradiation (p < .001), regardless of the method of radiation delivery or the amount of time between irradiation and transplantation (p = .78). Irradiation of donor larynges between allogeneic rats has a protective effect, reducing the degree of acute rejection when irradiation is used as the single mode of immunosuppression, and is unrelated to either the timing or the mode of delivery of the irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]