A Survey on the Clinical Activity Related with Viral Rhinitis among the Otolaryngic Private Practitioners

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Viral rhinitis has been considered as an important part in the clinical activity of the ENT specialists in private practice. However, the estimate of how big a proportion the viral rhinitis has and how it is being treated in otolaryngic private practitioners has not been published yet. Thus we aimed to investigate these issues in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred ENT specialists privately practicing in Seoul, Gyeongki, and Choongcheong area were selected. Questionnaire pertaining to the proportion of viral rhinitis patient on their practice and their way of treatment was mailed to the selected doctors. RESULTS: The patients presenting with viral rhinitis symptom constitutes 38.9% of their patient population on the average. Most patients with viral rhinitis visited ENT specialists within 7 day after onset of rhinitis symptom. The mean duration of prescription for the patients not having complication was 4.3 days. The most frequently prescribed medication for viral rhinitis was first generation antihistamine, systemic decongestants, nebulization, and NSAID in order of frequency. The most annoying symptom for the viral rhinitis patients was nasal obstruction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that viral rhinitis takes an important position in the otolaryngic private practice.

Rhinovirus Infection Study Model Using Organ Culture of Turbinate Mucosa / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To have better understanding on the pathophysiology of rhinovirus infection, an availability of an ideal experimental model is of utmost importance. We aimed to develop a new study model using the organ culture of turbinate mucosa to overcome the limitations of the conventional study methods. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The inferior turbinate mucosae harvested during the septoturbinoplasty were cultured in air-liquid interface methods, placed on the support of gelfoam soaked in the culture media. Human rhinovirus -16 was applied on the top of the mucosal surface. The success of rhinovirus infection was determined by semi-nested RT-PCR of the mucosal surface fluid taken 48 hours after incubation. Intracellular rhinovirus was visualized by in situ hybridization. Elaboration of cytokine IL-6 and IL-8 into the culture media was quantitated using the ELISA method. RESULTS: PCR product of 292 bp on semi-nested RT-PCR, representing successful rhinovirus infection, was detected in 5 tissues out of 10 mucosal tissues. In the in situ hybridization method, positively stained cells were found in epithelial layer in scattered fashion. In the analysis of cytokine production by continuous exposure to rhinovirus according to the time course, IL-6 and IL-8 secretions in the infected mucosae were significantly greater than in the control mucosa. The increase in the cytokine production was evident from 24 hours after the infection. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the organ culture of turbinate mucosa could serve as an acceptable in vitro model for studying pathophysiology of rhinovirus infection.