Interleukin-1beta Decreases Caveolin-1 Expression in Human Nasal Epithelium / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the structural protein that is necessary for the formation of caveolae membrane domains. It is known as an inhibitor of various signaling pathways and associated with several diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, restrictive lung disease and obesity. However, studies for Cav-1 in nose has been hardly performed. The objectives of our study were to detect Cav-1 expression in human nasal epithelium and to investigate the change of Cav-1 expression in the inflammation of nasal epithelium. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We obtained nasal polyp specimens from three patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Cells from specimens were cultured using the air-liquid interface technique and IL-1beta was treated. The expression of Cav-1 mRNA and protein was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Both RT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of Cav-1 mRNA and protein in human nasal epithe-lium. Furthermore, the expression of both Cav-1 mRNA and protein was decreased by IL-1beta stimulation. CONCLUSION: Cav-1 was expressed in human nasal epithelial cells. It is assumed that Cav-1 may play a role in nasal inflammatory disease. However, further studies to confirm the interaction between Cav-1 and signaling molecules in the nasal inflammatory process should be followed.

Thyroid Cartilage and Vocal Cord Reduction for Androphonia and Male to Female Transsexuals / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is little literature about voice surgery for females with androphonia and male-female transsexuals. Therefore, we introduced surgical techniques and voice results of thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction for these patients. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From May 2001 to January 2007, 3 patients were found with thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction. We checked their preoperative and postoperative voice recordings, voice dynamic data and patients' subjective satisfaction with their postoperative voice. The two patients were female with androphonia and the remaining one patient was a male to female transsexuals. RESULTS: All three patients were satisfied with their postoperative voice. In the objective voice recording, the mean fundamental frequency (Fo) increased to 195 Hz from the preoperative value of 148 Hz. Furthermore, the patient who was to undergo the trans-sexual operation was more satisfied by gaining a more female appearance by losing the thyroid cartilage prominence. CONCLUSION: Thyroid cartilage and vocal cord reduction could give satisfactory voice quality to females with androphonia and male-female transsexuals. It is an effective surgical method to elevate vocal pitch. The long-term follow up would be needed.

A Comparison of Histopathologic Findings in the Nasal Polyp, Maxillary Sinus Mucosa, and Inferior Turbinate Mucosa

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The nasal polyp is the most common form of mass lesion in the nose with an unclear etiology and pathogenesis among patients in Asia. Also, the pathological characteristic of nasal polyps in these patients is eosinophil infiltration. These findings, as reported in Asia, are distinct from those of the West. Moreover, the role of eosinophil is recently found to be on the increase even in Asia. So, we investigated the proportion of eosinophil infiltration in the nasal polyp among patients in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 35 patients with a mean age of 43 years (ranging from 6 to 72 years). Tissue samples were taken via endoscopic sinus surgeries from the nasal polyp, inflammatory sinus mucosa, and the inferior turbinate. We compared 5 parameters of mucosal histopathology. RESULT: The incidence of a severe eosinophilic infiltration in the nasal polyp was 70%. Nasal polyp and inflammatory sinus mucosa had a larger eosinophil, lymphocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration than a normal nasal mucosa. Also, the nasal polyp and sinus mucosa had a more severe basement membrane thickening and goblet cell hyperplasia. Distinctively, the nasal polyp had a severe eosinophilic infiltration and a more thickened basement membrane. CONCLUSION: The present histopathologic feature of the nasal polyp among Koreans indicates that cases of eosinophilic nasal polyp seems to be on the increase.

Olfactory Evoked Potential for Objective Olfactory Function Evaluation / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The exact diagnosis for olfactory dysfunction plays an indispensable complementary role to the proper management of olfactory dysfunction. But there is no confirmative objective method for olfactory function evaluation. Recently, olfactory evoked potential by jet steam method was introduced as an objective method for the evaluation of olfactory function. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical efficacy of olfactory evoked potential. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty two normal individuals were evaluated with olfactory evoked potential and their olfactory thresholds were within normal range when tested with T&T olfactometry. Odorant, skatole was introduced 1cm apart from the nostril by jet steam pulse. The results were averaged by Neuropack Four Computer. RESULTS: Twenty-nine individuals had typical positive waves with latency near 0.1ms, but three individuals had no typical positive wave. The threshold of twenty individuals in electro-olfactometry was E1 with E1 recognition or detection threshold in T&T olfactometry. The threshold of other nine individuals in electro-olfactometry was E2 with E1 recognition and detection threshold in T&T olfactometry. CONCLUSION: Olfactory evoked potential has good correlation with classic T&T olfactometry and could be used as an objective method for the evaluation of olfactory function.

Insular Carcinoma of the Thyroid with Jugular Vein Invasion / 대한이비인후과학회지

Insular carcinoma of the thyroid is an uncommon thyroglobulin-producing neoplasm, showing intermediate aggressiveness between well-differentiated follicular carcinoma and undifferentiated anaplastic carcinoma. Although microscopic angioinvasion of insular carcinoma is common, gross invasion of the cervical veins and intraluminal propagation are rarely seen. We encountered a case of a 37-year-old man with an insular carcinoma of the thyroid displaying the aggressive local invasion and angioinvasion of the internal jugular vein. After complete resection of the tumor, postoperative radioactive iodine was administered. The patient survives 12 months after surgery, and no locoreginal recurrence and distant metastasis were noted. Aggressive surgical resection and postoperative radioactive iodine therapy may be indicated in the treatment of insular carcinoma of the thyroid with invasion of the internal jugular vein, as we performed in this case, to achieve locoregional disease control and prolonged survival.

Cloning and expression of rat liver type glucose transporter and translocation by insulin in Chinese hamster ovary cells

The 5'- and 3'-side half of liver type glucose transporter (GLUT2) cDNA was amplified from total RNA or mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The amplified 5'-side fragment of GLUT2 cDNA was inserted into pGEM4Z and named pGLGT1, and the 3'-side fragment of GLUT2 cDNA was inserted into the HindIII site of pGLGT1 to construct pGLGT2 which contains an entire open reading frame of GLUT2 cDNA. The GLUT2 cDNA in pGLGT2 was transferred to an eukaryotic expression vector (pMAM) to construct pMLGT, which was expressed in the insulin-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Western blot analysis showed that the GLUT2 gene in pMLGT was expressed in the transfected CHO cells successfully. The GLUT2 content in the plasma membrane fraction of insulin-treated CHO cells expressing GLUT2 increased 3.8-fold compared to that of the control group. This result suggests that GLUT2, which is not subjected to translocation by insulin in the cells of its major distribution, can be translocated if it is expressed in the suitable cells sensitive to insulin action.