Olfactory Function in Chromium Exposed Workers Without Nasal Septum Perforation / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The chrome-induced olfactory alterations is caused by inhalation of chromic acid, a highly corrossive and toxic materials. And nasal septum perforation(NSP) has been suspected with possible causative factor of olfactory alterations. To our knowledge, there has been no report of the detailed findings of the olfactory alterations in chrome exposed subjects without nasal septum perforation(NSP). So we present the results of olfactory function test measured by T&T olfactometer and olfactometer perception test among chromium exposed workers without NSP. METHODS: We performed this study in 25 study subjects and 25 control subjects matched with age, alcohol and smoking. All of subjects are man. We performed olfactory function test measured by T&T olfactometer and olfactometer perception test. RESULTS: 1) The age distribution of the subjects involved in this study was from 20 to 54 years old (average 33.3 years old) and the mean duration exposed to chromium was from 64. 9 months. 2) The olfactory function was checked by detection and recognition thresholds in five odorants. The detection thresholds of exposed group dealing with chromium were significantly increased in A and B ordorants than nonexposed group. The recognition thresholds of exposed group were significantly increased in D ordorants than nonexposed group. 3) The mean threshold of olfactometer perception test of exposed group were more increased than nonexposed group. But thresholds difference did not show statistical significance, 4) The detection thresholds of A and D ordorants, recognition threshold of C ordorants and thresholds of olfactometer perception test were increased in the relation with duration of chrome exposure. CONCLUSIONS: There has been no remarkable alterations in olfactory sense (TkT olfactometer and Olfactometer Perception Test) in subjects without nasal septum perforation(NSP) exposed to chromic acid.

Morphologic Changes of the Nasal Mucosa in Experimental Maxillary Sinusitis of Rabbits / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND: The nasal mucosa is degenerated by inflammations, physical stimulations such as cessation of air flow, and other chemical stimulations. And it is regenerated regularly by newly differentiated cells. OBJECTIVES: In order to investigate the morphologic changes of the nasal mucosa and regenerating activities in sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors made animal models of acute maxillary sinusitis by obstructing the natural ostium of maxillary sinus of rabbit and inoculating Staphylococcus aureus colonies. Each contralateral side was used as control. The rabbits were sacrificed after 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Morphologic changes of the nasal mucosa and regenerating activities of the olfactory mucosa were observed with Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry using BrdU. RESULTS: Purulent sinusitis was developed in all rabbits. Light microscopy showed that nasal mucosa revealed inflammatory changes such as edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell metaplasia, polypoid change, epithelial ulceration, and submucosal connective tissue proliferation. BrdU-labelled cells were observed mainly in the basal cell layer of the olfactory mucosa, and their numbers in the control sides were significantly higher than in the experimental sides. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that acute infection of the maxillary sinus induces inflammatory changes of both respiratory and olfactory mucosa of the nose and decreases the regenerating activity of olfactory mucosa.