Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Nasopharyngeal Cancer / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare disease with a relatively poor prognosis because it tends to be diagnosed at an advanced stage. The aim of this study was to establish the clinical characteristics of nasopharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 54 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer from January 1993 to December 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Forty one cases were male (75.9%) and thirteen were female (24.1%). The average age was of 46.9 (range 16 to 78 years) years. The majority of patients (79.6%) were diagnosed in the advanced stage. The most common complaints were a neck mass (55.5%) and the WHO type III (53.7%) was the most frequent histological type. RESULTS: The cumulative survival rate for a 5-year period was 46.5% and the T stage, N stage, pathologic type, and clinical stage were not significantly related to the survival rate. Sixteen of 54 (31.5%) cases presented with a distant metastasis of the bone, lung, brain, spine, and liver, and six cases (11.1%) presented with a locoregional recurrence. CONCLUSION: TNM staging is not appropriate for predicting survival rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Therefore, a newer staging system, which includes new factors, is needed to predict the prognosis.

Evaluation of Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to evaluate the degree of sinus involvement in cases of inverted papilloma (IP). However, CT cannot differentiate tumor from adjacent inflammatory mucosa or retained secretions. By contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported to be useful in distinguishing IP from paranasal sinusitis. This study investigated whether preoperative assessment with MRI and CT accurately predict the extent of IP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and MRI were retrospectively reviewed in 9 cases of IP. Patients were categorized into stages based on CT and MRI findings, according to the staging system proposed by Krouse. The involvement of IP in each sinus was also assessed. RESULTS: Differentiation of IP from inflammatory disease may be more successful in routine cases where the inflammatory mucosa has low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and very high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. CT imaging could not differentiate tumor from adjacent inflammatory mucosa or retained secretions. CONCLUSION: Preoperative MRI of IP can predict the location and extent of the tumor involvement in the paranasal sinuses and sometimes predicts malignant changes.

MUC2/5AC Expression and Mucin Secretion through Leukotriene Receptor in Human Airway Epithelial Cells / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mucin gene expression and mucin production are highly increased during inflammatory airway disorders such as, asthma, chronic bronchitis and sinusitis. Cytokines, lipopolysaccharides and other inflammatory mediators are related with secretion and production of mucin. However, among of inflammatory mediators, the relation of leukotrienes and mucin genes expression is not clear. The aim of this study is to evaluate MUC2/5AC genes expression and mucin secretion through leukotriene receptor in human airway epithelial cells. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The effect of Leukotriene D4 and leukotriene receptor antagonist, pranlukast hydrate (ONO-1078) on the regulation of MUC2/5AC gene expression and mucin secretion was observed in the human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells. The mRNA levels of MUC2/5AC and the amount of mucin protein were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoassay. RESULTS: Leukotriene D4 upregulated MUC2/5AC gene expression and mucin secretion on a dose dependent pattern. Pranlukast hydrate (ONO-1078, 100 micrometer) downregulated the leukotriene D4-mediated MUC2/5AC gene expression and mucin secretion. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the leukotriene receptor system is one of the expression mechanisms of MUC2/5AC genes and mucin secretion.

Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on the Interleukin-1 beta-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Human Airway Epithelial Cells / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key molecule in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, which are important inflammatory mediators in human airway inflammatory diseases. This study was designed to investigate the effects of several COX inhibitors on the interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-mediated COX-2 expression in human airway epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We observed the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs such as budesonide, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, NS-398, indomethacin, salicylate and resveratrol on the IL-1beta-induced COX-2 expression in cultured human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells. The levels of COX-2 mRNA and COX-2 protein were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. RESULTS: NS398, reveratrol and three corticosteroids strongly suppressed the IL-1beta-mediated COX-2 expression. However, indomethacin and salicylate did not inhibit or inhibited only weakly. CONCLUSION: The extent of IL-1beta-induced supression of COX-2 expression in the cultured human airway NCI-H292 epithelial cells depended on the kinds of anti-inflammatory drugs.