Ubiquitination of Aquaporin: in the kidney

Ubiquitination is known to be important for endocytosis and lysosomal degradation of aquaporin-2 (AQP2). Ubiquitin (Ub) is covalently attached to the lysine residue of the substrate proteins and activation and attachment of Ub to a target protein is mediated by the action of three enzymes (i.e., E1, E2, and E3). In particular, E3 Ub-protein ligases are known to have substrate specificity. This minireview will discuss the ubiquitination of AQP2 and identification of potential E3 Ub-protein ligases for 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP)-dependent AQP2 regulation.

A Case of Angiomyoma of the Inferior Turbinate

Vascular leiomyoma (Angiomyoma) is a benign tumor composed of smooth muscle cell and vascular endothelium. Most of them occur at the skin of the lower leg. Cases of vascular leiomyomas developing in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are extremely rare. Most common symptoms are nasal obstruction, epistaxis and nasal pain but none are specific for diagnosis. Complete surgical excision is the treatment of choice and was used in all cases reported. Local recurrence rate is very low. We experienced a case of vascular leiomyoma in the inferior turbinate of a 70-year-old woman who complained of intermittent epistaxis. The tumor was successfully removed via an endoscopic approach. It displayed the characteristic histological findings of abundant thick-walled blood vessels blending with proliferative smooth muscle tissue.

Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma with Intraoperative Serial Intratumoral Embolization : 2 Cases / 대한이비인후과학회지

Angiofibroma is a rare disease that is diagnosed typically in adolescent male patients as a nonencapsulated, submucosal spreading tumor. Because these tumors are highly vascular, embolization and surgery remain as the two major therapeutic tools. For reducing the blood supply of the tumor and decreasing intraoperative bleeding, embolization has become an effective preoperative procedure. There are two embolization methods which are intravascular and intratumoral embolization. Recently, we experienced two cases of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma that were resected by endoscopic approach after intraoperative serial intratumoral embolization with good results. We report these with a review of literature.

The Effects of Hypertonic Saline Irrigation on Nasal Mucus Secretion in Patient with Chronic Rhinosinusitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various saline solution formulae for nasal irrigation have been used frequently in patients with rhinosinusitis. However, there are not enough scientific evidences supporting the effect of irrigation of the nose with saline solution. We investigated the effects of saline irrigation on mucus secretion, subjective symptoms, and nasal cavity air-space volume changes in patients with rhinosinusitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The nasal cavities of patients with rhinosinusitis were washed with 0.9%, 3%, and 6% of saline solutions consecutively with about 10 minute intervals. Lavage fluids were collected from the ipsilateral sides to determine the concentrations of mucin and lysozyme. Patients recorded subjective symptoms and each patient's nasal cavity air-space volume was assessed by acoustic rhinometry after each irrigations. RESULTS: The sensation of rhinorrhea, pain, and nasal blockage were increased as the concentration of saline increased. The concentrations of mucin increased with the increasing concentration of saline solution. However, the concentration of lysozyme decreased with the increase in the concentration of saline solution. Futhermore, hypertonic saline solution (6%) decreased the air-space volume significantly. CONCLUSION: The saline solution induces mucin secretion but not lysozyme secretion in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. These changes in the secretion pattern may change the physical properties of mucus. The hypertonic saline solution may increase the edema of nasal cavity and decrease air-space vol

Comparison of Electron Beam Tomography and Multi Detector Computed Tomography for Dynamic Upper Airway Study in Snorers

Although there are many kinds of modalities to evaluate upper airway obstruction region in snorers and obstructive sleep apnea subjects, we still have many difficulties to evaluate dynamic upper airway mechanics exactly. We investigated whether multi detector CT (MD-CT) is a good tool comparable with electron beam tomography (EBT) for evaluating upper airway dynamics. Each twenty snorers using EBT and MD-CT were included in this study. We evaluated dynamic upper airway mechanics at supine position in awake and asleep state by serial scan image. The space from hard palate to epiglottis tip were divided into four parts; high retropalate (HRP), lower retropalate (LRP), high retroglossal (HRG), lower retroglossal (LRG). We measured minimal cross sectional area (mCSA), maximal cross sectional area (MCSA), and collapsibility index (CI) in each area. Using cross sectional area data also made the simulated diagram of longitudinal view. Maximal stenotic regions of longitudial view were at LRP and HRG area in 18 patients of EBT and 17 patients of MD-CT. mCSA and volume were decreased significantly at asleep state than awake state and CI was increased in both EBT and MD-CT cases. mCSA was smallest at the LRG area and CI was largest at the HRG area and these results were prominent at the asleep state than the awake state. EBT and MD-CT are efficient modalities for dynamic upper airway mechanics due to short scan time. From economical point of view and resolution power, MD-CT is regarded as more efficient modality for evaluating dynamic upper airway mechanics.