The Study of Distribution and Expression of Water Channel Proteins(Aquaporins) in the Rat Eustachian Tube / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mucosal epithelium of middle ear and eustachian tube needs hydration to maintain proper amount of moisture. Recent discoveries of various types of water channel proteins (aquaporins ; AQPs) in mucous epithelium suggest that they play critical roles in the regional regulation of water balance. The purpose of this study is to assess the distribution and expression of different subtypes of AQPs in the rat eustachian tube. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the distribution and expression of AQP1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry study in the rat middle ear and eustachian tube samples. RESULTS: The expression of the mRNA of AQP1, 4, and 5 were observed in the rat eustachian tube and middle ear. The bands of AQP1, 4, and 5 were detected at 28 kDa, 31 kDa, and 26 kDa proteins in the Western blot analysis, respectively. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that AQP1 was expressed in fibroblasts at subepithelial portions of the rat eustachian tube and that AQP4 was observed at the basolateral membrane of the ciliated epithelial cells. The distribution of AQP5 in rat eustachian tube was limited to the apical surface of serous gland cells, but all of the epithelial goblet cells were labeled negative. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that there are various subtypes of AQP in rat eustachian tube and that they existed at specific cells and sites. This study may be a preliminary study to determine the possibility of relationship between AQP expression and AQP-related disease in the middle ear and eustachian tube.

Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis Using Bipolar Radiofrequency-Assisted Partial Turbinoplasty / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The ideal treatment for allergic rhinitis that is refractory to medical therapy is still lacking. Recently, radiofrequency-assisted partial turbinoplasty (RFAPT) has been introduced as a new treatment modality for reduction of inferior turbinate volume. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of RFAPT for the treatment of allergic rhinitis that is unresponsive to medical therapy and compare the postoperative outcome of RFAPT with that of Laser-assisted partial turbinoplasty (LAPT). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty-eight patients with nasal obstruction due to allergic rhinitis which is refractory to medical therapy were prospectively evaluated with a follow-up period of 3 months. Twenty patients (40 sides) were treated with RFAPT, and 28 patients (56 sides) with LAPT. The the degree of postoperative changes in nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, itchy nose, sneezing, operation time, operation-associated pain, intraoperative bleeding, duration of crust formation was compared between the two surgical methods. RESULT: There were no significant differences in the improvement of allergic symptoms and intraoperative bleeding between the two groups. Operative time was less in the RFAPT group and crust was formed for a shorter postoperative period. Operation-associated pain was less in the LAPT group. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that RFAPT appears to be effective for treating allergic rhinitis whihc demonstrates poor response to medical therapy.

Distribution and Expression of Lysozyme in Trachea of Normal Rat / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Airway mucosa is protected by several complex of defense mechanisms, namely mucociliary clearance, immunoglobulins, cellular components, and antibacterial secretary enzymes. In particular, lysozymes, also known as muramidase, are important components of innate immunity against pathogens at mucosal surfaces. Trachea mucosa is mainly protected by mucociliary clearance, and recently, lysozymes are also known to be in the trachea tissues. The purpose of this study is to identify the distribution and expression of lysozymes in the trachea of normal rats. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Tra-cheas were collected from male Wistar-kyoto rats. The expression level and distribution of mRNA of lysozyme were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Western blot assessed and confirmed the expression of lysozyme. RESULTS: The expression of mRNA of lysozyme in trachea was observed. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that lysozyme was expressed in the epithelium and the submucosal serous gland. Western blot was detected at the molecular weight of 14 kDa. CONCLUSION: We identified the distribution and expression of lysozymes in the trachea of normal rats. The result suggests that innate immunity such as that played by lysozymes is an important component of defense mechanisms along with mucociliary clearance.

Comparison with Hearing Gains by the Different Methods of Operation in the Defect of Malleus and Incus / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multiple techniques of ossicular replacement have been advocated for hearing gain in the setting of chronic otitis media. The purpose of this study is to investigate hearing gain in the middle ear surgery according to the surgical technique and the materials. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Ninety-nine cases with ossicular replacement with mastoidectomy in the Konkuk University Hospital from 1995 to 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. Postoperative hearing gains were compared with the two methods of mastoidectomy and the two materials of ossicular replacement separately. RESULTS: A successful hearing gain was defined as a postoperative air-bone gap less than 30dB. According to this criterion, 47% of intact canal wall mastoidectomy cases and 43% of open cavity mastoidectomy cases were successful. Thirty-one percent of ossicular replacement case using cartilage-perichondrium and 62% using hydroxyapatite-PORP were successful. The extrusion rate was zero % in ossicular replacement using cartilage-perichondrium, and 57% in ossicular replacement using PORP. CONCLUSION: There was a significant differences in hearing gain and extrusion rate by using two different materials for ossicular replacement such as cartilage and hydroxyapatite-PORP (p0.05).