Effects of Repeated Ozone Exposure on Allergic Responses in Mice / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We Investigated whether repeated ozone exposure has a priming effect on allergic sensitization and whether ozone exposure has an exacerbating effect on allergic responses during allergen challenge in previously sensitized animal. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty-five female BALB/c mice were divided into the following five groups; controls (I), ovalbumin (OVA)-aerosol exposure group (II), OVA-aerosol/ozone exposure group (III), OVA-systemic sensitization group (IV), and OVA-systemic sensitization/ozone exposure group (V). Mice of group III and V were exposed to 0.3 ppm ozone for 4 hours, three times a week for four weeks. Mice of group II and III were exposed to OVA-aerosol for 20 minutes, five times a week for four weeks. Mice of group IV and V were sensitized by intraperitoneal injections with OVA/Al(OH)3 solution on day 0, 7, and 14. Animals received five consecutive allergen challenges by OVA-aerosol nebulization from day 23 to 27. At 24 hours after the last exposure, nasal lavage fluid (NLF) and blood were obtained. The concentrations of total serum IgE, anti-OVA IgE, and anti-OVA IgG1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of IL-4, IL-5 and INF-gamma in NLF were measured by ELISA. In addition, Luna staining was performed to identify eosinophils that infiltrated in nasal mucosa. RESULTS: OVA-aerosol exposure alone induced weak allergic response to OVA in nonsensitized mice. In contrast, the combination of OVA-aerosol and ozone resulted in augmented immune responses to OVA as indicated by significant increases in total serum IgE, anti-OVA IgE, and anti-OVA IgG1 antibody titers, as well as significant increases in the levels of Th2 cytokines In NLF and the number of eosinophils infiltrating nasal mucosa. Although the titers of total IgE and anti-OVA IgE of group III were significantly lower than those of group IV, the titers of anti-OVA IgG1, levels of IL-4 and IL-5, and the number of eosinophIls infiltrating nasal mucosa showed no significant differences between group III and group IV. In sensitized mice, ozone exposure durIng OVA challenge enhanced the allergic responses to OVA. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ozone exposure induces and enhances the allergic responses by augmenting the production of allergen-specific antibody and Th2 cytokines.

The Effect of Allergen Provocation on the Nasal Cycle / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nasal airflow is asymmetrical and is subjected to spontaneous reciprocal changes which are referred to as the nasal cycle. Limited information is available about how they are affected by allergens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of allergen provocation on the nasal cycle. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study was performed in 11 patients with allergic rhinitis and 6 healthy controls. Acoustic rhinometry was used to test subjects before and after the allergen provocation. The subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry in 15 minutes interval for evaluation of nasal cycle and 3 minutes interval for immediate response. RESULTS: With the allergic subjects, 10 of the 11 subjects (90.9%) showed nasal cycle and they still had nasal cycle after the allergen provocation. In the study on the changes of the immediate responses, recovery time was on the average of 33.0 minutes and reduction rate of non-patent side was higher than that of patient side. And the period of nasal cycle was on the average of 173 minutes before the allergen provocation and the average 159 minutes after the allergen provocation; there were no statistical differences. The amplitude of each nasal cycle increased after allergen provocation and the difference had statistical meaning. CONCLUSION: Overall duration and reciprocity of nasal cycle were not changed after the allergen provocation and the amplitude of nasal cycle was increased significantly after the allergen provocation.

Nasal Sensation of Airflow: Measurement, Reproducibility and Regional Differences

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although airflow sensation is believed to have a certain role in the subjective sensation of nasal patency, there are few studies that quantify and assess the sensation of nasal airflow. We designed an apparatus that delivers a pulsing jet of air to measure nasal airflow sensitivity. The aims of this study are to map out the airflow sensitivity of the nose, to evaluate the effect of decongestant on airflow sensitivity and to assess reproducibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The test sites were stimulated with a pulsing jet of air at gradually increasing velocities, and the minimum velocity at which the subject could detect the tactile sensation was recorded. The threshold velocities after phenylephrine spray were also measured and compared with the pre-decongestant values. The threshold velocities were obtained on two separate occasions to assess reproducibility. RESULTS: The nasal vestibule was more sensitive than the nasal mucosa to airflow, and the most sensitive area in the proper nasal cavity was the anterior end of the inferior turbinate. Sensitivity was not affected by decongestant spray. There was strong agreement between the first and second measurement values. CONCLUSION: Our method of measuring airflow sensitivity is believed to be useful in assesssing nasal airflow sensation.

Recurrent Myxoma of Maxilla / 대한이비인후과학회지

Myxoma is a relatively rare tumor of mesenchymal origin that can be found in numerous sites throughout the body including heart, skin, and subcutaneous tissue along with various sites in the head and neck. It is presumed to be originated from dental malformation or missing teeth, but occasionally myxoma without dental abnormalities is found giving arguments for its embryogenesis. Myxoma in the head and neck is usually managed by radical operation in order to prevent the possible recurrence. A case of recurrent myxoma of maxilla is described, which was treated with en-bloc removal via lateral rhinotomy incision. The purpose of this article is to present a case of myxoma of maxilla with a review of the literature and is to give a special emphasis on the proper modalities of treatment which minimizes recurrence and functional deficit.

Cyclic Changes of Nasal Obstruction with Nasal Cycle in Septal Deviation Patients / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: he purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between cyclic changes of unilateral nasal obstruction and nasal geometry in patients with septal deviation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one young adults with anteriorly located septal deviation were selected. With acoustic rhinometry, we measured minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume (NV) in 20 minutes interval for 7 hours. The patients were required to assess their own unilateral nasal obstruction on a linear visual analogue scale immediately prior to acoustic rhinometric measurements. After plotting of MCA and VAS as a function of time, we determined whether cyclic changes were present or not. Correlation between subjective scores and objective measurements were calculated using Pearsons correlation coefficient. We calculated delta (sigma) value in patients with cyclic changes of MCA and VAS to compare the unilateral MCA changes to corresponding VAS changes of each nasal cavity. The formula for calculating Delta value was Delta value=m(Npeak-Wtrough)/m(Wpeak-Wtrough): where m is the sample mean, Npeak the peak of narrow side, Wpeak the peak of wide side, Wtrough the nadir of wide side. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects showed classic alternating nasal cycle in MCA and ipsilateral VAS with significant positive linear correlation. Despite the diverse distribution of delta value of MCA cycle (sigma(M)), the mean delta value of VAS cycle (sigmaV) was about 0.8, thus representing a small difference of patency of each nasal cavities in patients with septal deviation. CONCLUSION: In most patients, nasal sensation of patency fluctuated with a similar amplitude with each other regardless of the degree of septal deviation.

Extramedullary Plasmacytoma of the Frontal Sinus / 대한이비인후과학회지

Extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the head and neck region is rare. Among the sites of involvement, nasopharynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinus were the most frequent sites in descending order. Maxillary sinus is the most prevalent site of the paranasal sinuses with occasional involvement of the ethmoid and sphenoid sinus. However, the frontal sinus has not been reported to be the site of involvement as far as we know. Recently we experienced an extramedullary plasmacytoma of the frontal sinus in a 54 year-old male patient and report with literature review.