Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Eosinophil has been reported to play important roles in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis as well as in bronchial asthma. This study was performed to evaluate serum ECP levels and draw a correlation with the blood eosinophil, serum total IgE in patients with allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ECP level in serum, blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, and symptom scores were measured in 32 patients with allergic rhinitis, 24 patients with non-allergic rhinitis and 20 normal control subjects. RESULTS: The serum ECP concentration was significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis group than in the non-allergic rhinitis and normal control group (p<0.001). The serum ECP concentration was significantly correlated with the peripheral blood eosinophil counts in the allergic rhinitis group (r=0.532, p<0.004) and in the total patients & normal contol (r=0.676, p<0.001). Concentration of the serum ECP was significantly higher in patients with eosinophilia than in those with normal value of the eosiophils (p<0.001). The serum ECP concentration was not correlated with the total serum IgE in allergic rhinitis group. The total symptom scores in patients with allergic rhinitis was not correlated with serum ECP concentrations. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the level of serum ECP is correlated with the increased activity of eosinophils.

Efficacy of the Clindamycin Mouthwash on Oral Flora / 대한이비인후과학회지

Systemic antibiotic therapy is widely used for prophylaxis in major head and neck surgery, but the efficacy of topical oral antibiotic therapy has not been fully investigated. Therefore we planned to study the efficacy of topical clindamycin gargle on oral flora. Thirty-six healthy adults(20 males, 16 females) were included in the study, and we tried with three oral-washing agents; 0.9% normal saline, 10% povidone iodine, and 75mg clindamycin in 52ml tap water. Samples of saliva were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria immediately before, immediately after, and at 1- and 4-hour intervals after, washing the mouth with a solution of either control(normal saline or povidone iodine) or clindamycin. Quantitative analysis demonstrated significant reduction of oral flora level after use of the topical antibiotic at the 1-, 4-, and 8- hour interval. It is postulated that topical clindamycin, by reducing concentrations of oral flora, may also reduce the incidence of regional infection following major upper aerodigestive tract surgery.

A Case of Cerebellar Abscess after Treatment of Lateral Sinus Thrombophlebitis Associated with Cholesteatoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

The incidence of otogenic intracranial complication has decreased markedly following the advent of modern chemotherapy. Less is it a disease of children in association with acute otitis media. More often it is seen in the adult after a long history of chronic ear disease, especially cholesteatoma. In the modern literature on lateral sinus thrombosis, meningitis and cerebral abscess are listed as the most common concomitant complications and cerebellar abscess is poorer prognosis than any other complications. Recently we experienced a case of cerebellar abscess after treatment of lateral sinus thrombophlebitis associated with cholesteatoma, and reported this case along with literature survey.