[Endoscopic repair of nasal septal perforation with acellular dermal matrix and pedicled mucoperichondrial flap].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the method and evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic repair of nasal septal perforation with acellular dermal matrix and pedicled mucoperichondrial flap. METHODS: Twelve patients with perforation of nasal septum were encountered since February 2006 to October 2010. The most common symptoms and sings were nasal obstruction and crusting at the margin of the perforation. Eight of 12 patients were iatrogenic following surgery. The perforation typically located at anterior medial part of the nasal septum, with their sizes ranged approximately 1.0-2.3 cm in diameter. The incision was made at the anterior edge of the perforation from the left nasal cavity and continued to the nasal floor horizontally. It ended at the lateral nasal cavity. Then, another incision was made parallel to the first one, which was 1.5 cm from the posterior of the perforation. The two incisions was connected. The mucoperichondrium was stripped along with the incisions and the pedicle of mucoperichondrial flap kept on the nasal septum. Then, the flap was turned up to cover the perforation and fixed with apposition suture. Put the acellular dermal matrix graft on the perforation from the right nasal cavity and fixed it with apposition suture. RESULTS: The healing of the acellular dermal matrix and mucoperichondrium was good in the first week postoperatively and there was no rejective reaction and contracture. The epithelization of the nasal septal perforation finished 4 weeks after surgery. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 4 years. Eleven patients had successful outcomes with complete closure of their perforations. One patient failed the operation. All of them had no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Using acellular dermal matrix graft and mucoperichondrial flap to repair the septal perforation is a simple method and the success rate is high. Therefore, it is an effective way to repair the perforation of nasal septum.

[Diagnosis and endoscopic treatment of sphenoid mycetoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presenting symptoms and signs, endoscopic findings, imaging changes and the clinical outcomes of endoscopic surgery in 23 patients with sphenoid mycetoma. METHODS: The clinical data and the follow-up results of endoscopic surgery in 23 patients with sphenoid mycetoma, between April 2001 and January 2006, were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: The study population included 15 women and 8 men with a median age of 52.7 years. Presenting symptoms included headache (13 cases, 57%) and bloody discharge (9 cases, 48%). The computed tomography scans showed high density shadow in all 23 cases, with 17 cases (74%) had plaque or cord shaped calcification. All patients were treated by endoscopic transnasal approach. No surgical complications were found. Follow-up ranged 3-18 months, all symptoms disappeared, except strabismus in one case after 7 months of operation. The mucosa in surgical cavity is good. CONCLUSIONS: The most common clinical symptoms of sphenoid mycetoma are headache and bloody discharge. Computed tomography scan has great value for the diagnosis of sphenoid mycetoma. The minimal invasion and the good outcome are the main advantages of the endoscopic surgery.

A common IL-13 Arg130Gln single nucleotide polymorphism among Chinese atopy patients with allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is a major public health problem and has seen its prevalence increase during the past few decades. Interleukin 13 (IL-13) has been implicated in the pathogenesis and in the regulation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been found in both the coding sequence and the promoter region of IL-13, and such SNPs have been associated with allergic asthma. We have investigated whether IL-13 SNPs are associated with allergic rhinitis. Among 188 Chinese adult patients with allergic rhinitis and 87 normal controls, no significant difference was found in either allele or haplotype frequency of the SNPs between the two groups. Within patients, there was a significant association of the IL-13 Arg130Gln SNP, but not of the IL-13 promoter -1112(C/T) SNP, with serum total IgE levels. Patients with a Gln/Gln genotype showed much higher serum total IgE than those with an Arg/Arg genotype. When tested for serum-specific IgE, patients allergic to Derp 1, but not those allergic to Artemisia pollen, showed a significant association with the IL-13 promoter SNP. Thus, our results suggest a possible involvement of IL-13 SNPs in the regulation of IgE production in response to allergens in this Chinese population.