Akihiro Ishida

Expression of Pendrin Periostin in Allergic Rhinitis Chronic Rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND Pendrin and periostin are newly identified mediators of the inflammatory process. The expression of these proteins in human sinonasal tissue and their roles in allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis remain to be elucidated. This study investigated the expression of pendrin and periostin in sinonasal tissue of patients with allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, and aspirin-induced asthma. Prospective control study conducted at Yamagata University, Japan. METHODS Surgical samples were investigated by means of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression of pendrin and periostin mRNA. The presence and location of pendrin and periostin were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS Pendrin and periostin production was significantly higher in patients with nasal disorders than in controls. Further significant increases in periostin expression were noted in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and in those with aspirin-induced asthma. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining for pendrin in epithelial cells and submucosal glands and for periostin in the basement membrane in all three disorders, and additionally for periostin in nasal polyp tissue in chronic rhinosinusitis and aspirin-induced asthma. CONCLUSIONS Production of pendrin and periostin is upregulated in allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and aspirin-induced asthma. These findings suggest that pendrin can induce mucus production and that periostin can induce tissue fibrosis and remodeling in the nasal mucosa. Therefore, these mediators may be therapeutic target candidates for allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and aspirin-induced asthma.

Clinical and pathological characteristics of IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis†

A new concept of IgG4‐related sclerosing sialadenitis characterized by high serum IgG4 levels and tissue infiltration of IgG4‐expressing plasmacytes has recently been proposed. To determine appropriate serum levels of IgG4 for monitoring disease activity, a total of 36 serum samples and eight tissue samples from patients with IgG4‐related sclerosing sialadenitis were studied.

Treatments of various otolaryngological cystic diseases by OK-4321: its indications and limitations.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications for, and outcomes and limitations of, OK-432 therapy in various otolaryngological cystic diseases. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective clinical study at Yamagata University School of Medicine and the Fukase Clinic in Japan. METHODS Between April 1996 and November 2009 we tried OK-432 therapy in 148 patients with otolaryngological cystic diseases. In cases of plunging ranulas, lymphangiomas, branchial cleft cysts, thyroglossal duct cysts, thyroid cysts, and cervical lymphocele, we aspirated as much of the fluid content of each cystic lesion as possible, and we then replaced the volume of aspirated fluid with about half the volume of OK-432 solution. RESULTS Disappearance of the lesion was observed in 119 of 148 patients (80%). Marked reduction was observed in 20 of 148 patients (14%). Partial reduction was observed in four patients (3%), and no response was seen in five patients (3%). Plunging ranula, lymphangioma, thyroglossal duct cyst, thyroid cyst, auricular hematoma, and salivary mucocele showed better responses to OK-432 therapy than did branchial cleft cyst. Serious complications with OK-432 therapy were infrequent, and the therapy seemed to have no influence on future surgery. CONCLUSIONS Our results confirmed that OK-432 therapy is simple, easy, safe, and effective and can be used as a substitute for surgery in the treatment of various otolaryngological cystic diseases.

Roles of IL-17, Th1, and Tc1 Cells in Patients With IgG4-Related Sclerosing Sialadenitis

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)‐related sclerosing sialadenitis is a recently recognized disease entity characterized by high serum IgG4 concentration and IgG4‐producing plasma cell expansion in affected organs, which show fibrotic or sclerotic changes. However, little is known about the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells or interleukin (IL)‐17 in this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and IL‐17 in patients with IgG4‐related sclerosing sialadenitis.

Expressions and Roles of Periostin in Otolaryngological Diseases

Periostin is a 90-kDa member of the fasciclin-containing family; it functions as part of matricellular proteins, and its production by airway epithelial cells is induced by IL-4 and IL-13. Periostin is secreted by fibroblasts and upregulated in the airway epithelia of patients with bronchial asthma; it is considered to contribute to remodeling under this pathological condition. However, despite many studies in diverse research areas, our overall understanding of this intriguing molecule is still inadequate. Here, we integrate the available evidence on periostin expression and its roles in otolaryngological diseases, including allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, aspirin-induced asthma, organized hematoma, eosinophilic otitis media, and IgG4-related disease. Periostin might be involved as an important structural mediator in pathological processes such as insult and injury, Th2-driven inflammation, extracellular matrix restructuring, fibrosclerosis, tumor angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling.

Malignant melanoma of the head and neck: A multi‐institutional retrospective analysis of cases in Northern Japan

Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck is rare and is associated with a poor prognoses because of locoregional failure and distant metastasis. The aim of our study was to review the characteristics of these patients in northern Japan and to analyze their outcomes.

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Organized Hematoma

Objective. To study the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with organized hematoma with malignant features in maxillary sinuses. Subjects and Methods. This was a retrospective study of five patients who were treated surgically for organized hematoma. The preoperative CT and MRI findings were studied clinically. The expressions of CD31, CD34, and periostin in surgical samples were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results. The clinical features of organized hematoma, such as a mass expanding from the maxillary sinus with bone destruction, resembled those of maxillary carcinoma. However, CT and MRI provided sufficient and useful information to differentiate this condition from malignancy. Surgical resection was the first-line treatment because of the presence of a firm capsule. Characteristic histopathological findings were a mixture of dilated vessels, hemorrhage, fibrin exudation, fibrosis, hyalinization, and neovascularization. The expressions of periostin, CD31, and CD34 were observed in organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus. Conclusion. The expressions of periostin, CD31, and CD34 were observed in organized hematoma of the maxillary sinus. Organized hematoma is characterized pathologically by a mixture of bleeding, dilated vessels, hemorrhage, fibrin exudation, fibrosis, hyalinization, and neovascularization. CT and MRI show heterogeneous findings reflecting a mixture of these pathological entities.

Roles of TGF-beta and periostin in fibrosclerosis in patients with IgG4-related diseases.

Abstract Conclusion: These results suggest that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and periostin could be useful as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in IgG4-related disease. Objectives:IgG4-related disease is an uncommon fibrosclerosing and inflammatory mass-forming disease that can be systemic or can affect single organs. To clarify the roles of TGF-beta, periostin, and interleukin (IL)-13 in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease, we studied a total of 36 serum and 11 tissue samples from patients with IgG4-related disease. Methods: This was a retrospective clinical study. The patient group consisted of six females and seven males (average age 60 years, range 38–74 years). Serum IgG4 levels, the tissue density of IgG4-positive plasmacytes, and the expression of TGF-beta and periostin in the affected tissues were examined immunohistochemically. Results: Serum IgG4 levels were elevated in all patients (mean 776.6, range 185–2820 mg/dl), and IgG4-positive plasmacytes were observed in the affected salivary glands. Seven patients with prominent infiltration of the involved glands with IgG4-positive plasmacytes had fatal systemic complications, including pancreatitis, after swelling of the salivary glands. Overexpression of TGF-beta and periostin was observed in affected tissues obtained from these patients.

Overexpression of glucocorticoid receptor-β in severe allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE To clarify the role of glucocorticoid receptor-beta in resistance to glucocorticoid therapy for allergic rhinitis, we studied 37 tissue samples from 20 patients with severe allergic rhinitis, and samples from age-matched controls. METHODS Patients were treated with intranasal fluticasone for 6 months and inferior turbinectomy was performed for patients with poor response to glucocorticoid treatment. The expression of glucocorticoid receptor-alpha (GR-alpha), glucocorticoid receptor-beta (GR-beta), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in nasal mucosa was studied immunohistochemically. RESULTS GR-alpha and NF-kappaB were expressed to a similar extent in patients and controls, but GR-beta was expressed significantly more in patients, resulting in an increased GR-beta/GR-alpha ratio. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that GR-beta plays an important role in resistance to glucocorticoid therapy for allergic rhinitis, and its expression might be used as an additional parameter indicating steroid resistance in allergic rhinitis.

A Case of Sublingual Dermoid Cyst: Extending the Limits of the Oral Approach

We present the case of a dermoid cyst with an oral and a submental component in a 21-year-old Japanese woman who presented with complaints of a mass in the oral cavity and difficulty in chewing and swallowing solid foods for about 2 years. MRI shows a 55 × 65 mm well-circumscribed cystic mass extending from the sublingual area to the mylohyoid muscle. Under general anesthesia and with nasotracheal intubation, the patient underwent surgical removal of the mass. Although the cyst was large and extending mylohyoid muscle, intraoral midline incision was performed through the mucosa overlying the swelling and the cyst was separated from the surrounding tissues with appropriate traction and countertraction and successfully removed without extraoral incision. Oral approach in surgical enucleation is useful procedure to avoid cosmetic problems in large and extending mylohyoid muscle cyst.