Calogero Grillo

Rhinomanometric and olfactometric variations throughout the menstrual cycle.

A prospective study was performed to evaluate the rhinomanometric values and the changes in the olfactory threshold that occur in women throughout the menstrual cycle. The subjects were 60 healthy volunteer premenopausal women 18 to 40 years of age. We performed rhinomanometric and olfactometric measurements during the follicular, periovular, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Rhinomanometry showed a higher (not statistically significant) airflow during the periovular phase than during the follicular and luteal phases. Olfactometry showed a higher sensitivity during the follicular phase (p < .05) and the periovular phase (p < .001) than during the luteal phase. We conclude that airflow and transnasal pressure during spontaneous respiration, as well as the olfactory threshold to odors, seem to depend on the variations of the ovarian steroids that occur during the menstrual cycle.

Prospective study on the cytological aspects of the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women taking 30 mcg ethinylestradiol and 3 mg drospirenone oral contraceptive

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to determine the effects of the monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing 30 mcg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) on the nasal respiratory epithelium in premenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN Fifty premenopausal women participated in the prospective study. Baseline endovaginal ultrasound examination and blood test to measure serum progesterone to confirm an ovulatory cycle were performed. The cytologic changes on the nasal respiratory epithelium were evaluated with the maturation index, performed during the follicular, periovular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, and on the sixth cycle of pill intake. RESULTS The maturation indexes of the nasal smears were higher during both the follicular and periovular phases than during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (p<.05). Women on the OC pill had similar changes in the nasal epithelium as those seen during the follicular phase (p NS), and less than the periovular phase (p<.05) and higher than the luteal phase (p<.05). The maturation index of the nasal respiratory epithelium seems to depend on the variation of the ovarian steroids during the menstrual cycle and on the iatrogenic effects of oral contraception. CONCLUSIONS DRSP+EE seems to provoke cytological changes that are different from previously shown gestodene plus EE.

Naso-pharyngo-laryngoscopie et rhinomanométrie avec endoscope flexible dans l’étude de l’hypertrophie adénoïde

RésuméLes auteurs proposent, dans l’exploration de l’obstruction nasale par hypertrophie adénoïde, l’introduction de deux techniques de routine simples, atraumatiques, économiques, bien tolérées par les jeunes patients et en outre complémentaires: la naso-pharyngo-laryngoscopie à fibres optiques et la rhinomanométrie. Les données quantitatives relatives à l’obstruction nasale fournies par la fibroscopie et les données qualitatives procurées par la rhinomanométrie se complètent dans l’exploration prospective pré-opératoire des jeunes patients.SummaryThe Authors propose, in the study of the nose obstruction by adenoid hypertrophy the routinist introduction of two simple techniques, atraumatics, economicals, well tolerated from little patients, and complementary beetwen them: the flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscope and the rhinomanometry. The quantitative objectivity offered by fiberscope and the qualitative objectivity offered by rhinomanometry are useful considering the preoperatory screening of this little patients.ResumenLos autores proponen en la exploración de la obstrucción nasal por hipertrofia adenoide, la introducción de dos técnicas de rutina — simples, atraumáticas, económicas, bien toleradas por los pacientes jóvenes y además complementarias: la naso-faringo-laringoscopia con fibra óptica y la rinomanometria. Los datos cuantitativos relatives a la obstrucción nasal dados por la fibroscopia y los datos cualitativos dados por la rinomanometria se complementan en la exploración prospectiva pre-operatoria de los pacientes jóvenes.ZusammenfassungDie Autoren schlagen zur Diagnostik der nasalen Obstruktion durch hypertrophierte Adenoide die flexible Naso-Pharyngo-Laryngoskopie und Rhinomanometrie als zwei einfache, atraumatische, kostensparende und einander ergänzende Methoden vor, die zudem von den jungen Patienten gut toleriert werden.RiassuntoGli autori propongono l’introduzione, nello studio dell’ostruzione nasale secondaria ad ipertrofia adenoidea, di due tecniche di routine semplici, complementari, non invasive, di basso costo, ben tollerate dai giovani pazienti: 1a naso-faringo-laringoscopia a fibre ottiche e la rinomanometria. Le informazioni riguardanti dati quantitativi sull’ostruzione nasale ottenute con il fibroscopio e qualitativi ottenuti con la rinomanometria si integrano a vicenda nella esplorazione pre-operatoria di questi giovani pazienti.

ADAM-9 expression in intestinal-type adenocarcinoma of the sinonasal tract.

Malignant tumors of the paranasal fossae and sinuses represent 0.2% to 0.8% of all malignant tumors in the body and 3% to 6% of other head and neck tumors. It is possible to distinguish 4 different histologic types of sinonasal malignant tumors: squamous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma. According to the WHO classification, there are 2 main types of adenocarcinomas: intestinal-type (ITAC) and nonintestinal type. ITACs are generally connected with professional exposure to wood and leather dust. The metalloproteinase 9 (ADAM-9) is a type 1 transmembrane protein that has been associated with cancer development and metastases. Our case of poorly differentiated sinonasal ITAC showed moderate to strong cytoplasmic positivity for ADAM-9 in association with moderate membrane staining for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. In our opinion, the expression of these proteins could explain the tumoral growth and together they could represent the most interesting targets when designing any tumor treatment scheme.

T01-O-06 Female sexuality may be modified by olfactory and auditory thresholds

Objective To study the effect of olfactory and auditory thresholds in modifying sexuality in woman. Material and Methods 60 premenopausal women (meanage 28.2±4.1 years, range18-37). Underwent sexual history interview, and the Personal Experiences Questionnaire (PEQ) was self-administrated. By a prospective study, we measured the olfactometric and audiometric variations - by olfactometry and auditory evoked potentials (AEP)- during the follicular, periovular and luteal phases of one ovulatory menstrual, and during third month of pill intake. Pill users were considered as a control group. The second control group was constituted by 18 premenopausal women with menstrual cycle without ovulation, that had been excluded from this study during enrolment. Results Both olfactometric and audiologic thresholds reached a higher sensitivity during the follicular and periovular phases than during the luteal phase. Olfactometric and audiologic thresholds during contraceptive use were similar to those of the luteal phase. Comparing the cyclic variations of both olfactometric and audiometric sexual activity seem to be increased in a linear correlation manner during periovular phase of ovulatory menstrual cycle, with respect to the other menstrual phases or in both control groups. Conclusion From our study, it seems to be an interaction among sensitivity, sexual activity and menstrual cycle in human. These physiological sensorial changes occurring during menstrual cycle may modulate the sexual behaviour, often acting unconsciously.