Dong Gu Hur

Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B contributes to induction of nasal polypoid lesions in an allergic rhinosinusitis murine model.

Background Studies on the pathophysiology of nasal polyps in human subjects have been limited; thus an animal model is needed. There is increasing evidence supporting the role of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis. The aim of this study was to investigate the histological and immunologic effects of SEB on the formation of nasal polypoid lesions in an allergic rhinosinusitis murine model. Methods After induction of an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinosinusitis, OVA with SEB (5 or 500 ng) was instilled into the nasal cavity of mice for 8 weeks. Control mice did not receive SEB or OVA instillation. Histopathological changes were observed using hematoxylin and eosin, Sirius red, Giemsa, Massons trichrome, and Alcian blue stains. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-13, eotaxin, interferon gamma, total IgE, and OVA-specific IgE from serum or nasal lavage fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The group treated with OVA plus 5 ng of SEB had significantly more mucosal lesions with epithelial disruption and nasal polypoid lesions than mice treated with OVA only, showing a significant increase in the infiltration of total inflammatory cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes than the other groups. Levels of IL-5, eotaxin, and OVA-specific IgE in nasal lavage fluid were increased in the group treated with OVA plus 5 ng of SEB than in the other groups. A higher number of secretory cells in the groups treated with OVA plus SEB was observed than in other groups. Conclusion Low-dose SEB induced nasal polypoid lesions with an increased eosinophilic infiltration in an allergic rhinosinusitis murine model.

Clinical characteristics and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been reported to be a common cause of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). However, only a few studies have investigated BPPV after TBI. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics of BPPV after TBI and to determine whether there are clinical differences between BPPV after TBI and idiopathic BPPV. METHODS The authors reviewed the medical records of 192 consecutive patients with positional vertigo after head injury during the period 2003 to 2009 and investigated 112 patients with idiopathic BPPV treated over the same period. The clinical characteristics of BPPV after TBI and the clinical differences between the traumatic BPPV and idiopathic BPPV groups were investigated. RESULTS A total of 32 patients with BPPV after TBI fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty-four patients in the traumatic BPPV group had posterior semicircular canal-BPPV and 11 patients lateral semicircular canal-BPPV. A total of 58 repositioning maneuver sessions were performed in these 32 patients. Members of the traumatic BPPV group required more treatment sessions than members of the idiopathic group (p<0.05), but no tendency to recur was observed in the traumatic group (p>0.05). Recurrence rates in the traumatic and idiopathic BPPV groups were 15.6% and 18.8%, respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is likely that BPPV after TBI is more difficult to treat than idiopathic BPPV, but no tendency to recur was observed in patients who developed BPPV after TBI compared with idiopathic BPPV. Further prospective clinical meta-analytic studies are needed to investigate the outcome of BPPV after TBI.

A clinical study of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease) in children

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL) is a cervical lymphadenitis that occurs rarely in children. This study was conducted to identify the clinical characteristics of lymphadenitis in children and compare the clinical characteristics observed in children and adults. SUBJECT AND METHODS The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the 20 patients 18 years of age or younger who were diagnosed with HNL based on histological tests conducted at Gyeongsang University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2006 were analyzed. RESULTS HNL affected males and females at a 1:1 ratio, but HNL was more common in boys (8:3) among the children and HNL affected more girls among the adolescents (2:7). Cervical lymphadenopathy was the main symptom. The antinuclear antibody test was positive in three patients. Two relapse cases were reported, but both patients recuperated within several months without complications. CONCLUSIONS HNL affected males and females at an equal incidence (1:1). But HNL occurred more often in male children than in female children, and more often in female adolescents than in male adolescents. Relapse occurred in 10% of the cases. HNL could progress into systemic lupus erythematosus in the three cases that were ANA-positive. Thus, a long follow-up period is important.

Periostin may play a protective role in the development of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in a mouse model.

Several genes have been reported to be upregulated in human nasal polyps in previous genetic analyses. Among these genes, periostin is known to be overexpressed in nasal polyps obtained from aspirin‐sensitive patients. Using periostin‐null mice, we investigated the role of periostin in a murine model of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Endoscope-assisted intraoral resection of external dermoid cyst

Surgical removal of a dermoid cyst is usually accomplished through an external neck incision. However, this procedure inevitably results in a neck scar.

Colocalization of 5-HT1F receptor and calcitonin gene-related peptide in rat vestibular nuclei

The aim of this study was to determine whether calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) colocalizes with 5-HT(1F) receptor in rat vestibular nuclei using a double immunohistochemical staining procedure. The frequent co-occurrence of migraine and balance disorders suggests a pathophysiologic link between the two. However, the mechanism of migrainous vertigo has not been elucidated, though serotonin (5-HT) and its receptors are believed to involve in the pathogenesis of migrainous vertigo. Furthermore, 5-HT(1F) receptor agonists and CGRP receptor antagonists have recently attracted attention as potential treatments for migraine, and CGRP release from trigeminal neurons has been associated with migraine. This study demonstrates the colocalization of 5-HT(1F) receptor and CGRP in the rat vestibular nuclei, which suggests that 5-HT(1F) receptor regulates the release of CGRP from vestibular nuclei. This finding indicates that 5-HT(1F) receptor agonists may ameliorate migrainous vertigo by attenuating elevated levels of CGRP release from vestibular nuclei.

Surgical management of intraoral ranulas in children: An analysis of 17 pediatric cases

OBJECTIVE The preferred treatment of pediatric intraoral ranulas remains controversial. We present our experience with ranulas at the Gyeongsang National University Hospital and review the literature. METHODS The study involved 17 children under 15 years of age who visited our hospital from 2001 to 2008 and were diagnosed with a ranula exceeding 2 cm in diameter. The age and gender of the patients, the surgical procedures, presurgical observation period, postsurgical follow-up period, and complications of each case were determined. The unruptured specimens were all subjected to detailed pathological analysis. RESULTS The patients were on average 9.3 years and there were 10 girls and 7 boys. Spontaneous resolution was not detected in any of the cases during the presurgical observation period. Indeed, in two cases, the ranula had increased in size. The ranula and sublingual gland (SG) were resected in all cases. The average operation time was 1h. Recurrence and complications were not detected in any of the cases. Pathological analyses revealed that there was no communication of the ranula with the SG in any of the cases. CONCLUSIONS Our experiences suggest that the presurgical observation period need not be longer than 3 months and that the resection of ranulas along with the ipsilateral SG is a safe and effective primary treatment for symptomatic pediatric intraoral ranulas that exceed 2cm in diameter.

Endoscopic intranasal reduction of the orbit in isolated blowout fractures

Conclusion. Endoscopic intranasal reduction of the orbital floor with a detachable temporary balloon, or of the medial orbital wall with a silastic sheet and Merocel® packing, provided good functional results and definite advantages. We suggest that these techniques are another surgical alternative for isolated orbital floor or medial wall blowout fractures that do not accompany any associated fractures of the orbital rim. Objectives. Extended applications of endoscopic sinus surgery have reported endoscopic intranasal reduction or reconstruction of the orbital wall with good functional and cosmetic results. We present our experience with endoscopic intranasal reduction of the orbit in isolated orbital floor and/or medial wall blowout fractures, treated by reduction of the orbital floor with a detachable temporary balloon, or of the medial orbital wall with a silastic sheet and Merocel packing. Subjects and Methods. Floor reduction: After creating a wide middle meatal antrostomy, herniated orbital contents and fracture-displaced floor are mobilized and reduced. The orbital floor is supported by a saline filled balloon, which is connected with an infant feeding catheter and passed through the middle meatal antrostoma. After confirming the reduction of the orbital floor by postoperative CT, the catheter is ligated and cut in short to keep it in the nasal cavity. Medial wall reduction: After completing an intranasal ethmoidectomy, herniated orbital contents and fractured lamina papyracea are mobilized and reduced. The shape of the medial orbital wall is fixed by a silastic sheet and Merocel® packing saturated with an antibiotic solution. Surgery was performed when the eye function could be accurately assessed, usually at 7 to 10 days following the injury. Temporary supporting of the orbital wall with a detachable temporary balloon, or a silastic sheet and Merocel® packing was removed 4 weeks after surgery in the out-patient clinic. Results. We have experienced 40 cases of endoscopic intranasal reduction of the orbit in blowout fractures. CT scan confirmed isolated orbital floor fracture in 11 patients, isolated medial wall fracture in 17 patients, and combined fractures of the orbital floor and the medial wall in 12 patients. Twenty five patients had diplopia, 20 patients had limitation of eye movement, and 14 patients developed enophthalmos. Thirty three of the 40 patients recovered completely without any residual eye symptoms or complications.

Clinical characteristics and natural course of recurrent vestibulopathy: A long-term follow-up study†‡

To investigate the clinical characteristics and the natural course of recurrent vestibulopathy (RV).

Immunohistochemical and biomolecular identification of melatonin 1a and 1b receptors in rat vestibular nuclei

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the localizations and expressions of melatonin 1a (MT1a) and 1b (MT1b) receptors in rat vestibular nuclei by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Antibodies for the MT1a and MT1b receptors were used in 10 rats, respectively. A further 10 animals were sacrificed for RT-PCR. Tissues containing medial vestibular nuclei were selectively isolated from brain stem slices for RT-PCR. RESULTS MT1a and MT1b receptor immunopositive neurons were found to be distributed throughout the four major vestibular nuclei. Both receptors were primarily detected in neuronal somata and their proximal dendrites. The presences of the mRNAs of the MT1a and MT1b receptors were confirmed by RT-PCR in medial vestibular nuclei and trigeminal ganglia. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates, for the first time, that MT1a and MT1b receptors are localized and expressed in rat vestibular nuclei. This study provides additional insight into the role of melatonin receptors during vestibular signal processing.