Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn

A comparison of endoscopic culture techniques for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background Recent evidence suggests that endoscopically obtained cultures from the middle meatus give comparable results to antral puncture for acute sinusitis. The best method for obtaining middle meatal cultures remains somewhat controversial because it has been theorized that specimens obtained with a swab are contaminated easily. This study compares endoscopic culture results from two different methods: swab and aspiration. Specifically, this study sought to determine whether or not the culture contamination rate is higher using the swab versus an aspiration technique. Methods One hundred consecutive culture specimens from 81 chronic rhinosinusitis patients were compared. Fifty cultures were obtained using a swab technique (group I) and another 50 cultures were obtained by aspirating pathological material into a sterile suction trap (group II). The patient populations in each group were similar; there were no differences in terms of age, gender, comorbid medical conditions, or prior medical therapy. Cultures were considered contaminated if they yielded normal nasal flora or if rare or few Staphylococcus coagulase-negative colonies grew after no bacteria was identified in gram stain. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus coagulase-negative, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the three most common organisms in both groups. Results Gram-negative bacteria were noted in 21/60 (35%) positive cultures. Although the contamination rate of the suction aspiration group (14%) was less than the endoscopic swab group (10%), this did not approach statistical significance (p = 0.75). Conclusions Data from this study suggest that endoscopically guided aspiration of pathological material is no better than properly obtained swabs in directing antimicrobial therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Inflammatory patterns in upper airway disease in the same geographical area may change over time.

Background Inflammatory patterns of nasal polyps (NPs) may vary. Changes over time have not been investigated so far. This study was designed to evaluate the inflammatory patterns of NPs in Thailand at two time points 12 years apart, explore differences in Staphylococcus aureus (SA) mucosal carriage rates over time, and the latters relationship with the inflammatory patterns. Methods Formalin-fixed nasal tissue was obtained from 89 (47 in 1999 and 42 in 2011) patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with NPs (CRSwNPs). Tissues were evaluated for eosinophils, neutrophils, IgE+ cells, IgE and macrophage mannose receptors, interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-17 cytokine profile, and the presence of SA, using automated immunohistochemistry and peptide nucleic acid–fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results We found a significant increase in the absolute values of eosinophils and IgE+ cells in the 2011 CRSwNP tissue series compared with 1999 and a significant but smaller increase in neutrophils. Semiquantitative evaluation revealed significantly higher mean values of positive cells for all studied inflammatory markers in the 2011 group of patients, except for the high-affinity IgE receptor. This “eosinophilic shift” of inflammation was accompanied by higher SA carriage, as well as higher frequencies of SA invasion (54.8% versus 10.6%; p < 0.001) in the 2011 compared with 1999 subjects. Patients with asthma were more likely to have higher SA carriage rates compared with nonasthmatic patients. Conclusion There was a shift from predominantly neutrophilic to eosinophilic CRSwNPs in Thai patients within 12 years, with an increase in various inflammatory markers including IgE, which is associated with an increase in intramucosal presence of SA.

Risk and safety requirements for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in allergology: World Allergy Organization Statement

One of the major concerns in the practice of allergy is related to the safety of procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease. Management (diagnosis and treatment) of hypersensitivity disorders involves often intentional exposure to potentially allergenic substances (during skin testing), deliberate induction in the office of allergic symptoms to offending compounds (provocation tests) or intentional application of potentially dangerous substances (allergy vaccine) to sensitized patients. These situations may be associated with a significant risk of unwanted, excessive or even dangerous reactions, which in many instances cannot be completely avoided. However, adverse reactions can be minimized or even avoided if a physician is fully aware of potential risk and is prepared to appropriately handle the situation.Information on the risk of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in allergic diseases has been accumulated in the medical literature for decades; however, except for allergen specific immunotherapy, it has never been presented in a systematic fashion. Up to now no single document addressed the risk of the most commonly used medical procedures in the allergy office nor attempted to present general requirements necessary to assure the safety of these procedures.Following review of available literature a group of allergy experts within the World Allergy Organization (WAO), representing various continents and areas of allergy expertise, presents this report on risk associated with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in allergology and proposes a consensus on safety requirements for performing procedures in allergy offices. Optimal safety measures including appropriate location, type and required time of supervision, availability of safety equipment, access to specialized emergency services, etc. for various procedures have been recommended.This document should be useful for allergists with already established practices and experience as well as to other specialists taking care of patients with allergies.

Fungus and chronic rhinosinusitis: from bench to clinical understanding.

Although fungus-related sinusitis has been described for at least 2 centuries, a more detailed pathologic description of the problem as it relates to eosinophilic disease was not detailed until 1983, when “allergic fungal sinusitis” was described histopathologically. Until then, most fungal sinus disease was perceived to occur in immunosuppressed diabetic patients with invasive fungus. It is now acknowledged that depending upon the immune status of the host, fungus-related sinus disease can take several forms. Interest in this subject matter was intensified in 1999, when it was suggested that fungi might be an important cause of most cases of chronic rhinosinusitis. This hypothesis remains controversial, and there is mounting evidence to support the multifactorial nature of chronic rhinosinusitis, which may include fungus. In fact, etiologic factors for all forms of fungus-related sinus disease are still poorly understood. The prevalence of the disease and the dominant fungal pathogen appear to vary in different geographic regions and probably are related to individual host conditions. Immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reactions to mold appear to be associated with disease in some patients, but not in all. Although antifungal therapy is known to be lifesaving for invasive disease, its role in extramucosal disease is less well defined. Preliminary trials suggest that some systemic and topical antifungal agents are of clinical benefit in extramucosal disease. Since sinus fungi are rarely invasive in immunocompetent individuals, it is not clear whether the effects of the antifungal treatments are a result of the antifungal action itself, or due to additional properties these drugs possess. This review summarizes the available data and presents some of our clinical and experimental findings as to the role of fungus in chronic rhinosinusitis.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis

Critical examination of the quality and validity of available allergic rhinitis (AR) literature is necessary to improve understanding and to appropriately translate this knowledge to clinical care of the AR patient. To evaluate the existing AR literature, international multidisciplinary experts with an interest in AR have produced the International Consensus statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis (ICAR:AR).

Efficacy and Safety of Once Daily Fluticasone Furoate Nasal Spray for Treatment of Irritant (Non-allergic) Rhinitis

Introduction: The safety and efficacy of fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) for the symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis have been previously demonstrated in several clinical studies. The objective of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy and safety of FFNS 110 mcg once daily with placebo in patients with irritant (non-allergic) rhinitis triggered predominantly by air pollution. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-week study of subjects in Thailand with irritant rhinitis who received either FFNS 110 mcg (N=53) or placebo (N=49) once-daily. Subjects with a ≥2 year history of air pollution as their predominant rhinitis trigger, negative skin test to local seasonal/perennial allergens, positive histamine skin test, and normal sinus radiograph were enrolled if they met minimum reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) ≥4.5 (maximum=9) and a nasal congestion score of ≥2 (maximum =3). All were assessed for nasal eosinophilia at study entry and completion. Air quality was monitored throughout the study. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change from baseline over the treatment period in daily rTNSS, the average of the morning and evening rTNSS. The key secondary measure was the mean change from baseline over the entire treatment period in morning pre-dose instantaneous total nasal symptom score (iTNSS). Results: The Air Quality Index (AQI) during the study generally did not reach unhealthy levels. Baseline daily rTNSS scores were similar between treatment groups (FFNS=6.7; placebo=6.4). The least square mean change from baseline in rTNSS was -2.17 and -2.10 for FFNS and placebo, respectively, with a difference of -0.065 (p=0.845). Gradual improvements were seen in both treatment groups for iTNSS; however, the treatment difference (-0.075) was not statistically significant (p=0.827). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups for AM and PM rTNSS, individual nasal symptoms, daily reflective, AM and PM reflective and AM pre-dose instantaneous total ocular symptom scores (TOSS) or individual ocular symptom scores. Nasal cytology at baseline found more than two-thirds of subjects had <20% eosinophils. Adverse events were few and similar between groups and noted as mild in intensity. Conclusion: Subjects receiving FFNS had similar improvement to placebo in their rhinitis symptoms. The lack of a treatment effect may be in part due to the overall good air quality present throughout the study or an insufficient dose or duration of FFNS. The safety findings showed FFNS 110 mcg once daily to be well tolerated.

Enhanced Susceptibility of Nasal Polyp Tissues to Avian and Human Influenza Viruses

Background Influenza viruses bind and infect respiratory epithelial cells through sialic acid on cell surface. Differential preference to sialic acid types contributes to host- and tissue-tropism of avian and seasonal influenza viruses. Although the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 can infect and cause severe diseases in humans, it is not efficient in infecting human upper respiratory tract. This is because of the scarcity of its receptor, α2,3-linked sialic acid, in human upper airway. Expression of sialic acid can be influenced by various factors including inflammatory process. Allergic rhinitis and nasal polyp are common inflammatory conditions of nasal mucosa and may affect expression of the sialic acid and susceptibility to influenza infection. Methodology/Principal Finding To test this hypothesis, we detected α2,3- and α2,6-linked sialic acid in human nasal polyp and normal nasal mucosal tissues by lectin staining and infected explants of those tissues with avian influenza viruses H5N1 and seasonal influenza viruses. We show here that mucosal surface of nasal polyp expressed higher level of α2,3- and α2,6-linked sialic acid than normal nasal mucosa. Accordingly, both H5N1 avian influenza viruses and seasonal influenza viruses replicated more efficiently in nasal polyp tissues explants. Conclusions/Significance Our data suggest a role of nasal inflammatory conditions in susceptibility to influenza infection, especially by avian influenza viruses, which is generally inefficient in infecting human upper airway. The increased receptor expression may contribute to increased susceptibility in some individuals. This may contribute to the gradual adaptation of the virus to human population.

The proportion of local allergic rhinitis to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in children

Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is diagnosed by the positive response to nasal allergen provocation test (NAPT) to aeroallergen and/or local synthesis of specific IgE (sIgE). This entity is found in half of the adults with non‐allergic rhinitis (NAR). In children, very few data of the prevalence and characteristics of LAR were reported.

Acoustic rhinometry of Asian noses.

Background Each ethnic group has different nasal cavity geometries. The reference value of the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and the nasal volume (NV) is mandatory for rhinologic evaluation in regular practice and for research. This study was designed to study the normal value of acoustic rhinometry (AR) in Asian subjects in comparison with other ethnic groups. Methods AR was performed in 135 healthy Thai subjects. Subjects were divided into two groups: group I, with normal anterior rhinoscopic appearance; group II included subjects with asymptomatic, slightly deviated nasal septa. Results The mean of the MCA was 0.61 ± 0.60 cm2 before decongestion and 0.64 ± 0.14 cm2 after decongestion. The mean distance from the nostril to the point of MCA (D) was 1.66 ± 0.59 cm before decongestion and 1.41 ± 0.74 cm after decongestion. The mean of the NV measured between 0 and 4 cm was 3.66 ± 0.67 cm3 before decongestion and 4.18 ± 0.75 cm3 after decongestion. Before decongestion, there were no significant differences in the mean of the MCA, D, and NV between group I and group II subjects; however, there were significant differences in mean MCA and NV after decongestion. There were no differences in the parameters between male and female subjects before decongestion, except for the D, but after decongestion the mean values of the MCA, D, and NV were significantly higher in male subjects compared with female subjects. Conclusion The results of this study can be used as a reference value for Asian ethnicities. Thai subjects had measurements comparable with those of the European study and somewhat different from the study in black populations.

Combined radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction and lateral outfracture of hypertrophic inferior turbinate in the treatment of chronic rhinitis: short-term and long-term outcome.

Radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of hypertrophic inferior turbinate (IT) is an effective way to treat patients with intractable nasal mucosal obstruction. We evaluated the effectiveness of combined RFVTR and lateral outfracture (LO) of hypertrophic IT in chronic rhinitis (CR) patients on reduction of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and nasal pruritus both short and long term.