Takeshi Suko

Comparison of sinusitis with and without allergic rhinitis: characteristics of paranasal sinus effusion and mucosa.

PURPOSE The relationship between chronic sinusitis and allergy has been discussed for many years. Type I allergies are believed to be involved in chronic sinusitis. However, there is not enough evidence to allow allergic sinusitis to be distinguished as an exact entity. This study was designed to examine the role of immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reactions in allergic sinusitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS We investigated the differences between 31 patients with allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis (allergic sinusitis) and 48 control subjects with nonallergic chronic sinusitis (chronic sinusitis). The pathological features of paranasal sinus effusion and mucosa were examined and compared in these two groups. RESULTS The number of eosinophils, activated eosinophils, and neutrophils was higher in paranasal sinus effusion from patients with allergic sinusitis. The concentration of interleukin-5 was higher in the effusion of allergic sinusitis patients. In addition, more eosinophils and activated eosinophils infiltrated into the sinus mucosa of patients with allergic sinusitis. CONCLUSION The type I allergic reaction has a significant role in the pathogenesis of sinusitis arising in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Classification and culture of spiral ligament fibrocytes from mice

In this study, we established an immunocytochemical strategy to classify the fibrocytes of the murine spiral ligament (SL), and SL cultures were characterized. Similar to those in other mammals, three different types of fibrocytes were identified. Type I fibrocytes, which are found lateral to the stria vascularis, showed positive immunoreactivity for caldesmon and S-100 protein and were not stained for sodium-potassium-adenosinetriphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase). Type II fibrocytes are located lateral to the spiral prominence epithelium and suprastrial region, and they were distinguishable by their positive staining for Na-K-ATPase. Type III fibrocytes, which are found adjacent to bone in the inferior region of the SL, contained caldesmon but not S-100 or Na-K-ATPase. Secondary cultures from the SL were positive for caldesmon and S-100 and negative for Na-K-ATPase, suggesting that these cells were type I fibrocytes. The present immunocytochemical approach was useful for the classification of murine fibrocyte cultures, and these cultures may benefit future immunological studies of the inner ear because mice have been well characterized immunologically.

Effects of anti-allergic drugs on substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in nasal secretions.

To clarify the effects of anti-allergic drugs on substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in nasal secretions, we employed competitive enzyme-linked immunoassays to measure concentrations of those neuropeptides in nasal secretions from 40 patients with house dust nasal allergy before and after administration of azelastine and oxatomide. One mg of azelastine and 30 mg of oxatomide were administrated twice a day for 4 weeks. Mean values of SP concentrations and ratios of SP to total protein of the nasal allergy group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.002). The VIP/total protein ratio of the allergy group was also significantly higher than that of the control group, although the VIP concentration alone was not. Mean levels of SP and VIP from patients with severe symptoms were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05), although those values were not significantly different between patients with moderate symptoms and control subjects. Azelastine and oxatomide effectively reduced SP levels in nasal secretions (p < 0.005), but they did not significantly decrease VIP levels. The reduction of SP levels was significant in patients with excellent responses to those drugs (p < 0.005), but not in patients with poor responses. These findings suggest that SP and VIP levels in nasal secretions may reflect the clinical state of nasal allergy and be one of the better parameters available for evaluating the clinical efficacy of anti-allergic drugs against nasal allergy.