Y. Majima

Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Under Various Conditions

We applied the tagged-particle method or the saccharin method or both to the nasal mucociliary clearance. There was no effect of ageing on the transport time of saccharin in control subjects of ages under 60, and 70% of control subjects of ages more than 60 had the same transport time as that obtained in younger control subjects. The significant inverse correlation between the mucociliary transport rates with the particle method and the transport time with the saccharin method were established in control subjects, but not, however, in patients with chronic sinusitis. The mucociliary transport rates were measured under non-physiologic conditions of the nose: laryngectomy, chronic sinusitis, Sjögrens syndrome, and Kartageners syndrome.

The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucus.

SummaryWe have evaluated the effect of serratiopeptidase (SER), a proteolytic enzyme, on the elasticity and viscosity of the nasal mucus in adult patients with chronic sinusitis. SER was administered in a dose of 30mg/day orally for 4 weeks. Nasal mucus was collected from the nasal cavities of each patient before (week 0) and 4 weeks after the start of the medication (week 4). The storage modulus (G′) and the dynamic viscosity (η′) of each specimen of nasal mucus were determined by an oscillating sphere magnetic rheometer at frequencies of 0.5, 1, 5, 10 and 20 Hz at a constant temperature of 25° C. The dynamic viscosity (η′) of the mucus at week 4 was significantly lower than that at week 0 (at frequencies of 5, 10 and 20 Hz). No significant differences were observed in the storage modulus (G′) between the mucus at week 0 and week 4. SER reduced the viscosity but not the elasticity of the nasal mucus. These findings are discussed in relation to mucociliary clearance.

Secondary syphilis of the tonsil.

SummaryAn 18-year-old man with an ulceration of his right tonsil and cervical lymphadenopathy was examined. The patient also had a papular eruption in his face, chest, abdomen, and upper extremities. There were no signs of genital involvement. Routine serological tests for syphilis were reactive and histological findings of a cervical lymph node biopsy were characteristic for syphilitic lymphadenitis. Spirochetes were also identified in the tissue sections. A diagnosis of secondary syphilis of the tonsil with cervical syphilitic lymphadenitis was made. In recent years, the number of new cases of syphilis has increased in Japan. Since the oral cavity is the most common extragenital site of syphilis, clinicians should bear in mind that oral lesions from an unknown cause might possibly be syphilitic.

Glycoprotein analysis of middle ear effusions by rectin-conjugated sepharose affinity chromatography

SummaryWe analyzed the composition of glycoproteins in serous and mucoid middle ear effusions (MEE) collected from patients with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME), and compared this with plasma glycoproteins, using rectin-conjugated sepharose. The concentration ratio of rectin-absorbed glycoproteins to total protein concentration in serous MEE resembled that in plasma, although mucoid MEE had a higher concentration ratio than that of the serous effusions. By SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, the molecular weight pattern of glycoproteins adsorbed to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) gel in serous MEE was more similar to that in plasma than in the mucoid effusions. Using 2-mercaptoethanol, the basic low-molecular-weight components of the glycoproteins were almost identical in MEE and in plasma. Our findings show that mucoid MEE has a greater amount of plasma and epithelial glycoproteins than does serous fluid. The composition of these latter substances is more similar to that of plasma glycoproteins. The strong disulfide bonds present in glycoproteins may significantly contribute to the physicochemical properties of mucoid MEE.

The Vdelta1 T cell receptor repertoire in human nasal mucosa.

The γ/δ T cells play important roles as the first line of defence in mucosal immunity. Vδ1 bearing T cells comprise the major population of γ/δ T cells in the human nasal mucosa. Recently, it was reported that certain receptors are predominant at given anatomical locations. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the γ/δ T‐cell receptor repertoire in human nasal mucosa. Nasal epithelia were scraped and peripheral blood were obtained from three healthy volunteers. We performed reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis and characterized the junctional sequences of Vδ1 T‐cell receptor (TCR) transcripts. Vγ and Vδ gene usage in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in right and left nasal mucosa were almost the same, but they were different from those in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The VDJ sequence of nasal Vδ1 T‐cell receptor transcripts showed diversity and were different for each individual. Vδ1 in the IELs were rearranged to Jδ1 and Vδ1 in the PBLs were rearranged not only to Jδ1 but also to Jδ3. Vδ1 sequences in the IELs in the nasal mucosa showed no overlap with those in the PBLs. These results indicate that γ/δ T cells in the nose are organ specific lymphocytes.

Effect of Lipopolysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae on Ciliary Activity of the Human Nasal Mucosa and Bullfrog Palate Clearance

The influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Haemophilus influenzae on the ciliary activity of human nasal mucosa was first studied using both a photo-oscillographic apparatus and by bullfrog palate clearance. Neither modification of cilialy activity nor change in bullfrog palate clearance was observed in the early phase after the administration of LPS.

A comparative study of the ciliary area of the maxillary sinus mucosa and computed tomographic images.

Abstract The ciliary area of the maxillary sinus mucosa and coronal sinus computed tomographic (CT) scans were studied in 36 maxillary sinuses of 28 patients with chronic sinusitis. Tissue specimens allowed ciliary surfaces to be observed under scanning electron microscopy, allowing surfaces to be expressed in terms of ciliary area (CA) as the percentage of mucosal surface occupied by cilia. The opacity produced by mucosal swelling and secretion in the maxillary sinus on CT was assessed by two methods: Min’s and modified van der Veken’s methods. Both techniques indicated an inverse correlation between opacity of the maxillary sinus and CA. Our findings suggest that the opacity of maxillary sinus on CT could be a significant parameter for predicting the surface conditions of ciliated maxillary mucosa prior to sinus surgery.