Yuko Shiba

Surgical treatment of olfactory disturbance caused by ethmoid sinusitis.

Eleven patients with olfactory disturbances caused by inflammation of the ethmoid sinuses are reviewed, and the functional results of endonasal surgery are evaluated.Rhinoscopic examination showed the presence of a purulent discharge and mucosal thickening of the superior meatus.Radiographic examination showed opacity in the ethmoid sinus and the olfactory region.A standard olfactory acuity test, each side separately in 9 patients and both sides together in 2 patients (20 tests in 11 patients), and an intravenous olfaction test with alinamine were performed before and after surgery.The standard olfactory acuity test showed that 16 out of 20 (80%) recovered more than 1 grade in the detection threshold, and 15 out of 20 (75%) recovered more than 1 grade in the recognition threshold after endonasal ethmoidectomy.We conclude that patients with olfactory disturbance caused by ethmoid sinusitis can expect good results of surgical treatment.

.BETA.-Adrenergic function on nasal mucosa of the patients with allergic rhinitis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the jS-adrenergic function on the nasal mucosa of the patients with allergic rhinitis who showed positive skin test, positive provocation test and eosinophilia in their nasal secretion.The cells, which were scraped from the mucous blanket on the nasal mucosa using a small curette, released histamine after the challenge of allergen (×10 house dust), but this release was inhibited 5 minutes after incubation with 10-4 or 10-5M of 1-isoproterenol. The cells from mucous blanket were also incubated in the Tris ACM buffer with or without 10-5M of 1-isoproterenol, and cyclic AMP levels in the cells were measured using radio-immunoassay. The levels of cyclic AMP incubated with 1-isoproterenol were four times higher than those without 1-isoproterenol.Nasal provocation was performed using the disk method. Nasal resistance was measured by the combined rhinomanometry and sneezes, nasal secretion and swelling of the turbinate were observed for 5 minutes after provocation. The increase of nasal airway resistance and allergen-induced nasal symptoms caused by provocation was inhibited after spraying 1-isoproterenol. This responsiveness to 1-isoproterenol as Radrenostimulant suggested that the adenyl cyclase activity and adrenoceptor function of the cells on the nasal mucosa were normal in the patients with nasal allergy.