BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The animal model of allergic rhinitis is important to study the pathophysiology of allergy and to design an effective therapy to ameliorate allergic diseases. Despite of numerous reported animal models of allergic rhinitis, there were few reports of murine model sensitized with house dust mite, which is one of the most common antigen that induce allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was the establishment of the murine model for house dust mite allergy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were sensitized with Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) crude extract in complete Freund's adjuvant and repetitive intranasal instillation of Der f extract a total of 6 times at 1 week intervals (group A). In some mice, allergen was intranasally instilled at 1 week intervals without sensitization of allergen (group B). RESULTS: After allergen challenge, nasal symptoms were significantly increased in group A mice. Histopathologically, the number of eosinophil in nasal mucosa were also significantly increased in group A and B mice. High level of Der f-specific IgE antibody was observed in group A mice, whereas those of group B mice was low. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that house dust mite allergy can be developed by systemic sensitization of Der f extract with adjuvant and intranasal instillation of allergen. This is more effective method than local sensitization of allergen only.
Animals ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust* ; Eosinophils ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Nasal Mucosa ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Rhinitis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The classic immunotherapy has the inconvenience and the risk of anaphylaxis. Recent reports revealed that immunostimulatory DNA sequences (CpG motif, ISS-ODN) have been shown to act as strong Th1 response-inducing adjuvants and DNA based vaccination might be an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of allergic disease. In our study, we investigated whether ISS-ODN have anti-allergic effect in the mouse rhinitis model of Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f), the most common allergen in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHOD: C57BL/6 mice were sensitized with crude extract of Der f extract. After injection of ISS-ODN, several parameters of allergic response were evaluated. RESULTS: Injection with ISS-ODN suppressed itching symptom, eosinophilic infiltration into nasal mucosa and the splenic T cell proliferation after Der f allergen challenge in the murine model of allergic rhinitis. However, injection with ISS-ODN did not show a detectable Der f-specific IgE suppression. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested ISS-ODN have an anti-allergic effect in the allergic rhinitis model of Der f allergen. House dust mite allergy can be reduced by the injection with ISS-ODN.
Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Proliferation ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; DNA ; Eosinophils ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; Pruritus ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis* ; Vaccination

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma mainly occurring in the tongue base, hypopharynx, larynx and the mouth floor. Histologically, this tumor has two cell types, the basaloid cell and the squamous cell. Prognosis of this tumor was reported to be worse than that of squamous cell carcinoma due to its aggressive behavior. We experienced a case of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma in the mobile tongue, which had no mucosal involvement.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Hypopharynx ; Larynx ; Mouth Floor ; Prognosis ; Tongue*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ciliary activity of respiratory epithelium is affected in allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into an unsensitized control group and sensitized allergic group. The sensitized group was immunized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin, followed by intranasal administration of ovalbumin. Allergy was determined by an increase in nasal symptoms, the number of tissue eosinophils and a positive result to a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test. Nasal, nasopharyneal, tracheal, and bronchial epithelial cells were obtained from both the control and allergic groups. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured using a video-computerized analysis technique in vitro. We compared the CBF of two groups in each site. We also evaluated the findings of the nasal mucosa of both groups with an scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: In vitro CBF measurement demonstrated that the CBF of the control and allergic groups did not differ significantly (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: CBF is not affected by respiratory allergy.
Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells* ; Hypersensitivity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Rhinitis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Aloe is one of the well known substances to decrease inflammation and promote wound healing. Although little is known about its mechanism, recent studies suggest that aloe vera extracts may have the anti-allergic effect by inhibiting the mediator release evoked by mast cell activation. Therefore, we were to investigate the effect of NY945, a glycoprotein fraction of Aloe vera, on nasal mucosa of the ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized guinea pigs. Materials and Methods: Female Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs were sensitized with intraperitoneal injection and subsequent inhalation of OVA. NY945 was injected intraperitonealy before intranasal challenge of OVA with an ultrasonic nebulizer. Airway resistance, mucosal permeability, histamine concentration in the nasal lavage fluid, the number of mast cells and eosinophils in nasal mucosa and serum level of OVA -specific IgE were evaluated. RESULTS: NY945 effectively inhibited respiratory airway resistance in the sensitized guinea pigs. The concentration of dye into nasal lavage fluid was rapidly increased after OVA instillation and NY945 inhibited the OVA -induced microvascular dye leakage. OVA inhalation to sensitized guinea pig resulted in prominent increase of histamine concentration in the nasal lavage fluid. This response was inhibited by intraperitoneal NY945 injection. It also inhibited accumulation of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa in sensitized guinea pigs. However, there was no change in the serum OVA -specific IgE level between the NY945 treated and control group. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that NY945 inhibits early allergic reaction via inhibition of histamine release and eosinophil infiltration.
Airway Resistance ; Aloe* ; Animals ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Glycoproteins* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Inhalation ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mast Cells ; Nasal Lavage Fluid ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Permeability ; Ultrasonics ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVES: This study quantifies the efficacy of a short-term systemic steroid therapy in the patients with anosmia or hyposmia using the butanol threshold test (BTT) and the visual analogue scale (VAS). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty patients with anosmia or hyposmia were included in this study from June 1996 through April 1997. The patients were divided into inflammatory and noninflammatory groups depending on the etiology. We evaluated the patients before and after the systemic steroid admi-nistration using both BTT and VAS. RESULTS: Overall improvements of olfactory function was observed upto 70% by BTT and 53% by VAS, and the therapeutic effect of steroid on olfactory malfunction was statistically significant (p=0.0001). Improvements in the olfaction was measured by BTT, which correlated strongly with the measurements by VAS with statistical significance (r=0.77578, p=0.0001). The inflammatory group showed better steroid response (83%) than the noninflammatory group (61%), but there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The systemic steroid administration may be effective in the treatment of olfactory disturbance with a good correlation between BTT and VAS.
Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Humans ; Olfaction Disorders ; Smell

The lingual thyroid is the most common manilestation of benign ectopic thyroid tissue, but is still a rare clinical entity. As a result, attempts at management may prove to be rather confusing. It may present with symptoms of dysphagia, upper airway obstruction or even hemorrhage at any time from infancy through adulthood. Therefore, clinical findings, laboratory tests, and radiographic imaging studies should be employed in confirming the diagnosis and appropriate planning treatment, keeing in mind that the primary therapeutic goal is to restore the thyroid function. We report two cases of lingual thyroid gland with the review otliterature.
Airway Obstruction ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Lingual Thyroid* ; Thyroid Dysgenesis ; Thyroid Gland ; Tongue Diseases

Massive congenital intracranial teratoma is a very rare. We report the prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of a massive intracranial teratoma in a 323 weeks pregnancy associated with severe hydrocephalus and polyhydroamnios. Prenatal ultrasound revealed a large heterogeneous echoic mass which almost replaced the normal intracranial structure. By transabdominal and transvaginal cephalocentesis, fetus was terminated vaginally and safely. We have reviewed with attention to clinical presentation, sonographic characteristics and associated findings and man-agement and prognosis of massive congenital intracranial teratoma.
Diagnosis ; Fetus ; Hydrocephalus ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Teratoma* ; Ultrasonography

The aims of this study are to compare the efficacy and side effects of intranasal budesonide as a dry powder and as a freonpropelled pressurized aerosol in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis and to assess the difference in compliance with the powder and aerosol. The study design was a randomized, double-blind crossover between two treatment groups over a six-week period. Twelve patients with symptomatic perennial allergic rhinitis received 400 microgram of intranasal budesonide administered daily as two puffs/nostril/day of the drug delivered by a freon-propelled aerosol for the first three weeks and as one inhalation/nostril/day of the pure drug powder for the next three weeks. Fourteen adults with allergic rhinitis received the drug in the reverse sequence. Patients recorded daily symptoms on diaries, and, at each clinic visit, adverse effects were recorded. Compliance with the powder and with the aerosol was also evaluated. During the six weeks, there were significant improvements in symptoms in both treatment groups, and the differences in efficacy and compliance with the medication between the two groups were not significant. Adverse effects included headaches, epistaxis, and nasal dryness ; however, they were not serious and equally distributed in the two groups. We conclude that powder and aerosolized budesonide improve the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis significantly with little difference in efficacy, side effects, and preference.
Adult ; Ambulatory Care ; Budesonide* ; Compliance ; Epistaxis ; Headache ; Humans ; Rhinitis*

The aims of this study are to compare the efficacy and side effects of intranasal budesonide as a dry powder and as a freonpropelled pressurized aerosol in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis and to assess the difference in compliance with the powder and aerosol. The study design was a randomized, double-blind crossover between two treatment groups over a six-week period. Twelve patients with symptomatic perennial allergic rhinitis received 400 microgram of intranasal budesonide administered daily as two puffs/nostril/day of the drug delivered by a freon-propelled aerosol for the first three weeks and as one inhalation/nostril/day of the pure drug powder for the next three weeks. Fourteen adults with allergic rhinitis received the drug in the reverse sequence. Patients recorded daily symptoms on diaries, and, at each clinic visit, adverse effects were recorded. Compliance with the powder and with the aerosol was also evaluated. During the six weeks, there were significant improvements in symptoms in both treatment groups, and the differences in efficacy and compliance with the medication between the two groups were not significant. Adverse effects included headaches, epistaxis, and nasal dryness ; however, they were not serious and equally distributed in the two groups. We conclude that powder and aerosolized budesonide improve the symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis significantly with little difference in efficacy, side effects, and preference.
Adult ; Ambulatory Care ; Budesonide* ; Compliance ; Epistaxis ; Headache ; Humans ; Rhinitis*