BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) frequently coexists with allergic rhinitis (AR) and nasal polyp. The eosinophil is known to play a pivotal role in allergic reaction and chronic inflammation of respiratory epithelium in paranasal sinus. Therefore, we evaluated the peripheral eosinophilia (PE) in patients with CRS and then investigated its relationship with the AR. We also investigated the correlation of the prevalence of nasal polyp with the incidence of nasal polyp and the severity of PNS CT scoring. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred and three CRS patients who had persisting symptoms more than 3 months and were refractory to medical management were enrolled. Thirty-six patients with AR only were selected on the basis of allergy rhinitis workup and PNS CT. PE was defined as eosinophil count of more than 4% of the peripheral differential blood count. The scoring system of PNS CT imaging was adopted from Ikeda, et al. RESULTS: CRS with AR had the higher prevalence of PE and nasal polyp (p=0.005 and p=0.046, respectively) than non-AR. CRS with AR had the higher prevalence rate of PE than AR (p=0.001). PE was not related with the prevalence of nasal polyp in the presence of CRS with AR. Peripheral eosinophil partition rate also did not correlate with severity of PNS CT score, irrespective of AR. There was no statistical difference in PNS CT score between AR group and non-AR group, either. CONCLUSION: CRS with AR may be associated with nasal polyp and PE but PE itself had no relationship with the disease severity on PNS CT and prevalence of nasal polyp in the presence of CRS.
Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Nasal Polyps ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhino-sinusitis and persistent allergic rhinitis is often cited as risk factor for developing adenoid hypertrophy or adenoiditis, but this relationship has not been studied extensively. In this study, we evaluated the mucosal barrier, squamous changes of ciliated epithelium, IgA secretion and BCL-6 expression in adenoids, and adenoid size. METHODS: Six children with allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, nine children with only allergic rhinitis, nine children with only sinusitis and six children without any history of allergic rhinitis and sinusitis were enrolled. H-E stain of adenoid for squamous metaplasia, immunohistochemical study of adenoid for IgA and BCL-6, cytokeratin stain for evaluation of mucosal barrier and lateral view X-ray for adenoid size were performed. ANOVA test was used in the analysis and data showing p value of less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The number of ciliated cells had tendency to be decreased and squamous metaplasia had tendency to be increased in three experimental groups (p>0.05). Deterioration of mucosal barrier had tendency to be detected in three experimental groups than control group (p>0.05). BCL-6 had tendency to be increased and IgA secretion had tendency to be decreased in three experimental groups (p>0.05). There is no difference in adenoid size between three experimental groups and control group. CONCLUSION: Despite the expectation that adenoid would be affectecd by allergic rhinitis and rhino-sinusitis, we found no evidence for influence of adenoid immunity.
Adenoids* ; Child ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Immunoglobulin A ; Keratins ; Metaplasia ; Rhinitis* ; Risk Factors ; Sinusitis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic suppurative otitis media is one of the most common diseases in the otologic field. Along with development and widespread use of antibiotics, the kinds of pathogenic microorganisms and their resistance to antibiotics have been changed. It is thus significant to know the current trend of species and resistance rates of pathogens for choosing appropriate antibiotics. To investigate the current bacteriology of chronic suppurative otitis media and compare the current results with previous results. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study about chronic otitis media patients with otorrhea was performed from Jan, 2000 to Dec, 2005. RESULTS: The most commonly identified pathogenic bacterium was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The next frequent pathogenic organisms were Pseudomonas, Coagulase (-) Staphylococcus (CNS) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). CONCLUSION: There was difference between the results of the present study and previous results regarding pathogenic organisms and antibiotics-sensitivity. Continuous and periodic surveillance about pathogens and antibiotics resistance is necessary to guide appropriate antibacterial therapy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteriology ; Coagulase ; Humans ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus