BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The basic principle of microdialysis is to mimic the function of a capillary blood vessel by perfusing physiologic liquid implanted into the target tissue. Amino acids are supposed to have functions for controlling the homeostasis of normal nasal mucosa and a role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. However, no studies have been conducted about the existence of amino acids in the nasal cavity. This study measures the concentration of 19 amino acids found in the nasal cavity of normal control and experimentally allergy-induced animal model in order to evaluate the difference in the concentration of amino acids between normal and allergic nasal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHOD: An experimentally induced nasal allergy model was developed by intraperitoneal and intranasal sensitization with ovalbumin in Dunkin-Hartely guinea pigs according to a programmed protocol. A microdialysis probe was designed to be suitable to nasal mucosa using a Cuprophan hollow fiber (200 micrometer inner diameter, 300 micrometer outer diameter, 45 kDa molecular weight cut-off, Fitral, AN 69-HF). After verification of the probe, microdialysis was performed in the inferior turbinate submucosa of normal control (N=8) and experimental (N=8) groups. The concentration of 19 amino acids was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed using a student t-test. RESULTS: All 19 amino acids were validated at various concentrations in the nasal cavity. Glutamate (p=0.036) and GABA (p<0.001) concentrations were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The 19 amino acids measured existed in the nasal cavity at various concentrations, and the concentrations of glutamate and GABA were significantly higher in the allergy group than in the control group. The microdialysis technique is a powerful tool not only to measure endogenous substances for target organ chemistry but also to pharmacokinetically evaluate exogenous drug delivery processes in the nasal cavity.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Chemistry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutamic Acid ; Guinea Pigs ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Microdialysis* ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Weight ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Rhinitis ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Telomerase activity appears to be associated with cell immortalisation and malignant progres-sion. Telomerase activity has been found in the majority of human tumours, but not in most somatic cells or tissues. We studied the change in the telomerase activity by cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in head and neck cancer cell lines. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three different human head and neck cancer cell lines (PNUH-12, SNU-899, HEp-2) were studied. Cell cytotoxi-city and change of telomerase activity by 5-FU and cisplatin treatment were assessed by MTT and TRAP assays. RESULTS: The telomerase activity was detected in the head and neck cancer cell lines. After the cisplatin treatment, the telomerase activity was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. However, after 5-FU treatment, the telomerase activity showed a slight decrease or no change at the concentration similar to that of cisplatin in the inhibition of tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Our results can explain one of the reasons why cisplatin is more effective than 5-FU in the chemotherapy of head and neck cancer.
Cell Line* ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Head* ; Humans ; Telomerase*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was done to evaluate the safety of Gore-Tex as a nasal implant. Materials and METHOD: A retrospective multicenter study was carried out on 15 surgeons from 11 general hospitals and 4 private practice clinics regarding the safety of the Gore-Tex as a nasal implant. The study involved 853 patients, of whom 656 received primary surgery and 197 revision surgery. Gore-Tex was mainly used as a dorsal implant in a form of sheet or as a reinforced nasal implant. RESULTS: The overall complication rate associated with Gore-Tex was 2.5% (21 cases). Infection was the most common complication (18 cases ; 2.1%) followed by 2 cases of seroma and 1 case of persistent nasal swelling. In 19 out of 21 complication cases, the graft needed removal to control the infection or seroma (91% removal rate). Nine cases of infection developed in both primary cases (1.37%) and in revision cases (4.57%), which suggests a higher association rate between infection and revision cases (p=0.0062). Infection developed within 1 month in 5 cases while 9 cases developed infection after 6 months of operation. Other complications such as aesthetic problems (malpositioning of the implant or dorsal irregularities) were found in 15 cases (1.8%) and hematoma in 1 case. CONCLUSION: The infection rate of Gore-Tex used in rhinoplasty was about 2% and it rose significantly in the revision cases. If infected, almost all of the implanted Gore-Tex needs removal; therefore, we suggest judicious use of Gore-Tex in rhinoplasty.
Hematoma ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Private Practice ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinoplasty* ; Seroma ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The reports of normative measurements for inner ear structure using computer-based programs are rare. The purpose of this study was to measure the normative data of the Korean inner ear structures and establish the basic data for diagnosis of congenital inner ear anomaly. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Temporal bone CT of 38 patients (16 men and 22 women) without apparent disease of middle and inner ear, fractures or major disorder such as seizure or tumor were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen dimensions on axial views and 9 dimensions on coronal views were measured in PACS using pi-view program. The slice thickness of CT was 0.6 mm. RESULTS: From the axial view, the canal diameter of SSCC was 1.09+/-0.15 mm, the bony island width was 5.70+/-0.50 mm, the bony island width of LSCC was 3.99+/-0.58 mm, the cochlear upper turn width & height were each 5.63+/-1.07 and 3.03+/-0.65 mm. The vestibular aqueduct were observed 95.3%. From the coronal view, the cochlear height was 5.14+/-0.36 mm. The length of IAC was significantly longer in male than female (p<0.05) and the opening site of IAC was significantly wider in the left than the right (p<0.05). The upper turn of cochlea in good bone conduction (< or =10 B) had larger width and smaller height than those in poor bone conduction (>10 dB). CONCLUSION: We established the Korean normative measurements of the inner ear structures, which can be used for further diagnosis of the inner ear anomaly.
Bone Conduction ; Cochlea ; Diagnosis ; Ear, Inner* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Temporal Bone* ; Vestibular Aqueduct

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes according to surgical approach of extranasal, endonasal endoscopic, and a combined approach of the two, suggesting the indication of each surgical approach for excision of sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifty-six IP patients who had been operated at the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pusan National University Hospital from January, 1995 to March, 2001 were retrospectively assessed. The patients were arbitrarily divided into three groups such as excision through extranasal approach (EEA), endonasal endoscopic excision (EEE), and EEE combined with Caldwell-Luc's approach (EEE+C-L) group. RESULTS: The most commonly affected sites by CT/MRI preoperatively was the nasal cavity followed in the decreasing order of frequency by maxillary, ethmoid, sphenoid, and frontal sinus. In the EEA group, the originated sites were the nasal cavity (2/6), maxillary (1/6), and frontal sinus (2/6). In the EEE group, the origin sites by operative findings were the nasal cavity (30/41), maxillary (5/41), sphenoid (3/41), and ethmoid (2/41) sinus. In the EEE+C-L group, eight cases (8/9) originated from the maxillary sinus. There were six cases associated with malignant tumors, five synchronous and one metachronous, treated combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. A total of eight cases recurred during the follow-up period. The recurrence rate was 16.6% (1/6) in EEA, 14.6% (6/41) in EEE and 10.1% (1/9) in EEE+C-L group, and there was no significant difference according to surgical approaches. CONCLUSION: EEE yielded a successful outcome only when the IP was limited to the originating sites of nasal cavity, medial and upper wall of maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, and sphenoid sinus. The complete removal of the tumor by EEE alone could not be achieved when the tumor was originated from the anterior, inferior, and posterolateral wall of maxillary sinus, requiring application of C-L's approach at the same time. EEA can be used with more benefits than EEE when the tumor is originated from the frontal sinus or when the mass tends to invade extensively.
Busan ; Drug Therapy ; Endoscopy ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Nasal Cavity ; Otolaryngology ; Papilloma, Inverted* ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Sinus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Performing oncologically safe, wide surgical excisions and postoperative volumetric restoration of resected tongues to gain functional recovery are contrary problems to deal with in performing glossectomy. There is no report about the volumetric restoration of a resected tongue according to resecting devices until now. The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of postoperative volumetric changes of a resected tongue using a scalpel, electrocautery and laser with or without closure. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We used 12 rabbits for each group according to the resecting devices and also equally divided each group according to the closure or non-closure method. The volumetric changes of a resected tongue were measured by the Archimedes principles in one, two, three, and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: Regardless of resecting devices, the postoperative volume of a resected tongue was gradually increased as elapsed time. The nonclosure method was better than the closure method with respect to the volumetric restoration of the resected tongue regardless of the resecting devices, but there was no statistical significance of volumetric restoration between the closure and nonclosure methods in each group (p>0.05). The superior resecting device for the volumetric restoration of a resected tongue was diode laser, especially compared to electrocautry, in both closure and nonclosure method (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The volumetric restoration after resection of the tongue using laser and nonclosure method are superior to electrocautery and to the closure method, respectively.
Electrocoagulation* ; Glossectomy ; Lasers, Semiconductor* ; Rabbits ; Tongue*

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: In head and neck cancer including hypopharyngeal carcinoma, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil usually have been used as neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic agents. We investigated the difference in the influences of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the p53 protein expression and cell responses (cell cycle arrest and apoptosis) in the hypopharyngeal cell line (PHUH-12). METHOD: PNUH-12 with a mutant type p53 (one point mutation at the 78th base, C to G, in exon 7) was treated with cisplatin and 5-FU. Changes in the cell line were assessed by MTT assay, Western blotting (p53 and p21 protein), DNA fragmentation, PI stain, and DNA flow cytometry. RESULTS: The p53 protein expression was increased after the treatment with cisplatin and 5-FU. The expression of p21 protein was increased after the treatment with 5-FU, not cisplatin. With cisplatin, we observed apoptosis by DNA fragmentation and PI stain and the increased S phase on DNA flow cytometry. But, with 5-FU, we couldn't observe apoptosis by DNA fragmentation, PI, and flow cytometry and only the increased G1 phase on DNA flow cytometry. CONCLUSION: In hypopharyngeal cell line (PNUH-12), cisplatin induced p53 dependent apoptosis and 5-FU induced p53 and p21 dependent G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, but not apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line ; Cisplatin* ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Exons ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorouracil* ; G1 Phase ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Point Mutation ; S Phase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We tried to investigate the effectiveness of various methods of reinnervation including nerve-muscle pedicle transfer, nerve anastomosis, nerve implantation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Control group and experimental groups each consisted 5 rats, as follows: a denervated tibial nerve without reinnervation (control), a common peroneal nerve and 2X2 mm tibialis anterior muscle pedicle grafted to the denervated gastrocnemius muscle after the removal of epimysium (group I), a common peroneal nerve and 4X4 mm tibialis anterior muscle pedicle grafted to the denervated gastrocnemius muscle after the removal of epimysium (group II), a common peroneal nerve and 2X2 mm tibialis anterior muscle pedicle grafted to the denervated gastrocnemius muscle after removal of epimysium and part of muscle (group III), a common peroneal nerve and 4X4 mm tibialis anterior muscle pedicle grafted to the denervated gastrocnemius muscle after removal of epimysium and part of muscle (group IV), a common peroneal nerve and 2X2 mm tibialis anterior muscle pedicle inserted to the denervated gastrocnemius muscle (group V), a common peroneal nerve inserted to the denervated gastrocnemius muscle (group VI), and anastomesed common peroneal nerve to distal tibialis nerve (group VII). Electromyography, muscle contraction power study, histotological analysis and counting of motor end-plate were applied for estimating the reinnervation of denervated muscle. RESULTS: In motor nerve conduction studies, Group VII and III showed significantly higher amplitude of the compound muscle action potentials than other groups. In muscle contraction power studies, Group VII and III showed significantly powerful contraction. In histological analysis, group VII and III showed less muscle atrophy. The motor end-plate count was more in the groups VII, III, I, V, VI, II and IV in order. CONCLUSION: Nerve anastomosis and 2X2 mm nerve-muscle pedicle transfer showed more successful regeneration of denervated muscle than other reinnervation methods including nerve implantation.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Electromyography ; Motor Endplate ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Muscular Atrophy ; Nerve Transfer ; Neural Conduction ; Peroneal Nerve ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Tibial Nerve ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mast cell is a key cell in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. It is expected that apoptosis of mast cell is an important step that can lead to treatment of allergic rhinitis. Meanwhile, the cyclosporin A (CsA) is immunosuppresant agent to inhibit the action of various immune cells. The purpose of this study is to identify whether CsA directly induces apoptosis of mast cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHOD: After the culture of p815 cells, mouse mastocytoma cells, the cells were treated with 1 micrometer, 2 micrometer, 5 micrometer, and 10 micrometer CsA, and then LD50 of p815 cells were calculated by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay. For identification of apoptosis of p815 cells, electrophoresis and flow cytometry after CsA treatment were done and morphological changes in light microscope was observed. We also quantified apoptotic cells by TUNEL assay and Hoechst stain. RESULTS: The LD50 of p815 cells is 9.87 micrometer after CsA treatment during 24 hours, 6.11 micrometer during 48 hours and 6.21 micrometer during 72 hours. With the higher concentration of CsA treatment, the greater effect on apoptosis of p815 cells was revealed. We observed laddering pattern for DNA fragmentation in electrophoresis. Nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation of p815 cells was observed under the light microscope. Results of flow cytometry were similar to the MTT assay results. Quantification of apoptotic p185 cells by TUNEL assay and Hoechst stain were calculated. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of mast cells can be induced by CsA treatment in vitro.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Chromatin ; Cyclosporine* ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis ; Flow Cytometry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mast Cells* ; Mastocytoma ; Mice ; Rhinitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cancer invasion of the laryngeal cartilage is mainly found in the ossified portion of cartilage and contraindication for conservation surgery of laryngopharyngeal cancer. Thus, it is an important factor to consider in planning the management of laryngopharyngeal cancer. Computed tomographic (CT) scan is an useful tool for the evaluation of laryngopharyngeal cancer, but it is difficult to distinguish cancer invasion from non-ossified cartilage regions by the CT scan. Knowledge of the precise ossification pattern will be useful to determine the cancer invasion of laryngeal cartilage. The purposes of this study include ossi6cation pattern according to age, symmetry of ossification and incidence of bone marrow formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three cases of normal laryngeal CT scans which were reviewed by two radiologists. They were all males, ranging in the ages from 40 to 69 (mean age 53). Ossification degree (%) was measured from the inferior cornu in the thyroid cartilage and the superior border of the posterior lamina in the cricoid cartilage. Age relation and symmetry of ossification and incidence of bone marrow formation were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no correlation between age and degree of laryngeal cartilage ossification (p> 0.05). But there was symmetry and definite pattern of ossification. Symmetry of ossification was 84.9% in the thyroid cartilage. Incidence of bone marrow formation was 60.6% in the thyroid cartilage and 82.8% in the cricoid cartilage. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that there is no ossification-age relationship, but the symmetry and the definite pattern of ossification in the laryngeal cartilage are useful clues in determining the cancer invasion on CT scan.
Bone Marrow ; Cartilage ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laryngeal Cartilages* ; Male ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*