A simple diagnostic test has been performed for the evaluation of the patency of the lacrimal excretory system. A 1% Saccharine solution was instilled in the lower conjuctival cul-de-sac and then tastfd by the patknt when it reachd the oropharynx; this painless and effective test was performed in study using 100 subjects. The average time lapse between instillation and testing was 7 and 1/6 minutes. Of the 100 subjects, 46% had a positive taste response within 5 minutes, 79% within 10 minutes, 88% within 15 minutes, and 97% within 20 minutes.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Oropharynx ; Saccharin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There has been many attempts to find out the changes in the nasal mucociliary transport function under various conditions. In this study, we intended to determine if air in a sauna exerts any beneficial effect on the nasal mucociliary function using the saccharin method, which is regarded as the proper screening test for nasal mucociliary function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal healthy adults (16 men, 15 women) aged from 18 to 22 volunteered for this study. We measured each saccharin transit time (STT) twice, inside a room (25degreesC, 85%), a dry sauna (70degreesC, 85%), and a wet sauna (70degreesC, 100%), respectively. RESULTS: The average STT was 7.98+/-2.95 minutes at the room, 8.47+/-1.71 at the dry sauna, and 7.59+/-2.95 at the wet sauna. There was no meaningful relationships of STT among each condition (p=0.157). CONCLUSION: Air in a sauna has neither any beneficial effect on the nasal mucociliary function nor any harmful effect on it.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Saccharin ; Steam Bath*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effect of the hypertonic nasal douching solutions on mucociliary clearance was studied to ascertain the effect of hypertonic seawater. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight normal subjects were included in a randomized double -blind crossover trial. Hypertonic seawater (3%, Sinomarin(R)) was used as a hypertonic nasal douching solution. In order to determine the effect of hypertonic seawater on nasal mucosa, the mucociliary clearance was measured by the saccharin clearance time (SCT). RESULTS: The resultant SCT after administration of hypertonic seawater was significantly reduced compared with normal saline (0.9%)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This results showed that the hypertonic seawater improved mucociliary clearance time in the nasal cavity. The mechanism of this effect is probably brought about by changes in mucus viscoelastic properties.
Mucociliary Clearance* ; Mucus ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Saccharin ; Seawater* ; Therapeutic Irrigation

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied to evaluate the effects of alcohol ingestion on nasal mucosa over time and changes in mucociliary function after alcohol ingestion. Nasal patency was evaluated with acoustic rhinometry, and mucociliary clearance was measured with a saccharine test. RESULTS: The cross-sectional area of the I-notch and the Cnotch did not change after alcohol ingestion. The cross-sectional area of the posterior part of the nasal cavity (CA 6.4) indicated changes more prominently than that of the anterior part (CA 3.3). A significant reduction in total nasal volume was first noted at 1.5 hours after alcohol ingestion and lasted for 1.5 hours. The saccharine transit time did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: There was no acute impairment of mucociliary function at moderate concentrations of alcohol.
Eating ; Healthy Volunteers ; Mucociliary Clearance* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Saccharin

Mucociliary clearance of nasal cavity is one of the most important defense mechanism of the respiratory tract. Abnormalities in the mucociliary clearance may cause pathologic condition of nose and paranasal sinus. Fifty healthy volunteers with no rhinologic disorders were studied to determine the effect of phenylephrine spray on mucociliary clearance and nasal patency. Nasal patency was evaluated using acoustic rhinometry and mucociliary clearance was measured using saccharine method. The result shows that cross sectional area of C-notch increased after phenylephrine spray but mucociliary transit time was prolonged from 476 seconds to 624 seconds, which was statistically significant(p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that phenylephrine should be used judiciously in order to minimize the negative effect of mucociliary dysfunction.
Healthy Volunteers ; Mucociliary Clearance* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose ; Phenylephrine* ; Respiratory System ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Saccharin

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the functional and morphological changes of the nasal mucosa after radiotherapy in humans. MATERIALS & METHODS: We examined the pathology of the nasal mucociliary system by saccharine transport test and electron microscopy in 18 patients previously treated with radiation therapy. Each patient was asked about prevalence of nasal symptoms before and after radiation therapy with questionare. RESULTS: The patients who received radiation therapy had negative saccharine test results and noted higher prevalence of nasal crust, anosmia, epistaxis etc. after radiation therapy. There was the evidence of recovery from squamous metaplasia about 40 months after radiotherapy in electron microscopic examination. CONCLUSION: Although we could not confirm the results because of the small size of the samples and inconsistency of the duration and dosage of radiation, we found the evidence of recovery from squamous metaplsia. These results may be useful in taking counsel with patients about the complications of radiation therapy and the possibility of recovery of nasal symptoms.
Epistaxis ; Humans ; Metaplasia ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Olfaction Disorders ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Radiotherapy* ; Saccharin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adhesion and stenosis are important in causing poor results of sinus surgery. Mitomycin C (MMC) is an antibiotic-antineoplastic agent that decreases fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. This study was designed to observe the effect of intraoperative application of mitomycin C on the size of the antrostomy site and mucociliary clearance rate after an endoscopic sinus surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 20 patients diagnosed with chronic sinusitis with nasal polyp were used. After middle meatal antrostomy, a piece of merocel soaked with 0.04 mg/mL MMC 1.5 mL was applied on right antrostomy site for 5 minutes. Left antrostomy site was used as control without applying MMC. The antrostomy size was measured by using gauze instrument under endoscopy at operation, 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Mucocilliary clearance rate was assessed by saccharine time test after 2 weeks, 1, 3 and 6 month. RESULTS: The MMC group has showed lower incidence of stenosis, granulation and adhesion than the control group. At 1 month, the percentage of remaining antrostomy size was 61.6+/-31.6% in MMC group, whereas that of the control group was 46.9+/-23.3%. There was a significant difference in the antrostomy size between the two groups at 1 month, but there was no significant difference at 3 and 6 month. The saccharine time test between the two groups showed no significant difference after operation. CONCLUSION: The use of MMC will improve the success rate of sinus surgery if it is used as adjuvant therapy after antrostomy. Further study will be needed on the duration of application time, concentration of MMC and method.
Cicatrix ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endoscopy ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; Mitomycin* ; Mucociliary Clearance ; Nasal Polyps ; Saccharin ; Sinusitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nasal or sinus irrigation is the traditional treatment for chronic paranasal sinusitis and is the one of the most important postoperative care for those who have undergone functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). However the bases of any scientific evidence to determine efficacy of different concentrations of saline are lacking. The objective of this clinical study was to determine if nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) in vivo was improved significantly by the use of differently concentrated buffered saline nasal irrigations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The acute effect of NMC was measured using saccharin test in 20 volunteers without any significant sinonasal disease on four separate days, involving single administration of each of the followings: 1) atomized 0.65% saline; 2) atomized 0.9% saline; 3) atomized 3% saline; 4) atomized 7% saline. Normal subjects served as their own control using a saccharin test before any nasal irrigation was used, and then used one of four different concentrated saline solutions to irrigate their nose. Comparison of the change of NMC at different concentations was performed by using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: When compared to each control, the buffered 3% hypertonic saline improved mucociliary transit time of saccharin (p<0.05), whereas other concentrations of buffered saline had no such effect. CONCLUSION: We concluded that this hypertonic saline should be useful as nasal irrigation solution on medical and postoperative care of chronic paranasal sinusitis.
Mucociliary Clearance* ; Nasal Lavage* ; Nose ; Postoperative Care ; Saccharin ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic* ; Sinusitis ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nasal irrigation, a conventional therapy for both surgical and nonsurgical patients with a history of chronic rhinosinusitis, aids in the clearance of secretions, debris, and intranasal crusts. This is important in the postoperative period to reduce the risk of adhesions and to promote ostiomeatal patency. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a long-term nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline (3.0%) versus isotonic saline (0.9%) in the normal and postoperative group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the transit time of nasal mucociliary clearance with a saccharine test. In the normal control group I (n = 20), the mean transit times (MTTs) were measured before and after the irrigation with atomized saline of 0.9%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% concentrations. In the normal control group Il (n=19), MTTs were measured before and after the atomized 0.9%, 3% saline irrigation for two months. In the postoperative group (n=10), MTTs were measured after the irrigation with saline of 0.9% (right nasal cavity) & 3% (left nasal cavity) for one month. The symptom scores about nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea and the amount of nasal lavage contents were recorded daily. RESULTS: In the normal control group I, MTT of 3% saline irrigation was significantly shortened than those of isotonic and other hypertonic saline irrigation. In the normal control group II, MTT of 3% saline irrigation was gradually and significantly shortened compared with those of isotonic saline for two months. In the postoperative group, 3% saline irrigation had a significantly shorter MTT for one month and had a significantly more nasal lavage contents during 1st week than isotonic saline irrigation. CONCLUSION: A 3% hypertonic saline would be useful as a long-term nasal washing solution in both surgical and non-surgical patients with a history of chronic rhinosinusitis.
Humans ; Mucociliary Clearance* ; Nasal Lavage ; Nasal Lavage Fluid ; Postoperative Period ; Saccharin

The sweet taste receptors present in the taste buds are heterodimers comprised of T1R2 and T1R3. This receptor is also expressed in pancreatic beta-cells. When the expression of receptor subunits is determined in beta-cells by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the mRNA expression level of T1R2 is extremely low compared to that of T1R3. In fact, the expression of T1R2 is undetectable at the protein level. Furthermore, knockdown of T1R2 does not affect the effect of sweet molecules, whereas knockdown of T1R3 markedly attenuates the effect of sweet molecules. Consequently, a homodimer of T1R3 functions as a receptor sensing sweet molecules in beta-cells, which we designate as sweet taste-sensing receptors (STSRs). Various sweet molecules activate STSR in beta-cells and augment insulin secretion. With regard to intracellular signals, sweet molecules act on STSRs and increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ and/or cyclic AMP (cAMP). Specifically, when an STSR is stimulated by one of four different sweet molecules (sucralose, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin, or glycyrrhizin), distinct signaling pathways are activated. Patterns of changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ and/or cAMP induced by these sweet molecules are all different from each other. Hence, sweet molecules activate STSRs by acting as biased agonists.
Bias (Epidemiology)* ; Calcium ; Cyclic AMP ; Cytoplasm ; Insulin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Potassium ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Saccharin ; Sodium ; Taste Buds