Mycetomas of paranasal sinuses are more frequently diagnosed with the widespread use of nasal endoscopy and computed tomography (CT). We present a series of 109 cases treated by functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with a mean follow-up of 29 months. All localizations were seen, and contrary to what was initially thought, seven cases presented in multiple sites. Several clinical presentations were found, from a pansinusal involvement to a simple mycetoma hanging in a superior meatus. A heterogeneous sinus opacity with microcalcifications on CT scan is very suggestive of the diagnosis, but a homogeneous opacity may be encountered even with bone lysis. FESS was performed in all cases to obtain a wide opening of the affected sinuses, permitting a careful extraction of all fungal material. In the postoperative period, no medical treatment is prescribed. With a mean follow-up of 29 months, only four recurrences were seen. This study reinforces the interest in FESS for cases of mycetoma of the paranasal sinuses.

An exclusively endoscopic management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma appears to be effective for small to medium tumors. It should be considered as a first-choice option for these cases (in view of the minimal bleeding, shorter duration, and efficacy).

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SUMMARY:To investigate the role of P. aeruginosa virulence factors in the repair of human airway epithelial cells (HAEC) in culture, we evaluated the effect of stationary-phase supernatants from the wild-type strain PAO1 on cell migration, actin cytoskeleton distribution, epithelial integrity during and after repair of induced wounds, and the balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP). PAO1 supernatant altered wound repair by slowing the migration velocity in association with altered actin cytoskeleton polymerization in the lamellipodia of migrating airway epithelial cells and delaying or inhibiting the restoration of epithelial integrity after wound closure. PAO1 virulence factors overactivated two of the gelatinolytic enzymes, MMP-2 and MMP-9, produced by HAEC during repair. During HAEC repair in the presence of PAO1 virulence factors, enhanced MMP-2 activation was associated with decreased rates of its specific inhibitor TIMP-2, whereas enhanced MMP-9 activation was independent of changes of its specific inhibitor TIMP-1. These inhibitory effects were specific to P. aeruginosa elastase-producing strains (PAO1 and lipopolysaccharide-deficient AK43 strain); supernatants from P. aeruginosa strain elastase-deficient PDO240 and Escherichia coli strain DH5 ␣ had no inhibitory effect. To mimic the effects of P. aeruginosa, we further analyzed HAEC wound closure in the presence of increasing concentrations of activated MMP-9 or MMP-2. Whereas increasing concentrations of active MMP-9 accelerated repair, excess activated MMP-2 generated a lower migration velocity. All these data demonstrate that P. aeruginosa virulence factors, especially elastase, may impede airway epithelial wound closure by altering cell motility and causing an imbalance between pro-and activated forms of MMP-2. (Lab Invest 2000, 80:209-219).

The aim of this work was to study the bacterial flora of purulent secretions during chronic rhinosinusitis. We studied a total of 533 patients divided into two groups. The control population consisted of 139 adults (> 16 years) of both sexes seen in the community or hospitalized for less than 72 hours for non-rhinological conditions. The rhinosinusitis group consisted of 394 patients referred to the ENT clinic with chronic rhinosinusitis. All the patients with rhinosinusitis had had a post-nasal discharge for at least three months, associated with purulent or mucopurulent secretions originating from the involved sinus cavity. All samples were obtained endonasally under endoscopic guidance from the sinus ostium or from the sinus cavity during surgery. Cultures were positive in 81.3 per cent of the control subjects and 83.1 per cent of the patients with rhinosinusitis.Corynebacteria, coagulase-negative staphylococci, propionibacteria and peptostreptococci were the main commensal organisms, whileHaemophilus influenzae, streptococci,Streptococcus pneumoniae, Prevotellaspp andFusobacteriumspp were probable causative pathogens. Anaerobes were isolated from approximately 25 per cent of the patients in the rhinosinusitis group. Betalactamase producers represented 27.5 per cent ofH. influenzaeand 28 per cent ofPrevotellaspp isolates. Diminished susceptibility to penicillin was found in 13 per cent ofS. pneumoniaeisolates. The amoxycillin-clavulanate combination was the most active oral antibiotic tested against the pathogenic species in vitro.