We speculate that the posteroinferior end of the superior turbinate is the best landmark for identifying the natural ostium of the sphenoid sinus. Furthermore, the natural ostium should ideally be searched from a superior and medial aspect in relation to the posteroinferior end of the superior turbinate.

Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) is known to inhibit the release of acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve endings. Owing to the characteristics of BTA, we thought that it could be used for the treatment of intrinsic rhinitis acting as an anticholinergic drug. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study four units of BTA were injected into the middle turbinate (two units) and inferior turbinate (two units) in each nasal cavity. Rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, and sneezing were recorded in a symptom diary on the basis of a scale of 5 and the number of paper tissues used per day was also recorded for 24 weeks. Rhinorrhoea was significantly diminished in severity (24.1–41.5 per cent reduction) and paper tissue use (54.3 per cent reduction) in the BTA group compared with the placebo group. This effect could be maintained for four weeks. Sneezing and nasal stuffiness were not affected by BTA. These results suggest that BTA can be used to treat rhinorrhoea in intrinsic rhinitis patients, however, the effective period is short.

Objectives: Mucus hypersecretion is a characteristic feature in chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps. The objective of this study is to examine whether the polyp epithelium itself contributes to a certain extent to the increased mucous secretions in chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, and if it does, to determine which mucin genes are responsible for the increased mucin secretion. Methods: Three pooled samples of normal nasal epithelial cells from each subject were obtained by scrapings from the inferior turbinates of 30 h ealthy adult volunteer s and nasal polyps from 6 patients who underwent intranasal ethmoidectomy and polypectomy. Isolated epithelial cells were used for total RNA isolation for r everse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and cell lysates for immunoblotting. R esults: The intracellular level of mucin from polyp epithelium was 2.9 times higher than that of normal nasal epithelium (P < .05). Interestingly, MUC2 and MUC8 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were clearly upregulated in polyp epithelium compared with those of normal turbinate epithelium. Conclusions: Polyp epithelium can be considered to contribute in part to increased secretion in chronic sinusitis with polyps, and increased mucous secretion might be related to the increased mRNA level of MUC2 or MUCS or both.

Surfactant proteins (SPs), designated SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D, play an important role in surfactant metabolism and host defense mechanisms in the lung. This study investigates expression of the different SP types in human nasal mucosa and cultured normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells and whether the expression of SP mRNA is influenced by the degree of mucociliary differentiation. RT-PCR was performed with mRNA from cultured NHNE cells and nasal mucosa. Immunohistochemical staining for SPs was performed on nasal mucosa specimens. Western blot analysis was performed on cell lysates from cultured NHNE cells. SP-A2, SP-B, and SP-D mRNAs were expressed in normal NHNE cells and human nasal mucosa. SPs were localized in ciliated cells of the surface epithelium and serous acini of the submucosal glands. SP-A, SP-B, and SP-D proteins were expressed in cultured NHNE cells. The degree of mucociliary differentiation influenced expression of the SP gene. We demonstrate that SP-A, SP-B, and SP-D are expressed in human nasal mucosa and cultured NHNE cells. Further study of the functional role of SPs in the upper airway is required.

, DDS; J eung-Gweon Lee, MD; In-Hyuk Chung, MD Objectives: Although a complete anatomic knowledge of the fontanelle is a prerequisite to perform a surgical antrostomy opening, little is known about the boundary, shape, and size of the fontanelle. The purpose of this paper is to determine the best site for maintaining the patency of a surgical antrostomy opening by defining the anatomic boundaries, shape, and size of the fontanelle as well as its histological structure. Materials ana-Methods: One hundred sagittally divided heads were utilized. Mucosa overlying the lateral nasal wall was carefully removed with an operating microscope under 6x magnification. In some cases, a double mucous membrane, including the posteroinferior portion of the uncinate process, was cut as a whole and embedded in paraffin. The sections were stained with H&E. Results: The boundary of the fontanelle and the location of the. natural ostium were described in detail. Eight patterns of the posteroinferior portion of the uncinate process were observed. There were three major fontanelle shapes when observed from the medial aspect to the lateral: triangular, pencil-like, and oval. The triangular type was the most common. The anterior portion of the fontanelle was shorter than the posterior when ob· served medially and was wider than the posterior portion when observed inferiorly. Conclusions: The anterior portion of the fontanelle is more prone to stenosis than the posterior portion. An antrostomy in the posterior fontanelle may be more ideal for a mid· die meatal antrostomy of the maxillary sinus.

Our results indicate that the lamellas of the ethmoid sinus have relatively uniform patterns, although there is variability in shape. It is hoped that this study will provide surgeons with a more detailed structure of the basal lamellas for better surgical results and lower complication rates.

Many plant species in subalpine regions are under threat of extinction as a result of climate change. In this study, the genetic diversity and geographic differentiation of three regions and six populations of Primula farinosa subsp. modesta (Bisset & Moore) Pax in Korea were assessed using the ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeat) marker. The average genetic diversity (P = 60.62, SI = 0.299, h = 0.190) was relatively lower than that of other long-lived perennials, even though it is a self-incompatible species. AMOVA analysis showed that 50% of the total genetic diversity was partitioned among regions and Bayesian cluster analysis showed some remarkable geographic trends that were structured into 2 or 3 regions, suggesting limited gene flow among regions. Considering the population fragmentation, low level genetic diversity, and high genetic differentiation, it is essential to establish in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for P. farinosa subsp. modesta.

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