Predictors of surgical outcomes for limited palatal muscle resection in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: Limited palatal muscle resection (LPMR) is a modified palatal surgical technique to correct retropalatal obstruction without complications. This study aims to determine the associated factors affecting the success and cure rate of LPMR in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), thus guiding patient selection and improving surgical outcome. METHODS: Thirty-five OSA patients underwent LPMR were enrolled. All patients received routine physical examination, preoperative drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), and polysomnography (PSG). Clinical, polysomnographic, cephalometric variables, and DISE findings were evaluated. These measurements were compared between the surgical success and failure group based on the results of preoperative and postoperative PSG. Furthermore, we compared the cured and non-cured groups in the surgical success group. RESULTS: Among 35 patients, the overall success rate was 57 % with a cure rate of 31.4 %. Patients with Friedman stage II had a significantly higher success rate (p = 0.032). According to DISE results, tongue base obstruction affected the surgical outcome (p < 0.001). The success rate was 100 % in the no tongue base obstruction during DISE, 72.2 % in the partial obstruction, and 9.1 % in the total obstruction. Tonsil size is also helpful in predicting surgical success rate (p = 0.041). Furthermore, patients with mild AHI were more likely to be surgical cures. when compared with patients with severe AHI (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: Patients with larger tonsil size and no tongue base obstruction during DISE may have a higher chance of surgical success with LPMR. The lower AHI may be predictors of surgical cure after LPMR.

SCGB1C1 Plays a Critical Role in Suppression of Allergic Airway Inflammation through the Induction of Regulatory T Cell Expansion.

The nanosized vesicles secreted from various cell types into the surrounding extracellular space are called extracellular vesicles (EVs). Although mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs are known to have immunomodulatory effects in asthmatic mice, the role of identified pulmonary genes in the suppression of allergic airway inflammation remains to be elucidated. Moreover, the major genes responsible for immune regulation in allergic airway diseases have not been well documented. This study aims to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of secretoglobin family 1C member 1 (SCGB1C1) on asthmatic mouse models. C57BL/6 mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) using intraperitoneal injection and were intranasally challenged with OVA. To evaluate the effect of SCGB1C1 on allergic airway inflammation, 5 µg/50 µL of SCGB1C1 was administrated intranasally before an OVA challenge. We evaluated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), total inflammatory cells, eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung histology, serum immunoglobulin (Ig), the cytokine profiles of BALF and lung-draining lymph nodes (LLN), and the T cell populations in LLNs. The intranasal administration of SCGB1C1 significantly inhibited AHR, the presence of eosinophils in BALF, eosinophilic inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia in the lung, and serum total and allergen-specific IgE. SCGB1C1 treatment significantly decreased the expression of interleukin (IL)-5 in the BALF and IL-4 in the LLN, but significantly increased the expression of IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß in the BALF. Furthermore, SCGB1C1 treatment notably increased the populations of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in asthmatic mice. The intranasal administration of SCGB1C1 provides a significant reduction in allergic airway inflammation and improvement of lung function through the induction of Treg expansion. Therefore, SCGB1C1 may be the major regulator responsible for suppressing allergic airway inflammation.

Relationship between allergic rhinitis and nasal surgery success in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES: Nasal obstruction is common in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Nonetheless, the effectiveness of isolated nasal surgery in treatment of OSA remains controversial. This study is to evaluate the subjective and objective outcome after isolated nasal surgery in patients with OSA and to determine the associated factors related to the success rate of isolated nasal surgery. METHODS: The study population consisted of 35 patients with nasal obstruction who had been diagnosed with OSA and were undergoing septoplasty and inferior turbinate reduction to correct nasal pathologies. Preoperative drug-induced sleep endoscopy was performed to evaluate the obstruction site. Patients were assessed before and after nasal surgery using subjective outcomes measures, including the Visual Analog Scale and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, as well as by overnight polysomnography. RESULTS: All patients experienced improved nasal breathing postoperatively. At 6 months postoperatively, patients exhibited significant symptomatic improvement in snoring, sleep apnea, morning headache, tiredness, and daytime sleepiness. Postoperative polysomnography revealed significant improvement in the apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory disturbance index, and percentage of time with oxygen saturation < 90%. Although the overall success rate of nasal surgery alone was 14.3%, the criteria for success were met in 50% of patients with allergic rhinitis. Furthermore, the success rate was significantly higher in patients with moderate to severe nasal obstruction than in patients with mild nasal obstruction. CONCLUSION: Among patients with OSA, those with allergic rhinitis and severe nasal obstruction are likely to have a better surgical outcome following isolated nasal surgery.

The Clinical and Radiologic Features Affecting the Ocular Symptoms in Patients With Paranasal Sinus Mucoceles Involving the Orbit.

INTRODUCTION: Paranasal sinus (PNS) mucoceles may involve orbit and have ophthalmic manifestations. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological features affecting the ophthalmic manifestations in patients with PNS mucoceles involving the orbit. METHODS: Fifty-two patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for PNS mucoceles with orbital involvement were investigated. Ophthalmic manifestations included exophthalmos, ocular pain, diplopia, visual disturbance. The correlation between ocular symptoms and the mucocele volume, origin site of mucocele, and the involvement of extraocular muscles or optic nerve were evaluated. RESULTS: Ophthalmic manifestations were significantly higher in the anterior ethmoid and frontal sinus involvement. Exophthalmos was significantly increased in the involvement of anterior ethmoid sinus, frontal sinus, and superior group ocular muscles, but decreased in the mucocele of maxillary sinus. Ocular pain was significantly lower in the involvement of anterior ethmoid sinus, frontal sinus, and superior group ocular muscle. Diplopia showed no significant differences among clinical and radiological parameters. Visual disturbance was significantly higher in the involvement of posterior ethmoid sinus and sphenoid sinus. The volume of mucocele, relation to optic nerve, adjacent bony change, and duration of ocular symptom had no significant effect on ocular symptoms in patients with PNS mucoceles involving the orbit. CONCLUSION: The volume of mucocele did not affect the ophthalmic manifestations in patients with PNS mucoceles involving the orbit. Exophthalmos, ocular pain, and visual disturbance were significantly correlated with the involved sinus of PNS mucoceles.

Comparative analysis of sublingual immunotherapy medicines for adherence and clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been considered as an effective and safe alternative to the subcutaneous route. However, different modalities and administration methods may lead to significant changes in their adherence and clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare the adherence, efficacy, and side effects of SLIT medicines: SLITone®, Lais®, and Staloral®. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients suffering from AR symptoms and sensitized only to house dust mite allergens were included. The patients were treated with SLITone®, Lais®, or Staloral®. Treatment outcomes related to efficacy, dropout rate, and adverse events were evaluated. The visual analogue scale (VAS) including sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, and itching was scored from 0 (normal) to 10 (severe), before and after SLIT. Dropout rate was defined as the number of patients who discontinue SLIT of oneself compared to the number of patients who receive SLIT. RESULTS: All of the nasal symptoms and total symptom scores were significantly decreased in SLITone®, Lais®, and Staloral®. Furthermore, there were significant difference in the improvement of rhinorrhea and TNSS between SLITone® and Staloral® group (p = 0.011 and p = 0.001, respectively). Four patients out of 26 in SLITone® group, 4 patients out of 30 in Lais® group, and 11 patients out of 26 in Staloral® group have stopped SLIT of themselves. The dropout rate was significantly higher in the Staloral® group than other two groups (p = 0.024). Only one patient complained adverse reaction such as swelling of mouth floor in the Staloral® group. CONCLUSION: Although all three SLIT medicines are effective in improving AR symptoms, the adherence to SLIT assessed in accordance with dropout rate was the lowest in the Staloral®.

Characteristics of the perception for unilateral facial nerve palsy.

Patients with facial nerve palsy (FNP) are actually evaluated by other people rather than doctors or the patients themselves. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of the perception of unilateral FNP in Korean people. A questionnaire using photographs of four patients with four different grades (House-Brackmann) of FNP was given to two hundred people with no FNP. Subjects of each gender, ranging from 20 to 69 years of age, participated. The questionnaire, showing facial expressions of resting, smiling, whistling, eye closing, and frowning, consisted of questions concerning the identification and the involved side of FNP, the unnatural areas of the face, and the unnaturalness of the facial expressions. The overall identification rate of FNP was 75.0%. The identification rate increased according to the increase in the grade of the patient's FNP (p < .001). The overall detection rate of the involved side was 54.5%, and that rate decreased with increasing subject age (p < .001). The area of the most unnatural facial expression was reported to be the mouth, followed by the eyes and cheeks. The most unnatural facial expression was also reported to be smiling, followed by eye closing and whistling. There was no difference in the identification rate of FNP according to education level. However, the overall detection rate of the involved side was higher in the high-education group (p < .001). The detection rate for the involved side of FNP was lower than the rate of identification of FNP and was significantly low in the middle-aged/elderly and low-education level groups.

Endoscopic marsupialization of frontoethmoid mucocele with underlying craniofacial fibrous dysplasia.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a benign progressive fibro-osseous lesion that is rarely associated with mucocele formation. This complication most probably results from the involvement and subsequent occlusion of the recesses of the sinuses by the dysplastic process. The frontoethmoid mucocele associated with FD represents a rare pathology, but it is important to consider this in the differential diagnosis of patients with proptosis, visual disturbance, and bony fronto-orbital swellings. Here, we describe the first case of frontoethmoid mucocele with underlying craniofacial FD, which was successfully treated by wide marsupialization via the transnasal endoscopic approach.

Treatment Outcomes of Olfactory Neuroblastoma: A Multicenter Study by the Korean Sinonasal Tumor and Skull Base Surgery Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: Due to the rarity of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), there is ongoing debate about optimal treatment strategies, especially for early-stage or locally advanced cases. Therefore, our study aimed to explore experiences from multiple centers to identify factors that influence the oncological outcomes of ONB. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 195 ONB patients treated at nine tertiary hospitals in South Korea between December 1992 and December 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate oncological outcomes, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to analyze prognostic factors for survival outcomes. Furthermore, we conducted 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching to investigate differences in clinical outcomes according to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: In our cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 78.6%, and the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 62.4%. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the modified Kadish (mKadish) stage and Dulguerov T status were significantly associated with DFS, while the mKadish stage and Hyams grade were identified as prognostic factors for OS. The subgroup analyses indicated a trend toward improved 5-year DFS with dural resection in mKadish A and B cases, even though the result was statistically insignificant. Induction chemotherapy did not provide a survival benefit in this study after matching for the mKadish stage and nodal status. CONCLUSION: Clinical staging and pathologic grading are important prognostic factors in ONB. Dural resection in mKadish A and B did not show a significant survival benefit. Similarly, induction chemotherapy also did not show a survival benefit, even after stage matching.

Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in children: a single surgeon's experience with coblation compared to diathermy.

The aim of this study was to compare coblation and diathermy techniques with respect to secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH). A total of 1,397 children underwent tonsillectomies with or without adenoidectomy by a single surgeon in a single center from June 2005 through December 2011. A diathermy tonsillectomy was performed on 315 patients for the first 2 years, while a coblation tonsillectomy was performed on 1,082 for the next 5 years. All patients were followed-up within 28 days of surgery by the same surgeon. The characteristics of primary and secondary PTH were analyzed with a retrospective chart review. Primary PTH did not occur in both surgical technique groups. Secondary PTH occurred in 9 patients (2.9 %) in the diathermy group and in 30 patients (2.8 %) in the coblation group. The secondary PTH rates were 1.2, 2.5, 3.8, 3.1 and 4.5 % in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth years after employment of the coblation tonsillectomy, respectively (P = 0.243). Sex, age, tonsil size and severity of tonsillar embedding were not significant factors for PTH. The coblation technique was associated more with late secondary PTH than diathermy technique (odds ratio 9.14, P = 0.049). Analysis of the time of onset of PTH showed that secondary PTH occurred most commonly between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In summary, coblation technique has similar secondary PTH rate with diathermy technique although it has increased late secondary PTH rate in children. Coblation technique can be a good alternative to the diathermy technique.

Inflammatory Endotypes of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in the Korean Population: Distinct Expression of Type 3 Inflammation.

PURPOSE: Cluster analyses on inflammatory markers of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in Asians from multicenter data are lacking. This multicenter study aimed to identify the endotypes of CRS in Koreans and to evaluate the relationship between the endotypes and clinical parameters. METHODS: Nasal tissues were obtained from patients with CRS and controls who underwent surgery. The endotypes of CRS were investigated by measuring interleukin (IL)-5, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase-9, eotaxin-3, eosinophil cationic protein, myeloperoxidase (MPO), human neutrophil elastase (HNE), periostin, transforming growth factor-ß1, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), and staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE)-specific IgE. We performed hierarchical cluster analysis and evaluated the phenotype, comorbidities, and Lund-Mackay computed tomography (LM CT) score in each cluster. RESULTS: Five clusters and 3 endotypes were extracted from 244 CRS patients: cluster 1 had no upregulated mediators compared to the other clusters (mild mixed inflammatory CRS); clusters 2, 3, and 4 had higher concentrations of neutrophil-associated mediators including HNE, IL-8, IL-17A, and MPO (T3 CRS); and cluster 5 had higher levels of eosinophil-associated mediators (T2 CRS). SE-specific IgE was undetectable in T3 CRS and had low detectable levels (6.2%) even in T2 CRS. The CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) phenotype and LM CT scores showed no significant differences between T2 and T3 CRS, while the incidence of comorbid asthma was higher in T2 CRS than T3 CRS. In T3 clusters, higher levels of neutrophilic markers were associated with disease severity and CRSwNP phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: In Koreans, there is a distinct T3 CRS endotype showing a high proportion of CRSwNP and severe disease extent, along with T2 CRS.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Nasal Irrigation for Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Adults.

The Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Korean Rhinologic Society appointed a guideline development group (GDG) to establish a clinical practice guideline, and the GDG developed a guideline for nasal irrigation for adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The guideline focuses on knowledge gaps, practice variations, and clinical concerns associated with nasal irrigation. Nasal irrigation has been recommended as the first-line treatment for CRS in various guidelines, and its clinical effectiveness has been demonstrated through a number of studies with robust evidence. However, no guidelines have presented a consistent nasal irrigation method. Several databases, including OVID Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed, were searched to identify all relevant papers using a predefined search strategy. When insufficient evidence was found, the GDG sought expert opinions and attempted to fill the evidence gap. Evidence-based recommendations for practice were ranked according to the American College of Physicians grading system. The committee developed 11 evidence-based recommendations. This guideline focuses on the evidence-based quality improvement opportunities deemed the most important by the GDG. Moreover, the guideline addresses whether nasal lavage helps treat CRS, what type of rinsing solution should be used, and the effectiveness of using additional medications to increase the therapeutic effect.

Evaluation of the Esthetic and Functional Outcomes of Extracorporeal Septoplasty for Rhinoplasty in Asian Patients.

OBJECTIVES: In extracorporeal septoplasty (ECS), the entire septal cartilage is harvested, and a neo-L strut is built extracorporeally. Thus, ECS can simultaneously achieve septum straightening and tip projection. This study evaluated the functional and esthetic outcomes of the ECS technique for rhinoplasty in Asian patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 64 patients who underwent rhinoplasty using ECS between January 2016 and March 2018. Subjective patient satisfaction was assessed and objective surgical outcomes were evaluated. Improvement in nasal obstruction was rated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Anthropometric changes were compared between preoperative and postoperative facial photographs. Complications and revisions were also analyzed. RESULTS: The participants comprised 64 patients (48 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 29.3 years). The mean operative time was 89.3 minutes. In total, 61 patients were satisfied with the esthetic outcome, and the overall objective rhinoplasty outcome score was 3.45. Preoperative nasal obstruction symptoms (7.9±1.2 on VAS) improved postoperatively (3.1±1.3, P<0.001), and significant improvements were also observed in the nasofrontal angle (152.3° to 148.1°, P<0.001), nasolabial angle (88.8° to 92.0°, P<0.001), and nasal tip projection (0.62 to 0.66, P<0.033). Recurrent deviation of the nasal septum and external nose or tip deprojection did not occur in any patients, and there were no cases of revision during the mean follow-up period of 13.3 months. CONCLUSION: ECS might be an esthetically and functionally satisfactory alternative rhinoplasty technique for Asian patients with a shortage of septal cartilage.

Early Response of Specific IgE can Predict Satisfaction with Sublingual Immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictive parameters at baseline and during the early response to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for house dust mites in allergic rhinitis patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Patients were treated with SLIT for at least 3 years and serological tests performed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up to investigate predictive parameters. Satisfaction with SLIT, 4 nasal symptoms, and quality of life were evaluated before and after 3 years of SLIT. Sixty-one patients were enrolled and divided into two groups depending on their satisfaction after 3 years of SLIT: 43 were satisfied (70.5%) and 18 were not (29.5%). RESULTS: Immunological parameters at baseline did not differ significantly between the satisfactory and unsatisfactory groups. However, changes in both Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp)- and D. farinae (Df)-specific IgEs were significantly higher in the unsatisfactory group than in the satisfactory group during the early response to SLIT (P = .006 and P = .045, respectively). CONCLUSION: The changes in both Dp- and Df-specific IgE levels during early response may be indicators for favorable long-term treatment outcomes with SLIT. These results suggest that clinicians could measure these immunological parameters 1 year after Dp and Df SLIT to indicate potential responders versus nonresponders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b Laryngoscope, 131:467-472, 2021.

Intranasally Administered Extracellular Vesicles from Adipose Stem Cells Have Immunomodulatory Effects in a Mouse Model of Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic eosinophilic airway disease characterized by type 2 helper T cell-driven inflammation. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) and the ASC culture supernatant are known to improve allergic airway inflammation; however, the immunomodulatory effects of ASC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) on allergic airway diseases remain unclear. Thus, we assessed the effects of ASC-derived EVs on allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma. EVs were isolated from the culture supernatant of murine ASCs and characterized. Six-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) by intraperitoneal injection and challenged intranasally with OVA. Before the OVA challenge, 10 µg/50 µl of ASC-derived EVs was administered intranasally to the experimental group. ASC-derived EVs significantly attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthmatic mice (p = 0.023). ASC-derived EVs resulted in a remarkable reduction of the total number of inflammatory cells (p = 0.005) and eosinophils (p = 0.023) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the degree of eosinophilic lung inflammation (p < 0.001), and the serum total and OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E (p = 0.048 and p = 0.001) and total IgG1 (p < 0.001). Interleukin- (IL-) 4 was significantly inhibited with ASC-derived EV pretreatment in the BALF and lung draining lymph nodes (LLNs) (p = 0.040 and p = 0.011). Furthermore, ASC-derived EV administration resulted in a significant increase of the regulatory T cell (Treg) populations in LLNs. ASC-derived EVs alleviated AHR and allergic airway inflammation caused by the induction of Treg expansion in a mouse model of asthma. There seems to be a role for ASC-derived EVs as a modifier in allergic airway disease.

Septal Cartilage Traction Suture Technique for Correction of Caudal Septal Deviation.

OBJECTIVE: Correction of the caudal septum deviation is the most difficult part of the septoplasty and a common cause of revision septoplasty. The purpose of this study was to present authors' preliminary results in the treatment of patients with caudal septal deviation using the septal cartilage traction suture technique. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, single center, observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with a caudal septal deviation underwent septal cartilage traction suture technique with endonasal septoplasty. After removal of excessive caudal cartilage, the caudal L-strut was sutured at two or more points using 5-0 Vicryl on the modified Killian incision site. Subjective outcomes using visual analog scales (VAS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, objective endoscopic examination, and acoustic rhinometry data were assessed. RESULTS: There was significant symptomatic improvement in the VAS and NOSE scale at 1, 3, and 6 months postsurgery. Complete correction in the endoscopy was observed in the 91.0% of patients at 3 months postsurgery. The results of acoustic rhinometry increased from 0.3 and 4.3 preoperatively to 0.7 and 7.7 at 3 months postoperatively. Furthermore, no patient experienced septal hematoma, septal perforation, and loss of nasal tip support at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The septal cartilage traction suture technique obtained significant improvement in subjective and objective outcomes in patients with caudal septal deviation. This technique is a simple, safe, and effective method to treat caudal septal deviation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2020.

Prediction of anterior commissure exposure of vocal folds prior to laryngeal microscopic surgery: Parameters reflecting occipito-atlanto-axial complex extension capacity.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this prospective study was to identify preoperative predictors of unstable exposure of vocal folds with focus on the anterior commissure (AC) prior to Laryngeal Microscopic Surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients were classified into four groups based on the degree of AC exposure during Laryngeal Microscopic Surgery, and for the analysis, these groups were subdivided into unstable exposure and stable exposure subgroups depending on whether external manipulation was required to achieve AC exposure. Correlation of the degree of AC exposure with demographics, physical measurements, and anatomical measurements taken using landmarks in simple radiograph were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine optimal cutoff values to predict unstable AC exposure. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were included in the analyses. Thyroid-mandible angle (TMA) in the extended position, thyroid-mental distance (TMD) ratio, and TMA difference in the neutral and extended positions were significantly correlated with the degree of AC exposure. However, only a TMD ratio of <1.25 reliably predicted unstable AC exposure. CONCLUSIONS: TMD ratio of <1.25 reliably predicted unstable AC exposure. If there is no increase of the distance between the thyroid notch and the mental prominence (TMD) more than 25% on neck extension, the probability of getting stable exposure of the anterior commissure is low.

Beneficial effects of weekend catch-up sleep on metabolic syndrome in chronic short sleepers.

OBJECTIVES: Short sleep duration has been known to be related to metabolic syndrome (MetS) . The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of weekend catch-up sleep (WCUS) on MetS in the Korean middle-aged population. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, 1,812 participants aged 35-60 years were selected from the 2016-2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (mean age 46.94 years, 49% male). Short sleep duration was defined as <6hrs on weekdays, and participants were divided into two groups: WCUS group and no weekend catch-up sleep group. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the association between WCUS and MetS prevalence. The covariates included age, sex, education, income, occupation, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. RESULTS: WCUS was significantly associated with lower MetS prevalence in the unadjusted model and in the model adjusted for socioeconomic and health behavior factors. CONCLUSION: These results support the beneficial effects of WCUS on lowering the risk of MetS among middle-aged chronic short sleepers.

Dendritic cells and M2 macrophage play an important role in suppression of Th2-mediated inflammation by adipose stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles.

Although stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to facilitate regeneration of injured tissue, there is no report that evaluates the immune-modulating effect of stem cell-derived EVs on Th2-mediated inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of adipose stem cells (ASCs)-derived EVs on Th2-mediated inflammation induced by Aspergillus protease antigen in lung epithelial cells. The EVs were isolated from supernatant of ASCs and the diameters of EVs were measured by using dynamic light scattering. The mice primary lung epithelial cells and mouse lung epithelial cell line (MLE12) were pre-treated with 200 ng/ml of Aspergillus protease and then treated with 1 µg/ml of ASC-derived EVs. Real time PCR was performed to determine the expression levels of eotaxin, IL-25, TGF-ß, and IL-10 mRNAs after EV treatment. To evaluate the role of EVs in macrophage polarization and dendritic cells (DCs) differentiation, in vitro bone marrow-derived macrophage and DCs stimulation assay was performed. EV treatment significantly decreased the expression of eotaxin and IL-25 and increased TGF-ß and IL-10 in both lung epithelial cells. EV treatment significantly increased the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD40, CD80, and CD 86 in immature DCs. Furthermore, EV treatment significantly enhanced the gene expression of M2 macrophage marker such as Arg1, CCL22, IL-10, and TGF-ß. In conclusion, EVs of ASCs ameliorated Th2-mediated inflammation induced by Aspergillus protease antigen through the activation of dendritic cells and M2 macrophage, accompanied by down-regulation of eotaxin and IL-25, and up-regulation of TGF-ß and IL-10 in mouse lung epithelial cells.

Therapeutic efficacy of regional and systemic chemotherapy in advanced maxillary sinus cancer.

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacy of regional chemotherapy through the superficial temporal artery and systemic chemotherapy in patients with advanced maxillary sinus cancer. METHODS: Nine of 22 patients with over TNM stage III maxillary sinus cancer received regional chemotherapy and 13 received systemically. The change of tumor volume, the degree of response according to the tumor location, and side effects after chemotherapy were analyzed. RESULTS: Tumor volume reduction was significantly higher in the regional than systemic chemotherapy. Tumor response to chemotherapy was greater in regional than systemic chemotherapy in most maxillary sinus wall. The tumor response in anterior, posterior, and lateral wall of maxillary sinus was greater more than two times in the regional than systemic chemotherapy. There were no severe side effects related to regional chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Regional chemotherapy was superior to systemic chemotherapy regarding tumor volume reduction, especially located in the anterior, posterior, and lateral wall of maxillary sinus.