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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools are essential for the timely recognition of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in clinical practice. The rapid urease test (RUT) is a comparatively accurate and time-saving method recommended as a first-line diagnostic test. The primary objective of conducting the RUT is to obtain rapid results, thus enabling the initiation of an eradication therapy based on clarithromycin resistance testing. This study aimed to assess the reaction time and accuracy of a new liquid-type RUT. METHOD: In this prospective study, consecutive dyspeptic or check-up patients referred to our clinic for endoscopy were assessed to evaluate the rapidity and accuracy of a novel liquid-type RUT (Helicotest®, WON Medical, Bucheon, Republic of Korea) compared with another commercial RUT kit (HP kit, Chong Kun Dang, Seoul, Republic of Korea) and a real-time quantitative PCR-based assay (Seeplex® H.pylori-ClaR Detection, Seegene, Republic of Korea). RUTs were analyzed at 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min. RESULTS: Among the 177 enrolled patients, 38.6% were infected with H. pylori. The positivity rates of the liquid-type RUT were 26.1, 35.8, 39.2%, and 41.5% at 10, 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively. When compared with the HP kit test, the time needed to confirm positivity was significantly reduced by 28.6 min (95% CI, 16.60-39.73, p < 0.0001). Helicotest® had a greater accuracy (96.02 ± 1.47), sensitivity (98.53 ± 1.46) and NPV (99.03 ± 0.97) compared to the HP kit. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the commonly used RUT, the new liquid-type RUT presented faster and reliable results. Such findings could improve H. pylori treatment outcomes, particularly in outpatient clinical settings.
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Maintaining tight junction integrity significantly contributes to epithelial barrier function. If the barrier function is destroyed, the permeability of the cells increases, and the movement of the pathogens is promoted, thereby further increasing the susceptibility to secondary infection. Ginsenoside components have multiple biological activities, including antiviral effects. In this study, we examined the protective effects of ginsenoside Re against rhinovirus-induced tight junction disruption in primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNE). Incubation with human rhinovirus resulted in marked disruption of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, E-cadherin, claudin-1, and occludin) in human nasal epithelial cells. Rhinovirus-induced disruption of tight junction proteins was strongly inhibited by the treatment of cells with ginsenoside Re. Indeed, significant amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been detected in human nasal epithelial cells co-incubated with rhinovirus. Moreover, rhinovirus-induced ROS generation was markedly reduced by the ginsenoside Re. However, ginsenosides Rb1 and Rc did not inhibit tight junction disruption or ROS generation in nasal epithelial cells following incubation with rhinovirus. Furthermore, incubation with rhinovirus resulted in a marked decrease in protein phosphatase activity and an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels in nasal epithelial cells. Treatment of cells with ginsenoside Re inhibited rhinovirus-induced inactivation of phosphatases and phosphorylation of tyrosine. Our results identified ginsenoside Re as an effective compound that prevented rhinovirus-induced tight junction disruption in human nasal epithelial cells.
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OBJECTIVE: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the preferred treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, compliance with CPAP therapy varies among studies, and studies on its predictors are insufficient in Korea. This study aimed to identify factors that predict compliance with CPAP therapy in patients with OSA. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records, polysomnography (PSG) records, and self-report questionnaires of patients w ith OSA. Criteria for compliance was the use of CPAP devices for ≥4 h per night for ≥70% of the consecutive 30 nights (i.e., 21 days) during the first 3 months of treatment initiation. The patients were classified into two groups: compliant and non-compliant. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the clinical factors and PSG parameters associated with CPAP compliance. RESULTS: Of the 188 participants, 80 were classified into the compliant group and 108 into the non-compliant group. The ratios of stage N1 (p=0.011) and health insurance coverage (p=0.007) were significantly associated with compliance with CPAP, with an explanatory power of 18.6% (R2=0.186, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Stage N1 ratio and health insurance coverage were significant predictors of CPAP compliance. It is necessary to confirm whether the relationship between a high stage N1 ratio and compliance can be reproduced in a larger sample and in individuals from other countries.
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Accurate paranasal sinus segmentation is essential for reducing surgical complications through surgical guidance systems. This study introduces a multiclass Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) segmentation model by comparing four 3D U-Net variations-normal, residual, dense, and residual-dense. Data normalization and training were conducted on a 40-patient test set (20 normal, 20 abnormal) using 5-fold cross-validation. The normal 3D U-Net demonstrated superior performance with an F1 score of 84.29% on the normal test set and 79.32% on the abnormal set, exhibiting higher true positive rates for the sphenoid and maxillary sinus in both sets. Despite effective segmentation in clear sinuses, limitations were observed in mucosal inflammation. Nevertheless, the algorithm's enhanced segmentation of abnormal sinuses suggests potential clinical applications, with ongoing refinements expected for broader utility.
Subject(s)
Deep Learning , Sinusitis , Humans , Sinusitis/diagnostic imaging , Neural Networks, Computer , Maxillary Sinus , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methodsABSTRACT
Allergen immunotherapy is regarded as the only disease-modifying treatment option for various allergic conditions, including allergic rhinitis and asthma. Among the routes of administration of allergens, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has gained clinical interest recently, and the prescription of SLIT is increasing among patients with allergies. After 30 years of SLIT use, numerous pieces of evidence supporting its efficacy, safety, and mechanism allows SLIT to be considered as an alternative option to subcutaneous immunotherapy. Based on the progressive development of SLIT, the current guideline from the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology aims to provide an expert opinion by allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology specialists with an extensive literature review. This guideline addresses the use of SLIT, including 1) mechanisms of action, 2) appropriate patient selection for SLIT, 3) the currently available SLIT products in Korea, and 4) updated information on its efficacy and safety. This guideline will facilitate a better understanding of practical considerations for SLIT.
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BACKGROUND: Numerous significant variations in the supraorbital nerve (SON) pass through the notches and foramina. During endoscopic forehead lifting, the passage and the location of the nerve against the frontal bone render it susceptible to injury, resulting in diminished or absent sensation in the corresponding location. We attempted to obtain accurate knowledge of the SON emergence routes. METHODS: Data of patients who underwent an endoscopic forehead lift in a plastic surgery clinic between November 2015 and August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Deep and superficial branch pathways of SONs were identified and compared according to side and gender. We also classified the nerve patterns into six types. RESULTS: Altogether, 942 patients (1884 SON cases) were evaluated. Out of the patients, 86 patients were male, and 856 were female. The overall mean age was 48.6 (± 13.1) years. In the deep branches, 49% came from the notch, and 51% came from the foramen. In the superficial branches, 67% came from the notch, and 33% of superficial branches came from the foramen. Unlike the deep branch, superficial branches from the notch were significant. Deep and superficial branches of male patients were much more notched than those of female patients. Branches emerged together in 56% and separately in 44% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The absolute number of SON notches was higher than that of SON foramina. This study with the largest number of SON cases will help surgeons understand the variation and course of SON. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors 38 assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full 39 description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, 40 please refer to the Table of Contents or the online 41 Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Subject(s)
Orbit , Rhytidoplasty , Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Endoscopy , Ambulatory Care FacilitiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) is a promising alternative for the treatment of patients with allergic rhinitis, providing similar therapeutic efficacy to conventional allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). However, the allergic mechanism of ILIT is not completely known. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of ILIT in a house dust mite (HDM) mouse model of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: G1, control without allergy; G2, allergy sensitized with HDM; G3, allergy with ILIT (starting with HDM 1.25 µg/mL); and G4, allergy with ILIT (starting with HDM 2.5 µg/mL). After the murine model of allergic rhinitis with HDM was established, mice were administered an intralymphatic injection through the inguinal lymph nodes with HDM. RESULTS: ILIT decreased serum total IgE level and eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa. ILIT also decreased the expression levels of IL-13, IL-25, IL-33, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17, and increased the expression of FoxP3(+) T reg cells. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that ILIT regulates the specific immunotherapy immunologic mechanism by downregulating Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines and upregulating FoxP3(+) T reg cells in the HDM allergic mouse model.
Subject(s)
Pyroglyphidae , Rhinitis, Allergic , Humans , Animals , Mice , Disease Models, Animal , Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy , Desensitization, Immunologic/methods , Allergens , Forkhead Transcription Factors , Antigens, Dermatophagoides/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment for various allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and bee venom allergy that induces tolerance to offending allergens. The need for uniform practice guidelines in AIT is continuously growing because of the increasing discovery of potential candidates for AIT and evolving interest in new therapeutic approaches. This guideline is an updated version of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommendations for AIT published in 2010. This updated guideline proposes an expert opinion by allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology specialists with an extensive literature review. The guideline deals with basic knowledge and methodological aspects of AIT, including mechanisms, clinical efficacy, patient selection, allergens extract selection, schedule and doses, management of adverse reactions, efficacy measurements, and special consideration in pediatrics. The guidelines for sublingual immunotherapy will be covered in detail in a separate article.
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Background/Aims: A quick and accurate diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections is vital for effectively managing many upper gastrointestinal tract diseases. Many diagnostic methods have been developed for rapid and accurate diagnosis, including invasive and non-invasive methods, but each tool has some limitations. Among the invasive diagnostic methods, the rapid urease test (RUT) is a relatively time-saving and accurate method, but a variation in the reaction time range causes inconvenience and inefficiency in the clinical field. This study developed a liquid-type medium, Helicotest®, to enable faster detection. This study examined the reaction time of a new liquid-type RUT kit with other commercial kits. Methods: Two H. pylori strains were cultured (H. pylori ATCC 700392 and 43504), and the urease activity of H. pylori was measured using a urease activity assay kit (MAK120, Sigma Aldrich). Four RUT kits were used to compare the time of H. pylori detection, including Helicotest® (Won Medical, Bucheon, Korea), Hp kit (Chong Kun Dang, Seoul, Korea), CLO kit (Halyard, Alpharetta, GA, USA), and ASAN Helicobacter Test® (ASAN, Seoul, Korea). Results: The detection of H. pylori was possible in bacterial amounts less than 10 µL. The color change was detected from five minutes with bacterial densities of 5 µL and 10 µL for both strains, whereas 30 minutes and one hour were required for 0.5 µL and a 1 µL bacterial density of ATCC 43504 and 700392 strains, respectively. Conclusions: Compared to other RUT kits, Helicotest® showed the fastest reaction. Therefore, faster diagnosis in clinical practice is expected.
Subject(s)
Helicobacter pylori , Urease , HumansABSTRACT
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.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of cefetamet pivoxil for the treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in Korean patients compared to treatment with cefdinir. METHODS: A prospective, multicenter, randomized double-blind, comparative study was conducted by the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at 17 hospitals or universities in the Republic of Korea from March 2017 to April 2019. A total of 309 patients were screened and 249 patients participated in the study. RESULTS: Treatment with cefetamet pivoxil for 2 weeks showed 82.4% clinical cure and improvement rates in patients with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis compared to 84.68% in those taking cefdinir for 2 weeks, showing that cefetamet pivoxil administered twice a day for 2 weeks was as effective as cefdinir 3 times a day for 2 weeks for the treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. The overall adverse reaction rates of both drugs were 10.56% in the cefetamet pivoxil group and 15.49% in the cefdinir group, without serious adverse events or drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Cefetamet pivoxil twice a day was as efficacious and safe as cefdinir 3 times a day for the treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, which suggested that cefetamet pivoxil may be a suitable alternative to cefdinir.
Subject(s)
Ceftizoxime , Sinusitis , Humans , Cefdinir , Prospective Studies , Ceftizoxime/adverse effects , Sinusitis/drug therapy , Sinusitis/chemically induced , BacteriaABSTRACT
Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) is a rare condition that usually occurs due to damage to surrounding inner and surrounding bone tissue. Orbital apex syndrome may result from a variety of conditions that cause damage to the superior orbital fissure and to the optic canal leading to optic nerve (II) dysfunction. We recently experienced a rare case of sphenoidal Aspergillosis, which damaged the adjacent cavernous sinus structures and led to the definite symptom of bilateral OAS in a 77-year-old male. We present this rare case with a brief review of these disease's entities.
Subject(s)
Aspergillosis , Orbital Diseases , Sphenoid Sinusitis , Male , Humans , Aged , Sphenoid Sinusitis/complications , Sphenoid Sinusitis/microbiology , Orbit , Aspergillosis/complications , Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Aspergillosis/microbiology , Syndrome , Sphenoid Bone , Orbital Diseases/etiologyABSTRACT
Computed tomography (CT) is undoubtedly the most reliable and the only method for accurate diagnosis of sinusitis, while X-ray has long been used as the first imaging technique for early detection of sinusitis symptoms. More importantly, radiography plays a key role in determining whether or not a CT examination should be performed for further evaluation. In order to simplify the diagnostic process of paranasal sinus view and moreover to avoid the use of CT scans which have disadvantages such as high radiation dose, high cost, and high time consumption, this paper proposed a multi-view CNN able to faithfully estimate the severity of sinusitis. In this study, a multi-view convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed which is able to accurately estimate the severity of sinusitis by analyzing only radiographs consisting of Waters' view and Caldwell's view without the aid of CT scans. The proposed network is designed as a cascaded architecture, and can simultaneously provide decisions for maxillary sinus localization and sinusitis classification. We obtained an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.722 for maxillary sinusitis classification, and an AUC of 0.750 and 0.700 for the left and right maxillary sinusitis, respectively, using the proposed network.
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OBJECTIVE: The maintenance of tight junction integrity contributes significantly to epithelial barrier function. If barrier function is destroyed, cell permeability increases and the movement of pathogens is promoted, further increasing the susceptibility to secondary infection. Here, we examined the protective effects of wogonin on rhinovirus (RV)-induced tight junction disruption. Additionally, we examined the signaling molecules responsible for anti-inflammatory activities in human nasal epithelial (HNE) cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Primary HNE cells grown at an air-liquid interface and RPMI 2650 cells were infected apically with RV. Incubation with RV resulted in disruption of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, E-cadherin, claudin-1, and occludin) in the HNE cells. Cell viability of wogonin-treated HNE cells was measured using the MTT assay. Pretreatment with wogonin decreased RV-induced disruption of tight junctions in HNE cells. Furthermore, wogonin significantly decreased RV-induced phosphorylation of Akt/NF-κB and ERK1/2. Additionally, RV-induced generation of reactive oxygen species and RV-induced up-regulation of the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-6 were diminished by wogonin in HNE cells. CONCLUSION: Wogonin inhibits HRV-induced tight junction disruption via the suppression of inflammatory responses and phosphorylation of Akt/NF-κB and ERK1/2 in HNE cells. These finds will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Subject(s)
Flavanones , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 , NF-kappa B , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt , Rhinovirus , Tight Junctions , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Epithelial Cells/virology , Flavanones/pharmacology , Humans , MAP Kinase Signaling System , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Phosphorylation/drug effects , Picornaviridae Infections/drug therapy , Picornaviridae Infections/pathology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Rhinovirus/metabolism , Tight Junctions/drug effects , Tight Junctions/metabolism , Tight Junctions/pathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Downward-turning oral commissures and sagging mouth corners can present an unfavorable impression. We introduced a new oral commissure lift procedure and investigated its effectiveness and complication rates. METHODS: Patients who underwent oral commissure lift in the plastic surgery clinic between January 2010 and December 2017 were enrolled retrospectively. Pre-and postoperative photographs were evaluated to measure oral commissure angles and analyze surgical complications, including visible scarring, unnatural appearance, and asymmetry. Many patients underwent a oral commissure lift with a simultaneous facelift. To exclude potential bias, we compared angular changes between patients receiving both oral commissure lift and facelift, with those receiving only oral commissure lift. Moreover, oral commissure angles of patients only receiving facelift were also measured. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Oral commissure lift was performed in 51 patients. The mean ages and follow-up periods were 46.7 ± 11.9 years, and 25.2 ± 22.9 months, respectively. The preoperative mean angles of the right and left oral commissures measured - 3.1 ± 4.0° and - 3.4 ± 3.7°, respectively, and postoperative mean angles measured 3.6 ± 3.2° and 3.3 ± 3.5°, respectively. Postoperative changes in oral commissure angles were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The low complication rate included undercorrection in one patient, asymmetry in one patient, and visible scarring in three patients. We found no statistically significant differences in the studies excluding bias. CONCLUSIONS: The new oral commissure lift procedure for correcting sagging oral commissures was simple, safe, and effective with a low complication rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Subject(s)
Rhytidoplasty , Cicatrix , Esthetics , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Patients with breathing-related sleep disorder (BRSD) often complain of psychiatric symptoms such as depression in addition to snoring, excessive sleepiness, and disturbed sleep. However, the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and severity of sleep apnea in BRSD is controversial. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and sleep electroencephalography (EEG) findings in BRSD patients using spectral analysis. METHODS: All participants underwent polysomnography and evaluation using Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) scale. We analyzed the absolute spectral power density values of standard EEG frequency bands in the participants (n = 169) with BRSD during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep period. We performed correlation analysis between the domain scores of SCL-90-R scale and the absolute values of the EEG frequency bands. RESULTS: Significant positive correlation was observed between the absolute spectral power density values in the slow oscillation band and the degree of paranoid ideation (r = 0.226, p = 0.028) and depression (r = 0.216, p = 0.044) in SCL-90-R. The multiple linear regression model showed that higher paranoid ideation domain score (B = 0.007, p = 0.020), younger age (B = -0.011, p < 0.001), and female sex (B = 0.213, p = 0.004) were associated with higher slow oscillation power during NREM sleep. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggested a relationship between sleep EEG and psychiatric symptoms in patients with BRSD. This relationship needs to be validated with further studies.
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PURPOSE: Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) is being studied as a method for treating allergic rhinitis because of skin immunology, user convenience and enhanced patient compliance. However, the use of EPIT is limited because of the very low skin permeability of the allergen. In this study, the limitations of EPIT were overcome by using sophisticated delivery with microneedles. The immunological efficacy of this method was studied in a murine model of house dust mite (HDM) allergic rhinitis. METHODS: The length of the microneedles was 400 µm, and the coating formulation containing HDM was locally distributed near the end of the microneedle tips. The change of distribution of FITC-dextran in porcine skin in vitro was observed over time using a confocal microscope. The effect of immunotherapy in the allergic rhinitis model, sensitized by HDM-coated microneedles (HDM MNs), was observed according to the amount of HDM applied. RESULTS: The microneedles delivered the coating formulation with precision into the porcine skin layer, and the coated formulation on the microneedles was all dissolved in the porcine skin in vitro within 20 min of administration and then gradually diffused into the skin layer. When HDM MNs were administered to mice, a 0.1-µg dose of HDM provided the most effective immunization, and improved efficacy was shown between 0.1- and 0.5- µg doses of HDM. CONCLUSIONS: Effective immunotherapy can be achieved by precision delivery of the allergen into the skin layer, and microneedles can provide effective immunological therapy by delivering the appropriate amount of allergen.
Subject(s)
Allergens/administration & dosage , Desensitization, Immunologic/methods , Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy , Allergens/adverse effects , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic , Female , Humans , Injections, Intradermal/methods , Mice , Microinjections/methods , Pyroglyphidae/immunology , Rhinitis, Allergic/immunology , SwineABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant vascular disorder characterized by recurrent epistaxis, telangiectasia, and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Activin A receptor-like type 1 (ACVRL1/ALK1) and endoglin (ENG) are the principal genes whose mutations cause HHT. No multicenter study has yet investigated correlations between genetic variations and clinical outcomes in Korean HHT patients. METHODS: Seventy-two members from 40 families suspected to have HHT based on symptoms were genetically screened for pathogenic variants of ACVRL1 and ENG. Patients with genetically diagnosed HHT were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the HHT genetic screening, 42 patients from 24 of the 40 families had genetic variants that met the pathogenic criteria (pathogenic very strong, pathogenic strong, pathogenic moderate, or pathogenic supporting) based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Standards and Guidelines for either ENG or ACVRL1: 26 from 12 families (50%) for ENG, and 16 from 12 families (50%) for ACVRL1. Diagnostic screening of 42 genetically positive HHT patients based on the Curaçao criteria revealed that 24 patients (57%) were classified as having definite HHT, 17 (41%) as having probable HHT, and 1 (2%) as unlikely to have HHT. Epistaxis was the most common clinical presentation (38/42, 90%), followed by visceral AVMs (24/42, 57%) and telangiectasia (21/42, 50%). Five patients (12%) did not have a family history of HHT clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Only approximately half of patients with ACVRL1 or ENG genetic variants could be clinically diagnosed as having definite HHT, suggesting that genetic screening is important to confirm the diagnosis.
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OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a slow-release form of bepotastine salicylate (HL151, Belion CR) in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). STUDY DESIGN: Double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter comparative study. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-two PAR patients (aged 19-65 years) were studied to determine the efficacy and safety of HL151 (20 mg once daily administration) relative to those of a placebo in terms of improvements in total and nasal symptom scores. The subjects were randomized to the placebo (n = 138) or HL151 group (n = 134, 20 mg orally once daily for 4 weeks), and reflective and instantaneous total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) were measured daily in comparison with baseline. Among 272 subjects, 229 subjects (119 in the placebo group, 110 in the HL151 group) who completed the study were included for efficacy analysis. RESULTS: Instantaneous and reflective TNSS and nasal symptoms such as rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and sneezing at 2 and 4 weeks showed that HL151 was superior to the placebo (all P < .05). There were no significant differences in terms of adverse events and adverse drug reactions between the two groups. Regarding serious adverse events, there was only one case of acute hepatitis B, which was reported not to be associated with HL151. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter trial showed that once-daily use of HL151 is efficacious and safe in adult patients with PAR and could improve compliance due to its convenience. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b Laryngoscope, 131:E702-E709, 2021.
Subject(s)
Piperidines/administration & dosage , Pyridines/administration & dosage , Rhinitis, Allergic/drug therapy , Salicylates/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Adult , Aged , Delayed-Action Preparations , Double-Blind Method , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Combinations , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sino-Nasal Outcome Test , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) using 2 kinds of SLIT medications (LAIS and Staloral) in patients with allergic rhinitis for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. We have evaluated the patient's characteristics, safety, and compliance in 293 patients and also analyzed the symptom score, medication score, satisfaction rate, and immunologic measurement in 84 patients who have continued the treatment over 1 year. The symptom scores were significantly improved in both treatment groups, 51% versus 44% (LAIS vs Starloral) at 1 year (P < .05). The medication score was also significantly decreased in both treatment groups (P < .05), 50.8% versus 60%. The subjective improvement score was 44.4% versus 46.1%, and satisfaction rate was 29% versus 40% (P < .05). The serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level was significantly increased in Staloral group (P < .05). The adverse events were 6.2% versus 33.3% and the compliance was 37.7% versus 25.1%. In conclusion, the improvements in symptom score and medication scores were not significant different between 2 SLIT medications at 1 year. LAIS was more compliant, less side effects and Staloral has shown increased satisfaction rate and IgG4 level.