Observational study investigating Ectoin® Rhinitis Nasal Spray as natural treatment option of acute rhinosinusitis compared to treatment with Xylometazoline.

INTRODUCTION: Symptomatic relief of acute rhinosinusitis is commonly achieved with nasal decongestants. The current observational study investigated the efficacy and safety of treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray compared to or in combination with Xylometazoline-containing decongesting nasal spray. METHODS: Patients with acute rhinosinusitis applied either Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray, Xylometazoline nasal spray or a combination of both products. Rhinosinusitis symptoms were assessed, and nasal oedema and endonasal redness were determined by rhinoscopy. Patient diaries based on the validated SNOT (Sino Nasal Outcome Test) questionnaire evaluated rhinosinusitis parameters over time and influences of the disease on quality of life. Following treatment, investigators and patients judged the efficacy and tolerability. RESULTS: Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray diminished common rhinosinusitis symptoms such as nasal obstruction, nasal secretion, facial pain/headache, and smell/taste impairment. Upon treatment over 7 days, rhinosinusitis sum scores decreased statistically significantly (p < 0.001) by - 64.25%, which was comparable to that achieved with Xylometazoline-containing decongesting nasal spray (- 67.60%). No side effects were observed during treatment with Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray, whereas treatment with Xylometazoline-containing nasal spray resulted in nasal mucosa dryness. Concomitant treatment with both products diminished the development of nasal dryness and required fewer applications of Xylometazoline-containing nasal spray. CONCLUSION: Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray is an effective, natural treatment option for acute rhinosinusitis, which may be used as monotherapy or as add-on treatment with a Xylometazoline-containing nasal spray. The concomitant use of Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray might reduce the needed dose of decongestant nasal spray and counteract bothersome side effects such as dry nasal mucosa. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The current study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database under the identifier: NCT03693976 (date of registration: Oct 3, 2018).

Malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx.

Laryngeal manifestations of malignant sialogenic neoplasias are rare. This paper documents the clinical features, treatment, biological behaviour and prognosis of 15 cases of malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx that were reviewed in a retrospective clinical and histopathological study. The 15 cases of malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx were diagnosed at the University Hospital, Eppendorf, over a period of 33 years (1965-1998). Forty per cent were adenoid cystic carcinomas, 33 per cent mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 27 per cent were poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Local tumour resection, if necessary in combination with bilateral neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy, was associated with a five-year survival rate in 80 per cent of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was associated with a less favourable five-year survival rate of 33 per cent. Low-differentiated adenocarcinomas were associated with the least favourable prognosis with a five-year survival rate (25 per cent). The prognosis for these tumours is thus poorer than for squamous cell carcinomas with the same localization and TNM status.

Value of minor salivary gland biopsy in diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Minor salivary gland biopsy is suggested for diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome in patients with clinical signs of sicca syndrome. This biopsy is mainly examined on the basis of the semiquantitative morphologic criteria without taking into account the detection of characteristic myoepithelial sialadenitis (MESA). DESIGN: The role of minor salivary gland biopsy in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome as a possible detection method for MESA was examined in a retrospective study. METHODS: Minor salivary gland biopsies were obtained from 32 patients between 1986 and 1996. Twenty-two patients fulfilled the criteria for primary and 10 patients for secondary Sjögren's syndrome based on the catalogue of the European Study Group on Diagnostic Criteria for Sjögren's Syndrome. The histopathologic assessment was based on the histomorphologic MESA criteria, that is, parenchymatrophy, interstitial lymphocytic cell infiltration, and myoepithelial cell islands. RESULTS: The histopathologic assessment revealed normal minor salivary glands in 37.5% of the cases and chronic sialadenitis in 59.4% of the patients. Only one female patient (3.1%) had changes characteristic of MESA. CONCLUSION: Minor salivary gland biospy is therefore an unsuitable method for detecting MESA if the pathomorphologic correlative of MESA is used to confirm the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.