Our aim was to examine the expression of COX-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1), and compare the results with clinical data. Expression of COX-1, COX-2, and mPGS-1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCs) from 25 patients and mRNA levels were determined by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. COX-2 overexpression was noted in tumor cells from 19 of the 25 carcinoma patients and mPGES was expressed by tumor cells from 21 patients. Localization of COX-2 and mPGES-1 was very similar, and well-differentiated tumors showed stronger expression than poorly/moderately differentiated tumors. The COX-2/GAPDH and mPGES/GAPDH mRNA ratios were significantly higher in well-differentiated carcinomas and N0 patients. There was overexpression of COX-2 and its downstream enzyme mPGES-1, and their localization in tumor cells was similar, suggesting that these enzymes both play an important role in the development and proliferation of HNSCC. Furthermore, COX-2 and mPGES-1 were strongly expressed by well-differentiated carcinomas, suggesting their involvement in the differentiation of cancer.

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To clarify whether allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for snoring in children or not, we investigated 365 children (0-15 years, mean of age 5, 213 male and 152 female) in our outpatient clinic of ENT and/or pediatrics. The questionnaires regarding snoring, sleep disturbance, and daytime symptoms were filled out by the parents of the subjects. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by physicians.
The prevalence of moderately to severely frequent snoring and sleep apnea was 19.7% and 1.4%, respectively. The frequency of snoring was significantly correlated with the frequency of sleep apnea, sleep disturbance, enuresis, mouth breathing and nasal congestion in the daytime. There was positive association between moderately to severely frequent snoring and: adenoid [odds ratio (OR) = 6.038], tonsillar hypertrophy (OR=5.463), and allergic rhinitis (OR=2.276). No correlation was found between snoring and: age, sex, the degree of obesity, sinusitis, and asthma.
Snoring causes various disorders in the lives of children. We showed allergic rhinitis was a risk factor for snoring in children next to adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy. It is important to pay attention to snoring and sleep disturbance in children with allergic rhinitis, and v.v., not to miss allergic rhinitis as a cause of snoring and sleep disturbance in children.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on subjective olfactory dysfunction in patients with chronic sinusitis complicated by bronchial asthma and to clarify the prognostic factors for olfaction in these patients by ESS.
We conducted a retrospective analysis of the outcome of 82 patients with bronchial asthma who underwent ESS for chronic sinusitis. The patients were divided into two groups by subjective improvement of olfactory function or keeping olfactory dysfunction after ESS. One surgeon performed the ESS, and both groups received the same postoperative treatment.
Of all 82 cases, 69 cases were recovered for olfactory function temporally and 42 cases showed good prognosis with stable persistent olfactory condition. The complications of aspirin sensitivity or eosinophilic otitis media, preoperative high CT score, poor postoperative endoscopic findings of ethmoid sinus and olfactory cleft were significantly poor prognostic factors. Patients with subjective olfactory dysfunction benefit from ESS with preoperative oral steroid therapy. We concluded that these factors most markedly affect improvement in olfaction after ESS for chronic sinusitis with bronchial asthma.

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