Expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins and analysis of apoptosis in normal nasal mucosa and in nasal polyps.

Background: The etiopathogenesis of nasal polyps still is to be clarified. Although hyperplasia is a typical feature of these pathological processes, little attention has been paid to specific aspects of cellular growth in polyps. We have evaluated the expression and localization of some of the regulatory proteins that direct the cell through the specific sequence of events culminating in mitosis or apoptosis in nasal polyps.

Incidence of unexpected malignancies in routine tonsillectomy specimens in children.

Objectives: Controversy continues to exist regarding the necessity to routinely send for histologic examination those specimens obtained after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in children. Otolaryngologists fear missing an unsuspected diagnosis, such as a tonsil malignancy. However, given the rare incidence of this event, the cost-effectiveness ratio of routine microscopic analysis is questionable.

Hypersaline nasal irrigation in children with symptomatic seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized study.

Recent evidence suggests that nasal irrigation with hypertonic saline may be useful as an adjunctive treatment modality in the management of many sinonasal diseases. However, no previous studies have investigated the efficacy of this regimen in the prevention of seasonal allergic rhinitis-related symptoms in the pediatric patient. Twenty children with seasonal allergic rhinitis to Parietaria were enrolled in the study.