Pharmakologische Effekte von Sinupret<Superscript>®</Superscript>

The herbal medicinal product Sinupret has been successfully used for the treatment of sinusitis for 70 years. In Germany the product is established as a standard in the therapy of sinusitis. The most recent pharmacodynamic findings resulted from close scientific cooperation with Pontus Stierna and co-workers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm:Mice were infected intranasally with Streptococcus pneumoniae to induce bacterial rhinosinusitis. Animals were randomized to treatment with ampicillin, dexamethasone, Sinupret, or sham treatment. All groups receiving active treatment showed a reduction in bacterial growth after 4 days and a significant reduction of bacterial growth after 8 days. Similar results were observed regarding histopathology. Initial findings in a sinusitis model in the New Zealand White rabbit confirmed the results observed in the aforementioned studies in mice.Understanding of the pharmacological profile of Sinupret supports the knowledge about the clinical efficacy of this herbal medicinal product.     

The effect of a herbal combination of primrose, gentian root, vervain, elder flowers, and sorrel on olfactory function in patients with a sinonasal olfactory dysfunction

Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom in patients with inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Among numerous drugs, so far only the use of steroids has been shown to have a positive effect on olfactory function. Therefore the aim of the present study was to investigate whether patients with sinonasal disease would benefit in terms of olfactory function from oral treatment with a herbal drug (combination of primrose, gentian root, vervain, elder flowers, and sorrel: Sinupret(r)) which is commonly used in sinusitis. Olfactory function was tested using a standardised olfactory test kit (`sniffin` sticks`). The drug was applied in a double-blind fashion: after an initial therapy of 7 days of oral prednisolone for all participants with a sinonasal olfactory disease, participants were divided into a placebo- and a verum-group; tests were performed before and after treatment over a 2 months period. Statistical analysis did not reveal any major differences in olfactory function in relation to treatment. Considering that its benefit for the inflammatory component of sinusitis has been shown, the herbal drug may exhibit positive effects on olfactory function in a different setting, e.g., when applied without preceding administration of prednisolone, or when used in patients with certain degrees of rhinosinusitis.     

鼻内镜下咽鼓管吹张联合仙璐贝氧驱动雾化治疗分泌性中耳炎

目的观察鼻内镜下咽鼓管吹张联合仙璐贝氧驱动雾化吸入治疗分泌性中耳炎的疗效。方法将76例患者随机分为对照组与治疗组,对照组给予常规药物治疗,治疗组采取鼻内镜下咽鼓管咽口检查、负压吸引、咽鼓管吹张及同步仙璐贝氧驱动雾化吸入治疗,并进行疗效评价。结果单个疗程对照组总有效率72.1%,治疗组总有效率93.2%,两组总有效率差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。两个疗程对照组总有效率86.8%,治疗组95.4%,两组差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论鼻内镜下咽鼓管吹张联合仙璐贝氧驱动雾化治疗有利于咽鼓管功能恢复,早期改善症状,提高听力,是治疗分泌性中耳炎的有效方法。     

Myeloperoxidase in nasal secretion as a cell-activation marker in acute sinusitis

BACKGROUND: Acute bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract, including the nasal sinuses, lead to an activation of neutrophil granulocytes. The protein myeloperoxidase (MPO) is released by this cell type only and therefore can act as a marker for activity of inflammation. METHODS: In a prospective multicenter study, 45 patients with acute bacterial sinusitis (diagnosed by clinical examination, ultrasonography, and X ray or computed tomography scan) were treated with two different antibiotics (Cefditoren or Cefuroxim twice a day for 10 days). Nasal secretions were collected with absorbing foam-rubber samplers and a concentration of MPO was evaluated before the therapy and after 7 +/- 1 days and 14 +/- 2 days of antibiotic treatment. The concentrations of MPO were measured by a radioimmunoassay method and the dilution factors were determined by the lithium method. RESULTS: Significant differences in the MPO concentration in nasal secretions between the first and third visit could be found in both groups (p < 0.01 each). No significant difference was seen within the two different antibiotics used. CONCLUSION: Measurement of MPO concentration in nasal secretions showed a significant change after antibiotic treatment of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. The reduction of MPO levels correlated with the observed clinical and radiological improvement of the disease. Additional investigations are needed to achieve more knowledge about basal concentrations of MPO in healthy persons and different activation patterns before it can be determined whether the MPO measurement could be a suitable method for monitoring the success of an antibiotic treatment in acute bacterial sinusitis.     

Rekomendacja dla leku Sinupret jako preparatu uzupełniającego konwencjonalne leczenie farmakologiczne ostrego i przewlekłego zapalenia błony śluzowej nosa i zatok przynosowych (rhinosinusitis)

Due to rhinosinusitis symptoms severity and relatively high treatment resistance, excipients, supplementing basic pharmacological and surgical treatment, have played a significant role in the recent years. Phytotherapy is one of the most dynamically developing studies which focuses on implementing natural active substances into the treatment. 2012 EPOS Report pinpoints the benefits of using substances of natural origin in patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Sinupret drug has been proven effective in clinical trials, as a drug for both acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, in children and adults. Sinupret is a multidirectional drug, which significantly alleviates the symptoms of rhinosinusitis.     

Efficacy of endonasal neomycin-tixocortol pivalate irrigation in the treatment of chronic allergic and bacterial sinusitis

60 patients, aged 15-51 years, with chronic allergic or bacterial maxillary sinusitis, were entered in a controlled, double-blind study comparing the efficacy of endonasal irrigations of tixocortol pivalate (Pivalone)-neomycin and neomycin. The treatment lasted 11 days and was administered once daily. A ventilometric measurement of sinus pressure was performed every two endonasal irrigations to assess treatment efficacy. The percentage of nasal deobstruction was significantly higher with tixocortol pivalate-neomycin than with neomycin alone by the fifth examination (9th day) regardless of the etiology of the sinusitis (allergic or bacterial). After 11 days of treatment, significantly better results were obtained in cases of bacterial sinusitis (94% deobstruction with tixocortol pivalate-neomycin versus 74% with neomycin) than in cases of allergic sinusitis (69% deobstruction with tixocortol pivalate-neomycin versus 36% with neomycin).     

The treatment duration of acute maxillary sinusitis: how long should it be? A nasal smear controlled study

The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate duration of treatment in acute maxillary sinusitis. The study was performed prospectively on 40 adult patients with acute maxillary sinusitis diagnosed by sinus puncture. Patients were randomized as to several treatment periods and treated by various antibiotics according to culture-sensitivity results. Patients in group 1 received treatment for 7 days; groups 2, 3, and 4 received 14, 21, and 28 days, respectively. The patients were followed up with nasal smear findings on certain intervals during the 56-day follow-up period. Statistically significant differences were found beginning from the 21st day between group 1 and the other groups. However, there were no statistical differences among groups 2, 3 and 4. These findings show that the most appropriate duration of treatment in acute maxillary sinusitis should be at least 14 days according to nasal smear results.     

Preclinical evaluation of Luffa operculata Cogn. and its main active principle in the treatment of bacterial rhinosinusitis

Introduction

The prevalence of rhinosinusitis is quite high. Despite the widespread use of antibiotics for rhinosinusitis, there are other forms of treatment, including phytotherapy. One of the most widely used herbal medicines for treatment of rhinosinusitis is Luffa operculata.

单发性鼻窦炎细菌学检测及药敏试验结果分析

目的：了解单发性鼻窦炎细菌分布及对常用抗生素敏感情况。方法：对９４例上颌窦炎和４１例筛窦炎,蝶窦炎患者行功能性鼻窦内窥镜手术,将取出的窦腔分泌舶和粘膜进行细菌培养分离和常用抗生素的药敏试验。结果：１３５份标本中,有菌生长１１９份（８８．１５％）,共分离细菌１９２株,混合细菌生长６２份,厌氧菌７５株,分离菌株对青霉素的总敏感度为５３．１２％。头孢唑啉钠总敏感度为８７．５０％〉厌氧菌对甲硝唑的总敏感度     

The correlation between bacteriological findings in the nose and maxillary sinus in acute maxillary sinusitis

Nasal and sinus bacteriology have been investigated in healthy controls and in patients with acute maxillary sinusitis. Comparatively few healthy noses were sterile, and in controls the nasal bacterial flora commonly consisted mainly of staphylococci and diphtheroid rods. Nasal specimens from patients with sinusitis showed most common findings to be “no growth,” pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae and staphylococci in that order. In aspirated sinus secretions there was a predominance of pneumococci, “no growth” and Haemophilus influenzae. Other bacteria were uncommon. Staphylococci were shown conclusively to be nasal contaminants. The same organisms were found in the nasal and sinus secretions of patients with sinusitis in only 64 percent, thus indicating that nasal samples are of low predictive value in reflecting sinus flora. It can be argued that in the individual patient with sinusitis it is more reliable to base therapy on the results of previous bacteriological investigations than on the individual bacteral findings in the nose.     

Moxifloxacin vs amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of acute sinusitis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin with that of amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred seventy-five patients from Latin American countries were randomized to receive oral moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily for 7 days, or oral amoxicillin/clavulanate 500/125 mg 3 times daily for 10 days, in a prospective, open study. RESULTS: At the test-of-cure visit (7-14 days after the end of therapy), the clinical success rate in the moxifloxacin group was 93.4% similar to that in the amoxicillin/clavulanate group (92.7%). Documented bacteriological eradication plus presumed eradication rates in the moxifloxacin (96.5%) and the amoxicillin/clavulanate (96.7%) groups were also similar. Drug-related adverse events were recorded in 32.2% of patients in the moxifloxacin group and 29.7% in the amoxicillin/clavulanate group. Patient discontinuation in the trial due to adverse events occurred for 10 patients in the moxifloxacin group and 6 in the amoxicillin/clavulanate group. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, in terms of clinical and bacteriological response, moxifloxacin was equivalent to amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis in adults.     

Treatment of Oroantral Communications after Tooth Extraction. Is Drainage into the Nose Necessary or Not?

Seventy-six patients with oroantral communications after tooth extraction and chronic maxillary sinusitis were treated as follows: bacterial cultures were taken in all of them and maxillary sinuses were irrigated with an antibiotic from the cephalosporin group. Then, in 36 patients, drainage using the Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed, including a naso-antral window. In all patients operations were completed by closing oroantral communications with flaps of the mucosa of the alveolar process close to the fistula. Antibiotics according to antibiogram were administered to all patients at least 10 days after surgery. Retrospective comparison between the results obtained in the first group and those in the second group 1, 3 and 6 months after operation was based on objective findings (condition of the oroantral communication, maxillary sinusitis), side effects (pain, numbness of the operated area, headache) and control radiographs (clear maxillary sinus or with mucosal thickening). The study suggests that transnasal drainage is not required in maxillary sinus surgery and in the closure of oroantral communications. Equally good results are achieved by treating with antibiotics and without drainage of the maxillary sinus into the nose.     

Acute bacterial sinusitis. Minocycline vs amoxicillin

The efficacy and safety of minocycline were compared with that of amoxicillin in the treatment of 58 patients with acute bacterial sinusitis. The most frequently isolated pathogens were streptococci, staphylococci, and Haemophilus influenzae. After therapy for a mean time of 11 days, clinical cure or improvement and bacterial eradication were evident in 100% of the patients treated with minocycline and in 95% of the patients treated with amoxicillin. Roentgenographic results indicated clearing or improvement in 91% of the minocycline recipients and in 70% of those who received amoxicillin. These differences between treatments were not statistically significant. A low incidence of generally mild adverse clinical experiences occurred in both treatment groups. Thus, minocycline and amoxicillin were equally safe and effective in the treatment of these patients with acute bacterial sinusitis.     

The effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of experimental sinusitis

Emerging evidence indicates that medically recalcitrant sinusitis may be associated with a prolonged and excessive state of inflammation rather than a simple bacterial infection. Corticosteroids have been anecdotally reported to be helpful in treating patients with sinusitis; however, there are no scientific studies documenting the safety and efficacy of corticosteroid therapy in sinusitis. To resolve the controversy over whether corticosteroids promote or inhibit the resolution of sinusitis, we present a prospective study of 80 rabbits with surgically introduced pseudomonal sinusitis that were then treated in one of four arms: control, ceftazidime, methylprednisolone, and ceftazidime with methylprednisolone. Sinus cavities were then evaluated after 5, 14, 21, and 28 days of treatment both by histologic inflammation grading and bacterial quantification. Results showed a significant decrease in bacterial loads in both the antibiotic and antibiotic with steroid arms over control animals, although no difference was seen between the two. Histologic grading showed a similar trend, although statistical significance was not obtained. Overall, this study demonstrated no clear advantage of steroids in the treatment of sinus infections using this model. At the same point, no significant reduction in the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy was seen with concurrent steroid use. A number of limitations of the animal model are noted and the need for human studies in this area is discussed.     

Xylitol enhances bacterial killing in the rabbit maxillary sinus

OBJECTIVES: Factors that alter airway surface liquid (ASL) ionic concentrations may influence the course of sinusitis. Xylitol has been shown to effect ASL ionic composition in vitro and to reduce nasal bacterial carriage, otitis media, and dental caries in vivo. We examined the effect of xylitol on experimental sinusitis in the rabbit model. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled study of xylitol, saline, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa administration to the rabbit maxillary sinus. METHODS: P. aeruginosa was administered to the sinuses of 26 New Zealand white rabbits. Saline was placed in the left maxillary sinus and xylitol in the right. The rabbits were randomly assigned to one of three groups: one, simultaneous administration of bacteria and solutions with bacterial analysis at 20 minutes, 11 rabbits; two, preadministration of solutions 1 hour before bacterial infection with analysis at 20 minutes, 11 rabbits; three, established sinusitis, 4 rabbits had daily injections of solutions for 5 days starting 7 days after P. aeruginosa administration. RESULTS: In group 1, 6.96% of injected bacteria were retrieved on the left (saline), whereas 0.095% were retrieved on the right (xylitol) (P = .034). In group 2, 5.64% of inoculum was recovered from the left and 2.89% from the right (P = .188). Group 3 demonstrated evidence of sinusitis with recovery of noninoculate bacteria. with no difference between right and left. CONCLUSIONS: Xylitol reduces experimental sinusitis when administered simultaneously with bacteria. Its effect in established sinusitis is less clear. A role may exist for xylitol in nasal irrigation fluid in human disease.     

Intranasal budesonide spray as an adjunct to oral antibiotic therapy for acute sinusitis in children

We investigated the clinical value of intranasal budesonide in acute sinusitis in 52 children with acute maxillary sinusitis. We randomly divided them into two groups: group 1 received oral pseudoephedrine (2 × 30 mg) and cefaclor (40 mg/kg) for 10 days, and group 2 received intranasal budesonide (2 × 100 μg) and cefaclor (40 mg/kg) for 10 days. Symptoms of headache, cough, and nasal stuffiness and signs of nasal discharge were graded before and after treatment. The patients whose symptoms and signs completely normalized after treatment were considered to have recovered, and those with persisting symptoms and signs after treatment as having not recovered. The results of the two treatment groups were compared. The recovery rate of the children in group 2 were significantly higher than those in group 1 (P < 0.05). No adverse drug effects were determined during the study period. These findings suggest that topical steroids may be a useful adjunctive agent in the treatment of acute sinusitis of children without apparent side effects and can possibly hasten the resolution of symptoms. Received: 11 September 1998 / Accepted: 2 July 1999     

The anti-inflammatory effect of fusafungine during experimentally induced rhinosinusitis in the rabbit

The short-term effects of local intranasal administration of fusafungine were studied for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties against experimentally induced bacterial rhinosinusitis. The maxillary sinuses of 20 rabbits were infected with encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae after mechanical occlusion of each animal’s anatomic ostium. Either fusafungine solution or placebo was administered as a nasal spray through the nostrils twice daily for 10 days. Histopathological grading of inflammation, biochemical assay of inflammatory mediators, and the number of bacterial species isolated from the nasal cavities all showed significant recovery from inflammation after fusafungine treatment. The beneficial effects of fusafungine on inflamed sinus mucosa may possibly also be attributable to an initial alleviation of inflammation in the nasal cavity, which permitted entry of the drug to the sinus cavity through a partially reopened ostium. A reciprocal relationship between nasal and sinus reactivity involving generalization of inflammation and recovery was also thought to be of importance. The present findings indicate that local applications of fusafungine may effectively improve clinical conditions producing rhinitis and sinusitis. Received: 4 March 1997 / Accepted: 11 June 1997     

Efficacy and safety of cefdinir in the treatment of maxillary sinusitis

Cefdinir is a new, extended-spectrum, orally active, third-generation cephalosporin that is resistant to bacterial β-lactamase production. To evaluate efficacy and safety of the antibiotic in maxillary sinusitis, its use was compared with amoxicillin/clavulanate (amox/clav), which is a well-accepted β-lactamase-resistant antibiotic. In this investigator-blinded multicenter phase III clinical study, 569 patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens: one daily dose of cefdinir ¶600 mg (OD), cefdinir 300 mg every 12 h (BD), and amox/clav 500/125 mg every 8 h. All antibiotics were administered orally for 10 days. Maxillary sinusitis was documented by typical clinical signs and symptoms and was confirmed by X-ray imaging. Before treatment, the genus and species of any pathogens were determined from sinus aspirates. Cultures were tested for β-lactmase production and in vitro resistance to cefdinir and amox/clav. The ¶effectiveness of antibiotic treatment was evaluated 7–¶14 days after therapy and whether or not recurrent clinical symptoms or persistent infection was determined 21–¶35 days post-therapy. The appearance of any adverse events was classified as associated or not associated with the medication of the study. Present findings showed that the in vitro susceptibility of pathogens to cefdinir and amox/clav was similar. Cefdinir OD or BD was therapeutically as effective as or better than amox/clav, although cefdinir BD was not as useful as amox/clav clinically. Cefdinir OD and BD and amox/clav were well tolerated. The statistical incidence of adverse events was the same among the three treatment groups, although cefdinir OD treatment had significantly fewer treatment discontinuations due to adverse events than BD and amox/clav.     

Experimental sinusitis in a rhinogenic model

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objectives were to determine the optimal sinusitis induction period and to examine microbiological and histopathological changes of sinusitis recovery stage in a rhinogenic sinusitis model. METHODS: A synthetic sponge was inserted into the right-side nasal cavities of rabbits. The sponge was impregnated with a Streptococcus pneumoniae strain in group 1 and with sterile saline solution in groups 2 and 3. After the fourth day of sponge insertion, sinuses were examined by coronal computed tomography scans at two-day intervals until any radiological evidence of sinusitis was observed. When sinusitis was detected radiologically, five rabbits each from groups 1 and 2 were killed for histological examination. To determine the recovery period of sinusitis, sponges were removed from the rest of the rabbits in groups 1 and 2. Rabbits were selected randomly and killed on the 15th and the 30th days of the recovery period, immediately after radiological examinations. Group 3 was considered a sham group. RESULTS: Sinusitis induction was performed in all rabbits in groups 1 and 2 until the 8th day. After the sponges were removed, inflammation persisted until the 30th day of the study. CONCLUSION: In a rhinogenic sinusitis model, although histological features of sinusitis were demonstrated, further studies are required to standardize this model and to examine whether or not the studied bacterial strain spreads from nasal cavity into sinus.     

Delayed irradiation effects on nasal epithelium in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. An ultrastructural study.

The ostiomeatal complex is responsible for the clearance of most sinus secretions. To evaluate the delayed effects of irradiation. this study examined the infundibulum mucosa of 10 patients who developed sinusitis after receiving radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Pathologic findings under the light microscope revealed an increased deposition of dense collagenous fibers in the lamina propria. The epithelial cells also transformed into a stratified arrangement and showed gradual reduction of cytoplasmic volume. Ultrastructural observations detected areas of ciliary loss, intercellular and intracellular vacuolation, and ciliary dysmorphism. Most of these pathologic findings were observed even in a patient 23 years after irradiation. The results presented herein suggest that radiotherapy may cause long-term damage to the nasal epithelium that may be responsible for the prolonged sinusitis of irradiated NPC patients.