Inflammatory Response to Innocuous Fungi is Gaining Greater Acceptance as Cause

[Guest guest]

Inflammatory Response to Innocuous Fungi is Gaining Greater

Acceptance as Cause of Chronic Sinusitis

Newswise (press release)

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/525521/

CHRONIC SINUSITIS, ENT, OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS, SINUNASE, FUNGAL

ETIOLOGY

Description

Prior to the research on fungal etiology, the prevailing opinion

among the healthcare community was that upper respiratory infections

such as colds and flu caused chronic sinusitis by damaging the upper

respiratory epithelium. Within the last decade, physicians at the

Mayo Clinic hypothesized that most cases of chronic sinusitis were

caused not by epithelial dysfunction, but by an inflammatory

reaction to the presence of fungi in the mucus.

Newswise — Sinusitis, inflammation of the sinus passages around the

nose and throat, is one of the most common illnesses in the United

States, affecting between 30 and 40 million people each year, and

triggering between 18 and 22 million doctor visits. Among the

symptoms are nasal congestion, thick mucus production, headaches,

tenderness in the face, and aching behind the eyes. Chronic

sinusitis persists for weeks, months, or longer, causing misery for

sufferers. In the most severe cases the sinus cavity clogs,

preventing drainage of mucous and making it difficult to breathe

through the nose.

Prior to the research on fungal etiology, the prevailing opinion

among the healthcare community was that upper respiratory infections

such as colds and flu caused chronic sinusitis by damaging the upper

respiratory epithelium. Within the last decade, physicians at the

Mayo Clinic hypothesized that most cases of chronic sinusitis were

caused not by epithelial dysfunction, but by an inflammatory

reaction to the presence of fungi in the mucus. This novel idea was

initially rejected by medical specialists, but in a few short years,

evidence in favor of the fungal etiology of chronic sinusitis has

accumulated. Surveys of ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs,

also known as otolaryngologists) and allergists revealed that a

large number of the specialists treating this disease have adopted

the theory that an inflammatory response to fungus in susceptible

patients (almost 10%) is the cause of Chronic Sinusitis.

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals has conducted three surveys, presented

at a recent American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

symposium. The surveys revealed that prevailing perceptions among

ENT's regarding the possible fungal cause of chronic sinusitis,

especially for patients who do not benefit from surgery to correct

chronic sinusitis. This group of patients is classified as " surgery

refractory. "

The first two surveys suggested that ENTs in the United States saw

up to twice as many patients with chronic sinusitis as their

counterparts in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Approximately 25% of their chronic sinusitis patients were

refractory to surgery, meaning their condition does not improve

after an operation to remove sinus tissue. In addition, 90% of US

and EU (European Union) specialists expressed dissatisfaction with

current treatment options for chronic sinusitis, and acknowledged

the significant impact to quality of life associated with this

condition.

The third survey polled eighty American ENTs and allergists to

determine the physicians' prevalent belief regarding the etiology,

or cause of chronic sinusitis. In this survey, three-quarters of

physicians (75%) attributed the root cause of chronic sinusitis to a

fungal infection, and 84% believed that surgery-refractory patients

were more likely to fall into the fungal etiology category. Sixty-

nine percent of specialists surveyed considered intranasal

antifungal drug therapy to be an appropriate treatment for chronic

sinusitis patients, with 74% supporting this approach for surgery-

refractory patients.

" Fungal etiology is gaining greater acceptance among U.S. and

European physicians, " noted Angelos Stergiou, MD, Medical Director

at Accentia Biopharmaceuticals. Accentia is currently planning to

test the effects of SinuNase™, an intranasal form of Amphotericin B,

in patients with chronic sinusitis. SinuNase belongs to a class of

medicines known as anti-fungals.

The seriousness of chronic sinusitis, and the potential of SinuNase

to become the first approved treatment for treating this condition

prompted Accentia to seek " Fast Track " status for this drug. In

response to this application, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

granted " Fast Track " status for SinuNase in April 2006. For more

information on the clinical trials and their location, please visit

http://www.accentia.net

[Guest guest]

This is quite interesting and consistent with my experiences of my sinuses

clearing up some when taking antifungals. There was also research published

over the summer that fungi are also the source of chronic ear infections, which

I've also had, but again are clearing after anti-fungal treatment:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5927274 & dopt=Abstract

B.

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

Inflammatory Response to Innocuous Fungi is Gaining Greater

Acceptance as Cause of Chronic Sinusitis

Newswise (press release)

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/525521/

CHRONIC SINUSITIS, ENT, OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS, SINUNASE, FUNGAL

ETIOLOGY

Description

Prior to the research on fungal etiology, the prevailing opinion

among the healthcare community was that upper respiratory infections

such as colds and flu caused chronic sinusitis by damaging the upper

respiratory epithelium. Within the last decade, physicians at the

Mayo Clinic hypothesized that most cases of chronic sinusitis were

caused not by epithelial dysfunction, but by an inflammatory

reaction to the presence of fungi in the mucus.

Newswise ? Sinusitis, inflammation of the sinus passages around the

nose and throat, is one of the most common illnesses in the United

States, affecting between 30 and 40 million people each year, and

triggering between 18 and 22 million doctor visits. Among the

symptoms are nasal congestion, thick mucus production, headaches,

tenderness in the face, and aching behind the eyes. Chronic

sinusitis persists for weeks, months, or longer, causing misery for

sufferers. In the most severe cases the sinus cavity clogs,

preventing drainage of mucous and making it difficult to breathe

through the nose.

Prior to the research on fungal etiology, the prevailing opinion

among the healthcare community was that upper respiratory infections

such as colds and flu caused chronic sinusitis by damaging the upper

respiratory epithelium. Within the last decade, physicians at the

Mayo Clinic hypothesized that most cases of chronic sinusitis were

caused not by epithelial dysfunction, but by an inflammatory

reaction to the presence of fungi in the mucus. This novel idea was

initially rejected by medical specialists, but in a few short years,

evidence in favor of the fungal etiology of chronic sinusitis has

accumulated. Surveys of ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs,

also known as otolaryngologists) and allergists revealed that a

large number of the specialists treating this disease have adopted

the theory that an inflammatory response to fungus in susceptible

patients (almost 10%) is the cause of Chronic Sinusitis.

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals has conducted three surveys, presented

at a recent American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

symposium. The surveys revealed that prevailing perceptions among

ENT's regarding the possible fungal cause of chronic sinusitis,

especially for patients who do not benefit from surgery to correct

chronic sinusitis. This group of patients is classified as " surgery

refractory. "

The first two surveys suggested that ENTs in the United States saw

up to twice as many patients with chronic sinusitis as their

counterparts in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Approximately 25% of their chronic sinusitis patients were

refractory to surgery, meaning their condition does not improve

after an operation to remove sinus tissue. In addition, 90% of US

and EU (European Union) specialists expressed dissatisfaction with

current treatment options for chronic sinusitis, and acknowledged

the significant impact to quality of life associated with this

condition.

The third survey polled eighty American ENTs and allergists to

determine the physicians' prevalent belief regarding the etiology,

or cause of chronic sinusitis. In this survey, three-quarters of

physicians (75%) attributed the root cause of chronic sinusitis to a

fungal infection, and 84% believed that surgery-refractory patients

were more likely to fall into the fungal etiology category. Sixty-

nine percent of specialists surveyed considered intranasal

antifungal drug therapy to be an appropriate treatment for chronic

sinusitis patients, with 74% supporting this approach for surgery-

refractory patients.

" Fungal etiology is gaining greater acceptance among U.S. and

European physicians, " noted Angelos Stergiou, MD, Medical Director

at Accentia Biopharmaceuticals. Accentia is currently planning to

test the effects of SinuNase?, an intranasal form of Amphotericin B,

in patients with chronic sinusitis. SinuNase belongs to a class of

medicines known as anti-fungals.

The seriousness of chronic sinusitis, and the potential of SinuNase

to become the first approved treatment for treating this condition

prompted Accentia to seek " Fast Track " status for this drug. In

response to this application, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

granted " Fast Track " status for SinuNase in April 2006. For more

information on the clinical trials and their location, please visit

http://www.accentia.net

[Guest guest]

, Thank you so much for this. I have been battling a sinus and ear

infection for months now and am finally on Nizoral spray. It's improved very

little, but from reading this I can see that it takes a lot of time to clear. I

was giving up and going to try antibiotics, but not now.

mary.barnes@... wrote: This is quite interesting and consistent

with my experiences of my sinuses clearing up some when taking antifungals.

There was also research published over the summer that fungi are also the source

of chronic ear infections, which I've also had, but again are clearing after

anti-fungal treatment:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5927274 & dopt=Abstract

B.

-------------- Original message --------------

From: " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

Inflammatory Response to Innocuous Fungi is Gaining Greater

Acceptance as Cause of Chronic Sinusitis

Newswise (press release)

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/525521/

CHRONIC SINUSITIS, ENT, OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS, SINUNASE, FUNGAL

ETIOLOGY

Description

Prior to the research on fungal etiology, the prevailing opinion

among the healthcare community was that upper respiratory infections

such as colds and flu caused chronic sinusitis by damaging the upper

respiratory epithelium. Within the last decade, physicians at the

Mayo Clinic hypothesized that most cases of chronic sinusitis were

caused not by epithelial dysfunction, but by an inflammatory

reaction to the presence of fungi in the mucus.

Newswise ? Sinusitis, inflammation of the sinus passages around the

nose and throat, is one of the most common illnesses in the United

States, affecting between 30 and 40 million people each year, and

triggering between 18 and 22 million doctor visits. Among the

symptoms are nasal congestion, thick mucus production, headaches,

tenderness in the face, and aching behind the eyes. Chronic

sinusitis persists for weeks, months, or longer, causing misery for

sufferers. In the most severe cases the sinus cavity clogs,

preventing drainage of mucous and making it difficult to breathe

through the nose.

Prior to the research on fungal etiology, the prevailing opinion

among the healthcare community was that upper respiratory infections

such as colds and flu caused chronic sinusitis by damaging the upper

respiratory epithelium. Within the last decade, physicians at the

Mayo Clinic hypothesized that most cases of chronic sinusitis were

caused not by epithelial dysfunction, but by an inflammatory

reaction to the presence of fungi in the mucus. This novel idea was

initially rejected by medical specialists, but in a few short years,

evidence in favor of the fungal etiology of chronic sinusitis has

accumulated. Surveys of ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs,

also known as otolaryngologists) and allergists revealed that a

large number of the specialists treating this disease have adopted

the theory that an inflammatory response to fungus in susceptible

patients (almost 10%) is the cause of Chronic Sinusitis.

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals has conducted three surveys, presented

at a recent American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

symposium. The surveys revealed that prevailing perceptions among

ENT's regarding the possible fungal cause of chronic sinusitis,

especially for patients who do not benefit from surgery to correct

chronic sinusitis. This group of patients is classified as " surgery

refractory. "

The first two surveys suggested that ENTs in the United States saw

up to twice as many patients with chronic sinusitis as their

counterparts in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Approximately 25% of their chronic sinusitis patients were

refractory to surgery, meaning their condition does not improve

after an operation to remove sinus tissue. In addition, 90% of US

and EU (European Union) specialists expressed dissatisfaction with

current treatment options for chronic sinusitis, and acknowledged

the significant impact to quality of life associated with this

condition.

The third survey polled eighty American ENTs and allergists to

determine the physicians' prevalent belief regarding the etiology,

or cause of chronic sinusitis. In this survey, three-quarters of

physicians (75%) attributed the root cause of chronic sinusitis to a

fungal infection, and 84% believed that surgery-refractory patients

were more likely to fall into the fungal etiology category. Sixty-

nine percent of specialists surveyed considered intranasal

antifungal drug therapy to be an appropriate treatment for chronic

sinusitis patients, with 74% supporting this approach for surgery-

refractory patients.

" Fungal etiology is gaining greater acceptance among U.S. and

European physicians, " noted Angelos Stergiou, MD, Medical Director

at Accentia Biopharmaceuticals. Accentia is currently planning to

test the effects of SinuNase?, an intranasal form of Amphotericin B,

in patients with chronic sinusitis. SinuNase belongs to a class of

medicines known as anti-fungals.

The seriousness of chronic sinusitis, and the potential of SinuNase

to become the first approved treatment for treating this condition

prompted Accentia to seek " Fast Track " status for this drug. In

response to this application, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

granted " Fast Track " status for SinuNase in April 2006. For more

information on the clinical trials and their location, please visit

http://www.accentia.net