title: N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase in chronic tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concentration and specific activity of N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase (HEX) in palatine tonsils with chronic tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy give insight in tonsillar tissue remodeling and constitute a potential marker for diagnosis and treatment of chronic tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Determining the concentration and specific activity of N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase in palatine tonsils with hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  HEX activity was analyzed by the method of Marciniak et al. with p-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-β-glucosaminepyranoside as a substrate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration and specific activity of HEX in palatine tonsils in patients with tonsillar hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis both in childhood and adulthood significantly increase in comparison to healthy individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate the presence of HEX in palatine tonsils and indicate on significant increase of its concentration and specific activity. Based on content and specific HEX activity we suggest that tonsils with hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis should be treated as identical unit irrespectively of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Stomatology Division, I Faculty of the Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland. popkom@interia.pl
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagor
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minarowska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knaś
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krajewska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niemcunowicz-Janica
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marciniak
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bierć
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaniewska
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minarowski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackowska
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jackowski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zwierz
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szajda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000201:enzymology*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D055815:Young Adult; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases
keywords: Chronic tonsillitis; N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase (HEX); Palatine tonsils; Tonsillar hypertrophy