Effect of the N-acetylcysteine and selenium on healing of experimental maxillary sinusitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus

The purpose of this controlled-randomised study was aimed to test the antioxidative effect of the N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and selenium on healing of Staphylococcus aureussinusitis. After experimental sinusitis, 30 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups; group A was treated with Ampicillin/sulbactam and physiological saline. Group B and C were treated with NAC and selenium in addition to Ampicillin/sulbactam, respectively. The measurements were repeated at the 3rd and 10th day. Serummalondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutases (SOD) activities at the 3rd day of experiment were higher than basal levels in all groups. These levels at the 10th day were lower than those of the 3rd day in groups B and C, significantly. The severity of the grade of inflammation and epithelial changes were significant between the infected and control side, but no significant change was found among the groups. S. aureus sinusitis causes to increase the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the blood. These increased levels of ROS can be neutralized in some degree by antioxidative effects of NAC and selenium which are supplemented to standard antibiotic therapy. The effect of NAC and selenium on healing of maxillary sinus mucosa seems to be insignificant.   Key words: N-acetylcysteine, selenium, Staphylococcus aureus, sinusitis, antioxidant effects.