A Polymorphism (rs1801018, Thr7Thr) of BCL2 is Associated with Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Korean Population

OBJECTIVES: Among the apoptosis signals, B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) is a well-known regulator of apoptosis with anti-apoptotic properties. We investigated here whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the BCL2 were associated with host susceptibility of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) occurrence and clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: Ninety-two PTC patients and 222 control subjects were recruited. One promoter SNP (rs2279115, -938A/C) and one synonymous SNP (rs1801018, Thr7Thr) in the BCL2 gene were selected and genotyped using direct sequencing. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to evaluate odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and P-values. RESULTS: rs1801018 of the BCL2 gene was not associated with the development of PTC. In the clinicopathologic features, rs1801018 SNP was associated with the number and location. The G allele frequency of rs1801018 in PTC patients with multifocality (13.3%) was about four-fold higher than that in PTC patients with unifocality (3.4%). The G allele frequency of rs1801018 in PTC patients with both lobes (15.4%) was increased by about five-fold, compared to PTC patients with one lobe (3.2%). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that synonymous SNP rs1801018 and the G allele of the BCL2 gene may be associated with the multifocality and bilaterality of PTC in Korean population.

Association of the Oncostatin M Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Papillary Thyroid Cancer in the Korean Population

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) in the Korean population. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study was done. Eighty-five patients with PTC and 287 controls were studied. One missense SNP (rs2278329, Asp553Asn) and one promoter SNP (rs2292016, -100 G/T) of the OSMR gene were genotyped by direct sequencing. Genetic data were analyzed using the SNPStats, Helixtree, and SNPAnalyzer Pro. PTC patients were dichotomized and compared with respect to the clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: There was no association between genotypes and allele frequencies of OSMR SNPs (rs2278329 and rs2292016) and PTC susceptibility. SNP rs2278329 was significantly associated with tumor size (dominant model; P=0.028; odds ratio [OR], 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 6.57). The A allele was higher in sizes large than 1 cm (32.5% vs. 16.7%; P=0.018; OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.17 to 4.98). Regarding the number of tumors, we found no significant association with genotype, however, the A allele was higher in patients with multifocaltiy (33.3% vs. 19.1%; P=0.040; OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.03 to 4.34). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that OSMR polymorphism rs2278329 is associated with clinicopathologic characteristics of the tumor growth and multifocality development.

Changes of Mastoid Gas Physiology in Virtual Mastoidectomy Model / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is essential to understand gas physiology of mastoid cavity to study the pathophysiology of middle ear diseases, and the surface area and volume of mastoid mucosa are important parameters for evaluating gas physiology. However, the surface area and mastoid volume of the mastoid cavity have not been practically measured yet. Therefore, we measured and compared surface area and volume of the mastoid cavity before and after mastoidectomy using a virtual mastoidectomy model. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We performed a virtual mastoidectomy using 10 cases of temporal bone CT indicating pneumatic mastoid. First, we removed all air cells after outlining with irregular AOI function after loading axial CT images to Image-Pro Plus 4.0. Then we filled the removed area with equal planes using local equalization filter. Finally, we calculated and compared the total surface area, volume and area to volume (A/V) ratio by estimating their circumference and area. RESULTS: The mean surface area of pneumatized mastoid cavity was 127.8 cm2 (range: 94.2-165.3 cm2), and the mean volume was 7.1 cm3 (range: 5.2-11.0 cm3). The mean surface area and volume were altered to 42.8 cm2 (range: 35.9-55.0 cm2) and 12.6 cm3 (range: 10.3-18.7 cm3), respectively, after virtual mastoidectomy. As a result, the A/V ratio decreased from 18 to 3.4 after a virtual mastoidectomy in the pneumatic mastoid cavity. CONCLUSION: When a complete mastoidectomy is performed in the pneumatic mastoid, the surface area is decreased by one third compared to a relatively minor increase in volume. Therefore, the surface area per unit volume is expected to greatly decrease after mastoidectomy. Some physiologic problems occurring after mastoidectomy could be more accurately explained using a virtual mastoidectomy model.

Hearing Abilities at Ultra-High Frequency in Patients with Tinnitus

OBJECTIVES: To compare tinnitus patients who have normal hearing between 250 Hz and 8 kHz with normal controls with regard to the ability of each group to hear extended high-frequency pure tone thresholds. METHODS: We enrolled 18 tinnitus patients, each of whom had a threshold of HL <25 dB and threshold differences of <10 dB between ears at frequencies of 250 and 500 Hz and 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz. We also enrolled age- and gender-matched normal volunteers (10 ears), for each patient. Extended high frequency pure tone audiometry was performed, and the mean hearing thresholds at 10, 12, 14, and 16 kHz of each tinnitus ear were compared with those of the 10 age- and sex-matched normal ears. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients with tinnitus, 12 had significantly increased hearing thresholds at more than one of the four high frequencies, compared with the normal group. When we assessed results according to frequency, we found that 8 patients had decreased hearing ability at 10 kHz, 10 at 12 kHz, 8 at 14 kHz, and 4 at 16 kHz. CONCLUSION: Some patients with tinnitus who have normal hearing below 8 kHz have decreased hearing ability at extended high-frequencies. Thus, the proportion of patients with tinnitus who have normal hearing over the entire audible range is smaller than in previous reports.

Immunoglobulin E and Transcription Factor in Adenoid of Children with Allergy / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production in adenoid has been debated and the role of adenoid in development of allergy remains largely unknown. To examine the production of local IgE in adenoid involved with IgE-mediated sensitization, we evaluated IgE production and the expression of the transcription factor B cell leukemia/lymphoma-6 (BCL-6) and B lymphocyte inducer of maturation program 1 (Blimp-1) in adenoids. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Ten children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and ten children without any history of AR were enrolled. Immunohistochemical studies of adenoid for IgE, BCL-6 and Blimp-1 were performed. RESULTS: IgE was stained mainly in the germinal center and submucosal area and the stainingscores of antibody to IgE did not differ signigicantly between children with AR and control. BCL- 6 was mainly stained in mucosa and germinal center and Blimp-1 in mucosa. The scores of antibody to BCL-6 and Blimp-1 in children with AR and control did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: We found that allergic rhinitis was not involved in the production of IgE nor the expression of the transcription factor BCL-6 and Blimp-1 in adenoid

A Case of Facial Palsy Following Tooth Extraction / 대한이비인후과학회지

Facial palsy following tooth extraction is rare and its mechanism is unclear. Possible mechanisms are direct anesthesia of facial nerve, compression and ischemia of facial nerve during edema, neurotoxicity of local anesthetic solution, viral reactivation and ascending infection. Viral reactivation and ascending infection are most likely mechanisms among them. Therefore, it is important to use an antiviral agent combined with steroid for treatment of dental origin facial palsy. We report our recent experience with one case of facial palsy that followed tooth extraction.