Comparison of Salt Taste Threshold and Salt Intake between Hypertensive and Normotensive Group / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Salt-taste threshold can influence salt appetite, and is thought to be another marker of sodium intake. Many studies have found an association between sodium intake and blood pressure. The aim of this study was to compare the salt-taste threshold and salt intake between hypertensive and normotensive groups. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred twenty volunteers (51 men and 69 women) who did not take antihypertensive medications were evaluated. First, a questionnaire, which included questions regarding demographic information and preference of salty taste, was conducted, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was checked. Then salt taste threshold was measured by assessing the ability of the subjects to discern the taste of salt in graded solutions of saline. Lastly, 24-hour urinary sodium was measured in a 24-hour urine collection. RESULTS: The salt taste threshold and taste preference for salt were slightly higher in hypertensive group. There was slightly higher salt intake measured as 24-hour urinary sodium in the hypertensive group, compared with the normotensive group. However, there were no significant differences in salt taste threshold, preference of salty taste, and salt intake between the normotensive and the hypertensive groups. CONCLUSION: The threshold of salt taste was not related to sodium intake and hypertension status. These results suggest that the development of hypertension depends on the complex interaction of factors such as genes and environmental factors rather than sensory factors like taste threshold and taste preference.

Preoperative Measurement of Submandibular Gland Stone Size / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The choice of optimal treatment methods among various gland preserving procedures including transoral surgery, sialendoscopy and extracorporeal lithotripsy for submandibular stones is mainly determined by the size of the stone. We tried to assess the accuracy of ultrasonography (USG) and computerized tomography (CT) for the preoperative estimation of submandibular gland stone size. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 251 patients who were treated for submandibular stones from January 2008 to December 2014. Eighty patients who checked both preoperative USG and CT were included. Preoperative USG and CT measurements of the submandibular stones were compared to postoperative measurements of removed stones. Effects of stone location and presence of acute infection on preoperative measurements were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean submandibular gland stone size was 6.60+/-3.8 mm by USG, 7.23+/-4.0 mm by neck CT and 7.89+/-4.7 mm by the postoperative measurement. USG and CT showed good correlation with the postoperative measurement (correlation coefficient 0.912 and 0.940, respectively). The location of stone and presence of combined infection showed no significant impact on the accuracy of USG and CT measurement. CONCLUSION: USG and neck CT showed high accuracy for predicting submandibular gland stone size. However, it should be taken into consideration that the stone size could be greater than that shown by preoperative measurement.

The Effect of Physical Characteristics on Sleep Disturbance and Cardiovascular Complications in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients: The Preliminary Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common yet an under-diagnosed sleep related breathing disorder associated with many adverse health outcomes. OSA is commonly associated with cardiovascular disorders that include coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias and stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics of OSA patients as a screening test for sleep apnea associated cardiovascular disease. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred twenty-six adult OSA patients were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent an overnight polysomnography (PSG) and were determined body mass index (BMI), neck circumstance, waist circumstance, tonsil size, etc. Cardiovascular events, such as hypertension, cardiovascular accident, myocardial infarction, and angina were analyzed. The correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted to find influential and predictive factors of cardiovascular complications of OSA. RESULTS: PSG findings, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimal oxygen saturation, and oxygen desaturation index were associated with BMI, neck circumstance, and waist circumstance. Tonsil size was also associated with AHI and oxygen desaturation index. However, PSG results were not associated with cardiovascular accidents of OSA patients. Hypertension was associated with tonsil size, angina was associated with Mallampati score and cardiovascular accident was associated with tonsil size. CONCLUSION: Although we cannot find the statistical relation between PSG results and cardiovascular disease, tonsil size and Mallampati score influenced the risk of cardiovascular accident.

A Case of Extranasopharyngeal Angiofibroma Originating from Superior Turbinate

Angiofibromas originate predominantly from the posterolateral wall of the nasopharynx and are typically seen in adolescent males, but they may also exist outside of the nasopharynx. Nine patients with extranasopharyngeal angiofibromas have been reported in Korea. The inferior turbinate was the most commonly affected site, and patients reported experiencing various nasal symptoms, such as epistaxis and nasal obstruction. Extranasopharyngeal angiofibroma arising from the superior turbinate is extremely rare and has not been reported to date. Recently we experienced a case of angiofibroma of the left superior turbinate in a 68-year-old male that was successfully treated with endoscopic surgery.

Comparison of the Tuberculin Skin Test and the Interferon-gamma Release Assay for the Diagnosis of Cervical Tuberculous Lymphadenitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) for the diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (TL). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A prospective comparison between the TST and the IGRA was performed in subjects who met the inclusion criteria for suspicious cervical TL. TL was confirmed by culture results and clinical diagnosis of TL was also made by histology, polymerase chain reaction and treatment response of the anti-tuberculosis drug. RESULTS: Of the 43 subjects enrolled, 11 subjects were confirmed as TL, nine subjects as clinical TL and 23 subjects as non-TL. The TST and the IGRA were all positive in TL. The agreement between the TST and IGRA was kappa=0.40 in both clinical TL and non-TL. The sensitivity and specificity of the TST were 95.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 92.1-97.9] and 39.1% (95% CI, 32.6-45.6), respectively. By comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the IGRA were 85.0% (95% CI, 80.3-89.8) and 52.2% (95% CI, 45.5-58.8), respectively. CONCLUSION: The IGRA was more specific than the TST, while the TST was more sensitive than the IGRA. The higher specificity of IGRA could make IGRA play a useful adjunct role in the diagnosis for cervical TL.