Otolith Function Tests in Patients with Orthostatic Dizziness / 대한평형의학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Orthostatic dizziness (OD) is defined as when dizziness is provoked by standing up from a supine or sitting position. It is usually considered as being associated with orthostatic hypotension (OH). On the other hand, it is recently suggested that otolith organ dysfunction and impaired vestibulosympathetic reflex may account for development of OH and OD. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) and subjective visual vertical and horizontal tests (SVV/SVH) are tools for detecting otolith organ dysfunction. We assessed cervical VEMP (cVEMP) and SVV/SVH test results in the patients with OD to evaluate the relationship between OD and otolith organ function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred-eighty-seven patients who visited dizziness clinic were enrolled in this study. Seventy-three patients presented with OD (i.e., group O), while 314 patients did not present OD (i.e., group N). Vestibular function tests including cVEMP and SVV/SVH were performed. RESULTS: cVEMP showed abnormal response in 47.9% of group O and 60.2% of group N. Abnormal SVV was found in 35.6% of group O and 31.5% of group N. Abnormal SVH was highly found in both group O and group N (30.1%, 27.1%). CONCLUSION: The values of SVV/SVH and cVEMP abnormality from both groups were not significantly different between the groups O and N. This finding suggests that otolithic function may not be related with OD.

Metachronous Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma in the Peripheral Lung and at Base of the Tongue

Primary lung adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is extremely rare and accounts for approximately 0.1%-0.2% of all lung cancers. ACC of the head and neck has generally been regarded as a slow-growing, low-grade malignancy which has a tendency for local recurrence and frequent distant metastasis. When ACC of the lung is identified, physicians must determine whether it represents distant metastasis or a primary lung cancer. Thyroid transcription factor-1 staining is one of the most useful methods to differentiate primary from metastatic lesions in lung cancer. Herein we report a case of metachronous, not synchronous, ACC at the peripheral lung followed by ACC presentation at the base of the tongue, and review of relevant literatures.

A Case of Osseous Hemangioma of Maxillary Sinus

Osseous hemangiomas typicallyoccur in the vertebral column and skull bones. Osseous hemangioma in the nasal cavity is extremely rare; only eight cases originating in theturbinates and maxillar bone have been reported in the English and Korean literature. Recently, we observed a case of osseous hemangioma occupying the right maxillary sinus. After preoperative embolization, the mass was completely removed by endoscopic inferomedial maxillectomy. There wasno evidence of recurrence at24 months postoperatively. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of osseous hemangioma occupying the maxillary sinus.

Comparison of Voice Outcomes in Early Glottic Cancer Patients after Laser Surgery or Radiotherapy / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Radiotherapy and laser surgery are the main treatment modalities for early glottic cancer. However, which treatment has better voice outcome is unclear. Few studies have considered the effect of radiation dose on voice outcomes after radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to compare voice outcomes in early glottic cancer patients between two treatment modalities and to identify whether radiation dose affects voice outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From January 1995 to December 2010, 66 patients with the early glottic cancer who underwent laser surgery (n=27) or radiotherapy (n=39) were retrospectively investigated. Voice quality was assessed using Computerized Speech Lab and F0, Jitter, Shimmer and noise to harmonic ratio were evaluated. For aerodynamic test, maximum phonation time was also evaluated. RESULTS: F0 differed statistically between the laser surgery group and radiotherapy group. In laser surgery group, F0 was elevated after surgery. On the other hand, F0 decreased statistically after radiotherapy. In the radiotherapy group, the dose was statistically different between the lower and higher dose groups. In T2 stage disease, which received a higher radiation dose, voice outcomes were poorer than in T1a or T1b stage diseases. CONCLUSION: In early glottic cancer, F0 differed statistically between the laser surgery group and the radiotherapy group: F0 decreased statistically after radiotherapy. In the radiotherapy group, voice quality was affected by radiation dose as the higher dose resulted in poorer voice outcomes.

Effects of Nutritional Supplementation on Nutirtional Status in Patients with Nonalcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

Severe protein-calorie malnutrition, common in patients with advanced liver disease, can seriously undermine the capacity for regeneration and functional restoration of liver. Nutritional supplementation for these patients can improve biochemical and hormonal abnormalities. However, these effects were not identified in patient with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. To determine effects of nutritional supplementation in patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, 77 subjects aged 29 to 69 years participated in this study for 12 weeks and were subdivided into three groups; normal diet group (Control group, n=16), branched-chain amino acid supplementation group (BCAA group, n=31), nutritional supplementation group (NS group, n=30). Anthropometric parameters, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood cell counts, serum levels of lipids, vitamins, minerals and fatty acid composition, and plasma amino acids were examined. The mean values of age and height, and the initial values of weight and body mass index (BMI) were not different among all groups. After 12 weeks, there were no significant changes in these values in Control group. Only NS group showed significant increases in weight, lean body mass, midarm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness. Serum transferrins were increased both in BCAA and NS groups. Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids, urea amino acids and glutamic acid were also significantly increased in these groups, but plasma levels of ammonia, serum LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index were decreased. However, there were no significant changes in serum levels of vitamin and mineral and composition of fatty acids in phospholipids in these groups. These results showed that the nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis can more improve nutritional status in these people together with increases of weight, body fat and lean body mass, compared to only BCAA supplementation. To ascertain and investigate the appropriate nutritional supplementation for patients with nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, further studies are necessary.