Comparison between Subjective Scoring and Computer-Based Asymmetry Assessment in Facial Nerve Palsy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of a PC-based facial asymmetry assessment program (PC-FAAP) and to compare the results of PC-FAAP with subjective regional scoring by raters in acute unilateral peripheral facial nerve paralysis (FNP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Participants were divided into 3 groups with 8 participants per group: group I, normal; group II, mild to moderate FNP; and group III, severe FNP. Using the PC-FAAP, the mouth asymmetry ratio (MAR), eyebrow asymmetry ratio (EAR), and complete eye closure asymmetry ratio (CAR) were calculated by comparing the movement of tracking points on both sides. The FNP grading scale (FGS) integrated each score, and the scores were weighted with a ratio of 5:3:2 (MAR:CAR:EAR). Subjective regional scoring was measured on a 0-100 scale score by three otologists. PC-FAAP and subjective scoring were compared in each group regarding the consistency of the results. RESULTS: The mean scores of the MAR, EAR, CAR, and FGS of each group were significantly different. PC-FAAP showed significant differences between the three groups in terms of MAR, EAC, CAR, and FGS. PC-FAAP showed more consistent results than subjective assessment (p < 0.001). The PC-FAAP was significantly more consistent in group I and group III (p < 0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). FGS in group III was the only parameter that showed a more consistent result in PC-FAAP than the subjective scoring (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: An FNP grading system using a PC-based program may provide more consistent results, especially for severe forms.

Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage and Related Factors

PURPOSE: The vaccination level of rotavirus vaccine not supported by the government is not known. As vaccines not included in the national immunization schedule are not registered in the computerized national immunization registry system, their vaccination rate cannot be calculated according to the same method used in government-supported vaccines. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the status of the vaccination rate of rotavirus not included in the national immunization schedule. METHODS: The target population is the 0-year-old cohort. The survey population was composed of registered children born in 2017 enrolled in the Immunization Registry Information System. The survey was conducted through a computerized telephone survey method. The survey variables were as follows: vaccination order and date, provider, and data source. Factors related to complete vaccination were the child's sex, residence, birth order, and parents' age, educational level, and job status. RESULTS: Children's vaccination rates for the rotavirus vaccine by 2017 were 88.0%, 86.9%, and 96.6% for the first, second, and third doses, respectively. The rate of complete vaccination was 85.6%. The factors related to rotavirus complete vaccination were the child's sex and birth order, area of residence, parents' age and job status, and father's education level. CONCLUSION: In the future, it is necessary to conduct regular investigations on the rate of rotavirus vaccination as a tool for the development of the rotavirus infectious diseases control policy or as an evaluation tool for vaccine programs.

Ubiquitous healthcare monitoring

No abstract available.

Smart technologies toward sleep monitoring at home

With progress in sensors and communication technologies, the range of sleep monitoring is extending from professional clinics into our usual home environments. Information from conventional overnight polysomnographic recordings can be derived from much simpler devices and methods. The gold standard of sleep monitoring is laboratory polysomnography, which classifi es brain states based mainly on EEGs. Single-channel EEGs have been used for sleep stage scoring with accuracies of 84.9%. Actigraphy can estimate sleep effi ciency with an accuracy of 86.0%. Sleep scoring based on respiratory dynamics provides accuracies of 89.2% and 70.9% for identifying sleep stages and sleep effi ciency, respectively, and a correlation coeffi cient of 0.94 for apnea–hypopnea detection. Modulation of autonomic balance during the sleep stages are well recognized and widely used for simpler sleep scoring and sleep parameter estimation. This modulation can be recorded by several types of cardiovascular measurements, including ECG, PPG, BCG, and PAT, and the results showed accuracies up to 96.5% and 92.5% for sleep effi ciency and OSA severity detection, respectively. Instead of using recordings for the entire night, less than 5 min ECG recordings have used for sleep effi ciency and AHI estimation and resulted in high correlations of 0.94 and 0.99, respectively. These methods are based on their own models that relate sleep dynamics with a limited number of biological signals. Parameters representing sleep quality and disturbed breathing are estimated with high accuracies that are close to the results obtained by polysomnography. These unconstrained technologies, making sleep monitoring easier and simpler, will enhance qualities of life by expanding the range of ubiquitous healthcare.

Investigation of Children with No Vaccinations Recorded on the National Immunization Registry Information System

PURPOSE: To improve the quality of the vaccination program, analyze the cause and identify the influencing factors for not being registered in the National Immunization Registry Information System even once. METHODS: We conducted one-on-one household visit interview surveys after, using a list supplemented with addresses from the Ministry of the Interior. We identified the basic respondent information, information on relevant children (those born in 2012), the reasons for omission from computerized vaccination registration, and the actual residence of the registered children. RESULTS: The total number of unvaccinated children born in 2012 was 1,870. The final contact result of the household surveys was 1,254 successful contacts, 51 refused to be interviewed, and 565 were not found. The reason for missed vaccination registration was 928 cases of long-term stay overseas, 241 cases of missing registration owing to intentional refusal of vaccination, and 57 cases of illness. A comparison of complete vaccination rates between non-registrants and those of computerized registrants revealed rates of 17.9% and 96.3% for the 3 doses hepatitis B vaccine, 14.9% and 95.6% for the 4doses DTaP vaccine, 16.1% and 97.4% for the 3 doses polio vaccine, and 3.9% and 92.5% for the 3 (or 2) doses Japanese encephalitis vaccine, respectively. CONCLUSION: Vaccination is the most effective national health policy and one of the most remarkable accomplishments in medical history. Through great effort, Korea has started to transcribe vaccination records since 2000, and the records are now reaching a considerable level. However, there is an unregistered population of around 0.3%. Several measures can be taken to improve the registration rate in the vaccination records, such as managing non-registrants through education and interviews, and sharing vaccination data with foreign countries. The non-registrant management plan should include periodically compiling a list of children who are not registered in the National Immunization Registry Information System, conducting of household visits using survey forms, and data analysis to establish appropriate measures.

Posterior Body Surface Potential Mapping Using Capacitive-Coupled Electrodes and Its Application

Using 49 capacitive-coupled electrodes, mattress-type harness was developed to obtain posterior body surface potential map (P-BSPM) in dressed individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate how valuable information P-BSPM could provide, especially in discrimination of old myocardial infarction (OMI). P-BSPM of 59 individuals were analyzed; 23 normal control, 11 right bundle branch block (RBBB), 3 left bundle branch block (LBBB) and 19 OMI patients. Principal component analysis and linear hyper-plane approach were used to evaluate diagnostic performance. The axes of P-BSPM vector potential corresponded well with 12-lead electrocardiogram. During QRS, the end point of P-BSPM vector potential demonstrated characteristic clockwise rotation in RBBB, and counterclockwise rotation in LBBB patients. In OMI, initial negativity on P-BSPM during QRS was more frequently located at lower half, and also stronger in patients with inferior myocardial infarction (MI). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of P-BSPM during QRS in diagnosing overall OMI, anterior MI, and inferior MI was 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.97), 0.71 (0.47-0.94), and 0.98 (0.94-1.0), respectively (P = 0.022 for anterior vs inferior MI groups). In conclusion, the novel P-BSPM provides detailed information for cardiac electrical dynamics and is applicable to diagnosing OMI, especially inferior myocardial infarction.

Sound Analysis in an In Vitro Endotracheal Tube Model

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Complete endotracheal tube obstruction is a medical emergency, and partial occlusion causes increased breathing rates and failure to wean off mechanical ventilation. Partial occlusion may be underestimated due to the lack of proper detection methods. We tested whether the sound of an endotracheal tube could be used to detect an endotracheal tube obstruction using an in vitro model. METHODS: An endotracheal tube was connected to a ventilator on one end and a test lung on the other. Sounds were recorded with a microphone located inside the endotracheal tube via a connector. During mechanical ventilation, we changed the endotracheal tube internal diameter from 5.0 to 8.0 mm and different grades of obstruction at different sites were used along the tube. Sound energy was compared among the different conditions. RESULTS: The energy of endotracheal tube sounds was positively correlated with the internal diameter and negatively correlated with the degree of obstruction. The rate of decline in energy differed with obstruction location. When the obstruction was more distal, the rate of decline in endotracheal sound energy was more rapid. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the sound of an endotracheal tube can be used to detect an obstruction. Further studies are needed for clinical application.

Preliminary Study on the Enhancement of Reconstruction Speed for Emission Computed Tomography Using Parallel Processing / 핵의학분자영상

PURPOSE: Conventional image reconstruction uses simplified physical models of projection. However, real physics, for example 3D reconstruction, takes too long time to process all the data in clinic and is unable in a common reconstruction machine because of the large memory for complex physical models. We suggest the realistic distributed memory model of fast-reconstruction using parallel processing on personal computers to enable large-scale technologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preliminary tests for the possibility on virtual manchines and various performance test on commercial super computer, Tachyon were performed. Expectation maximization algorithm with common 2D projection and realistic 3D line of response were tested. Since the process time was getting slower (max 6 times) after a certain iteration, optimization for compiler was performed to maximize the efficiency of parallelization. RESULTS: Parallel processing of a program on multiple computers was available on Linux with MPICH and NFS. We verified that differences between parallel processed image and single processed image at the same iterations were under the significant digits of floating point number, about 6 bit. Double processors showed good efficiency (1.96 times) of parallel computing. Delay phenomenon was solved by vectorization method using SSE. CONCLUSION: Through the study, realistic parallel computing system in clinic was established to be able to reconstruct by plenty of memory using the realistic physical models which was impossible to simplify

Compensation Methods for Non-uniform and Incomplete Data Sampling in High Resolution PET with Multiple Scintillation Crystal Layers / 핵의학분자영상

PURPOSE: To establish the methods for sinogram formation and correction in order to appropriately apply the filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction algorithm to the data acquired using PET scanner with multiple scintillation crystal layers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Formation for raw PET data storage and conversion methods from listmode data to histogram and sinogram were optimized. To solve the various problems occurred while the raw histogram was converted into sinogram, optimal sampling strategy and sampling efficiency correction method were investigated. Gap compensation methods that is unique in this system were also investigated. All the sinogram data were reconstructed using 2D filtered backprojection algorithm and compared to estimate the improvements by the correction algorithms. RESULTS: Optimal radial sampling interval and number of angular samples in terms of the sampling theorem and sampling efficiency correction algorithm were pitch/2 and 120, respectively. By applying the sampling efficiency correction and gap compensation, artifacts and background noise on the reconstructed image could be reduced. CONCLUSION: Conversion method from the histogram to sinogram was investigated for the FBP reconstruction of data acquired using multiple scintillation crystal layers. This method will be useful for the fast 2D reconstruction of multiple crystal layer PET data.

Spectral Analysis of REM Sleep EEG in Narcolepsy and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / 수면정신생리

INTRODUCTION: It has been proposed that narcolepsy and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) have overlapped symptom profile and pathophysiology. This study was aimed at measuring and comparing changes in EEG frequency band of REM sleep in narcolepsy and RBD, applying EEG spectral analysis method. METHODS: Nine patients diagnosed as narcolepsy and the same number of RBD patients were studied. Spectral analysis of the REM sleep EEG was performed in each patient on 9 epochs selected evenly from the first, second, and third REM periods. Then, we compared frequency band percentages of REM sleep EEG in narcolepsy and RBD. RESULTS: Narcolepsy patients had significantly higher delta frequency ratio than RBD ones (p=0.00). In alpha and beta2 frequency bands, RBD patients showed higher percentage than narcolepsy ones. Slow wave sleep was more prevalent in narcolepsy patients. But, no difference of REM sleep percentage was found between the two groups (p=0.93). CONCLUSION: Higher delta frequency ratio in REM sleep of narcolepsy patients than RBD ones reflects that sleep-promoting mechanism is more dominant in narcolepsy than in RBD.

Estimation of Continuous Blood Pressure with Amplitude of Photoplethysmogram and Pulse Transit Time of Finger and Toe / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The amplitude (AMP) of Photoplethysmogram (PPG) is used as a marker of vasodilatation. The pulse transit time (PTT), which shows a good correlation with blood pressure (BP), is not strong enough to detect the changes in BP. This study examined the sensitivity of the combined effect of the finger and toe AMP, and the PTT of PPG as a marker of the changes in BP during general anesthesia. METHODS: Forty patients receiving maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study. During surgery, the intra-arterial BP, ECG, finger and toe PPG signals were measured. Using the R-wave from the ECG, the AMP and PTT was derived from PPG data. The correlation between BP and PPG parameters (AMP and PTT) were compared. New parameters that show high correlation with the BP were found. Regression equations for calculating the BP using the PPG parameters were formulated. RESULTS: The new parameter, log (fingerAMP/toeAMP), showed the highest correlation in each patient (mean correlation coefficient in the systolic BP: -0.846, diastolic BP: -0.858). However, when the data from all 40 patients were combined, the correlation coefficient of the toe PTT was highest (systolic BP: -0.726, diastolic BP: -0.646). The regression equation showed the highest correlation between the actual BP and calculated BP when the toe PTT and log (fingerAMP/toeAMP) were included. CONCLUSIONS: The AMP of the toe and finger PPG can be used to estimate the invasive continuous blood pressure.

Development of Pupillography Using Image Processing

PURPOSE: Pupillary examination is an important objective method to diagnose lesions of the anterior visual pathways. However, errors and faults may easily alter the interpretation and value of the test as it is highly dependent on the examiner's skills. Therefore, we tried to develop a pupillography which is independent of the examiner. METHODS: Hardware composed of a binocularly measuring instrument adapted for an infrared charge coupled device (CCD) was developed. Two arrays of infrared light emitting diodes (LED) were supplied in front of each of the subject's eyes. A microcontroller to modulate these LED was developed, as was software to save and analyze the pupil images. The hardware was able to deliver a light to either eye or to both eyes, and to change the time, frequency, and intensity of the stimulus. The software automatically analyzed the pupil size and location by image processing. Pupil size was calculated continuously. After artifact elimination, the response amplitudes of the pupils were determined for the right and left pupils. RESULTS: Pupillary images of size 320 x 240, at 30 frames/second, were saved and processed to evaluate the change of the actual pupil size and the velocity of pupillary response. CONCLUSIONS: A pupillography to measure, save and analyze the pupillary response using image processing was developed. Further detailed clinical studies with a large number of patients will be required to validate this new method.

Software Development for the Integrated Visualization of Brain Tumor and its Surrounding Fiber Tracts

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to implement a software to visualize tumor and its surrounding fiber tracts simultaneously using diffusion tensor imaging and examine the feasibility of our software for investigating the influence of tumor on its surrounding fiber connectivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR examination including T1-weigted and diffusion tensor images of a patient with brain tumor was performed on a 3.0 T MRI unit. We used the skull-striped brain and segmented tumor images for volume/surface rendering and anatomical information from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images. Diffusion tensor images for the white matter fiber-tractography were acquired using a SE-EPI with a diffusion scheme of 25 directions. Fiber-tractography was performed using the streamline and tensorline methods. To correct a spatial mismatch between T1- weighted and diffusion tensor images, they were coregistered using a SPM. Our software was implemented under window-based PC system. RESULTS: We successfully implemented the integrated visualization of the fiber tracts with tube-like surfaces, cortical surface and the tumor with volume/surface renderings in a patient with brain tumor. CONCLUSION: Our result showed the feasibility of the integrated visualization of brain tumor and its surrounding fiber tracts. In addition, our implementation for integrated visualization can be utilized to navigate the brain for the quantitative analysis of fractional anisotropy to assess changes in the white matter tract integrity of edematic and peri-edematic regions in a number of tumor patients.

Automatic Interpretation of F-18-FDG Brain PET Using Artificial Neural Network: Discrimination of Medial and Lateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: We developed a computer-aided classifier using artificial neural network (ANN) to discriminate the cerebral metabolic pattern of medial and lateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Materials and METHODS: We studied brain F-18-FDG PET images of 113 epilepsy patients sugically and pathologically proven as medial TLE (left 41, right 42) or lateral TLE (left 14, right 16). PET images were spatially transformed onto a standard template and normalized to the mean counts of cortical regions. Asymmetry indices for predefined 17 mirrored regions to hemispheric midline and those for medial and lateral temporal lobes were used as input features for ANN. ANN classifier was composed of 3 independent multi-layered perceptrons (1 for left/right lateralization and 2 for medial/lateral discrimination) and trained to interpret metabolic patterns and produce one of 4 diagnoses (L/R medial TLE or L/R lateral TLE). Randomly selected 8 images from each group were used to train the ANN classifier and remaining 81 images were used as test sets. The accuracy of the diagnosis with ANN was estimated by averaging the agreement rates of independent 50 trials and compared to that of nuclear medicine experts. RESULTS: The accuracy in lateralization was 89% by the human experts and 90% by the ANN classifier. Overall accuracy in localization of epileptogenic zones by the ANN classifier was 69%, which was comparable to that by the human experts (72%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that ANN classifier performed as well as human experts and could be potentially useful supporting tool for the differential diagnosis of TLE.

Comparison of Algorithms for Generating Parametric Image of Cerebral Blood Flow Using H215O Positron Emission Tomography / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: To obtain regional blood flow and tissue-blood partition coefficient with time-activity curves from H2 (15) O PET, fitting of some parameters in the Kety model is conventionally accomplished by nonlinear least squares (NLS) analysis. However, NLS requires considerable compuation time then is impractical for pixel-by-pixel analysis to generate parametric images of these parameters. In this study, we investigated several fast parameter estimation methods for the parametric image generation and compared their statistical reliability and computational efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: These methods included linear least squres (LLS), linear weighted least squares (LWLS), linear generalized least squares (GLS), linear generalized weighted least squares (GWLS), weighted integration (WI), and model-based clustering method (CAKS). H2 (15) O dynamic brain PET with Poisson noise component was simulated using numerical Zubal brain phantom. Error and bias in the estimation of rCBF and partition coefficient, and computation time in various noise environments was estimated and compared. In addition, parametric images from H2 (15) O dynamic brain PET data performed on 16 healthy volunteers under various physiological conditions was compared to examine the utility of these methods for real human data. RESULTS: These fast algorithms produced parametric images with similar image quality and statistical reliability. When CAKS and LLS methods were used combinedly, computation time was significantly reduced and less than 30 seconds for 128x128x46 images on Pentium III processor. CONCLUSION: Parametric images of rCBF and partition coefficient with good statistical properties can be generated with short computation time which is acceptable in clinical situation.

Geometric changes of the eye with an encircling scleral buckle

PURPOSE: To investigate the postoperative changes and the mechanism of retinal reattachment, the geometric changes of the eye with an encircling scleral buckle was analyzed using a simplified eye model. METHODS: The simplified eye model is an inelastic sphere with an external diameter of 25 mm and an internal diameter of 23.6 millimeters. With an encircling scleral buckle, it was assumed that the circumference of the eyeball would decrease, and in particular with tightening of the buckle, the cross-section of eyeball would be deformed to an ellipsoid shape. The changes in radius, internal surface area, and volume of the eyeball in relationship to the changes in height and span of the silicone buckle were estimated. RESULTS: The radius of eyeball decreased by 0.19-0.90 mm with an encircling scleral buckle, and varied according to the increment of the tightening of the encircling band. The axial length of the eye increased and the volume of the eye decreased also with increased tightening of the band. The scleral arc of the buckle was shorter than the retinal arc of the buckle by 0.09-0.55 mm and the scleral surface area of the buckle was smaller than the retinal area of the buckle by 56-219 mm 2 ; therefore the retina would be redundant. CONCLUSIONS: An encircling scleral buckle changes the axial length and decreases the volume and internal surface area of the eye, making the retina redundant. This redundancy helps resolve or alleviate the problem of a foreshortened retina in retinal reattachment procedures.

Blepharokymography: A New Tool for Dynamic Eyelid Motion Analysis Using Image Processing / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of facial movements, especially eyelid movements, per se, depends largely on subjective judgments of trained clinicians. Recently, however, a few objective methods were reported although they required bothersome markers attached on the eyelids and a special-purpose high-speed video camera. This study aimed to develop a new dynamic and quantitative analysis system for eyelid motion using an image processing method without markers or a high-speed camera, and to evaluate parameters that could properly differentiate normal and abnormal states. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The system was consisted of a personal computer with a general-purpose frame grabber and a specially developed software which was named, Blepharokymography. Displacement of upper eyelids, duration of closing and opening segments, and closing and opening velocity were measured in 12 normal subjects and 5 facial nerve palsy patients of variable causes. Mean values of each parameter and the ratio of a palsy or slower side to a normal or faster side in normal and facial palsy groups were compared. RESULTS: In the normal group, the mean displacement of upper eyelids, mean closing time, mean and peak closing velocity were 8.3mm, 161 msec. 61.6 mm/sec and 146.2 mm/sec respectively. Among parameters, displacement, the closing time, mean closing velocity and peak closing velocity were significantly different between normal and facial palsy groups. CONCLUSION: By using blepharokymography system, it was possible to measure the eyelid motion objectively. Displacement, closing time, average and peak closing velocity were useful in differentiating the normal state as well as the facial nerve palsy state.

Automatic Sleep stage Scoring Using Hybrid Neural Network and Rule-based Expert Reasoning / 대한의료정보학회지

In order to increase the performance of automatic sleep stage scoring, we propose a hybrid neural-network and rule-based expert system taking advantages of each system. The suggesting hybrid system comprises signal cleaning. feature extraction, event detection, rule-based sleep scoring and neural network classification. We selected segment based EEG features. the state of EOG. and EMG tone as a major feature set. With the extracted features, the rule-based expert system classities the sleep stages by symbolic reasoning. The scoring process of rule-based expert system comprises the single epoch reasoning based on the typical events and the multi-epoch adjusting when no events are detected. If the decision of rule-based expert system is uncertain, then these features are fed into the neural network. We used a two hidden layer feed forward network using error hack propagation algorithm. The agreement rate between human scorer and automatic algorithm were evaluated. The neural network supplements the shortcomings of rule-based system by dealing with exceptions of rules. The result shows that the compuational ol computational and symbolic intelligence is promising approach sleep signal anal) sis.

Functional Mapping of the Neural Basis for the Encoding and Retrieval of Human Episodic Memory Using H215O PET / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Episodic memory is described as an 'autobiographical' memory responsible for storing a record of the events in our lives. We performed functional brain activation study using H215O PET to reveal the neural basis of the encoding and the retrieval of episodic memory in human normal volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four repeated H215O PET scans with two reference and two activation tasks were performed on 6 normal volunteers to activate brain areas engaged in encoding and retrieval with verbal materials. Images from the same subject were spatially registered and normalized using linear and nonlinear transformation. Using the means and variances for every condition which were adjusted with analysis of covariance, t-statistic analysis were performed voxel-wise. RESULTS: Encoding of episodic memory activated the opercular and triangular parts of left inferior frontal gyrus, right prefrontal cortex, medial frontal area, cingulate gyrus, posterior middle and inferior temporal gyri, and cerebellum, and both primary visual and visual association areas. Retrieval of episodic memory activated the triangular part of left inferior frontal gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus, right prefrontal cortex and medial temporal area, and both cerebellum and primary visual and visual association areas. The activations in the opercular part of left inferior frontal gyrus and the right prefrontal cortex meant the essential role of these areas in the encoding and retrieval of episodic memory. CONCLUSION: We could localize the neural basis of the encoding and retrieval of episodic memory using H215O PET, which was partly consistent with the hypothesis of hemispheric encoding/retrieval asymmetry.

The Relationship between Ciliary Beat Frequency and Maxillary Sinus Mucosal Hypertrophy on Computed Tomography in Patients with Chronic Sinusitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the sinus mucosal hypertrophy and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in patients with chronic sinusitis in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 14 patients with chronic sinusitis, mucosal samples were obtained from the superior, inferior, and lateral walls of the maxillary sinus. Using a video-computerized analysis technique, we measured two parameters for ciliary activity at five different sites selected randomly from each sample=the ciliated area (%) showing CBF equal to or higher than 10 Hz (A10) and the weighted frequency (Fw). Mucosal hypertrophy of the maxillary sinus was calculated using a computer program on CT scans. RESULTS: A(>or=10) and Fw were 91% and 11.3 Hz in control group, respectively, whereas they were 47% and 9.1 Hz in chronic sinusitis group, respectively (p=0.03). There was a significant inverse correlation between A(>or=10) or Fw and mucosal hypertrophy of the maxillary sinus (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the severity of mucosal hypertrophy on CT scan may correlate with the ciliary activity.