Use of Natural and Synthetic Odorants in Odor Identification Test / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The odor identification tests use natural and synthetic odorants as stimuli. Synthetic odorants span a smaller qualitative range than natural ones, however, they eliminate the need for preparation, preservation and have improved familiarity owing to the improved development techniques. The aim of this study is whether we can use synthetic odorants in odor identification tests by comparing the results of tests using natural odorants and synthetic ones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two natural and 21 synthetic odorants familiar to Koreans were applied to 40 normals and 20 patients with decreased sense of smell without sinonasal diseases. Percent-correctness shown by the controls and patients smelling natural and synthetic odorants were compared with those patients showing over 95% identifiability and in 11 corresponding natural and synthetic odorants. RESULTS: Percent-correctness of odor identification test using synthetic odorants was highly correlated with that using natural ones and there was no problem in discriminating patients from the control. CONCLUSION: Synthetic odorants can be used in odor identification tests for Koreans in a clinical context.

The Relationship between Expression of E-Cadherin, Clinical Staging and Differentiation in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, much attention has been directed towards cell adhesion molecules. This study was designed to confirm the significance of E-cadhcrin as a marker for differentiation and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were used in this study. The specimens of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated by immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal anti-E-cadherin antibody. RESULTS: The results showed that here was a statistically significant correlation in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma between the T and the N stage and the expression of E-cadherin (p=0.025, p=0.015). The cell differentiation was also correlated with the reduction of E-cadherin (p =0.005). CONCLUSION: E-cadherin may be linked to progression and differentiation of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. E-cadherin immunostaining in the primary tumor appear to be a good marker for the invasiveness and the metastasis of tumors.

A Clinical Study of Extended-Conservation Surgery in Laryngeal Cancer / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The surgical goals of laryngeal cancer should not only be to preserve life but also to preserve laryngeal functions such as airway, aspiration prevention, and voice production. Classic, standard conservation laryngectomy such as horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy and vertical hemilaryngectomy has served well to those purposes but has the limits of resection. And so extended conservation laryngeal surgery was developed to extend surgical resection margin if we carefully select surgical indication. Our study was to determine the best surgical method according to the extent of tumor and evaluate the surgical outcome oncologically and physiologically in extended conservation laryngectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were treated with extended conservation surgery in laryngeal cancer at Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at the Hallym university hospitals according to surgical algorithm invented by author (Young Min Kim, MD)from 1992 to 1998. They were reviewed retrospectively with respect to age, sex, endoscopic and radiologic evaluation, primary site, extended site, postoperative complications and results. RESULTS: Thirteen patients had glottic cancer, and were treated with extended vertical laryngectomy. Two patients showed recurrence at the primary site or neck nodes, one patient died due to other disease. Ten patients (76.9%)are alive without disease. Twenty-seven patients were supraglottic cancer. They treated with extended horizontal laryngectomy. Twenty patients (74.1%)are alive without disease. Three patients recurred at primary site or neck nodes. CONCLUSION: Extended conservation surgery was oncologically safe in both glottic and supraglottic cancer. Functional outcome was relatively satisfactory and so we could avoid total or near-total laryngectomy with careful evaluation of tumor extent.

The Effects of Pregnancy Conditions on the Incidence of Nasal Septal Deformities in Neonates

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence of nasal septal deformities (NSD) in neonates and to identify pregnancy conditions related with NSD occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 131 women and their newborns. Incidences of neonatal NSD were looked for with a cotton wool test and through direct visual examination of the neonatal nasal cavity with an otoscope. Under study were arbitrary but possibly related factors of neonatal NSD : the mother's age, parity, medical history, the duration of total labor, the duration of second-stage labor, the delivery type, neonatal birth weight and gestational age. The contributions of these factors were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The incidence of neonatal NSD as identified through otoscopic examination was 11.5%. All studied factors indicated no statistically significant relationship with neonatal NSD. CONCLUSION: Probable nasal trauma during pregnancy and delivery is likely not a factor in the occurrence of NSD in neonates.