Analysis of Risk Factors for Myringosclerosis Formation after Ventilation Tube Insertion

Background@#This study examined possible risk factors for myringosclerosis formation after ventilation tube insertion (VTI). @*Methods@#A retrospective study was performed in a single tertiary referral center. A total of 582 patients who underwent VTI were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of myringosclerosis: MS+ and MS−. Characteristics of patients were collected through medical chart review; these included age, gender, nature and duration of effusion, type of ventilation tube (VT), duration and frequency of VTI, incidence of post-VTI infection, incidence of intraoperative bleeding, and presence of postoperative perforation. Incidences of risk factors for myringosclerosis and the severity of myringosclerosis in association with possible risk factors were analyzed. @*Results@#Myringosclerosis developed in 168 of 582 patients (28.9%) after VTI. Patients in the MS+ group had an older mean age than those in the MS− group. The rates of myringosclerosis were higher in patients with older age, serous otitis media, type 2 VT, post-VTI perforation, and frequent VTI. However, there were no differences in occurrence of myringosclerosis based on gender, duration of effusion, duration of VT placement, incidence of post-VTI infection, or incidence of intraoperative bleeding. The severity of myringosclerosis was associated with the duration of effusion and frequency of VTI. @*Conclusion@#Older age, serous effusion, type 2 VT, presence of post-VTI perforation, and frequent VTI may be risk factors for myringosclerosis after VTI; the severity of myringosclerosis may vary based on the duration of effusion and frequency of VTI.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Myringosclerosis Formation after Ventilation Tube Insertion

Background@#This study examined possible risk factors for myringosclerosis formation after ventilation tube insertion (VTI). @*Methods@#A retrospective study was performed in a single tertiary referral center. A total of 582 patients who underwent VTI were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of myringosclerosis: MS+ and MS−. Characteristics of patients were collected through medical chart review; these included age, gender, nature and duration of effusion, type of ventilation tube (VT), duration and frequency of VTI, incidence of post-VTI infection, incidence of intraoperative bleeding, and presence of postoperative perforation. Incidences of risk factors for myringosclerosis and the severity of myringosclerosis in association with possible risk factors were analyzed. @*Results@#Myringosclerosis developed in 168 of 582 patients (28.9%) after VTI. Patients in the MS+ group had an older mean age than those in the MS− group. The rates of myringosclerosis were higher in patients with older age, serous otitis media, type 2 VT, post-VTI perforation, and frequent VTI. However, there were no differences in occurrence of myringosclerosis based on gender, duration of effusion, duration of VT placement, incidence of post-VTI infection, or incidence of intraoperative bleeding. The severity of myringosclerosis was associated with the duration of effusion and frequency of VTI. @*Conclusion@#Older age, serous effusion, type 2 VT, presence of post-VTI perforation, and frequent VTI may be risk factors for myringosclerosis after VTI; the severity of myringosclerosis may vary based on the duration of effusion and frequency of VTI.

The Effect of Memantine on Experimentally Gentamicin Induced Vestibulotoxicity in Guinea Pigs / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In general, aminoglycosides are known to cause ototoxicity through the glutamate induced nitric oxide production. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) related glutamate receptors have a pivotal role in aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity. Memantine is known as a safe NMDA antagonist and is also used in some neurologic insults, such as the Alzheimer disease. In this study, we observed the effect of memantine on gentamicin induced vestibulotoxicity in an animal model. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Vestibulotoxicity was induced with intratympanic administration of gentamicin and memantine was injected intraperitoneally to a study group. Histomorphological studies for vestibule were performed via light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical studies were performed for iNOS, nitrotyrosine and apoptosis via TUNEL staining. RESULTS: The numbers of hair cells were decreased significantly in the gentamicin group than in the gentamicin-memantine group. Increased immunoreactivities for iNOS and nitrotyrosine were observed in the gentamicin group than in the memantine-pretreated gentamicin group. TUNEL positive cells were more frequently observed in the gentamicin group than in the memantinepretreated gentamicin group. CONCLUSION: This result shows that memantine has a protection effect on gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity in an animal model.

Formation of Biofilm in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media and Cholesteatoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In many chronic infections, bacteria are present as a form of biofilms. Recently, bacterial biofilm has been implicated in persistent or recurrent chronic otolaryngologic infections, because they are highly resistant to treatment with antimicrobial agents and capable of shedding individual bacteria to the surrounding tissues. In this study, we aimed to evaluate biofilm in chronic middle ear infections. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 85 cases with chronic middle ear infections were included in this study. Histomorphologic studies for middle ear granulations and cholesteatomas were performed using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: In middle ear granulations, about 33% of the cases showed the evidence of bacterial biofilm. In comparison, about 64% of the cases in cholesteatoma tissues have the evidences of bacterial biofilm. CONCLUSION: Biofilms are associated with chronic middle ear infection and they may play a role in the pathogenesis of refractory or persistent chronic middle ear infections.

CSF Leak and Pneumocephalus Caused by Neck Stab Wound / 대한이비인후과학회지

Pneumocephalus is defined as the presence of air within the cranial cavity. Trauma such as automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, and missile injuries is the most common cause of pneumocephalus. There have previously been four reported cases of pneumocephalus following stab wounds to the neck in the English literature. We present an unusual case of pneumocephalus following a neck stab wound with a review of the literatures.

A Case of Fibromatosis Occurring in the Levator Scapulae / 대한이비인후과학회지

Fibromatosis is a benign tumor arising from the musculoaponeurotic tissues of the body. The natural history of fibromatosis is slow, progressive growth with invasion of adjacent tissues but this tumor has no malignant or metastatic potential. Complete surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment. However, it is often difficult due to the complex anatomy, close proximity of vital structures in the head and neck region. Preoperative core needle biopsy and MR images can make it possible to diagnose preoperatively and outline the tumor extent, which are very important to treat patients with fibromatosis. In this report, a rare case of fibromatosis occurring in the levator scapulae muscle is presented with a review of literatures.

Effects of Nasal Instillation of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B on Allergic Inflammation in Mice / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The role of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) in allergic rhinitis remains controversial. We used a mouse model of airway allergy to determine the effects of nasal instillation of SEB on allergic inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: BALB/c mice were intranasally sensitized with compound of Aspergillus melleus proteinase (AMp) and ovalbumin (ova) in the presence (group 3) or absence of SEB (group 2). Control mice were intranasally sensitized with either phosphate buffered saline (PBS)(group 1) or SEB (group 4) alone. The production of serum antigen-specific antibodies and total IgE, and concentrations of cytokines including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) and broncoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were compared among the groups. Pathologic studies for eosinophilic infiltrations in the nasal mucosa and peribronchial area were also conducted. RESULTS: Serum ova-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) & immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) were significantly increased in group 2 and 3 compared to group 1. The concentrations of IL-4 in BALF were significantly increased in group 2, 3, and 4 compared to group 1. The concentrations of IL-5 in BALF and NLF were significantly increased in Group 2, 3, and 4 compared to group 1. The concentrations of IFN-gamma were significantly increased in group 3 and 4 compared to group 2 although there was no significant difference among the groups in NLF. Group 2 demonstrates increased infiltration of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and peribronchial area compared to group 3 and 4. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the nasal exposure to SEB did not aggravate inflammation in allergic mice.

A Case of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Occurring in External Auditory Canal / 대한이비인후과학회지

Malignant tumors of the external auditory canal (EAC) are very rare. Squamous cell carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma on the decreasing frequency are the most common pathologic forms of EAC malignancy. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the EAC is extremely rare. Only three cases of MEC occurring in EAC were reported to date in the English literature. We present a case of MEC occurring in the EAC with the review of related literatures.