A Case of Myxofibrosarcoma in the Cheek / 대한이비인후과학회지

Myxofibrosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma that occurs in late adult life, mainly occurring in the lower extremities and trunk. However, head and neck myxofibrosarcoma is extremely rare. The most reliable treatment of adult soft tissue sarcoma is surgical resection with negative margin. A 79-year-old man presented with a left cheek mass first detected six months ago. The pathologic report of the mass showed that it was myxofibrosarcoma and consequently postoperative radiotherapy was done. However, distant and locoregional metastasis occurred postoperatively. We report this case with a brief review of literature.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Chamaecyparis Obtusa Essential Oil on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The biological activity in antibacterial and antioxidative action of essential oils (EOs) have been investigated. In this study, we tried to evaluate the effects of Chamaecyparis obtusa EOs on producing chemical mediators by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: PBMCs from healthy volunteers were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence of varying concentrations of EOs. Cytotoxic effects of EOs were measured using an aqueous cell proliferation assay kit and supernatants were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-5, and interferon-γ (INF-γ) protein levels were measured to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil. RESULTS: EOs were found to have cytotoxic effects on PBMCs at levels of over 1%. EOs not only could induce PBMCs to produce chemical mediators, but it also significantly inhibited the LPS induced TNF-α and INF-γ productions as well as the PHA induced INF-γ production. CONCLUSION: EOs had cytotoxic effects at high concentrations and modulated chemical mediator productions from PBMC. These data suggest that EOs could be used to treat immunologic or inflammatory diseases.

A Case of Glomangiopericytoma in the Prevertebral Space / 대한이비인후과학회지

Glomanigiopericytoma is a rare vascular neoplasm with a perivascular myoid phenotype. It is rarely found in the neck but most commonly in the nose and paranasal sinuses. We experienced a case of 72-year-old man who presented a 5-year history of a right neck mass. The pathologic diagnosis was glomangiopericytoma. We removed the mass transcervically and the patient showed no postoperative problem. We report this case with a review of literature.

Comparison of Manuka, Kanuka, and Black Locust Honey on the Production of Chemical Mediators by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Honey has various biological and pharmacological activities and has been used as treatment against various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory characteristics of manuka, kanuka, and black locust honey. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy human volunteers were isolated and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without pre-treatment of various concentrations of honey for 72 hours. The cytotoxic effects of honeys were measured using an aqueous cell proliferation kit, and the supernatants were analyzed for interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-10, interferon-γ (INF-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Samples of 1% manuka and kanuka honey were found to have cytotoxic effects on PBMCs. Honey itself enhanced the production of IL-10 and TNF-α production. Manuka and kanuka honeys suppressed LPS-induced IL-10 and INF-γ production, while black locust honey only suppressed IL-10 production from PBMCs. CONCLUSION: Honeys had immunomodulatory properties of both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects on PBMCs. Different honeys might have different immune modulatory functions due to their different components.

Differential Diagnosis of Dysphonia Looks Normal Larynx

Voice is a physical phenomenon, generated by vocal fold and expiratory airflow. Dysphonia should come from abnormal vocal fold and airflow. Occassionally larynx looks normal in show, but it is actually not. There should be undetected structural or functional abnormalities. So when ENT doctors face dysphonia patients who looks normal larynx, should make a diagnosis through close observation. In this review article we present some dysphonia diseases which looks normal larynx. For example vocal fatigue, vocal fold paresis, posterior glottic diastasis, muscle tension dysphonia and psychogenic dysphonia.

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.

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.

Differences in Taste Thresholds According to Sex and Age Groups in Korean / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the gustatory function between age-matched men and women in Korean subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Healthy non-smoking volunteers without smell and taste disorders were investigated. Thirty-nine men and women of the same age group were evaluated for gustatory function. Whole mouth taste test was performed with successive solutions of sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, and quinine hydrochloride. The electrical taste thresholds were measured using an electrogustometer for four different sites in the oral cavity, i.e., both sides of anterior and posterior tongue. RESULTS: Female subjects had lower mean values of detection and recognition thresholds for all of the four tastes than male subjects, although these results did not reach statistical significance except for the detection threshold for salt and the recognition threshold for quinine. In electrogustometry, thresholds in the posterior tongue of glossopharyngeal nerve area were significantly higher for men than women. CONCLUSION: Men had higher taste threshold than women of the same age category. For additional information on the effects of gender and aging on taste thresholds, further studies including a large number of well-controlled subjects are essential.

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.