Analysis of Effect of Eggshell Membrane Patching for Moderate-to-Large Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of eggshell membrane (ESM) patching for tympanic membrane (TM) perforation, and to investigate correlations between healing time and age, gender, patching time, perforation size, and perforation location. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy-five patients diagnosed with traumatic TM perforation at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Ansan Hospital, between January 2008 and October 2013. Patients were divided into two groups, according to perforation edge approximation or ESM patching treatment. Healing time was compared between the group that received perforation edge approximation and the group that received ESM patching. Perforation grade, age, onset, and location were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: ESM patching significantly improved healing time compared to spontaneous healing, especially in patients with moderate or large traumatic TM perforations (≥grade II). However, patient age, gender, perforation location, and especially timing of procedure, did not significantly affect healing time. CONCLUSIONS: ESM patching can be a good treatment choice to promote tympanic membrane healing in large traumatic TM perforations.

The Impact of Nasal Polyposis on Olfactory Dysfunction in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Olfactory disturbance is a major sinonasal symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (NP). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of nasal polyposis and olfactory dysfunction in CRS. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 277 subjects with CRS were included in this study. All participants were divided into four groups according to the size and degree of the nasal polyposis: the control group (no polyp; n=79); NP (nasal polyp) group I (both or unilateral simple polyposis; n=85); NP group II (unilateral diffuse polyposis; n=66); and NP group III (bilateral diffuse polyposis; n=47). We analyzed the relationships between the severity of nasal polyposis and olfactory dysfunction using both the Korean Version of the “Sniffin'Sticks” test (KVSS Test) II and the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD). RESULTS: The KVSS Test II TDI score was significantly decreased in the bilateral diffuse polyposis group (NP group III=15.62±13.39) compared to the other polyp groups [control group=25.04±9.67 (p<0.001); NP group I=21.67±11.18 (p=0.005); NP group II=21.51±10.85 (p=0.008)]. However, there were no significant differences in the KVSS Test II TDI score between the control group and NP groups I and II. For the QOD_NS score, only NP group III (11.51±9.87) had significantly increased values compared to the control group [8.42±12.27 (p=0.015)]. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that bilateral diffuse nasal polyposis is related to significant olfactory dysfunction in CRS.

Classification of Planorbidae cellected from Geum river basin

The distribution, external morphology, radula, chromosome numbers of Planorbidae snails were studied. The specimens were collected at four stations in Nonsangun, Kongjugun, and Daedukgun which are located around Geum river. Three genera and three species of Planorbidae, Hippeutis cantori, Segmentina hemisphaerula and Gyraulus convexiusculus, were collected. H. cantori was the most abundant species among the three species. G. convexiusculus was the least abundant one. Each species could be identified on the basis of its external characteristic, since the periphery of each species has a peculiar shape. H. cantori was the largest one among the three species. The radula formula of each species was very similar to other species. The size of radula was proportional to the size of shell. The radula formulae of H. cantori, S. hemisphaerula, and G. convexiusculus were 29:1:29, 23:l:23, and 16:1:16 respectively. The difference of radula formula could be found in the total numbers of laternal and marginal teeth. The haploid chromosome number of H. cantori was eighteen (n=18). S. hemisphaerula and G. convexiusculus were assumed to be same in their chromosome numbers (n=18).