Objective olfactory function test through analysis of human Q-EEG changes / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased industrialization and the changing environment have caused complex olfactory problems in the modern population, and the need for an objective evaluation of such problems has thus come to our attention. In this study, we used the human Q-EEG (Bio-Logic, Brain Atlas III) equipment to evaluate olfactory fuction, and tried to lay out a basis for an objective test of olfactory function in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty normosmic adults and ten anosmic patients were studied by the human Q-EEG equipment. EEG changes were analyzed by a nonparametric test (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05). A mixture of S-D alcohol, benzophenol, BHT (benzyl hydroxy toluene), water, and fragrance were used as an odorant. The odorant was applied to the one third anterior of the inferior turbinate using a small piece of filter paper soaked in the odorant. RESULTS: During odorant stimulation, the Q-EEG analyzer showed that the delta band (0-3.5 Hz) decreased in the whole brain region, while the alpha band (8-11.5 Hz) increased in the bilateral temporal region in the normosmic patients. There was no Q-EEG changes in the anosmic patients. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that human Q-EEG analysis may provide the basis for the development of an objective test of olfactory function in humans.

Expression of CD44s, v3 and v6 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates cell adhesion through binding to extracelluar matrix molecules such as hyaluronan. Multiple isoforms of CD44 are generated by alternative splicing of 10 separate exons (v1-v10). Some of them have been noted as markers for tumor metastasis and prognosis in several studies. We investigated whether CD44s, v3 and v6 may be a useful markers in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Paraffin embedded tissue sections, which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck from 41 patients were stained immunohistochemically with monoclonal Ab of CD44s, v3 and v6. The results were compared with the primary tumor status, lymph node metastasis, histopathologic differentiation and survival. RESULTS: Various levels of immunoreactivities of the CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 were detected dominantly in cancer cell membrane. The positive rate of CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 were 59%, 66%, 71%, respectively. The decreased expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was significantly correlated to lymph node metastasis but was not affected by T-stage, histopathologic differentiation and survival. CD44v3 had no correlation with the T-stage, N-stage, pathologic differentiation nor survival. CONCLUSION: The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma may be a biologic marker for lymph node metastasis.

Availability of Ultrasongraphic Study in Larynx / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The observation about the movements of laryngopharyngeal or surrounding structures is very important to understand the physiology of phonation or swallowing and to diagnose the disease. Many investigating methods were used but most of them were ineffective because those were invasive or indirect methods. Ultrasonographical examination of larynx can be applied, but the shortcomings of mechanics limits the usage of ultrasonographical study of larynx. Recently, the revolution of computer and videosystem made ultrasonographical study to be applied to the larynx. In this study, authors wanted to find out the availability of the ultrasonographical study of larynx. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3.5 and 7.5 MHz probes were applied to anterior neck and the ultrasonographical findings were observed according to the various phonation types. RESULTS: In the axial plane, the movements of bilateral vocal folds were observed. Unilateral movement of vocal cord alone was seen in the case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis. In the parasagittal plane, the movements of whole laryngopharyngeal structures were observed simultaneously. A specific tongue shape was seen on each vowel phonation. On phonation with high pitch, hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage were elevated. And thyroid cartilage was elevated and laid upon the hyoid bone moving medially. On phonation with high pitch extremely, the hyoid bone went down. On phonation loudly, echogenicity of surrounding muscles was increased. CONCLUSION: Authors think that the ultrasonographical study can be applied to the physiologic study of phonation as well as diagnostic tools or therapeutic tools.